I haven't searched the previous posts on other threads, so I'm sorry if this has been discussed or brought up before.
[b:1qqi7wfq]JD[/b:1qqi7wfq]
Thread: Will we see any noticeable changes to Gollum?
Planet Tolkien is archived and no longer updated, but the forums remain browseable. We have established a Telegram group for old and new visitors to stay connected and discuss all things Tolkien.At the time when Frodo comes across Gollum (Gollum as in Smeag’l the Halfling), unless I'm mistaken, he's about 400 years old. That means that at the time when Bilbo encounters him he must have been roughly 50 years younger. Should he look different? If you think back to the opening scenes in Return of the King, you'll remember the hideous transformation Smeag’l undergoes which then earns him the title Gollum, I wonder if Jackson and the team will choose an image for him from these earlier stages for accuracy or keep the image he appears to have in the LotR films. Will he look any different in his youthful 350's and should he look any different? What do you guys think?
I haven't searched the previous posts on other threads, so I'm sorry if this has been discussed or brought up before.
[b:1qqi7wfq]JD[/b:1qqi7wfq]
I haven't searched the previous posts on other threads, so I'm sorry if this has been discussed or brought up before.
[b:1qqi7wfq]JD[/b:1qqi7wfq]
Just had a read of Riddles in the Dark to see how Gollum is described and the surprising answer is that there is very little. We are told he is "a small slimy creature...as dark as darkness, except for two big round pale eyes in his thin face," I would assume the dark bit refers to his mind and spirit rather then his skin colour, but you never know. After that there is very little, some mention if his long fingers etc but visually for most of the chapter he's a pair of pale glowing eyes in the dark.
On that basis there is nothing in the text to suggest a change is needed from the Gollum of the LoTR films, although they could maybe remove some of the cuts and scars he had acquired to his skin since leaving his cave between hobbit and LoTR.
On that basis there is nothing in the text to suggest a change is needed from the Gollum of the LoTR films, although they could maybe remove some of the cuts and scars he had acquired to his skin since leaving his cave between hobbit and LoTR.
Imagine if all we see is Gollum's dark outline and those eyes, and his gollumy hissing voice asking his Riddles in the Dark? Creep-out or what! I've got shivers down my spine just thinking about it. Though this would mean the director would have to cut out the proposed sword fight and the mandatory wrestling match and attempted-strangling bit! (Of course, the original depiction of the scene in the book won't be filmographic enough - or commercial enough!)
Thanks for getting back guys, and thanks for having a look back through the text Petty. That idea of yours really appeals to me too Odo and it shows there's a way around Petty's point about little description, I don't know why [i:24f8h25p]I[/i:24f8h25p] didn't think of it before 
, 
. Gollum's a world famous figure now (if you think about it, he is though 
, people all over the world imitate that voice now ), it'd work brilliantly if we only hear that famously hideous voice and the hissing, not to mention his eerie blue eyes. Think of the suspense that could be built up when Bilbo's making a dash for it! Great idea Odo, can't wait to see the film now, totaly re-kindled the excitement!
[b:24f8h25p]JD[/b:24f8h25p]
, . Gollum's a world famous figure now (if you think about it, he is though , people all over the world imitate that voice now ), it'd work brilliantly if we only hear that famously hideous voice and the hissing, not to mention his eerie blue eyes. Think of the suspense that could be built up when Bilbo's making a dash for it! Great idea Odo, can't wait to see the film now, totaly re-kindled the excitement![b:24f8h25p]JD[/b:24f8h25p]
Thank you Joseph. Do you know anyone on the writing team? I really would like to help them make a [i:187pcxl4]proper[/i:187pcxl4] adaptation.
