[Glenethor]

A funny, ironic observation:<P>One of the first times I saw the movie, a couple of women were sitting next to me, and after the film, muttered about how they didn't think the movie was that great: Their opinion? "Must be a guy's film." Now, what is funny and ironic is that, from what I've seen on the net, many girls/women of all ages are going ga-ga over Legolas, Aragorn, Sam, Frodo, Boromir. Sites have sprung up all over the place so that the fairer sex can wax dreamily over their favourite character(s). Talk about role reversal! While women are going to the film and letting their tongues hang out at the male actors, <I>guys</I> are going to the see the movie on the merits of the story.<P>And you call us guys 'pigs!' LOL! LOL! <P>Ok, original question: <P>The only principal actors I've seen in other works were: Bean; Rhys-Davies; and Ian Holm in Alien (a long time ago). I'd never seen McKellen in anything; nor Hugo Weaving; nor any of the hobbits. the last I remember of Elijah was his being interviewed on the Arsenio Hall show when he did the Twain movie. So, because my perceptions of these actors were not contaminated by perceptions from other roles, they all seemed to fit quite well for me. Ian McKellen as Gandalf...He IS Gandalf, and the acting is extroardinary. If you've seen interviews with him, he doesn't really sound or look like Gandalf out of character. I didn't see the Matrix so, my perceptions of Elrond were not too bad. As for him not being 'fair' enough to be an elf, he is Elrond <I>Halfelven</I>. Frodo was good, Boromir was great, but McKellen's Gandalf is the Gandalf from my heart and mind. He deserves the Supporting Actor Oscar, easily.<p>[ December 02, 2002: Message edited by: Glenethor ]