how do you like the portrayal of frodo?

[smeagollives]

how do you like the way frodo is portrayed in the movies? to my mind he is a completly different person.
which one do you like better?

[Finduilas]

I dislike the way Frodo is portrayed in the movies. He is indeed an entirely diferent person. The book character is much better.

[MatthewM]

Agreed, book Frodo is much better, naturally. There are a ton of problem's with PJ's Frodo, which I'm sure a big Frodo fan could list out.

Check this out-
http://www.istad.org/tolkien/faramir.html

It's from a site called "From pointy ears to Grima's tear" by an unknown Tolkien enthusiast. It explains that the main reason Faramir's character was so screwy in the films was because of the changes made to Frodo's. Interesting article and well worth the read!

[smeagollives]

Originally Posted by MatthewM

Agreed, book Frodo is much better, naturally. There are a ton of problem's with PJ's Frodo, which I'm sure a big Frodo fan could list out.

Check this out-
http://www.istad.org/tolkien/faramir.html

It's from a site called "From pointy ears to Grima's tear" by an unknown Tolkien enthusiast. It explains that the main reason Faramir's character was so screwy in the films was because of the changes made to Frodo's. Interesting article and well worth the read!

i never looked at it from that point of view. but this article was interesting for me. thank you very much.

[Finduilas]

Originally Posted by MatthewM

Agreed, book Frodo is much better, naturally. There are a ton of problem's with PJ's Frodo, which I'm sure a big Frodo fan could list out.

Check this out-
http://www.istad.org/tolkien/faramir.html

It's from a site called "From pointy ears to Grima's tear" by an unknown Tolkien enthusiast. It explains that the main reason Faramir's character was so screwy in the films was because of the changes made to Frodo's. Interesting article and well worth the read!

I didn't read the article, but my sister and I have both agreed that the ruin of many characters was caused by Frodo's ruin. Others couldn't be courageous because Frodo wasn't. (Denethor, Theoden, Aragorn, are some examples)


Smeagollives, your last point is very good. I never thought about that.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Finduilas

I didn't read the article, but my sister and I have both agreed that the ruin of many characters was caused by Frodo's ruin. Others couldn't be courageous because Frodo wasn't. (Denethor, Theoden, Aragorn, are some examples)

How can you say that about Denethor and Theoden? Frodo never even meets them.

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by MatthewM

How can you say that about Denethor and Theoden? Frodo never even meets them.

No, no. You misunderstood. Because they lowered Frodo's character strength, they lowered every other character's strength.

[smeagollives]

Originally Posted by Finduilas

I dislike the way Frodo is portrayed in the movies. He is indeed an entirely diferent person. The book character is much better.

i would agree with that. the books frodo makes up his on decisions out of duty and deep love for the shire he decides to take the ring.

the film frodo is a sacrificial lamb. like "the guy next door, who was sent to vietnam and came back broken" from all to many movies. gandalf send him and he did as he was told to. and he has got no idea what that would mean.

the film frodo does not act. he does not fight back at the weathertop.
he has to be saved by arwen.

worst of all: he offers the ring to that wraith in osgiliath. (he should not be there anyways).

but there is also a good thing about this. because frodo is less hero and more victim in the film, sam becomes more heroic in the film. i really like his osgiliath speech. i am sure book-sam would never hold a speech like this, but nevertheless i like it.

(oh, and i do not like the fact that frodo and sam do not hug each other in the movies as much as in the book. in the books they start as master and servants and become friends. in the movie they start as buddies and stay buddies and onev does never understand "why does sam sacrifiy so much for frodo, because they seem to be just drinking buddies")

[Folwren]

Oh! Excellent point about 'He had to be saved by Arwen'! Up until now, I just thougt about the injustice done towards Glorfindel with Arwen coming, but they also stole from Frodo! That part in the book is beautiful.

'Ride forward! Ride!' cried Glorfindel to Frodo.

He did not obey at once, for a strange reluctance seized him. Checking the horse to a walk, he turned and looked back. . .Then at once fear and hatred awoke in him. His hand left the bridle and gripped the hilt of his sword, and with a red flash he drew it.

'Ride on! Ride on!' cried Glorfindel, and then loud and clear he called to the horse in the elf-tongue: naro lim, naro lim, Asfolath!

At once the white horse sprang away and sped like the wind along the last lap of the Road.

. . .

Suddenly the foremost Rider spurred his horse forward. It checked at the water and reared up. With a great effort Frodo sat upright and brandished his sword.

'Go back!' he cried. 'Go back to the Land of Mordor, and follow me no more!' His voice sounded thin and shrill in his own ears. The Riders halted, but Frodo had not the power of Bombadil. His enemies laughed at him with a harsh and chilling laughter. 'Come back! Come back!' they called. 'To Mordor we will take you!'

'Go back!' he whispered.

'The Ring! The Ring!' they cried with deadly voices; and immediately the leader urged his horse forward into the water, followed closely by two others.

'By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair,' said Frodo with a last effort, lifting up his sword, 'you shall have neither the Ring nor me!'

Beautiful. Especially that last line.

No, I didn't much care for the adaption of Frodo. They misjudged him entirely. I believe the movie makers viewed hobbits as most people of Middle Earth viewed them - small, cute, but weak creatures.

And you're also right about the relationship between Frodo and Sam.

-- Folwren