LotR1-FotR-Seq12

[Elladan and Elrohir]

This is getting a bit off topic, I realize, but I would agree with alatar that Boromir is VERY well portrayed in FOTR, and his one scene in TTT is the icing on the cake. When you say best character, I'm assuming you mean best overall (duh, why wouldn't you mean that?), in which case I'll probably have to agree with you.

As for "best portrayed from the book character," again Boromir gets very high marks. The only other character who might take that title is Ian Holm's Bilbo, which I thought was astonishingly good. Like Boromir, phenomenally acted, well written, and faithful to the book. Of course, Bilbo doesn't get a prolonged death scene.

Gandalf could've won it if not for his waffling about the whole "which way do we go" thing. But, I would say that those three performances (Bean, Holm, McKellen) may be the three best in the film. Would anyone else care to agree or disagree?

[Orominuialwen]

Originally Posted by alatar

It’s noted somewhere that when they filmed Cate, they used a light-thing with a bunch of little white lights attached, unlike when filming any of the other characters. You’ll see, if you look, white sparkles in her eyes, whereas in the other characters you may see only one sparkle. Once someone points it out to you, you can’t but help look for it.

I have a desktop background with a great example of this effect. It's very beautiful, but more than a little creepy.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Gandalf could've won it if not for his waffling about the whole "which way do we go" thing. But, I would say that those three performances (Bean, Holm, McKellen) may be the three best in the film. Would anyone else care to agree or disagree?

Gandalf the Grey, yes. I rather wish he had gotten a
supporting oscar for FOTR. But Gandalf the White,
nyet ! He was just a bully, and way out
of book character.

[Boromir88]

But, I would say that those three performances (Bean, Holm, McKellen) may be the three best in the film. Would anyone else care to agree or disagree?

I won't disagree but there was so many stellar performances in the movies. So, if I had to slim it down I would also add in Chris Lee (who I think does a wonderful Saruman, especially when we see him in ROTK EE and his "Voice") as well as Sean Astin, especially in ROTK. Even John Noble, though Denethor was totally off in the movies, Noble just does wonderful at playing that character you just want to punch in the face and were so happy when he finally died. But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

[Elladan and Elrohir]

Tuor in Gondolin, that's what I was referring to, Gandalf the Grey. Certainly not the White. I agree with you 100% on that.

Boromir 88, I was just saying those were the three best for this particular film. And I'm not at all trying to denigrate the contributions of the other actors. I would say this is perhaps the best ensemble cast ever. Every one of them is a phenomenal actor or actress. Really, what it boils down to is which actors got the best material to work with. I'd probably give it to Serkis and Otto for TTT, and Wood and Astin for ROTK.

[Lathriel]

The one thing I don't like of this sequence is when Galadriel goes all crazy. I thought that was way over the top. (Now the people, who don't remember her name, think of her as the crazy lady!) I thought this could have been done with more subtelty.
I also didn't agree with Lothlorien in the theatre cut. It was way to dark for me and the EE edition realy made me happy since it showed more light.
I liked the "Lembas commercial" that Legolas gave to the Hobbits since Lembas is never explained and it is a key part to how Frodo and Sam survive on their journey to Mordor.

I think Aragorn nudged Gimli because Gimli was snoring and it was disrepectful for Sam who was just saying his poem and trying to do his best.

Notice that as Boromir talks about Minas Tirith we hear the Minas Tirith theme in the background.

[Essex]

Elves are dangerous as well as beautiful. They are not all light and 'goodness' - an example is the Kin slaying. To me they are just as imperfect as Men. They can be petulant, angry, dangerous, 'slopey shouldered' and tempted just as Men are.

Therefore, I don't see Lothlorien as a light and wonderful place. I admit I only had this view after reading the Silmarillion and realising what the Elves really were like. LOTR doesn't give this impression too much.

I'm wondering whether the scriptwriters' took the Silmarillion in mind when creating the Elves and their habitats.

PS regarding the 'temptation scene' - how would have you guys (who disagree with jackson's potrayal) have handled it? How would you have her standing there uttering

You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!

I think the clues in the amount of exclamation marks Tolkien uses here. She's SHOUTING!

And then the light and the 'terrible' looking Galadriel. From Tolkien:

She lifted up her hand and from the ring that she wore there issued a great light that illuminated her alone and left all else dark. She stood before Frodo seeming now tall beyond measurement, and beautiful beyond enduring, terrible and worshipful.

I can see why Jackson went the way he did. It's a great cinematic moment, perfectly showing Galadriel's power and temptation. And then to finish

Then she let her hand fall, and the light faded, and suddenly she laughed again, and lo! she was shrunken: a slender elf-woman, clad in simple white, whose gentle voice was soft and sad. 'I pass the test,' she said. `I will diminish, and go into the West and remain Galadriel.'

And this is just PERFECT from Kate Blanchet. One of the best delivered lines in the whole movie. The way she quakes, shivers and then composes herself before resigning herself to her Fate. Marvelous.