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LORD OF THE RINGS tidbits

Published at:  Oct 12, 1998 9:46:12 PM CDT

Word came in today that Michael J Fox was up for Frodo. This according to some tabloid in England. So being the oh so careful fella that I am, I wrote my man on the inside to see what he had to say. According to the Purple Jackrabbit, Peter Jackson still is a big fan of Michael's, but since Mr Fox is still so busy with his TV show, it is unlikely and impossible for him to spend the 13 straight months in New Zealand necessary to fill the part of Frodo. Also, to sort of disarm the rampant amount of rumors that will inevitably be coming in, I have been told that Peter and crew haven't approached ANY actors at all yet. And they won't be going out to actors or agents till right before Christmas. Anything we hear to the contrary is the work of rumor mongers and fiction writers. And just so ya know, the plan as of right now, is to cast complete unknowns as the hobbits. So keep your ears open, but don't be too eager to believe what ya hear.



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    Readers Talkback

  • Oct 12, 1998 11:36:55 PM CDT

    M.J.F As Frodo

    by sauron

    Obviously budget problems already - they were going to use CG to shrink the actors, now they're jusy gonna use shortasses - Danny DeVito for Bilbo then

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 12:17:01 AM CDT

    I'm guessing

    by gremlin

    I'm guessing that before this movie comes out we will hear rumours of every short actor or actress, major British actor or actress in every role from Gandalf to Golem.....

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 12:23:19 AM CDT

    hobbits

    by derek

    I think it's important that unknowns are picked as the hobbits. I shudder to think of MJF as frodo, I mean he's a good actor and everything but I don't think he has what it takes and it would be difficult to accept any well known actor without thinking of what they've done in the past. However in other roles it might be alright.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 12:41:52 AM CDT

    I have a bad feeling

    by gag halfrunt

    Everybody seems to be presuming that these LOTR films will actually be good. Why? Is there any proof that they can be decent on the screen? None. The cartoon version, to be blunt, sucked. I know what you're going to say: if they say close to the novels, then they can't go wrong. Not true. No matter how close they stay, it's still a very hard trilogy to get right. The term "epic" is almost an understatement. There is so much in these novels that it's damn near impossible to put it all on-screen. So, you can throw it all up on screen, and be left with the most muddled POS since "Dune", or you can trim it all drastically, thus incurring the wrath of Tolkein fans the world over. Every time I hear of these movies, I just think of "Dune". And what if the first film flops (which it might)? Will they bother giving the next 2 a cinematic release, or just put them out on video. Because it seems to me that they're taking a BIG risk with these films. Remember "Dune" and "Legend"? That may be the end result.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 4:39:22 AM CDT

    LOTR

    by scar

    There should be two versions...cut down 'summarized' 2 hour version for the theatres...and then the true-to-Tolkien 7 or 8 hour DVD version Tolkien fans can buy and be truly satisfied. Because I don't think it's possible to get even a third of the story into 2 or even 3 hours of film.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 6:26:20 AM CDT

    "Hey Mallory, have you seen my ring?"

    by dave

    Oh God please keep Alex Keaton away from this film. PLEASE!!! No offense to the guy but when I read this my jaw dropped into my lap. The thought of Micheal J. Fox as Frodo isn't even funny. It's scary as hell. Sit ubu sit.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 6:26:22 AM CDT

    "Hey Mallory, have you seen my ring?"

    by dave

    Oh God please keep Alex Keaton away from this film. PLEASE!!! No offense to the guy but when I read this my jaw dropped into my lap. The thought of Micheal J. Fox as Frodo isn't even funny. It's scary as hell. Sit ubu sit.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 6:58:04 AM CDT

    The reliability of British Tabloids...

    by laffe di loffo

    Anyone remember the "Kenneth Branagh to play the Young Obi-Wan" spoof a couple of years ago. It travelled around the globe and ended up in papers all over the world (including our local paper here in Uppsala in Sweden some two months later). That one originated in a British tabloid too...

    /The one and Only

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 7:29:33 AM CDT

    3 Movies

    by lord soth

    To the guy who said we couldn't fit this into 2-3 hours of film. You're right. That's why it's going to be a trilogy of films. 3 2-3 hours movies. Thats 6-9 hours of film. I think we could fit the important parts in. Besides, it's not like we need to take up valuable film time with chapter after chapter of incredibly verbose descriptions of appearance s and of locations of certain mou ntain ranges and trees. Most of Tolkiens writing was descriptive, something there will be very little need for in a visual representation. "A Picture is worth a thousand words, but a thought is priceless."

