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selenakYes, I'm still in a gushing mood. To quote Gollum from TTT, once the precious takes a hold on us, it never lets go. So some more observations:
"Don't you dare let go." Great, great facial acting from both Sean Astin and Elijah Wood, because you can see in Frodo's face he wants to do just that, and Sam realizes it at the same moment the audience does. PJ didn't have the same amount of time Tolkien did to make it clear how broken the ring left Frodo, but this is where cinematic short hand starts to work. And Frodo wanting to die given what just happened is all too understandable - at that point, he's staying alive for Sam's sake.
On a similar note: loved that they kept Bilbo asking Frodo about the ring. And again, EW's expression. The wretched thing is gone, but the longing for it is there, in Bilbo and in Frodo, but Bilbo is protected from realising the implication by the old age that finally caught up with him. Frodo does realise. Simultanously, the tenderness between the two in that scene makes one glad that they have each other and won't be alone with the Elves on that ship.
Speaking of Bilbo: I'm also glad the query about the Ring wasn't his last sentence. Bilbo's actual last sentence, his reaction to seeing the ship and the three ringbearers, is so heartwarming Bilbo-ish that I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen the film yet by quoting it. He's the first hobbit Tolkien gave the world, and so endearingly embodied by Ian Holm that I really wonder who they're going to find in the inevitable film version that can come close.
Again, that farewell between the four hobbits. I feel like wimpering just thinking about it. And it's perfect that Frodo is the only one who does not cry. And than that final shot of Frodo, a haunting reminiscence from the first shot we ever see of him in FotR, but what a different smile!
"Well, I'm back." As last lines go, this one has a strong chance of being unmatchable.
Trying to think of not-LotR-related stuff:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
andrastewhite did one of the shipping memes and mentioned her squick about mentor/student pairings. I'm so with her. Especially since most of those relationships are presented as being parent/child-like in canon. No matter whether it's Buffy/Giles (or Giles/Any of the Scoobies, for that matter), Duncan/Richie, or Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan - it's just one big "NO" for me. Thank the Great Maker nobody has ever thought of doing that to Londo and Vir. This is where being pouchy aliens gets in handy.
However, thinking of Vir now again reminds me of my Vir-is-Sam theory, and back I am in LotR territory...
"Don't you dare let go." Great, great facial acting from both Sean Astin and Elijah Wood, because you can see in Frodo's face he wants to do just that, and Sam realizes it at the same moment the audience does. PJ didn't have the same amount of time Tolkien did to make it clear how broken the ring left Frodo, but this is where cinematic short hand starts to work. And Frodo wanting to die given what just happened is all too understandable - at that point, he's staying alive for Sam's sake.
On a similar note: loved that they kept Bilbo asking Frodo about the ring. And again, EW's expression. The wretched thing is gone, but the longing for it is there, in Bilbo and in Frodo, but Bilbo is protected from realising the implication by the old age that finally caught up with him. Frodo does realise. Simultanously, the tenderness between the two in that scene makes one glad that they have each other and won't be alone with the Elves on that ship.
Speaking of Bilbo: I'm also glad the query about the Ring wasn't his last sentence. Bilbo's actual last sentence, his reaction to seeing the ship and the three ringbearers, is so heartwarming Bilbo-ish that I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen the film yet by quoting it. He's the first hobbit Tolkien gave the world, and so endearingly embodied by Ian Holm that I really wonder who they're going to find in the inevitable film version that can come close.
Again, that farewell between the four hobbits. I feel like wimpering just thinking about it. And it's perfect that Frodo is the only one who does not cry. And than that final shot of Frodo, a haunting reminiscence from the first shot we ever see of him in FotR, but what a different smile!
"Well, I'm back." As last lines go, this one has a strong chance of being unmatchable.
Trying to think of not-LotR-related stuff:
andrastewhite did one of the shipping memes and mentioned her squick about mentor/student pairings. I'm so with her. Especially since most of those relationships are presented as being parent/child-like in canon. No matter whether it's Buffy/Giles (or Giles/Any of the Scoobies, for that matter), Duncan/Richie, or Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan - it's just one big "NO" for me. Thank the Great Maker nobody has ever thought of doing that to Londo and Vir. This is where being pouchy aliens gets in handy. However, thinking of Vir now again reminds me of my Vir-is-Sam theory, and back I am in LotR territory...
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no subject
Date: 2003-12-17 11:40 pm (UTC)I just wanted to be over. Hated the slowmo with real speed voice over. It was as if someone had poured a bucket of sticky syrup over my head.
Having said that I must admit that I fell in love with Merry and Pippin. Their storylines interested me most. I also loved the Denethor/Faramir family saga and I thought the battle for Minas Tirith was awesome, but I would have liked to see more Gimli.
I like a nice close up head shot like the next girl, but I think they should be used sparingly. The LotR saga uses them too much.
And I'm too nitpicky. *dashes under desk and hides before the rotten tomatos start to fly*
no subject
Date: 2003-12-17 11:54 pm (UTC)*sets to repeat*
*leaves whistling*
:)
Sorry, I don't actually disagree/object to your thoughts here, just couldsn't resist the imagery.
no subject
Date: 2003-12-18 01:17 am (UTC)/pimp
Ooh!
Date: 2003-12-18 08:00 am (UTC)well....
Date: 2003-12-18 11:36 am (UTC)The relationship between Frodo and Sam changes accordingly (despite some fanfic, I don't think there is any evidence that Frodo and Sam were especially close before the quest - there was great fondness, definitely, but it was also strictly hierarchical servant/master. At that point, the hobbits Frodo would have seen himself as closest to would have been Bilbo and Merry. By the end of the story, of course, that's completely changed. Similarly, Londo and Vir start out strictly hierarchical, and we watch them proceed from moonfaced-assassin-of-joy to friend-and-patriot.
In the end, Sam becomes Mayor and basically the most important man of the restored Shire, with a happy family, but the sadness of what happened to Frodo and having lost Frodo is always with him. In the end, Vir becomes Emperor of a restored Centauri Republic, with a happy relationship, but the sadness of what happened to Londo and having lost Londo is always with him.
Lastly: Loyalty, bravery, love in two wonderful packages.