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Date Posted: 12:35:55 12/31/01 Mon
Author: mvd
Subject: Re: What I would have liked
In reply to: Adilbrand 's message, "What would you have liked?" on 09:56:31 12/31/01 Mon

My complaints of Frodo doing nothing are not the actual complaint for me, really. I would have liked him to be a real character. There are characters that do stand out in my memory of the movie, but Frodo, alas, was not one of them. I thought that his leadership abilities and keen thinking could have better been shown in the early portions of the movie. As it was, the other hobbits seem to follow him accidentally, and his journey from the Shire to Bree did not afford him any character building moments. I was saddened by this, for he is the main character of the book and should be of the movie also. This is why I never "felt his pain", as it were, when he blubbered at the river. He was carrying this great weight (the ring), but due mostly to his "nonentity" status, it was like trying to feel Geordi's (sp) pain during a Star Trek tear jerking moment. I would have been sadder about his dilemma had he been a sack of potatoes. Merry and Pippin had more character and strength of resolve!

The things he does, mentioned by Omega, are not all that interesting to me so much as let us, the viewers, know who Frodo is. In the book, he has an other worldly quality about him in that he seems a bit "untouchable" or "unapproachable" with Sam being his only real confidant. He is, in the tradition of the Bagginses, a loner, a born doer and adventurer. It is difficult to pin down his character, yet you always know what to expect from him. This aspect of his character never came across for me in the movie. The Frodo of the movie seemed far younger than he really was, and as a result, much more incompetent. His decision to take the ring somehow fell flat for me, both at the Shire and at the Council, and I would warrant it has mostly to do with the fact that these decisions seemed contrived due to his lack of character.

Anyway... :) I know you enjoyed it very much. I am not trying to take away from anyone's enjoyment of the movie, but I am critical of all movies I watch. I do not like my time to be wasted on things that are less than what I would expect from myself. It is the "Gladiator" scenario for me. If you will remember, most of the people that enjoyed that movie argued with you that they just wanted to be entertained and didn't feel like being critical, whereas you did. This could be the same situation only in reverse... As a fantasy movie, it was certainly one of the best I've ever seen, yet as a film, it was not really that impressive emotionally or artistically. The special effects were great, but as we have argued before, this does not a movie make!

It is the same way for me, now, with reading that I do. Because of certain teachers or paths I have chosen as a "writer", I find myself editing poor books as I read, with the end result being that I cannot read anything that needs a stiff edit! Piers Anthony comes to mind. I can't read his stuff anymore! It is drivel and condescending twaddle in many ways. It is a shame, actually, as if a part of me that could appreciate it is gone. Nevertheless, I like my critical nature, now, too... I expect a lot. And, why shouldn't I?

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