Here's the second part of my thoughts on the cast of LotR.

Bilbo Baggins - Ian Holm. Excellent casting. My love of The Hobbit made me a bit wary of anyone playing my much-loved Bilbo; would he be able to live up to my imagination? Yes, yes, yes. Holm makes the role so much his own that I'm now finding it hard to imagine anyone else taking the role, as is bound to happen when they come to film The Hobbit (as Holm is now in his late seventies and not in the best of health, sadly.) 

Holm's acting is superb, the change from his normal happy and scatterbrained self to the desparate ring-addict is dynamic and believeable. The shots of him at the end of the "Concerning Hobbits" scene (sadly cut from the theatrical release) searching all over Bag End for the ring, only to find it in his pocket all along, are heart-wrenching.
It's only a pity he didn't have more scenes. 

Arwen - Liv Tyler. When I heard Liv Tyler was playing Arwen, I was like "Oh fuck." Because as far as I was concerned she was this big-lipped american bimbo who's only claim to fame was being Steve Tyler's daughter. But in fact, she impressed me, not least for managing to keep her accent on point throughout (although I think she mainly achieved that by whispering more or less all of her lines.) 

She also managed to strike the right note in her love scenes with Aragorn: not too over-the-top with passion or sloppiness, but with enough emotion to give it some oomph.

Elrond - Hugo Weaving. A lot of people have spoken of Elrond's "scary eyebrows" and said that he seemed very stern or mean. This is in stark contrast to the books, where he's described as being very kindly. However, I'd say his stern demeanour is actually more in keeping with the situation; the ring's in his city where the Dark Lord will be looking for it, he's got a bunch of dwarves on the premises who keep arguing with his elves, the elves themselves are all leaving Middle Earth, and his daughter's in love with a scruffy ranger who never washes his hair.

In the books, Elrond is effectively Aragorn's adoptive father, and it's a shame this couldn't be shown more clearly. He's really only got two scenes with Aragorn; the first before the Fellowship leave Rivendell, when they have a little chat in the graveyard where Aragorn's mother lies, and at the camp of the Rohirrim when Elrond brings Aragorn the reforged sword of Elendil. 

I think Elrond is most effective when he's persuading Arwen to forget Aragorn and take ship to the West. His words are very precise, and he knows that he is hurting her terribly, but as a parent he has to try to save her from what he sees as her hopeless love. 

Galadriel - Cate Blanchett. On my first watching, I wasn't really taken with Blanchett's interpretation of the Lady of Light. I don't find her beautiful at all, although she certainly appeared ethereal and other-worldly. However, on re-watchings she's grown on me. 

Trivia snippet: when the crew did the lighting for Galadriel's scenes, they used dozens of tiny lights to reflect in Blanchett's eyes. The effect isn't consciously noticeable until you look for it, but once you see it, you can't stop watching for it. 

Saruman the White - Christopher Lee. Well, what can you say about Christopher Lee? His scenes were cut scandalously short in theatrical release, including his entire death scene! which was just ridiculous. 

His voice, of course, is incredibly disctinctive and lends itself very well to this sort of role. Considering the man is in his eighties, he still has an amazingly imposing bearing. The scenes of him on top of Orthanc chanting to bring the storm gave him a very potent and virile look, which I'd imagine takes some doing for an octogenarian. In fact Lee brought this almost sexual edge to much of his characterisation, although Saruman's lust is of course for power rather than for any being. Watch his face, particularly the eyes, when the first Uruk-Hai is "birthed", and again when the chief mountain man cuts his palm and swears fealty. 

All praise to the extended edition, then, for bringing back Saruman's scenes in all their glory. 

What did annoy some viewers, and jarred with me a little, was making Saruman simply a tool of Sauron. "Oh whoops, I looked into the Palantir and now I've been pwned." In the book, Saruman was setting himself against Sauron, and tried to persuade Gandalf to join up so they could kick Sauron's arse together. I guess Peter Jackson decided that having three separate factions would needlessly confuse the audience. 

