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Ingwion
Lorien
Oct 12 2016, 4:49pm
Post #1 of 140
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Best & Worst character adaptations in The Hobbit Trilogy
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Who are those characters in TH movies who you think Peter Jackson absolutely ruined, if any? Is there any characters he improved? Do you think Alfrid or Radagast were silly?
Thoughts! 
It was a foggy day in London, and the fog was heavy and dark. Animate London, with smarting eyes and irritated lungs, was blinking, wheezing, and choking; inanimate London was a sooty spectre, divided in purpose between being visible and invisible, and so being wholly neither. - Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens.
It is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen. - The Silmarillion, J. R. R. Tolkien
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Mr. Arkenstone (isaac)
Tol Eressea
Oct 12 2016, 5:01pm
Post #2 of 140
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As an unexpected way to put hi, onscreen he fits visually with all the imaginery of th trilogy
The flagon with the dragon has the brew that is true
Survivor to The Battle for the Fifth Trailer
Hobbit Cinema Marathon Hero
There and Back Again Traveller
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Ingwion
Lorien
Oct 12 2016, 5:03pm
Post #3 of 140
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Although we didn't see enough of him at the Battle of the Five Armies
It was a foggy day in London, and the fog was heavy and dark. Animate London, with smarting eyes and irritated lungs, was blinking, wheezing, and choking; inanimate London was a sooty spectre, divided in purpose between being visible and invisible, and so being wholly neither. - Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens.
It is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen. - The Silmarillion, J. R. R. Tolkien
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DainPig
Gondor
Oct 12 2016, 5:37pm
Post #4 of 140
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Bard was so greatly improved. In the book he just apperead from nowhere, like no character development he was just there and killed the dragon. In the films he has a larger role not just as the leader of men, but as a father who loves his family and will do anything to protect them.
On the other head, Beorn was not so well adapted. I don't think the character is awful, he just could have been better used. Firstly, his visual: come on, is he Sonic the Hedgehog? And where's is his mustache??? Beorn was supposed to be manacing like in the book, but Mikeal Presbrandt don't really scary me. His expressions are always like "oh, look how furious I am, buh!" you can clearly see this in the introduction scene (extended edition).
Also, if I were to adapt the book I would put Beorn to kill Azog and save Thorin. The Beorn subplot in Dol Guldur should have stayed in the film, but unfortunaly Mr. Legolas stole his role. 
No, I don't think Radagast or Alfrid were silly. Alfrid is funny, but he shouldn't have such a big role. If someone ever make a Alfrid film with Ryan Gage (good actor, IMO), I'd watch it.
Radagast was adorable and it would have been great to see him in action. You know, actually killing things and saving the day. I wonder if there's any footage of him in the Battle.
"Se mais pessoas valorizassem o lar acima do ouro, o mundo seria muito mais feliz."
dainpigblog.blogspot.com
historiasderafaelrodriguesdarocha.blogspot.com
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Ingwion
Lorien
Oct 12 2016, 5:42pm
Post #5 of 140
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I firmly think Alfrid is silly. I enjoy humour in movies, but not the kind of stupid jokes which belong in "Tom and Jerry"
On the other hand, I love Radagast, although I don't think he should have been in the battle. Radagast doesn't seem that kinda Istari to me 
It was a foggy day in London, and the fog was heavy and dark. Animate London, with smarting eyes and irritated lungs, was blinking, wheezing, and choking; inanimate London was a sooty spectre, divided in purpose between being visible and invisible, and so being wholly neither. - Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens.
It is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen. - The Silmarillion, J. R. R. Tolkien
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Otaku-sempai
Immortal
Oct 12 2016, 7:29pm
Post #6 of 140
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I wouldn't call Beorn of the book 'menacing' so much as 'intimidating' and I think he worked on film to that extent.
We can't really talk about Alfrid as an adaptation, though, as he was an original character to the film. And Radagast appears so briefly in Tolkien's legendarium (and not in The Hobbit except as a name) that PJ nearly had free-reign with him.
"He who lies artistically, treads closer to the truth than ever he knows." -- Favorite proverb of the wizard Ningauble of the Seven Eyes
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malickfan
Gondor
Oct 12 2016, 7:59pm
Post #7 of 140
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I'll get utterly crucified for this...
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...but I still vastly prefer the morally grey, arrogant git that was Thorin in the book over the film version.
Thorin in the book was a fascinating character, very morally dubious, prideful and arrogant, but a very heroic and noble figure in his own flawed way, every bit the forceful king in exile, a deeply flawed old man who falls victim to his own hubris and the tragedy of his upbringing, Thorin in the films was for me a largely generic, blandly heroic oh so tragic warrior in his prime rarely deserving of the endless hero worship lavished on him and largely lacking the moral greyness of his book counterpart, Jackson and co strove so hard to try and make Thorin more approachable and tragic it only ended up annoying me and making him a much less interesting character i.m.o.
