So, Best and Worst Characters? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

ArathorofBarahir · 06-06-2006, 05:24 PM

I honestly can't pick a worst character, for me some are better than others, but there is no bad character in the Lord of the Rings. I however enjoy and appreciate some characters better than others. Aragorn has to rank up their as my all time favorite. He is everything I wish I could be, selfless, courageous, honrable, noble and knows what must be done to protect Middle Earth. I also enjoy Boromir, proud, noble and a man of his people. Now, some of you are going to hate me for this, but I enjoy Faramir, in the books and in the movies. I think he is selfless, and is a moral and honest man. He is brave, and courageous, but he shows in a more intelligent way than his brother. Gandalf is another favorite, wise, intelligent and very strong, willing to protect Middle Earth with ever fiber of their being. And finally I loved the hobbits. The four main ones. I identify the most with Frodo, in the fact that he selflessly took the up the burden of being a Ring bearer and selflessly did it to save the Shire, but not for himself, but for the generations to come. Samwise Gamgee is probably the first character that comes to mind when I think of or mention hobbits. He's down to earth and very loving. But when what he hold's dear and cares about is threatened he will do just about anything to protect it. Merry and Pippin are great, just because of the way seemed so carefree in the beginning of the movies, and book (sort of) and then went through changes and matured, yet still maintained that hobbit sense (seen in the end of the TTT EE and the beginning of ROTK).

Rikae · 08-31-2006, 05:40 PM

For the best movie character, I'll second the vote for Gollum - who, incidentally, is a real actor and I'll bite anyone who says otherwise. Everything that's great about him - the way he moves, the way he says his lines, the expressions on his face, it's all Andy Serkis. WETA just did the costume & makeup, as far as I'm concerned. (OK, and the changing pupils, but that's insignificant). My favorite because of the way he is at once threatening, pitiful and humorous. I love the timing in the way Andy says the lines, the voice, everything ... the most memorable character in the movies by far.
My least favorite in the movies is my favorite in the books: Aragorn. Viggo's a decent actor, but he just can't fill Aragorn's shoes. He's too casual, and he lacks the mystery and potential danger implied in first two books and the nobility of Aragorn in the third book. There just isn't enough depth or intensity. Besides, I always pictured Aragorn with stubble, rather than a goatee.

Elladan and Elrohir · 09-12-2006, 04:17 PM

Just because he's my favorite character from the books, I'll give my vote to a character who, as far as I can see, hasn't yet received a single vote for Favorite: Frodo Baggins.

"How in the world?" you protest. "They picked an eighteen-year-old kid to play him, he does nothing but look scared in FOTR, he leaves Sam behind in ROTK, how do you still like the movie version of Frodo?"
Not quite sure. It's a very different Frodo than the one in the book, but it works -- largely because of Elijah Wood's acting. You can say what you want about the material, but I'm gonna get seriously mad if you dispute the fact that the "kid" can straight-up ACT.

Macalaure, wonderful idea to rate all the characters. Problem for me is that I can't find much to be critical about. I just can't bash these characters very well, for some reason. The acting is the best top-to-bottom that I have ever seen in any movie, anywhere. And I've gotten so used to thinking of the actors as the characters that I don't even question the casting choices.

Lush · 09-28-2006, 02:34 PM

Best: Gandalf, because Ian McKellen has the right combination of gravitas and compassion. Legolas, because despite the bright blond wig, Orlando Bloom is amazingly charming and, if you can believe it, subtle. I don't just love looking at him, I love watching him in action. Aragorn, for me, is exceptional in the first film. The other two he's great about half the time.

Worst: Frodo, because the role had so much potential, but seemed to steadily deteriorate for me from the beginning of the first film until the the end of the last film. I don't think this is Elijah Wood's fault at all, and consider him a fine actor. I think he did really well with the material he was given. I just think they exaggerated the role up too much - he just stares at the camera with those tragic blue eyes of his for what seems like to be hours. I blame this on poor directing, honestly. They made him do the same thing over and over again, and although he did it well, it didn't work for me in the larger context. I really appreciated it when, at the very end, he's seen back home in the Shire, and his face looks calm. Sad, but calm. It made all the difference.

Also, there is Haldir to consider. What's up with the bad weave? And don't even get me started on the way they had him move and talk...

P.S. Oh, and I love Gollum. Doh.