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 7:33:17 AM CDT

    What was so bad about...

    by thothmes

    I'm a fan of J.R.R.'s books. I'm curious to see what interpretation
    Peter Jackson comes up with. In all these discussions, however, no one seems to be willing to rise to defend Bakshi's "Lord." I put this to you: what was so bad about it? IF they had a bigger budget, they could have given it more polish, but it's a faithful film adaptation of a story that is interesting, but long and unwieldy.
    As long as we're on that topic: what was so bad about "DUNE" and "LEGEND?" "DUNE" had a good score, a strong visual style, and a great climactic battle. "LEGEND" was a fairy tale, pure and simple, not high fantasy, like the Elric or Middle-Earth stories. As a fairy tale, it works.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 7:41:28 AM CDT

    Frodo

    by craigdp

    Oh, fer goodness sake...not MJF. Look, he's a good actor, in the light comedy sorta way, but he just doesn't have the depth for this role. I don't want to sound pompous but Frodo is a not just a cartoon cutout, the character has complexity and the whole movie(s) will stand or fall depending on the casting, especially Frodo.
    My suggestion? ...Ian Holm

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 8:06:49 AM CDT

    LOTR

    by beregond

    god save us from any holloywood actor having anything to do with this film. let the characters from the tale make the movie. use unkowns, why not? people will have preconceived notions if they see mel gibson or sean connery in costume. and to the dude who defended bakshi's abortion--go see the lotr sarcasm page on the net. well done rip on the film. i think the format hinted at by this site would work with this film, but it has to go big--over the top--hire half of wellington and give'em swords. film the damn thing for posterity. it must be tried. it is worth careers in the effort---reminds me of some of the pathos of the elves actually--knowing that much will pass away if the quest is/is not successful. so too with this effort. do it anyway!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 8:09:37 AM CDT

    Fox's acting chops . . .

    by chriscub

    While I doubled over laughing at the "Hey Mallory, you seen my ring?" one-liner, Michael J. Fox is not an entirely outlandish choice. Go back and watch his work in "Bright Lights, Big City" and "Casualties of War." The man (I had to refrain from using the word "boy") CAN ACT. Though I'm sure this is one of those completely fabricated British tabloid stories, it's fun to ponder. I still think the British tabloids had it right with Kenneth Branaugh and Obi-Wan. He shoulda been Kenobi. Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 8:14:46 AM CDT

    Novel vs. Film

    by ej

    Let me jump up on my soapbox for just a minute here and lash into all those people who think that there's no hope for LOTR as written by J. R. R. Tolkien to ever be faithfully transferred to film. In short, you're right, folks--so get over it. You have failed to grasp the reality that film and novels are two media which are--while similar in some regards--fundamentally different in the scope of their story-telling ability. Yet the attempt to use the screen to tell a story originally presented in a novel is seen as heresy by many of you, and that's unfair to the filmmakers who work to bring what they can of a good story to life for public enjoyment.

    You seem to be blaming film and those associated with it for being unable to tell a story as completely as can be done in the limitless world of the written word. There's no blame to be placed! The translation of a work from one medium to another is always accompanied by the vision of the individual(s) doing the translating. In this case, it is Peter Jackson. Don't blame Peter Jackson (or Ralph Bakshi or . . .) for not being Tolkien--he isn't trying to be. He has very clearly indicated that his vision is his own interpretation of Tolkien, and his interpretation is just as fundamentally valid as your or mine is--he's lucky, in fact, in that he gets the opportunity to share it with the world on a medium known as film.

    And if by so doing Jackson manages to get some more people interested in Tolkien's works, where exactly is the negative? It seems that you think a less than 100% pure retelling of the entirety of the LOTR will somehow detract from the quality of Tolkien's original works. How the heck do you get that perspective? The novels still exist in their complete unadulterated form, available at your local library for your enjoyment. Did Ralph Bakshi's attempt make you enjoy Tolkien less? Who's to blame if it did?

