February 5, 2004

Bilbo's Age
The Bruce

All this talk of the Hobbit being filmed has reminded me of a query I had about the prologue in FotR. When Bilbo finds the Ring he is shown as being considerably younger than when the film starts for real. Given the life extending properties of the Ring, is such a difference accurate? When Gandalf greets Bilbo he says "You've hardly aged a day." I'm guessing that this is their first meeting since Bilbo's previous birthday but it does imply that the normal aging process has been slowed.
I'm only thinking of poor Ian Holm, assuming he gets the part. Instead of just having to put on the ears, a curly wig and, of course, the feet, he's going to have to sit through getting a young face plastered on too. I wouldn't fancy those 4am starts