#i love orlando bloom legolas but we missed out on so much personality in the movies

[magnoliamy]

I will sing the praises of book!Legolas until I die

absolutely obsessed with book!Legolas. one moment he’s confident and snarky, the next moment he’s crying out in genuine fear. one moment he jokingly taunts the fellowship for not having his Elf Powers, the next moment he’s the one who notices when some of them are falling behind and tells aragorn to stop. sometimes he’s all quiet and mysterious and haughty, but then he rambles about trees and rivers and sings tales of lovers long gone. i love him so much (am i gimli)

[ladysternchen]

The adaptation of Elves in Peter Jackson's movies and how it influences my (and I would guess our?) perception

Ok, I wanted to write a semi-sophisticated post about this, but I'm simply too tired for that today (and my brain refuses to english at the moment in general), so it's bullet points only, I'm afraid.

So Peter Jackson's interpretation massively influenced our perception of Tolkien's Elves. Here are a few examples how he defined how I imagine Elves in general and certain characters in particular (and I guess many share that experience):

Elves have pointed ears (it's never written explicitly in the books, but I can't imagine them not being pointy-eared)

Elves have long hair per default (again, stated nowhere. We know some individuals had long hair, but all of them? We know it not. But that perception was still enough to make many people -me included- being put off when RoP-Elves had short hair. Nope, nothing doing. To me, if they have short hair, it is for a reason.

Legolas is blonde (yes yes, the infamous dark head- discussion. We just don't know!) I really do some mental gymnastics to erase Orlando Bloom from my imagination of Legolas but I can't do it. I'll explain later. Oh, and btw, this has nothing to do with me not liking the PJ LotR-movies or Orlando Bloom's performance, I love both, I just want to get away from seeing a human actor when imagining and elf.

Elrond looks somewhat older and is generally a bit grumpy. Uuuhh, this one is so hard to get out of. Again, I loved Hugo Weaving's performance as Elrond, but it has little to do with book-Elrond, and I want to be able to see/imagine book-Elrond. Gnaaaahhhhh. (see, that's why I'm not a massive fan of movie-adaptations in general. I have a form of face-blindness that makes it very hard for me to see someone's face in my head. And somehow, that makes unseeing actors even harder)

Liv Tyler totally defined how not only Arwen, but also Lúthien is imagined (not just by me)

this one is a bit of a personal and really silly one, but in my imagination, Beleg Cúthalion looks very Orlando Bloom:ish 🤣 Idk why, maybe it's just the archer, but I can imagine Beleg even less not looking like movie Legolas than Legolas himself 🤦‍♀️

not something that changed our perception but just a random adaptation-point: much as I find PJ's Legolas to be spot on, he absolutely ruined Thranduil imo. Like, movie Thranduil has nothing (like zero) in common with book-Thranduil. Just WHY? And why did PJ have to butcher two characters in one here, one of which has no business being anywhere near The Hobbit. (Yeah, that's also the reason why I don't ever want to see the Silmarillion made into a movie, and much less see PJ do that)

RoP portrayed Galadriel more in-character than PJ did (I'm NOT saying Cate Blanchett didn't do an absolutely superb job). Galadriel is not that wise beyond anything ethereal being at all. She is headstrong and bold and angry and quite likes to tease people. That is missing from the PJ's adaptation, while RoP totally exaggerate it 🙄 I know it is usually argued that Galadriel did grow out of her hot head, but idk, did she? In the book, she still makes fun of Celeborn about his people's attitude towards Dwarves when the Fellowship seeks shelter in Lórien. It's the good-natured teasing between lovers, sure, but still shows her character well.

oh, and speaking of possible adaptations of the Silmarillion- I never thought I'd hear me say that, but IF there is an actress that could possibly portray Melian and not have me hide on a lonely isle with no wifi-connection, it must be Caitríona Balfe. Or it would have had to be, as people are not getting younger. Ah well, not happening anyway, and you all never heard me say that. Forget all about it

@silmarillionwritersguild

[i-am-just-a-kiddo]

favourite male fictional characters

Thank you @vishcount​ for tagging me, this was a lot of fun! 💞 I originally planned to follow your example and put ten characters here but suddenly it became a lot more oops. also i hope you forgive me for following your format, it’s neat 

I am tagging @isabellaofparma​ , @the-cloud-whisperer​ and @sassyassassy​!