Smeagol/Gollum - Andy Serkis. What can you say about Gollum? Andy Serkis is a genius. Yes, yes, all the CG of Gollum was done by WETA, but the facial movements (and a surprising amount of body movements) and voice were pure Serkis. He certainly deserved the awards and nominations he got. 

One thing that was better (for me) in the theatrical version: Smeagol/Gollum has decided to get rid of his nasty internal murderous Gollum-self and trust in Frodo. He is helpful and seems to be making overtures of friendship (which Sam is having none of.) Then Frodo and Sam are captured by Faramir and Frodo is forced to lure Smeagol out, where he is captured too, and very roughly treated. Frodo is forced to do this because otherwise Faramir's archers are going to shoot Smeagol. Naturally enough, Smeagol thinks that Frodo has betrayed him, and it's not long before the Gollum part is back again and in charge. And you can feel a certain sympathy with Smeagol, because just as he was learning to trust Frodo, it seemed that Frodo abused that trust. 

However, in the extended edition, Sam explains to Gollum that Mr Frodo had no choice and that he didn't mean for the Rangers to hurt Gollum. And Gollum replies, "Oh no, no hard feelings." So when he does then lead Frodo into Shelob's lair and abandon him to her tender mercies, his actions are clearly evil and have no possible justification.
I suppose I find that disappointing because I feel so strongly for Smeagol; like Frodo, I want to believe that he can come back. 

Again, there is so much to say about Gollum, and I don't want to get into a scene-by-scene discussion yet. 

Faramir - David Wenham. I was so glad that Faramir got more scenes in the extended edition. The theatrical edition left him pretty much incomplete and blank; we never learned his motivation for first capturing Frodo and Sam and then releasing them. The EE showed us (as with Boromir) the huge pressure on him to impress his father, especially as Denethor only valued Boromir's skills and not the younger son's. 

The flashback scene to Osgiliath showed Denethor's contempt for Faramir; to Boromir he says "Do not trouble me with Faramir. I know his uses and they are few." Even Boromir, who obviously would know his father well and realise in what low esteem Faramir was held, is visibly shocked and appalled that Denethor would actually say that out loud. It gives an extra dimension to the scene later on in RotK where Faramir says to his father, "You wish now that our places had been exchanged. That I had died and Boromir had lived." And Denethor replies, "Yes. I wish that." 

Bastard! 

David Wenham's acting is superb throughout. He is very subtle and doesn't overplay the emotion at all, but is visibly and heartbreakingly crushed by Denethor's continuous dismissal of him. Probably his finest scenes are near the end of RotK EE where he is in the Houses of Healing with Eowyn. The look in his eyes as he first catches sight of her, and later when he comforts her fears as they talk together before the final battle, just speaks volumes. His whole heart and soul are in his eyes, visible for the world to see. 

Eowyn - Miranda Otto. Interestingly, Miranda Otto is older than she looks. She was in her mid-thirties when the films came out. 

I'm not really sure how I feel about her portrayal of Eowyn. Some scenes are very good; the quieter, more emotional scenes, mainly. But I have trouble seeing her as a real Shield Maiden of Rohan because she is so small and slight. I always pictures Eowyn as a bit more amazonian and muscular. On the other hand, it does make her victory against the Witch King a lot more dramatic; the tiny Eowyn against the giant Witch King (and his giant mace) is much more striking and speaks loudly to her courage. I love the look on her face when the Witch King gets off his dead steed.
Otto's accent bothers me - she's Australian by birth and can't really manage the English accent, tending to veer off into Irish instead. (Hama does this as well, but the rest of the Rohan cast don't, so it grates.) 

Another thing that irks me - although it's more directing than her acting at fault - is the scene in RotK when she tries to stop Aragorn leaving the Rohirrim and going off on the Dimmholt road. When Aragorn delivers his "I'm sorry, babe, but I'm just not into you" speech, Eowyn backs away, taking about five steps backward. I can see her taking one or maybe two steps in distress and embarrassment, but the exaggeration - I mean come on, five steps! you'd be bound to trip over something - just reminds me of that Simpsons episode where Homer sees Apu kissing the Squishy Lady and backs all the way out of the Kwik-E-Mart, through the streets, and back through his own front door... 

