AinurOlorin
Half-elven
(Due to post length, I have used font 12 to avoid damaging anyone's eyes)
I figured I would wait until all the locale controversy was resolved and put to bed. . . but as Thorin & Company never forgot their Home in the lonely mountain and their resolve to bring their curses home to Smaug, so I have not forgotten our dear Glorfindel, and how he was put completely out to pasture while other minor characters of less prestige and with less auspicious histories and deeds to their credit were at least given a little proper acknowledgement. I argue that Glorfindel should be included in the upcoming Hobbit film. He deserves it. Hear me, Emplocedes and lend me your aid, this has been your cause as much as one of mine. Glorfindel is a worthy figure of note in the Lexicon and histories of Middle-Earth. To entirely exclude him from what are certain to be the definitive LOTR/Hobbit films of the next quarter to half-century, when he could very easily be included, is a rank obscenity.
Now let me be clear, I am not suggesting for a moment that these films suddenly become Glorfindelcentric. I am not suggesting that he be given a major secondary role. I am just saying, for the love of Eru, give him a real cameo or two and a couple of lines, have him acknowledged, and show him seated, maybe even Briefly speaking at The White Council, of which he is one of the few known members outside of Gandalf, Saruman, Galadriel, Elrond and Cirdan.
Let me dispel and place in the garbage bin right now the argument that him appearing in The Hobbit films will cause a problem of continuity with LOTR films. This only becomes the case if he is highlighted as a major hero of The Hobbit films, which I am not suggesting should happen. Barliman does not show up in the films after Fellowship, Celeborn himself, for all his commentary and glory, is never encountered again after The Fellowship film, even though Galadriel appears repeatedly. He does not even show up when she departs from The Havens, nor is he seen at the coming of the Elves during the coronation of Aragorn. And no one makes a fuss about it. No one assumes that anything untoward has happened to him, nor do any really even ask what has become of him. Imrhail comments to Gandalf in Gondor about the foresight of Denethor. . . we never see him again. I assume he survived, but he never shows up. Gamling speaks wonderful lines to Theoden in TTT, but he is not heard of in ROTK. Should I go on? He doesn't have to be seen putting on a song and dance in the LOTR films to have a place in The Hobbit. My deep hope is that they will simply find someone to play him who looks similar to one of the Elves seen sitting quietly and The Council of Elrond in The Fellowship film. Not hard to do really ( I always comforted myself with the notion that he was the quiet, tranquil wise looking Elf on the end with the long hair and the cool silver necklace [NOT the one who jumps up shouting inaudibly at the dwarves], at least until one of the pretty lad Elves in the Minas Tirith coronation scene was identified as Glorfindel in trading cards). That way, of that minority of viewers inquiring deeply enough to try spotting him in Rivendell in LOTR at all, all but the most astute will assume that he is there afterall.
I never could stomach or make sense of the "clean lift, clean extraction" nonesense concerning such characters as Glorfindel and Tom Bombadil in the filmed Trilogy. I especially could not understand it in regards to Glorfindel. What the hell was clean about it [the extraction]? Bombadil I understood evading, as proper inclusion of him would have required a loop out of the linear tale. But Glorfindel? What was the reason he could not have at least sat with Gandalf and Elrond in Rivendell or some such thing? Why could he not at least have the brief appearance and comment status of other lesser figures like Butterbur, Farmer Maggot, Otto Proudfoot, Gamling, Prince Imhrail and others??? Viewers of the LOTR films who were not familliar with the novels before hand would not have objected to him having a minor role, since they knew nothing of him beforehand anyway. As to tried and true fans of the novels. . . was it assumed that we were so weak minded that out of sight really would be out of mind? That if Glorfindel was not shown we would all forget that he ever existed, but would somehow make a fuss if he WAS included but not given his full deed list in accordance with the books? That lacks logic on its face. What would fans find more distasteful and disrespectful, to have Glorfindel's featured role diminished to a cameo, or to have him all but completely expelled from the film, ignored, and contemptuously disregarded?! [mad] [crazy] [mad]
