Legolas: Book vs Movie

[@goldstarofvenus1861]

I prefer book Legolas for his complexity, but Orland Bloom did a really good job playing an elf who maybe didn't know much of the world despite his many years of living, as if he hadn't much left the forest or dealt with mortals. I remember at one point rewatching LotR for who knows how many times and seeing the scene after Gandalf died and the way he looked almost confused, as he doesn't quite know what to feel or how to react, how he even when he was told to get the Hobbits up, he doesn't seem to force them up, taking Pippin's arm, but giving him time to put himself up, and I remember thinking to myself that he looks like he doesn't fully understand the concept of mortal grief, he doesn't understand what to do and how to feel about losing Gandalf, and I thought that was really well done for someone who's screen time doesn't exceed even a full hour over all three extended editions

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

That's one of my favorite moments for his movie-character!

[@Kai-Xi]

background acting is kinda like editing in that, when it's bad, it draws attention to itself, but when it's good, it just helps you focus on the narrative

[@danielmcbriel1192]

Where is Legolas a complex character in the books? I can definitely understand why the movie Frodo can't remember his name at the end.

[@IsaacKuo]

I think that Orlando Bloom did a really good job of looking almost confused because Peter Jackson mostly didn't give him any direction at all when he wasn't the focus of attention (which was, let's face it, most of his screen time by far). Basically, most of the time Orlando Bloom doesn't really know what's going on (on set) and so he's kinda doing his own thing just trying to look like he's focused on ... something ... most of the time. It kinda sucks that most of movie Legolas is just sort of an accident of Orlando Bloom working without context, rather than crafted by deliberate direction, but it DOES make him feel weirdly distant and alien compared to the more "human" characters.

[@ProgressIsTheOnlyEvolution]

I agree with everything you said here, movies tend to loose a bit more than books when it comes to supporting characters, which a book has more time to give debt to, than a movie where it is very hard to go too far into anyone but the main characters. I loved Legolas in the books, and it is of no fault to Orlando Bloom that I think less of the movie Legolas, there just isn't the time to delve too deep into his character, and as pointed out he barely says anything in the series.

[@allisongliot]

I love how intentional Tolkien was about writing ancient characters, and how even though the elves are so old they retain a sense of playfulness. The more mature we are, the more we see the importance of joy and play.

[@Dowlphin]

If by maturity you mean not being motivated by fear, as I roughly define it. Young children have a nature of appreciation for joy and play, too.

[@marocat4749]

I wonder if he took that from lewis XD who coined that famous quote.

[@Strideo1]

The singing was really nice. It's always hard to imagine how songs go when reading a book but now I know how I'll imagine this song from now on.

[@chables74]

I always enjoy it when Jess sings

[@willemvandebeek]

hear hear

[@MistbornPrincess]

I think she needs to make a folk album!

[@obadijahparks]

I have an old nursery rhyme book. There's an old song about the storm King in there, but no musical notes. So.. I instantly came up with a melody.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Thank you so much! I really enjoy making up little tunes for them

[@williampalmer8052]

I definitely agree with your observations. In my opinion, Jackson's Elves were depicted as otherworldly. Alien, even. They were detached from Middle-Earth, and their ultimate desire was to leave it entirely, almost as if returning to their home planet. I think Tolkien's intent was very different, and was in direct contrast with the movie's depiction. So movie Legolas was similarly an alien among the natives, and couldn't portray the deep understanding of the world, and the enlightenment that results from many hundreds of years of experience. He couldn't show the humility, and gentle humor, and the almost-paternal affection that would develop over the centuries for the childlike humans. That would be incongruous with Jackson's intent of showing Elves as being "apart" from the rest of Middle-Earth, though in fact it was they who were most closely entwined with it, and who understood it best. So to make Legolas more relatable than his alien kin, he was "bro"-ified. He was the token jock among the nerds. Or that's how I see it, anyway.

[@micklumsden3956]

That Legolas and other elves were in the movies detached in this way was to me a great loss. From the books I had the impression that their love and understanding of the world grew through time, including their love of trees, hobbits and men. I felt that in the films the Elves were not treated with the respect that they deserved.

[@kg4wwn]

You and I watched completely different movies. I didn't see any alien in PJ's attempt at Legolas at least. There was a little bit for Galadriel, Arwen, and Elrond, but most of that was accomplished by having someone who didn't act alien in the least being lit with weird lights or being on negative exposure. One of my main complaints about PJ's elves are that they were entirely too human.

[@ZephyrOptional]

This made my day! Always a treat to hear you sing. Song is a great way to artistically experience Tolkien. Book Legolas (maybe elves in general) might be near impossible to represent accurately in film. For all the reasons you have meticulously covered, there is a tenderness, wisdom, playfulness, grace, fierceness and complexity in elves that might only be fully experienced by taking the journey to faerie JRR has thankfully provided us a ticket too, by reading their long tragic & beautiful history. Legolas is such a delight in the book. My favorite Legolas part is in the Ring Goes South, when he darts off from the rest of the fellowship on top of the snow telling Gandalf “Farewell, I go to find the Sun!”

[@TheEvertw]

About taking Glorfindel instead of Legolas, there are many reasons not to take Glorfindel. One of them would be that by simply being himself, he would over-arch Aragorn, taking away Aragorn's chance to step up into his Kingship. The story is about the time of the Elves finally coming to an end, and men taking their place. With Glorfindel, High Elf of a nobel house, befriending Gandalf in Valinor before their return to Middle Earth, slayer of a Balrog, it would be more like a repeat of the Last Alliance but on a smaller scale: a not-quite high king of the Elves defeating Sauron together with a not-quite king of the Numenorians. Which would make the Last Alliance, Not The Last Alliance.

