Is Sam Justly done

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

Hm, well I rather like Sam as he is shown in the movies, I think he is really good looking too! Lovely Samwise. But I can see the point, he is not portryaed perfectly, but in comparison to other the other movie characters he is just about right.

Oh you know exatly how I feel about Hansom don't you! But yes, they don't get everything exactly how they should be, but it was not too bad!

[skip spence]

Yep, Sam was portrayed fairly well in the Movies. The only major difference from the book is his status as socially equal to Merry and Pippin in the Movies. In the books, Frodo, as well as Pippin and Merry, were from rich and important upper class families. Sam was 'just' a gardener working for Frodo. This is clearly reflected in their social intercourse, where Merry and Pippin threat Frodo as an equal, often joking and taking the mick out of him, while Sam wouldn't dream speaking against his "master".
He's the faithful servant.

[Sauron the White]

from skip spence

Sam was portrayed fairly well in the Movies. The only major difference from the book is his status as socially equal to Merry and Pippin in the Movies. In the books, Frodo, as well as Pippin and Merry, were from rich and important upper class families. Sam was 'just' a gardener working for Frodo. This is clearly reflected in their social intercourse, where Merry and Pippin threat Frodo as an equal, often joking and taking the mick out of him, while Sam wouldn't dream speaking against his "master".
He's the faithful servant.

This is an excellent observation. And very true. Being an American, I have always found it disturbing and somehwat confusing that every other British book or film somehow, someway ends up being about social class. In something like the excellent REMAINS OF THE DAY its well and good because that is the essence of the story. But from a non-Britishers perspective it is way overused in too many books and films. Here in America, everything was supposed to be structured to negate the entire idea of social class and placing people in a heirarchy and comparing them as better or lesser than others. I imagine that New Zealand, is similar. When the books were adapted by someone other than a British director, it was probably inevitable that the strict social class boundaries would be lessened somewhat- both because of their own upbringing and as a nod to the potential worldwide audience.

Sam is still in a serving position and not the equal of "Mr. Frodo" as he is nearly always adressed by him. But it was good he was not turned into some sort of Gunga Din character.

[Finduilas]

I would say that Sam was well done in almost all respects. I don't like, however, how violent he is towards Gollum, but I suppose, it being film not book, there was no other easy way to show his dislike. But I do like the fact that he said something to Gollum after the whole Faramir thing, trying to explain.

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

from skip spence
This is an excellent observation. And very true. Being an American, I have always found it disturbing and somehwat confusing that every other British book or film somehow, someway ends up being about social class.

It must be said though that Tolkien didn't in any way portray the upper classes as any better or more worthy than the 'commoners'. While Sam always knew his place, Frodo never looked down on him and always encouraged him (now I'm talking about the books). And Sam eventually ends up as the major of the Shire, if I remember correctly. After all, class climbing is another age old English tradition.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

This is an excellent observation. And very true. Being an American, I have always found it disturbing and somehwat confusing that every other British book or film somehow, someway ends up being about social class. In something like the excellent REMAINS OF THE DAY its well and good because that is the essence of the story. But from a non-Britishers perspective it is way overused in too many books and films. Here in America, everything was supposed to be structured to negate the entire idea of social class and placing people in a heirarchy and comparing them as better or lesser than others. I imagine that New Zealand, is similar. When the books were adapted by someone other than a British director, it was probably inevitable that the strict social class boundaries would be lessened somewhat- both because of their own upbringing and as a nod to the potential worldwide audience.

Sam is still in a serving position and not the equal of "Mr. Frodo" as he is nearly always adressed by him. But it was good he was not turned into some sort of Gunga Din character.

I don't get it. . . You don't like class and heirarchy and therefor you want them out of the movies?
Anyways I do belive that most countries are not in denial about social classes, so maybe it was left out to please the american and a few other nations viewers. . .

I think I shall stay out of the actuall discution of this thread as I always hated Sam. . . he really annoys me.

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne

I think I shall stay out of the actuall discution of this thread as I always hated Sam. . . he really annoys me.

*gasp* How can you hate Sam?! In the books he's the best, most adorable, couragous, humble, best...oh, I've already said that. He's my favorite character, in the books.

In the movies he was one of the best adaptions in the first movie, but by the time the third came out, they really missed their mark and turned him into a brutal, angry hobbit who was frustrated with the journey and with Frodo and took all his frustration out on Gollum.

I think they should have kept the class difference and the hierarchy in the movies, especially with Sam. He calls him Mr. or Master Frodo mayby three times in the first movie, and then not at all in the others. Well, okay, more than three times, but most of the time, he just calls him Frodo. Whereas in the books...lol...maybe he calls him Frodo a couple times, but usually it's Mr. Frodo or just plain Master, which, in my (humble) opinion makes him so much a nicer, better character, because he is a servant and knows it and wants to be. Talk about a run on sentence.

So, Is Sam Justly Done? Halfway so and halfway not. Certainly better than Gimli or Aragorn or Frodo, but not as well as Boromir and Eowyn.

[Sauron the White]

from Rune

I don't get it. . . You don't like class and heirarchy and therefor you want them out of the movies?

I do not believe I said that. Here is what I said about adapting the class distinctions part of the book to film

it was probably inevitable that the strict social class boundaries would be lessened somewhat-

[Meriadoc1961]

I had fewer problems with Sam in the movies than I did other characters, but I thought they had him being too cruel to Gollum in the movies. That was my biggest complaint.

Merry