Cinematic Frodo: Victim of Downsizing?

[Lyta_Underhill]

Wow, Sharon! That's a whole lot to digest, but I did enjoy (am still enjoying!) going back and reading the "Two Frodos" thread. I found a quote of yours on that thread that pretty much sums up the basic thread of fascination that pulls me into Middle Earth and won't let me go:

But I am more interesting in seeing the Elf-friend who dreams of the Tower and the distant sea. I want to understand his visions of a distant green land when the curtain of rain draws back. I want to follow in the path of a very small and ordinary hobbit who becomes filled with light, almost a human reflection of the Phial of Galadriel, and yet at the same time struggles with the Shadow lengthening in his soul. That, to me, is the tragedy and the wonder of it all.

That dichotomy isn't there, and, to me, it's critical as to why Tolkien felt he had discovered rather than merely invented his story. It's what calls to me from distant lands. Perhaps, I am asking for something that simply is not possible in a film, but I wish he would have tried.

This aspect of Tolkien's style is the primary ingredient in the magic stew that puts me under the spell, but I realize also that there is no way this delicate web can be woven by a mere film. Somehow, though, I manage to weave the two together without being too jarred from the background images of Middle Earth and its denizens in my head.

You and others on the other thread had gone into the differing images of Frodo and others and I noticed that everyone had a different view and some could not see some characters in their minds at all. I also liked Helen's description of the movies as fanfiction. It is a collective vision of a small group of artists made manifest for our edification. I do wish it had gone differently for Frodo's characterization in many places, but I also found new things, mainly related to being able to actually see the story playing out.

The idea that PJ's rewritten Frodo is "wimpier" at crucial moments or that some moments are omitted completely works to his detriment if one expects a mature, 50 year old Frodo, with a different relationship to others based on this. I did find the fundamental relationships to be significantly altered by his de-aging, but strangely enough, I also found that the quieter moments of strength on Frodo's part are shown subtly, no matter this difference. I think these parts are structured into the main story and that is why they cannot be removed the way the Frodo-active (to coin a word?) events in the Barrowdowns or at the Ford are. The very fact that Frodo makes this journey and manages not to fall to the Ring or dark forces until the very end is, in itself, a statement of strength. It is not the strength of a mature, integrated and well-seasoned hobbit with a light in his face and the other world about him, but it is an extraordinary strength nonetheless. You are right that it is not the same Frodo, but I would not call Elijah's version degraded, merely different and less fully realized than Tolkien's.

But, the fact that the decision to take the Ring at Rivendell and the decision to leave at Rauros, the decision to spare Gollum and even to befriend him, his doggedness in Mordor, where he really does spend every last drop of will and energy in attainment of his goal--all those factors are intrinsic to Frodo and cannot be taken away and still have a story. Just as every reader sees the characters just a little bit differently, so PJ's work of "fanfiction" has its quirks of viewpoint and characterization.

I will say that one part of Frodo's playing out that really irked me was when he denied having Gollum as a companion to Faramir when they are captured and taken to Henneth Annun. It just made Frodo seem stupid to me, since Faramir had already mentioned the "gangrel creature with an ill-favored look." That sort of thing irritates me, but I figure PJ just needed a better "beta-reader!"

Incidentally, pursuant to the discussion in the other thread of what other images of Frodo beside Elijah we all have--strangely enough, one of the best Frodo images I can think of is a guy who entered the costume contest over at theonering.net one Halloween. He dressed as Frodo; I think he had a pipe and a GREAT expression and Photoshopped some designs and Frodo's name over the picture. He must have worked on that expression, because it really hit my book-Frodo image on the head!

Well, must go! That was longer than I meant for it to be!
Cheers!
Lyta