[Glenethor]

My favourite character in the books is Gandalf. Ian McKellen (of whom I had never heard before) was awesome, and I don't use that superlative lightly. Heck, I've seen and heard enough interviews with the guy since the movie's release, and he looks and sounds nothing like Gandalf in real life. Except, maybe the eyes, of course, but still; Ian isn't up on that screen. It's Gandalf. Even he has said that when he watched the movie, he forgot that it was him up there. Do you know what a feat that is? Ian deserves the Oscar, no doubt in my mind about that. <P>I found Aragorn a bit too tentative at first. I think his character will develop well.<P>Sean Bean's Boromir is my second favourite, and that surprised me. Apparently, he will be in TTT briefly, when Faramir has a dream of him. At least, the scene was shot. it is up to PJ as to whether or not it will be shown.<P>Elijah Wood. Adequate;<P>Sean Astin: Adequate;<P>Orlando Bloom: Adequate. hard to say, really; he has the appearance and the grace of an Elf, but he doesn't have a lot of speaking scenes. <P>Christopher Lee: Very good. He said recently that he hopes he lives long enough to see the remaining two films, and I hope he does. Saruman is the summit of his career, IMO.<P>Cate Blanchette: Her voice gives me shivers; her eyes look right into me. Apparently, Elijah was smitten with her, and so am I.<P>Liv Tyler: Didn't suck. Like Gimli, though, I prefer the Day to the Night.<P>Ian Holme: Very, very good. In the same league as McKellen and Lee....<I>almost</I><P>Hugo Weaving: Didn't suck.<P>Rhys-Davies: Didn't suck.<P>Billy Boyd and Dominic Monahan: Didn't suck, and I expect good things from them in the next two movies. The last scene of them getting brutally carried off by the Uruk-Hai, and the expressions on their faces as Boromir was left to die, is unforgettable.<P>And that is my <I>non-estrogen, non-biased</I> opinion on the casting...<P> <P><BR><I> Just teasing, ladies, just teasing!</I><P>