My Favourite and Least Favourite LoTR Characters

        In celebration of the release of the first The Hobbit trailer this morning, this list seems only apt. Also I recently finished watching the extended versions of The Lord of the Rings films. So basically I'm on a Middle Earth-high, and currently want to marry Martin Freeman. I mean seriously, move over Andrew Garfield! This man is a book-lover's wet dream (yes I know he's probably already married but I refuse to check). I'm Mrs. Dent Watson Baggins Freeman from now! Yaayy!!


         Anyways, this list is based on the films and not the books, which I read in 7th grade and that also only the first one and half of the second. I do so love the films, and I like almost all the characters in it save a few. These are my least favourite and favourite characters from The Lord of the Rings movies.


My least favourite characters-

5) Grima Wormtongue (played by Brad Dourif)-

Grima is just creepy. He takes over poor Theoden's mind and rules his kingdom following Saruman's orders, and fancies the pretty Eowyn. He just reminds me of tentacles. Ew.

4) Saruman (played by Christopher Lee)-

I didn't like Saruman because I felt nothing for him. He was not the least bit scary in the film. He was just there. This much indifference, for a character as powerful as him, is never a good thing.

3) Denethor (played by John Noble)-

He was just so repulsive a character. A man driven mad by power, and clearly one of the worst fictional fathers of all time. He is just horrible.

2) Orcs (played by men who don't mind looking like that)-

I saw my first LoTR film, The Two Towers, when I was in fourth grade and I was genuinely terrified of them (though I got more freaked out by the Aragorn-Arwen kisses then :P). Orcs are just the grossest, scariest, most inhumane race ever.

1) Frodo Baggins (played by Elijah Wood)-

I'm sorry, but Frodo just annoys the hell out of me. He's such a whiny little bitch. Okay yes he has the One Ring around his neck blah blah blah, but it's not my fault that his irritating and stupid side is the one I am subjected to. I really would fast-forward all his scenes were it not for Sam and Gollum and the others.

And now my favourite characters-


Honourable mentions- Theoden, Gimli, Elrond, Éomer, Treebeard.

10) Galadriel (played by Cate Blanchett)-

I just love her. I am probably as taken aback as Gimli is with her, The narration, the crazy power thing in The Fellowship of the Ring, the peaceful look on her face always... I would follow her everywhere, definitely.

9) Faramir (played by David Wenham)-

I absolutely adore Faramir. He was so unloved and unrewarded, but he went past all that and became a great soldier, and certainly a fantastic man.

8) The One Ring/ Sauron-
I so want one (minus the Dark Lord influences). I love the simplicity of the look of the ring, and all the darkness it just brings with it. Every scene with the ring in it, is always dominated by it.

7) Gandalf (played by Sexgod Sir Ian McKellen)-
Isn't he just the best?! He's brave and kind and funny and quirky, and so so powerful. He would be just the most brilliant mentor.

6) Samwise Gamgee (played by Sean Astin)-
The bestest friend of them all. Though there are theories of homosexuality here (and I do agree with them till an extent), the basic fact is that Sam is the kind of friend that one can only pray for. He will never leave your side, and always help you and make you laugh and protect you. Frodo was sooo lucky Sam put up with his shit.

5) Aragorn (played by Viggo Mortensen)-
He is one of my most favourite literary kings ever. A true underdog in the world of men, with all of the power and responsibility and possible doom thrust upon him, who really rose to the occasion when required. A mighty warrior and a fine friend. Thank god Mortensen was finally cast for this... noone can open doors quite like he does *wink*.

4) Gollum (played by Andy Serkis)-

Serkis and Peter Jackson together brought a revolution in modern cinema with Gollum. He was just so amazingly made. I think Gollum is one of the most tragic characters in literature and film. I do feel sorry for all that he endured, and he really tries to be saved. 

I will even go as for to say that this is the best performance of the entire series of the films.

3) Merry and Pippin (played Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd respectively)-
I love Merry and Pippin! I think of all the characters, I am most like Pippin. I cannot think of them separately, though they each bring something different to the stories. Merry is the more sensible one, who unfortunately always gets left behind but shows great valour on the battlefield. Pippin is the honest fool, as Gandalf said, and does get into a lot of trouble, but only because of his curiosity. He has a pure heart and always helps in his own way.
Both of them together have some of the best lines in the films.

2) Éowyn (played by Miranda Otto)-

With the whole series revolving around the bravery and the hunger for power of men, this one woman steals the show for me. She is beautiful and humble and kind and so very brave. Éowyn is a role model. She needs independence even at the time of battle and distress and hates that her gender comes in the way. Still, she does prove herself more than worthy on the battlefield.

The scene when she kills the Witch-King, with the whole "I am no man" is a huge favourite of mine, one which always results in me screaming "GIRL POWER YESSSS!" She really is the best of the human race.

1) Legolas (played by Orlando Bloom)-
I could not help this. I really wanted to give the top spot to Sam for his undying friendship or Aragorn for his bravery or Gollum for his tragedy or Éowyn for all the girl power, or anyone for any "proper" emotional impact, but Legolas is just so freaking coooool!! I go crazy in all of his scenes. I cheer. I clap. I scream.
Still, he is a great elf and an incredible archer. He is there in all the battles and really plays pivotal roles. He is  one part of  the Man-Elf-Dwarf trio. Also, that elephant scene in The Return of the King is my favouritest, because again, it's so freaking coooool!!
I even once wanted to name my future child Legolas. You cannot question my devotion... I am gaga for this elf.

Hope you liked it. Cannot wait for The Hobbit!

- Mrs. Dent Watson Baggins Freeman.

"How's your thirst for adventure, Captain?"