*Ducks rotten fruit thrown in his direction*
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LSF
Gondor
Oct 12 2016, 9:02pm
Post #8 of 140
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Applies to movie thorin, too. I really don't see how your description doesn't.
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 12 2016, 9:05pm
Post #9 of 140
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was really put well to screen. I loved both loved and feared his character!
One I didn't care for as much was Dain. Nothing wrong with the character, I just wasn't a fan of Billy Connelly's take on him.
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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dormouse
Half-elven
Oct 12 2016, 10:32pm
Post #10 of 140
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I don't think he absolutely ruined anything.
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Thranduil wasn't my Elvenking - my childhood favourite character - even so, I thought he was a very good interpretation of the character, rooted in the books and with a lot of the First Age elf about him. And I thought Lee Pace (an actor I'd never heard of) played him really well.
Thorin was also a long way from the Thorin I'd imagined but that was an even easier change to accept - despite the character flaws which are his ultimate downfall I found him deeper and more interesting - and ultimately more sympathetic. I never liked him in the book.
I had a problem with Radagast initially because I've never liked Sylvester McCoy as an actor, I've always found him a bit silly: I was won over by the design really - there were some beautiful concept drawings and I loved his house and his rabbits and birds. And I think he was written well (though I could have done without the stick insect).
Alfrid I thought rather good in DoS - he and Stepher Fry's Master complemented each other well. I think they could have toned him down a bit in BotFA.
I really liked the characterisation of Beorn. Again, not as I'd imagined him, but much more magical and wild.
For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood and every spring
there is a different green. . .
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Ettelewen
Rohan
Oct 12 2016, 10:48pm
Post #11 of 140
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I really enjoyed Martin Freeman's Bilbo, and feel the character was adapted to the screen very well.
I don't have a "worst" to offer. Most of the characters were a bit different from how I'd envisioned them while reading the book, but it hasn't bothered me. None were "ruined", in my opinion.
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Ingwion
Lorien
Oct 12 2016, 10:50pm
Post #12 of 140
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Wonderfully adapted, but I really did not like him. The character was played and adapted perfectly though.
As for Dain, the Scottish "To the King, to the King!" is brilliant and rallying. Very Dwarvish. Didn't care for his mount. And the unnecessary bad language.
It was a foggy day in London, and the fog was heavy and dark. Animate London, with smarting eyes and irritated lungs, was blinking, wheezing, and choking; inanimate London was a sooty spectre, divided in purpose between being visible and invisible, and so being wholly neither. - Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens.
It is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen. - The Silmarillion, J. R. R. Tolkien
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Ingwion
Lorien
Oct 12 2016, 10:55pm
Post #13 of 140
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I love the Hobbit movies, and I asked if anyone thought any characters had been ruined purely because I knew some people did think that.
It was a foggy day in London, and the fog was heavy and dark. Animate London, with smarting eyes and irritated lungs, was blinking, wheezing, and choking; inanimate London was a sooty spectre, divided in purpose between being visible and invisible, and so being wholly neither. - Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens.
It is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen. - The Silmarillion, J. R. R. Tolkien
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Ingwion
Lorien
Oct 12 2016, 10:56pm
Post #14 of 140
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Martin Freeman, for me one of the highlights of the trilogy. Absolutely amazing acting and he's hilarious without being stupid and cheesy like BOFA Alfrid
It was a foggy day in London, and the fog was heavy and dark. Animate London, with smarting eyes and irritated lungs, was blinking, wheezing, and choking; inanimate London was a sooty spectre, divided in purpose between being visible and invisible, and so being wholly neither. - Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens.
It is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen. - The Silmarillion, J. R. R. Tolkien
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 12 2016, 11:13pm
Post #15 of 140
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The bad language is what threw me off
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about Dain. I have to admit, I did love how excited he got over the war chariot in the extended edition!
Also I read that Billy Connelly wasn't a Tolkien fan, which is well and fine, but to me almost seem to meld into the character. And that just kinda didn't do the most for me, as did his language.
Thranduil, it is a matter if you like him or not, because he did do things that made him unlikable (even though I liked his character because he was an antagonist on the side of the good) I felt that he was more menacing in Battle of the Five Armies than Desolation of Smaug.
Another character who was put well to screen was Smaug. He looked amazing as did Gollum and Treebeard from LOTR's, and he was a dark and scary villain. Also as some had knew Benedict Cumberbatch before he played the dragon, Smaug was the first role I had ever seen him in!
