Let's cast the Silmarillion - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Anguirel · 04-21-2006, 10:38 AM

An extremely good point. Probably the perfect parts for many of these, in all seriousness, are relative unknowns.

Lalaith · 04-21-2006, 11:06 AM

I must have Joaquim Phoenix as one of the sons of Feanor, I don't care which one.

Also, I am rather taken with the earlier suggestion of Angelina Jolie as Luthien. Luthien's Mary-Sue qualities are something of a problem and Ms Jolie is edgy enough to dispel them.
Halle Berry as Yavanna? (Again, thus dispelling irritating hippy earth mother quality)
French actresses are in general a Good Thing. Good call of Emmeline Beart, Ang, but I'd prefer her as Idril....and Catherine Deneuve as Varda.

Anguirel · 04-21-2006, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalaith

French actresses are in general a Good Thing. Good call of Emmeline Beart, Ang, but I'd prefer her as Idril...

Nooo! You're going to turn Maeglin into Ugolin! Actually, that works on so many levels...

Joaquin for Maeglin surely, come to think of it. Remember Commodus...?

Lalaith · 04-21-2006, 11:56 AM

Sorry, Emanuelle, not Emmeline.
I thought Ugolin a very poignant character. The ribbon thing....

Anguirel · 04-21-2006, 12:03 PM

God, yes. No one with any kind of heart would support the smug, cold teacher Manon chooses over Ugolin, so vulnerable and identifiable.

Similarly, I'm always amazed that people prefer Tuor to Maeglin...

I think I must be in a minority in preferring Manon to Jean de Florette by miles...

To get back to casting-Angelina Jolie as Luthien would be a mistake of Oliver Stone-esque proportions. She has sex appeal without being beautiful, the utter opposite of Luthien. My choice of Liv Tyler represents total surrender to Mary-Sue like vapidity; I think this is inseparable from Luthien and we might as well enjoy it...

Lord Melkor · 04-21-2006, 06:04 PM

I myself favour Natalie Portman for the role of Luthien, with her obviously being the most beautiful of the Children of Iluvatar currently alive.

Eruanna · 04-21-2006, 11:15 AM

I think David Tennant would still qualify as a relative unknown...For now anyway. He's certainly capable of the intensity needed for Turin. He has really impressed me as Doctor Who.
I'd have to think of a replacement for Jude Law as Celegorm though.
Liam Neeson would get my vote as Beleg Cuthalion...he's a master at those type of mentor/father figure roles these days.

Macalaure · 04-22-2006, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anguirel

Probably the perfect parts for many of these, in all seriousness, are relative unknowns.

Sure. Not at least for budget reasons.

I suspect there are quite a lot totally unknown and, of course, totally under-rated actors right here at the Barrowdowns... I'd like to cast myself for the role of Daeron!

"Seriously" again, I definitely wouldn't take relatively unknown actors to play the elven royals. They will mostly not have that much screen time (like Galadriel in LotR), and by being played by a known actor the common audience will better perceive their importance.

You brought up Edward Norton, Anguirel. What about him as Fingon?

Anguirel · 04-22-2006, 04:03 AM

Not a bad idea, but I really do think Maedhros is his ideal part.

I'm now having second thoughts about Alan Rickman as Maglor...argh...

The title of the thread evoked a bizarre dialogue.

MAGLOR: Hey, Maedhros, let's cast the Silmarillion!

MAEDHROS: OK. Where? A fiery chasm? The ocean?

Lalaith · 04-22-2006, 04:41 AM

Quote:

She has sex appeal without being beautiful, the utter opposite of Luthien

I don't know about that...think of the evil lust she provokes in Melkor and in Celegorm...
David Tennant....I know I cast him as Merry but I'm not at all convinced about having him as Turin or what-have-you. He lacks gravitas. I'm not 100% about him as the Doctor, he's fun but he's no Ecclestone.
Speaking of which, I think he (ie Christopher Ecclestone) would be good as Gwindor, the broken elf.

PS How about Alan Rickman as Aule? Can't you just hear him saying dryly: "Nevertheless they will have need of wood..."

Macalaure · 04-22-2006, 09:14 AM

Anguirel, Rickman as Maglor and Malkovich as Curufin? Aren't the two a bit too old for these roles? And Edward Norten as the elder brother of the two?

Anguirel · 04-22-2006, 09:17 AM

Er...Elves are ageless...!

