Orlando Bloom Media

Legolas Greenleaf
By "Koala Bear" (koala@gel.com.au)

Introduction
Who is Legolas?
Why Legolas is an asset to the Fellowship
His Flaws
The fate of Legolas after The Lord of the Rings
Portrayal of Legolas by Orlando Bloom in Peter Jackson's film version of "Fellowship of the Ring and "The Two Towers"/ Summary of Legolas

Portrayal of Legolas by Orlando Bloom in Peter Jackson's film version / Summary of Legolas

The Fellowship of the Ring

For reference, I am basing these comments on the extended version as I consider that the better version of The Fellowship of the Ring.

I was happy with Orlando Bloom's portrayal of the role and felt that it was an accurate reflection of what I had imagined Legolas to be. Little things of note:

he has long blond hair with little plaits;

he has blue eyes that appear dark anyway;

he really is an expert archer;

he doesn't say a lot - preferring to let his actions speak for him;

no one can stare attentively into the horizon like he can;

he can shoot with two arrows;

the Elven style of fighting is "based on a kind of ancient European/Asian style of martial arts";

he has moves that are smooth and elegant like a cat;

he's gorgeous.

What I didn't like

These aren't as a result of interpretations as such, they are things that were in the novel that have been left out of the movie:

Legolas shooting the winged Nāzgul steed;

Legolas' musical explanation of the river Nimrodel;

Legolas not exclaiming: "Yrch!" from time to time;

Legolas being outraged at being blind-folded in Lothlorien;

Legolas consoling Gimli about his infatuation with Galadriel;

Legolas singing a lament for Boromir; and

the Legolas / Gimli friendship being sufficiently developed although the Special Edition / Extended version of the movie contains a little extra.

What I did like

The movie fleshes out Legolas' role in the Fellowship and I loved all of the following things:

At the council, despite his irritation, Legolas pushes the other elves back so that they can't loom over Gimli;

Legolas gives Gimli aggro looks at the Council;

Legolas pushes Gandalf out of the way on Caradhras when the snow falls down;

Legolas has a grumpy expression on his face when he emerges from the snow on Caradhras;

the way he says "goblins" and "orcs";

Legolas pulls Aragorn back when the Guardian of the Lake crashes through the Gate of Moria;

Legolas pulls Boromir back when he nearly falls over the edge in Moria;

Legolas jumps first over the chasm and catches Gandalf. He also rescues Gimli by pulling his beard;

Legolas fires an arrow into the cave troll while on top of his head;

Legolas says he cannot translate the lament for Gandalf because the grief is too soon;

the "Lembas Commercial" sequence;

the understanding smile he gives Gimli in relation to Gimli's reaction to Galadriel;

Legolas' 'spider sense' coming alive in Moria and at Rauros Falls - and the way people always ignore him! ;);

all of Legolas' swift and elegant fight sequences;

the expression on Legolas' face when he says to Aragorn: "You mean not to follow them";

Legolas has an amazingly moving expression on his face when he sees Boromir dying;

Legolas' reaction to "Let us hunt some orc!".

Quotes from the movie

Admittedly, Legolas doesn't say a great deal in the movie unfortunately!

(a) Face-off between Legolas and Boromir:

Legolas: This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegience.

Boromir: Aragorn? This... is Isildur's heir?

Legolas: And heir to the throne of Gondor

Aragorn: Havo dad Legolas [ Sit down Legolas]

(b) Retort to Boromir

Legolas: Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The ring must be destroyed.

(c) Pledge to Frodo

Aragorn: If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will. You have my sword.

Legolas: And you have my bow.

Gimli: And my axe!

(d) Alert as always

Legolas: There is a fell voice in the air.

Legolas: <to Aragorn> We must move on, we cannot linger!

(e) Snarky about dwarves

Gandalf: Yes, Gimli, their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten.

Legolas: Why doesn't that surprise me?

(f) Knowledgable about demons from an ancient world

Legolas (to Celeborn and Galadriel): He was taken by both Shadow and Flame: a Balrog of Morgoth.

(g) Rubbing salt into poor Gimli's wounds

Legolas: For we went needlessly into the net of Moria.

(h) Grief

Legolas: A lament for Gandalf.

Merry: What did it say about him?

Legolas: I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near.

(i) Product Placement

Legolas (to Merry and Pippin): Lembas! Elvish Way-bread. One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man.

(j) Elven spider sense

Legolas: We should leave now.

Aragorn: No, orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for the cover of darkness.

Legolas: It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat have been growing in my mind. Something draws near...I can feel it!

The Two Towers

These comments are based on the theatrical release and I hope to provide further comments when the extended edition is released.

Again, Orlando Bloom's portrayal of Legolas was a joy to behold. It's clear that his runaway sleeper success from the first instalment had not gone unnoticed by Peter Jackson. Although Legolas never dominates the movie, his role is very much noted and considerable attention is given to Legolas. The camera loves his face - as do I. ;)

What I didn't like

they didn't show more of the dialogue between the Three Hunters as they were tracking Merry and Pippin;

they didn't show more of the "head count" and subsequent concern by Legolas for the missing Gimli at Helm's Deep;

the way that Legolas "despairs" at Helm's Deep although I loved the close ups, the Elvish and Orlando Bloom's acting - I just don’t' think he would give up like that;