[@davidcook2513]

Not to mention that it would have been almost impossible for the fellowship to go ANYWHERE undetected or stealthily with an Elf like Glorfindel, who would be on the target radar of Sauron, Saruman and the Nazgul.

[@KS-xk2so]

@@davidcook2513 yeah I've often thought this myself. The sheer majesty that Glorfindel would project into the spirit world would certainly draw at bare minimum, Sauron and Saruman's attention, so stealth would be out. I mean if you send Glorfindel, might as well leave the other Hobbits at home and just stack the Fellowship with studs. Its a stealth mission though, so extra decoy Hobbits just makes way more sense, and literally works lol

[@erynlasgalen1949]

​@@KS-xk2soPlus, Glorfindel has died already, and it was getting old for him.

[@Murdo2112]

I recall a quote from Tolkien (perhaps in one of his letters?), in which, while discussing the withdrawal of the Elves from the forefront of the major events of Middle Earth, he stated that "of all the Fellowship, Legolas achieved the least". So he definitely had the intention of Legolas serving as a vestige of the world that was passing, with the coming of the Dominion of Men. Even so, book Legolas was always one of my favourite characters, much moreso than movie Legolas. P.S. Pixies aren't from Irish myth, but from the Brythonic folklore of what is now the south-west of England (Devon and Cornwall). Edit: I found the quote. It's from Unfinished Tales, in the section dealing with the Istari: "In Sauron’s final overthrow, Elves were not effectively concerned at the point of action. Legolas probably achieved least of the Nine Walkers..."

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

That's a great quote! I think a lot of people read it and think of it as a criticism, but I think it was very intentional. He was meant to accomplish the least, because elves were going to have to accomplish the least in order for history to move forward. And thank you for the correction! I was using it in the modern general sense, but I totally understand that may have confused things a bit.

[@markp6062]

Definitely prefer the book Legolas. I like the deeper exploration of his Elven heritage and, particularly, the call of the sea arc. That struck me the first time I read them in the early 70's when I was almost a teenager. No movie can ever match the depth of a book and this is a good example of how much can be lost and still maintain a quality film product. Thanks for sharing your insights!

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

The idea of "longing" is so important to the elven character, it's a shame it was so difficult to incorporate into the film...still, it's beautifully presented in the books!

[@arcadianartist]

This is such a good analysis on Legolas's character and Elves in general! And your song is really pretty, you have a lovely voice! I do actually like the decision to cast a young Orlando Bloom for Legolas (although I completely agree with your criticisms on how his actual personality was portrayed). While he is clearly ancient in the books, he has a lightness of heart and way of being that is truly youthful, and I always imagined him as one of the youngest Elves in Middle-Earth; from what I gathered, Elves weren't having a lot of kids past the Second Age, but I liked to imagine that Legolas was one of the few born in the Third Age, after the Battle of the Last Alliance (as there was no mention of his participating in it). That would just add an interesting quality to him that, although he is far older than human comprehension, he's still quite young for an Elf - a young sprout caught between the rise of Men and the fading of his own people. A descendent of the older generation fighting to rectify the failures of his forbears, much like Aragorn! That and he's just kind of a goof in the books. Anyways, your videos are always so fun to watch, and I love how in-depth you are with analyzing Tolkien's work in an honest and knowledgeable way while also bringing in some fun and picking things out from places I wouldn't expect or didn't know about (like the History Channel's 'biography' of Tolkien). I learn something new every time! Thank you for pouring so much time into this!

[@guyr3618]

Movie-Legolas is definitely a less compelling character, but, to be fair to Peter Jackson - with Arwen's expanded role in the movies, Legolas no longer had to carry the burden of representing all elves by himself. Not to the same extent, at least. Arwen now shares some of that role, so, it makes sense to reduce his complexity and screentime in that context. It's okay that he's less compelling. Think about his "leaving middle earth for Valinor" arc, for example, which is axed in the movie - Arwen already gets a whole arc about having to choose between staying in Middle Earth or leaving it, so Legolas no longer needs to represent that concept on his own.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

This is such a great point!

[@Lurklen]

Well said. Not only was it not needed, there just wouldn't have been time for both. And I think that while Legolas from the books is missed, the uplift of Arwen as a larger presence in the narrative is a welcome one. Sadly, these kinds of choices must be made in those big productions, and for every thing gained, there is something lost.

[@thomaskalinowski8851]

You've persuaded me to travel back in time and convince Tolkien that there's no need for Legolas at all -- he should send Arwen with the Fellowship. After all, Luthien joined Beren on his quest, Arwen should join Aragorn on his.

[@Lurklen]

@@thomaskalinowski8851 Hey, I don't think you need to time travel, just write that story. It'd be a cool take. The story of the elven princess who is supposed to stay behind while her destined lover goes of to face terrible evil, and perhaps never return, but who defies her role and instead goes to be at his side, sounds like it could be really good. Not enough stories are about a couple doing something incredible together. Honestly, I would freaking love a good adaptation of Beren and Luthien, but failing that, a story in that vein would be wonderful too.

[@TrangDB9]

In the book it was Glorfindel who saved Frodo after he got stabbed by the Nazgul.

[@DarkElfofVulcan]

I'm torn on this one. Book Legolas really does seem like more of an Elf, more light, more chill. But his relationship with those around him (Gimli aside) was relatively well shown in the movies despite everything. The random additions to the movies (like Aragorn's unceremonious falling off a cliff) was a bit silly but did give an opportunity to show Legolas caring for a moment. But, that is the problem, it's a moment. And the book has many moments of him being a very cool character, and so ultimately it's hard to say that snippets are in any way better. Still, I liked the portrayal in the movie for the most part.