I chose the characters that impacted me deeply on a personal level throughout my life (often shown by how long my love lasts over the years and if i was inspired to write for them). 

In no specific order under the cut: 

Legolas

The Lord of The Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien. 

I think it’s only fitting I start off with this magnificent guy. Maybe I gotta admit, i’ve just had a crush on him ever since I was like, nine years old? He’s the character I will fight tooth and claw for (though I guess he doesn’t need me to do that). I love Orlando Bloom’s portrayal of him, eventhough he is vastly different from the books. Book Legolas is such a delight as well, he feels so whimsical and playful and his banter with Gimli is just gold. I was sad when The Hobbit trilogy came out and I was so disappointed by how they butchered his character, it just did not feel authentic anymore (maybe I am also just bitter about the forced hetero storyline for him. makes no cents, this elf is GayTM your honour. and he will meet his soulmate Gimli in a few decades).  Either way, Legolas is the love of my life, thanks for coming to my tedtalk,

Peter Pan 

Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie

Another childhood crush of mine. The gif I chose if from the 2005 movie because we always used to watch it and it is to this day one of my favourite movies. It’s so dreamy, so magical, yet also incredibly sad and sweet.  I have this very strange fascination with Peter Pan. There is something incredibly unsettling about him, especially in the book. He represents something every child wants - who doesn’t want to escape their bedroom and fly away to experience magical adventured far from the adult world? And yet he also represents the impossibility of it, the curse he carries around with himself because he will forever stay alone, no matter how many lost boys he gathers around himself. And Wendy - it’s a love that was never meant to grow and mature, it’s a fleeting dream for the both of them.  I have seen many different adaptations of Peter Pan and I have my favourites, though I want to give a special mention to the book Peter Darling by Austin Chant. It’s a retelling of the story how we know it, in which Peter returns to Neverland after having finally grown up BUT the main points I want to highlight is trans Peter? Heck yes. Gripping and compelling gay love story with our favourite original lost boy Captain Hook? YES. 

Snufkin

Moomins, Tove Jansson.

I have discovered Snufkin for myself only last year, and yet I know he will stay with me forever. In short - I vibe with him, he vibes with me. His anxieties about being with people and longing for solitude? His fear of being loved and being important to someone to a point he doesn’t know what to do with himself? This man just wants to roam freely with his own mind and yet he always returns for something that captures him. Mum, I love him because I have rarely felt this seen before. Also, Snufkin said ACAB. 

Prince Jing - Xiao Jingyan

Nirvana in Fire (2015)

This too is a darling I have only discovered recently. I watched Nirvana in Fire this year and let me tell you, it’s the best show I have seen in a long while. It’s absolutely amazing and it also ripped my heart out. All the characters are absolutely amazing and I am still not over it.

To be honest, I contemplated between Xiao JIngyan and Mei Changsu, because character-wise I think the latter is a lot more interesting and compelling. He makes for a fantastic heartbreaking and flawed protagonist.

However I have to admit - it was love at first sight with Prince Jing for me and I’m still lowkey mad abt it rip. Seems like I am not immune to Pretty Prince Propaganda. But apart from that, I adore him for his genuine

goodness,

his almost naive drive to be better and seek justice. He lost everything, and for the longest time did not have anything to fight for. So alone and lost and bitter, it makes me sad how much it hardened him. He is heartbreak and clumsy kindness hidden under a skin of scars that was inflicted by his father and many others. I see his sad cat-eyes and I cry, that’s just how it is.

