Where Was Rohan Filmed in Lord of the Rings

TheLord of the Rings trilogy is considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the finest examples of blockbuster cinema ever made, with acclaim lavished upon it for its effects, extensive set work, on-location filming, grand scale, and more. In particular, its casting has received acclaim, with many characters in the film becoming iconic roles for their actors.

The LOTR cast has quite a pedigree, with most performances excelling, setting a very high bar for acting in The Lord of the Rings films. Nonetheless, some actors rise to an even higher standard, whereas others fall a bit short.

10 Nailed It: Nobody Could Be Gandalf But Ian McKellen

Gandalf is one of the most famous wizards in all of fiction, with his principal competition for the role being Merlin, Dumbledore, and Harry Potter. His position as the powerful, wise, and irritable guiding figure for the Fellowship is iconic and required on-point casting.

The choice for the role, Ian McKellen, is considered impeccable. Mixing gravitas and larger-than-life wisdom with an undeniably human and relatable character, McKellen is able to sell difficult lines as naturally as if he'd lived in Middle-earth his entire life. He demonstrates how Gandalf is able to inspire resistance in the face of Sauron.

9 Fell Short: Brad Dourif Is One-Note As Grima Wormtongue

With the standard set as high as McKellen's inThe Lord of the Rings, it's easy for a notable cast member to put in a solid performance but still not measure up to the standards set by their colleagues.

Brad Dourif's Grima Wormtongue appears alongside Theoden and Gandalf, two of the trilogy's best performances. While Dourif depicts the slimy, treacherous advisor well, he fails to use Grima's role to impart any nuance or indicate why anyone would ever trust him.

8 Nailed It: Hugo Weaving Does A Lot With A Little As Elrond

In Tolkien's universe, Elves are frozen in eternal beauty, apparently never aging past their thirties, and remaining youthful forever. Hugo Weaving's performance as Elrond, the leader of Rivendell, is so compelling that most viewers hardly notice that he is visibly older than the other elves, and slightly out of place physically.

With gravitas, sternness, and yet undeniable kindness, Weaving radiates charisma as one of the most powerful figures in Middle-earth, making it clear why so many nobles and important figures agree to attend his council.

7 Fell Short: Cate Blanchett Is Unintentionally Funny In A Dark Moment

Cate Blanchett is an immensely capable actress, able to deliver in roles that others would struggle in, and capable of owning a scene. Nonetheless, in her short appearance as Galadriel, her one standout scene is one that unintentionally inspires humor.

Although not helped by the effects layered upon her, Galadriel's reaction to being presented with the One Ring is melodramatic and hammy. Blanchett is capable of producing a low, dangerous intensity, and that could have been far more chilling. What is meant as a demonstration of the Ring's corrosive nature is instead remembered for an over-the-top performance.

6 Nailed It: Miranda Otto Depicts Eowyn's Conflict Beautifully

As part of its nature as an adaptation of a somewhat dated story from the 1950s,The Lord of the Rings lacks many strong female characters, and many of the story's women are incidental and or stereotypical. Eowyn is the standout, best remembered for her decision to go to war in the face of tradition, and being the one to stand against the Witch-King of Angmar.

Miranda Otto manages to perfectly depict Eowyn's dilemma in Rohan, urged by her beloved uncle and by Aragorn to stay behind and fulfill the duty expected of her, while she yearns to fight alongside those protecting her. It is a quiet arc in the films, but one Otto makes engaging.

5 Fell Short: Elijah Wood Lacks Intensity As Frodo Baggins

The Fellowship of the Ring, as the central characters of the story, get the lion's share of the focus inThe Lord of the Rings, so the expectations surrounding their performances are also at their highest.

Elijah Wood by no means gives a bad performance as Frodo Baggins, showing the character struggling with his burdens, or fearing the foes ahead of him. However, several of his scenes call for intensity as Frodo struggles with the Ring, or gives into its power, or turns his back on the Fellowship. Wood's performance falters in these scenes, delivering them much like his less pivotal scenes, undercutting what should be central moments in the saga.

4 Nailed It: Andy Serkis Plays A Complex Character In CGI

Andy Serkis has, in recent years, become well-known for portraying computer-generated animated characters in live-action films through the use of motion capture.TheLord of the Rings established this technique's significance, with Serkis portraying the corrupted Gollum/Smeagol, attempting to gain the Ring for himself.

The odds are stacked against Serkis. The films relied on the technology of the early 2000s, required a thin, hissing voice, and forced him into a faintly ridiculous motion capture suit. Despite all of this, Serkis portrays Gollum as Frodo's dark mirror, a conflicted and deeply divided character, showing motion capture's potential at the technology's inception.

3 Fell Short: Liv Tyler Feels Miscast As Arwen

Liv Tyler is another actress who has shown off her acting abilities in numerous other projects, particularly as protagonists caught in unexpected and intense situations. As a result, it is disappointing to see her fail to leave a memorable impression as Arwen the Evenstar, daughter of Elrond.

In part, her story falls flat because, after a promising introduction, her character is given little to do but take part in a slightly tepid love story involving Aragorn. Another actress could have perhaps made this storyline more memorable and given Arwen more, but instead, this role feels like a misapplication of Liv Tyler's talents.

2 Nailed It: Viggo Mortensen Holds Everything Together As Aragorn

Whilst Frodo Baggins is the central character of the trilogy, its most traditional hero is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and true King of Gondor. Initially appearing as a strange ally to the Hobbits, Aragorn goes on to lead the film's other storyline as he rallies the Kingdoms of Men for war.

Believable as both a rough ranger and a noble King, Mortensen imbues Aragorn with charisma, bravery, and honor, but also elevates the character beyond his role in the books by giving him doubts, demons, and struggles.

1 Fell Short: Orlando Bloom Aims For Stoic & Misses As Legolas

Of allThe Fellowship of the Ring's performances, it is Orlando Bloom's as Legolas that comes up the shortest. Being a valiant Elf warrior, a prince, and an outsider, the character of Legolas is marked by a cool stoicism that belies his deep loyalty and kind heart.

In the films, and especially when up against the more vibrant personalities of the other characters, Orlando Bloom's attempt at stoicism instead comes across as more like blandness. While the character has iconic moments, such as his budding friendship with Gimli, for too much of his time on-screen his performance is too detached and easily overlooked.

NEXT: 10 Times Where Two Installments Of A Movie Series Were Filmed Simultaneously

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Isaac Williams (227 Articles Published)

Isaac Williams is a movie-goer, TV watcher, journalist, blogger, gamer, comic book-fan, and roleplayer. He's been a bartender and a waiter, and now he writes lists for CBR. He focuses on TV shows and movies. In his free time, Isaac can be found gaming, reading, playing D&D, walking Birmingham's lengthy canals, and catching up on movies.

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Where Was Rohan Filmed in Lord of the Rings

Source: https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-best-worst-actors/

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