Movie Characters Revisited: Frodo

[alatar]

I know that this is a discussion about Frodo, but the *absolute* worst line in the movie is spoken at the Ford:

Nazgul, "Give up the Halfling, she-elf!"

She-elf?!? Seriously?

Why not, "Give up the He-Halfling, she-elf!"

And those of you interested, the script states that Arwen says, "Non o Chithaeglir, lasto Beth daer: Rimmo nin Briunen Dan in Ulaer!"

Anyway, like when Gandalf hits the floor when pwned by the Witch-King in RotK, Frodo hits the riverbank looking completely helpless. We couldn't have seen him somehow fighting the wound?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by alatar

Why not, "Give up the He-Halfling, she-elf!"

Because sometimes Frodo resembles a girl more than Arwen does.


It's an interesting thought, though, the "feminine" side of Frodo. It's present in the books too, but not to such extent. Perhaps it's just my mind convoluting his elvish personality, but I see him as a more feminine figure than, f. ex., Sam in the books. This is not to say that he is portrayed as a girl, but that it underlines the subtlety and grace and elvishness of his nature.

In the movies, Frodo whines and moans and faints and cries, and looses most of the characteristics that in the books give him the masculinity. At the same time, he even sometimes looks like a girl, forget about behaving like one.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Because sometimes Frodo resembles a girl more than Arwen does.

Let's differentiate between looks and mannerisms (and stereotypes). As someone stated earlier, I don't think that we'd consider Xena 'manly' just because she fights instead of waiting around to be rescued.

The issue with Frodo's mannerisms is that he doesn't seem to be or to want to be in charge of the situation. This behavior isn't to me masculine or feminine, but annoying.

Sure, he takes action when at the Council he accepts the burden of the Ring. But before and after that, he doesn't seem to be ratcheting up his will or resolve.

Guess what I'm looking for is a Frodo that's gonna go down swinging, whether he's falling from a horse at the Ford or fighting Gollum in Mordor.

Wasn't there a line from Sam about Gollum mistaking Frodo for being soft just because he's not pistol-whipping Gollum like Faramir?

Another thought: remember the scene in the Tower of Cirith Ungol? When Sam finally finds Frodo, and Frodo makes Sam aware that the quest had failed as he no longer had the Ring. I don't get the feeling that Frodo was considering a plan to get the Ring back, or to take out a few Morgul rats before being captured...no, he seems defeated and about to whine.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Can only concur with what's been said already. Not enough strength in movie-Frodo. Combined with some weird and displeasing plot changes, it doesn't paint a very flattering picture.

Also, he falls down too often. Way too often.

[Sarumian]

Should we take into account the fact that the book Frodo is a 50-year old hobbit (=40-year old man) who only looks 10 years younger than he is (thanks to the Ring) but still older then the rest of the hobbits. He is more experienced and superior to them in any respect. In the movie all hobbits look and act like teenagers; Sam seems to be even a bit more mature than Frodo.

[alatar]

Sarumian, much agreed. The movie and book ages of the Hobbits are not even close. That said, even though Frodo is probably younger in the movies (don't even get me started on timelines...), this fact doesn't give PJ cover for not having Frodo 'grow' during the movie.

Like at what scene/point do you feel like Frodo's in control, or taking an active part in his part of this long story? I'm sure that there must be a few examples (and I don't think that the Council is one of them)?

[Lalwendë]

So many good points here.

Frodo, while I can't hate him because he's Frodo and a Hobbit, is one of the more unappealing aspects of the films. He's not old enough, and the other three Hobbits seem to be older than he is. He's too 'girly' and 'dreamy'. I can perhaps see that they may have been aiming for the effect that Frodo is enraptured by 'faerie' and is a nice, quiet Hobbit, but he's also got nerve and isn't a pushover which is how he comes across in the films. Baggage indeed.

His eyes are strange, and it's something I've not been able to quite put my finger on about Elijah Wood that I do not like - he stares too much (I have the same feeling about Tobey Maguire and Tara Reid - they both un-nerve me).

He's also too posh and his accent is jarring when heard alongside the other Hobbits. Merry and Pippin are part of the very top layer of Shire society but they have completely different accents, Merry's being similar to Sam's, who is part of the labouring class.

There's something endearing about Elijah Wood's role, but looking at it critically, he is in the wrong role.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

Not enough strength in movie-Frodo. Combined with some weird and displeasing plot changes, it doesn't paint a very flattering picture.

.

One of my friends read the books becuase she couldn't wait a year to find out what happened next and was absolutely astonished to find out that in the books Frodo was brave and noble. As she said in the film he was only ever running away.

[Lollipop010900]

I think that Ejihad Wood did a good job as an actor but i think it was the scripts fault that he didn't seem as courageous and brave as he was in the books. I think Tolkein would be ashamed.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

One of my friends read the books becuase she couldn't wait a year to find out what happened next and was absolutely astonished to find out that in the books Frodo was brave and noble. As she said in the film he was only ever running away.

And when he wasn't doing that, he was standing around looking bug-eyed and helpless.

[Morthoron]

The thing I take away from the movies is that Frodo is always pictured wide-eyed, whining, and moving in slow-motion. Check out how many shots of him are in slo-mo.