Why does gandalf look older in the hobbit

Ian McKellen found performing in front of a greenscreen for the first Hobbit film, An Unexpected Journey, so demanding that he almost quit acting. Forced by the exigencies of director Peter Jackson's visual-effects-oriented shoot in New Zealand to work in isolation for long periods, McKellen said: "I felt pretty miserable … and thought perhaps, has the time come for me to stop acting altogether if I can't cope with these difficulties?

Thats what you get for doing Lord of the Rings before The Hobbit. The person who plays Saruman Christopher Lee is I found Mckellen a bit tired and old Also, there seem to be more wrinkles on his face.. Well, yes Gandalf looks a bit older but really this was no problem for me, I feel that Mckellan bridged the years best of all of the returnies I was much more distracted by the looks of the other actors back from Lotrs.

Trying to make someone look younger is rarely sucsessful, I think; sometimes it is better just to make an actor look as good as possible especially in the case of AUJ when we are looking ten years later at faces we have been watching over and over in Lotrs.

Nobody seems to mind Freeman for Holms and afterall the Hobbit takes place about 60years before Lotrs. I think that I would have gone for a new cast, only keeping McKellan as he really is so definitively the part!

I'm just glad we don't get somethings portraying teenagers, like on The Vampire Diaries, and any number of other US TV shows. Wolfie65 wrote: I'm just glad we don't get somethings portraying teenagers, like on The Vampire Diaries, and any number of other US TV shows.

I did notice Gandalf's face was more wrinkled and the slower more tired voice. He did look older. Tolkien preserved this postcard carefully, and long afterwards he wrote on the paper cover in which he kept it: 'Origin of Gandalf'. When in the company of tall people, short people can run the risk of being quite literally overlooked.

Now you see it, then it's gone. Did Gandalf wear a ring or not? You may have thought you saw it in one scene, only to pause during the next and find it missing.

The answer is, Yes! Gandalf definitely had a ring, though it became visible to the naked eye only when he was questioned. The ring's name is Narya and it means "fiery red. It was originally forged for the Elves and, unlike certain other rings which caused a lot of trouble in Middle-earth, Narya imbues its wearer with the courage to fight against evil.

All of this means that he is basically formless and can shift his shape to adopt any body that he chooses. Perhaps Gandalf chose to follow the example of Odin during his time among the residents of Middle-earth.

The Norse god Odin was known to adopt the appearance of a bearded man of advanced age, but vigorous constitution. Gandalf and Odin - now there's a fight we'd like to see. In some religions, the ability of the body to become light enough to levitate is a revered and sought after achievement. While we have no doubts that Gandalf in any form could have achieved the spiritual advancement needed to exercise levitation, it turns out that it was a little easier in his case.

Because he is a Maia, or spirit, becoming of little to no weight came a little more naturally to him. Gwaihir corroborates Gandolf's feat when rescuing him from the Misty Mountains: '"A burden you have been," he answered, "but not so now.

Light as a swan's feather in my claw you are. Something about Gwaihir clearly brings out some of the coolest qualities and talents of Gandalf. Besides becoming as light as a feather during his flight with the great eagle, Gandalf apparently also turned nearly invisible. The eternally observant bird further remarked "The Sun shines through you. Indeed I do not think you need me any more: were I to let you fall you would float upon the wind. Thankfully, Gandalf gained his weight back, for he still had much to accomplish during his time in Middle-earth.

He was soon to come back more powerful than ever. While falling, Gandalf shouted "Fly, you fools" and vanished into the abyss. Yet Gandalf did not die; he and the Balrog fell for a long time, and the wizard was burned by the Balrog's fire.

Then they plunged into a deep lake in the depths of the mountain, which Gandalf later said was cold as the tide of death and almost froze his heart.

They fought in the water until finally the Balrog fled into dark tunnels, where the world was gnawed by nameless things, older even than Sauron. Gandalf pursued the creature until it led him to the spiralling Endless Stair , and they climbed it until they reached Durin's Tower in the living rock of Zirakzigil , the pinnacle of the Silvertine above the clouds.

There they fought , until at last Gandalf threw down his enemy, and the Balrog broke the mountain-side as it fell. Then darkness took Gandalf, and he passed away. His body lay on the peak. Then darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I will not tell Naked I was sent back — for a brief time, until my task is done. And naked I lay upon the mountain-top. But Gandalf's spirit did not depart Middle-earth forever at this time.

