Posted on 01/27/2002 6:18:35 PM PST by John Farson
| New Zealander builds Hobbit hole A New Zealand man has built a Hobbit house. Carl Gifford, a stonemason from Wellington, says he used a 10-tonne digger to make the hole. He's put rocks either side of the front door and plans to install a chimney and lantern on top. He told the Evening Post he was embarrassed as he was constructing the home. He said: "I must admit I was hiding as the cars were driving past. I thought, 'These people think I'm an idiot'." The house is part of a series of stonework mounds, designs and sculptures dotted around his land. "I'm just having a bit of fun. Things that were built by those ancient people like caves have always fascinated me." |
I am so looking forward to TTT because of Gollum.
You know, he's even funny in The Hobbit. I can just picture him in that boat... or telling riddles with Bilbo waiting for his appetite to come back so he can eat Bilbo.
I also liked when he was with Saruman with the room with palantir. When he covers the palantir up and sees the Eye of Sauron, the look he gives Saruman sums it all up. He knows he is betrayed.
Oh great! Now I'll have to re-read "The Hobbit" and then go back to see the movie. Thanks. :)
"Put on a few eggs, there's a good fellow!" Gandalf called after him, as the hobbit stumped off to the pantries. "And just bring out the cold chicken and pickles!"
The minute I heard this the first time, I chuckled. How clever of them to put that in there, kindof in the background like that.
McKellan gives this half-take that says, "Oh, crap, I wish I didn't have to tell you this, but...." Then he tells him about Gollum.
Or again, when Frodo says he sees no mark on the ring. His face says, "Whew!" Then Frodo says, "Oh no, wait" — face says, "Crap!"
Dan
(c8
But in my opinion, this movie works on the strength of all the actors but especially the work of Elijah Wood as Frodo. Elijah has a hard task. He is the glue for all the other actors. They act around his character. He also has a thankless job...
There has been some criticism on this thread that Jackson hasn't protrayed Frodo brave enough or strong enough compared to the book. Actually, Jackson has helped Elijah Wood in numerous ways by making him a little helpless and weak in some of the earlier scenes. It allows Frodo to grow. It allows Frodo's character to develop shades and colors.
If that character isn't allowed to grow and develop... to be seen as stronger in TTT to contrast with the disintegration of Frodo in ROTK, then Frodo stays constant... and focus is constantly pulled away from him and other actors dominate his scenes relegating him to a "supporting role" - third in line because Gollum is a strong character. So, allowing Frodo room to grow, Frodo continues to be the "star" of the show. His character doesn't flatline and just become the third wheel of the Sam and Smeagol show.
The noble, stalwart, stagnant guy gets lost in the crowd. The acting field is very crowded in these pictures. (And all actors doing fantastic work) The camera can only focus on one actor at a time.
Even though I knew he wouldn't be nominated, I truly think Elijah Wood deserves a best actor nomination for his Frodo is never lost in the crowd. Wood paints with him such subtle colors... poignant, heartbreaking, etc. Plus, I would give an Oscar for the tear that falls from his eye at Gandalf's death.
At the beginning, Frodo seems swept up in events that are above him (at least until he gets his bearings.) The movie cuts out the parts where he is brave and strong. Gandalf practically pushes him out the door in the movie whereas in the book there is time for him to decide on his own. And they completely cut out the Barrow Downs.
But in my opinion, Jackson made those changes on purpose because they were necessary to the the characterization of Frodo. Those changes, even if they are unpopular with those who have read the book, only helps Elijah Wood and keeps Frodo where he belongs... front and center in the action.
You can have the "starring" role and be the most uninteresting person in the movie. By giving Frodo a chance to develop, Jackson has given Wood a tremendous help in character development and portrayal. Elijah makes Frodo far from stagnant...
What a shame it would have been in the movie if the other characters dominated Frodo relegating him to third or fourth banana.
Personally, I think Smeagol will be the star of TTT mostly because he's my favorite character. It says alot about this character that in a book full of richly drawn characters, to me, he is the stand-out.
I think they all did a wonderful job, but I think those particular changes to Frodo were unnecessary and followed a certain "formula" of film-making, rather than taking a chance on following the development of Frodo's wisdom, mercy and humility as the book does.
That's JMHO, and I do think it's too early to judge without having the complete picture yet. Just as things in the beginning of the book make more sense after having read the whole thing and starting over again, I imagine some of the things in FOTR will start to resonate even more after the other two movies have been seen. It was so important for them to film all three at once, I'm so glad they did.
...and I don't think it's a huge deal--honestly.
Your point will be helpful to use when TTT comes out, to look for that particular character development idea...
-penny
There are some really neat interviews here, including the one where EW talks about getting the part, it's definitely worth the read. It sounds like everyone involved in this film had an incredible experience--this was much more than just a bunch of people getting together to make a movie...
-penny
I forgot about that one...must be all those organic solvents I've been playing with lately.
I think you are right about that...There was no need to replace Glorfindel with Arwen except Jackson gave in to the demands to have more female actors. Whereas it doesn't hurt the movie, it doesn't help it either.
But, what I'm trying to say (without slamming Frodo)is that all the Fellowship change and grow substantially throughout the book. I don't think I said, nor do I think that Frodo is headed for the whimp turned hero trajectory. I don't see Jackson doing that at all.
But, for the sake of the Frodo character, tweaking needed to be done so that Frodo doesn't become lost in among the others.. The danger of TTT is he could just become the straight man to the Sam/Gollum show. I don't think Jackson wants that to happen.
I think that Jackson has done a good job of keeping Frodo out front and the focus of the movie. A constant, secure, sure Frodo could pale (we will never know since Jackson didn't portray him like this) beside the other characters.
I don't want that to happen.
Here's a question for all... is the Arwen character even necessary for FOTR? I don't think so. So, if I were making the film, I would have cut Arwen out altogether... but then again if New Line Cinema was telling me to have a more females and they controlled the purse strings, I would have saluted and found a way to add Arwen without hurting not the movie... but the character of Frodo (who is changed because he didn't confront the Ringwraiths by himself... which in the book is an outstanding moment)
I have had plays performed... and I know the struggle of having the stalwart hero being overshadowed by the more colorful supporting characters, so I appreciate Jackson's dilemma.
I am more in awe of Elijah's performance.
Seriously, that's the one that really, really bugs me. In the book, he was so pathetic and helpless against them, but he still was defiant and resistent even when he was falling into shadow...
I always felt like one of the main themes of the book was that if any of the hobbits had known what they were getting themselves into--how evil the ring really was, how powerful their enemies really were...what would happen to them, etc., they never would have had the courage to do what needed to be done. Yet by the end, they've all grown into the courage necessary for each task that came their way.
-penny
The only reason I see why Arwen should be there is so that folks will know why Aragorn turns down Eowyn.
But chucking dry ice into the water bath makes up for it!
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