What did you think about Legolas...before the movies?

[Diamond18]

He's certainly more visible in the movie, but I don't see so much of a difference in the basics of his personality.

There are some incidental differences, of course, but when you get down to it, he does what Legolas would do, doesn't he? I think the main difference has to do with the fact that he looks very much like a 20-some year old kid, and when you read the book he seems older. But that's a really sticky thing about Elves, they have to look ageless and you'll never find an actor who looks that way.

As to what I thought of Legolas before the movie... *crickets chirp*... Well, he wasn't much of a rounded out character. Tolkien even neglected him completely at times (can you say "Pelennor Fields"?) He didn't have much in the way of his own personal dilemmas or agendas, so I didn't pay much attention to him.

But then again I am a hobbit-fancier, and Elves in general don't interest me much.