The White Council

Re: Steve Buscemi may be Gollum

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: I honestly can't think of an actress I would have selected for the role, mainly because it should be a bit part anyways. However, now Jackson's "vision" appears to be expanding that role, and Liv Tyler (if you haven't heard of her, you aren't very much in touch with pop culture--or at least with Aerosmith videos) is not much of an actress. Armageddon was a bad movie all the way round, and she did her part to contribute to its utter lack of merit (as did Steve Buscemi).

: I want nothing more for this movie to be excellent. I have no problem with snipping bits out of the movie, etc. It is a different medium, and therefore requires a different touch. But, from what I have read--and to be fair to Jackson, there isn't much information to go by--it seems to me that Jackson is applying a rather broad brush to Tolkien's magnificent text. And quite simply, the movie doesn't have to be that different in order to bring people into the theatres. People love Tolkien, not only for the world which he created and the story which he told, but also for the beauty with which he brought it to us.

: At least I hope they do. It would be a pity, I feel, if that beauty were drowned out by science fiction/fantasy geeks around the planet eager for a popularized retelling of a classic English tale.

I pray we are spared the agony of seeing LOTR turned into a D&D adventure. I enjoyed reading the book, and I enjoyed playing D&D, but they are both different entities. As some one mentioned somewhere, less is best. Subtle and mature. No big flashy scenes of Wizard Magic, but keeping the beauty and majesty of the book intact.

It's funny, but like you, I have no one in mind for Arwen's role. When I stopped to think about it I realized that I never did know what she looked like. Tolkien doesn't really describe her other than black (or dark) hair, and was the the most beautiful woman since Luthien. Well, who is "most" beautiful. It was evidently beyond me to even imagine what she really looked like. As for acting ability, I can only hope that Jackson can get a good performance out of Tyler. Some times actors shine when given the proper part and direction. I understand your fears for this project, and I share many of them, but I'm a bit more easy to please perhaps. I wouldn't bother posting if all film adaptations were bad. But some are very good, and it makes it a crap shoot, wondering if this adaptation will be one or the other. I will say that this book is bringing out passions like no other book to film adaptation has ever done. Gone With The Wind was easy casting compared to this, especially when the author wroter the part of Rhett Butler with Clark Gable in mind. As usual it was the woman who was hard to cast. I wonder how many Southern belles were miffed that an English film star got the role? Of course today no one could imagine anyone else playing the part.

Every tiome I hear anything from Jackson or Delucca, they always sound as though they are trying their best to remain faithful to the book. And other than some casting extremes like making Gimli a woman, or casting Marlon Brando as Legolas, I don't debate casting choices. I'm laughing right now envisioning Marlon Brando's head appearing in the clouds ala Superman. What did he say? "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." Ooops, no, wrong book, but the right Brando. :)