Yet, as he was now the sole emissary of the Valar to Middle-earth, he was granted the power to "reveal" more of his inner Maiar strength. This naked power that lay within him was seldom used during the remainder of his time in Middle-earth, as his mission was essentially the same: to support and succor those who opposed Sauron. Nevertheless, when Gandalf's wrath was kindled his "unveiled" strength was such that few of Sauron's servants could withstand him.

Three days later he was found by the windlord Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles , who had been sent by Galadriel to find him. He soon learned that Frodo and Sam had left the Fellowship and were attempting the quest of Mount Doom alone.

As Frodo was beyond his assistance now, Gandalf promptly went south to Fangorn Forest , where he met the Three Hunters, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, and gave them messages from Galadriel. Then he called forth Shadowfax, and rode with them to Edoras. Gandalf by now was keenly aware that the great war to end the age was beginning; if Saruman conquered Rohan then Gondor would be alone with enemies on all sides.

Keep well the Lord of the Mark, till I return. Await me at Helm's Gate. Meanwhile, the Ents along with the Hobbits Merry and Pippin moved against Saruman and sent Huorns against the Orcs, resulting in the utter ruin of the outer walls of Isengard and the complete annihilation of Saruman's Orcs.

There Saruman rejected Gandalf's offer of forgiveness with contempt. The wizard's mind had already turned to Gondor and the coming climactic battle in the east. Soon after arriving, Gandalf confronted Denethor II , the Ruling Steward , and learned that he was near despair over the death of his eldest son, Boromir. Pippin entered the Steward's service in payment of the debt that he and Merry owed, the death of Boromir.

Ostensibly they were allies, but the Steward treated Gandalf with disrespect and suspicion. Minas Tirith was soon besieged by a vast force from Mordor, led by the Witch-king of Angmar.

Faramir having received a wound from a poisoned dart in the retreat from Osgiliath, lay near death inside the Tower. Still, Gandalf encouraged the men of Minas Tirith to have hope, and dispelled the fear of the Ringwraiths by his very presence.

But Sauron's catapults hurled flaming bolts upon the city; soon the first circle of the city burned unchecked. Denethor now lost all heart as the city burned and his only remaining son hovered near death; he abandoned his leadership of the city. Gandalf then took it upon himself to direct the defense in cooperation with Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth. When the gigantic ram Grond destroyed the Great Gate of Minas Tirith , Gandalf placed himself alone at the ruined gateway.

The Witch-king then appeared in the midst of the blasted gate upon a black horse and threatened Gandalf with death; but Gandalf did not move — seated upon Shadowfax he defied the mightiest of Sauron's minions. However, the stand-off ended inconclusively, as the morning arrived along with the host of the Rohirrim.

Hearing the horns of the Riders of Rohan, the Witch-king departed. But Gandalf did not pursue his foe, for Pippin brought him news that Denethor was about to commit suicide in the high tower, burning himself and his son Faramir on a pyre like the heathen Kings of old. Gandalf rushed to stop this madness and was able to save Faramir, but not Denethor, whose despair and grief had overcome his mind.

Clearly Denethor had been using the stone's special properties for some time — extending his vision far beyond those of men's eyes, but also wrestling in thought with Sauron. And even though Sauron could not completely overwhelm Denethor's mind, his courage was daunted by knowledge of the vast might of Mordor. Thus the shadow entered into the capital of Gondor. Nevertheless, and against all hope, the siege was broken. Soon after, Aragorn arrived with a large valour of men from the southern fiefs upon a captured pirate fleet from Umbar.

The forces of the men of the west then utterly defeated Sauron's attack against Minas Tirith, relieving the city and killing virtually all of the invaders. Gandalf's carefully laid plans and words of wisdom, along with acts of heroism not seen since the elder days, had defeated Sauron's first move.

This would be the culmination of Gandalf's efforts in Middle-earth. Fully aware that the west would stand or fall on the outcome of Frodo 's mission, he advised the lords to launch an attack against the Morannon , thereby drawing Sauron's eye away from Frodo's likely location.

