New Zealander builds Hobbit hole

Ananova / The Evening Post ^ | 1/26/02

[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."

[Penny1]

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.

ITA with you completely. And I also completely agree with your point about how often main, hero characters are often overshadowed by their colorful supporting characters. That certainly wasn't the case in FOTR, and I think PJ will make it a point to make sure Frodo is front and center in TTT. I like the fact that Frodo is shown as not being terribly strong and secure. Certainly in the book he's not--it takes the entirety of FOTR before he's able to fully resist the temptation of putting on the ring. I just thought it wasn't quite as complex as it could have been--just a little too much was changed. It's always a balance, and if only they had left just one of Frodo's moments in (the ford at Bruinen, his strike at the ringwraiths at Weathertop, his strike at the orcs in Moria) I doubt I would have been bothered by it at all. I think it may in fact be that often filmmakers have to make decisions based on what they perceive to be the intelligence level of their audience. George Lucas does this all the time, he assumes his audience is so stupid they won't get his mythological references unless he beats them over the head with it. Thankfully, PJ shows a lot more respect for the audience, but I imagine it's a similar case here--people might not have "gotten" the idea that Frodo (and even the other hobbits) are not strong and powerful.

I was completely taken with Frodo's characterization, though. He is an absolutely captivating character in the book, and the movie was able to accomplish that as well, EW was perfect for the character.

I have heard that one of Elijah's favorite scenes was the Dead Marshes--I have a feeling that plus the encounter with Faramir and the long dark approach to Mordor will be what keeps Frodo's character riveting in TTT. Is anyone else hoping like I am that they won't leave us with the cliffhanger that's in the book!

As for Arwen, I did like them expanding her character a bit--particularly in incorporating some of the background between her and Aragorn so that it made some sense for the audience that they had a history. I even didn't mind her replacing Glorfindel, that happens a lot in making a movie because you just don't have time to handle as many characters. I just wish they hadn't taken away from Frodo to give to her--that just wasn't right, IMO.

-penny

[Penny1]

You know, I got sidetracked by my little soapbox and wanted to come back and add a hearty ITA to your comments about Elijah Wood's performance. He really was outstanding. His Frodo is more heartbreaking than I would have believed possible, and that single tear outside of Moria just breaks my heart.

I think the actors, and the director's guidance, really made this movie extraordinary. I know that only Ian McKellan will get the accolades for it, but every single one of them deserve high praise for the depth they gave to their characters and to the characters' relationships with each other.

-penny

[carton253]

Have you read the Unfinished Tales? In the tale about going after Smaug, it tells the front part of the story. Thorin had no use for any hobbits. Gandalf says "they are good in a pinch." Thorin says... "but they are fat and lazy and don't like being put in a pinch." Gandalf says... "well, it will be your job to put him in a pinch regardless of what he wishes."

If I were to guess what Jackson was doing the Frodo, the trajectory is one of building courage in the face of overwhelming fear and sorrow. That moment for Frodo wasn't at Bree because Strider was there. Or even after Gandalf's death... it was when he has to go.

Even without those three events you mentioned in your post, I never saw Frodo as weak or helpless or whimpy or anything like that. I see him growing... in awareness of the ring, the power it exerts over him and his friends, the danger his friends are in and are willing to be in because of him, that Sauron is going to have to be faced, etc. And through all of that I see him wrestling with "escape" versus "fulfillment". And in the end, he does the right thing for no other reason than it must be done. Gallant Frodo!

What makes him courageous is he does it even though he is afraid. And that is what I think Jackson has done a fine job with.. and Elijah Wood has done a tremendous job with. I saw it again this weekend, and I realized just how good a job EW did.

So, as things get harder for Frodo, I expect to see him deal over and over again with "escape" versus "fulfilment." And to choose fulfillment over escape is a noble thing to do.

[Penny1]

What makes him courageous is he does it even though he is afraid. And that is what I think Jackson has done a fine job with.. and Elijah Wood has done a tremendous job with. I saw it again this weekend, and I realized just how good a job EW did.

Yes, ITA....that final moment when he screws up the courage to go on into Mordor alone is absolutely tremendous. And I love how they had that theme running throughout--with Frodo trying time after time to get rid of the ring. That scene in Rivendell when he is telling Sam he's ready to go home to the Shire is a heartbreaker. EW puts just the right balance of showing that Frodo really hopes/wishes that he was done with his part yet all the while in the back of his eyes you can see that Frodo knows full well, or at least suspects, that it really isn't over for him, no matter how much he might wish it.

-penny

[Wordsmith]

Jackson did take out the heroic Frodo moments you mention, but don't forget that he also added a couple. The two that come to mind are: Frodo, rather than Gandalf, being the one to figure out the riddle of Moria's door; and Frodo needing to pull his act together and flee Hobbiton with absolutely zero preparation. The first seems to point to Jackson leaving the physical bravery to others while building up Frodo as the intellectual/spiritual hero of the story. It also is a nice nod to the savvy of hobbits, since the riddle game with Gollum isn't really highlighted. The second seems to point out that "in a pinch" Frodo will do the right thing, even in the beginning. It hearkens back more to how Bilbo started his adventure, no time to think just out the door and off you go. He doesn't have time to deliberate, he doesn't whine, he just goes. While he is often afraid later, I never felt he started weak.

