I have found that people think that when they've read the books as well (including people who read the books first, or read them years ago). I know lots of book readers that love Gollum and pity him, and they generally think that Gollum is sweet. I don't think it has anything to do with the movies, alone, at all. So, I don't think that PJ failed. Reading the books is all a matter of perception. PJ has filled some people's perceptions to a tee, but perhaps he has failed those who had a different perception of Gollum in the first place. You can easily take what you will from dialogue in a book and make that character your own and in your own fashion... but you can't do that in film because it's just presented to you. You have to accept the filmmakers'/actor's final decision on the character... there is less to perceive.<BR>I, personally, dislike the character in both... but that's just me. Perhaps I'm not as forgiving as Frodo in respect of Gollum... I view him more as Sam does.
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