    Does the Bible suffer for having its stories recast as Veggietales for kids? Does Shakespeare suffer because of the presence of West Side Story on Broadway? Does The Abyss suffer because Orson Scott Card wrote the novelization? Did the reality of the park on La Grande Jatte suffer because Georges Seurat painted it on a Sunday? Each of the latter is a work unto itself.

    Let me reiterate my original point: film and novels are two different media, and you must stop blaming one for not being the other. Enjoy what each can do for you in presenting the visions of their creators. Enjoy what each can add to your understanding of a particular created world. Agree with the visions of both, of one, the other, or neither; or with those of new artists that come down the pike later.

    And please let me enjoy my popcorn in peace!

    --EJ

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 8:58:37 AM CDT

    Fox

    by fitzy

    Great. Maybe Tina Yothers is available to play Galadriel. Pathetic.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 9:32:40 AM CDT

    What's wrong with Bakshi

    by tzoq

    To the contributor who asked "What's wrong with the Bakshi LotR?", there is a great summary of the problems here:
    http://www.speakeasy.org/~ohh/bakshi.htm
    As for "Dune" not being so bad because it had a strong score, good visual style, and a big battle at the end -- that's all very well, but if it tells the story badly, it's still bad, no matter how good it looks or sounds.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 10:12:13 AM CDT

    Music

    by movie lover

    Hello all. Speaking of music, I have a small favor to ask. I'm in a band we and we are in the semi finals of a Battle of the Bands contest. The round that we are in now requires voting over the internet. We are one of the six bands, three of the those six will be winners in the contest and I would much appreciate it if any of you could check it out. I'm not going to tell you to vote for us because your are all entitled to your own opinion but I would really appreciate it. This is something that could really effect me. To vote:
    1. go to www.allcampus.com
    2. Go the the Battle of the Bands section.
    3. Click the city of Dallas, where we are located.
    Our bands name is "Pneuma"
    You can here one of our songs by clicking on listen next to our name. It is an origional song as are all of the rest of the band's songs. Also I would love to hear what you all think. So please feel free to say what you like and give some honest opinions. Thank You all very much and I look foward to your posts. If I get any =)

    P.S.
    My life depends on this...

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  • Oct 13, 1998 10:33:18 AM CDT

    Max Von Sydow for Gandalf !!!!!! IMHO

    by man o' steele

    Alot of LOTR fans want Sean Connery for the role of Gandalf. Personally, I think that Max Von Sydow is a more original choice. He's a much better actor and he exudes wisdom, humanity, and a world-weariness that the role of Gandalf requires.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 10:37:45 AM CDT

    Frodo and Scoring

    by justy

    Ian Holm would probably be a good choice for Bilbo... remember that age is a factor. Fox could work for some of the lighter characters (Merry, Pippin), though still an iffy choice. As for scoring, Michael Nyman should be looked into-- check out his scores for Peter Greenaway's films "Drowning by Numbers," "Prospero's Books," "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover," as well as the one for "The Piano." Though not epic in scope, they are original and often beautiful. This written because I am getting sick of the current crop of cookie cutter scores (Yes alum Trevor Rabin being a possible exception, but I can't even remember which recent film he scored!); I also think Williams has been overdone. My two cents. Toodles!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 10:40:13 AM CDT

    John Hannah for Legolas !!!!!!!!!!!

    by man o' steele


    A suggestion for the role of Legolas. John Hannah played Matthew in "Four Weddings and a Funeral". He was the lover of Simon Callow's character who recited W.H. Auden's terrific poem Funeral Blues.

    Hannah is both a good actor and has an elvin look.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 10:58:46 AM CDT

    I guess I must be sick...

    by superninja

    Because Dune and Legend are two of my favorite movies.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 11:38:22 AM CDT

    LOTR

    by akira

    Fox as Frodo!?!? Frodo is supposed to be like 50 or 60 in the book! But that guy that said Ian Holm, OF COURSE!!!! He's perfect!! As for music, I still gotta say James Horner, NOT because of Titanic, but because of movies like Aliens and Braveheart. Wiliams is good but not right for the feel of the movie, Horner is definately the way to go.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 12:48:40 PM CDT

    Michael J Fox will be fine!!!!!

