|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
bborchar
Nargothrond
Jan 27 2013, 4:40pm
Post #1 of 41
(2016 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Which character changed your mind about casting?
|
Can't Post
|
|
I was wondering...PJ made many headlines when he cast against type for certain roles...I'm wondering, now that you've seen the films, who changed your mind? It could be for better or for worse. Who did you think would never do a good job, and did great; and who did you think would be great, but didn't turn out as well as you hoped?
|
|
|
macfalk
Doriath
Jan 27 2013, 4:51pm
Post #2 of 41
(1389 views)
Shortcut
|
He was a let-down. The others though I was very much pleased with, even Azog.
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
|
|
|
CathrineB
Nargothrond
Jan 27 2013, 4:56pm
Post #3 of 41
(1360 views)
Shortcut
|
I'd say Bilbo. Not because I thought Martin didn't fit or anything, but I wasn't sure whether he would be the Bilbo I pictured.
Let's just say I couldn't be more relieved that they waited for Martin because he's pitch perfect as Bilbo. He gave so much more than I had even expected. It's impossible not to love him. So I was never negative, just unsure. But I totally see what PJ saw when he casted him.
|
|
|
jimmyfenn
Nargothrond
Jan 27 2013, 5:05pm
Post #4 of 41
(1346 views)
Shortcut
|
i feel all the more well known actors did there jobs brilliantly (for me thats ian,cate,mccoy,martin,lee,stott etc) and the less well known ones in essence were not as good!
the only new face i thought did a good job was dwalin.
"You Tolkien to me?!" - Hobbit de Niro
|
|
|
Yva
Menegroth
Jan 27 2013, 5:11pm
Post #5 of 41
(1287 views)
Shortcut
|
|
I'm sorry I can't really answer this question
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
because I had zero expectations with regard to the cast (as in I didn't quite care).
I wasn't super excited about the movie to begin with (I thought we were getting an average fantasy fairy-tale children's story) and I'm terribly embarrassed to admit that I hadn't known any of the dwarf actors prior to TH (I live in a non-English speaking country). I only knew Martin Freeman, I thought he would be great, and he ended up being even better (although I have seen some people having reservations about his performance, too).
However, what do you mean exactly by PJ casting against type for some of the roles, you mean the "young sexy human-looking dwarves" controversies I assume?
|
|
|
Owain
Dor-Lomin
Jan 27 2013, 5:32pm
Post #6 of 41
(1275 views)
Shortcut
|
|
The casting was very successful in my eyes...
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Gandalf - Sir Ian McKellen is perfect for me. One of the greatest living actors (or greatest actors period).
Bilbo - Martin Freeman wasn't my first choice but I love him as Bilbo and honestly can't see anyone else in the role now. He won me over.
Thorin - Richard Armitage didn't seem to make sense from an age stand point at first but having seen his presence, I think he fits the character well. So far I have enjoyed his performance and I will be interested to see how it develops over the entire arc.
Balin - Ken Stott has incredible charm and subtlety. I think he fits well... hope to see more of him.
Dwalin - Graham McTavish. I'm kind of indifferent. I've seen him fight and be imposing and he delivers that but I'll wait to weigh in on his performance until I've seen more of him.
That's who I have time for right now... I'll give it some more thought.
Middle Earth is New Zealand!
"Question everything, embrace the bad, and hold on to the good."
(This post was edited by Owain on Jan 27 2013, 5:33pm)
|
|
|
Kimtc
Nargothrond
Jan 27 2013, 5:37pm
Post #7 of 41
(1282 views)
Shortcut
|
I had a very hard time picturing a RA as a dwarf, much less one as generally unlikeable as Thorin. I saw him as Bard. He pulled it off beautifully; I never once thought he wasn't a dwarf, and he came across as older than he is. He also brought a lot of nuance to someone who goes through the book as an SOB. I'm looking forward to what he's going to do going forward.
