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12-17-2002, 11:04 AM
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#1 |
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Princess of Skwerlz
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles)
Posts: 7,645
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*TTT - Gandalf the White (Ian McKellan)*
Tell us what you think of Gandalf and the actor playing him!
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' |
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12-18-2002, 03:09 PM
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#2 |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 637
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Fantastic. He looks so royal and pure, and caring. Exactly like he is supposed to be.<P>"I come to you now at the turn of the tide."<P>Marvelous job, Mr. McKellan!
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Hopes fail. An end comes. We have only a little time to wait now. We are lost in ruin and downfall and there is no escape. -Frodo My Livejournal |
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12-18-2002, 03:23 PM
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#3 |
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Pile O'Bones
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: here, for now.
Posts: 25
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May I echo you, TolkienGurl? Gandalf the White is perfect in this film!
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here in the realms of fantacy do i find my only escape from the harsh realities of the real world. |
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12-18-2002, 03:44 PM
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#4 |
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The Perilous Poet
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Heart of the matter
Posts: 1,096
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...and that's the funny thing about these films, it seems to me. Unlike many other adaptations, I do not have too many problems with <I>casting</I> per se, but now a multitude about <I>directing</I>. All the actors, especially the old school - McKellen, Blanchett, Holm, Lee - do superbly. Yet they ofetn feel misdirected, underplayed, undervalued. <P>Perhaps it is the fact that juxtaposed with their character observations are the showy bangs and crashes of special effects that producers demand audiences to want.<P>Take Elijah Wood, who is not inherently a poor actor. However, Frodo's part is horridly written for the screen, and his ineffectuality is not testament to the actor's skill, nor the original depth of the literary character. This leaves only the script-writers and director to blame for the myriad errors that other minds have discerned.<P>It seems despite the actors' and author's best efforts, certain elements of the production team are determined to remove any trace of the crucial elements of LOTR - character development and interaction, leading to exposition and growth.
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And all the rest is literature |
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12-18-2002, 04:01 PM
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#5 |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 637
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That pretty much sums up what I was thinking, yet I have not the grace to place my thoughts into words. Well said, Rimbaud!
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Hopes fail. An end comes. We have only a little time to wait now. We are lost in ruin and downfall and there is no escape. -Frodo My Livejournal |
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12-18-2002, 04:33 PM
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#6 |
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Pile O'Bones
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Virginia
Posts: 12
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I just wanted to say Sir Ian McKellan is amazing in his role of Gandalf. At least there was some positive in this movie.
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12-18-2002, 11:23 PM
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#7 |
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Wight
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Denmark
Posts: 188
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McKellan is second to none - I <I>liked</I> the 'old', more 'human' Gandalf better, but that's another story.
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12-18-2002, 11:40 PM
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#8 |
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Fair and Cold
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: the big onion
Posts: 1,803
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I have to disagree with you there, Rimbaud. While the direction of TTT was certainly not up to par with FotR (yes, yes, the sagging middle, that RotK will hopefully redeem), I cannot go as far as saying that "Frodo's part is horridly written," or that Ian McKellen's talent is somehow undermined by PJ's ineptitude. I think this is largely a matte of taste.<BR>*Ahem* Well, this is a Gandalf thread, and I must say that I was impressed. Ian McKellen gives me goosebumps (ha! So much for the pretty boys!), and his presence is commanding, powerful, enchanting, yet still somewhat down-to-earth. I can only hope that he will have more screen time in RotK; his impact here was somewhat muted by his lack of anything to say.
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~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~ |
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12-19-2002, 12:35 AM
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#9 |
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Ghastly Neekerbreeker
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto
Posts: 1,757
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Oh, was Gandalf in this movie?
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12-19-2002, 12:38 AM
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#10 |
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Fair and Cold
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: the big onion
Posts: 1,803
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Grrr, Birdie, you are always more concise!Perhaps you ought to teach a class?
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~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~ |
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12-19-2002, 12:38 AM
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#11 |
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Eidolon of a Took
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: my own private fantasy world
Posts: 3,561
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Exactly, Birdland.<P>There was nothing wrong with Sir Ian, but either the writing or direction was really lacking so that you barely think about him at all when he's not actually right in the middle of the screen.
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All shall be rather fond of me and suffer from mild depression. |
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12-19-2002, 03:41 AM
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#12 |
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Princess of Skwerlz
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles)
Posts: 7,645
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Wonderful, Birdie!! Yes, he actually was - don't tell me you missed Shadowfax' rearing-in-the-sunrise-western-style scene???
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' |
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12-19-2002, 04:54 AM
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#13 |
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Auspicious Wraith
Join Date: May 2002
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 4,992
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Gandalf was great.
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Los Ingobernables de Harlond |
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12-19-2002, 02:25 PM
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#14 |
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Summoner of Lost Souls
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: At home, with my Strongbow
Posts: 525
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He was amazing!<P>Though I must echo you Mollecon, my friend. I liked the old "grandfather" Gandalf better. But we all know he couldn't stay that way. He's now a man on an urgent mission.