            There have been many a time when I have tried to explain to non-believers about the magic of animation and how watching cartoons is not a childish thing, but a way to watch scenes and ideas that would be too difficult to show in live-action. It is a burst of limitless imagination, that is what animation is, and having just returned from watching the new Tintin movie, I could not emphasize this point more.


               For starters, no person could ever play Tintin in real life- that hair style alone is an impossibility. Or Snowy with his brilliance. And don't forget Captain Haddock and Thompson and Thompson. Even someone like me, who was never really into the comic books, knows these characters. This is how iconic the characters and stories are. Millions of people have been fans of them for decades and decades, and to make a film with them, that must have been a huge risk. But the whole gang, headed by the one and only Steven Spielberg as the director have made such a comedy-action-adventure treat, in animation, that I am absolutely blown over.

                 The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn starts with Tintin buying a model of an old ship, the Unicorn, and almost immediately being approached by two men- the first a hassled American who warns him of some peril that is to befall him now that he owns the ship, and the second a slightly mean-looking Mr. Sakharine, to sell the ship to them. Tintin declines both these offers, and goes home with the ship and his trusty canine sidekick, Snowy. Being a journalist, he is instantly curios about this ship and starts looking up on its history, only to soon find himself into trouble with Sakharine and his henchmen. In all this, he meets the drunk and awesome Captain Archibald Haddock, and enlisting the help of the bumbling, but endearing Inspectors Thompson and Thompson, Tintin is on the way of unearthing the lost secret of the Unicorn and Haddock's ancestors.


                The film is in the motion capture format. Jamie Bell plays the feathery fin-haired Tintin. I thought his voice suited the character perfectly- the youth, the instant love for an adventure. But as I had anticipated, he was not my favourite (what is his hair?). My first favourite was Captain Haddock, voiced by Andy Serkis. Serkis has officially become a veteran in his ability to portray characters using motion picture, but Haddock was such a departure from his usual more primitive roles, but no less amazing. He based it on a Monty Python-esque idea, which makes sense. He was funny and adorable and just heroic. Although I think the most heroic person, or well dog, was Snowy. I am a person who is terrified of dogs in real life, but even I wanted Snowy. He was so good and a true best friend. Serkis joked about playing him, but Snowy was a proper animated character in all this, and he had some truly incredible stunts in the film. My world revolves around Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, when they are paired up. And they played one of the most famous, stupid but sweet and somewhat competent, pairs in fictional history- Thompson and Thompson. How could I not love them? Daniel Craig was the baddie in this, which was very cool, I thought. Sakharine was a proper twisted villain in my eyes. Finally there was Toby Jones as a pickpocket giving both the Thompsons a lot of grief, and Cary Elwes was there as a pilot. I say that because I love The Princess Bride and try to bring it into any conversation/post/whatever possible. Hurrah for the cast!

           I have never been more excited by writers in a film ever like this. So there is Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish and Steven Moffat. Wright is responsible for films like Shaun of the Dead and Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, and he wrote Hot Fuzz with Cornish. I think these are some of the funniest, most original and in one word- epic films of recent years. Last but not the least, there is Moffat. In case I haven't spoken about this enough, I am going through a massive Doctor Who-craze right now, and I started with the latest Doctor, played by Matt Smith and written by, you guessed it, Steven Moffat. Moffat also wrote Sherlock, which is also a brilliant series about another iconic fictional character like the Doctor, and well our boy Tintin. It is funny now that I think of it, but I explained my reasons for liking Doctor Who as the same for liking Indiana Jones, who is one of the truest Spielberg heroes. I honestly think of Wright and Moffat as geniuses, and I think they handled the script very well. There was even a "GERONIMO!" from Haddock, which is a Doctor expression. It was funny and witty, and I suspect filled with Tintin references because the Tintin enthusiasts sitting behind me had their "Ooos" and "Aaaas" moments. There was never a dull moment, or well one to take a deep breath once the action started. And it was fun.


          Finally we come to Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg. Jackson is a man who I revere for his passion and ambition. I never really understand the proper role of a producer, except that he must have really been thorough with everything that went on and was an integral part of the process. I touched upon Indiana Jones before, but seriously, I don't think I have ever felt thrill like this since having seen an Indiana Jones film. Yes there is Pirates of the Caribbean, but the many films chose to focus on the other characters too much. I am of the opinion that if Tintin, Snowy and Haddock were one person, minus the drinking habit, they would have been Indy. But that's just my thought. It was very exciting, and had those sequences that no one could premeditate where they would finally end. Or atleast someone like me who hasn't read the comics. There were fantastical action scenes, which were such a joy to watch. It made me get lost within the film, and Spielberg is one of the only directors who can manage that. And this is only the first animated venture of the celebrated film maker. 

          I must talk about the total experience while watching the film. I honestly did have inhibitions about not liking it a lot as I am not a fan. As brilliant and thrilling the film was, I had one of those rare cinematic experiences where the reactions of the rest of the audience enhances the whole viewing process. The last time that happened was when I saw Inception, but in that the audience only clapped right at the end, with the top spinning (or stopping?). In Tintin, first people were a bit noisy and I was getting a ever-so-slightly bugged. But once the lights finally dimmed, everyone was so full of glee and having so much fun, it was hard not to be affected by it. The Tintin enthusiasts were enjoying themselves the most I think, but all the comedy bits and the extraordinary sequences had everyone laughing and clapping and cheering. It was delightful!


        Concluding, I urge everyone to go watch it. I don't know if the Academy will give this an Oscar nomination for Best Animated feature, but if any film deserves it, and the statue too, it has to be The Adventures of Tintin. I was no fan, but I was completely enchanted by the adventures of the boy reporter and his excellent friends. I think being a fan will be only so much better.