[@chrisleach909]

They do put a great Legolas reaction to the Balrog in the movie. Clearly he can’t scream “Ai! Ai!”, but when Gandalf says it’s a Balrog he’s the only member of the fellowship to know what it means, and it’s the only time we ever see him afraid. It’s a really nice piece of face acting from Orlando Bloom.

[@toferg.8264]

When i learned that Elves could grieve to death, i from then on, imagined them as a bit odd, from holding in so much emotion, ready to burst forth, but seldom doing so.

[@mikethewreck]

Any episode where Jess sings is great by definition! Thanks for bringing Tolkien songs to life!

[@khango6138]

Jess, your videos are quickly becoming among my favourite on youtube, and have re-ignited my interests and love for Tolkien's world and characters. I am around your age, and like you I grew up absolutely loving Peter Jackson's LOTR trilogy, which remains still among my favourite cinematic experiences. I have also read a Vietnamese translation, my native tongue, of The Hobbit. But I realise now that there is so much more adventure, songs and stories for me to explore on the pages of Tolkien's original works, and your videos have convinced me to go out and get me a copy of Lord of The Rings. I have a feeling I'll have a grand time indeed. Cheers, Jess!

[@leonwilkinson8124]

Jess, brilliant commentary as always. As you pointed out, book Legolas is much more multifaceted than in the movies, which, honestly, I think, trivialize both elves and dwarves. As I recall, Legolas relates that he doesn't sleep since he's constantly dreaming even while walking Middle Earth. How could you portray such a sublime state except in a book? You have a sweet singing voice. More, please, in future.

[@mug5022]

I've seen a lot of these "Book vs Movie" videos, but I've noticed you do these better than others. There's even some channels that are primarily LOTR ones that are often somewhat sterile in content. Plus, you're a good speaker in general.

[@GigglingKat]

I prefer the books, but really do love the films. As you said, two very,very different mediums. My headcanon is that the books are the Red Book of Westmarch, but the movies are sourced from the scrolls in the Library at Gondor - Men saw elves as alien, dwarves as cartoonish and hobbits as childlike. Faramir is seen by Frodo as immune to the ring but as told by Men we see the real temptation. Men also beefed up the role their beloved queen played. 😅

[@ryangreen6255]

10:44 What a beautiful singing voice!

[@gganbp]

Book Legolas is my personality. Hopping like a child, random bursts at song, forgetting the lyrics to said song, falling of trees, screaming at ancient beings of pure evil and most importantly undying love for the people I hold dear

[@teutonicholyblade8871]

Sounds cool 😎

[@thedarkdane7]

"The guy had a lot going for him." I agree! I have always been a huge Legolas fan (books and movies). I remember when one of the trailers for "The Fellowship of the Ring" premiered. My brother, sister, and I started freaking out because we could tell Legolas was walking on the snow. We were absolutely astonished by that level of detail. I hate it when people say Legolas is effeminate. There is more than one way to look manly. (And LOTR gives us MANY examples of that.) I remember that in the movie theaters (I was in the movie theaters many times for the LOTR movies) young ladies would often clap when Legolas came on the screen.

[@jessepurdom9823]

I much prefer book Legolas to the film version of the character, and pretty much for all of the reasons you present in this very well done video. Also, I greatly appreciate your comments concerning the way the Elves were adapted overall into the films. I have never liked the portrayal of the Elves in the movies, though I do quite enjoy films for what they are. Thank you for another excellent video!

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Thanks so much for watching, Jesse!

[@2centswanted113]

The singing was a pleasant surprise, thank you. As I've seen someone say before it's sometimes difficult to imagine book song. Like I was genuinely shocked and happy to find out the Hanging tree was a legit song from the books. Seeing mediums cross like this is beautiful.

[@bartlankheet9026]

I just have to comment again about how amazing your renditions of the songs and poems are! I would 100% save shorts of them to listen to again and again. You manage to get a very fresh take on them that I have not heard anywhere, and the mood always seems to fit extremely well with the imagery I have in my head

[@grokeffer6226]

I liked both Legolas representations. One thing I noticed immediately was that movie Legolas fought with two daggers, while book Legolas had only one dagger to go with his bow. Once his quiver was empty, one knife always seemed a bit inadequate to me. 🗡🗡 You sing really well. 🧙‍♂👍 And your videos are always insightful. 🖖

[@chocolatemonk]

thank you for the reminder of my love for these books. I appreciate your singing too.

[@GravesRWFiA]

Tolkien made legolas , in the book, the least active of the fellowship to represent that elves are leaving middle earth and so it is little of their concern. Certainly movie legolas has limits but i think it's based on the fact movie gimli become little more than comic relief. One thing Jackson did do to show their friendship was before the black gate in Return of the King. Gimli growls "I never thought I'd die standing beside a pointy eared elf." "What about beside a friend?" "aye" and in that brief exchange the comic element drops away and he does show the depth of friendship that is otherwise lost in the movies.

[@rksnj6797]

I definitely agree with the points you make, especially about different formats not being interchangeable. The books are of course are much better. When the movies came out a lot of fans of the books hated what they did to the characters, what was left out, etc. However, it did inspire many more people to read the books so I consider that a win. Thank you for singing the poem/song! It gave it more emotion. Beautiful voice by the way!