Theoden - Bernard Hill. One of my favourite characters. Bernard Hill is absolutely superb. A fine, fine actor. His speech to the Rohirrim before the charge at Pelennor Fields is probably my one favourite scene from the whole trilogy. 

Hill plays Theoden as a strong, authoritative king, but one who is keenly aware that his kingdom is in peril. Now I have an issue with Peter Jackson's direction here, because Aragorn, Gandalf and Gimli all say that Theoden should stand and fight Saruman's forces or even ride straight out and meet him in battle. However, Theoden rightly states that Eomer and his two thousand Rohirrim are gone, he has few fighters at his disposal and no allies. Moreover, although Edoras is in a good defensive position on top of a hill, it is not a heavily-fortified city; most of the buildings are wooden and therefore easy prey to fire and battering rams. He has already lost hundreds (thousands?) of his citizens in the burning of the Westfold villages. So his decision to evacuate Edoras and decamp to Helm's Deep is actually a very sound tactical move for the position that Rohan is in at this time. I really dislike the way he's portrayed as making a weak decision and basically taking the coward's path. 

Despite these limitations from the production team, Hill makes the role his own and plays it well. His words with Aragorn when he's walking the defences of Helm's Deep are so well-played. When he chokes off his furious tirade asking "Where was Gondor" you see him physically struggling to keep his temper with Aragorn and not have a public argument which will further demoralise his troops. 

The scene in the EE where Gamling is helping Theoden dress for battle, when Theoden recites the lines "Where is the horse and the rider?..." are very effective. His delivery is just right, managing to avoid that overblown "DOOM!" edge nicely. 

During the battle of the Pelennor Fields, despite believing that he's leading his troops into what will prove to be their death, he deploys his men effectively against the orcs and the tide of battle is turning. But then... whoops, what's that sound? Theoden's face as the Oliphaunts appear out of the dust in the distance is a picture. Despite the fear, he orders his riders to reform the line, taking control over what could turn into a rout (imagine the fear of both riders and mounts at seeing such massive enemies appear on the field!) and leading the Rohirrim to another charge. The casualties are heavy, but once again the Rohirrim are gaining the upper hand, and then... the Witch King decides he's going to have a pop. Thoeden's expression just says it all, and you can see the despair take hold. 

I still cry my eyes out at Theoden's death scene, every time. 

Eomer - Karl Urban. Karl Urban does very well, and it's a pity he doesn't get more of a role. Eomer was a lot more important in the books and I'm not sure why he was sidelined. His devotion to his sister is touching, but his lack of respect for her prowess in battle is annoying. 

I particularly would have liked to see more of him in the thick of battle. 

Denethor - John Noble. Noble is really very impressive as the mad Steward of Gondor. Every time I watch, I end up loathing him even more than before. His voice is just right for the performance (here's one Aussie actor who didn't have any trouble with the accent.) You could say his performance becomes a little over the top as it goes on, however I'd forgive that on the grounds that when we first meet him, he's grieving for Boromir, the news of whose death has only recently reached him, and then when Faramir returns, nearly dead, to Minas Tirith, Denethor is stricken with both grief and guilt at the realisation that he's sent both of his sons to their deaths. So his actions following that don't seem entirely improbable. 

It's a testament to the power of his acting that, following watching the scene where he's sent Faramir off on a suicide mission and is sitting scoffing grapes, tomatoes and chicken, while commanding Pippin to "sing me a song", I can no longer bear to eat whole cherry tomatoes, I have to cut them in half.

Also, his oratorial and dramatic delivery of "Flee! Flee for your lives!" when he sees the armies massed on the plains gives Gandalf an excuse to wallop him, a moment at which I always give a cheer. Perhaps that makes me a low-brow popularist, but you know what? I don't care.