[quote="pettytyrant101":2w8wfyi6]I would assume the dark bit refers to his mind and spirit rather then his skin colour, but you never know. After that there is very little, some mention if his long fingers etc but visually for most of the chapter he's a pair of pale glowing eyes in the dark.[/quote:2w8wfyi6]
I don't have the [i:2w8wfyi6]Letters[/i:2w8wfyi6] with me, but Tolkien comments that Gollum's skin was pale, though his clothing made him appear darker. (Yes, Gollum had actual clothes, not just a loincloth; his pockets are mentioned in Riddles in the Dark.) It's also worth noting how dark it must have been in the tunnels beneath the Misty Mountains. It would have been strange for Gollum to appear anything but dark.
I don't have the [i:2w8wfyi6]Letters[/i:2w8wfyi6] with me, but Tolkien comments that Gollum's skin was pale, though his clothing made him appear darker. (Yes, Gollum had actual clothes, not just a loincloth; his pockets are mentioned in Riddles in the Dark.) It's also worth noting how dark it must have been in the tunnels beneath the Misty Mountains. It would have been strange for Gollum to appear anything but dark.
[quote="Joseph Dwarf":2trs3zws]If you think back to the opening scenes in Return of the King, you'll remember the hideous transformation Smeag’l undergoes which then earns him the title Gollum, I wonder if Jackson and the team will choose an image for him from these earlier stages for accuracy or keep the image he appears to have in the LotR films.[/quote:2trs3zws]
I think the opening scenes of Return of the King were, for the most part, an era far gone even by the time of The Hobbit. Gollum as he was shown in the prologue of The Fellowship of the Ring would be a better baseline for consistency. Gollum as he appeared in FotR was rather different than in TTT and RotK, so from a strict consistency standpoint I suppose one might go with that design. Overall though, I think it would be more consistent to just show Gollum more or less as he was in the majority of his LotR scenes, though of course shrouded in darkness much of the time. His appearances in FotR are extremely minor.
I think the opening scenes of Return of the King were, for the most part, an era far gone even by the time of The Hobbit. Gollum as he was shown in the prologue of The Fellowship of the Ring would be a better baseline for consistency. Gollum as he appeared in FotR was rather different than in TTT and RotK, so from a strict consistency standpoint I suppose one might go with that design. Overall though, I think it would be more consistent to just show Gollum more or less as he was in the majority of his LotR scenes, though of course shrouded in darkness much of the time. His appearances in FotR are extremely minor.
Actually, the differences in Gollum's appearance throughout the movies seemed minimal to me. And Jackson himself in the extras on one of the DVDs said it was due to the improving CGI technology as the films progressed.
I also think there shouldn't be any significant difference between LotR Gollum and The Hobbit Gollum. A 50 year time frame makes little difference in a 400 year period.
[b:3b0mvf29]GB[/b:3b0mvf29]
I also think there shouldn't be any significant difference between LotR Gollum and The Hobbit Gollum. A 50 year time frame makes little difference in a 400 year period.
[b:3b0mvf29]GB[/b:3b0mvf29]
Agreed, GB. Fifty, or rather sixty years really isn't that long for Gollum.
I guess you're right guys 
, I just thought it might have been exciting seeing the character closer to what Smeag’l looks like. Do you think the character should necessarily act in the same way?
[b:1x3e7yj3]JD[/b:1x3e7yj3]
, I just thought it might have been exciting seeing the character closer to what Smeag’l looks like. Do you think the character should necessarily act in the same way?[b:1x3e7yj3]JD[/b:1x3e7yj3]
I think Gollum would, naturally, be more concerned with things like eating and fissssssssssssssh than getting the Ring back, so in that way he might be different. His interest in Bilbo would be, unlike the supernatural desire that brought him to Frodo, more along the lines of simple hunger.
We only wish,
to catch a fish,
so juicy sweet!
might become...
We only wish,
to catch a hobbit
so juicy sweet!
[b:id18d98o]J Dwarf[/b:id18d98o]
to catch a fish,
so juicy sweet!
might become...
We only wish,
to catch a hobbit
so juicy sweet!
[b:id18d98o]J Dwarf[/b:id18d98o]
