So, Best and Worst Characters? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elladan and Elrohir · 09-12-2006, 04:17 PM

Just because he's my favorite character from the books, I'll give my vote to a character who, as far as I can see, hasn't yet received a single vote for Favorite: Frodo Baggins.

"How in the world?" you protest. "They picked an eighteen-year-old kid to play him, he does nothing but look scared in FOTR, he leaves Sam behind in ROTK, how do you still like the movie version of Frodo?"
Not quite sure. It's a very different Frodo than the one in the book, but it works -- largely because of Elijah Wood's acting. You can say what you want about the material, but I'm gonna get seriously mad if you dispute the fact that the "kid" can straight-up ACT.

Macalaure, wonderful idea to rate all the characters. Problem for me is that I can't find much to be critical about. I just can't bash these characters very well, for some reason. The acting is the best top-to-bottom that I have ever seen in any movie, anywhere. And I've gotten so used to thinking of the actors as the characters that I don't even question the casting choices.

Lush · 09-28-2006, 02:34 PM

Best: Gandalf, because Ian McKellen has the right combination of gravitas and compassion. Legolas, because despite the bright blond wig, Orlando Bloom is amazingly charming and, if you can believe it, subtle. I don't just love looking at him, I love watching him in action. Aragorn, for me, is exceptional in the first film. The other two he's great about half the time.

Worst: Frodo, because the role had so much potential, but seemed to steadily deteriorate for me from the beginning of the first film until the the end of the last film. I don't think this is Elijah Wood's fault at all, and consider him a fine actor. I think he did really well with the material he was given. I just think they exaggerated the role up too much - he just stares at the camera with those tragic blue eyes of his for what seems like to be hours. I blame this on poor directing, honestly. They made him do the same thing over and over again, and although he did it well, it didn't work for me in the larger context. I really appreciated it when, at the very end, he's seen back home in the Shire, and his face looks calm. Sad, but calm. It made all the difference.

Also, there is Haldir to consider. What's up with the bad weave? And don't even get me started on the way they had him move and talk...

P.S. Oh, and I love Gollum. Doh.

09-12-2006, 04:17 PM	#1
Elladan and Elrohir Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Halls of Mandos Posts: 332	Just because he's my favorite character from the books, I'll give my vote to a character who, as far as I can see, hasn't yet received a single vote for Favorite: Frodo Baggins. "How in the world?" you protest. "They picked an eighteen-year-old kid to play him, he does nothing but look scared in FOTR, he leaves Sam behind in ROTK, how do you still like the movie version of Frodo?" Not quite sure. It's a very different Frodo than the one in the book, but it works -- largely because of Elijah Wood's acting. You can say what you want about the material, but I'm gonna get seriously mad if you dispute the fact that the "kid" can straight-up ACT. Macalaure, wonderful idea to rate all the characters. Problem for me is that I can't find much to be critical about. I just can't bash these characters very well, for some reason. The acting is the best top-to-bottom that I have ever seen in any movie, anywhere. And I've gotten so used to thinking of the actors as the characters that I don't even question the casting choices. __________________ "If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door." THE HOBBIT - IT'S COMING

09-28-2006, 02:34 PM	#2
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	Best: Gandalf, because Ian McKellen has the right combination of gravitas and compassion. Legolas, because despite the bright blond wig, Orlando Bloom is amazingly charming and, if you can believe it, subtle. I don't just love looking at him, I love watching him in action. Aragorn, for me, is exceptional in the first film. The other two he's great about half the time. Worst: Frodo, because the role had so much potential, but seemed to steadily deteriorate for me from the beginning of the first film until the the end of the last film. I don't think this is Elijah Wood's fault at all, and consider him a fine actor. I think he did really well with the material he was given. I just think they exaggerated the role up too much - he just stares at the camera with those tragic blue eyes of his for what seems like to be hours. I blame this on poor directing, honestly. They made him do the same thing over and over again, and although he did it well, it didn't work for me in the larger context. I really appreciated it when, at the very end, he's seen back home in the Shire, and his face looks calm. Sad, but calm. It made all the difference. Also, there is Haldir to consider. What's up with the bad weave? And don't even get me started on the way they had him move and talk... P.S. Oh, and I love Gollum. Doh. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

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