Hobbit-appeal not universally appreciated.

Posted on 2010.03.15 at 16:44
Tags: bilbo baggins, elijah wood, frodo, james mcavoy

~*~

Looking for a Sideshow collectible this morning, I was Googling "Bilbo Baggins bust" and ended up reading a snippet in a site called "the Frisky" that first raised my eyebrows then made me guffaw. The writer's remarks about the trilogy's hobbits perfectly illustrate how insensible some people are to the appeal of hobbits, including Frodo's.

"We are seriously disturbed that beautiful, handsome, brogue-ish James McAvoy is going to have to pull on a pair of heinous Hobbit feet to play Bilbo Baggins. And those funny little ears. Eww." And the best for last, "Playing Frodo did nothing to up Elijah Wood’s sex appeal, we remind you."

When I think of all the steaming-hot erotica the film-hobbits inspired, slash and het, and the zeal with which it's been read, I have to shake my head -- and chuckle.

Here's the whole of this [very short] article: The Daily NOTness: James McAvoy As Bilbo Baggins.

ETA: I should note that McAvoy is my own first choice for the role (out of actors whose work I already know), but think playing a hobbit hero would only enhance his appeal, not hurt it.

~ Mechtild

28 comments Leave a comment

Comments:

(Deleted comment)

mechtild at 2010-03-15 22:10 (UTC) (Link)

More for us, I say.

Ha ha, that's true!

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frodobaggins252 at 2010-03-15 22:39 (UTC) (Link)

Some people just don't get it, do they? Ahh, what they're missing **happy sigh**

I'd love to see McAvoy as Bilbo. He'd honor what Ian Holm has already done while adding his own dimension to it. He's Elijah's choice for Bilbo. :)

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mechtild at 2010-03-15 23:14 (UTC) (Link)

He's my first choice for Bilbo so far. I thought he was exceptional in the films I've seen him in, showing lots of emotional range and depth, plus wit and a "whimsical something" that would do well for Bilbo. But, contrary to the writer of the article, I think he'd be extra-appealing as a hobbit, but I'm partial to them. :)

Edited at 2010-03-15 11:14 pm (UTC)

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not_alone at 2010-03-15 22:53 (UTC) (Link)

Well, that just shows how much they know. NOT!!

*shakes head in disbelief*

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mechtild at 2010-03-15 23:15 (UTC) (Link)

Isn't that something?

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lame_pegasus at 2010-03-15 22:55 (UTC) (Link)

Playing Frodo did nothing to up Elijah Wood’s sex appeal, we remind you.

*guffaws with you*

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mechtild at 2010-03-15 23:15 (UTC) (Link)

We can chortle, smirk, and poke each other in the ribs together.

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shirebound at 2010-03-15 22:57 (UTC) (Link)

LOL, Elijah as Frodo shot him through the stratosphere when it comes to sex appeal!

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mechtild at 2010-03-15 23:16 (UTC) (Link)

I know! I certainly had no dark designs on my noble halfling until the films.

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verangel at 2010-03-16 03:10 (UTC) (Link)

An icon is made from their originality and heart. whether you are Dorothy (Judy Garland), Frodo (Elijah), or Luke Skywalker(Mark Hamill) you make your mark. Time will never change the perfection. All the actors in LOTRs made it work.
I posted on LJ 2 years ago off the cuff after seeing "the Last King of Scotland" on HBO, that I thought James McAvoy would be the PERFECT Bilbo. I had no idea any others thought that. It kinda freaks me out even today that this thought was so widespread.
He is Elijah/Frodo in many ways in their heredity and way more passionate as Bilbo was (and reckless). He is Bilbo perfect. There is no way he will do it I think.
hugs you tight xoxoox v

Edited at 2010-03-16 03:16 am (UTC)

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mechtild at 2010-03-16 03:28 (UTC) (Link)

You wrote, "there is no way he will do it". Are there reports on the messageboards saying it's out of the question that McAvoy could play Bilbo? That's too bad.

I only thought of him as Bilbo after his name had been presented as a possibility. Although I had thought "what a great hobbit he'd make!" while watching the Narnia movie in which he played the faun, Mr. Tumnus, I hadn't thought of him as Bilbo as such. But I think he's definitely got the emotional range to play Bilbo. He's got that dry wit and the British self-effacing, deferring sort of manner down well, but he's also great at playing deep emotion and thought, whether openly or under a layer of reserve. Yes, I think he'd do very well indeed. Too bad he's not going to do it!

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aredhelebenesse at 2010-03-16 06:33 (UTC) (Link)

OMG! If I was a straight builder and football fan, I'd most likely agree that Elijah doesn't look a tad more hot as Frodo. And also most likely I'd say this out of shameless jealousy and envy.
In my opinion, Elijah looked the best he ever could as Frodo. It was his ideal appearance at that time and his pointy ears were not guiltless of this fact.

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mechtild at 2010-03-16 14:02 (UTC) (Link)

I thought he was his most appealing - as a person and as a male - as Frodo, too. And the ears were part of it, yes. Isn't it funny, how differently people respond, the range of what they find attractive? I guess it's a good thing or we'd all have to look like angel-hobbits - or body builders, or some other ideal in order to find a lover.

