[Iris Alantiel]

*standing ovation* Well done!!! Bravo!!!<P>I think for me, the one thing they could have really done that would have ruined everything is if they had screwed up Sam Gamgee. He's always been my favourite character and I think if they had cast someone who didn't do a good job, I would have cried. Fortunately, they cast Sean Astin, who was an absolutely fabulous Sam and has earned my eternal love and respect.<P>I thought the way they portrayed him was excellent. I felt awful for him when Gollum betrayed him and Frodo told him to go home. Poor Sam! I've read posts that say it's unrealistic that Sam lasted so long against Shelob or uncharacteristic of him to punch Gollum in the face (although I'm not a violent type of person, and God knows I wanted to!), and that might be true, but I prefer to think of it as a symptom of Sam's unwavering loyalty - he finds his courage and acts in ways that are counter to his normal hobbitlike behaviour because he's so loyal to Frodo. After the ring was destroyed, when he gave that little speech about Rose Cotton dancing with ribbons in her hair and how if he'd ever got married, it would be to her, it pretty much broke my heart, it was so sweet! And at the end, when he ends up happily married to Rosie (and his daughter looks just like my cousin!) I was smiling so hard my face hurt. I think it's so great, and so hard to pull off, when a performance makes you identify entirely with a character and really feel for him. <P>So once again, a standing ovation for a great portrayal of a great character.