[@malkovich8]

Loved the video! Regarding the example you gave of Legolas's inverted word order, what stands out most to me is the emphasis that Tolkien puts on "tidings". "I must now tell the tidings that I was sent to bring" would change the focus of the sentence, giving greater emphasis to Legolas". "The tidings that I was sent to bring must now be told", firmly places "the tidings" as the subject and emplasis of the sentence.

[@Ithirahad]

Yeah... that never left English really. "So, all the news they sent me to tell y'all... I'm going to have to tell y'all now."

[@leonwilkinson8124]

Thanks for all your wisdom, Jess!

[@kathleenhensley5951]

I would have loved a more fleshed- out Legolas... I was always intrigued by the elves... living centuries upon centuries.. what does that do to the mind and heart of fully aware soul, how do they deal with their griefs with their joys? How do they change over the centuries, or don't they? My husband commented that Legolas was a bone thrown to the ladies in the audience as was the constant on-screen presence of Arwen.

[@destinypirate]

Those are the truly engaging questions. We get bits of suggestion of this from Bombadil, but not an entire society.

[@scotttaylor8462]

Singing caught me off guard. A pleasant surprise.

[@animistchannel]

Wonderful! Always find your presentations compelling, and your interpretation of the sea-song was appropriately wrenching. I'd say it goes without saying, but I just said it; so there you go, and remember: "Wherever you go, there you are." ;) I found Legolas most compelling in the books (favorite member of the fellowship, actually), and they managed to salvage enough residue of that in the movies to at least refer back to that for those of us who had read them. (The movies had time for little more than easter-eggs to much of the text.) Legolas has both norse and shamanic elements, which makes him feel familiar both ways. As to Legolas' age, consider this: He immediately recognized a Balrog on sight, even though Gandalf didn't even know that "Durin's Bane" was one of them. That means Legolas was in Baleriand in the first age to fight the armies of Morgoth, before he and his father Thingol went back east and set up a kingdom in Greenwood the Great. Legolas was only 2-4 generations descended from one of the first 3 elf kings (Ingwe?) among the reluctants who delayed the invitation of Orome to go to the West. He also framed his age by saying that if he should meet Fangorn/Treebeard himself, [approx] "After walking with you children... then I should indeed feel young again." From these clues in the published texts, that puts him around the same age as Galadriel, and even she treated him as an equivalent/cousin among the numbers of their kind. As for comparing/analyzing the translations of books to movies, I think it is a worthy endeavor in an age where such efforts can and must be made. Of course, if we want a page-by-page fully fleshed out LotR movie series, all we need is an audience of billions to allow/ pay for it and six or seven 3+hour movies to record it instead of simple trilogy, as well as no need for regard to standard movie formatting or video storytelling ethics. It would literally take a 25+ hour documentary, or 3 seasons of an hour-format modern streaming TV show. "That day may come, but it is not today." :) Thank you so much for being you, and for bringing us all you do!

[@justanotherredheadattheend955]

Legolas was 12 year old me's dibs also, for the reasons listed ✨ Considering they couldn't really put his exclamation at the Balrog to film, I've always really loved what they did go with. His expression when Gandalf is describing it is such a pure picture of terror and disbelief, his eyes wide and glassy, I found it so troubling. One of the oldest and most skilled members of the Fellowship, looks like he's taking psychic damage just from knowing that thing is around the corner. The degree of his fear manages to convey that he also understands the full picture of just how screwed they are. It's like everything Gandalf is saying, distilled into one expression.

[@aaronswallow3189]

Legoloas is expository man in the movies. "Crenan from Dunland!" "Fell voice on the air" "Something is drawing near" "Lembas - something something way bread fill up the belly"

[@Rick_King]

Do you know where Legolas got his name? As a child, his father, Tharndruil, made his grow up too quickly, and would not allow the young elf princeling to play with building blocks. He was Lego-less!

[@ohdarah]

thanks for another great video Jess. I sometimes skipped the song parts in the books, but having you sing Legolas's lament was a gut punch!

[@sirrickthe2nd583]

I love when you sing, such a beautiful voice.

[@the_real_littlepinkhousefly]

My first exposure to LOTR was through the movies. (Well, I had tried to read it in middle school and was completely bogged down within the first chapter and gave up.) So I have a very fond place in my heart for movie Legolas. After FOTR came out, I got the book and read it, and saw how very different both media were -- and still loved both. I guess because my first exposure to the Elven race was through the movies, I've always preferred they be a bit sombre -- after all, their time is fading, they're less invested in all things Middle-earth. And they're so old, they've seen so much, I would think by the end of the Third Age they would be less "merry". When I read the Hobbit, I was actually quite put off by the seemingly silly, cavorting Elves. (Maybe that was because I read the Silmarillion first and couldn't imagine the same people who killed their own kin over the jewels with the Light of the Trees in them would be singing merry songs and dancing like children -- that was my first read of the Sil...on the second reading I realized they weren't exactly the same people, that these Elves that were being goofy and having Middle-earth raves every night were the ones who had not been to Valinor and perhaps hadn't been in on all the battles and horrors of the First Age.) So -- I love both versions, and wish there could have been a way to combine both Legolases in the movies and fleshed him out a bit more. (The Hobbit movies Legolas is just ... gross.)

[@ericjbowman1708]

I agree with what you're saying at the end. I somewhat naiively thought that folks who loved the movies but hadn't read the novels, would go out and read the novels. Because they loved the story, and the characters, and so much of that got trimmed to make the movies. It broke my heart that I was wrong, knowing only ONE person who loved the movies and then read the novels.

[@auntiegravity7713]

Add me to this short list.. I loved the movies so much I read the books, and ended up loving both for different reasons

[@erynlasgalen1949]

I read the books as a college student in the early 1970s. The movies rekindled my interest, which hasn't stopped.

