Would Gollum have been better unanimated?

[Mithalwen]

I really wasn't keen on the movie gollum - perhaps I had seen one too many "how it was done programme" but I found it impossible to suspend my disbelief with Gollum and his "active fit" loincloth (bet it beats pampers for a nappy that stays in place regardless of what the wearer does).

Peter Woodthorpe is unbeatable for me too ( the Sam/Frodo/Gollum trio is perhaps the aspect of the Radio version that most decisively better than the film - though even I (!) prefer somethings in the film (Aragorn perhaps being the most decisive winner) and some characters / handling are different but not inferior but different (Christopher Lee was a powerful Saruman but the radio actor caught the poisoned honey charm of his voice so well.

Yes I know some things are easier on the radio, but I have also seen the musical and the handling of Gollum played by a real person (acrobat Michel Therriault) was amazing.