With Peter Jackson HEAVILY rumored to be the director of the upcoming "The Hobbit" film(s), and with the theatrical versions of the "Lord of the Rings" movies having just been released on BluRay, it is a nice time to be revisiting these films once more. I've checked these discs at a friend's place (I'm waiting for the "Extendeds" to be released before I'll re-buy them) and they look damn fine.
How time flies: this autumn it will be nine years ago that the first of these films arrived in the cinema, and six years ago that the last of the "Extendeds" was released. Damn, is it really already ten years ago that we were all rabid with anticipation, still not believing the fact that these films were actually being made? FOR REAL?
Before I start to sound like a raving fanboy, let me say that I had a lot of problems with these films and these revisits did not take those feelings away. I acknowledge the films for the ongoing event that they were, and I have a huge admiration for Peter Jackson the Producer for getting this realized. But I also hate many of the decisions that Peter Jackson the Director made.
My rants about this with fellow ScreenAnarchy-colleagues have become something like a running gag over the years. Maybe a general overview of my complaints by category would make a nice (or, rather, NOT so nice) ScreenAnarchy-O-Meter in itself, but today I'd like to look at one gripe in particular: Peter's baffling decisions to replace what could have been outstanding acting moments with some very jarring effects work.
And here are three examples of what I'm talking about.
Rest assured that there are casting issues as well amongst my gripes, but I cannot deny that for many of the roles the chosen actors were absolutely right for the job. These include the actors in the examples below: I can not think of how to improve on the casting here. But this only amplifies my dislike for the handling of the following scenes...
Example one: Bilbo...
Here we have Ian Holm as "The Hobbit" himself, Bilbo Baggins, and the man is pretty damn perfect in the role.
Now when I read the book, one sequence that stuck with me is when Frodo and Bilbo are reunited in Rivendel after many, many years. It's a bittersweet meeting which suddenly sours when Bilbo sees "The One Ring". Like a drug addict, Bilbo becomes a shadow of his usual self and is almost overcome with his craving, even starting to behave as Gollum. The moment passes though and Bilbo returns to normal, although he suddenly seems sadder and older.
Which actor worth the job description wouldn't give an arm and a leg to play that scene? And there is no doubt either that Mr. Holm could have pulled it off too as the man has shown time and time again to be an amazing actor. Indeed, the moments just before and after Bilbo glimpses the ring are hit note-perfect by him.
So why wasn't he allowed to carry the turning into "Evil Bilbo" all by himself? Instead we get the cheap shock-effect pictured here, complete with differently colored eyes and crooked teeth. Puh-lease....
Sure, the crowd did jump but was that worth interrupting Ian's performance? I'd loved to have seen his REAL eyes and how much avarice he might have put in them...
Example two: Galadriel...
Here we have Cate Blanchett as the Elven Queen Galadriel, and she is pretty damn perfect in the role.
When the Fellowship of the Ring reaches the Elven forest of Lothlorien, they visit Queen Galadriel. Herself a bearer of one of the three Elven Rings of Power, she has a very revealing chat with Frodo concerning "The One Ring" and the task facing him. At one point Frodo even offers her "The One Ring" and she is tempted. For a moment, she shows him the terrible consequence that decision would have, with "The One Ring" having corrupted her into a beautiful but evil being with God-like powers. Galadriel manages to win from her own temptation and refuses to be given "The One Ring".
Which actress worth the job description wouldn't... well, you get the point. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Cate's performance here and she manages to give Galadriel the otherworldly beauty and nobility the role requires.
So... what happens when she is almost handed "The One Ring"? Wow! Acid trippiiiiiiiiinggg!!!! Nengnengneng... What the hell? Did anyone in the audience who had not read the book make any sense of what happened there? I mean, that must be some powerful mushrooms in those there Elven forests!
Seriously, you have Cate Blanchett and this is what you use for what might be Galadriel's single strongest scene?
Example three: Theoden...
Here we have Bernard Hill as King Theoden of Rohan, and yet again this man is pretty damn perfect in this role.
When Gandalf the White, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli turn up at Rohan's capital to visit the King, they expect to find an ally. But King Theoden turns out to be bitter and cowardly after years of listening to wrong advice. He is even hostile towards the heroes, until Gandalf reveals that Theoden's trusted advisor Grima is actually on Saruman's payroll. Theoden returns to his former greatness and (literally) picks up arms against Saruman.
Oooh, a king with a character change! Any actor who likes Shakespeare is already salivating. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Bernard Hill's performance here as he gives us a perfect "reborn" Theoden. Before that rebirth though... we don't really get a Theoden.
What did we get? Regan from "The Excorcist" ! Going way overboard with the "possessed" angle of this story, Jackson shows the corrupted Theoden with changed eye-coloring, crooked teeth, and layers of dust and filth. And it's just silly. He doesn't turn his head 360 degrees or puke green goop but he gets close. These two pictures are from immediately after-and-before Theoden's re-awakening. Nice to know that when Gandalf ends your possession, he also gives you a wash and a shave. Maybe that's why he's called "Gandalf the White" (removes any spot within minutes)?
Alternatively, maybe Peter Jackson could have had Bernard Hill portray Theoden as a flawed and corrupted human until Gandalf's arrival opens his eyes? Nah! Absurd notion...