[@thedarkdane7]

While reading the books, I was always surprised that Legolas's character was not more fleshed out. But you make a compelling case - Legolas is present yet distant and this communicates his ancientness.

[@darylshort2729]

Your singing is absolutely beautiful. Gave me goosebumps just as it did in your "Gollum's Song" cover.

[@MaestroGradius]

Beautiful singing, Jess. Movie Legolas is perhaps more memorable for his skill with the bow and his super human agility (taking down the mastodon, oh my!)

[@MirkwoodElfAdventures]

I forgot about the movies when my husband became Legolas to me. 🥰 He is such a well rounded character now 😂 We still enjoy the books yearly and write our own with his cosplay.

[@thedarkdane7]

OK, that is really cute.

[@Hehanni]

I saw the movies and games all throughout my childhood. It gave me faces, voices, scenery, music, and emotion to use in my mind while reading the books. I loved seeing my favorite characters in my mind going through the expanded and deeper stories of the books

[@tapunyr8526]

Book Legolas every time, even though Orlando was wonderful in the movies. Legolas is the only elf in all of Tolkien's writings that we learn details from, such as walking over the top of snow, 'dreaming' while still awake and sleeping with his eyes open - something which was given to Gandalf in the movies. Thank you for the wonderful character study of my all time favourite character 😊

[@biovmr]

The hard work obviously put into this video is belied by the seemingly effortless grace with which you delivered the goods. I could listen to this stuff for hours on end. It is enriching my enjoyment of Tolkien some 49 years after I first read some of his works. Thank you for what you do.

[@beatleblev]

Legolas is the silent super hero who only speaks in one liners or wry looks on film. On the page, you get a clearer sense that he is akin to humans but definitely not kin. His "elven eyes" don't just see orcs from miles away, they see a long line of centuries past. His perceptions are featured more than his combat prowess in the Legendarium.

[@richardmather1906]

I prefer book anything to what was done in the movies. One thing I found interesting in the book is how little the fact that Legolas is the son of the King of MIrkwood forest is played up in the book. Among men he rarely gets accorded much respect for that. It kind of shows how remote the Elves of MIrkwood are from the lives of men in Middle Earth.

[@jose280714]

Good video, you have to remember that Elves play a pivotal role within Tolkien lore, spite the movie and the book of LoTR they might look like their role fulfills a secondary background, the Elves are the primary beings at the Silmarillion, there the first age the battles against Morgoth, etc... then after reading the Silmarillion we get a pretty close understanding of what the Elves really are, they had access to the undying lands, they were invited by the Valars to Aman, they were transport by Ulmo through Belegaer etc.., they fought against the evilest creature and god like Valar, Morgoth, ... they passed throught Helcaraxë and many died the coolest frozen region of E just to make it to Middle-earth, etc.... They were fierce fighters, but also they were stubborn as you mentioned for the case of for example Fëanor the and Noldor house, they even turned evil, killing their own kindred when leaving Aman, etc... then seeing the dwellings of the Elves at the first age, changes the mindset about what they really are... The Elves along the men and Dwarfs face Balrogs, Dragons and evil creatures.... etc .... All of this happens at the Silmarillion and a lot more.... Saludos desde Costa Rica. xD

[@povilzem]

If Legolas were not a background character in the book, he would own the spotlight entirely.

[@corvid...]

I absolutely love your ideas in the books vs movies videos... This one is no different Thanks for the great content 😊

[@jozz2248]

Looking very Game of Thrones holding that glass of red. Probably saved by being actual Brandywine 😊

[@12classics39]

Wow your performance of Legolas’ sea song was gorgeous!! Well done!!!

[@mattrobbins2268]

In the books Legolas comes across as a wide eyed innocent in many scenes. His skill as a warrior and his Elven field craft and wisdom are unquestionable, but he is constantly exclaiming at new and amazing wonders. And expressing sorrow at misfortune. In Jackson's movies Legolas is more of a laconic death dealer--Orlando Bloom actually described him as an assassin. He's like Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone's westerns from the '60s. All he needs is a poncho, a hat, and a cigarillo. Pretty cool as a cinematic action guy, but l prefer the heart and relatability of Tolkien's original depiction.

[@margaretalbrecht4650]

I have wondered if Legolas is from Gondolin. He could recognize a Balrog on sight. And we know there were Balrogs in Gondolin. But my favorite Legolas line is "It is old, very old," said the Elf. "‘So old that almost I feel young again, as I have not felt since I journeyed with you children."

[@erynlasgalen1949]

He is not from Gondolin. He is the son of Thranduil, the unnamed Elvenking from The Hobbit. That means he is of the Grey-elves rather than the Noldor of Gondolin, and has a totally different culture and language. Eleven history is absolutely fascinating once you read The Silmarillion and the subsequent books of Tolkien's material.

