Just this past weekend, reading through LOTR the second time, I had a kinder view of him, but still found myself wishing these chapters had not been in the way.
Besides, there comes the question of casting an actor to play Tom Bombadil. And of course, there's only one person who could accurately portray a sing-songy, flamboyant, brightly dressed character: Nathan Lane.
And that would kill us, kill us... (and kill the movie).
(I should say though I find the debate over what or who Tom is to be fascinating).
You know who I pictured as Tom? The actor that played Mr. Edwards in Little House on the Prairie. He could be gregarious and be Tom Bombadil without looking gay. Unfortunately he is dead, but someone like him could play that kind of take on the character.
Any tall stoned hippy with flowers in his hair could play Tom.
Robert Shaw would have been awesome as Bombadil. Too bad. The actor that played the nutjob Irishman in Braveheart would make a decent Bombadil as well. No need to even think of Nathan Lane (*shudder*).
(I should say though I find the debate over what or who Tom is to be fascinating).
Yep. He is a singularity. There is nothing in any of Tolkein's contributory or related works that even hints at what or who Bombadil might be. My pet theory has always been that he was a corporeal embodiment of Iluvatar. Very Druidic, very much in keeping with Tokein's mythological and literary roots.