General Hobbit Movie Info (AVOID IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS)

[Primula Baggins]

Well, that may be the case with some major roles in The Hobbit as well.

Frodo and Sam were the bit of casting that mattered most to me, once they had the perfect Gandalf lined up. And though I know not everyone agrees, I liked how they both turned out despite, or maybe even because of, the fact that I knew nothing about either of the actors going in.

I'd like to see a Bilbo who works out as well (and does so for more people, obviously).

[vison]

Sam and Frodo were fine! I hope they come up with a good Bilbo, for sure . I like British tv once in a while and I've always got my eye out for an appropriate guy.

[solicitr]

Elijah was too young. Sorry- one can quibble about how "old" a Hobbit is at 50, or 33: but Frodo wasn't a youth, certainly not mentally.

Sean A OTOH was great. As was Sean B.

PS: I'm still holding out for Ricky Gervase as Bilbo.

[vison]

Yes, I thought EW was too young, too. I don't know Ricky Gervais.

[solicitr]

Here:

British comic actor, star inter alia of The Office (original UK) and Extras.

He's half-Canadian, too.

[vison]

Looks okay. Never watched The Office.

[Padme]

Elijah was too young. Sorry- one can quibble about how "old" a Hobbit is at 50, or 33: but Frodo wasn't a youth, certainly not mentally.

Sean A OTOH was great. As was Sean B.

PS: I'm still holding out for Ricky Gervase as Bilbo.

Ricky is certainly Hobbity enough, however, I think he would play Bilbo Python style.



Vison

Viggo's son had to tell him to take the role of Aragorn. It certainly bode well for him after LoTR was done, his career has taken off. He's landed far more juicy parts than most, he could be compared to Harrison Ford in some respects.

[vison]

I really did not like Mortenson as Aragorn. I know I am in the extreme minority here, but that's how I feel.

[Primula Baggins]

I thought his voice was too whiny. You have me that far. But Aragorn is not the central character for me, as he is for some, and I could let that slide a bit (though I wish it hadn't).

As for Gervais as Bilbo, he could work physically, but I'd desperately want to know that he would subordinate his "comic" persona to the role. As, for example, Russell Crowe subordinated his "action hero," "tough guy" persona to give what was, for me, a sharply affecting and genuine performance as Jack Aubrey in Master and Commander. YMMV, but I love that film, and in no small part because of the casting of Crowe, which initially had horrified me. (I've read the entire O'Brian series three or four times.)

[Elentári]

For me, the actor playing Bilbo needs to have the "bumblingness" of someone like Hugh Grant's characters (NO, I'm NOT suggesting Grant himself!!!) because that is what Ian Holm gave us perfectly with his older Bilbo. It would jar to have a much younger act playing it totally straight and upright. Initially someone like Colin Firth's Mark Darcy (Bridget Jones) comes to mind, but Firth is probably too tall and gangly... Appearance-wise, Martin Freeman looks to be the best physical match for Holm so far, and is an established actor without being too big a name at this point. I do hope they don't go for an actor much younger than that, but chances are they might, considering their choice of EW for Frodo...

[Alatar]

Just goes to show, you can keep some of the people happy some of the time... I quite liked Elijah as Frodo but found Sean Astin annoying. His accent slipped dreadfully and he overacted in some crucial scenes. Ian McKellan was the one who nailed his book character best, and Sean Bean got more out of his than was on the page.

I also felt that Merry and Pippin, despite some hammy direction and execution, were far better differentiated in character. I know, I know, the differentiation was there in the book also, but they still sort of blended into a "Fili and Kili" effect for me most of the time. I never had a clear image of either until the movies.

I never had any attachment to Aragorn as a character and in many ways Viggo's character was an improvement for me over the book archetype.

After Astin, Galadriel was my biggest disappointment. Not just the nuclear scene, but her whole persona. I blame Jackson here for trying to create a tension there instead of making Lothlórien a safe haven. Anyway, she just wasn't book Galadriel for me, and I'll never forgive PJ for blowing her "all shall love me and despair" speech.

