Still forming your own images of Middle-earth, or stuck with Elijah and co.?

[mark12_30]

I, personally, did not care for that scene. I felt as though it was rather forced, especially as it went against the laws of physics. Elves were lithe, strong, and quick, but they were not completely superhumans, though they were immortal. This shot, in my opinion, made it look as though Elves could fly or something equally as impossible to their kind.

This opinion surprises me.

In Maine, back in 1979, I knew a lithe, extremely talented cowgirl (named Karen) who had a barrel-racing palomino named Buck. While the horse was standing still, she could swing up onto his saddle one-handed. The motion was similar. (I have pictures of her trail-riding her horse, back in my archives somewhere, but unfortunately have no pictures of this stunt, so my memory will have to suffice: )

To mount, she would stand at Buck's left shoulder facing his haunches, take a step back, holding the horn of the western saddle with one hand, swing her right leg up over the horse's haunches, push off with her standing leg, use her hand to sharply pull her hips onto the saddle, and then the momentum of the kick would bring her upright in the saddle. Then (and only then) she would casually put her feet into the stirrups.

She weighed perhaps ninety pounds. Her horse "Buck" stood at least fifteen hands. It was an impressive-- nay, spectacular sight to see this little slip of a girl go from the ground to the saddle in one smooth motion.

I tried it a few times and succeeded only in seriuosly embarassing myself (and kicking the poor bay mare I was riding.) However, I believe that with practice, improved strength, and timing, I would have eventually been able to do it.

When I saw the Legolas/ Arod stunt, there are three added factors. One, it was "performed" at the canter. Two, he grasped the breastplate, not the saddlehorn. Three, Gimli was a challenging obstacle. Hence, my chief thoughts were that "for the real elf", it would be tricky to catch the breastplate just right at the canter, but that it was plausible; and it would be hard not to kick Gimli right off of the horse.

So while the lovely arc made by his cloak was clearly CGI, other than that, I was easily able to attribute the spectacular timing to Legolas' elvish nature. If Karen could do it at the halt, I suppose an elf could do it at the gallop, even with Gimli there to increase the difficulty.

[The Saucepan Man]

But wasn't Legolas facing forward, away from the horse, at the start of his maneuvre. I don't know whether, objectively, the maneuvre is possible or not, but the way that it is portrayed in the film, it does look physically impossible to me. Having studied it once or twice since the issue was first raised, it looks to me like his arm would have to pass through his body. But then again, I'm no expert in Elven horseman(elf?)ship.

[mark12_30]

I'm going only by my memory here, but I don't think so. I think he was facing forward; reached back with his left hand, caught the breastplate, let the horse pull him into a spin, and then kicked and pulled his hips into the saddle. Tricky, yes. Impossible, no.

Of course a klutz like me would have dislocated that left shoulder.

But thinking of someone like, say, Mary Lou Retton in her prime-- no problem.

[Lalaith]

listening to the little prat in person makes my skin crawl

Oh dear, this made me laugh. I wouldn't go quite that far myself but I really can't forgive him for not having read the blessed book. He annoys me, mainly because when I think 'Frodo' now, I can't help having his quivering ickle boy face hovering around the vision of my mind's eye.

[mark12_30]

Although I wish the directors had relied less on his baby-blues and more on his line-delivery skills, I don't blame that on Wood. On the contrary, I've really enjoyed Wood's portrayal of a Much Younger And More Naive FrodoLijah. It has helped me put BookFrodo into perspective as the mature, sophisticated scholar and gentleman that he truly is. I don't have trouble separating them. But then, I don't have trouble separating Bingo from BookFrodo, nor Trotter from Strider.

As a comparison: Captain James T. Kirk, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and Captain Janeway (whatsername.) Same jobs, different styles of attacking their duties; completely different personalities. I enjoy each of them; and each of them help me to see the strengths of the other (and weaknesses as well.) I don't hate one in favor of another; I enjoy all three of them.

So while I prefer BookFrodo over both FrodoLijah and Bingo, I don't dislike any of them. Frodolijah has thrown BookFrodo in to sharp relief for me, and I am glad for it. For instance, were it not for FrodoLijah, I would not have nearly the appreciation for BookFrodo's debate with Faramir in Ithilien that I do now.

Furthermore, as actors midway through their twenties, I'm impressed with both Wood and Liv Tyler.

Wood continues through his early twenties maintaining an acting career, steering clear of major scandal, and managing to enjoy such things as video games and his CD collection. He has more to learn about controlling his speech and his attitude... (let he who is without sin among us, cast the first stone.)

Tyler has astounded me with her attitude towards relationships, self-image, and family. I'll be keeping my eye on her. The more I learn about her, the more Arwen resembles her in my mind, and I don't mind it one bit. I wish more twentysomething actresses had her attitude.