I just don't understand. - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lhunardawen · 10-19-2006, 04:20 AM

We have to admit that PJ has financial motive - not too ulterior, as a matter of fact. Someone has to rake in all the girls, and ruggedly handsome Aragorn is too noble for the job. Yeah, like morm said. Heartthrob.

He's too perfect. No one in a film can be that perfect.

PJ & Co. has to make modern-day people who would rather sit in the dark watching a film munching popcorn than read a book understand that the book says that an Elf is so-and-so. There can't be a narrator saying "an Elf is so-and-so" verbatim from the book, so PJ & Co. has to translate it to a language that the modern-day people can understand. If the book says that an Elf is tireless and graceful and all that stuff about being a warrior, they have to show it. Turn him into a skaterboi and the stuntman of your dreams.

I wonder how you will react if I tell you that it all boils down to Bloom's fault that I'm even posting this, here, right now.

Lalaith · 10-19-2006, 01:06 PM

Hmmm.....Despite being generally impressed by the films, I got cross about quite a lot of things. Theoden's complete change of character...Eowyn's lack of froideur...Frodo's drippiness...Gimli as the fourth Stooge....all things considered, the fact that Legolas was pretty damn hot was fairly low on the list of annoying things as far as this particular long-time Tolkien fan was concerned.

Alcarin · 10-22-2006, 05:41 AM

I wonder who will play the elves in The Hobbit Movie. I really hope it's not a ''handsome'' actor, because it just brings the spirit of Tolkien down. People will only go to the movie because people will say: '' Have you already seen that Elf in The Hobbit? He is SO hot, you got to watch it!''
Tolkien can't be forgotten...

Luinilwen · 10-25-2006, 03:49 AM

Ok, my two cents:
1) Yes, I think that casting the character as a teen heartthrob or action hero detracted from the book's Legolas, and even really from the quality and depth of the character in the movie.

2) However, this is not necessarily an evil. If sacrificing some aspect of a character will draw more people into ME, then it is not a total loss. I had never read any Tolkien before the movies came out. I mostly went to see them because Legolas looked hot and there was sword fighting (I'll claim the young and stupid defense). But this introduced me to ME and Tolkien's masterpieces, and now I can't imagine life without them.

Besides, would we have quite so much fun picking the movies apart if PJ had been completely faithful to the book?

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 10-25-2006, 03:56 AM

No; but we would have greater enjoyment in watching them.

Legolas? He was alright. Remember that he is a minor character and so his depiction doesn't have to be criticised too much.

Boromir88 · 10-26-2006, 02:58 PM

Fordim to add to your list there:

FOTR:

'Something draws near. I can feel it!'

TTT:

'They run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them.'

'He was twitching!' (but I admit worse is what Gimli says afterwards).

ROTK:

(during the infamous drinking scene)...'I feel something. I slight tingle in my fingers. I think it's affecting me.'

'The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East. A sleepless malice. The eye of the enemy is moving. He is here!'

'The horses are restless, and the Men are quiet.'

alatar · 10-27-2006, 09:31 AM

Reading the quotes, I'm starting to wonder if William Shatner, of Captain Kirk fame, was the dialogue ghost-writer.

I'm too old to be concerned about 'fan-girls', and I have three of my own, so my dislike for the PJ Legolas character is not from jealousy. It's just another character on a list that weren't used to their maximal effect. PJ could have done more with Legolas, but as the movies progressed, decided that it was easier on the audiences' brains to expect 'one thing' from the elf prince. See Legolas = over-the-top stunt. Make that two things - See Legolas = straight man for Gimli to play off of.

I like Legolas when he's in the boat in FotR listening to Gimli recount getting a gift from Galadriel. Also, though the elf's fighting is fine, again, by the time we reach RotK, there's nothing much more this character does.

Folwren · 10-27-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boromir88

FOTR:

'Something draws near. I can feel it!'

TTT:

'They run as if the very whips of their master's will were behind them.'

ROTK:

'The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East. A sleepless malice. The eye of the enemy is moving. He is here!'

'The horses are restless, and the Men are quiet.'

*grumbles* These are elf-like quotes, thanks much.

Really, would you all have liked him better if he had had the quotes from the book?

FOTR:

'Well, I have not brought the Sun. She is walking in the blue fields of the South.'

'A plague on the Dwarves and their stiff necks!'

I'm not going to search for any others...I've not read the books in a long time and don't remember Legolas' quotes readily.