[@galaxydeathskrill5607]

When I first read the books in August-September, i decided to listen along some of the poems in the story Nimrodel (performed by Vuctor Gondra) is one of my favorites, if not my favorite, and To The Sea captures his character so well! I realized how Legolas was embodied with the sea, which I really got off guard of, and I really love how lively he is while on a hunt along with "Long live the Halflings! Praise them with great praise!" and Eomer and Faramir's ceremonies, and Theoden's funereal I'd wish we could have witnessed them as well

[@TheDanielk4]

I love the deep Talks he has with Frodo in the Movies. Great Stuff.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

I never get tired of your singing and I'm curious about what your range and register is. Despite being 23 myself I've always been a bit of an old man myself, so I more or less take my bones being dust as a given haha. Personally I do get why they made changes to his dialogue and I don't blame them, but they still could've come up with dialogue that captures what Tolkien was going for with the character without sounding hokey like they were afraid it sounding. If LoTR ever got adapted again it could work as a 2D animated series that takes the time to flesh out all the characters. PS the following comes from Kieron Gillen's TV Tropes page (I haven't verified the accuracy of this info) but I am curious about your perspective on it as someone who has clearly done her research on Tolkien's Elves: While Gillen is critical of many traditional fantasy tropes, Elves are practically a Berserk Button to him and has said "Don't start me on Elves. My perennial bugbear. Elves are basically 'What If Aryans were right about there being a master race?' Fucking Elves."

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

I've been trained as a soprano, but I enjoy singing in my lower register haha. And I'm not sure it's fair to say that elves are a perfect Master Race at all. This would probably be a topic for another video, but they have a lot of weaknesses. Despite being strong, and long living, they're also permeated by constant longing and nostalgia. They may be the first born of Iluvatar, but it was men that God loved most, and they end up having to take a very heavy back seat in the fourth age going forward. I could see how one might misinterpret them like that at a first glance, but if we look deeper into the nuance of Tolkien's races, it's clear that elves are far from the perfect race. It's definitely something to think more about...

[@tarmaque]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire I actually look at Elves being Tolkien's allegory for Jews in universe. Iluvatar's first and special people, promised the earth but ultimately doomed to be persecuted until they are forced to return. Although the alternative viewpoint can be argued that it is the Dwarven race that is more representative of Jews, being stereotypically seen as hard working and artisinal, but ultimately more concerned with wealth than is good for them. Ultimately it may be the Númenóreans who are Tolkien's perfect race, combining the best traits of Elves and Men.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire This nicely sums it all up, thank you! A video addressing misconceptions regarding Tolkien's races would be greatly appreciated. I love Gillen but I personally feel that his take is a bit reactionary and lacking in nuance. I've noticed that a lot of writers who fall into the "Take That, Tolkien!" category often aren't as good of writers as they think they are. My go-to example of this being how Michael Moorcock wrote two essays called Epic Pooh and Starship Stormtroopers that attacked Tolkien, but when I finally got around to reading his Elric saga I found it overwrought and lacking direction. PS your lower register is definitely a lot of fun!

[@elismith8234]

Your videos are so well presented and thorough. And your voice voice is so calming and tranquil.

[@speedythree]

I enjoyed both Tolkien's original Legolas in the novels and Peter Jackson's interpretation of the character in his films; unfortunately, as you said, Tolkien's Legolas is far to complex a character to fit into the films (which, in many ways, is true of all of the characters of the "Lord of the Rings" books.) And I think you have nailed Legolas' "otherness" to the mortal characters of the book (and us.) Very well done.

[@HalwenGreenleaf]

Woah I loved your singing!! It was so beautiful!! It feels so fitting of the song too

[@AlexanderSilver1996]

Thank you for posting such good content, I love watching your videos! :D

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Thanks so much!

[@timsheridan3987]

Having read many books that were made into movies across different genres with a book one is able to go much deeper not that movies are bad just very time limited keep up the good work

[@nancyhogue7317]

You have a beautiful voice. I really enjoyed your interpretation of the elven song. It always seemed a shame to me that I'd never get to hear the beautiful lyrics of Tolkien's songs actually put to music. I so appreciated the bit of it I got to experience from the movies and also appreciate it here. So, thank you.

[@theuselessdrunk]

please if we talk about characters who don't give justice to their book counterparts someone has to talk about Eomer. A king full of virtues just on par to Aragorn in the books, with whom he forms a beautiful bond. A gross ill mannered soldier with anger issues that barely interacted with any of the protagonists and even bullied Merry. to me this is by far the worst representation in the trilogy and i have nothing against karl urban but i think he never read the books

[@davidvernon3119]

Lovely singing. Great choice of melody

[@ardethellis8930]

Book Legolas and Gimli for sure. Of course, I have a much longer aquaintance with the book characters having read the books the first time in 1968. Movie Legolas is certainly beautiful but none of the movie elves were as ethereal as my imgination. What the movies missed most agregiously, is that Legolas, Gimly, Boramir, and Aragorn are all sons of Kings/rulers, essentially equals at the start of the Fellowship. And all the last of their kind. For even though Aragorn's line continues, none of his offspring eclipsed him. The Hobbit was written for children but, the trillogy was written for the survivors of the world wars.

[@dennisdose5697]

16:26 Elrond is even more altered. In Jacksonville, Elrond is such a petty, almost nasty, jerk. Jackson et al just didn't understand the characters very well.

[@coreymiskell410]

Another great analytical video Jess! And I had no idea you had such a lovely singing voice! Good thing Tolkien has dozens and dozens of songs for you to improv for us 😋

[@erothill1082]

Wow! First of all thank you for the great video and analysis on Legolas Also big THANKS for singing that passage. Each time I sparsely read the book of Lord of the rings in English (not my native language) and reached a poem or a song, I just was completely unable to hear it or read in my mind in a way that was fit. I was always trying and trying and each time I was reaching the conclusion that "It doesn't fit, the lines don't have rhythm" Ofc immediately after I was like "no, that can't be. I don't know how to sing properly" xD So, BIG thanks on that. Next time I read again such a passage I'll have more faith in finding the way to sing it

[@juniordax9777]

Love your content and have to say your singing was beautiful.

[@chronovore3726]

Your singing was a nice treat in this video. Do more of that!