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-"Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave. Our birth is nothing but our death begun." |
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12-19-2002, 02:30 PM
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#15 |
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Shade of Carn Dūm
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The shoulder of a poet, TX
Posts: 388
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He was great when I actually saw him, but I wish he spoke more. I would've liked to have seen more of Shadowfax too.
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"'You," he said, "tell her all. What good came to you? Do you rejoice that Maleldil became a man? Tell her of your joys, and of what profit you had when you made Maleldil and death acquainted.'" -Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis |
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12-19-2002, 06:30 PM
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#16 |
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Ghastly Neekerbreeker
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto
Posts: 1,757
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<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>don't tell me you missed Shadowfax' rearing-in-the-sunrise-western-style scene???<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR> Yessss, I caught that. And also the cavalry...I mean the Rohirrim arriving just in the nick of time.<P>Guess P.J. was a big fan of <I>Stage Coach</I>.<p>[ December 19, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]
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12-19-2002, 07:05 PM
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#17 |
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Cornus Caliga
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Five-hundred-twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes from here
Posts: 724
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Gandalf was superb, although I agree with Birdie and Lush in that he was not in the story as much as I would have liked. And Shadowfax... WHOA!!!! That horse is truly the lord of all horses. I would kill for a horse like that.
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That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. .................William Wordsworth |
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12-20-2002, 08:18 AM
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#18 |
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Wight
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Nan Elmoth
Posts: 136
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He sure was great but where was all the wise words and powerful talikng? HeE just rode around on that fancy ancient shadowfax killing orcs all the time.
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The fool speaks of what he knows. The wise knows what he speaks of. |
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12-23-2002, 01:15 AM
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#19 |
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Beholder of the Mists
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Somewhere in the Northwest... for now
Posts: 1,436
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Gandalf the White was Amazing . I too wish he was in more of the film, but everytime he was Sir Ian played him perfectly, he is such a wonderful actor.
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Wanted - Wonderfully witty quote that consists of pure brilliance |
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12-23-2002, 10:52 PM
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#20 |
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Wight
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
Posts: 201
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I loved Ian McKellen's performance. I didn't really notice a huge lack of him, and I don't know how some of you can be so pessimistic *coughBirdiecough* I loved it when he stood in front of Theoden and threw off his cloak. It was like hope, embodied. He was great!
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My imaginary friend says you have problems. |
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12-24-2002, 12:09 AM
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#21 |
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Wight
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: austin
Posts: 169
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I loved it when he revealed himself to Theoden as the "white" as well. I only wish his words had been what returned Theoden to himself rather than that B-movie exorcism. <P>Ian McKellan did a great job as Gandalf. I don't think the casting could have been better. He was just as I'd imagined Gandalf to be.
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Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 |
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01-01-2003, 01:11 PM
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#22 |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: In a box with a fox
Posts: 1,347
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Ian Mckellan was perfect. He was great as gandalf the white. I liked the way they used light to make it so the three hunters couldn't see him.
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"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, sleepies, we must go, yes, we must go at once." |
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01-03-2003, 03:20 PM
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#23 |
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Vice of Twilight
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: on a mountain
Posts: 1,139
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Gandalf was wonderful in this movie, though I do miss Gandalf the Grey. And I do hope Gandalf will get more of a part in ROTK then he did in this movie.<P>I did think it was a bit strange how he hit Theoden on the head. I almost did laugh, after I got over my shock. It's just something in my family... when someone gets hit in the head. The scene in Chicken Run where the rooster hits the hen on the head flashed by, so maybe that was it...<P>There's not very much to say about Gandalf, as he didn't get a big enough part in the movie, but I'll say what more I can.<P>I loved how they did the flashback scene to him fighting the Balrog, though it was more Frodo's dream then a flashback. Actually... all the same, it WAS a flashback. <P>His appearance as Gandalf the White was truly amazing and wonderful. I felt a little queer when he came back, as though I was actually in the movie and my joy could not be told. It was as though I hadn't known for seven years that he did come back.<P>I was a bit disappointed they didn't have his, "Get up, you Tomfool of a Took," scene, but maybe in the extended edition?<P>~Nurumaiel
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In the fury of the moment I can see the Master's hand in every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand. |
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01-04-2003, 09:46 AM
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#24 |
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Pile O'Bones
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: cumbria, england
Posts: 21
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I thought sir Ian McKellen played a great gandalf the grey he really suited it. But i think he would of looked a bit better for gandalf the white if he had died the beard white aswell.<P>did you know he was going to play dumbledore in the next harry potter movie?
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"Not all who wander are lost" |
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01-04-2003, 09:55 AM
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#25 |
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Guest
Posts: n/a
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I think he is an incredible actor. That being said, I have a story (no sighing now! It's not that long!). My child and I were watching a special on tv about LoTR, and they were interviewing the actors. Up comes Ian, and my youngun' pops up "Mom, what is Magneto doing on the Lord of the Rings show?" /shakes head Too much Xmen I think...
