James McAvoy as Bilbo Baggins? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Sauron the White · 05-31-2008, 06:59 AM

Jack Black has made a very lucrative career out of playing a stereotypical caricature of a Generation X loser. The only really good performance I have ever seen from him - and by that I mean where he was a semi-real person with emotions - was in the Gwyneth Paltrow movie where she was overweight. His miscasting in KONG was perhaps the worst since John Watne attempted to play Genghis Khan and was laughed out of many theaters.

McAvoy may be a tad too young for the part of Bilbo, but he certainly has a hobbitish look to him. It could work if they can put a few pounds and years on him with the aid of make-up.

davem · 05-31-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

McAvoy may be a tad too young for the part of Bilbo, but he certainly has a hobbitish look to him. It could work if they can put a few pounds and years on him with the aid of make-up.

Come on - they went for a Frodo who looked about 12. I don't see them going for a middle-aged Bilbo - in spite of Tolkien's Beowulf inspired 'in-joke'......

Sauron the White · 05-31-2008, 08:12 AM

Does this not raise the oft asked question about the real age of hobbits compared to human actors given Tolkiens description of the period of their "tweens" and other such descriptors?

Saying Wood looked about 12 is a gross exaggeration.

Mithalwen · 05-31-2008, 08:24 AM

OK he might have looked 13

Oh James MacAvoy is rather lovely and nearly thirty now so he wouldn't be that much too young given that slower hobbit aging.

I always thought Michael C.Hall would have been a good Bilbo - his portrayal of David Fisher in Six Feet Under had that hard combination of prissiness, courage and compassion... but I suppose his more recent role as Dexter the serial killer would make that an eccentric choice..... I still think he looks a bit hobbitty and at 37 he is just about the right age.

mark12_30 · 05-31-2008, 08:42 AM

Michael C.Hall? Too rugged-looking. Nobody would mistake him for a grocer.

"When I saw him bobbing about on the mat I had my doubts. Looked more like a grocer than a burglar."

Mithalwen · 05-31-2008, 08:51 AM

Not what I would call rugged ..and I can see him as a grocer..or perhaps the manager of an up market delicatessen

And if they are going to get anywhere near the Bilbo of then you do need someone who can do that houseproud bourgeouis bachelor who likes things just so....

mark12_30 · 05-31-2008, 09:02 AM

I find myself viscerally hoping that a heart-throb will not be chosen for the role of BIlbo. He's supposed to be the hobbit next door.

skip spence · 05-31-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I always thought Michael C.Hall would have been a good Bilbo - his portrayal of David Fisher in Six Feet Under had that hard combination of prissiness, courage and compassion...

I don't know... His role in Six Feet Under is forever etched in my mind and I wouldn't be able to see him as Bilbo without thinking that the unmarried and childless Bilbo is in fact gay.

Oh, the thought of Jack Black as Bilbo makes me shudder. But there's surely no truth behind these rumours, is there?

Mithalwen · 06-02-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skip spence

I don't know... His role in Six Feet Under is forever etched in my mind and I wouldn't be able to see him as Bilbo without thinking that the unmarried and childless Bilbo is in fact gay.

Oh come on, he is an actor.

Playing a role, seemingly very well.
If you could believe in him as a heterosexual actor playing a homosexual character, and presumably don't believe him a RL serial killer for his role in Dexter, then why can you not accept him as Bilbo whose sexuality is irrelevant?

After all to say Ian McKellen is openly gay is the understatement of the century (the love that dare not speak its name has truly become the love that won't shut up in his case), do you see Gandalf as gay? Of course for me the difference is that I never managed to suspend my disbelief and accept McKellen as Gandalf.

skip spence · 06-02-2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Oh come on, he is an actor.

Playing a role, seemingly very well. If you could believe in him as a heterosexual actor playing a homosexual character, and presumably don't believe him a RL serial killer for his role in Dexter, then why can you not accept him as Bilbo whose sexuality is irrelevant?

Haven't really watched Dexter. The thing is, some things are just hard to accept, often for emotional reasons that can't be supported by rationality. I've nothing against gays or Michael C. Hall (he is a very good actor), I just don't want him to see him play Bilbo for the said reason.

Quote:

d o you see Gandalf as gay?

Could be. He is unmarried. No love interests are ever recorded. Also a clever linguist who clearly takes good care of his body, looking at least half his age. Could very well be.

05-31-2008, 08:24 AM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	OK he might have looked 13 Oh James MacAvoy is rather lovely and nearly thirty now so he wouldn't be that much too young given that slower hobbit aging. I always thought Michael C.Hall would have been a good Bilbo - his portrayal of David Fisher in Six Feet Under had that hard combination of prissiness, courage and compassion... but I suppose his more recent role as Dexter the serial killer would make that an eccentric choice..... I still think he looks a bit hobbitty and at 37 he is just about the right age. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

05-31-2008, 08:42 AM	#5
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Michael C.Hall? Too rugged-looking. Nobody would mistake him for a grocer. "When I saw him bobbing about on the mat I had my doubts. Looked more like a grocer than a burglar." __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

05-31-2008, 08:51 AM	#6
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	Not what I would call rugged ..and I can see him as a grocer..or perhaps the manager of an up market delicatessen And if they are going to get anywhere near the Bilbo of then you do need someone who can do that houseproud bourgeouis bachelor who likes things just so.... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

05-31-2008, 09:02 AM	#7
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	I find myself viscerally hoping that a heart-throb will not be chosen for the role of BIlbo. He's supposed to be the hobbit next door. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

05-31-2008, 06:59 AM	#1
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	Jack Black has made a very lucrative career out of playing a stereotypical caricature of a Generation X loser. The only really good performance I have ever seen from him - and by that I mean where he was a semi-real person with emotions - was in the Gwyneth Paltrow movie where she was overweight. His miscasting in KONG was perhaps the worst since John Watne attempted to play Genghis Khan and was laughed out of many theaters. McAvoy may be a tad too young for the part of Bilbo, but he certainly has a hobbitish look to him. It could work if they can put a few pounds and years on him with the aid of make-up.

05-31-2008, 08:12 AM	#3
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	Does this not raise the oft asked question about the real age of hobbits compared to human actors given Tolkiens description of the period of their "tweens" and other such descriptors? Saying Wood looked about 12 is a gross exaggeration.