Elijah Wood - Frodo-Mutilator?

[Scatterheart]

I despise Elijah wood. But I think he played Frodo well. Perhaps its because I saw the films before reading the books. He just made the character for me.
But then again, I never really liked Frodo anyway. So it didn't really bother me how I felt about the actor.
Though, more beloved characters (like Gandalf and Aragorn) would not have satisfied me were it not for their brilliant actors.

[Telperaca]

Don't worry. Everyone is a freak in their own little way.
As for Frodo - I thought he was creepy in the first movie. His eyes went weird and they plain creeped me but.
In the second movie, he was plain depressed.
And the third movie, his will was basically wanning.

In general, I though he actually did a good job - he [Wood] had a better role in LotR compared to some of the other movies he's featured in. I think that his character was quite deep, with all the whining and all. They (the four hobbits) certainly did portray the 'gay hobbit' role quite well!

[paranoid marvin]

Personally , I didn't care much for Frodo in the books either!

I thought Sam , Merry and Pippin played their parts perfectly . I think the thing with Frodo , is that he played the hobbit role differently to the other 3 , and that's what made his performance a little unusual .

There also seemed to be no chemistry between Sam & Frodo which is just plain wrong and certainly NOT how Tolkein intended. This lack of on-screen bonding is only made clearer when you see how well Merry & Pippin interacted together

[pyan]

Originally Posted by paranoid marvin

Personally , I didn't care much for Frodo in the books either!

Nor me - I always considered Sam to be the real hero, and I'm glad he, Merry and Pippin got the recognition they deserved. Frodo would have given up by Citith Ungol if he had gone alone as he wanted to.

[tarifa]

Wood lost me as soon as he looked up in his first scene, Frodo had brown eyes (or am I mistaken?)

[areader]

Actually my sister and I had a longrunning debate about who was the real hero of the book after reading it way before the movie. She thought Sam was (practical, did what had to be done, Frodo wouldn't have gotten there without him). I thought Frodo was (no one could have or would have, Sam turned back, Frodo held true).

Elijah was well cast. I point the finger at Peter Jackson...loathe to do so as everything was so brilliantly done.
But the razing of the shire was left out...and the Frodo of the movie wouldn't have fit that scene...he had to be battle worn in order to say no more fighting for me and enough to need to leave.

I would have liked to see the Frodo/Sam thing more balanced out so that the movie depicted the same tension in or question as to who was the hero as the book did. A little bit more of Bilbo's heir in Frodo was called for. He definitely knew what he was doing when he swore Gollum on an evil ring and Gandalf didn't tolerate fools and Sting was a more important thing to him than in the movie. His strengths needed more focus and the snivelling was... I have to say it...more Gollum-like than Frodo-like. But my sister loved the Jackson interpretation..grits teeth...lost that debate LOL.
Tolkien didn't have one hero in his book and its the only book I know of where the main character drops out of the story for 13? whole chapters (where was Frodo?). Jackson needed to understand that Tolkien wrote against the rules...with parallel and equal heros in both Sam and Frodo...and here I think Faramir and Boromir shadowed what Sam and Frodo didn't become...Faramir was an important character that got a scenery role.
But the movie was very well done...if you ever get a chance to look at Tolkien's drawings..you'll be amazed at how well it matches.

[paranoid marvin]

Frodo didn't drop out as such , the stories ran on parralell lines , until they joined together again at the end. We do get instances in each of the stories where these lines cross - Faramir reporting his meeting with Frodo to the Steward of Gondor for example.

In my opinion , JRR Tolkein questioned people's perspective of what a hero was . We are presented with Boromir as a great leader of men , noble and brave , whilst Frodo just wants a peaceful existence. Yet , when it comes to it , Boromir is the one who cracks under the pressure of their quest , whilst Frodo stays true to it , abandoning all hope by allowing his friends to escape the doom he is walking towards on such a hopeless quest

I think that Jackson purposefully played Frodo as a weak character , because he was emphasising that this wasn't a book about any one person , or any one hero. If Aragorn hadn't led a suicide mission to the gates of Mordor , captivating Sauron's eye , and drawing the remainder of his forces out of his fortress , it is doubtful that Frodo and Sam would ever have made it to Mount Doom

And as for Frodo becoming more Gollum like... well , I think that was intentional as well

[tangaloomababe]

Maybe its just me but I didnt mind Elijah Woods portrayal of Frodo. I am trying to think of a better choice. To be honest Frodo is not my fav character in either the book or the movie, but he is obviously a major character. Its been many years since I read the book so I am hard pressed to recall the books portrayal of him, I do recall though that he did seem to be the one that was always getting injured.
I don't think that Elijah carried of with complete conviction the ring's possession of Frodo.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by Faye

I am trying to think of a better choice.

Yes, that's the thing, isn't it? It's all very well to criticise the casting, but I can't honestly think of an alternative to Woods that wouldn't either overshadow the part, or fail miserably as Frodo.

[fingy773]

there both gay

[zealandDream]

I love Elijah Wood as Frodo. I think he is perfect for the role.

But, I'm biased since I read the books only after falling in love with the movie.

[biodroid]

I think he over acted a bit and flashed his big blue/brown eyes too many times to make him look vulnerable

[HanaBi]

Personally I thought Wood was a good choice for Frodo; he played the character well but I was immensely irritated by his whimpish attitude, fainting and moaning and generally been a pain in the ass (and yes I know he was stabbed and he was carry a heavy burden, but still)

Sam was my favourite hobbit (up until Austin got too big for his boots and started slagging off all the other actors in the film, suggesting that he was the best of them all).

Of course Tolkien was quite blatant with his class distinctions between the two characters - Frodo (a kind of well educated, well spoken "gent" who would spend his time idling) and Sam (who's your typical working class serf who knows his place in the scheme of things).

So typically when the adventure gets a bit too hard Frodo starts to moan at the slightest inconveience, while Sam just get on with it like most working class people do. And yet at the end and the battle is won Frodo gets most of the credit

[fingy773]

Originally Posted by zealandDream

I love Elijah Wood as Frodo. I think he is perfect for the role.

But, I'm biased since I read the books only after falling in love with the movie.

exactly a poofter of a actor playing a poofterof a character

[Tickle]

I thought Elijah did a good job as Frodo. I have read the books several times (before the movies were made) and I think he portrayed Frodo well facially (since we couldn't tell what he was thinking, like it gives us in the books) and with body language.

Anyone who has seen the movie, should be able to honestly say that one of the main heroes was Sam. My 6 year old niece was able to tell that. I think all of the actors did well. None of them made me say, they are unbelievable as this or that person. Now whenever I read the books, those are the faces I see.