[eborr]

THe thought of Gervaise as Bilbo worries me, as he only seems to be able to play two parts, either stand-up comic or a variation on his office character(check his cameo role in stardust), and whislt his bottom clenching humour may have fitted well in the post ironic noughties, it would sit uncomfortably(apologies for extending the metaphor) into middle earth.

Liv had the misfortune of being cast as the eye candy, something which is an anathema to the crumblies who make up a part of Tolkien fandom, so she was never going to win.

When considering the actors performances in LOTR, one always has to remember the quality of the script they were given, and whilst being in pretty close agreement with Alatar in his previous post on the generalities of the levels of performance, the folks only could act with what they were given. Perhaps one of the reasons that McKellen was a standout is that he altered his dialogue, not only from the reference point of being a considerable acotr for 40 years, but by also having a cursory knowledge of the book.

I thought the worst acting performance was by the actor playing Tom Bombadil, he was so umpreposessing I didn't even notice him.

[sauronsfinger]

I greatly favor Stephen Graham for Bilbo. The man is a first rate actor and is enough of a non-star so that any off screen persona will not get in the way as it could with a major big name star. Plus he certainly has the look for it if he puts on a few pounds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Graham_(actor)

Eborr said

I thought the worst acting performance was by the actor playing Tom Bombadil, he was so umpreposessing I didn't even notice him.

While Eborr makes wonderful and insightful posts, I must take issue with that. I thought Jackson handled Bombadil to perfection and I would not change a thing.

[Padme]

I really did not like Mortenson as Aragorn. I know I am in the extreme minority here, but that's how I feel.

From what I understand Daniel Day Lewis was asked to play the part first.

In the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy (2001–2003) directed by Peter Jackson, Aragorn is played by Danish-American actor Viggo Mortensen, who took over the role from Stuart Townsend after a month of rehearsals. In these movies, Aragorn must overcome his self-doubt to claim the kingship. This specific element of self-doubt is not present in Tolkien's books, where Aragorn intends to claim the throne all along. Daniel Day-Lewis was offered the role, but declined

.


And I somewhat agree with Alatar about Galadriel, the nuke Galadriel was just weird, but it wasn't as bad as the ghost army. At least Avatar has made better technology available.

[yovargas]

So as to not make vison feel alone in being in an extreme minority...

Holm's Bilbo was probably my least favorite actor in the movie. It never felt like Holm's believed he was "in" Middle-earth, he acted like someone who couldn't buy into this whole fantasy stuff. And Bilbo's fake-crying in Rivendell makes me cringe every time. Not to mention his fake-old man act at Grey Havens.

I hope his performance not the model for the new Bilbo.

[sauronsfinger]

Following up on the comments of Yovargas on Bilbo as played by Ian Holm.... the scene which gets me irritated is the "young" Bilbo finding the ring. Holm just looks so out of place and they fooled nobody with that younger look. Every time the discussion comes around to Holm playing Bilbo in the new films, I just have to think of that to see what a horrid idea that ever was even before Holm himself said he could no longer do it. I found the rest of his performance perfectly fine however. I would say that he looks positively infirm in the back of that wagon going to the Grey Havens then makes a somewhat spirited recovery walking onto the boat.

[Lalaith]

One other concern I'd have with Gervaise playing Bilbo is (and I'm embarrassed to admit this) that I find his accent quite difficult to understand.

[sauronsfinger]

Ricky Gervais might make a good Bilbo. Its hard to say. He would not be in my top ten choices. I cannot help but remember watching Gervais do a stand up routine mocking people with obesity. It was a bit like watching Bernie Mac going off on people for having dark skin. Here was Gervais standing there with stomach bulging and love handles rolling over his pants and he is mocking people with weight problems.

[yovargas]

I saw that and thought the irony of it was a part of the joke.

[vison]

I guess the upshot here is that Ian McKellan should have played every role!!!

Oh we are a picky bunch.

Sean Bean is better not seen, IMHO. I have loathed him for years and years and have no real idea why. Like Van Morrison. People are always shocked when I say Van Morrison is :Mr. Puke: in my mind.

*sigh*

Well, I like The Hobbit ok but it's not a matter of life and death to me. As long as there are no scrubbing bubbles and none of those man-porn long drawnoutendlessandendlesslyboringmindnumbinglystupid battles.