Edmund Pevensie

The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis

I grew up with these books and movies - they have always been part of my life and it will probably always stay that way (only last night I rewatched the first movie and sobbed).  Imagine my surprised when I finally watched the last movie about five years ago and was incredibly impressed by how they adapted the book; also imagine my brain suddenly going CASMUND in bold letters at Skandar Keynes’ and Ben Barnes’  performance in that movie.  From there, I rediscovered this story completely anew for myself. My favourite Pevensie sibling has always been Lucy (and still is, because I identify with her so much and she feels like home to me); however this new discovery of Edmund’s character was overwhelming. It’s interesting to see characters you’ve grown up with from a more grown up point of view. I don’t want to lay out all my thoughts here, just know I am so heartbroken for him, and so so proud as well. His character arc is amazing and maybe that’s how the last movie makes me even more emotional. Seeing Edmund and Lucy still holding on to Narnia but knowing that that door was closing for them? Not to mention what happens in the later books (we don’t talk about that).  Also did I mention Casmund. Here, have my incredibly emo and depressing take on Edmund’s character that I started writing four years ago and which will forever stay a WIP. 

Nie Huaisang

The Untamed (2019)

My son. My soul. My bane of existence. The tragic thing about him is, that he does not really exist in canon as I have created him for myself. He’s a secondary character in the show, always so relatable yet still brings the ultimate twist of the story, yet he still remains this incomplete shadow. The movie

Fatal Journey

gave him a lot more and I cried tears of joy and devastation. I don’t know why I latched on to him so much, but apparently he is the one that I project on, the one that feels like he sits somewhere inside my chest. I don’t know what else to say - this year he has been everything to me. I spend a lot of time in his head while writing, and maybe that’s how he’s there forever now. Nie Huaisang saw my brain and went it’s free real estate. All my love for you, you dramatic art hoe.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Ah, another lifelong companion. There are many adapations that I adore - starting from the origin of it all, the books and stories which I have all devoured; the 80s adaptation with Jeremy Brett which was incredibly wonderful; to BBC Sherlock which shaped and traumatised me (I still like the first three seaons but I am too hurt to think about it); to the numerous movies -  but by far my most favourite performance is Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. Somehow he manages to capture the Holmes I see in my head when I read the books, the sharp yet polite eccentric detective, who loves his companion so much and who has desire to help others.  Sherlock Holmes will always stay special to me, in so many different ways. He shaped my youth and I know he will stay with me. (also what would you say when I told you he helped me discover that I can, in fact, be queer AND ace at the same time? thanks pal).  What else is there to say? Sherlock Holmes is a universe that you can dive into and find many amazing treasures. 

Isak Valtersen 

SKAM (2015)

There he is, the boy that changed my life. SKAM changed my life. All of the characters did. However, Isak is special for many, as I imagine. I remember winter 2016, when tumblr was flooded by these norwegian white boys kissing in a pool and cuddling and I was like ‘nah’, this doesn’t look convincing.  I don’t know what changed my mind but I remember sitting down at last and watching all that was released of season three and it was only downhill from there. I remember starting to follow the real life updates religiously while watching the other previous seasons in between. The one clip that completely wrecked me was when Isak went to the school nurse about his struggles with sleep - it felt like for the first time I saw someone on screen that could understand me on so many different levels. The entierty of seaons three is so personal, I would tell you to go watch it if you don’t know what I mean. The entire show in fact. It’s a masterpiece and it feels so real. This show impacted my life in a way that no show has managed to do before. I miss it so much. I miss Isak too sigh. 

Shang Xirui

Winter Begonia (2020)

Technically, for me personally, Shang Xirui is the nonbinary, gay and ace representation I need in my life (or at least that’s my own personal take on him), but since that is not official, he’s still here on this list. Of course he is because wow, it’s been a long while since I’ve seen such a compelling character on screen. I went from disliking him to being absolutely heartbroken over him. I don’t think any other character in this show captured me as much as he did. There are so many layers to him and discovering all of his sides is a wonderful, heartbreaking, painful and also beautiful journey. I’m not sure I understand all of him yet, but I am willing to try and dig and just ponder his existence. This too, is a perfect example for a flawed yet authentic protagonist. Also he is the most beautiful thing on this planet, or at least that’s how I have been feeling ever since I watched this. I wish to write more of him in the future. 

Aang

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)

I grew up watching ATLA and my favourite characters have always been Toph, Zuko and Uncle Iroh. In recent years however, I completely fell in love with Aang all anew. 

