Elijah Wood - Frodo-Mutilator?

[Marky Lazer]

I think he was cast pretty well, actually. Maybe he's not the Frodo we all imagined when reading the books, but during the movies there wasn't a single moment that I was annoyed by the actor. I think Elijah Wood was very believable as Frodo, and couldn't think of someone who should have done it in his stead.

 

[j d worthington]

I have to agree with Marky here. I've read LotR probably 20+ times in my life, and found Wood's performance full of respect for Tolkien's depiction; what liberties were taken were those of the script, rather than his own differences from the Professor's words. I also thought he did some nicely nuanced moments, as well.

 

[Lament Du Lamia]

heheh... another chanter. i can't say i would have been erm... unhappy, if there was a little more hobbit cuddling, or..er. right. Though ive always liked the idea of pippin and merry more. hobbits are so snuggleable.

mmm... maybe this is unhealthy?

Oh, dear. Apparently I was brainless two years ago. It hurts to look at.

 

[Pyan]

I do think, that given all the times that Elijah Woods' hands were going to be in shot during the movies, he could have at least stopped biting his nails!

 

[steve12553]

I do think, that given all the times that Elijah Woods' hands were going to be in shot during the movies, he could have at least stopped biting his nails!

THat was kinda obvious in the films, wasn't it.

 

[kaneda]

I don't mind Elijah wood at all Thought he was perfect for the part of Frodo tbh!

 

[Aeris]

So many people hate Elijah Wood, and I don't understand why. I've only seen him in LOTR and Everything is Illuminated, but they are both on my top 10 list. From what I've seen, Elijah is an incredible actor. I...can't....even talk. I'm having a really hard time putting what I want to say into words. It's not that I have a crush on him or think he's attractive or anything, but he just does so well. If you let the fact that you are annoyed with an actor get in the way of enjoying an excellent movie, then I'm sad for you. Heck, Nicholas Cage bugs the crap out of me, but I still enjoy the movies I've seen him in (Moonstruck, Raising Arizona, etc.).

 

[Joel007]

I wonder if he had hidden bruises from all the crying scenes where he couldn't do it and had to be beaten into crying... or maybe they just forced water into his ducts and then said action

 

[Paige Turner]

I wonder if he had hidden bruises from all the crying scenes where he couldn't do it and had to be beaten into crying... or maybe they just forced water into his ducts and then said action

I think they probably did the old "take his dog behind the barn, then a gunshot rings out" trick. The casting of Elijah Wood didn't even break into my Top Twenty Things Wrong With The Movie list.

 

[Sibeling]

What annoys me about Elijah Wood is that he is too young. In the book Frodo was 50 years old (that's something like 30 for humans). He is an adult, and Elijah Wood makes him into a frustrated almost-teenager who just doesn't know how to deal with the appointed task.

 

[Scatterheart]

I despise Elijah wood. But I think he played Frodo well. Perhaps its because I saw the films before reading the books. He just made the character for me.
But then again, I never really liked Frodo anyway. So it didn't really bother me how I felt about the actor.
Though, more beloved characters (like Gandalf and Aragorn) would not have satisfied me were it not for their brilliant actors.

 

[Telperaca]

Don't worry. Everyone is a freak in their own little way.
As for Frodo - I thought he was creepy in the first movie. His eyes went weird and they plain creeped me but.
In the second movie, he was plain depressed.
And the third movie, his will was basically wanning.

In general, I though he actually did a good job - he [Wood] had a better role in LotR compared to some of the other movies he's featured in. I think that his character was quite deep, with all the whining and all. They (the four hobbits) certainly did portray the 'gay hobbit' role quite well!

 

[paranoid marvin]

Personally , I didn't care much for Frodo in the books either!

I thought Sam , Merry and Pippin played their parts perfectly . I think the thing with Frodo , is that he played the hobbit role differently to the other 3 , and that's what made his performance a little unusual .

There also seemed to be no chemistry between Sam & Frodo which is just plain wrong and certainly NOT how Tolkein intended. This lack of on-screen bonding is only made clearer when you see how well Merry & Pippin interacted together

 

[Pyan]

Personally , I didn't care much for Frodo in the books either!

Nor me - I always considered Sam to be the real hero, and I'm glad he, Merry and Pippin got the recognition they deserved. Frodo would have given up by Citith Ungol if he had gone alone as he wanted to.

 

[tarifa]

Wood lost me as soon as he looked up in his first scene, Frodo had brown eyes (or am I mistaken?)

 

[areader]

Actually my sister and I had a longrunning debate about who was the real hero of the book after reading it way before the movie. She thought Sam was (practical, did what had to be done, Frodo wouldn't have gotten there without him). I thought Frodo was (no one could have or would have, Sam turned back, Frodo held true).

Elijah was well cast. I point the finger at Peter Jackson...loathe to do so as everything was so brilliantly done.
But the razing of the shire was left out...and the Frodo of the movie wouldn't have fit that scene...he had to be battle worn in order to say no more fighting for me and enough to need to leave.

I would have liked to see the Frodo/Sam thing more balanced out so that the movie depicted the same tension in or question as to who was the hero as the book did. A little bit more of Bilbo's heir in Frodo was called for. He definitely knew what he was doing when he swore Gollum on an evil ring and Gandalf didn't tolerate fools and Sting was a more important thing to him than in the movie. His strengths needed more focus and the snivelling was... I have to say it...more Gollum-like than Frodo-like. But my sister loved the Jackson interpretation..grits teeth...lost that debate LOL.
Tolkien didn't have one hero in his book and its the only book I know of where the main character drops out of the story for 13? whole chapters (where was Frodo?). Jackson needed to understand that Tolkien wrote against the rules...with parallel and equal heros in both Sam and Frodo...and here I think Faramir and Boromir shadowed what Sam and Frodo didn't become...Faramir was an important character that got a scenery role.
But the movie was very well done...if you ever get a chance to look at Tolkien's drawings..you'll be amazed at how well it matches.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Frodo didn't drop out as such , the stories ran on parralell lines , until they joined together again at the end. We do get instances in each of the stories where these lines cross - Faramir reporting his meeting with Frodo to the Steward of Gondor for example.

In my opinion , JRR Tolkein questioned people's perspective of what a hero was . We are presented with Boromir as a great leader of men , noble and brave , whilst Frodo just wants a peaceful existence. Yet , when it comes to it , Boromir is the one who cracks under the pressure of their quest , whilst Frodo stays true to it , abandoning all hope by allowing his friends to escape the doom he is walking towards on such a hopeless quest

I think that Jackson purposefully played Frodo as a weak character , because he was emphasising that this wasn't a book about any one person , or any one hero. If Aragorn hadn't led a suicide mission to the gates of Mordor , captivating Sauron's eye , and drawing the remainder of his forces out of his fortress , it is doubtful that Frodo and Sam would ever have made it to Mount Doom

And as for Frodo becoming more Gollum like... well , I think that was intentional as well

 

[tangaloomababe]

Maybe its just me but I didnt mind Elijah Woods portrayal of Frodo. I am trying to think of a better choice. To be honest Frodo is not my fav character in either the book or the movie, but he is obviously a major character. Its been many years since I read the book so I am hard pressed to recall the books portrayal of him, I do recall though that he did seem to be the one that was always getting injured.
I don't think that Elijah carried of with complete conviction the ring's possession of Frodo.

 

[Pyan]

I am trying to think of a better choice.

Yes, that's the thing, isn't it? It's all very well to criticise the casting, but I can't honestly think of an alternative to Woods that wouldn't either overshadow the part, or fail miserably as Frodo.

 

[fingy773]

there both gay