SCOD 16 - "What's the meaning of this?"

[Harold.of.Whoa]

Hello, again, and welcome to ScreenCap of the Day, Part 16. A chance meeting - a literal bumping into - has fully assembled the hobbit portion of our Fellowship. An angry Farmer Maggot and his dog(s) are inadvertantly cementing the bonds of fellowship and linking the destinies of Merry and Pippin to Frodo and Sam.

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1.) Please describe your first impressions of the image, with emphasis on comparing and contrasting the four hobbits. How are they alike, and how are they different? Does this still capture any of the essence of the four characters individually?


2.) In the next shot, we are shown what alarms and drives our heroes - sort of. We do not actually see Maggot, only his brandished scythe waving above the corn stalks. Is that just a technique to make it so the parties don't see each other directly, or do you interpret some greater symbolism here?


3.) Throughout the trilogy, 'the journey there' is depicted with on-screen movement from left to right, honoring the map convention of west/left and east/right. Here the hobbits are about to flee from right to left. Do you think this director's decision is mostly random, or is it meant to convey some different feeling to the audience?


4.) This question is primarily directed to book-firsters, but all responses are appreciated: How did you feel about the movie depictions of Merry and Pippin? In particular, were you happy with the notion of their being swept up in Frodo's quest without making a considered decision to join (at least at first?) How about the emphasis on frivolity and irresponsiblity?


Thanks to everybody for their participation!

 

[Tolkien Forever]

Hello, again, and welcome to ScreenCap of the Day, Part 16. A chance meeting - a literal bumping into - has fully assembled the hobbit portion of our Fellowship. An angry Farmer Maggot and his dog(s) are inadvertantly cementing the bonds of fellowship and linking the destinies of Merry and Pippin to Frodo and Sam.



Full size image here

1.) Please describe your first impressions of the image, with emphasis on comparing and contrasting the four hobbits. How are they alike, and how are they different? Does this still capture any of the essence of the four characters individually?


2.) In the next shot, we are shown what alarms and drives our heroes - sort of. We do not actually see Maggot, only his brandished scythe waving above the corn stalks. Is that just a technique to make it so the parties don't see each other directly, or do you interpret some greater symbolism here?


3.) Throughout the trilogy, 'the journey there' is depicted with on-screen movement from left to right, honoring the map convention of west/left and east/right. Here the hobbits are about to flee from right to left. Do you think this director's decision is mostly random, or is it meant to convey some different feeling to the audience?


4.) This question is primarily directed to book-firsters, but all responses are appreciated: How did you feel about the movie depictions of Merry and Pippin? In particular, were you happy with the notion of their being swept up in Frodo's quest without making a considered decision to join (at least at first?) How about the emphasis on frivolity and irresponsiblity?


PJ makes Merry & Pippin out to be pot smoking fools...

Tolkien would've gone nuts.

Thanks to everybody for their participation!

 

[Shelob'sAppetite]

1. No real comment here. They all look okay.

2. I believe the Maggot thing is a visual technique to heighten the sense of alarm.

3. I found that rather jarring, as was the overly swift camera "pull-back" as they reach the edge of the short cliff. Amateur film-making in this sequence.

4. I though Merry and Pippin were cartoonish fools, and I especially hated the ridiculous way that they were introduced. Merry and Pippin just happen to bump into Frodo and Sam in the middle of Maggot's field? Up to this point, FotR was very, very good. It deteriorated right at this spot.

 

[dijomaja]

1. The filmmakers seem to have decided to paint Merry & Pippin's "journey" to maturity in broad strokes. They almost come across as Upper Middle Class Twits or Middle-earth frat boys in a couple of early scenes but it doesn't ruin the story for me. I think the scene does a good job of contrasting the four personalities as imagined by the filmmakers - M & P are pranksters, Frodo is amused and Sam is taking the whole thing seriously.

2. The scythe is probably meant to remind us of the Grim Reaper but, in this case, with a comic twist. Later, the Wraiths will represent a more serious aspect of the same image.

3. I've seen a number of references to the right/left motion but it's possible to make too much of this kind of thing. It could be that the filmmakers just wanted some variety and had the characters go in the other direction.

4. I do feel sorry for the viewer who felt that FOTR "deteriorated" this early on.

 

[One Ringer]

that the characters of Merry and Pippin from the book really became evident. There's elements of it in FotR, but I think a perfect example would be when Merry speaks about the Ents that you really get to see that mature side of Merry, the learned hobbit we've come to understand (from the books). There's certain moments in FotR that we see this(such as when Merry is obviously wise to what's happening with the Black Rider), but it becomes perfected (in my opinion) in TTT and through the rest of the trilogy. Having said that, I always felt that the two became more fleshed out in TTT once we had entire chapters devoted to their story anyhow, so it works for me the way it comes across in the movies. And yes, the same goes for Pippin and his essentially becoming of age as he is the only who is still in his tweens (this line coming into effect towards the end of TTT and thereafter).