    by walkindude

    I know the guy hasnt done much in dramatic roles, the reason being that he never got the chance to do it, I think he would be fine, music, john williams, or james horner, but Im sure these guys wont be available for sll the three, its gonna cost too much to get those guys!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • I have difficulty thinking of ANY well-known American actors that would not be more of a distraction than an enhancement to LOTR. That said, obviously, Michael J. Fox -- while a good actor -- has no business anywhere near LOTR, let alone in what is THE central role of LOTR. Stature (or lack thereof) should be largely irrelevant here. Frodo exudes a certain gravitas that will make his casting rather tricky, especially since he'll spend so much time onscreen. As others have said, it's probably best that the central roles go to relative unknowns (preferably British actors). I'm sorry, but they carry little baggage into the role. And there is precedent: casting virtual unknowns in the central roles of Star Wars (i.e., Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher) did not in any way impact its critical or commercial success. And Jackson knows this. So expect the likes of Patrick McGoohan, rather than Sean Connery, as Gandalf, or Ian Holm, rather than Brad Pitt, as Frodo. And so on. In other words, very fine actors who are appropriate to the roles and carry no typecasting or notoriety baggage into the main roles. A FINAL SIDE NOTE: Frodo is 50 at the time of the events in LOTR, but Hobbits typically lived somewhat longer than humans, and the Ring itself helped to stave off the effects of age, so that Frodo appeared to be pretty much in his prime. This may allow some flexibility in casting him -- though Holm may, alas, border on being too old to play the role.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 2:13:48 PM CDT

    The Only choice for musical score

    by bobroberts

    Why hasn't anyone thought of Danny Elfman? His curious, heartfelt, and devious music would perfectly complement the picturesque image of Middle Earth. I know most people are associated with his darker stuff (Batman, Beetlejuice), but he also does some great light stuff (Simpsons, Back to School, Hot to Trot). The only choice in my opinion.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 3:22:49 PM CDT

    Fantasy can be done on film well.

    by narile

    People seem to think that fantasy can not be done well on film. And invariably people point to Bakshi, or _Dune_ or _Legend_, but fantasy can be well done on film. LadyHawke was a very enjoyable film based on an old myth. Fantasy can be done on film, the main thing to avoid I think, is pretensiousness(sp?) a good deal of what was wrong with Bakshi and _Dune_ was that the creators were doing a 'Classic' and felt the need to overblow it. Definitly the wrong way to approach LOTR.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 7:23:52 PM CDT

    ok lets be sensible

    by bilbo

    i have the LOTR BBC version with IAN HOLM and crew. I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT. If they cast Holm they should cast them ALL IMHO. it is for that reason that they cant.....ive never seen some of them but im sure Aragorn ISNT a young man (he plays in a OLD version of Romeo and Juliet and doesnt look too young)

    so they should stick with the old or go for a whole new crew.

    thats my 2 cents

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 9:20:00 PM CDT

    soundtrack / score

    by jacqui kalinowski

    Has anybody ever heard of Loreena McKennitt? I think that she would do an excellent job on the music for the movie. Her songs always conjure strong images and emotions, especially about times long gone by. She does mostly Celtic, but her songs influenced by other cultures are strong also.

    Some of her CD's are:
    Mask and the Mirror
    The Visit

    She had her first single played ont the radio, "Mummer's Dance."

    Very good stuff!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 9:39:03 PM CDT

    Sylvester McCoy should be Bilbo.

    by michael j jones

    If they have a Bilbo appearance within the films... they should get Sylvester McCoy, formerly of Doctor Who, as the protypical Hobbit. He even looks like one.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 13, 1998 10:54:14 PM CDT

    Fox hates New Zealand

    by schmittroth

    I have a friend who works for Spin City. Michael doesn't like talking about the Frightners because he didn't like making the movie. He hates New Zealand and being so far away from his family.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 14, 1998 12:16:12 AM CDT

    music and design for Lord of the Rings

    by axel

    The obvious choice for the LOTR soundtrack is the music of ENYA.Her mysterious celtic style is highly evocative of myths and legends.There is even a track on one of her albums called 'Lothlorien'.Many of her songs are sung in Gaelic and even in Latin which are very suggestive of the imaginary languages of Middle-Earth.The choice of Alan Lee and John Howe as visual designers for the films bodes well for the overall design as these are perhaps the two best illustrators of Tolkein's world.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 14, 1998 3:57:31 AM CDT

    frodo

    by john petko

    Arnold must be Frodo!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 14, 1998 6:54:29 AM CDT

    casting.