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01-08-2003, 05:46 PM
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#26 |
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Wight
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arnor
Posts: 200
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Ian is good. They couldnt have picked a better person to play Gandalf. <P>But I just wanted to say that I dont like how they made beard and hair shorter. When he comes back as Gandalf The White he is supposed to be more powerful and wise than he was before. And I think of a beard and long hair as a symbol of being old and wise (and even power). So why would they cut his beard and hair instead of leaving it or even making it a little longer?
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Son of Isildur. |
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01-10-2003, 11:05 PM
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#27 |
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Shade of Carn Dūm
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Dol Amroth, upon the Bay of Belfalas
Posts: 259
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I agree Ian himself is perfect as Gandalf. But yes I do agree, his onscreen presence was somewhat hurt by the poor script (Frodo especially!)<P>Costume crew was awesome as always though!<p>[ January 11, 2003: Message edited by: -Imrahil- ]
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My body is broken. I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed. I felled the black serpent. A grim morn, and a glad day, and a golden sunset! |
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01-11-2003, 11:07 AM
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#28 |
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Wight
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: the hand of Lady Galadriel
Posts: 127
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The first time I went to see TTT I didn't pay that much attention to Ian or Gandalf, because of the million other things that were crowding my mind at the moment. But on second time around I once again realized that Ian McKellan makes an absoluteley perfect Gandalf. The thing about his performance is, im my opinion, his voice. It has always the right amount of everything, from anger and authority to compassion and humour. Perfect, I tell you, perfect.<P>I agree with you, Rimbaud, that maybe some members of the cast (like Elijah Wood...) might've profited from a better script and direction. (I really liked PJ&co.'s work , but yes, some things could've been done better.)<BR>But I also agree with Lush. The actors Rimabaud mentioned were all wonderful, and I don't think their performances were in any ways wronged. (sorry for the poor choise of words, but you get my point)
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01-11-2003, 03:50 PM
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#29 |
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Wight
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 182
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I would agree that Gandalf the White wasn't as captivating as Gandalf the Grey. But maybe Peter Jackson did that on purpose. In the book, they do say that Gandalf was very changed after his Balrog/Death/Ressurection experience, and that he wasn't as close or "human" anymore.
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At the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. - Phil. 2:10-11 |
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01-11-2003, 05:56 PM
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#30 |
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Tears of Simbelmynė
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: The Beast's Castle
Posts: 705
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Gandalf was amazing. Sir Ian McKellan was PERFECT for the part. I hope that he doesn't play Dumbeldore in the next Harry Potters. That'd be WAY too weird.<P>What about Glamdring? Did he get to keep Glamdring? Did his sword ever glow in either Fotr or TTT? Would an elven sword glow because of Uruk-Hais or only orcs?
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"They call this war a cloud over the land. But they made the weather and then they stand in the rain and say, 'Sh*t, it's raining!'" -- Ruby, Cold Mountain |
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05-25-2003, 04:12 PM
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#31 |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: In a box with a fox
Posts: 1,347
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Today, May 25th is Ian McKellen's (Gandalf) birthday! Sir Ian was born on May 25th 1939 in Lancashire, England, that makes him 64 today! Happy Birthday Ian!
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"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, sleepies, we must go, yes, we must go at once." |
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05-25-2003, 05:13 PM
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#32 |
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Denethor's True Love
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Mirkwood. With Thranduil... *swoon*
Posts: 2,118
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Happy Birthday, Gandalf!<P>I was overwhelmed by Ian's performance, particularly the way he transgresses from wise man to warrior between the films. Beautiful acting, moved me to tears (a first, as I don't generally cry... in fact, I am crying now at the memory of crying at the film... if you remember "Forth Eorlingas": that's what makes me cry so much.)<P>Anyway... yes, well done Ian! I look forward to your performance in Rotk.<P>(I don't mean to go off-topic here, but I want to do this well before the film to make sure I get the chance: I would like to be the first person to post a topic on Denethor, ie. this sort, if thats okay with everyone else. I'm sure you'll all understand my plight You all know me by now...)
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'The Hobbit' 1st impressions: 1. Thorin is hot... Oh god, I fancy a dwarf. 2. Thranduil is hotter. 3. Is that... Figwit! 4. Does Elijah Wood never age? 2nd: It's all about Fili & Kili, really. 3rd: BARD! OMG, Bard. |
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01-18-2004, 11:41 AM
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#33 |
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Shade of Carn Dūm
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: The Blessed Realm
Posts: 284
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I saw ROTK for the 3rd time yesterday and I cried more than I have ever cried while watching it...<P>I particularly enjoyed Ian McKellen's performance this time around as many of Gandalf's facial expression touched me on a level they hadn't before - to say nothing of when he spoke, especially when he says "I've sent Frodo to his death." or when he tries to comforts Pippin by telling him that death is just another road we all must follow...<P>Bravo to Sir Ian and the entire LOTR cast!
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'I love him. He's like that, and sometimes it shines through, somehow. But I love him, whether or no.' - Samwise Gamgee |
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