I think especially in the past, I had these prejudices against main characters and found them all the most boring personalities ever. In recent years this changed a lot and especially Aang is a prime example for that. Watching him from the perspective of older me, I find so much wisdom in this young boy. Somehow he represents all I wish to be in my life but at the same time he shows his flaws, he carries this sadness with him that will accompany him all his life. This inner battle and chaos that he has to face day to day and in the end - he is just a young boy. So much has been taken from him and yet he learns how to not let it overtake him, that anger and hurt. He tries his hardest to be better than the day before, even if sometimes the world crashes down on him and he gets overwhelmed. He is a child recruited by adults to manage their mistakes and play into the hands of predestined fate and in this essay I will -

Harry Potter 

Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling

I am surprised myself. I thought I would put Fred and George here, or Remus and Sirius, however I realised that none of them quite capture this feeling of lifelong change, of personal, deep impact that Harry had on me. 

As with Aang above, I used to think Harry was the most boring protagonist, yet my opinion took a 180° turn in the past years. Many of the things I wrote for Aang apply to him too - the fact that he was a child, that lost so much, and was always faced with challenges that a child should never have needed to face. Something I want to address is how my favourite book, The Order of the Phoenix, lays all of this out. Harry is just as flawed, just as vulnerable and angry as anyone else. I know some people did not like his ‘emo behaviour’ in the fifth book but for me it just showed how human he is, how he was just a teen like myself at that time. As for many, this boy shaped my entire life, shaped a generation, and I will forever be grateful. I’m sad and angry at how J*R behaves, and how she puts us in the position of doubting our love for these stories. I know I will always love them, but I will not turn a blind eye on all the problematic shit is carries with itself and what the author piles upon us. 

Lan Wangji & Wei Wuxian 

The Untamed (2019)

I will try and keep this short, because if you want to read my thoughts about Wangxian just go to my ao3 and find the  over 70k i wrote for them.  I decided to put them here together because I can’t seperate them and I can’t choose between them. Each of them carries something I recognise in myself, and each of them is the opposite of me. They each own my heart and soul and I know there will never be a fictional couple like this for me ever again. They’ve snuck their way into my heart and have never left. They deserve to be here, together, because my love for them is indescribable. Bless them.  + Bonus:

The Doctor

Doctor Who (1963/2005)

Technically, the Doctor doesn’t count as a “male” character, but since he has been presenting as male up until recently, I needed to include him. I chose the Tenth Doctor because he is the one that broke my heart the most. I adored Nine but he was there too short, and I do love Eleven and Twelve a lot, and Thirteen absolutely owns my heart, Ten has just always been the one that made me cry the most. I loved this era of Doctor Who, I loved how sad and hopeful he was, how heartbroken and yet determined to help wherever it was needed. Doctor Who is always that show, when I return to it, I am reminded that maybe, humanity and the universe isn’t all that bad. 

phew, this took ages damn. but i had so much fun! i decided to leave out honorable mentiones because we would be sitting here until tomorrow lol. 

[wolfy19982-blog]

Review #1 Jul. 19, 2017 “I Am Gandalf, And Gandalf Means Me”

So first time doing a review on something, and what I chose was The Hobbit trilogies Peter Jackson did recently. I understand that the movies released between 3-5 years ago, and that there are many people, that I know at least,  that dislike them. For what reasons? It’s nothing to get all riled up and triggered about, they’re movies right?

It’s not that simple. To put it as straight forward as I can (and as my 18 year old vocabulary can help). The universe that goes around Middle Earth with the hobbits of the shire have been around since the late 1930′s. Generations have heard of Bilbo Baggins and the 13 dwarves since it’s first publication in 1937. The fanbase itself is so diverse. There are sub divisions including the fans that only like the LOTR and not Tolkien's other works, and the fans that even take the time to study elvish. So doing the movies that bring more light to Middle Earth is the tricky part, so I will do my best and divide it into two parts:

the pros

the cons

those reasons alone, to me at least, will help see how they played. Instead of dividing it by each movie it would be better to cover the entire thing at once. There will be spoilers to the films and book so SPOILER ALERT.