    by gimli

    I really think that MJF might make a great Frodo, if his acting abilitities are big enough.
    I have some other casting ideas too:
    Saruman- Max Von Sydow or possibly Malcolm McLaren.
    Gandalf- everytime i read the books i picture him like Sean Connery, he is perfect!!
    Aragorn- now theres a tough one!!
    Maybe Daniel Day-Lewis?? He

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 14, 1998 7:41:53 AM CDT

    LOTR

    by mister miracle

    MJF is still too tall to be a hobbit. And Sean Connery doesnt exude the wisdom needed to be Gandalf. Better choices would be Alec Guiness or John Gielgud. Other choices (for me) would be Jeremy Irons as Aragorn, Kenneth Branagh as Faramir, Connery could play Theoden I think, and possibly Kate Winslet or Renee Zelweger for Eowyn. Those are just my opinions, I could be wrong.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 14, 1998 10:48:51 AM CDT

    Well said, EJ...

    by jeannie

    I like what EJ had to say concerning people getting overwrought about whether or not movies (and particularly the LOTR movie) can be "faithful" adaptations of novels. Let's face it - if 20 of us here wrote what each of us considered to be a "completely faithful" adaptation - we'd still end up with 20 different versions! Everyone perceives every story differently, so it's good advice to just relax and enjoy Jackson's vision, even if it's different from ours. Ask not what you would do with the story, but what it can do for you... Ouch - really butchered that one, didn't I? I shudder to think what my version LOTR would look like!!!! Anyway - save me some popcorn EJ!!

    As far as casting the movie goes - I'd like to see relatively unknown actors/actresses in it, too. Goodness knows there are plenty of very talented people out there who just haven't become "famous." Lord help them, though, after the movies come out and they try to breakout of iconhood prison...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 14, 1998 11:18:47 AM CDT

    A Bilbo Appearance?

    by thebernards

    Hmmm... this last post brings up an interesting question. Certainly Bilbo does appear in the LoTR story, however his part seems more about continuity for those having previously read the Hobbit. His character serves as a reference point and an immediate interest for the familiar reader. However, bringing someone into the LoTR movie(s) as Bilbo might cause a problem in that there are supposedly plans for a possible future filming of the Hobbit after all of the LoTR movies are completed. If so, would it not be necessary to pick a Bilbo who is both talented enough to play the main character in the later Hobbit film and satisfied for the time being to take on a lesser role in the LoTR movie? Of course, there is an age difference between the Bilbo of the Hobbit and that of the LoTR, so maybe two different actors could be used. I wonder if this issue has been considered, or whether Bilbo will even appear in the LoTR films. I hope he's in there, but then I hope Bombadil is, too, and {insert any character name here}. Basically, with two plus hours for each of the three novels in the trilogy, I'd hate to see any part left out.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 14, 1998 11:30:35 AM CDT

    The more I think about it...

    by thebernards

    The more I think about, the more I realize that Bilbo HAS TO make an appearance in this story. The whole beginning of the tale would have to be drastically altered or chopped off, otherwise. And they can't simply discard the history of the ring's passing into Frodo's hands in the first place. Therefore, the question raised about picking an actor for Bilbo's part seems all the more relevant (see previous post).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 14, 1998 2:56:04 PM CDT

    McFly = Frodo?

    by doc brown

    No matter what Michael J. Fox will ever do, he will still always be Marty McFly for me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 14, 1998 3:18:16 PM CDT

    Who are we forgetting here?

    by serge

  • Oct 14, 1998 3:19:30 PM CDT

    Who are we forgetting here?

    by serge

    Liam Neeson is Aragorn. Pete Pstuwaite is Gandalf. Kenneth Branagh is Faramir and Brain Blessed is Boromir.Nuff said

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 15, 1998 8:11:50 AM CDT

    Casting

    by axel

    For the role of Aragorn,Liam Neeson would be an excellent choice.Tall with unconventional looks and a touch of nobility,he also has the acting ability to play th part with authority.I think Sean Connery would not take the role of Gandalf very seriously-take a lookat THE AVENGERS.The idea of using Asian actors to play the elves is all very well but there is a serious drawback.They would look exotic to a western audience-but not to an Asian audience!To me,the ideal director for LOTR would be Akira Kurosawa.As evidence,I present THE SEVEN SAMURAI and RAN, not to mention his other swordfighting films.Toshiro Mifune would be the perfect Aragorn and perhaps WESTERN actors would be used as elves.Alas,with the great director now deceased, this is not to be.ENYA is still the best choice for the LOTR soundtrack-just listen to her CELTS album and you'll feel like you're in Middle-Earth.Danny Elfman would be all wrong-too cartoony.By the way, I think its highly unlikely that hobbits will be played by actors shrunk by computer.It would create too many logistical problems in regard to interaction with sets,props,other actors,riding horses etc.It would end up being too expensive and probably quite unconvincing.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 16, 1998 9:42:47 AM CDT