 

[Xanaseb]

1. One thing I do realise is how similar IMO the hair of all four hobbits is, especially Sam and Pippin. Hadn't really noticed that before! Frodo's weary face is spot on, whereas Sam's is pretty much aloof and bewildered hehe. Merry is obviously in high shock at Maggot's shouting, and Pippin.........dunno. Frodo's intesity is what stands out the most for me here

2. That is an interesting Q ! . . . . I don't particularly see much symbolism, although I think it sets the tone very well for the next scene when they encounter the Nazgul for the -first- time.....Maggot isn't really much of a threat or a scare, not even to the audience watching.......THEN however, they are confrotned by something that is -truly- ghastly, evil and malignant, -and- they -also- do not see the rider directly at all, but hide under the tree. So there may be some interesting symbolic paralells.
I never particularly loved how the farmer waves his scythe.......never really thought that to be realistic, but I suppose it's not that bad.

3. Whoa! that is deep Harold.of.Whoa ([]). Um.........maybe?......I did get a sense from these scenes that there was a sense of fast-paced urgency, esp. after the Nazgul are revealed to them. Not sure specifically about camera angles etc....but maybe!

4.Well I did like their portrayals in the films, even if to be hones they were quite separate from the book.........Merry especially. The first time we meet Merry in the book, he is depicted very sincere and gentlemanly (even aristocratic)...at least in my mind. I do agree that they develop really nicely throughout the three films, so I do like them very much however. []

Thanks Harold!

 

[zarabia]

1.) Please describe your first impressions of the image, with emphasis on comparing and contrasting the four hobbits. How are they alike, and how are they different? Does this still capture any of the essence of the four characters individually?

Well, Frodo stands apart with his brown hair and coat. Sam's coat seems made of courser material which fits his character. Merry and Pippin seem the most alike, which is appropriate because they are the most alike in age and social standing. If I hadn't read the books first, or if I hadn't seen all the actors except for Billy Boyd before, I might have been confused between Merry and Pippin at first. But I don't think it's uncommon to confuse characters at the beginning of a film; I don't think that's a failing on PJ's part.

2.) In the next shot, we are shown what alarms and drives our heroes - sort of. We do not actually see Maggot, only his brandished scythe waving above the corn stalks. Is that just a technique to make it so the parties don't see each other directly, or do you interpret some greater symbolism here?

I think it's more of a device than symbolism. Hobbit's - even ones carrying a scythe - aren't that scary, and an old hobbit chasing after young ones might be inadvertently funny. I think Maggot is hidden to preserve the feeling that the hobbits are in trouble while allowing the humor of the moment to come from our heros.

3.) Throughout the trilogy, 'the journey there' is depicted with on-screen movement from left to right, honoring the map convention of west/left and east/right. Here the hobbits are about to flee from right to left. Do you think this director's decision is mostly random, or is it meant to convey some different feeling to the audience?

Hmmm. I just took it that we were viewing the scene from the north rather than the south. I took it that they were still headed east. Plus, I think they often flipped the image in editing, both deliberately and accidentally. So maybe that was the case here.

4.) This question is primarily directed to book-firsters, but all responses are appreciated: How did you feel about the movie depictions of Merry and Pippin? In particular, were you happy with the notion of their being swept up in Frodo's quest without making a considered decision to join (at least at first?) How about the emphasis on frivolity and irresponsiblity?

I agree with the poster who said they seemed like frat boys - Merry as much as Pippin who does seem a bit spoiled in the book. But as others have said, they develop as hobbits and as individual characters over the rest of the films.

It was an odd way to sweep them up into the story. They hadn't really established that Merry and Pippin were all that close to Frodo before so it seems strange that they would have gone along after Bree. But I wasn't that bothered by it.

Thanks Harold!

 

[telain]

1.) Please describe your first impressions of the image, with emphasis on comparing and contrasting the four hobbits. How are they alike, and how are they different? Does this still capture any of the essence of the four characters individually?

From the expressions in this image I hear the following:
Frodo: How am I supposed to get the Ring to Bree?
Merry: Farmer Maggot! He knows we've been in his crop and we're done for if we don't get out of here. Fast!
Pippin:Huh?
Sam: Oh no, not again.

Strangely, I do sort of see how the characters progress from this very point. Frodo becomes increasingly engrossed in his own journey with the Ring, Merry starts out being the "Hobbit of action" and continues to do so, even at great peril to his life on the Pelennor. Pippin goes from absent-minded to amazing presence of mind as he "encourages" Treebeard to attack Isengard. And Sam. Poor tortured Sam, who is always willing to do anything for Frodo and his friends, even when he would much rather be down at the Green Dragon.

I feel this answer encompasses many of the following questions posed by H.o.W. but I would add something to 4.) I actually didn't have to much negative criticism of the Hobbits. I felt they had a great sense of fun in the beginning, which led to a greater sense of loss as they interacted with the wider, more dangerous world around them. I had much more problem with the treatment of some of the other characters and while I might have had a comment or two here and there, about the Hobbits I was generally quite happy.