Seriously, I think that's less of a concern with Elves. Their spirit and outlook define them much more than their actual age. The calculating Curufin seems to require an older, more cynical part than the idealistic Maedhros of the Union...

Macalaure · 04-22-2006, 10:29 AM

You're right, but still elves of the same generation should be played by actors of approximately the same age. And Rickman, Malkovich etc., in my mind, fit better to the likes of Thingol, Feanor, Fingolfin and so on.

04-21-2006, 10:38 AM	#1
Anguirel Byronic Brand Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The 1590s Posts: 2,778	An extremely good point. Probably the perfect parts for many of these, in all seriousness, are relative unknowns. __________________ Among the friendly dead, being bad at games did not seem to matter -Il Lupo Fenriso

04-21-2006, 11:06 AM	#2
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	I must have Joaquim Phoenix as one of the sons of Feanor, I don't care which one. Also, I am rather taken with the earlier suggestion of Angelina Jolie as Luthien. Luthien's Mary-Sue qualities are something of a problem and Ms Jolie is edgy enough to dispel them. Halle Berry as Yavanna? (Again, thus dispelling irritating hippy earth mother quality) French actresses are in general a Good Thing. Good call of Emmeline Beart, Ang, but I'd prefer her as Idril....and Catherine Deneuve as Varda. __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

04-21-2006, 11:56 AM	#4
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Sorry, Emanuelle, not Emmeline. I thought Ugolin a very poignant character. The ribbon thing.... __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

04-21-2006, 12:03 PM	#5
Anguirel Byronic Brand Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The 1590s Posts: 2,778	God, yes. No one with any kind of heart would support the smug, cold teacher Manon chooses over Ugolin, so vulnerable and identifiable. Similarly, I'm always amazed that people prefer Tuor to Maeglin... I think I must be in a minority in preferring Manon to Jean de Florette by miles... To get back to casting-Angelina Jolie as Luthien would be a mistake of Oliver Stone-esque proportions. She has sex appeal without being beautiful, the utter opposite of Luthien. My choice of Liv Tyler represents total surrender to Mary-Sue like vapidity; I think this is inseparable from Luthien and we might as well enjoy it... __________________ Among the friendly dead, being bad at games did not seem to matter -Il Lupo Fenriso

04-21-2006, 06:04 PM	#6
Lord Melkor Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 78	I myself favour Natalie Portman for the role of Luthien, with her obviously being the most beautiful of the Children of Iluvatar currently alive. __________________ 'I am the Elder king: Melkor, first and mightiest of all the Valar, who was before the world, and made it. The shadow of my purpose lies upon Arda, and all that is in it bends slowly and surely to my will.'

04-21-2006, 11:15 AM	#7
Eruanna Memento Mori Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Past The Point Of No Return Posts: 1,117	I think David Tennant would still qualify as a relative unknown...For now anyway. He's certainly capable of the intensity needed for Turin. He has really impressed me as Doctor Who. I'd have to think of a replacement for Jude Law as Celegorm though. Liam Neeson would get my vote as Beleg Cuthalion...he's a master at those type of mentor/father figure roles these days. __________________ "Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies."

04-22-2006, 04:03 AM	#9
Anguirel Byronic Brand Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The 1590s Posts: 2,778	Not a bad idea, but I really do think Maedhros is his ideal part. I'm now having second thoughts about Alan Rickman as Maglor...argh... The title of the thread evoked a bizarre dialogue. MAGLOR: Hey, Maedhros, let's cast the Silmarillion! MAEDHROS: OK. Where? A fiery chasm? The ocean? __________________ Among the friendly dead, being bad at games did not seem to matter -Il Lupo Fenriso

04-22-2006, 09:14 AM	#11
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	Anguirel, Rickman as Maglor and Malkovich as Curufin? Aren't the two a bit too old for these roles? And Edward Norten as the elder brother of the two?

04-22-2006, 09:17 AM	#12
Anguirel Byronic Brand Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The 1590s Posts: 2,778	Er...Elves are ageless...! Seriously, I think that's less of a concern with Elves. Their spirit and outlook define them much more than their actual age. The calculating Curufin seems to require an older, more cynical part than the idealistic Maedhros of the Union... __________________ Among the friendly dead, being bad at games did not seem to matter -Il Lupo Fenriso

04-22-2006, 10:29 AM	#13
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	You're right, but still elves of the same generation should be played by actors of approximately the same age. And Rickman, Malkovich etc., in my mind, fit better to the likes of Thingol, Feanor, Fingolfin and so on.