It is outrageous that Glorfiendel of The Golden Flower should be essentially excluded from The Hobbit/LOTR film experience; that this mighty Elf Lord from a house of Princes, Glorfindel whom, by Tolkien's account, was a special friend and follower of Olorin/Gandalf in Valinor and was the mightiest of the Noldorin Elf Lords who took up residence in Rivendell: Glorfindel whom Gandalf declares one of the Mighty of The Firstborn, Glorfindel who drove The Witch-King of Angmar from the field of battle at Fornost through the sheer force of his presence, riding up and causing the Fell Nazgul Captain's laughter to die in his throat, that he should find himself sat out whilst Proudfoot and Maggot, Butterbur and Gamling all get their proper nods and lines, and characters are featured who didn't even exist in the novels?!!!!!!! Arrrgh! *coughs up anger/frustration ball* Haldir of Lorien, who isn't one tenth the Elf that Glorfindel is, is made into a great hero whilst Glorfindel is given the Mr. Nobody treatment ( no disrespect to Haldir, he is worthy and wonderful in his way, but as Sam Gamgee said, "There's elves and ELVES," [and of course I would rather Glorfindel be ignored than erroneously murdered for effect the way poor Haldir was, but his omission is a travesty nevertheless). Haldir is a worthy elf. But Glorfindel is an ELF from Hair to Heels and no mistake about it.
Glorfindel is a friend to Gandalf, he is on The White Council, he is the mightiest of The Elves residing in Rivendell apart from Elrond himself, and is the only High-Elven male we will really encounter. Be so gracious, Mr. Jackson as to let him have his moment. It need not be enormous. Just don't kill him and don't leave him out. If it is as simple as him being the Elf to welcome Thorin and company into Rivendell, and Gandalf embracing him and saying, "Glorfindel, good to see you," if his presence at The White Council consists of no more than him saying something along the lines of, "It seems to me we might have been well served to have followed the advice of Mitrhandir and attacked Sauron a century ago." I just hate the notion of this awesome character being entirely ommited from the filmed version of these works, especially when so many less august characters are having their cameos six was till Sunday. I hate it almost as much as I hate the notion of Gandalf not getting to display his awesome skill in fire enchantments as relayed in the novels. Almost.
I figured I would wait until all the locale controversy was resolved and put to bed. . . but as Thorin & Company never forgot their Home in the lonely mountain and their resolve to bring their curses home to Smaug, so I have not forgotten our dear Glorfindel, and how he was put completely out to pasture while other minor characters of less prestige and with less auspicious histories and deeds to their credit were at least given a little proper acknowledgement. I argue that Glorfindel should be included in the upcoming Hobbit film. He deserves it. Hear me, Emplocedes and lend me your aid, this has been your cause as much as one of mine. Glorfindel is a worthy figure of note in the Lexicon and histories of Middle-Earth. To entirely exclude him from what are certain to be the definitive LOTR/Hobbit films of the next quarter to half-century, when he could very easily be included, is a rank obscenity.
Now let me be clear, I am not suggesting for a moment that these films suddenly become Glorfindelcentric. I am not suggesting that he be given a major secondary role. I am just saying, for the love of Eru, give him a real cameo or two and a couple of lines, have him acknowledged, and show him seated, maybe even Briefly speaking at The White Council, of which he is one of the few known members outside of Gandalf, Saruman, Galadriel, Elrond and Cirdan.
Let me dispel and place in the garbage bin right now the argument that him appearing in The Hobbit films will cause a problem of continuity with LOTR films. This only becomes the case if he is highlighted as a major hero of The Hobbit films, which I am not suggesting should happen. Barliman does not show up in the films after Fellowship, Celeborn himself, for all his commentary and glory, is never encountered again after The Fellowship film, even though Galadriel appears repeatedly. He does not even show up when she departs from The Havens, nor is he seen at the coming of the Elves during the coronation of Aragorn. And no one makes a fuss about it. No one assumes that anything untoward has happened to him, nor do any really even ask what has become of him. Imrhail comments to Gandalf in Gondor about the foresight of Denethor. . . we never see him again. I assume he survived, but he never shows up. Gamling speaks wonderful lines to Theoden in TTT, but he is not heard of in ROTK. Should I go on? He doesn't have to be seen putting on a song and dance in the LOTR films to have a place in The Hobbit. My deep hope is that they will simply find someone to play him who looks similar to one of the Elves seen sitting quietly and The Council of Elrond in The Fellowship film. Not hard to do really ( I always comforted myself with the notion that he was the quiet, tranquil wise looking Elf on the end with the long hair and the cool silver necklace [NOT the one who jumps up shouting inaudibly at the dwarves], at least until one of the pretty lad Elves in the Minas Tirith coronation scene was identified as Glorfindel in trading cards). That way, of that minority of viewers inquiring deeply enough to try spotting him in Rivendell in LOTR at all, all but the most astute will assume that he is there afterall.
