Is Sam Justly done

[Sir Kohran]

Originally Posted by Eönwë

I don't think they show Sam properly in the movies. They portray him as the stupid, fat (If I recall, it was Frodo that was fat in the boook at the beginning) hobbit. In the book he is the first hobbit to kill an orc and especially in Cirith Ungul, he kills many orcd. Inthe movie they make him a slightly comical figuire, especially the fighting with pots and pans in Moria. Does anyone agree with this or is just me?

Um...did you actually watch the same movie as everyone else? I'm sorry but virtually nothing in your post makes sense.



Sam was never portrayed as 'stupid'. Foolish sometimes but it's the same in the books. For the most part he was shown as dedicated and loyal to Frodo.

Sam in the books *was* somewhat fat.

In the books Sam never killed 'many orcs' at Cirith Ungol. In fact all he does is wound a single orc who then dies as he slips on the ladder.

Sam in the book was meant to be a slightly comical figure.

Sam in the book was shown to be very passionate about his pots and pans so it's not too ridiculous that he could use them in a fight.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Sir Kohran

Sam in the books *was* somewhat fat.

I could of swore I read that he was too, in the books, I recall reading Gollum calling him a "fat hobbit" in the pass up Cirith Ungol. Am I imagining this? Can you cite from the book?

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I happen to like the PJ portrayal of my dearest Samwise...but umm I also think that he is very good looking though! But thats a different story. But I do think that Sean Astin is a pretty good Samwise, but nobody is going to be a perfect Sam. And I do think that Rose Cotton would know quite a bit about him!

[Laurinquë]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

I happen to like the PJ portrayal of my dearest Samwise...but umm I also think that he is very good looking though! But thats a different story. But I do think that Sean Astin is a pretty good Samwise, but nobody is going to be a perfect Sam. And I do think that Rose Cotton would know quite a bit about him!

Hm, well I rather like Sam as he is shown in the movies, I think he is really good looking too! Lovely Samwise. But I can see the point, he is not portryaed perfectly, but in comparison to other the other movie characters he is just about right.

[Gwathagor]

I thought Sam was the only character in the movie that was spot on.

[Groin Redbeard]

Sam I think was very well done, probably the best character in the movies. Peter Jackson nailled Sam's loyalty to helping Frodo dead on.

As to the fighting in Moria with pots and pans I don't see how that runes Sam's potrayle as a good hobbit. PJ did that to almost everybody even my favorite character Gimli, and that didn't bother me too much. In fact it seemed to make it a little more relatable to the characters.

Over all I think PJ, as well as Tolkien, tried to cast Sam as representing the ordinary man. Someone who isn't brilliantly smart or strong, but rather someone who has love and trust. And that is exactly what Tolkien and Peter Jackson accomplish in both their works.

[Boromir88]

I always thought, of the hobbits, Frodo was the one who drew the short straw.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

Hm, well I rather like Sam as he is shown in the movies, I think he is really good looking too! Lovely Samwise. But I can see the point, he is not portryaed perfectly, but in comparison to other the other movie characters he is just about right.

Oh you know exatly how I feel about Hansom don't you! But yes, they don't get everything exactly how they should be, but it was not too bad!

[skip spence]

Yep, Sam was portrayed fairly well in the Movies. The only major difference from the book is his status as socially equal to Merry and Pippin in the Movies. In the books, Frodo, as well as Pippin and Merry, were from rich and important upper class families. Sam was 'just' a gardener working for Frodo. This is clearly reflected in their social intercourse, where Merry and Pippin threat Frodo as an equal, often joking and taking the mick out of him, while Sam wouldn't dream speaking against his "master".
He's the faithful servant.

[Sauron the White]

from skip spence

Sam was portrayed fairly well in the Movies. The only major difference from the book is his status as socially equal to Merry and Pippin in the Movies. In the books, Frodo, as well as Pippin and Merry, were from rich and important upper class families. Sam was 'just' a gardener working for Frodo. This is clearly reflected in their social intercourse, where Merry and Pippin threat Frodo as an equal, often joking and taking the mick out of him, while Sam wouldn't dream speaking against his "master".
He's the faithful servant.

This is an excellent observation. And very true. Being an American, I have always found it disturbing and somehwat confusing that every other British book or film somehow, someway ends up being about social class. In something like the excellent REMAINS OF THE DAY its well and good because that is the essence of the story. But from a non-Britishers perspective it is way overused in too many books and films. Here in America, everything was supposed to be structured to negate the entire idea of social class and placing people in a heirarchy and comparing them as better or lesser than others. I imagine that New Zealand, is similar. When the books were adapted by someone other than a British director, it was probably inevitable that the strict social class boundaries would be lessened somewhat- both because of their own upbringing and as a nod to the potential worldwide audience.

Sam is still in a serving position and not the equal of "Mr. Frodo" as he is nearly always adressed by him. But it was good he was not turned into some sort of Gunga Din character.