LotR1-FotR-Seq12

[alatar]

Sorry, forgot about the phial being in the regular version - thanks for the correction, Essex.

I will agree with Boromir88 regarding Gimli. Think that in FotR we have a balanced dwarf, both comic at times and yet thoughtful and reflective. Same might be said of Legolas, as he doesn't have his bow out all of the time, and when listening to Gimli speak of Galadriel's boon, he just simply and warmly smiles. Sometimes I get the feeling that, like other makers of a second movie, PJ sat in the theater with the audience and noted when they reacted. "Hmm...they liked when Gimli cracked a joke, and they oohed and aahed the deadly Legolas. Will have to include moreMoreMORE of that in TTT."

Crazily enough, PJ's depiction of Boromir is the best of all of the characters, and he's in only half of the first movie. Aragorn is a little too standoffish, and even his scenes with Arwen don't really make me feel like he's a real guy. Frodo started off well enough, but then after he starts whining I just can't feel for him anymore. Sam's okay, but the other hobbits aren't really that interesting. Gandalf is great, that is, except when PJ makes him the boogeyman, but we left him in Moria.

I'm going to say that Boromir is the best character in FotR. PJ exceeds the book with this character, as again as I stated previously, I can identify with him and really feel the weight on his shoulders - do the right thing, or do what my father has asked?

And in regards to Lothlorien, I too found it to be a little too black. Stars at night are pretty, and so if that was what PJ was trying to capture, then he missed it here. Understandably, how do you show the audience Frodo's experience when he touches the bark of the tree? Think that PJ could have used some scenery hints from Ridley Scott's Legend (sans Tom Cruise, of course ).

[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.