Who do you think in the movies is the best looking?

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

I really have no clue why I like Billy Boyd so much Lalaith, I think it is mostly the fact I am so fond of his character, Pippin.

You know...I can't call you Robi anymore....can I, but anyway I fell in love with Peregrin when I first saw the movies because of his character and his looks, but when I read the books I was even more crazy about him! But Billy Boyd when he's not playing Pippin is not as good looking.

But... people are going to kill me for this, Orlando Bloom is not so good looking when he's Legolas (which is a pretty respectable character in the books) or when he is someone else. My family, just by coincidence watched a bunch of movies with Orlio in them the other day and them more I see of him, the more I dislike him. Samwise is the way to go!

[Laurinquë]

Tisk, tisk, not liking poor Legolas eh? Shame.

As for Billy Boyd, I DEFINITLY prefer him as Pippin, in real life he's just another pretty face. Ah, Pippin, I adore Pippin...not really sure why though.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Meriadoc1961

I always felt that the best choices to fill those roles would have been Jennifer O'Dell from the TV series Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World for Galadriel and Jolene Blalock of Star Trek: Enterprise to play Arwen.

I didn't know who those actresses were and maybe I was unlucky with Google Image but really they don't look like my idea of the noblest elven women in Middle Earth ... their looks are rather...err....obvious and a bit synthetic. If that was what Tolkien had in mind, I am going to have to reassess my impression of the Prof and his characters in a big way!!!


Blanchett and Tyler both have the height and pale colouring that Tolkien specifies and they have that slight "strangeness in proportion" that may give a love it or hate it quality to their looks but it is very difficult to cast humans as elves - you have to make them look slightly different without turning it in to a freak show.

[Lalwendë]

I think Orlando Bloom looks much better with short hair! He's too girly to carry off long hair. With his little plaits and perfectly groomed blonde barnet he reminded me of um...my Girl's World*...

Originally Posted by Lalaith

Hmm...Bard. He broods, doesn't he? Yes, I could live with that.

The reason I thought Faramir was partly that Armitage in the role could help reconcile me to the character. I've just never liked Faramir as I ought to - found him a bit pious and dreary - which I feel bad about. I think that perhaps the sight of Armitage suffering with "weariness, grief for his father's mood, a wound, and over all the Black Breath" would help soften me.

Well you know, it would help you appreciate Faramir more, and I wouldn't object...so how about angling for a re-make?

*Mithalwen and Lalaith will know what these are! I still have mine in the attic.

[Lush]

Here's another. However, while I am obviously a woman of gravitas and substance, ahem, I will admit to being shallow as a puddle in some respects. Pretty Orlando Bloom is one such respect. (I believe Madame Lush is with me on this one...)

Oh, Madame Lush is with you all the way, Lalaith. That man is so fine... He could walk around with a chattering gibbon on his head and still look attractive, never mind some prissy blond wig.

I also have a thing for Viggo's Aragorn, but more so in the first film than I do in the later ones. I like it when he's all sensitive and mysterious and slightly unsure of himself and wearing dirty clothes (he's too clean in RotK... I guess you can always say that Legolas is clean all the time - but he's an Elf, that's allowed), for some reason... AND Billy Boyd. I dated a dude who looked a lot like him once. I've only recently made the connection when I unearthed some of our pictures together at my parents' house. There's that impish quality you can't pass up.

I also think that Miranda Otto is stunning. She's got this face that's very hard to pin down - she looks very different from different angles (well, we all do - but I would say this is really pronounced when you're watching her on film), and it makes her not merely gorgeous, but also interesting.

[Lindale]

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

Tisk, tisk, not liking poor Legolas eh? Shame.

What's not to like about Legolas? Ah well. The impossible stunts maybe. But if his hair was shorter, it would've been very different.

[Volo]

I remember confusing film Pippin and film Merry because "Merry" sounds like the better looking one. Many years later it was funny to notice that a friend called the guy in Lost Pippin. It nearly ended in a bet.

[Lyta_Underhill]

Oddly enough, I don't seem to be able to extricate "best looking" from "best character portrayal." I was so amazed by what Sean Bean did for Boromir that I found him irresistible. He won me over and made me really rethink Tolkien's Boromir. It was a real revelation and I realized I had never really *seen* Boromir before...Sean Bean really deserves a mention for that. (Yes, I thought Sean Bean was hot, too...) And again, I liked Billy Boyd and Elijah Wood for the fact that Frodo and Pippin resonated for me through them quite well...it is strange how I can't seem to separate my estimation of "best looking" from "best resonance of character." Viggo as Aragorn did this to me as well, and I also found resonance in Cate Blanchett's "man maiden" Galadriel; she did not need to have what many consider the traditional "beauty," but she had the sadness of the "Long Defeat," the wisdom of Three Ages and the tall grace of the Elves. She was perfect. I see her in my mind when I read of the Galadriel of old and the passing of the Third Age.