[@thekillers1stfan]

People are so bewildered by a person who doesn't like speaking and yet there are a huge amount of people who just don't want to talk all of the time. It's unrealistic to portray everyone as some source of exposition

[@StoriesThatSuck-pw1vi]

I like both Legolases about equally, though for different reasons. I hope that makes sense. I consider the books and the movies to be two separate works of art, though based on the same idea, and I also allow for the differing requirements, limitations, and advantages of each media. I hope that makes sense.

[@verity231]

Really interesting insight! I think you're spot on that Legolas is suppose to represent the Elves, their strange ageless nature and diminishing role in the 4th Age. He's not the main hero, he can only help the new heroes with his aquired wisdom and knowledge. Great video!

[@Artistic_Exploits]

Holy sh!t, Jess. I got shivers when you sang Legolas' song. Damn, girl, you make me so happy at times. 😄

[@P1Gman]

Legs and Gims are my favorite parts of the entire series. An epic bromance for the ages.

[@TheEvertw]

My wife also was a great fan of Legolas. Don't know why ;-) Me, I prefer the book Legolas. For his stalwarth support, his wisdom, being team player without any ego but lots to contribute.

[@stevekluth9060]

I always imagined Legolas's Ai! was a scream, something like the Wilhelm Scream, and not saying a long "I" sound. Frodo in his bed in the Houses of the Healing also mouths the names of all the characters as they enter the room except Legolas, which really accentuates his backgroundness in the movies. (There's only music playing during this scene.) I much prefer book Legolas, but accept that Orlando Bloom was never really given the chance to be as rounded as the book character but did a fantastic job in the role as envisioned by Jackson.

[@lotrsavvy]

Ai actually is a Sandarin word meaning "ah" or "alas", so "Ah/Alas! A Balrog!"

[@SLB4523]

For me, a distressed wail

[@luciferslegions]

I strongly agree with your points about how Orlando saying book!Legolas' lines would have been weird (though I would have liked to hear him say "I go to find the Sun!"), and I don't know if Orlando has any musical talent but sorry not sorry I'm kinda glad we didn't have to sit through all of the songs that were in the books, because Legolas says that the song of Nimrodel that he recited wasn't even the entire thing. The film trilogy isn't a musical and maybe I'm just being too logical here but I don't think breaking into song at random moments when you're supposed to be on a mission of secrecy is very smart? Especially when there are Orcs and birds tracking you? Also, given how unknown Orlando was at the time (Fellowship being his second film, the previous being Wilde in which he had one line), maybe giving him all the lines that the character said in the book wouldn't have been the best idea; and if they had wanted to stick closer to the book character, we probably would have seen a different (more experienced) actor in the role. As far as the Fellowship, I'm a Boromir girl, and I never had a Legolas crush phase. I'm actually indifferent to both versions of Legolas when he's by himself, but I enjoyed his friendship with Gimli in the movies. One thing that would've made the drinking game better was if the audience knew that Legolas was just acting oblivious and a subtle reference was made to Thranduil's love of Dorwinion wine. It's been a long time since I read the trilogy, but the shift from enemies to friends is more memorable and visual in the movies, whereas the book just basically says "And they became fast friends" (after they left Lothlorien). Okay, so are we going to hear about how that came about? No? Seems legit. And the fact that he has few lines in the movies actually makes him more interesting. The quiet ones are more compelling than the ones who never stop talking.

[@claveworks]

I'm not annoyed by it as such but, six films would have been better than three... Glorfindel, Tom Bombadil, the Barrow Wights, Fatty Bolger, Beorn, Quickbeam, and most of all the Scouring of the Shire could have made an appearance... Book Legolas and book Gimli could have then been filmed in a fairer way too. I know it would be maybe a bit boring though, especially if there was a better sense of the time-scale of say, Gandalf meeting Frodo at the party, and 17 *years* later when he comes back. There is also a lot of drama around Anduril - but I am pretty sure that Aragorn sets out with the sword that has been reforged right from the start? There is one thing I am extra thankful for though - Disney are not doing a LOTR 2 remake-style thing - that would be hideous beyond imagination!

[@destinypirate]

Did someone say the name "Bombadil" . . . Smiling :)

[@vexaris1890]

Yes, Aragorn has Anduril with him from the start in the books.

[@themr_wilson]

The outside light is hitting the curtain in such a way it looks like it has a belt buckle. It's neat, I like it

[@krisdavis3888]

Wow, you have a beautiful singing voice (as well as being beautiful in general)! I love your channel

[@lil-WolfyWolf]

movie Legolas as he was my introduction to the character & the one that I fell in love with as an 11 year old but reading the books I also fell in love with Leoglas of the books & now as an adult I am rereading the books finally (in audio form) since now I think I can appreciate them better & the depth of the characters & Tolkein's world.

[@GityaLIVEdnb]

Amount of perspective changing revelation to me is stellar

[@biovmr]

Everything about this video was delightful. Well done!

[@nikolastiscareno4963]

Love this video because Legolas was my favorite fantasy character growing up and as I get older I appreciate him even more as his character because it was more of Orlando’s psychical acting that was put on emphasis since he doesn’t have a lot of lines and some lines here and there can sound wise however he is definitely not would you portray him as from the books but the movies did a good job adapting something that could have felt more redundant with the idea of the underlying lands and like you said the reverse peach and singing would have been a bit much. Sad to say that the extended edition kind of plays into his love of the forest but that’s it and his friendship with gimili definitely prospers I think appropriately just sad I couldn’t hear Orlando bloom say that line about them in the snow lol. But I really do want to put emphasis on his psychical acting, when he sees the balrog, when he sees the wargs, when the elves arrive at helms deep, when he sees bormir dead, and lastly his look at Frodo in his bed lol

[@johnkluge3421]

I love it when Gimli, Aragon, and Legolas get horses from the men of Rohan in The Two Tours. Legolas doesn’t need a saddle and can basically talk to the horse and just jump on him. It is a small thing but illustrative of just how cool elves are.

