this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2024
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Unpopular Opinion

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Martin Freeman would have been a much better Frodo. Elijah isn't even in the top 100 list of actors that I would cast as Frodo.

The LOTR movies succeeded despite him.

Don't get me wrong, I like Elijah. I just feel that he was miscast in those films.

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[–] proctonaut@lemmy.world 58 points 1 year ago

Alright then, keep your opinions

[–] mokus@lemmy.blahaj.zone 49 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I misread and now I want to see Morgan Freeman as Frodo

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As I read that, the dictation voice in my head was all Morgan Freeman.

[–] JudahBenHur@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

well... yes.. its a direct quote from shawshank redemption that morgan freeman spoke in the film

[–] GBU_28@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

Fuck you making me read with his voice lol

[–] M500@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Same, but we are probably just a few years away from getting an AI to make this change.

[–] M500@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

I know it can already be done, but I mean be done easily.

[–] Pooptimist@lemmy.world 36 points 1 year ago

Finally, a truly unpopular opinion (which I don't share)

[–] Candelestine@lemmy.world 27 points 1 year ago

This would be one of the best unpopular opinions posts Lemmy has had yet ... if you had provided any reasons. Without reasons it's just meh though.

[–] OscarCunningham@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They just took away all his good lines. Imagine movie Frodo laying down the law to Gollum:

In the last need, Sméagol, I should put on the Precious; and the Precious mastered you long ago. If I, wearing it, were to command you, you would obey, even if it were to leap from a precipice or to cast yourself into the fire. And such would be my command. So have a care, Sméagol!

I think if they had gone with the wise and courageous Frodo from the books then Elijah Wood would have been better at delivering this sort of line than Martin Freeman.

[–] caseyweederman@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

OH. Ohhh. Is that why Gollum cast himself into the fire? When was that line? Did that command just actually take effect?

[–] OscarCunningham@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

No, I don't think Frodo ever does tell him to jump.

More relevant is that Gollum swore an oath by the Ring not to harm Frodo, and Frodo warns him thay the Ring will hold him to his word cruelly. Then when Gollum does betray Frodo, Bam! Straight in the lava.

I believe it's just intended to be foreshadowing of Gollum's fate, not suggesting that Frodo actually used the ring on him.

[–] ebits21@lemmy.ca 20 points 1 year ago

Strong disagree. Take my upvote.

Oh I see, you've mistaken this page for "wrong opinions"

This is for unpopular ones.

[–] thegiddystitcher@lemm.ee 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I disagree, but I do agree that the character of Frodo wasn't what it could've been.

There's a bit in the behind the scenes stuff where they're recording that part at the very end, Frodo finishing the book and then admitting to Sam about his stab wound never really healing.

They do a take, and Elijah is delivering his lines in that absurdly slow, sleepy way that is both annoying during a watch but endlessly memeable afterwards. And then Peter Jackson is all like "ok let's take it again but this time even slower"

So tldr I blame Jackson for depicting the character as so frustratingly wet.

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

Good point on your part. For my part, he has never been Frodo for me. Not after reading the book so many times since I was a tyke. I don't think Elijah is a bad actor, at all, but he never fit Frodo, at least in my mind. Not in temperament nor in look.

[–] FatLegTed@feddit.uk 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Martin Freeman wasn't a good Bilbo, would have been even worse as Frodo, and a disgrace as Arthur Dent. He was good in Fargo though. And plays a good Watson.

However Martin Sheen would have been magnificent. Watch him in Good Omens - Bilbo to a tea!

[–] ChairmanMeow@programming.dev 6 points 1 year ago

I quite liked him as Arthur Dent.

[–] MossyFeathers@pawb.social 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Fyi you're thinking of Michael Sheen, not Martin Sheen. I agree though, Michael Sheen would have probably been amazing as Bilbo

[–] FatLegTed@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago

Blast! I was sure I'd typed Michael!

[–] Gbagginsthe3rd@aussie.zone 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Whaaat I cant even stand Martin Freeman in The Hobbit. Actually makes it hard to completely let go and enjoy the movie.

[–] JudahBenHur@lemm.ee 6 points 1 year ago

well the hobbit films are horrible, so maybe its more than the actor

[–] rustydomino@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The only thing I did not like about casting Elijah Wood (and don’t get me wrong I love him as Frodo) is that he was a bit too young for the role. Frodo is supposed to be in his fifties when he sets out from the Shire. Sam and Merry are about the same age but are more than 10 years younger than Frodo. In age Martin Freeman would have been better but by temperament Elijah was the better Frodo. Bilbo is more of a “fuck it, let’s do this” kind of guy whereas Frodo is much more deliberate and cautious. Martin Freeman was also an amazing choice for Bilbo.

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Frodo was ageless like Bilbo and gollum due to his proximity to the ring.

[–] rustydomino@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

During the 15 or so years when technically Frodo possessed the ring he never used it. The first time he put it on was in Bree. I doubt he was much affected by it during those years.

[–] OscarCunningham@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As time went on, people began to notice that Frodo also showed signs of good 'preservation': outwardly he retained the appearance of a robust and energetic hobbit just out of his tweens. 'Some folk have all the luck,' they said; but it was not until Frodo approached the usually more sober age of fifty that they began to think it queer.

[–] rustydomino@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Good point. I forgot about that passage.

[–] SHOW_ME_YOUR_ASSHOLE@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

I actually agree with you 100 percent. I really did not like the way Elijah Wood played Frodo. His facial expressions any time he's in pain or scared just ruin the scene for me.

[–] RealFknNito@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

He's the reason I can't watch the movies. Something about his face is off putting. I don't blame the guy, that's just the face he's got, but it makes me uncomfortable somehow.

[–] milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

I think Elijah Wood did a great Frodo, but one very different from the books. Now, the same PJ LOTR but with a middle-aged academic/retired-gardener/country-gentleman as Frodo... that would be interesting.

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In another timeline, Jared Leto played Frodo.

[–] MrPoopyButthole@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Haha! I would watch that for the unintended comedy!

[–] Linkerbaan@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

Elijah was not that special but that also gave it a certain charm. The cast around him became more prominent as the "main character" was more of a side character that existed to be escorted.