Our Sponsor Sideshow Send us News
Lord of the Rings Tolkien
Search Tolkien
Lord of The RingsTheOneRing.net - Forged By And For Fans Of JRR Tolkien
Lord of The Rings Serving Middle-Earth Since The First Age

Lord of the Rings Movie News - J.R.R. Tolkien

  Main Index   Search Posts   Who's Online   Log in
The One Ring Forums: Tolkien Topics: Movie Discussion: The Hobbit:
The answer is "no".

Darkstone
Immortal


Jun 17 2009, 3:16pm


Views: 3414
Shortcut
The answer is "no". [In reply to] Can't Post

Isn't good acting in the eye of the beholder?

I’ve often debated with others whether there are any objective criteria for judging cinema. Is there such a thing as good acting? Is there such a thing as bad acting? I’ll leave the choice to you:

Lawrence Olivier versus Klinton Spilsbury.

Bette Davis versus Pia Zadora.

Toshirô Mifune vesus Ricky Nelson.

Katherine Hepburn versus Brittany Spears.

Jean Reno versus Tom Arnold.

Jeanne Moreau versus Paris Hilton.


Look at the lead hobbit actors from LotR - some people see complex emotions in their performances, while others see nothing at all.

I think a large part of the objections come from subjective problems with the adaptation than with the objective quality of the performance. For example, Elijah Wood is a very skilled actor, and does a great job portraying an adolescent hobbit. But book Frodo is not an adolescent hobbit. So people look for the book Frodo, find him missing, and blame Wood.



Quote
If they end up casting on the basis of looks and youth rather than experience and skill, then yes, it's going to be a disaster.

I agree with this as it stands, unless you're expressing an either-or choice here.


A lot of times that’s how Hollywood works. "Zac Efron is a hot property, so let's cast Zac Efron in it!"


"Looks and youth" don't have to be incompatible with "experience and skill", although it may be true that actors with looks and youth find it harder to have their skill appreciated.

How good was Orlando Bloom’s fresh-out-of-acting-school performance in LOTR? Could he have carried two three-hour films by himself? That's what the actor who plays Bilbo will have to do.


And even the best actor is only as good as the writing and direction. If the writing doesn't lead the audience to the place where they can understand Bilbo's predicament, I doubt there's an actor on the planet who could make this "unfilmable paragraph" work.

As Stanislavsky said, “There are no small parts, only small actors.”


In the end (Conversely, though, a weak actor would probably produce a disaster, as you say. Peter Jackson seems to be very good at pulling performances out of his actors, but I don't know enough about GDT to know how skilled he is in this area.)

Del Toro has gotten some very good performances out of small children, latex faced actors, and cgi constructs. That bodes well.

******************************************
The audacious proposal stirred his heart. And the stirring became a song, and it mingled with the songs of Gil-galad and Celebrian, and with those of Feanor and Fingon. The song-weaving created a larger song, and then another, until suddenly it was as if a long forgotten memory woke and for one breathtaking moment the Music of the Ainur revealed itself in all glory. He opened his lips to sing and share this song. Then he realized that the others would not understand. Not even Mithrandir given his current state of mind. So he smiled and simply said "A diversion.”


Subject User Time
Another unfilmable paragraph? Voronwë_the_Faithful Send a private message to Voronwë_the_Faithful Jun 14 2009, 2:53am
    How about this? Finding Frodo Send a private message to Finding Frodo Jun 14 2009, 3:45am
        That's better than anything I can think of Voronwë_the_Faithful Send a private message to Voronwë_the_Faithful Jun 14 2009, 4:03am
            well, if they had an actor as good as Jimmy Stewart . . . Annael Send a private message to Annael Jun 17 2009, 3:27pm
                Great example! Darkstone Send a private message to Darkstone Jun 17 2009, 4:10pm
        Well done! sador Send a private message to sador Jun 14 2009, 6:00am
    Think of it from another perspective. Silverlode Send a private message to Silverlode Jun 14 2009, 7:43am
        Yes - if the actor can show dernwyn Send a private message to dernwyn Jun 14 2009, 4:41pm
            The thing that really makes it possible Silverlode Send a private message to Silverlode Jun 14 2009, 7:50pm
    You don't film paragraphs. FarFromHome Send a private message to FarFromHome Jun 14 2009, 9:02pm
        You don't film books either. N.E. Brigand Send a private message to N.E. Brigand Jun 14 2009, 9:55pm
            Oh, I thought that was the issue... FarFromHome Send a private message to FarFromHome Jun 15 2009, 10:31am
        But you might film "moments" squire Send a private message to squire Jun 14 2009, 10:32pm
            Yes indeed. FarFromHome Send a private message to FarFromHome Jun 15 2009, 10:04am
    Film is a visual medium. A filmmaker should not, I judge, Curious Send a private message to Curious Jun 15 2009, 5:48am
        The darkness is a serious problem. FarFromHome Send a private message to FarFromHome Jun 15 2009, 10:26am
    interesting question Jettorex Send a private message to Jettorex Jun 15 2009, 3:12pm
    It depends on the actor. Darkstone Send a private message to Darkstone Jun 15 2009, 4:52pm
        Well Said Voronwë_the_Faithful Send a private message to Voronwë_the_Faithful Jun 15 2009, 5:24pm
            Lots of hammers in "The Hobbit", none proverbial. N.E. Brigand Send a private message to N.E. Brigand Jun 15 2009, 5:52pm
                It took me a while to figure out what you were referring to Voronwë_the_Faithful Send a private message to Voronwë_the_Faithful Jun 15 2009, 9:06pm
                How were the clothes in the troll-cave hanging from the walls? sador Send a private message to sador Jun 16 2009, 6:36am
                    Snails, too. N.E. Brigand Send a private message to N.E. Brigand Jun 16 2009, 1:03pm
                        And trails. Lots of trails Voronwë_the_Faithful Send a private message to Voronwë_the_Faithful Jun 16 2009, 1:17pm
                            "Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world, but for...?" // N.E. Brigand Send a private message to N.E. Brigand Jun 16 2009, 3:48pm
                        That's way beyond my pail. sador Send a private message to sador Jun 16 2009, 1:18pm
                            And quite a tale. N.E. Brigand Send a private message to N.E. Brigand Jun 16 2009, 3:35pm
                        and a Jail Jettorex Send a private message to Jettorex Jun 16 2009, 1:56pm
                            Yes, but not by that name. // N.E. Brigand Send a private message to N.E. Brigand Jun 16 2009, 4:03pm
                Only one? FarFromHome Send a private message to FarFromHome Jun 16 2009, 4:27pm
                    try's to think of a rhyme cameragod Send a private message to cameragod Jun 17 2009, 10:20am
        But aren't you begging the question? FarFromHome Send a private message to FarFromHome Jun 17 2009, 1:29pm
            The answer is "no". Darkstone Send a private message to Darkstone Jun 17 2009, 3:16pm
                Okay. FarFromHome Send a private message to FarFromHome Jun 17 2009, 3:57pm

 
 
 

Search for (options) Powered by Gossamer Forum v.1.2.3

home | advertising | contact us | back to top | search news | join list | Content Rating

This site is maintained and updated by fans of The Lord of the Rings, and is in no way affiliated with Tolkien Enterprises or the Tolkien Estate. We in no way claim the artwork displayed to be our own. Copyrights and trademarks for the books, films, articles, and other promotional materials are held by their respective owners and their use is allowed under the fair use clause of the Copyright Law. Design and original photography however are copyright © 1999-2012 TheOneRing.net. Binary hosting provided by Nexcess.net

Do not follow this link, or your host will be blocked from this site. This is a spider trap.