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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Ingwion
Lorien
Oct 12 2016, 11:20pm
Post #16 of 140
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PJ just HAD to throw in an expletive before TH trilogy was over. It was totally unnecessary.
Thranduil seems so cold and hard to me, but I enjoyed him immensely.
Smaug was stunning. The shot of the gold dripping off him as he twisted round in the sky, combined with the wonderful music, was superb
It was a foggy day in London, and the fog was heavy and dark. Animate London, with smarting eyes and irritated lungs, was blinking, wheezing, and choking; inanimate London was a sooty spectre, divided in purpose between being visible and invisible, and so being wholly neither. - Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens.
It is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen. - The Silmarillion, J. R. R. Tolkien
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 12 2016, 11:27pm
Post #17 of 140
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It was unnecessary. Oh well.
That is what I liked about Thranduil! He was a cold individual to deal with, and it was one of the films' first character who was so cold and creepy.(Saying one, cause Denethor was pretty cold in LOTR!)
That was my favorite part of the second Hobbit film! The Middle-earth films always had so many beautiful shots in the films, and Smaug covered in gold was one. The whole scene when he emerges from the Golden River screaming for revenge, is just so powerful.
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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Ettelewen
Rohan
Oct 12 2016, 11:35pm
Post #18 of 140
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While I don't "hate" the character, I just find him sort of annoying.
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StingingFly
Lorien
Oct 12 2016, 11:49pm
Post #19 of 140
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Though a flawed overall adaptation of the book, there were several very good characters...
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...the best among these being Balin. Though if that old dwarf makes me cry one more time, I'm taking him off my list...in particular when he enters the hidden door into Erebor, a great scene.
...the worst for me was Smaug. Yes, I said it. The dragon that can't stop monologueing. He was intimidating, until he just kept blabbing on and on. He sees Bilbo, who inexplicably takes off his ring, and still can't kill him. He ends up in a Scooby Do style monster chase with the Company and doesn't even manage to injure a single dwarf. He for some reason decides to engage in a trash talking session with Bard, for no apparent reason...and is struck down by a silly, unrealistic, home made, black arrow launcher.
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Ettelewen
Rohan
Oct 13 2016, 1:52am
Post #20 of 140
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Balin is one of my favorites. His character is so well-realized that I felt quite comfortable - even chummy - with him from the start. Very well done.
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DainPig
Gondor
Oct 13 2016, 2:52am
Post #21 of 140
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Smaug is a retarded dragon.
"Se mais pessoas valorizassem o lar acima do ouro, o mundo seria muito mais feliz."
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historiasderafaelrodriguesdarocha.blogspot.com
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Omnigeek
Lorien
Oct 13 2016, 3:15am
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I'm sure I'm in the minority in this thread
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but I would say the best character adaptation was Bilbo and the worst was Thorin. PJ utterly missed the character of the proud old dwarf and built his own character. The character he built -- IMO -- doesn't work. He's beyond haughty with a chip on his shoulders; he's downright racist as far as Elves are concerned and he makes really stupid decisions.
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Noria
Gondor
Oct 13 2016, 1:05pm
Post #24 of 140
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I think most of the characters were well adapted, even when they diverge from the book characters. Most of them are somewhat deeper and, to me, more interesting.
I expected great things from Martin Freeman so that was no surprise.
What did surprise me was that Smaug turned out to be one of my favourite characters. I was more-or-less indifferent to him in the book. But I loved movie Smaug – the way he looked and moved and especially his voice and dialogue. Not only was he huge, powerful and smart, he was fallible like all living creatures. His vanity allowed Bilbo to keep on living and pursuing the Arkenstone and all the while Bilbo was accidentally or not getting closer to an escape route. Then his great size and power actually worked against him so that the handful of small, quick Dwarves and Hobbit could elude him. I loved every minute of it, over-the-top Dwarf battle and all.
Alfrid is not an adapted character but I thought he was great in DOS and too much in TBOTFA. Radagast barely qualifies but IMO he was great.
The adaptations that I don’t particularly care for were the Goblin King and the Master. For that I blame PJ’s love of excess, not the actors, despite the stunt casting.
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DainPig
Gondor
Oct 13 2016, 2:46pm
Post #25 of 140
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PJ made Smaug look just dumb. I don't believe Tolkien would have liked of the film dragon. That battle of the forges... hmm, why didn't Smaug just killed them all with his fire? Does he need to wait to "reload" his fire??
Also, Smaug is too big. In the book he was smaller, I believe.
"Se mais pessoas valorizassem o lar acima do ouro, o mundo seria muito mais feliz."
dainpigblog.blogspot.com
historiasderafaelrodriguesdarocha.blogspot.com
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