LOTR review

[cassandraclaire73]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "lupinesque" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:
> John wrote:
> 
> > Despite Amy's   concern about Frodo's age, Cass, Ashley and I 
were discussing it in the car last  night and > agree that it's 
showing Frodo's immaturity more than anything else.
> > (However, neither Ash nor I, who aren't book fans, realised that 
> there was a  40-year gap between the Ring being left with Frodo and 
Gandalf's  return.)
> 
Ames: There is a long gap in the book (about 20 years), but not in 
the  movie.  I don't think Frodo *is* immature.  Naive, a bit, but 
less   so than most hobbits.  You know how old Bilbo is in that quick 
shot in  the preface where he finds the ring?  That's how old Frodo 
is when he   sets off to Bree--possibly looking younger because he's 
had the ring  for 20 years and it stretches out one's life, as Bilbo 
illustrates.   Oh well, I'm a purist and have therefore condemned 
myself to   grumbling.


As someone who's read Lord of the Rings but probably couldn't be 
called a fan -- I sat down and read through them all in a sort of 
grimly dutiful fashion, feeling like I *should* -- I was first 
surprised and then rather pleased with Elijah's casting as Frodo. 
Maybe they were going for teen girl appeal, and I am simply 
shallow. :D Obviously, in a movie, you're usually going to get 
characters more attractive than they are in a book -- ie Hermione in 
PS -- because it's one thing to read about a funny-looking character 
and another thing to have to stare at an absolutely huge version of 
their face for 3 hours. That said, I didn't really mean that Elijah's 
youthful appearance was highlighting Frodo's immaturity so much as 
his naivete and simple lack of experience with the world outside the 
Shire, evil in particular. Also, the tale is a journey of growth for 
Frodo -- less so than many hero-tales, but the elements are there -- 
and while 51 may be young for a hobbit, I don't think an audience 
could visually connect with a 51-year-old looking hero as basically 
innocent, inexperienced, just starting forth on a perilous quest that 
will change his life. Hmm. There's just something more poignant about 
it when they all seem so young -- it's hard to explain. 

Or maybe I just like watching Elijah's pretty blue eyes tear up. :D

Cassie