The Pros

When thinking of the movies, I genuinely love them. The casting was great, Smaug was great. The music was wonderful with Howard Shore returning for the score. I even liked the set designs in the Desolation of Smaug the most. Yes the Shire and Rivendell are beautiful and will always be extravagant. Not to mention had they made Goblin-Town looking so good,  but when the characters wake up in Beorn Beorn’s cabin. You can start to see all the detail on the walls if you look close enough. Each of them hinting that he is very dangerous, but also gentle. That’s one example, I could go on with Lake Town and Mirkwood, or the rest of the locations for the films. They all speak Middle Earth and Tolkien. To the point that when one reads the book; the locations in the book come to life. 

I enjoyed everything the movies gave, but I know the movies wouldn’t be as good without out one thing, the cast. Martin Freeman does wonders with the young Bilbo Baggins; from in the beginning where he hesitated about going on the adventure, all the way to the very end where many of them claimed him dead and not Bilbo Baggins from all the change he had. Of course older characters return, including Ian Holm reprising his role as the older Baggins. Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, and Orlando Bloom being Legolas. Cameos from Hugo Weaving as Elrond, Cate Blanchett with Galadriel, the late Sir Christopher Lee as Saruman, and lets not forget the two other hobbits people love, Elijah Wood with a Frodo cameo and Andy Serkis as Gollum.

The new cast though, is stunning. It’s not the fellowship of the ring, but it is something. Thirteen new actors for each dwarf, each with their own personalities. A new female elf played by Evangeline Lily. The much too underestimated and despised master of Lake Town with the talents of Stephen Fry. Our first and last glimpse in the life of this man, giving the term “werebear” to light with Mikael Persbrandt as Beorn. The Mirkwood elf king by Lee Pace, and of course the deadly dragon Smaug himself Benedict Cumberbatch and the one to slay him Bard played by action star, now turned Disney villain Luke Evans.

I know I missed more actors and characters, but to me these are the ones that had the most impact on the audience. For most of the films, you are with the dwarf and hobbit party to Erebor, it is only then when the paths are crossed where the party meets that the characters selves are shown in ways, that people see either themselves or others. 

Yes, Smaug is technically a wyvern because his two legs. A dragon, to most, is a large or small reptilian creature with the ability to roam the skies and land. Wyvern is a subclass of dragon, meaning Smaug is a dragon. 

Cons

This is the section that I hesitate to write.How can I show to people what I think they did wrong in the movies? I’ll try I say. 

One interesting thing I have an argument with myself on is the most simplistic, why do a trilogy of only one book? This argument could go either or. On one side, one standalone movie would’ve sufficed. The other, that standalone movie would have felt rushed and out of place. This argument could go on forever with details from both book and film, after all it’s just a children’s book. 

The other thing I didn’t really like about the movies, the pacing was slow. For a majority of An Unexpected Journey is solely exposition. For the Desolation of Smaug, the pacing rose a bit, but it isn’t until Bilbo enters the room where the dragon is that it isn’t exposition. In Battle of the Five Armies, the exposition is gone, it’s mostly action with fighting to the point where it turns into a season of Game of Thrones. Why? The ones you like die. Fili Kili and Thorin die, funny how they were all heirs to the lonely mountain. Tauriel mourns and even Thandruil acknowledged their love. What I did like though was when Legolas told Thranduil he was leaving, he mentions a ranger by the name of “Strider” A.K.A. the big guy himself Aragorn so nice reference. 

Of course I know I will hear arguments about this next item. Eagles. The eagles to me are deus ex machina. Cornered on a cliff hanging on trees, surrounded by flames and enemies with death approaching? Eagles. Got your legitimate heirs to the kingdom dying or dead? No hope as the orcs get closer on Erebor? Eagles. With a Radagast and Beorn with them. It’s super effective! 

All in all I would give the Hobbit trilogy about a 7.5/10. It’s good, but it isn’t perfect of course it will have it’s flaws like every film adaptation of a book. Those are really the only things I didn’t like in the films, but I still like them. The fight sequnces are okay. The characters are good, even the deus ex machina works sometimes. If you liked the films, nice, if not it’s not the end of the world. Not only is there the book itself to read, also the Rankin Bass film from the 70′s animated film with more songs and cute animation if you’re looking for a quick watch. Do I recommend them? Yes! Tolkien’s books are what started the modern fantasy that everyone knows, if they weren’t made we wouldn’t have the Chronicles of Narnia, A Song of Ice and Fire, and many more.