Itaril

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Oh dear, this sounds terrible.

Well, no surprise I guess, in a big block-buster these days there has to be a strong, female character to appeal to a very profitable demographic group.

"Strong", indeed! There has to be a female character who is young, pretty, and can use a sword (or an equivalent weapon suitable for the story). Therefore, she is a wonderful female role model, which is further emphasised by that her personality, beyond the things mentioned above, is reduced almost to zero, or even below. (Though speaking of that, not that many main male characters are much better in that regard.)

In any case, I don't know what is the reason to bring her in, but what I hate the most are these pseudo-heroines (indeed, pseudo-heroines, because on top of everything else, they are mostly just pitiful less-than-human or less-than-elf or whatnot creatures) invented out of nowhere because there weren't enough women in the books. In LotR, there were few women, but those who were there compensated with their impact and personality (thinking mainly of Galadriel, who would have sufficed for the whole book even if she was alone, and Éowyn, and Ioreth - three great personalities. Oh, and Goldberry. Rosie Cotton and Arwen in brackets, they don't stand out very much, or play any very active role). Unfortunately, there was no woman in the Hobbit (except for Belladona Took - now that would be a worthy character!), but we can surely live with that. We have learned to accept it and like the story as it is. You blasphemers go and make your own movie about something else if you don't like it.

(I have the feeling I have been here before.)

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

In any case, I don't know what is the reason to bring her in, but what I hate the most are these pseudo-heroines (indeed, pseudo-heroines, because on top of everything else, they are mostly just pitiful less-than-human or less-than-elf or whatnot creatures) invented out of nowhere because there weren't enough women in the books.

I wonder if Tollers really isn't trying to give PJ an indication that he does not approve of the former's attempts to market the book to a "modern" audience.

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

(I have the feeling I have been here before.)

I think many have. I would say its "Arwen redux", except Arwen was at least an actual character in LOTR, albeit one that had absolutely no speaking role in the books until almost the end of the story.

[Alcuin]

Rankin/Bass looks more and more respectable as time goes on.

I once worked for a guy who told me to never let anyone competent take your job after you: it makes you look better by comparison.

[Dilettante]

So it seems like PJ & Co. nicked the name for some token female Elf who wasn't in the book either, but whose presence is presumed necessary in order to feed the unwashed movie-watching masses' hunger for on-screen romance. I'm afraid it takes no extraordinary sagacity to guess who the "young Elf lord" she falls in love with is going to be... *shudder*

*suppressed chuckle* How very apt a description. *SIGH* just when I thought things would turn out well too. I guess we shouldn't be surprised, everyone these days thinks they can "improve" on an already perfect story by "modernizing" it or making it relevant to today.

Good looking strong female roles are put into plots a.) to attract female viewers who want someone in the story they can relate to and b.) to attract men that want to gawk at onscreen females. Because we all know the story just isn't good enough on it's own. My money is on her falling in love with Legolas (who will probably have a scene where he's doing some smithing, because Orlando Bloom seems to play a blacksmith a lot.)

It's Arwen taking Glorfindel's part again....only worse because Arwen is at least an original character.

[Nerwen]

Showing promise as a fighter at a young age, ITARIL was chosen to train to become part of the Woodland King’s Guard. This is the only life she has ever expected to live, until she meets and secretly falls in love with a young ELF LORD.

Ha! I love the way the actual film is converging on the various hoaxes and worst-case scenarios.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

Ha! I love the way the actual film is converging on the various hoaxes and worst-case scenarios.

Sadly, Nerwen, I am afraid what was mentioned is a best-case scenario, given PJ's aberrant scriptorial proclivities.

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

"Strong", indeed! There has to be a female character who is young, pretty, and can use a sword (or an equivalent weapon suitable for the story). Therefore, she is a wonderful female role model

Yeah, what's the deal with that? A positive female role-model on screen has to be wafer-thin and petite yet all too adept at beating up/slicing up/shooting people, or men to be more precise. Angelina Jolie, I'm looking at you.

[Galadriel55]

I wonder how much this Itaril is going to resemble Eowyn. Let me guess...
Thranduil will die in the middle of the Battle of 5 armies.
Legolas will take over.
He'll get wounded/will be dying.
Itarill will come in her shieldwoman armour and save Legolas.
Itaril saves the day!

...not.

PS: Shouldn't this be in the movies forum?

[Galadriel55]

PPS: I think that Itaril will be a better actor than this! *and they don't even say the role here!*

[Pitchwife]

I wouldn't say that - looking at that pic, Geordie does have a certain charismatic presence, wouldn't you say? As for his role, it makes me hope we'll see Beorn's housekeeping animals after all, even though it looks like Beorn himself is going to be replaced by Radagast, who I suppose will enter the Battle of Five Armies at the last moment, riding on Geordie, and save the day; Geordie of course will have the honour of finishing Bolg by running him through with his single horn.

