In the LOTR films, Boromir isn’t selfish at all, he’s one of the least selfish and modest characters in the films. He’s possibly one of the most misunderstood characters in film history.

Note: Watch the extended versions

Boromir was one of the greatest characters in the LOTR films and he gets trashed and joked about so often as being a selfish traitor for trying to take the ring. He was 100% the complete opposite of this. Boromir loved his people, his family, and his nation of Gondor. He always put his people over himself.

Why did he try to take the ring? Boromir didn’t even want to go to Rivendell to join the fellowship. Even after knowing about the Ring he declined going because he felt he belonged in Gondor serving his people. He only went because his father ordered him to go and take the ring for Gondor. He put his fathers wishes above his own. He was told this would help the people of Gondor. He wanted to save his father and the people of Gondor and was told this was the only way to do it. Under the rings power he never talks about himself using the ring to become a powerful King, only that the ring would be a tool for Gondor and for the men of the west to defeat Mordor. His concern is with all the men of Gondor who have died, not his own personal wishes for power. A contrast to the fairest of all, Galadriel, who dreamed of using the ring herself to become a powerful queen to rule middle earth.

His relationship with his brother and father. Boromir was a great warrior and very modest. After retaking Osgiliath, his father praised him for doing it almost singlehandedly but he denied this claim and instead gave credit to his brother Faramir for the battle, who his father despised. In his speech on the rooftops he never mentions himself, only Gondor and it’s people. And after the battle his first action is making sure his men have beer to drink.

Boromir was also a man who could change. In Rivendell he was opposed to Aragorn, strongly saying that “Gondor has no king”. Later in Lorien he started to embrace Aragorn referring to Gondor as “OUR people” and telling Aragorn “the LORDS of Gondor will return”. Finally, in his death he had changed completely and embraced the man he originally claimed has no right to the throne calling him “my brother... my captain... my KING”.

Boromir is one of the greatest and most misunderstood characters in movie history.