06-06-2006, 05:24 PM	#1
ArathorofBarahir Wight Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Crickhallow Posts: 247	I honestly can't pick a worst character, for me some are better than others, but there is no bad character in the Lord of the Rings. I however enjoy and appreciate some characters better than others. Aragorn has to rank up their as my all time favorite. He is everything I wish I could be, selfless, courageous, honrable, noble and knows what must be done to protect Middle Earth. I also enjoy Boromir, proud, noble and a man of his people. Now, some of you are going to hate me for this, but I enjoy Faramir, in the books and in the movies. I think he is selfless, and is a moral and honest man. He is brave, and courageous, but he shows in a more intelligent way than his brother. Gandalf is another favorite, wise, intelligent and very strong, willing to protect Middle Earth with ever fiber of their being. And finally I loved the hobbits. The four main ones. I identify the most with Frodo, in the fact that he selflessly took the up the burden of being a Ring bearer and selflessly did it to save the Shire, but not for himself, but for the generations to come. Samwise Gamgee is probably the first character that comes to mind when I think of or mention hobbits. He's down to earth and very loving. But when what he hold's dear and cares about is threatened he will do just about anything to protect it. Merry and Pippin are great, just because of the way seemed so carefree in the beginning of the movies, and book (sort of) and then went through changes and matured, yet still maintained that hobbit sense (seen in the end of the TTT EE and the beginning of ROTK). __________________ King of the Dead: The dead do not suffer the living to pass. Aragorn: You will suffer me.

09-12-2006, 04:17 PM	#3
Elladan and Elrohir Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Halls of Mandos Posts: 332	Just because he's my favorite character from the books, I'll give my vote to a character who, as far as I can see, hasn't yet received a single vote for Favorite: Frodo Baggins. "How in the world?" you protest. "They picked an eighteen-year-old kid to play him, he does nothing but look scared in FOTR, he leaves Sam behind in ROTK, how do you still like the movie version of Frodo?" Not quite sure. It's a very different Frodo than the one in the book, but it works -- largely because of Elijah Wood's acting. You can say what you want about the material, but I'm gonna get seriously mad if you dispute the fact that the "kid" can straight-up ACT. Macalaure, wonderful idea to rate all the characters. Problem for me is that I can't find much to be critical about. I just can't bash these characters very well, for some reason. The acting is the best top-to-bottom that I have ever seen in any movie, anywhere. And I've gotten so used to thinking of the actors as the characters that I don't even question the casting choices. __________________ "If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door." THE HOBBIT - IT'S COMING

09-28-2006, 02:34 PM	#4
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	Best: Gandalf, because Ian McKellen has the right combination of gravitas and compassion. Legolas, because despite the bright blond wig, Orlando Bloom is amazingly charming and, if you can believe it, subtle. I don't just love looking at him, I love watching him in action. Aragorn, for me, is exceptional in the first film. The other two he's great about half the time. Worst: Frodo, because the role had so much potential, but seemed to steadily deteriorate for me from the beginning of the first film until the the end of the last film. I don't think this is Elijah Wood's fault at all, and consider him a fine actor. I think he did really well with the material he was given. I just think they exaggerated the role up too much - he just stares at the camera with those tragic blue eyes of his for what seems like to be hours. I blame this on poor directing, honestly. They made him do the same thing over and over again, and although he did it well, it didn't work for me in the larger context. I really appreciated it when, at the very end, he's seen back home in the Shire, and his face looks calm. Sad, but calm. It made all the difference. Also, there is Haldir to consider. What's up with the bad weave? And don't even get me started on the way they had him move and talk... P.S. Oh, and I love Gollum. Doh. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

08-31-2006, 05:40 PM	#2
Rikae Mellifluous Maia Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A glade open to the stars, deep in Nan Elmoth Posts: 3,489	For the best movie character, I'll second the vote for Gollum - who, incidentally, is a real actor and I'll bite anyone who says otherwise. Everything that's great about him - the way he moves, the way he says his lines, the expressions on his face, it's all Andy Serkis. WETA just did the costume & makeup, as far as I'm concerned. (OK, and the changing pupils, but that's insignificant). My favorite because of the way he is at once threatening, pitiful and humorous. I love the timing in the way Andy says the lines, the voice, everything ... the most memorable character in the movies by far. My least favorite in the movies is my favorite in the books: Aragorn. Viggo's a decent actor, but he just can't fill Aragorn's shoes. He's too casual, and he lacks the mystery and potential danger implied in first two books and the nobility of Aragorn in the third book. There just isn't enough depth or intensity. Besides, I always pictured Aragorn with stubble, rather than a goatee.