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pearlette at 2010-03-16 10:27 (UTC) (Link)

"Playing Frodo did nothing to up Elijah Wood’s sex appeal, we remind you."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Was this woman living under a rock, or what?! :D

The entire darn LotR cast was sexy (well, OK, not the Orcs). None of them will ever be so beautiful again. :D ELijah has never been as sexy as that before or since. :p

I did feel a very brief attraction to him, BUT ONLY BECAUSE HE PLAYED FRODO. I cannot emphasise that enough. It was The Wig. Those dark curls. So right for Frodo. *grin*

The whole 'swooning over Elijah' thing makes me want to run away screaming now. Same goes for Dan Radcliffe. *FACEPALMING EVEN AS I TYPE* Equus was a jolly good theatrical experience, though. :D

I well remember one of the British dailies, back in December 2001, referring to EJW as 'a dishy little hobbit.'

Hobbit appeal! Hobbits are adorable! Yeah!

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mechtild at 2010-03-16 14:12 (UTC) (Link)

>>>BECAUSE HE PLAYED FRODO<<<

Me, too. EW worked every sort of magic on me as Frodo, but his erotic magic had its way with me only in that role. It was like, I don't know, a chemical reaction that exploded when a few drops of EW were added to a dish of Frodo. "Dishy little hobbit", indeed. :) The writer in an article quoted in Not Alone's latest episode of "A Journey With Frodo" wrongly but tellingly described him, "that cute elf-boy". This was published after Fellowship. The writer obviously was not a book reader and did not pay much attention to the plot points in the film, not realising hobbits are not elves, but he certainly made a more plausible elf-boy. He was, after all, more beautiful than any elf in the film, including the women.

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pearlette at 2010-03-16 14:41 (UTC) (Link)

I've always seen Book Frodo as a sort of 'elf-boy.'

PAUSE FOR FANGIRL MOMENT.

So it was fitting that he be played by someone totally looking like an elf-boy. ;)

The more time passes, the less enamoured I become with Film Frodo's characterisation. But on the looks front? -- no complaints. :)

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mechtild at 2010-03-16 14:59 (UTC) (Link)

Yes, there's plenty to be disappointed with in the transfer from book to film, but there's no doubting he was a veritable Eros of Middle-earth, and with an immortal spirit to match.

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frodosweetstuff at 2010-03-16 14:17 (UTC) (Link)

"Playing Frodo did nothing to up Elijah Wood’s sex appeal, we remind you."
*giggles hysterically*

*tries to calm down*

*continues to giggle hysterically*

Seriousy, Elijah Wood as Frodo is the hottest and most sexy being there is. Ever. *fans self* And those pointy ears are... *drools*

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mechtild at 2010-03-16 15:01 (UTC) (Link)

Isn't it a jaw-dropping *and* hilarious thing to read that?

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frodosweetstuff at 2010-03-19 14:45 (UTC) (Link)

I'm still shocked. :D

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telstar_gold at 2010-03-16 20:37 (UTC) (Link)

James McAvoy certainly seems to be the popular choice. I'd vote for him too! :)) Even though he looks nothing like the Bilbo of my imagination.

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mechtild at 2010-03-16 22:44 (UTC) (Link)

Mine, either. But Ian Holm didn't look like the Bilbo of my imagination. Yet now I have difficulty reading The Lord of the Rings without hearing and seeing him as Bilbo. (We won't go into how different Elijah Wood was from the Frodo I imagined.... *g*)

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lindenella at 2010-03-18 08:05 (UTC) (Link)

"Playing Frodo did nothing to up Elijah Wood’s sex appeal, we remind you."
8
Yeah... right....*** rollseyes **

You only have to look at all the gorgeous Frolijah icons on this page to see thats not true. Oh well.. it takes all sorts . :D

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mechtild at 2010-03-18 13:43 (UTC) (Link)

Isn't that hilarious? When I think of all the salivating that was done over film-Frodo, the hearts that went pit-a-pat, the panties that became moist, my mind boggles at her comment. But I've been a visitor on LJ's of friends who love Boromir or Faramir or the other Man heroes, and I overhear similar comments. They don't say "hobbits are eww", but while they consider them "cute", they mean cute like children or puppies, and don't find any of them, including EW, sexually attractive. I guess I am so used to hanging out in a hobbit-loving corner of the fandom, I am surprised when I read something that shows it's not a universal attraction. :)

Edited at 2010-03-18 01:44 pm (UTC)

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este_tangletoes at 2010-03-19 21:54 (UTC) (Link)

What’s not to ~~like~~ love? ;D

EW as Frodo is the most beautiful image I have ever seen.

--Estë

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mechtild at 2010-03-19 23:14 (UTC) (Link)

Can't agree with you more. Gee, but that hobbit's got The Power. :)

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diem_kieu94 at 2012-11-17 13:05 (UTC) (Link)

I beg your pardon, Madam?

"Playing Frodo did nothing to up Elijah Wood's sex appeal, we remind you."

Excuse me, but may I ask what this lady's been smoking?! Hello! Mara Aure!! This website wouldn't even exist if that were true! Frodo is absolutely GORGEOUS! (Of course, that's a given here! ;))

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mechtild at 2012-11-17 14:11 (UTC) (Link)

Re: I beg your pardon, Madam?

That was a pretty amusing remark, I agree!

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