He made a good elf, I think...except for a few of his stunts, but not even many of those were ridiculous. Alright, yes, some of his lines were laughable, but that's not his fault...and it's not even for his lines that he's made fun of so often.

-- Folwren

10-19-2006, 01:06 PM	#2
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Hmmm.....Despite being generally impressed by the films, I got cross about quite a lot of things. Theoden's complete change of character...Eowyn's lack of froideur...Frodo's drippiness...Gimli as the fourth Stooge....all things considered, the fact that Legolas was pretty damn hot was fairly low on the list of annoying things as far as this particular long-time Tolkien fan was concerned. __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

10-22-2006, 05:41 AM	#3
Alcarin Pile O'Bones Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In your House Posts: 18	I wonder who will play the elves in The Hobbit Movie. I really hope it's not a ''handsome'' actor, because it just brings the spirit of Tolkien down. People will only go to the movie because people will say: '' Have you already seen that Elf in The Hobbit? He is SO hot, you got to watch it!'' Tolkien can't be forgotten... __________________ “By the Way of the warrior is meant death. The Way of the warrior is death. This means choosing death whenever there is a choice between life and death. It means nothing more than this. It means to see things through, being resolved.”

10-25-2006, 03:49 AM	#4
Luinilwen Pile O'Bones Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Under the shadow of a doubt. Posts: 11	Ok, my two cents: 1) Yes, I think that casting the character as a teen heartthrob or action hero detracted from the book's Legolas, and even really from the quality and depth of the character in the movie. 2) However, this is not necessarily an evil. If sacrificing some aspect of a character will draw more people into ME, then it is not a total loss. I had never read any Tolkien before the movies came out. I mostly went to see them because Legolas looked hot and there was sword fighting (I'll claim the young and stupid defense). But this introduced me to ME and Tolkien's masterpieces, and now I can't imagine life without them. Besides, would we have quite so much fun picking the movies apart if PJ had been completely faithful to the book? __________________ Forever's a promise no love can survive and trust with hearts just don't apply.

10-25-2006, 03:56 AM	#5
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	No; but we would have greater enjoyment in watching them. Legolas? He was alright. Remember that he is a minor character and so his depiction doesn't have to be criticised too much. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

10-26-2006, 02:58 PM	#6
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,521	Fordim to add to your list there: FOTR: 'Something draws near. I can feel it!' TTT: 'They run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them.' 'He was twitching!' (but I admit worse is what Gimli says afterwards). ROTK: (during the infamous drinking scene)...'I feel something. I slight tingle in my fingers. I think it's affecting me.' 'The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East. A sleepless malice. The eye of the enemy is moving. He is here!' 'The horses are restless, and the Men are quiet.' __________________ Fenris Penguin

10-19-2006, 04:20 AM	#1
Lhunardawen Hauntress of the Havens Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: IN it, but not OF it Posts: 2,538	We have to admit that PJ has financial motive - not too ulterior, as a matter of fact. Someone has to rake in all the girls, and ruggedly handsome Aragorn is too noble for the job. Yeah, like morm said. Heartthrob. He's too perfect. No one in a film can be that perfect. PJ & Co. has to make modern-day people who would rather sit in the dark watching a film munching popcorn than read a book understand that the book says that an Elf is so-and-so. There can't be a narrator saying "an Elf is so-and-so" verbatim from the book, so PJ & Co. has to translate it to a language that the modern-day people can understand. If the book says that an Elf is tireless and graceful and all that stuff about being a warrior, they have to show it. Turn him into a skaterboi and the stuntman of your dreams. I wonder how you will react if I tell you that it all boils down to Bloom's fault that I'm even posting this, here, right now.

10-27-2006, 09:31 AM	#7
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	Reading the quotes, I'm starting to wonder if William Shatner, of Captain Kirk fame, was the dialogue ghost-writer. I'm too old to be concerned about 'fan-girls', and I have three of my own, so my dislike for the PJ Legolas character is not from jealousy. It's just another character on a list that weren't used to their maximal effect. PJ could have done more with Legolas, but as the movies progressed, decided that it was easier on the audiences' brains to expect 'one thing' from the elf prince. See Legolas = over-the-top stunt. Make that two things - See Legolas = straight man for Gimli to play off of. I like Legolas when he's in the boat in FotR listening to Gimli recount getting a gift from Galadriel. Also, though the elf's fighting is fine, again, by the time we reach RotK, there's nothing much more this character does. __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.