However, as much as I like Aidan Turner as Kili, I still don't see the dwarf (not like I do with Fili, for instance).
|
|
|
Kirly
Menegroth
Jan 27 2013, 5:41pm
Post #8 of 41
(1207 views)
Shortcut
|
As someone who avoided most news of AUJ prior to seeing it, the characters come alive for me. I found Ori a bit of an odd character for a dwarf but it's not a tremendous issue for me.
In fact, my first viewing of AUJ was much like my first viewing of FOTR. I didn't even know they were making FOTR until a few weeks before seeing it and I was convinced no one could ever film Tolkien; it was, in my mind, an impossible task. I was actually pushed into going to FOTR with a large group of friends. I was expecting a complete butchering of the movie and didn't expect any feeling of history for the various peoples of Middle earth. I came out of my first viewing of FOTR awestruck at the incredible portrayals - the characters, the history of the peoples, the sets, the landscape. The characters I found most amazing. Jackson had managed to capture on film the characters I had seen in my mind for decades. I couldn't believe it. I made a complete 180 and began to search for every tidbit of info. I even went so far as to go to New Zealand.
Since that worked out so well for me for FOTR, I decided to be patient, not search for news of casting or plot and just wait for AUJ. It was actually easier than it sounded considering real life events overwhelmed all energy for the last 2 years. AUJ did not disappoint. Now, when i read or think about the book, the characters and locations are as depicted in the movie. I am not disappointed at all and love AUJ.
My avatar photo is Lake Tekapo in New Zealand's South Island. Taken by me in 2004 on a Red Carpet Tours LOTR Movie Location Tour. 'Twas the Vacation of a Lifetime!
pictures taken while on the tour are here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/Kirly7/LOTRNewZealandTour#
|
|
|
painjoiker
Hithlum
Jan 27 2013, 5:56pm
Post #9 of 41
(1253 views)
Shortcut
|
I thought Rob was perfectly cast as Fili, and when he dropped out and Dead was announced I "hated" him mostly of principle, but during the production vlogs and in the final film I learned to love him as Kili!
Vocalist in the progressive metal band Renamed.
|
|
|
Angharad73
Nargothrond
Jan 27 2013, 7:26pm
Post #10 of 41
(1185 views)
Shortcut
|
I didn't have any expectations of the actors, really, before watching the movie. Some I knew, some I had never heard of (most of the dwarves, actually, apart from RA, Ken Stott and James Nesbitt), so I did not knew what to expect. However, I have to say that I was, on the whole, very pleasantly surprised. Even the smaller roles seem to be very well cast - like Bombur, who never really says anything but still has a certain screen presence and plays well together with the others, or Bifur, who I actually really like, with his sometimes intense stare (like when he is trying to roast salad - that's just adorable!) and unintelligible language. Even the characters that I don't like as much (sorry, Nori, Dori and Ori!) appear to be well-cast and well-portrayed - it's the characters that I don't like that much, not the actors.
I'm looking forward to seeing more of all of them, and maybe Bombur will finally say something! I'm also wondering what Thranduil sounds like...
|
|
|
sycorax82
Nargothrond
Jan 27 2013, 7:41pm
Post #12 of 41
(1180 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Richard Armitage silenced all the doubters
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
He is 100% the perfect Thorin. The only thing that lets him down is the makeup in some of the earlier scenes, where they hadn't finalized it properly. In the end his look was right and he's so believable as a Dwarf.
|
|
|
Aragalen the Green
Mithlond
Jan 27 2013, 7:41pm
Post #13 of 41
(1064 views)
Shortcut
|
Is this the article?: http://herocomplex.latimes.com/...ks-bifurs-injury/#/0
There it is: dwarves are not heroes, but calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money; some are tricky and treacherous and pretty bad lots; some are not, but are decent enough people like Thorin and Company, if you don't expect too much.
|
|
|
Runk Snusgrop
Ossiriand
Jan 27 2013, 7:45pm
Post #14 of 41
(1134 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Re: Which character changed your mind about casting?
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I was never really able to put a face, or a voice, on any of the characters and thus had no notions on what kind of actor should play them.