    Gandalf

    by champion the wonder horse

    To Axel-Who on earth is ENYA? I've never heard of her.Where can I hear her music? For the role of Gandalf,an excellent choice would be the great Paul Schofield,though he could just as easily play Saruman or Denethor.As evidence take a look at his performances in Peter Brook's KING LEAR and in A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS.He also plays the ghost in Mel Gibson's HAMLET.An interesting idea would be to have Gandalf and Saruman both played by the same actor.In the book they are supposedly very alike-you get the idea that Saruman is like Gandalf's evil twin.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 16, 1998 11:47:38 AM CDT

    The One True Cast

    by zoltar

    I think Arnold Schwarzenneger would make the perfect Gandalf. Think of it. Gandalf to the party at the bridge in Moria, "Run Aragorn it is the Balrog! I'll take him out. " Gandalf to the Balrog, "Hasta la Vista
    baby"

    Later, Aragorn asks Gandalf, "What happened to the Balrog". Gandalf "He is terminated. "

    I also think Gary Coleman should play Frodo with Emanuelle Lewis as Sam.
    Jack Nicholson as Aragorn, Michael Jordan as Legolas-"Nothin but nets
    Gimli" and Linda Hunt could be Gimli(she was the little principal in 'Kindergarden cop' and the little Cambodian guy in 'The Year of Living Dangerously'), Shelly Long(Cheers) as Galadriel and George C. Scott as Saruman would round out the cast.If Michael J Fox wants to be in the movie, he can play Wormtongue.
    Zoltar

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  • Oct 17, 1998 4:38:03 AM CDT

    actors&music

    by tomrs4

    I've wanted to see LOTR done as live action for quite a few years, but it's only recently that the technology has reached the point where the movie can be done and give the books justice. It was just the beginning of this year that I realized the time was right. Now, if they just put some effort into it and not make it cheesy.

    All the leads need to be virtual unknowns, or have so much prosthetics as to be unrecognizable.

    The music - There have been some good ideas mentioned above, but why hasn't anybody mentioned Marillion? Steve Rothery's guitar playing alone would sell several million soundtrack CDs. And just look at the name of the band! For those of you who aren't awake, put 'SIL' in front of it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 17, 1998 8:28:18 PM CDT

    LOTR casting

    by quacky

    I was thinking Christian Bale would be great as Frodo. Even though Frodo was 50 or 60 at the time of the story, remember that wherever the hobbits went, they were mistaken for children. And I don't think that was just because of being height-challenged. Then have Adrian Paul as Aragorn. And Patrick Stewart as Denethor.

    For the score, I thought of Enya too. She'd be great. Or maybe Ennio Morricone, who did "The Mission".

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 17, 1998 8:50:57 PM CDT

    on the other hand...

    by quacky

    How about Kelsey Grammer as Boromir and then David Hyde Pierce as Faramir? And John Mahoney as Denethor. :-D

    Arnold could be the witch king. Just think, they get caught in the river and he intones, "I'll be back!"

    On a more serious note, how about Malcolm McDowell as Sauron?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 18, 1998 7:31:15 PM CDT

    music score

    by me

    I suggest: smetena's moldau for the adventure theme, and some kind of quirky irish music, and maybe something like Holst's Mars for the dramatic bits......
    It would be superb to have a really nice classical score for this with some folk bits....

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 18, 1998 9:12:57 PM CDT

    bilbo

    by me

    I suggest Bill Oddie, from the goodies...( a british python type humor show)....

