Elves and Hobbits!

[Folwren]

Okay, there have been lots of threads smashing the movies and picking them apart. I'm not so much against that because I've taken part and would have rather liked to see them more like the books. There were several things that might have been changed to make them better, and yet there were also many things that I don't think could have been more well done.

Now that I've made an introduction that gives you (or me) little idea about what I really want to talk about, I'll get into it. I only have two things to comment on at the time being...Elves and Hobbits - as my title suggests.

I think that the elves were rather well done. While watching the FotR again this evening for goodness knows how many times, I noticed particularly Galadriel and how she appeared in the Mirror scene. I think that part's awesome. But what I noticed tonight for maybe the first time was the light. Behind her and about her was a light that came from herself, I guess. I wondered if it was just a light there, but Frodo didn't have it, of course, and I thought that was the coolest thing!

The hobbits, I'm sorry to say, weren't spectacular. Out of all of them, I think Sam was the best done (now, now people, it's not because he's my favorite, though you all might think so, seeing my posts on that favorite hobbit thread). The others, Frodo especially, don't really look, or even talk, like Hobbits. Of course, they grow on you and you end up loving them by the end of the trilogy, but I really wish they could have tried to find others. (I take back the 'weren't spectacular' because Sam, at least, was.)

What do you all think of the elves and hobbits? Do you completely disagree with me, or only half way disagree with me? Or do you agree entirely? That would certainly be interestingly and wonderfully encouraging.

(If anyone wants to add wizards in here, I'd go for that. )

[Boromir88]

If you are asking for how Jackson portrayed Elves and Hobbits in the movies I think these are things he did fairly well on (we'll say he passed ). I'm thinking from an overall perspective, there are some characters that I did not like the portrayal of and wish they were changed...

For the Elves it was mostly just Legolas and Elrond. I just don't like how Jackson shows Legolas as being this superhuman (or do I mean superelf?) that does cool slides and is "The most awesomest bst boeman like EVER." I can understand heightening Legolas' role a bit (for example the cave troll in Moria), but Jackson just takes it too far with the shield and trunk slides, and the horse mounting.

Elrond I just didn't like his portrayal at all throughout the entire movies. Rivendell is supposed to be the last homely house west of the Misty Mountains and Elrond didn't make it appear too homely. I just got like he wanted Aragorn to fail so Arwen wouldn't marry him and he hated everyone except his elves.

For Hobbits I can't go into how badly Frodo was portrayed. Frodo is a character that shows much bravery throughout the books and he's reduced to a stumbling, bumbling fool that constantly rolls his eyes. But, I did like all the other hobbits (I loved Ian Holm as Bilbo and Sean Astin as Sam).

[mormegil]

In my opinion Sam was the best portrayal in the entire movie. Overall with regard to the hobbits I thought they did fairly well. I myself would have liked a bit more mirth making though. I thought Bilbo was done well as was Pippin and Merry. Frodo was a bit of a let down for similar reasons as Boromir stated.

Elves on the other hand I did not like much at all. I guess I could say I found them a bit too fruity for my tastes. I know they are mystic and noble but I also think elves are great warriors and they seemed too...well too fruity like I said. That being said Galadriel was by far my favorite elf and Cate did an exceptional job in that role.

[Tuor of Gondolin]

Physically the elves and hobbits were well done, the chief
foolishness was Elrond's portrayal. It was silly to portray
Agent Elrond as a vitual "man and Aragorn hater", since he and
his children were half-elven, his brother the first king of
Numenor and Aragorn was a descendent of Elros. While it
would have taken (only) a modicum of movie explanation,
I thought ignoring the half-elven theme in LOTR in the movie
was an error.

Oh, and how about a bit of sexism in the movie? Only showing Arwen's son and
not her two daughters.

Galadriel and Celeborn were well-done (Celeborn a bit redeemed in the
extended dvd) , except for Galadriel's over the top bit with the ring
temptation. It would have been better played understated (the same for
Gandalf with Bilbo), but then that's not PJs forte.
However, I've been listening to LOTR tapes driving, and there are
subtle bits of faithfulness to the books in the movies I've previously
missed.
Also about Kate Blanchett. One of the reasons I consider FOTR to be by far
the best of the three movies is her opening narration.

[Kath]

As much as her continual appearance in the films began to get on my nerves I did think that Arwen was quite well done. The other Elves I found a bit bland (such as Arwen's guard person) or over the top (Elrond, Galadriel). The general appearance of the Elves was done well, they were tall and Cate Blanchett especially was very ethereal looking. I was very disappointed in the portrayal of Elrond to whom PJ did a great disservice. Elrond is supposed to be high and wise and dignified and they turn him into a jealous caricature.

The Hobbits were not as I had imagined them in the books at all. I had always had this vision of giant hamsters that walked on two legs - well not exactly but that's the best I can desribe them Sam I think I saw as being reasonably close to my imagination as he was nicely plump and Pippin at least had the personality perfect. Frodo I must say I was never keen on so with that the portrayal was very accurate!

[drigel]

the thing i regretted not seeing enough in the movies was the hobbit height point of reference. Very hard to do admittedly, but seeing how PJ dealt with Gollum proved to me it was doable. Lots of clever perspective tricks - yes - but (to me) not enough - and it was obvious when the little people stand ins were shot. Plenty of close ups or away shots, and plenty of hobbit only scenes, but not enough reference shots that portrayed that hobbits were not just people who were height challenged - but hobbits - 3-4 footers.