Another factor is that Jackson has edited out all of Frodo's restorative moments - Bombadil, Barliman, the many days on the road with Aragorn, the troll cave. I think that Frodo appears in worse shape by the time he reaches Rivendell because that stage of the journey has been much more abrupt and grueling than it is in the book, coming as it does without much relief.

[carton253]

Only 30! I heard it was 60! Now, I'm disappointed.

[Penny1]

I haven't read "Unfinished Tales" so that's an interesting take on Hobbits and particularly on how the other races viewed them.

I was reading the part in RotK when Aragorn is looking for athelas...everyone responds to his requests for "kingsfoil" with surprise and contempt--"It's a weed," Sam says. But in the end, it is the one herb that can help drive away the darkness.... I thought that was a neat parallel to how hobbits were often ignored or looked down on and yet they end up saving the world. How crazy Gandalf was to entrust such a task to them, and yet without them, and particularly without Frodo, Middle Earth would have descended into complete darkness...

-penny

[2Jedismom]

He didn't happen to mention when the trailer for TTT was coming out? Eeek! I can't WAIT!

[Penny1]

All good points....Frodo is presented well in the beginning in how willing he is to simply drop everything and go when called upon. That willingness to go where no one else dares shows up time and time again.

And honestly, the things that I mention don't bother me nearly as much as it must sound like on this thread, lol. The way Frodo was presented was about as near-perfect as one could imagine...it was well beyond what I even dared to hope for.

I am very much looking forward, too, to Frodo kind of taking charge in TTT now that he and Sam will be on their own. I can't wait to see the conversation where Frodo insists that they show Gollum mercy.

-penny

[carton253]

And honestly, the things that I mention don't bother me nearly as much as it must sound like on this thread, lol.

I know! :)

[carton253]

And I can't wait to see Gollum's reaction when they put the elf rope around his ankle... Or any scene where there's Gollum...

I was even sad when Gollum was being shown tortured. Don't be doing that to my poor Smeagol!

Really, I am probably too much of a Gollum fan, but I can't help it. He absolutely was won me over.

[Wordsmith]

I'm actually pretty nervous about all the screen time Gollum's going to have in TTT. We never really saw evidence in FOTR that Jackson can pull off live actor/computer-generated actor interaction well. I hope he does, but I'm nervous. Its the one major role where you can't depend on an actor being lifted to great heights by the quality of the whole production. We shall see!

[carton253]

It hearkens back more to how Bilbo started his adventure, no time to think just out the door and off you go

In The Unfinished Tales, that was Gandalf's whole strategy... to get Bilbo out the door before Bilbo had a chance to think about it. He gives specific instruction to Thorin that they had to leave the next morning regardless, so all the arrangements had to be made before hand.

And Gandalf uses the same strategy of arriving dwarves as he did when they came upon Beorn.

BTW, Gandalf was disappointed in Bilbo's behavior the day the dwarves came. He totally agreed with Thorin's assessment that Bilbo was ridiculous.

And Thorin only agrees to take Bilbo if Gandalf agrees to come and "watch over your little pet." That's why Gandalf is on the journey.

But what Gandalf believes about Bilbo is true. In a pinch, Bilbo did the right thing. He gave the Arkenstone to the Bard to force Thorin's hand. Oh, how proud Gandalf was of him.

[Penny1]

Hmmm...I feel like a lightbulb is finally coming on in my dim brain....

I think that perhaps PJ wanted to focus the audience's understanding of Frodo's courage on those quiet moments of going forward in the mission. The moments that you mention are the essence of Frodo's courage--not the willingness to wield a blade, but the willingness to step out the door in spite of the threat that is known to be lurking just outside. His courage is displayed in the decisions and choices he makes, not in his reactions to the immediate, external threat. I think perhaps by eliminating the moments that PJ did, he was highlighting the importance of that kind of courage. It might have otherwise been lost in the swordplay...

-penny

[HairOfTheDog]

Hullo All! - and anyone else who I have missed in my quick read through - I am at the Seattle office today and don't have time to keep up on all this!

But this can't wait: Stop bashing my Frodo or I will have to call in the big dogs! Elijah Wood's Frodo stole my heart.

Hee hee - seriously... I will see you all tonight when I am through with all the "work" interference that is taking my time today.

[carton253]

Stop bashing my Frodo or I will have to call in the big dogs! Elijah Wood's Frodo stole my heart.

We aren't bashing Frodo... in fact, I think just the opposite is happening. It all started with my post that I think Elijah Wood should have been nominated for best actor for his sublime, understated, and riveting portrayal of Frodo...

[HairOfTheDog]

I saw that - and then others called him a wimp.... them's fighting words!... Just kidding... I know that all of your motives are pure... just giving you all a hard time!

[Wordsmith]

I really do think that PJ is building up Frodo as a "spiritual warrior." Its so hard to present inner conflict and turmoil on screen, but my guess is that this is what PJ is asking Elijah to focus on, to let it build and build until the climax at Orodruin. Its so hard in film to "get inside an actor's head," but I think that this is what PJ is doing by focusing on the parts we've been talking about. I can't help but think of the lingering shots of Frodo's eyes. Another thing I need to keep reminding myself is that the Frodo of the film is vastly younger than the Frodo of the book. What, 30 years? A big difference, even in hobbit years. The Frodo of the film still has a youthful vulnerability that the older Frodo of the book has in some ways moved beyond.

[carton253]

I'm 1200! Yeah!