Question about putting Glorfindel in the LOTR movie.

[Darth Saruman]

How the heck could Peter Jackson have possibly justified introducing Glorfindel into the movie for about 5 minutes of screen time and then "forgetting" about him for the rest of the trilogy? Viewers and critics would have dismissed him as some aberrant and overly convenient plot device. I personally believe that this is one instance where the book's plot must be deviated from in order to make a coherent film adaptation. Maybe Tolkien was able to get away with it, but there is no way that Jackson would have.

I'm personally for the expansion of Arwen's character, and having her take Frodo across was the ford was, imo, the best way to solve this problem.

 

[aragil]

Excellent Opinion!

If you think Glorfindel would have gotten critical backlash, just imagine Tom Bombadil(lo).

ps Hope you don't take too much flack for this thread.

 

[Gamil Zirak]

This has been argued and stated in numerous threads. Why have Elrond in the movie at all either? Afterall, we are shown in the begining that he is a mighty warrior, yet he doesn't go and help the fellowship. It totally confused me as to what happened.

 

[Thorin]

Forget Elrond, he at least had some sort of part....What about Haldir and even Celeborn? Absolutely useless as tits on a bull. Virtually no screen time and no purpose, yet PJ puts them in....

Poor reasoning....Cut out Glorfindel who at least plays a decent role, yet stick Haldir and mention him by name with nothing to show and no other entry any other time in the movie....

Why not have included Glorfindel and expand his role instead of botching Arwen's role from what Tolkien intended....

 

[Gamil Zirak]

Thorin- I'm glad I wasn't drinking milk (or anything else for that matter) when I read your post. It would have definately shot out of my nose. That bull comparison was great.

 

[Parrot]

Originally Posted by Thorin
Poor reasoning....Cut out Glorfindel who at least plays a decent role, yet stick Haldir and mention him by name with nothing to show and no other entry any other time in the movie....

Not poor reasoning at all as it is precisely Glorfindel’s role that causes the problem. Movie-goers can understand that Haldir and Celeborn are bit basically bit players, kind of like the extra “Heads of the Five Families” in some “Godfather” scenes. We get that they are powerful and important people but also understand they won’t play a major role in the story. On the other hand, to have Glorfindel swoop in, pull a Mighty Mouse, then turn around and pull a Hoffa, would be far more disconcerting and confusing, IMO. “Oh, that Glorfindel guy? He, uhhh… got called away on business… you know… important elf stuff.”

Thorin, why do I feel confident that had PJ NOT included Haldir and Celeborn you would have bashed him that way too?

 

[aragil]

Originally posted by Parrot
Thorin, why do I feel confident that had PJ NOT included Haldir and Celeborn you would have bashed him that way too?

Probably pecause you are one perceptive parrot.

 

[Parrot]

"Thank you very little."

Oop's wrong Chase movie; wrong thread; wrong site! Man, I'm glad it's Friday.

 

[Thorin]

Originally posted by Parrot


Not poor reasoning at all as it is precisely Glorfindel’s role that causes the problem. Movie-goers can understand that Haldir and Celeborn are bit basically bit players, kind of like the extra “Heads of the Five Families” in some “Godfather” scenes. We get that they are powerful and important people but also understand they won’t play a major role in the story. On the other hand, to have Glorfindel swoop in, pull a Mighty Mouse, then turn around and pull a Hoffa, would be far more disconcerting and confusing, IMO. “Oh, that Glorfindel guy? He, uhhh… got called away on business… you know… important elf stuff.”

I don't understand this leperous aversion to having minor characters do things and disappear...It happens all the time in movies...What the heck is the big deal? PJ could have had Glorfindel as an elf guide who throws Frodo on his horse simply because he is the closest....The rest could have played out as it was in the book and Glorfindel wouldn't even have needed to "scare" the riders into the flood...they could have just gone after Frodo and Gandalf could have explained the rest (i.e. Elrond made the flood and Gandalf made the horses) Glorfindel's role would then have been understandable (Elrond sends out messengers to find the company) and not have been a scene stealer. He then would have been no more a presence then Haldir and Celeborn were in the movie....

Why not have Arwen do that instead to introduce her character early, you might ask? Had that been all she would have done to replace Glorfindel, that could be accepted....But as you all know, Arwen went beyond the call of duty and of her written character by doing the extra nonsense she did and stealing the thunder from 12 different characters....Cutting out Glorfindel is one thing, replacing him with a character who doesn't belong doing MUCH more then Glorfindel ever did is just plain unacceptable...

Originally posted by Parrot
Thorin, why do I feel confident that had PJ NOT included Haldir and Celeborn you would have bashed him that way too?

You know what? If PJ was just going to make Celeborn do absolutely nothing and seem nothing more then Galadriel's Wormtongue, he would have been better off not even putting him in and let Galadriel take centre stage...As it was, he totally ruined Celeborn's character and made me wonder, even as a Tolkien fan, what purpose he even served....