Of course, I'll give a mention to the Balrog...really HOT! And I *still* can't tell if those are wings or shadows! You gotta give credit to an enigma that lasts that long!

[Gwathagor]

Galadriel and Faramir.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

You know...I can't call you Robi anymore....can I, but anyway I fell in love with Peregrin when I first saw the movies because of his character and his looks, but when I read the books I was even more crazy about him! But Billy Boyd when he's not playing Pippin is not as good looking.

I got the radio production of LotR and I have been listening to it for a while and Pippin doesn't sound like Pippin to me and not as totally awesome, but maybe that is the fault of how Billy Boyd sounds and he is what I thougt Pippin should sound like. I don't know maybe I am just crazy!?

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I think Orlando Bloom looks much better with short hair! He's too girly to carry off long hair. With his little plaits and perfectly groomed blonde barnet he reminded me of um...my Girl's World*...

*Mithalwen and Lalaith will know what these are! I still have mine in the attic.

Only because I saw James May's programme the other day. I didn't have anything so fancy - as youngest child and youngest cousin hand me downs were my fate and that isn't going to happen with that kind of thing...

But Orli does look better not being plutonium blonde.

Richard Armitage is fab though but I see him more as Boromir - bit edgier ..unless of course you had Hugh Jackman as Boromir and RA as Faramir ... now that is a thought

[Meriadoc1961]

The reason I thought of Jennifer O'Dell from the TV series Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World for Galadriel was because years ago there was a painting on one of the annual LotR calendars that showed Galadriel with Sam and Frodo with her mirror. It was a beautiful painting, simply breathtaking, and Galadriel was stunningly beautiful in it, just as I had always imagined her to be when I read the books. The first time I saw Jennifer O'Dell I immediately thought of Galadriel in that painting, and this was before I ever heard that there was going to be a live-action movie made of LotR. So my first and only choice for the part has always been Jennifer O'Dell for Galadriel.

By the way, does anyone else remember that painting from the calendar I am speaking about?

As for Jolene Blalock of Star Trek: Enterprise to play Arwen, she is, indeed, very beautiful, plus she had the added bonus of already being used to wearing pointed ears playing the part of a Vulcan!

Merry

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

And I will say it again, Legolas is NOT good looking, but I could go for Faramir if Samwise or Pippin was gone... but so could my friend!

[Gwathagor]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

I got the radio production of LotR and I have been listening to it for a while and Pippin doesn't sound like Pippin to me and not as totally awesome, but maybe that is the fault of how Billy Boyd sounds and he is what I thougt Pippin should sound like. I don't know maybe I am just crazy!?

Is it the BBC radio dramatization with Ian Holm as Frodo?

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

I got the radio production of LotR and I have been listening to it for a while and Pippin doesn't sound like Pippin to me and not as totally awesome, but maybe that is the fault of how Billy Boyd sounds and he is what I thougt Pippin should sound like. I don't know maybe I am just crazy!?

Well Billy boyd sounds very Scottish - I guess he does come from the north of the Shire , but then they should have made Merry sound Welsh!

Bear in mind with the radio you have to do more with the voice and thay while I think Billy Boyd was the eldest of the actors playing hobbits in the film, they make far less distinction in age in the film than in the book and in the radio version. So on the Radio Frodo sounds older, Pippin very young, Merry scholarly, Sam rustic.

However this is off topic but I would be only too happy to discuss the Radio Series in a place that will not incur Modwrath.

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by Gwathagor

Galadriel and Faramir.

That's true. This would probably be my pick out of all the boys and girls in the movies. Maybe Boromir instead of Faramir.

[Guinevere]

Originally Posted by Lyta_Underhill

Oddly enough, I don't seem to be able to extricate "best looking" from "best character portrayal." I was so amazed by what Sean Bean did for Boromir that I found him irresistible. He won me over and made me really rethink Tolkien's Boromir. It was a real revelation and I realized I had never really *seen* Boromir before...Sean Bean really deserves a mention for that. (Yes, I thought Sean Bean was hot, too...) And again, I liked Billy Boyd and Elijah Wood for the fact that Frodo and Pippin resonated for me through them quite well...it is strange how I can't seem to separate my estimation of "best looking" from "best resonance of character." Viggo as Aragorn did this to me as well, and I also found resonance in Cate Blanchett's "man maiden" Galadriel; she did not need to have what many consider the traditional "beauty," but she had the sadness of the "Long Defeat," the wisdom of Three Ages and the tall grace of the Elves. She was perfect. I see her in my mind when I read of the Galadriel of old and the passing of the Third Age.

This is just about my opinion, too! Gandalf was spot-on as well.

But the person who fascinated me most when I saw FotR for the first time was Frodo! I couldn't see enough of those soulful eyes and that expressive face. (For example his face during Bilbo's party. Or the moment he looks back after Gandalf's fall. Or right at the end, when he and Sam look into Mordor... )
And I don't think I am the only one: lovely Frolijah has inspired thousands of fanfictions.

[Lord Halsar]

I seem to like the appearances of Ian McKellen and Christopher Lee as our two favorite wizards in LotR. In their other movies they look thin and unimpressive. But as Gandalf and Saruman they looked...healthy. I also admire a man with a long beard and a deep voice with a number of years under his belt. As Theodore Roosevelt said, "Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick."

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Well Billy boyd sounds very Scottish - I guess he does come from the north of the Shire , but then they should have made Merry sound Welsh!

Bear in mind with the radio you have to do more with the voice and thay while I think Billy Boyd was the eldest of the actors playing hobbits in the film, they make far less distinction in age in the film than in the book and in the radio version. So on the Radio Frodo sounds older, Pippin very young, Merry scholarly, Sam rustic.

Well yes, I agree. Maybe we could start a new thread on this. (so the mods won't kill us)

Originally Posted by Gwathagor

Is it the BBC radio dramatization with Ian Holm as Frodo?

Yes

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Only because I saw James May's programme the other day. I didn't have anything so fancy - as youngest child and youngest cousin hand me downs were my fate and that isn't going to happen with that kind of thing...

But Orli does look better not being plutonium blonde.

Richard Armitage is fab though but I see him more as Boromir - bit edgier ..unless of course you had Hugh Jackman as Boromir and RA as Faramir ... now that is a thought

James May was wrong about Girls World ending up tatty though - mine is pristine, and I still have her make up, and what's more, it still works. Because I was a conscientious child and always washed and dried her face and hair after playing with her. I think the only bit that got lost was the false eyelashes...

Now back to the programme...now you're talking! That would be a great combo! Although I still think Bean cannot be replaced. How about a combo of Bean as Boromir and Armitage as Faramir? They both sound Northern too, so it would fit, although Armitage is a Lancastrian...

Now I admit, Elijah Wood has everything in the right place, but he's just too girly for my liking. It would have been better if they'd got Jake Gyllenhall (or however you spell it) in, if they wanted a 'kiddy Frodo' - he has that whole liquid puppy dog eyes thing going on without looking too wussy

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

James May was wrong about Girls World ending up tatty though - mine is pristine, and I still have her make up, and what's more, it still works. Because I was a conscientious child and always washed and dried her face and hair after playing with her. I think the only bit that got lost was the false eyelashes...

Now back to the programme...now you're talking! That would be a great combo! Although I still think Bean cannot be replaced. How about a combo of Bean as Boromir and Armitage as Faramir? They both sound Northern too, so it would fit, although Armitage is a Lancastrian...

James May should have had me as a sister - I loved my toy cars and garage.

Sorry Lal but I can't completely agree to your solution because of Mr Bean fatal charm not working on me at all - though I think he was fine as Boromir apart from not speaking at all like his supposed brother/father. So the divine mr A being from Lancs and teh less divine mr B being from Yorks is probably a relatively minor issue (not withstanding that the folk in those parts seem not to have noticed that the War of the Roses is over ) compared to one bro being a Yorkie and the other and Aussie speaking RP...

[Lalwendë]

The War of the Roses is over? Not round here it's not.

I'm going by 'soap opera' theory in my casting choice. Have you ever noticed how the casting folk for soaps don't seem to have a grasp of accents? Otherwise Coronation Street, which is apparently in Manchester, would not be seemingly populated by Tykes.

Of course, Boromir could have got his accent from his mum; this is possible if she did the lion's share of raising him. Or maybe Denethor was putting on a 'telephone voice'? That sounds most likely, as there are parallels between Minas Tirith and Sheffield - one has seven levels, the other seven hills...

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Rikae

Brad Dourif and Andy Serkis! (With the latter, I'm referring to his incarnation as "young Smeagol" - pointy ears, long hair and all. Precious!)

Yes, he is very good looking(before the Gollumificating process)!

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

Yes, he is very good looking(before the Gollumificating process)!

Have you seen 24 Hour Party People? He's a bit scary in that and he's not even Gollumified*

*Gollumed - what a new verb that is!

"Sorry for the hissing, I've been Gollumed."
"Shut it, or I'll flippin' Gollum you!"
"Her Majesty's Government seeks to ban Golluming as it is a menace to society!"

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

"Her Majesty's Government seeks to ban Golluming as it is a menace to society!"

Oh, That's too bad, Golluming is very fun!(It scares my friends, but of course they do that too!) Oh yes, I have not seen 24 Hour People!

[Sir Kohran]

there is another pretty woman in the movies who is not a main character and who is not all dirty and begrimed. She's in Gondor, one of the ladies who went out to bid Faramir farewell, who is absolutely gorgeous (I think). She's prettier than Arwen and possibly Eowyn

I assume you mean the girl slightly to the left, next to the hooded person, in this shot? If so then I agree that she is absolutely stunning, definitely better-looking than Eowyn or maybe even Arwen.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Sir Kohran

I assume you mean the girl slightly to the left, next to the hooded person, in this shot? If so then I agree that she is absolutely stunning, definitely better-looking than Eowyn or maybe even Arwen.

Yes, she is quite beautiful... should have used her for Arwen!

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Cate Blanchett!

Not only is she the best looking, she is simply the best!

The best casted, the best actress, She Is Galadriel!

[Laurinquë]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Now I admit, Elijah Wood has everything in the right place, but he's just too girly for my liking. It would have been better if they'd got Jake Gyllenhall (or however you spell it) in, if they wanted a 'kiddy Frodo' - he has that whole liquid puppy dog eyes thing going on without looking too wussy

I totally agree, Elijah Wood was great but he was too girly, well, then that's not exactly his fault, but still. Anyway, despite this and TGEW's protests to the contrary, I think Elijah Wood as Frodo is cute, in fact he is stunning.

There, I admitted it. Ha.

[Kitanna]

Cate Blanchett!

Not only is she the best looking, she is simply the best!

The best casted, the best actress, She Is Galadriel!

I quite agree. Cate Blanchett has an other wordly air about her in many of her movies. (I find her particularly striking as Elizabeth I) I'm not always a fan of the lines she was given as Galadriel, but she delivered them wonderfully.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I think that the people in the movies that are best looking are-

Samwise Gamgee
Peregrin Took
Faramir
Meriadoc Brandybuck
Well, you know I don't fall for many people in those movies.... but if it was the books, Eomer might not be so bad...

[Bêthberry]

Perhaps this question about beauty, appearance and appeal can best be discussed by considering some criteria for choices.

There was a time when the criteria for beauty were considered to be eternal and absolute. There's lots of discussion of the Venus de Milo and the David as perfect representations of female and male form. Yet at the same time art over the centuries has given us various versions of attractiveness: Reubens' female forms would not be considered desireable by today's standards of anorexic fashion models. Even Marilyn Monroe, one of the most desireable of all Hollywood sex symbols, would by today's standards be considered a tad fleshy. And how would Brad Pitt measure up against John Wayne? Or Greory Peck against Johnny Depp?

Is it always youth and the fullness of health? Or do some forms of beauty evoke wisdom, maturity, calmness, self-possession? Or is the hint and thrill of danger an attractive aspect of beauty?

The threads on Novice and Newcomers aren't expected to have the depth (or dryness ) of the threads in Books, yet still at the Barrow Downs some form of reasoned opinion is expected. Maybe we could get away from unexamined or unexplained opinion (which leads so quickly to personal insult) and more into the reasons why each one of us finds different characters appealing.

For starters, here's a bit of background on Aesthetic relativism. I'm sure it's boring enough to drive the petty insults away before the mods find this thread.

And while we are at it, here's Barrow Downs' very own perfection:

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Figwit.

[Mithalwen]

Fordim, you are such a fangirl.....

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Fordim, you are such a fangirl.....

But we've always known that Fordim favours the uncanonical.

As for who I think is the best looking in the movies, I am compelled to recall alatar's thread Legolas's Snow Angels.

That thread reminds me that it is Legolas who is the best looking, although I don't think we've ever satisfactorily explained why elves should have such good vision, although we made giant strides towards explaining his high stepping.

[sindaadvialwen]

after giving this much careful consideration, i have come the absolute conclusion that almost the entire male cast are v appealing. i believe it 2 be ( in hottness order) Eomer, Faramir, Boromir, fellowship/ 2 towers aragorn then Legolas.... guess i just have thing for a nice rough looking man....

[claudea99]

Rose Cotton. Love women with hairy feet.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by claudea99

Rose Cotton. Love women with hairy feet.

Um...to each his own...I guess...

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by MatthewM

Um...to each his own...I guess...

That was not needed

[Gwathagor]

Ha ha ha ha ha.