June 20, 2003

Re: Aragorn and Arwen
Danny

I agree that Aragorn has played his part perfectly. I think both Aragorn and Gandalf were perfectly cast, but unfortunately more people praise Ian McKellan than Vigo Mortensen.
With regards to Arwyn, I don't have any real ideas who they could have cast for her, but I am terible with keeping track of actors and actresses. I don't have any problem with Liv Tyler, but maybe that is because I had never really seen her as a star before LOTR so it doesn't feel like they cast her just for a star.

About the time they devote to her I agree and disagree. The films have focused on Aragorn as the main character of the fellowship's half of the story. It would really confuse and annoy those who have not read the book if he married some woman who they had only seen for thirty seconds when they would be expecting Aragorn to marry Eoywn. It confused me the first time I read the books. I had forgotten about Arwyn. I don't have too big a problem with her added time for that reason.

However if the time was taken and used in a different way, I wouldn't have wanted more fighting. One of the more common complaints about the movie from people I talk too is that it is so dark. Several people have said that they don't want to read the books because they thought they were going to be dark and depressing. I think the films have added plenty of action. I would rather see the ten minutes of time that we would hypothetically gain by cutting Arwyn used to add those litle moments from the book that do more to develop character.