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 19, 1998 1:47:56 PM CDT

    R. Williams as Bombadil

    by notgaladriel

    I know Robin has done some bummer movies in the past, but I think he'd be perfect for Bombadil. What do you think? And Heston as Gandalf would be pretty wicked too.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 20, 1998 4:31:11 AM CDT

    Robin Williams!?!?! puh-lease!

    by agent x2-zero

    Robin Williams as Bombadil? You should be working for a Hollywood casting agency - they have f**k-all imagination too. Lets face it, the last good thing he was, erm, well... a long time ago anyway.

    Heston is too busy with his redneck, sister-marrying NRA buddies and he'd be crap anyway. Plus, he's too old - did you see him in Friends - he looks at though he's ready to drop dead at any moment. If I was head of New Line I wouldn't want to gamble millions on him staying alive for 18 months. Gandalf will need to be a bit younger.

    Bombadil won't reach the screen - he is not necessary to the overall narrative.
    For Gandalf, you need to find someone who will be willing to spend a year in NZ, so you can rule out most Hollywood big-shots - to stay in the public eye they need to be where the action is, usually LA. Oh and Connery is too happy playing golf in Marbella. Thank God.

    I like the idea of Malcolm McDowall for Gandalf - has Fantasy Island been cancelled yet?

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  • Oct 21, 1998 4:46:42 AM CDT

    Big-name cameos

    by agent x2-zero

    Lots of big-name actors are children of the sixties and, as such, there is a good chance that they will be Tolkien fans and willing to play cameos for a nominal fee. (Let's face it, they don't need the money). I mean, who would have thought that Paramount could have afforded Whoopi Goldberg (or Christian Slater) for Star Trek but they both volunteered as they were big fans.

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  • Oct 22, 1998 4:29:59 AM CDT

    Dear IbMoz ( or whatever)

    by agent x2-zero

    Duh! If the actors are going to be shrunk by computer for the film, why cast dwarfs?? Or didn't you know about that? If the effects are going to be that special, MJF's stature should be no bar to him appearing as Frodo. What should disbar him is every other movie or TV program he has ever starred in - if you get my drift.
    ps I know JRRT spells it DWARVES or DWERROW but I meant real-world dwarfs or Achondroplasic or people of diminished stature etc...

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  • Oct 22, 1998 7:47:56 PM CDT

    bilbo: robin williams

    by me

    charlton heston: gandalf

    and the "Time Bandit" dudes as other hobbits....

    classical music and a kind of roger dean meets terry gilliam meets jim cameron aesthetic




    ...maybe....

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  • Oct 27, 1998 1:28:35 AM CST

    Bubo: Clockwork Owl

    by agent x2-zero

    Wow, I've heard some sure-fire ways to ruin the movies but that is one of the best. Try reading the books sometime.

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  • Nov 01, 1998 12:51:24 PM CST

    All unknowns, please!

    by athos

    As far as I'm concerned, Michael J. Fox, Sean Connery, Kenneth Brannaugh, all of them are great actors, but if any major roles (Besides Gandalf, maybe) are played by major Hollywood actors, I'm pissed about this movie already. I can't believe that anyone would say that Sean Connery is Gandalf. Yes, Connery can be powerful, like Gandalf is at the end of the trilogy, but remember that through a good part of it he's also a withered old man. He only shows his true colors during and after Moria. I think everyone in the company should be virtual unknowns. I heard a rumor about Anthony Hopkins as Gandalf. I could see that, but still, unknowns. And I also hope that "little people" don't play the hobbits. They don't have the right proportions I think. Look at Star Wars. Before that, who'd ever heard of Mark Hamill, or Carrie Fisher, or Harrison Ford? The only major actors were James Earl Jones and Alec Innes. I think all Hollywood actors should be in the minor roles. I'm think Robin Williams would be a great Bombadil, even though that will probably be cut out. I could see Sean Connery as Theoden, or Denethor. I heard a rumor that Christopher Lloyd was going to be Saruman. Perfect! I heard Sarah Michell Gellar was going to be in the movie... Could the vampire slayer be the Nazgul slayer? Just as long as I have never heard of the people who play Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Pippin, Merry, Sam, and especially Aragorn and Frodo, I'll be happy.

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  • Nov 29, 1998 1:10:55 PM CST

    Bilbo

    by gingeracrockford

    If we're looking for potential Bilbo's why not Peter Sallis.
    Hes small round enjoys his food friendly unagressive middle aged AND CAN ACT THE PANTS OFF ANY AMERICAN ACTOR,Watch Last of the Summer wine if you dont believe me hes perfect.

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