[@erynlasgalen1949]

It's a little strange considering that Glorfindal in the book mentions both saddle and bridle on his horse.

[@johnkluge3421]

@@erynlasgalen1949 that is a good point. I had not thought of that. Maybe it is because Legolas is a wood elf and they have a special connection to horses or something.

[@erynlasgalen1949]

@@johnkluge3421 I'm a horse person myself. Any of us with a properly trained horse can ride without saddle or even bridle. But it's simply impractical for a number of reason, including having to pick horsehairs off your but when you reach your destination. Without a saddle, where do you tie your weapons and your other gear? A person has only two hands. I don't know what JRR meant to prove with this. I just write it off as Legolas showing off to the Rohirrim. A saddle is as much comfort to the horse as it is the rider. In the early day, fanfiction writers carried this to ridiculous extremes, as is the nature of the supposed gatekeepers of the Canon.

[@johnkluge3421]

@@erynlasgalen1949 I grew up riding and I know what you mean. I have ridden bareback. The biggest problem is without stirups you get bounced all over the place at anything other than a walk. I don't think Tolkien knew anything about horses when he wrote that. It is a fun touch but he didn't think it through very well

[@erynlasgalen1949]

@@johnkluge3421 You're telling me! Although a rider with a really good seat might be able to keep from bouncing so much. You know what else happens without a saddle? If the horse decides to stop dead on you at anything over a trot, there is very little friction and you slide right over their heard. My mare did that to me when I was about twelve, riding at a canter with just a halter and one lead rope to steer. She thought it was funny, no doubt. She gave me many flying lessons during her life. You can indeed control a horse with leg pressure and shifts of your weight, but only if they are disposed to it. It battle from horseback, swinging a sword or wielding a bow, how are you going to manage that without confusing the poor horse? It was a pretty notion, but completely impractical.

[@BanazirGalpsi1968]

My nieces pointed out the change in elves in the movies through a different character by referring to elrond as mr.grumpypants. when they said that, I began to notice that yes, elves became snarky serious Vulcan parodies in the film. And then there was Legolas worship like he was a one man boyband that definitely started to happen to Orlando bloom and was even poked at in daily comic strips in some newspapers.

[@SLB4523]

Well put

[@ryan_bombard]

I prefer book Legolas. One of the main reasons is that I abhor that they felt the need to add him into The Hobbit Films. I felt like they really caved into the whole meme about Legolas only saying three words to Frodo in the LOTR series. It was unnecessary and served no purpose in the story. The whole love triangle aspect was trite and didn't deserve being added. I also see a lot of comments about him being a stereotype of an elf, both book and film version. It's reminds me of an interview with Ian McKellan back when Fellowship was coming out. He spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to play Gandalf without coming across like 'the stereotypical wizard.' Then he realized that all of the stereotypes come from Tolkien and LOTR. We have all spent a majority of our lives seeing books, movies and TV shows portray their version of elves and wizards and dwarves, all based in someway off of Tolkien's works. These stories are where the modern stereotypes originated.

[@ccheart8574]

Your singing voice is GORGEOUS!

[@katariina5909]

Ai! It's a good morning when Jess uploads! I love listening to you while I do my morning routines, it really sets a good tone for the day.❤

[@needleknight]

How do you figure out the tune that goes along with the songs in the books? Some I can’t figure out at all and some that I do try to sing, my fiancée says sounds like the Gilligan’s Island theme song.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Sometimes they just pop in my head as I read them, and sometimes I just have to sing random things until something clicks. A lot of the times, I borrow motifs from other music. Nothing wrong with borrowing from Gilligan's island!

[@needleknight]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire I would enjoy watching a video from you on individual songs and poems in Tolkien’s work, that includes your renditions of them. 🙂

[@legoseanland1760]

Your singing voice is wonderful, what a pleasant surprise

[@bsa45acp]

You amaze me with your deep insight into LOTR, both book and movie. One aspect of the Legolas-Gimli relationship that Peter Jackson did capture so well was the evolving relationship between the two. First at the council of Elrond where the Elves and Dwarfs are shouting bitter accusations (Never trust an Elf!) then the competitive banter between the two such as the body count of each in Helm's Deep. Finally on the fields before the gates of Mordor where Legolas asks Gimli if he can die with a friend and Gimli says yes, such a touching and deep affirmation of their undying friendship. All of the other channels that 'explain' the characters of LOTR never have reached the depth of your insight.

[@bertacharm]

god i love every time that music kicks in and i get to hear have a very happy hobbitty day

[@julianpeppers1889]

one moment form the books that genuinely made me sad was when legolas was singing the song of Nimrodel but stopped bc he forgot the rest...it showed the elves were already passing away into the lost mists of time even as they lived. a dying culture

[@Jim-he4km]

Very well sung!! More please.

[@ethanabides]

Hi Jess! Loved this video! And it made me think of a video idea for you. Book trees vs. Movie trees. You could compare and contrast Lorien in the books vs. Lorien in the movies. I read the books first, and I absolutely hated the movie's presentation of Lorien. Also you could compare and contrast book Ents vs. movie Ents. Again, I love the Ents in the book, but detested their depiction in the movies. I love your channel, keep up the good work!