Characters/Cast

[Birdland]

Ooooh, where do I start?<P>Frodo: OK, they went with a younger Frodo. (Of course, the book does say that the Ring kept him looking like "...a Hobbit just out of his tweens".) But Elijah Woods' voice and delivery suited Frodo perfectly.<P>Gimli, Bilbo, Gandalf, Sauraman: Perfect. 'Nuff said. What CAN'T these British, titled actors do??<P>Sam: Sean Astin really loved his role, you can tell. I was also happy that they toned down the Edwardian "Master-Faithful Servant" relationship in the film. Sam wasn't portrayed as such an "Uncle Hobbit".<P>Aragorn and Boromir: Oddly, I've never had a picture in my "mind's eye" of these two characters. But Viggo and Sean have corrected that. Not so much in looks, but delivery. <P>Legolas: Pretty much what I expected an Elf to look like. Quite a shock to see the "real" Orlando Bloom, though. He cleans up good! ("Make-Up! Can we get a little more putty in the piercing holes, please!")<P>Arwen and Galadriel - Typical archtype female "good" roles. Most of Tolkien's females aren't well rounded, and were hard to flesh out in the film (Shield Maiden comments aside.) I did love Kate Blanchett's delivery when she resisted the offer of the ring, though. She really portrayed that well.<P>Elrond - Very surprising image of an Elf. I always pictured them as more polished and -well - prettier. A gritty, grim, lined Elf was cool! Though me and my friend both agreed he bore an uncanny resemblance to Phil Alvin of the Blasters.