I never could stomach or make sense of the "clean lift, clean extraction" nonesense concerning such characters as Glorfindel and Tom Bombadil in the filmed Trilogy. I especially could not understand it in regards to Glorfindel. What the hell was clean about it [the extraction]? Bombadil I understood evading, as proper inclusion of him would have required a loop out of the linear tale. But Glorfindel? What was the reason he could not have at least sat with Gandalf and Elrond in Rivendell or some such thing? Why could he not at least have the brief appearance and comment status of other lesser figures like Butterbur, Farmer Maggot, Otto Proudfoot, Gamling, Prince Imhrail and others??? Viewers of the LOTR films who were not familliar with the novels before hand would not have objected to him having a minor role, since they knew nothing of him beforehand anyway. As to tried and true fans of the novels. . . was it assumed that we were so weak minded that out of sight really would be out of mind? That if Glorfindel was not shown we would all forget that he ever existed, but would somehow make a fuss if he WAS included but not given his full deed list in accordance with the books? That lacks logic on its face. What would fans find more distasteful and disrespectful, to have Glorfindel's featured role diminished to a cameo, or to have him all but completely expelled from the film, ignored, and contemptuously disregarded?! [mad] [crazy] [mad]
It is outrageous that Glorfiendel of The Golden Flower should be essentially excluded from The Hobbit/LOTR film experience; that this mighty Elf Lord from a house of Princes, Glorfindel whom, by Tolkien's account, was a special friend and follower of Olorin/Gandalf in Valinor and was the mightiest of the Noldorin Elf Lords who took up residence in Rivendell: Glorfindel whom Gandalf declares one of the Mighty of The Firstborn, Glorfindel who drove The Witch-King of Angmar from the field of battle at Fornost through the sheer force of his presence, riding up and causing the Fell Nazgul Captain's laughter to die in his throat, that he should find himself sat out whilst Proudfoot and Maggot, Butterbur and Gamling all get their proper nods and lines, and characters are featured who didn't even exist in the novels?!!!!!!! Arrrgh! *coughs up anger/frustration ball* Haldir of Lorien, who isn't one tenth the Elf that Glorfindel is, is made into a great hero whilst Glorfindel is given the Mr. Nobody treatment ( no disrespect to Haldir, he is worthy and wonderful in his way, but as Sam Gamgee said, "There's elves and ELVES," [and of course I would rather Glorfindel be ignored than erroneously murdered for effect the way poor Haldir was, but his omission is a travesty nevertheless). Haldir is a worthy elf. But Glorfindel is an ELF from Hair to Heels and no mistake about it.
Glorfindel is a friend to Gandalf, he is on The White Council, he is the mightiest of The Elves residing in Rivendell apart from Elrond himself, and is the only High-Elven male we will really encounter. Be so gracious, Mr. Jackson as to let him have his moment. It need not be enormous. Just don't kill him and don't leave him out. If it is as simple as him being the Elf to welcome Thorin and company into Rivendell, and Gandalf embracing him and saying, "Glorfindel, good to see you," if his presence at The White Council consists of no more than him saying something along the lines of, "It seems to me we might have been well served to have followed the advice of Mitrhandir and attacked Sauron a century ago." I just hate the notion of this awesome character being entirely ommited from the filmed version of these works, especially when so many less august characters are having their cameos six was till Sunday. I hate it almost as much as I hate the notion of Gandalf not getting to display his awesome skill in fire enchantments as relayed in the novels. Almost.
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