What I did like

Legolas keeping an eye out for Gimli as they run;
Legolas' prickly defence of his friend Gimli and the way he rests his hand on Gimli's shoulder when Eomer tells them that there were no survivors;
Legolas readying his arrow in Fangorn Forest;
Legolas handing over his weapons in Edoras with a little flourish;
close-ups of Legolas' faux-blue eyes;
all of his fight sequences (of course!) - especially in Theoden's hall when he's doing an oh so cute Bruce Lee move and on horseback;
Legolas jumping back as Gandalf rides out of the stable - he did the same thing in FOTR when Aragorn pushes past him after he shouts: "The horn of Gondor" - poor Legolas, always getting pushed aside ;);
the way Legolas runs over and kills the warg with an arrow before it is about to kill Gamling and the way he then draws his knife and kills the orc;
the cool expression Legolas' face and his eyes in particular as he gazes into the distance and sees many warg-riders approaching swiftly towards them;
the way Legolas takes aim and fells a warg rider from a great distance - and leaps onto Arod's back with a super-cool move;
all close-ups of Legolas' gorgeous face/eyes ;);
Legolas' concern for Aragorn after the warg attack and the way he grabs Sharku the laughing warg rider;
the expression on Legolas' face when Theoden says "Leave the dead" - including Aragorn;
the bonding moments between Gimli and Legolas and in particular between Aragorn and Legolas - see below.
the argument between Legolas and Aragorn at Helm's Deep (see below in relation to bonding);
Legolas and Haldir clasping each other on the shoulder;
the way Legolas looks standing on the walls of Helm's Deep;
Legolas's cool shield surfing move, followed by three arrows in swift succession and a kick of the shield which results in an Uruk hai being stabbed;
Legolas looking out for Gimli and Aragorn, lowering the rope and pulling them up onto the battlements;
Legolas shooting away the ropes on a ladder and making it fall back onto the Uruk hai army - undoubtedly assisting his bodycount;
the failure by Legolas despite his best efforts to bring down the Olympic flame Uruk hai on his suicide mission; and
the way Legolas manfully attempts to keep up a table dropped by Aragorn who wanders off to talk to Theoden while they are supposed to be barricading the front door *grin*.

Camerarderie and character development

As pointed out by my friend Edra, while the book explores the relationship between Gimli and Legolas, there is not so much of an emphasis on the bond between Aragorn and Legolas.

Accordingly, I really like Peter Jackson's interpretation in the movie which creates a greater warmth between the Three Hunters. The whole "you're late, you look terrible" sequence plus the numerous shoulder clasps between the Hunters is very heart-warming and very convincing. You can really believe that these characters respect one another and genuinely care about each other's welfare.

Even the quasi-argument between Legolas and Aragorn at Helm's Deep is very much the sort of argument that close friends would have in which they are able to confess their fears. It's a sublime bonding moment when Aragorn tells Legolas there is nothing to forgive and they all grin wryly at Gimli's chainmail predicament.

I really love the way this film can create quiet moments between ostensibly macho guys. Hero figures like Boromir and Aragorn can talk, and weep and confide in one another. Three vastly different characters like Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas can become close friends who are always there for each other.

Most importantly, Peter Jackson's interpretation of Legolas imbues the elf with more of a touch of - dare I say it - humanity? It is clear from the books that Legolas isn't simply one of those elves who does not care for the fate of the world and of man, but it is only in the movie that we really can see and believe that there is more to this angel-faced elf than a cool, skilful killing machine. Don't get me wrong, its not that I'm not a huge fan of the cool assassin character - I just really appreciate the fact that this assassin has layers.

Quotes from the movie

Legolas had quite a bit more to say in this movie - including Elvish which was an absolute joy to hear.

(a) Encouraging Gimli

Legolas: Come on, Gimli!

Legolas (later): Come, Gimli! We are gaining on them!

(b) Being deep

Legolas: The red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night.

(c) Being loyal

Legolas (aiming arrow at Eomer): You would die before your stroke fell!

(d) Sadness

Legolas (thinking Merry and Pippin are dead): Hiro īth… ab 'wanath...

(e) Knowledgable about Fangorn

Legolas: This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory... and anger.

Legolas (later): The trees are speaking to each other.

(f) Spider sense again

Legolas: Aragorn, nad nā ennas! (Something is out there.)

Legolas (later): The White Wizard approaches.

(g) Knowledgable about horses

Legolas (upon seeing Shadowfax): That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell.

(h) Alert

Legolas (to Aragorn): A scout!

(i) Bonding moment with Aragorn

Legolas: Le ab-dollen. (You’re late.) <pause> You look terrible.

(j) Doubt and uncertainty among friends

Aragorn: Farmer, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers.

Gimli: Most have seen too many winters.

Legolas: Or too few. Look at them. They’re frightened. I can see it in their eyes. Boe a hūn: neled herain dan caer menig! (And they should be... Three hundred against ten thousand!)

Aragorn: Si beriathar hżn. Amar nā ned Edoras. (They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras.)

Legolas: Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hżn ś-... ortheri. Natha daged aen! (Aragorn, We are warriors. They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!)

Aragorn: Then I shall die as one them!

Gimli: Let him go, lad. Let him be.

later:

<Legolas handing Aragorn his sword>

Legolas: We have trusted you this far and you have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair.

Aragorn: Ś-moe edhored, Legolas. (There is nothing to forgive, Legolas.)

(j) Knowledgable about horns (not only the horn of Gondor)

Legolas: That is no orc horn.

(k) Loyalty

Legolas: Your friends are with you, Aragorn.

(l) Banter between Legolas and Gimli

Gimli: What’s happening out there?

Legolas: Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?

Gimli: Hehehehe!!

(later)

Gimli: Legolas, two already! <Holding up two fingers>

Legolas: I’m on seventeen!

Gimli: Argh! I’ll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!

Legolas: Nineteen!

Summary of Legolas

If you had to describe Legolas in one line only? Legolas is very much the living proof of one of my favourite LOTR quotes:

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens"

Orlando Bloom Media