So, Best and Worst Characters?

[Boromir88]

Boromir didn't have it quite so easily either. Yes, Denethor did favor him over Faramir, and probably treated him like a loving father should. However, Denethor put a lot of pressure on Boromir to be victorious. Denethor saw Boromir as Gondor's last hope in winning, and put a lot of pressure on Boromir to be a leader of men, and to bring back this "great gift," as Denethor hints at in Minas Tirith. He tells Gandalf "Boromir would have brought it (the ring) back to me." (yes I paraphrased). That's why when Boromir dies, Denethor slips drastically down hill believing all is lost.

[Lalwendë]

Lal, if Denethor was the only case of eating slobbishly, I would agree with you. But, as pointed out in one of my previous posts Jackson has a tendancy to do this in each of the movies, making it look like he just put it in there for the heck of it, and nothing to do with showing Denethor's character.

I'll give you that one then - taken in context with the rest of such instances in the films, I can see that Denethor's eating habits might look undignified! It's interesting though, how these touches of crude humour made it into the films - after all, PJ did make zombie films; I suppose we ought to be grateful none of the Orcs were seen wielding Flymos.

[SamwiseGamgee]

Favourite character is a toughie. There are quite a few who would make it onto my shortlist. I think overall though, I'd have to go for Theoden. I was so terrified that they were going to leave the Ride of the Rohirrim out of the film and when they came to it and then Bernard Hill delivered it as beautifully as he did it was one of the highlights of the trilogy. I also felt that Hill really captured that recovery from his ensnarement by Saruman well- in particular the scene where he says: 'It is a cruel fate that any parent should live to see their child's funeral.' (para.). I also felt that he encapsulated that sense of satisfied achievement in his death speech to Eowyn particularly well, as though he felt he had finally righted the wrongs and died for a noble cause.
Now, my worst character. I'm afraid this is a not-too-shortlist. I'm going to have to just come out and say that it's Elrond, though. There are just too many things which I feel aren't right about him. Firstly, and I'm going to get this out of the way and not mention it any further, I don't think he's beautiful enough to be an elf. Secondly, there's the way he plays the father. Sure, there are the times when he looks after Arwen in TTT and the look as he nods for her to approach Aragorn in Minas Tirith in ROTK, but overall I just found him a sly, manipulative, low-down double-crossin' varmit! Ahem. No, but seriously, I found him to be very manipulative. And then finally there was the snobbishness that I just didn't get a sense of in the books. In the films he seems dismissive of Frodo's chances as well as those of man, and overconfident in his own gift of foresight. I really thought that missed the mark for Elrond, and it didn't impress me at all.
Ok then, there you are... now let me have it!

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

...the best character is Theoden.

...the worst characters are Legolas and Denethor.


If you haven't voted, please do. Let's try and make this more representative of the Downers.

[Numenorean]

Ok Eomer, best, well it’s a close one between Treebeard, I love his line (amongst others): “My business is with Isengard tonight!…” and Éowyn. I guess the Shieldmaiden shades it on account of the fact that she does have more of a spiritual and physical journey across the films, and I feel that Miranda captures her Rohirric passion and humanity almost perfectly.
Worst, hmmm, it’s a close call between a few: Denethor, and eyeball Sauron were annoying and weak, but none more so in my mind than Gothmog the pigsy Orc, I still wince at his 80s horror make-up and laughable attempts at intimidation.

[the phantom]

Bilbo was great, as was Boromir, Gandalf, and Gimli. I'll probably have to go with Boromir as the best since he's one of my favorite book characters. Sean Bean did an awesome job.

I didn't particularly like Faramir, Elrond, Arwen, and Galadriel. I think that Wenham did a great job with the part that he was given, but his part stunk. They should've stuck with the book on Faramir.

They also strayed too far from the book with Arwen. Movie Arwen wasn't the real Arwen, plus I agree with Lalwende that Liv was wooden and expressionless. The only thing she had going for her was first rate looks.

Elrond was also different from the books (and in most cases "different from the books" translates to "worse than the books"). He was mean, stubborn, and irritable in the movie. There was almost zero warmth, except at the end when he came to Minas Tirith and then he just looked cheesy.

My main beef with Galadriel was her looks. Galadriel was supposed to be tied with Arwen for the most beautiful living being in all of Middle-Earth. She sure didn't look it. Cate's a good actress and all, but they should've cast somebody more stunning for Galadriel.

So, who's the worst? Elrond narrowly beats out his daughter, Arwen, probably because I didn't expect much of Arwen, where as Elrond I expected an awful lot out of because he's my favorite character in Lord of the Rings. I was very disappointed.

It's not Hugo's fault though. He did what he was told. I blame this one on PJ.

[Linnahiril Tinnufinwen]

My favorite character, both in the books and the movies, has been and always will be Samwise Gamgee. He is such a wonderfully simplistic, honest, devoted Hobbit. Sean Astin did a great job in portraying him, and I think he was one of the better actors in the film.

My least favorite character would have to be Gollum. I understand that most of his evil greed came from the corruption the ring instilled in him, but he still struck me as an ugly, nasty, coniving little thing. Perhaps I'm too little sympathetic, but I can't help it. I truly don't like him, although he might is one of those characters that you are meant not to like.

[ArathorofBarahir]

I honestly can't pick a worst character, for me some are better than others, but there is no bad character in the Lord of the Rings. I however enjoy and appreciate some characters better than others. Aragorn has to rank up their as my all time favorite. He is everything I wish I could be, selfless, courageous, honrable, noble and knows what must be done to protect Middle Earth. I also enjoy Boromir, proud, noble and a man of his people. Now, some of you are going to hate me for this, but I enjoy Faramir, in the books and in the movies. I think he is selfless, and is a moral and honest man. He is brave, and courageous, but he shows in a more intelligent way than his brother. Gandalf is another favorite, wise, intelligent and very strong, willing to protect Middle Earth with ever fiber of their being. And finally I loved the hobbits. The four main ones. I identify the most with Frodo, in the fact that he selflessly took the up the burden of being a Ring bearer and selflessly did it to save the Shire, but not for himself, but for the generations to come. Samwise Gamgee is probably the first character that comes to mind when I think of or mention hobbits. He's down to earth and very loving. But when what he hold's dear and cares about is threatened he will do just about anything to protect it. Merry and Pippin are great, just because of the way seemed so carefree in the beginning of the movies, and book (sort of) and then went through changes and matured, yet still maintained that hobbit sense (seen in the end of the TTT EE and the beginning of ROTK).

[ArathorofBarahir]

Worst Character? I don't think any of the characters in the movies were bad, there were just a few that I didn't like. I didn't like Wormtongue or Gothmog and Gamling just poorly done.

Best Characters? Aragorn! Hands down. He was my favorite character from the books and so he was my favorite character from the movies. I loved the way he fought in the movies, his lines and his appearance.

Next I would have to choose Faramir. I can see why they changed him from the book. It made him a little less noble and little more human. I also liked his lines, especially the "Brave Deeds should no be checked with cold counsel," line from the ROTK EE.

After this I'd pick Eomer, I think he was masterfully portrayed and his costume and lines were great.

The four hobbits, I have a soft spot for hobbits. Because I think that's how I would see myself if I were to be in Middle Earth. I think Sam was amazing, the speech at the end of TTT was great, his carrying Frodo up the slope of Mount Doom was just awesome. Frodo was amazing as well, I liked how his deterioration was portrayed. Merry and Pippin were absolutely awesome, especially in Fangorn and at the Entmoot, not to mention their snippets of comedy.


All the other characters were good too, these ones were my favorites