Further speculations:

• Either Itaril or Leggie or both will conspire with Bilbo to free the Dwarves, defying Thranduil's orders.
• Itaril will meet a tragical heroic death in the Bo5A, causing Leggie to go berserk and vent his grief by killing a few mumakil. (What do you say, there weren't any in that battle? How narrow minded... What are a few uncanonicities among friends?)
• Finally, with Leggie in the film, another bowman would be quite redundant, so guess who gets to shoot Smaug? Bingo. Bye bye Bard...

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Lord almighty. What is it with these people? If they're going to "re-imagine" a classic work of fiction into fanfic, the least they could do is steal from a good piece of fanfic rather than some godawful Mary Sue. Is that really the best these "professional" writers can do? Must go slam head into wall...

[Alcuin]

Beorn replaced by Radagast?
Well I’m aghast!

Since Beorn transformed into an enormous bear, will Radagast transform into an enormous goat?

Was it the psychedelic coloring of the goat that induced them to introduce it into the movie?

Is the “laugh-a-minute” beastie somehow an inside joke that they’ve “got Tolkien’s goat”?

Originally Posted by Letters of JRRT #198

As far as I am concerned personally, I should welcome the idea of an animated motion picture, with all the risk of vulgarization; and that quite apart from the glint of money… I think I should find vulgarization less painful than sillification…

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

I wouldn't say that - looking at that pic, Geordie does have a certain charismatic presence, wouldn't you say? As for his role, it makes me hope we'll see Beorn's housekeeping animals after all, even though it looks like Beorn himself is going to be replaced by Radagast, who I suppose will enter the Battle of Five Armies at the last moment, riding on Geordie, and save the day; Geordie of course will have the honour of finishing Bolg by running him through with his single horn.

.[/LIST]

I think Beorn has been cast ..some strapping Swedish chap whose name escapes me. Radagast is no doubt included to bulk out the white council and justify the two film thing (kerching!).

[Dimturiel]

Is it just me, or does anyone else fear that this Itaril person is going to pull an Arwen and be the one who shoots Smaug? Either that, or she's going to be the first one to discover Bilbo took Gollum's ring or something along these lines that would make the audience think that the story would not have been able to move forward without her presence (when the original story had moved forward quite nicely without her being there, thank you very much).

And why is it a requirment to have a female in every film so that the girls in the audience don't feel offended or left out because they have no one to relate to? Who would relate to her anyway? I know I won't, judging from what she sounds like. (Why would I want to relate to someone in the king's guard, waving her sword all over the place and having adventures? (shudders). Nasty things. Make you late for supper. See? I'm already relating to one of the characters, actually, exactly to the one I - and any other pesron in the audience, because, let's be honest, we're all more hobbits than heroes - was expected to relate to in the first place). And who thought up this character anyway? She sounds like something a 13 year old would invent, trying to make up an idealised version of herself. (How old are PJ's kids now, by the way? Maybe they had a hand in inventing Itaril?). Believe me, I know, I used to make up characters like that too. I grew out of it. Also, one has to wonder if the population of the Woodland Elves is decreasing so dramatically, that they have to resort to employing andolescent Elf-maidens to join the King's Guard.

And ayway, would this movie - or any movie for that matter - really not sell unless it had a cheesy romance in it? I mean, to me The Hobbit was more about, well, growing up, in a way, and learning to do what's right and all that. It was originally a children's book and it was destined to entertain and teach children. It was never intended for dreamy teenagers who think the only thing that counts in this world is lurv.

By the way, while I was writing this, I just had a mental image of a scene after Bilbo takes the Arkenstone, with Itaril waving it in front of Thorin, and telling him:If you want the Arkenstone, come and claim it, or something equally horrific.

[Galadriel]

[QUOTE=Galadriel55;649097]Thranduil will die in the middle of the Battle of 5 armies.
Legolas will take over.
He'll get wounded/will be dying./QUOTE]

Lol, if Legolas takes over the fangurls will pounce on PJ demanding to know why Legolas wasn't treated like a king in the trilogy

[Jolly Cotton]

It's not surprising that PJ is creating a new fictional character (it's a fictional book remember guys!), I mean this is PJ. The same PJ who reduced Merry and Pippin to comic relief. The very same left out the proper end of the story!

So now we have Frodo (albeit for a very short time at the start), Legolas, and now an elfmadien. Next PJ will realise a statement saying RicK Astley will produce the soundtrack...!

[Mnemosyne]

Originally Posted by Jolly Cotton

Next PJ will realise a statement saying RicK Astley will produce the soundtrack...!

And then Legolas can sing to Itaril how he's never gonna give her up!!

Of course, one of my friends astutely pointed out that on IMDB (which is ever so reliable at the moment) Itaril's only listed for the first film... if so, I don't know what's better, her not being in the second film, or the high chances of her dying tragically in the first!

Welcome to the 'Downs, Jolly, and I hope you enjoy being dead!

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Mnemosyne

And then Legolas can sing to Itaril how he's never gonna give her up!!

Better than that, during the Battle of Five Armies Itaril can leap in front of Legolas and say while she is wheezing her last wheeze, "*gasp* Some people *choke* do crazy things *snort* when they're in love."