So, Best and Worst Characters?

[Gurthang]

I agree with Boromir and King of the North.

When I first saw this post, I was thinking Denethor for the worst character. His potrayal was horrible. From the books, I thought him a once kind man who had been driven mad with despair. The movies made him wholly evil. Even in the flashback with Boromir, Faramir and him in Osgiliath, he was a complete jerk! He did have some good lines, but helik a manicdepressant most of the time. You'd turn your head and he'd change from a grieving father to a power-hungry psycho. It was ridiculous.

But after reading King's post, I agree that Legolas is worse. His image was really good in FotR, but was just bad the last two. Seriously, even if the uber-stunts weren't bad enough, he had this whole overplayed I'm-better-than-Gimli-in-everything attitude .

Now, on a better note, I personally thought that Viggo Mortensen did an excellent job playing Aragorn. He at first appeared as a simple ranger who had given up who he might become. But slowly he realized that his path was leading him to a kingship. And as he grasped that role, I thought he really did a good job of taking control of the plot.

BTW, I thought Gimli's character was hilarious in RotK, if somewhat unrealistic.

[Boromir88]

The only thing that gets me from not choosing Denethor, is John Noble's acting. I put aside my own personal view of Denethor (from what I learned from the books) and I just said, John Noble plays a wonderful scum bag. However, I agree with Mith, I think the food shoveling is just over the top. I don't care how evil PJ makes Denethor, it's unnecessary to make the guy a slob too. My view is, I still have my view of Denethor from the books, the movies don't change that, the movies are purely entertainment, and since Noble did such a great performance, and a guy that you too would want to hit with a staff if you had it, then I give a thumbs up to him.

[Tuor of Gondolin]

As has been noted above, there are a remarkable number of good
characters/portrayals in the movies. While Gandalf and Boromir (among others)are well acted and the casting by PJ and friends was good I'd say Eowyn, partly because I had significant doubts that the character could be adequately portrayed in the movies.

The worst must again be mentioned, Denethor!
While not depicted in the book as kindly (ala Theoden) I see him as more
a tragic hero, flawed but dedicated to Gondor, and to some extent, the West as a whole. Although in one of his Letters JRRT takes a surprisingly negative view
of Denethor. His movie bits were awful not just as a one-dimentional "crazy"
but for the ridiculous Gandalf/Denethor interactions.

[Morgul Queen]

Denethor got some of the best lines in the EE *happy sigh* but, as much as I love him, I have to nominate Théoden for best character in the movie. I love the look on his face when he sees Ol' Witchy swoop down towards him, I love his lines, I love his armor and I especially love his sword.

*giggles* But, and I bet you saw this coming a mile off, Legolas for worst. the horrible lines ("A Diversion!" Gee, ya think? *lightbulb*), the stilted acting (Is it too much to ask to have some emotion and variation in his speech? When the extras are better actors than you are something has to be up), that blimmin' scene with the Mumuk, pure cheese there!

*groans*

But to the new Denethor lines I have only one thing to say:

[Neurion]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

The only thing that gets me from not choosing Denethor, is John Noble's acting. I put aside my own personal view of Denethor (from what I learned from the books) and I just said, John Noble plays a wonderful scum bag. However, I agree with Mith, I think the food shoveling is just over the top. I don't care how evil PJ makes Denethor, it's unnecessary to make the guy a slob too.

Actually, I don't think his table manners are that bad by medieval standards.

[Boromir88]

Come on now, I think PJ just has an obsession of slobbish eaters. Take FOTR, with PJ's cameo, bites into a carrot and belches. TTT, Gimli stuffing his face full in Theoden's hall (I seriously doubt a dwarf would do that, especially in a king's hall, oh yeah then Gimli belches). Then ROTK, a steward spitting cherry juice, and chomping while Pippin's singing, highly inappropriate for a steward surely.

[Neurion]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Come on now, I think PJ just has an obsession of slobbish eaters. Take FOTR, with PJ's cameo, bites into a carrot and belches. TTT, Gimli stuffing his face full in Theoden's hall (I seriously doubt a dwarf would do that, especially in a king's hall, oh yeah then Gimli belches). Then ROTK, a steward spitting cherry juice, and chomping while Pippin's singing, highly inappropriate for a steward surely.

Three instances do not an obsession make.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Regarding Elves, I think that they were made to be so beautiful because, well, they are more beautiful than Men in general. Fact.

The femininity is shining through because females are arguably more beautiful than males.

I thought Legolas and Haldir looked really good. There were other aspects of the characters that brought them down, especially dialogue in Leggy's case!

in all of the lotr movies my favourite character has to be aragorn. normally i would have said Legolas because he is cute but i have gone off him, and viggo mortensen looks so darn cute with his beard and his sword. also my worst character is the king of the dead played by paul norell because he looks so creepy even if he doesnt look like that in real life. i know he is meant to be creepy because he is dead and all but that is just wierd