I was also only familar with four of the actors playing the dwarfs (Richard Armitage, Graham McTavish, Jed Brophy, and James Nesbitt), which helped. I was most delighted with all of them.
|
|
|
IdrilofGondolin
Nargothrond
Jan 27 2013, 7:47pm
Post #15 of 41
(1080 views)
Shortcut
|
I, too, was unfamiliar with most of the actors cast for AUJ. And I like it like that. Makes it easier to stay in the story.
The same was true for the LOTR. Remember reading at one point that Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawk were being considered for Eowyn and Faramir and thinking, well that's going to take us right out of the story. Glad it didn't happen.
|
|
|
Angharad73
Nargothrond
Jan 27 2013, 7:53pm
Post #16 of 41
(1053 views)
Shortcut
|
Thanks for posting this link! Bifur's backstory is really interesting.
|
|
|
Aragalen the Green
Mithlond
Jan 27 2013, 7:57pm
Post #17 of 41
(1032 views)
Shortcut
|
I couldn't get kimtc's link to work for me, did it work for you?
There it is: dwarves are not heroes, but calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money; some are tricky and treacherous and pretty bad lots; some are not, but are decent enough people like Thorin and Company, if you don't expect too much.
|
|
|
Kimtc
Nargothrond
Jan 27 2013, 7:58pm
Post #18 of 41
(1043 views)
Shortcut
|
Sorry about that. Looking at the actual link, I have one too many https in it. Ah, technology...
|
|
|
Angharad73
Nargothrond
Jan 27 2013, 7:58pm
Post #19 of 41
(1026 views)
Shortcut
|
I took out the http:// at the beginning, then it worked for me.
|
|
|
Aragalen the Green
Mithlond
Jan 27 2013, 8:00pm
Post #20 of 41
(1023 views)
Shortcut
|
It took me a while to figure that out too!  Now if I could figure out how to rename the links I'd have it made.
There it is: dwarves are not heroes, but calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money; some are tricky and treacherous and pretty bad lots; some are not, but are decent enough people like Thorin and Company, if you don't expect too much.
|
|
|
craban
Registered User
Jan 27 2013, 8:43pm
Post #21 of 41
(1102 views)
Shortcut
|
I only knew him from Pushing Daisies, to be honest, and couldn't quite picture him as an Elf. He was only in the movie for a few seconds and has completely won me over already.
|
|
|
Kimtc
Nargothrond
Jan 27 2013, 9:43pm
Post #22 of 41
(1037 views)
Shortcut
|
And he was the only, only good thing in that otherwise horrific Breaking Dawn Part 2. The few times he was on screen almost made the agony of the rest of it worthwhile. Almost.
I only knew him from Pushing Daisies, to be honest, and couldn't quite picture him as an Elf. He was only in the movie for a few seconds and has completely won me over already.
|
|
|
Ziggy Stardust
Mithlond
Jan 28 2013, 1:38am
Post #23 of 41
(925 views)
Shortcut
|
I thought all the characters were well cast, but when I heard Lee Pace would be playing Thranduil I was sceptical because he was in Breaking Dawn Part 2. But when I saw him as Thranduil, he completely won me over. It turned out he was a good choice after all.
I thought Bilbo was really well cast, I never doubted Martin Freeman. And I'm so glad McKellan, Weaving, Blanchett and Lee came back to reprise their roles. Oh yes, and Serkis too. 
|
|
|
Loresilme
Doriath
Jan 28 2013, 2:20am
Post #24 of 41
(912 views)
Shortcut
|
|
I wasn't familiar with any of them beforehand
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
That's how it was with the LOTR trilogy too. Which was one reason (among many :-)) why I was able to get so swept away with LOTR. I have had the same experience with AUJ. I love it when I don't recognize the actor or actress. So it wasn't so much as changing my mind as getting a thrill of, 'Yes! this is going to be great' --- I think it was as soon as Dwalin came in, and his attire, and his look and that way he says "No" when Bilbo asks if they know each other. At that point I thought, Yes! these dwarves really *are* all going to be interesting, just like they promised us!
|
|
|
SirDennisC
Gondolin
Jan 28 2013, 2:29am
Post #25 of 41
(904 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Tauriel. Until she was cast I was happy with Itaril. //
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
