The Desolation

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Diamond18

(Sidenote, I didn't expect a real answer to this on Tumblr but if anyone on the Downs knows, what actually was up with Legolas' eyes? Has Jackson made any comments about them?)

I seem to remember reading, back in the days of the LOTR films, a statement that elven eyes change colour depending on their mood - hence Legolas's eyes went from blue (or grey, can't remember) to brown in the films. The real reason was that they'd blundered with Orlando Bloom's contact lenses, or even forgot to put them on.

[Alcidas]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

I seem to remember reading, back in the days of the LOTR films, a statement that elven eyes change colour depending on their mood - hence Legolas's eyes went from blue (or grey, can't remember) to brown in the films. The real reason was that they'd blundered with Orlando Bloom's contact lenses, or even forgot to put them on.

Bloom has brown eyes naturally. (Or at least I'm assuming he does because they were brown in Kingdom of Heaven, and I think they are unlikely to have asked him to wear coloured contact lenses for that film) - he had brown eyes in Troy as well - so if there was a blunder then its just that they went ahead and gave him blue eyes for DoS, forgetting that he had brown eyes in LoTR

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Alcidas

so if there was a blunder then its just that they went ahead and gave him blue eyes for DoS, forgetting that he had brown eyes in LoTR

He definitely had blue eyes in parts of the LOTR films, and it's a better, more natural blue too than the sickly shade in DOS.

[Diamond18]

Interesting about the eyes. I had done a quick Google image search and thought that they looked brown, but perhaps I was looking at some of the parts where they forgot to use the contact lenses. Seems like such a hassle to go through when Bloom looks better with his natural coloring and there's no reason why Legolas should be blond haired and blue eyed to begin with.

Hi Kuru!

[Boromir88]

John Rateliff did a 3-part review of An Unexpected Journey, which was quite positive from what I remember. Here's his considerably shorter Desolation review. He makes good points about trying to appease movie critics chomping for more action, and Tolkien fans saying there wasn't enough of The Hobbit, the barrel-riding scene, and the dwarves trying to kill Smaug.

http://sacnoths.blogspot.de/2013/12/the-desolation.html

[Alcidas]

Originally Posted by Diamond18

Interesting about the eyes. I had done a quick Google image search and thought that they looked brown, but perhaps I was looking at some of the parts where they forgot to use the contact lenses. Seems like such a hassle to go through when Bloom looks better with his natural coloring and there's no reason why Legolas should be blond haired and blue eyed to begin with.

Hi Kuru!

If memory serves me correctly, I think the book does describe Legolas as being fair-haired. But I m not sure. Anyone?

[Diamond18]

I have always thought that as a Downs consensus, Legolas' true hair color is unknowable, one of the mysteries of the Tolkien universe, much like Balrog wings.

Of course my mind goes immediately to this classic thread.

[mark12_30]

If I recall correctly, Orlando wore the blue contacts all through LoTR filming, except for three days when one of his eyes got infected and he nakedly (or blindly) went brown-eyed. I think they were supposed to "correct" those shots later and... forgot? So those scenes got extra press, as the fangirls chose between Legolas-blue and Orli-brown.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Alcidas

If memory serves me correctly, I think the book does describe Legolas as being fair-haired. But I m not sure. Anyone?

No it doesn't. Thranduil is golden haired as are at least one of the Lorien marchwardens IIRC (though golden mark you not plutonium blonde as per films). There is a description of Legolas' head being dark, but this is at night so it may have just been shadowed.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

1934 Pontiac:


1934 Pontiac, Purist restoration:


1934 Pontiac, Jackson restoration: