The Number of Major Characters - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

HCIsland · 05-31-2003, 03:08 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> As screenwriters or director, we have to give equal attention to many characters; in this particular trilogy of films, there are 20 major characters.... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>This is PJ from <A HREF="http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1054369145" TARGET=_blank>this article</A>.Immediately this got me thinking about this list. It wasn't hard to make, though I got 23. Either 20 was a ballpark figure or PJ doesn't consider a few of these.1. Frodo 2. Sam 3. Merry 4. Pippin 5. Gandalf 6. Aragorn 7. Legolas 8. Gimli 9. Boromir 10. Bilbo 11. Saruman 12. Arwen 13. Elrond 14. Galadriel 15. Gollum 16. Theoden 17. Eowyn 18. Eomer 19. Treebeard 20. Wormtongue 21. Faramir 22. Denethor 23. SauronTo me this seems quite the list and it got me wondering how it compares to other fantasy films. For example, here's the original Star Wars Trilogy.1. Luke 2. Han 3. Leia 4. C3P0 5. R2D2 6. Darth Vadar 7. Obiwan 8. Chewbaca 9. Yoda 10. Londo 11. Jaba the Hut 12. The EmperorHopefully, I'm not missing any from either list.Anyway, I'm curious as to how this compares to other films, so if folks want to add their own lists, they should. It may be instructive.H.C.

GaladrieloftheOlden · 05-31-2003, 04:10 PM

Maybe he didn't consider Elrond, Galadriel, and Theoden to be major characters? Though that wouldn't make much sense, I think...~Menelien

Legolas · 05-31-2003, 04:35 PM

I wouldn't consider Elrond or Bilbo a major character, or, for Jackon's list, Sauron. Arwen isn't really a major character except for her 'decision.'Also, Legolas and Gimli seemed to be tied together throughout most of the movies. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas never part from each other (except for the silly falling-off-the-cliff deal), and thus, they get plenty of time together.The same can be said of Merry and Pippin (until their Rohan/Gondor split), and Arwen (whose time is mostly shared with Aragorn, or Frodo in the ride to Rivendell).I'm sure he was just estimating though.[ May 31, 2003: Message edited by: Legolas ]

Liriodendron · 05-31-2003, 05:24 PM

I could delete Treebeard, Eomer and Wormtongue. Theoden seemed pretty major, and I would go with Elrond (in the movie) he pops up three different places so far. Still, not Major, Major I guess, but .... Theoden got a lot of screen time in TT and still will be "up" in RoTK. Perhaps Boromir isn't major because he died in the first. Bilbo is so important, (IMO) and will pop up again at the end, (I hope!) that I could call him sort of major..eh, hair splitting! [ May 31, 2003: Message edited by: Liriodendron ]

06-03-2003, 04:42 AM

on the star wars list, you forgot qui-gon and count dooku.

HCIsland · 06-03-2003, 10:47 AM

Nope, as I mentioned I was only looking at the original trilogy. I wanted to compare apples to apples, three films to three, not three to six.H.C.

Frodo2968thewhite · 06-03-2003, 11:48 AM

PJ probably doesn't consider Galadriel, Denethor, and Bilbo. Although for my list, get rid of Arwen.

Duncariel · 06-03-2003, 12:40 PM

The only reason Sauron would be put on the list is the fact that he's trying to take over ME. That's a pretty big deal, dontcha think?

the guy who be short · 06-03-2003, 01:42 PM

Id say Denethor was a pretty major character. Id say he was leaving off Bilbo, Galadriel and somebody else. Strange how the nazgul arent mentioned. The witchking is extremely central to the plot.

Arwen Imladris · 06-03-2003, 02:53 PM

Well, I think that all of the characters in LOTR are important, but if I had to I would say that Boromir Bilbo Arwen Elrond Galadrie l Eomer Wormtongue Faramir Denethor (sorry Meela!)Were not major characters, especially so far in the movies.

05-31-2003, 03:08 PM	#1
HCIsland Zombie Cannibal Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,000	The Number of Major Characters <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> As screenwriters or director, we have to give equal attention to many characters; in this particular trilogy of films, there are 20 major characters....<BR> <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>This is PJ from <A HREF="http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1054369145" TARGET=_blank>this article</A>.<P>Immediately this got me thinking about this list. It wasn't hard to make, though I got 23. Either 20 was a ballpark figure or PJ doesn't consider a few of these.<P>1. Frodo<BR>2. Sam<BR>3. Merry<BR>4. Pippin<BR>5. Gandalf<BR>6. Aragorn<BR>7. Legolas<BR>8. Gimli<BR>9. Boromir<BR>10. Bilbo<BR>11. Saruman<BR>12. Arwen<BR>13. Elrond<BR>14. Galadriel<BR>15. Gollum<BR>16. Theoden<BR>17. Eowyn<BR>18. Eomer<BR>19. Treebeard<BR>20. Wormtongue<BR>21. Faramir<BR>22. Denethor<BR>23. Sauron<P>To me this seems quite the list and it got me wondering how it compares to other fantasy films. For example, here's the original Star Wars Trilogy.<P>1. Luke<BR>2. Han<BR>3. Leia<BR>4. C3P0<BR>5. R2D2<BR>6. Darth Vadar<BR>7. Obiwan<BR>8. Chewbaca<BR>9. Yoda<BR>10. Londo<BR>11. Jaba the Hut<BR>12. The Emperor<P>Hopefully, I'm not missing any from either list.<P>Anyway, I'm curious as to how this compares to other films, so if folks want to add their own lists, they should. It may be instructive.<P>H.C. __________________ "Stir not the bitterness in the cup that I mixed myself. Have I not tasted it now many nights upon my tongue, foreboding that worse yet lay in the dregs." -Denethor

05-31-2003, 04:10 PM	#2
GaladrieloftheOlden Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Massachusetts - digging up a bottomless hole, searching for something that's not there... Posts: 1,514	Maybe he didn't consider Elrond, Galadriel, and Theoden to be major characters? Though that wouldn't make much sense, I think...<P>~Menelien __________________ "Glue... very powerful stuff."

05-31-2003, 04:35 PM	#3
Legolas A Northern Soul Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Valinor Posts: 1,847	I wouldn't consider Elrond or Bilbo a major character, or, for Jackon's list, Sauron. Arwen isn't really a major character except for her 'decision.'<P>Also, Legolas and Gimli seemed to be tied together throughout most of the movies. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas never part from each other (except for the silly falling-off-the-cliff deal), and thus, they get plenty of time together.<P>The same can be said of Merry and Pippin (until their Rohan/Gondor split), and Arwen (whose time is mostly shared with Aragorn, or Frodo in the ride to Rivendell).<P>I'm sure he was just estimating though.<p>[ May 31, 2003: Message edited by: Legolas ] __________________ ...take counsel with thyself, and remember who and what thou art.

05-31-2003, 05:24 PM	#4
Liriodendron Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 527	I could delete Treebeard, Eomer and Wormtongue.<BR>Theoden seemed pretty major, and I would go with Elrond (in the movie) he pops up three different places so far. Still, not Major, Major I guess, but .... Theoden got a lot of screen time in TT and still will be "up" in RoTK. Perhaps Boromir isn't major because he died in the first. Bilbo is so important, (IMO) and will pop up again at the end, (I hope!) that I could call him sort of major..eh, hair splitting! <p>[ May 31, 2003: Message edited by: Liriodendron ] __________________ http://www.lizmargason.com

06-03-2003, 10:47 AM	#6
HCIsland Zombie Cannibal Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,000	Nope, as I mentioned I was only looking at the original trilogy. I wanted to compare apples to apples, three films to three, not three to six.<P>H.C. __________________ "Stir not the bitterness in the cup that I mixed myself. Have I not tasted it now many nights upon my tongue, foreboding that worse yet lay in the dregs." -Denethor

06-03-2003, 04:42 AM	#5
Drizzt Do'Urden Guest Posts: n/a	on the star wars list, you forgot qui-gon and count dooku.

06-03-2003, 11:48 AM	#7
Frodo2968thewhite Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Shire Posts: 95	PJ probably doesn't consider Galadriel, Denethor, and Bilbo. Although for my list, get rid of Arwen. __________________ INAGURAL GOLDEN RING MARATHON, OCTOBER 20, 2005!!! FRODO LIVES!!!!

06-03-2003, 12:40 PM	#8
Duncariel Wight Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Land of the Ice and Snow Posts: 226	The only reason Sauron would be put on the list is the fact that he's trying to take over ME. That's a pretty big deal, dontcha think? __________________ Middle-earth: Insanity "What, the peons aren't trusted?" -- Yazoo, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

06-03-2003, 01:42 PM	#9
the guy who be short Shadowed Prince Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Thulcandra Posts: 2,343	Id say Denethor was a pretty major character. Id say he was leaving off Bilbo, Galadriel and somebody else.<BR>Strange how the nazgul arent mentioned. The witchking is extremely central to the plot.

06-03-2003, 02:53 PM	#10
Arwen Imladris Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In a box with a fox Posts: 1,347	Well, I think that all of the characters in LOTR are important, but if I had to I would say that <P>Boromir<BR>Bilbo<BR>Arwen<BR>Elrond<BR>Galadrie l<BR>Eomer<BR>Wormtongue<BR>Faramir<BR>Denethor (sorry Meela!)<P>Were not major characters, especially so far in the movies. __________________ "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, sleepies, we must go, yes, we must go at once."