[Lostgaeriel]

I think all of the actors did a very good job. This is an ensemble piece and they worked very well together. They played the roles straight and real - never over the top or campy. (A good script and good dialogue is invaluable.)<P>I watched Viggo Mortensen's performance closely - it was quiet and intense - method acting at its best. He took his own doubts about being able to do the project and converted them into Aragorn's doubts to complete his task. As Sean Bean has commented in at least one interview, Viggo was very generous in how he worked with the other actors. I think he was a perfect Aragorn - I can't imagine why he wasn't their first choice - he is handsome in that very masculine, rugged, rough-around-the-edges way, he's done some action films, and he's a great character actor. And he has the riveting screen presence that a charismatic character like Aragorn warrants. What wonderful eyes! ***SIGHS DEEPLY*** Thank goodness things worked out the way they did: I'd never heard of him or seen any of his movies before LOTR. (He's so shy and private - he doesn't do many interviews. And I don’t watch many movies.) I'm catching up now – TV Guide searches, video rentals and purchases Wow, I've missed some great stuff. An Academy Award nomination? Perhaps for ROTK, but based on his body of work for the trilogy and his career.<P>Ian McKellan WAS Gandalf. Elijah Wood was an excellent Frodo. Sean Astin makes a perfect Sam - what a great role! Liv Tyler was fine as Arwen - this is difficult to judge since they've expanded the character so much - but I didn't see her "acting". I’ll judge Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Orlando Bloom and John Rhys-Davies after TTT – they’ll come into their own then.<P>Sean Bean was totally amazing as Boromir. His death scene was amazing – worth the price of admission. I gasped with each arrow and sobbed as Aragorn took his hand. I finally felt pity for Boromir – the book never made me feel quite that way. If Bean doesn't get an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, I'll be very upset.<P>I think the casting was great. Although Hugo Weaving portrayed Elrond most excellently, I expected Elrond to look more "beautiful" and more like Arwen. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>So like was she in form of womanhood to Elrond that Frodo guessed that she was one of his close kindred.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> But handsome is as handsome does. <P>Geesh! Did I really write ALL of that gushy goo?<p>[ February 02, 2002: Message edited by: Lostgaeriel ]