[aelithes]

Favourite Character - I will have to second an earlier motion and go with Gandalf. Despite the fact that he's a bit different to the Gandalf of the book, I simply love Ian McKellen's portrayal of both Gandalf the Grey and the White (I think he created two different versions of the same character brilliantly). His description of what happens after death ('the grey ring curtain rolls back... and all turns to silver glass') to Pippin in Minas Tirith is magnificent. If there was anyone who deserved an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor, he (or Sean Astin) would have been it.

Least Favourite Character - Legolas and Elrond. Orlando Bloom, though I do like him (to look at), ruined the character for me. I liked him fine in FOTR, but my opinion about him sadly only declined continually from there. I did, however, like his physical acting, and he made battle scenes quite entertaining.

Elrond - I know everyone says this, but every single time Hugo Weaving opened his mouth, I half-expected 'Mister Ander' to come out. Furthermore, he seemed to be adamantly and emphatically ****ed off all the time... it was that undiminishing scowl that really annoyed me. Like when Arwen is leaving Rivendell by night, and we see the shot of Elrond watching her go, he's scrunching up his face and looking like he's about ready to throw a conniption fit. Certainly not the mature, commanding presence that I imagined while reading the book.