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mark12_30 · 06-13-2002, 07:24 AM

Sharon and Estelyn,

I agree with you both.

Sharon, I don't think you need to reconcile the two Frodos. I certainly have no intention of reconciling them. I think Tolkien's Frodo is far deeper and richer than Jacksons-- although I am also terribly fond of Jackson's Frodo as well.

Have you read, at TheONeRing.net under GreenBooks/ Moonletters, the peice of fan fiction called The Fanfic lounge? If you have not yet read it, PLEASE do. For one thing, it is hilarious, but for another it makes what I think is a very important point.

The movie is not canon; the movie-- a script written after Tolkien and in admiring imitation of his work-- is **** fan fiction***. Really, really good fan fiction, but fan fiction nonetheless. I for one will keep them separate. (And that frees me, incidentally, to rework my own fanfic and make "my" Frodo as faithful to TOlkien's Frodo as I can-- without losing sleep over it. Fanfiction is fanfiction, even if *I* wrote it.... Tolkien I'm not. (Thank Goodness, Bilbo laughed.))

Having said that, Wood's interpretation of Frodo made me go back and reread Tolkien's Frodo with a new understanding and compassion. I never really grasped Tolkien's Frodo before-- Sam, Merry, and Pippin were always easier for me, and of course all the men... But the two Frodos are now more separate for me than ever.

Estelyn,

Aragorn-- whoo boy, do I ever agree with you. I'm growing somewhat fonder of Jackson's Strider, but .... Telcontar/ Thorongil he's not... (heavy sigh)

In general:

Somewhere (I think at TheOneRing.net) there is a poll: who do you think is the most accurately portrayed character in the movie? Gandalf is winning. That makes sense to me, simply because (1) McKellan was VERY familiar with the books and loved them, whereas much of the rest of the cast had reputedly only read the Hobbit; and (2) McKellan, reputedly, was consistently holding a copy of the book out to Jackson, open to the current scene, pointing to it and hounding Jackson-- "See here, the book says that Gandalf says this, right here, Gandalf says this. Why can't I say exactly that????"

To which I say, "BULLY!!! ALL RIGHT!!!!"

I only wish that the rest of the actors had had that kind of gumption and understanding of their Tolkienish characters. But they didn't. Heck, Wood was nineteen or something like that. He did what he was told to do. I think he did it really, really well. But what he did was Jackson's Frodo, not Tolkien's.

Like I said before, though-- I love them both. One of the most poignant lines in the movie for me is in Rivendell, when Wood-Frodo softly says to Holmes-Bilbo, "I'm not like you, Bilbo." (Weep! Complete heartbreak... utterly brilliant line and delivery.) So they both have their strong points.

--Helen

[ June 13, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

06-13-2002, 07:24 AM	#3
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Sharon and Estelyn, I agree with you both. Sharon, I don't think you need to reconcile the two Frodos. I certainly have no intention of reconciling them. I think Tolkien's Frodo is far deeper and richer than Jacksons-- although I am also terribly fond of Jackson's Frodo as well. Have you read, at TheONeRing.net under GreenBooks/ Moonletters, the peice of fan fiction called The Fanfic lounge? If you have not yet read it, PLEASE do. For one thing, it is hilarious, but for another it makes what I think is a very important point. The movie is not canon; the movie-- a script written after Tolkien and in admiring imitation of his work-- is ** fan fiction. Really, really good fan fiction, but fan fiction nonetheless. I for one will keep them separate. (And that frees me, incidentally, to rework my own fanfic and make "my" Frodo as faithful to TOlkien's Frodo as I can-- without losing sleep over it. Fanfiction is fanfiction, even if I* wrote it.... Tolkien I'm not. (Thank Goodness, Bilbo laughed.)) Having said that, Wood's interpretation of Frodo made me go back and reread Tolkien's Frodo with a new understanding and compassion. I never really grasped Tolkien's Frodo before-- Sam, Merry, and Pippin were always easier for me, and of course all the men... But the two Frodos are now more separate for me than ever. Estelyn, Aragorn-- whoo boy, do I ever agree with you. I'm growing somewhat fonder of Jackson's Strider, but .... Telcontar/ Thorongil he's not... (heavy sigh) In general: Somewhere (I think at TheOneRing.net) there is a poll: who do you think is the most accurately portrayed character in the movie? Gandalf is winning. That makes sense to me, simply because (1) McKellan was VERY familiar with the books and loved them, whereas much of the rest of the cast had reputedly only read the Hobbit; and (2) McKellan, reputedly, was consistently holding a copy of the book out to Jackson, open to the current scene, pointing to it and hounding Jackson-- "See here, the book says that Gandalf says this, right here, Gandalf says this. Why can't I say exactly that????" To which I say, "BULLY!!! ALL RIGHT!!!!" I only wish that the rest of the actors had had that kind of gumption and understanding of their Tolkienish characters. But they didn't. Heck, Wood was nineteen or something like that. He did what he was told to do. I think he did it really, really well. But what he did was Jackson's Frodo, not Tolkien's. Like I said before, though-- I love them both. One of the most poignant lines in the movie for me is in Rivendell, when Wood-Frodo softly says to Holmes-Bilbo, "I'm not like you, Bilbo." (Weep! Complete heartbreak... utterly brilliant line and delivery.) So they both have their strong points. --Helen [ June 13, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.