But see, this is the thing: I mark out way more for Aragorn's fights than Legolas's because there's so much straight up swordsmanship and Viggo sells it so well. He brings a total Big Damn Hero vibe to the thing, whereas the big CGI Legolas stunts don't really have much impact beyond eye rolling. To me, anyway.

Aragorn fights in general rule because he conveys that all other considerations, victory, honor, the fate of the world, the fate of the elvish nookie, all that aside, when it's time to draw swords, he's a guy who really likes a good fight.

Viggo does all these little things that sell the fights so well. The little salute before Amon Hen, the WTF take after killing Lurtz, the little swagger he puts on whenever it's about to drop in the pot, all that. Good psychology.

Gimli's fights rule because JRD likes to flatten stuntmen, apparently, but still.

Legolas's FoTR fights ruled because he was the slick one, and it was all pretty and nice. Except for the cave troll, which had that big tell shot when he jumped off. After that, not so much coolness, more fakery.

The only thing that didn't work for me Legolas-wise is riding the shield. I thought the horse was excellent, as was the thing we keep white-fonting.

On the whole, Legolas isn't human, and doesn't move like a human (Or get dirty, or be bothered by snow, et al.) and PJ did a good job of portraying that.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I think Aragorn is supposed to be the Big Damn Hero, and the only one. I mean, I think Legolas is supposed to do the big things effortlessly, with a slight smile.

I'm guessing seamless CGI wouldn't help you, would it? It's a principle thing?

I'm very comfortable with the principle, just a little disappointed with the CGI of various bits, and with the fact that you can kinda tell PJ's reaching for a cheer. And disappointed that we don't get to see more of both sides. But I wouldn't take out the flashy parts -- just add more.

I'm with Victor--Elves are lighter and stronger and more supple than humans. I liked seeing that demonstrated in the films (except the surfing, which was too modern for me).

True enough, he isn't human, and the cleanliness and the snow thing both ruled because they're subtle. When you come right down to it, the eye stab with the arrow was, from a realism standpoint, a pretty good way to piss off an Uruk-Hai and break an arrow at the same time, but the scale was small enough that it just came across elvish.

Ita, flawless CGI would probably win the cave troll thing over. It's borderline, but if it looked good enough, I'd say enh, it's just a movie, and hell it did look pretty sweet. I've already forgiven the horse thing because they kind of got shafted into keeping it. I'll wince every time I see the subject of the recent white fonting for the rest of my life, and I'll add some fist shaking to that for The Last Toboggan Ride of The Elf.

I getchya.

My lust for the killer that doesn't break a sweat aside, I think that Legolas's flash supplied a parallel function to Gimli's humour -- and it's all about the deftness of the handling, which has been variable.

It's a bleak story, with depressing fighting, and the odd respite is well appreciated by me.

Viggo does all these little things that sell the fights so well. The little salute before Amon Hen, the WTF take after killing Lurtz, the little swagger he puts on whenever it's about to drop in the pot, all that. Good psychology.

It had been quite a while since I'd seen FotR, and Viggo's fighting in TTT was more familiar to me. So the Weathertop scene, which I've read was filmed his first week in NZ, took me aback, a little. He sells that one a little too hard, and it's all in the face, in the grimace.

I know ita's been aghast VM wore his costume and carried his sword when he was off-set, but I do think it paid off. By the time they filmed Amon Hen, and certainly Helms Deep, it had gone far beyond actor and prop. Familiarity, handiness, yes. But also human-ness, weariness, fatigue. Unlike the dwarf, who just kept on hewing, and the elf, who

isn't human, and doesn't move like a human (Or get dirty, or be bothered by snow, et al.)

Victor-- Hobbits jumping up and down on Frodo's bed? And then Gimli walks in and eyes them with a big, knowing smile? And then Legolas comes in? Slashiest. Scene. Ever.

Yes! And do you notice the way Gandalf was looking at them? Naughty Ian!

He brings a total Big Damn Hero vibe to the thing, whereas the big CGI Legolas stunts don't really have much impact beyond eye rolling. To me, anyway.

But that's where it's all personal: to me, Aragorn (movie version) is Big Dirty Hero, and Legolas is hot. Even when he's a) CGI and b) ita's.

Although, on the Aragorn front-- the first time I saw the clean!Aragorn, I thought "yeah, the boy cleans up nice." Which is my impression from the books. But second time? clean!Aragorn doesn't look quite as good when I started appreciating the hot of sweaty!Aragorn in some of the fight scenes.

And my favourite Aragorn scene is still the summoning of the Army of the Dead. I can think of characters who could take a lesson or two in giving rallying speeches from him, and for that matter Theoden. Yes, season7!Buffy, I'm looking at you.

We all do know, don't we, that Bernard Hill auditioned for Gandalf? Which, oddly enough, I can see. A very different Gandalf, not actually wrong, if not quite so perfect as Sir Ian. Hill has the chops, but I'm soooo glad we got him as Theoden, instead. I've been thinking, and can't come up with anyone who'd have been as good in the Theoden role.

It had been quite a while since I'd seen FotR, and Viggo's fighting in TTT was more familiar to me. So the Weathertop scene, which I've read was filmed his first week in NZ, took me aback, a little. He sells that one a little too hard, and it's all in the face, in the grimace.

Hmm. I too, shall have to rewatch. At the time I thought Weathertop fine for what it was, that being a quick and dirty little brawl. IIRC, Weathertop was VM's first fight, and he'd only gotten like, 10 days of sword training (That compared to, I dunno, months or something for everyone else). It's entirely possible he lacked confidence in his swordsmanship and hammed it a little to compensate.