Richard and Comic-Con: My thoughts (Part One)

I was so exhausted last night from all that Richarding that I went to bed far earlier than I do some nights. Now I am up, my eyes a bit more rested, thinking about Comic-Con and RA and my reactions and impressions.

I described myself as being in “hyperfrog” mode in one comment I made on the blog last night. I was hopping between The One Ring net’s live blogging, Twitter, the blog, EW.com and checking out the various photos being posted from the event, even tossing a couple of them up on the blog in the “Sweet Baby Richard” post.

Like everyone else, it seems, I was slightly drunk from that euphoric feeling that came from seeing and hearing my favorite actor once mor

 

 

 

I downloaded and re-watched the EW interview with the cast and watched the Fandango interview in which we learned Thorin’s actual height.

This morning I enjoyed watching TORn’s interview with Richard and finally being able to understand what he was saying, thanks to Bccmee’s closed captioning. You go, girl!!

 

 

Several people have commented that he looked a bit tired. Frankly, I would have been surprised if he’d looked completely bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Anyone ever heard of a little thing called jet lag?

I remember sitting in a hotel lobby in England and wondering if earthquakes ever struck London.

And I was a little younger at the time than Richard is now and hadn’t spent a year-and-a-half in an intensely physical role.

Everyone looked a bit weary—well, with the possible exception of the amazing Sir Ian, who seems to be channeling some of Gandalf’s magic. What a terrific example of a senior citizen!

 

Tiredness aside, I thought Richard looked wonderful—a touch of color in his face, I am thinking; the hair, now growing back out a bit, is glossy and healthy-looking and presumably his natural color. There was the black shirt and v-neck tee showing off a lean, muscular frame with just a hint of chest hair peeking out, along with that tantalizing glimpse of a necklace.  A souvenir of his sojourn in NZ?

Yes, the beard was a bit fuzzy but it didn’t bother me, personally. It will be interesting to see if said beard stays or goes for the tornado movie (I will be glad when it gets a working title again).

 

Yes, he’s lost weight since the original Hobbit press conference. Riding, fighting with the rather heavy-looking Orcrist, marching and running around in all that dwarf regalia would tend to burn some serious calories, I reckon.  Heck, he’s grown half an inch, though, so New Zealand must really agree with him!

On the subject of his height, I can help but wonder if he might have fudged slightly about his height earlier in his career. Being too tall can be considered a liability in his profession, especially back in the days when he was in musical theatre.  And he always wanted to be shorter, didn’t he?

 

I found Richard’s comments about the physical appearance of the dwarfs quite interesting–that the dwarfs were made bigger so they could be made smaller—i.e., padded to give them a more sturdy and robust appearance.  That prevented the actors from looking like little kids running around on screen instead of believable (if slightly height-challenged) warriors.

And I have no doubt I will completely believe in the fierce, complex and charismatic warrior dwarf, Thorin Oakenshield.

OK, need to take a break. I’ll be back with more thoughts on Richard’s evolution as an actor and public persona. And with one of my favorite photos from yesterday.