This plan surely would result in a catastrophic loss for the outnumbered army, but it gave Frodo a chance to achieve the quest of Mount Doom. Led by Gandalf and Aragorn, the army of the West crossed the Anduin and marched north, pausing occasionally to announce their coming and to dispatch small numbers of men to lesser tasks.

Upon arriving at the Black Gate, the forces halted and prepared for battle. As they ordered their companies, the foul Mouth of Sauron rode forth to parley with them; he revealed Frodo's mithril coat and Sam 's Barrow-blade and implied that their owner was captured and tortured.

The emissary of Sauron then proposed that the forces of the west surrender; Gandalf however was undaunted, and, seizing his friend's belongings, rejected Sauron's offer. In shock, the Mouth of Sauron turned back towards the Black Gate, which slowly opened to reveal a vast army of Orcs and Trolls advancing on the lords of the west.

Sauron's trap was sprung. Yet Sauron himself became the victim of Gandalf's trap. But the power and lure of the Ring finally overcame his will and he placed the Ring upon his finger, claiming it as his own. But Gandalf's foresight proved accurate again as the creature Gollum, who had been doggedly following the Ring-bearer, seized the ring from Frodo, and, while celebrating his reunion with "his precious," unwittingly fell into the fires of Orodruin.

The ring was unmade as the fiery mountain erupted. With Sauron gone, his forces scattered like frightened insects; the Men of the West now set upon them with fury. Gandalf announced the success of the Ring-bearer and the end of Sauron; the quest had been fulfilled. Seeing that victory was achieved, Gandalf then mounted on Gwaihir the Eagle for a third time, and set out to see if Frodo and Samwise had survived the tumults of Mount Doom. To his great relief, the two were found on the slopes of Orodruin, clinging to life amid the volcanic eruptions.

The great quest was over. In Minas Tirith, Gandalf and the remaining members of the Fellowship reunited. Thus Gandalf ushered in the new age of men. Not long after Gandalf led Aragorn to the High Hallow on the upper slopes of Mindolluin and there they found a sapling of the White Tree of Gondor , a sign of the renewal that was to come. After the coronation and wedding of Aragorn to Arwen , Gandalf left with the rest of the remaining Fellowship on the journey home.

For Gandalf, it was his last long journey in Middle-earth. His errand to Arda had been fulfilled; Sauron had been defeated. He said farewell to his friends one by one until at last only the four Hobbits remained at his side. At the borders of the Shire he, too, turned away. He left the Hobbits to settle with the Shire, for the shattered pieces of evil still remaining in the world were no longer his concern, and went to talk to "moss gatherer" Tom Bombadil.

What Gandalf did during the next two years is unknown; it is possible that his "long talk" with Bombadil was just that. He wore Narya openly on his finger, and Shadowfax was beside him perhaps even to take ship with him.

His mission was over, and his homecoming after more than years was nigh. He bade farewell to Samwise, Merry, and Pippin the latter two of whom he had forewarned of the passage , then boarded the ship beside Frodo, Bilbo, Elrond, and was never seen again in Middle-earth.

There, presumably, he dwells still in the gardens of Irmo. In a large way, it was his victory. The name Gandalf means "Elf of the wand" or "Wand-elf", from old northern Mannish. Most denizens of Middle-earth incorrectly assumed Gandalf was a Man human , although he was really a Maia spirit equivalent to an angel.

Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. Tolkien took the name along with the dwarves ' names when he wrote The Hobbit in the s.

He came to regret the creation of this "rabble of eddaic-named dwarves, [ He solved the dilemma in by the explanation that Old Norse was a translation of the language of Dale. The figure of Gandalf has other influences from Germanic mythology, particularly Odin in his incarnation as "the Wanderer", an old man with one eye, a long white beard, a wide brimmed hat, and a staff.

Tolkien states that he thinks of Gandalf as an "Odinic wanderer" in a letter of Gandalf's equivalence to Merlin the Magician , of English Mythology, is discussed in episode two of the documentary Looking for the Hobbit , featuring French Arthurian expert Nicholas Mezzalira and Medieval specialist Leo Carruthers. Tolkien had a postcard labelled Der Berggeist "the mountain spirit" , and on the paper cover in which he kept it, he wrote "origin of Gandalf" at some point.

The postcard reproduces a painting of a bearded figure, sitting on a rock under a pine tree in a mountainous setting. He wears a wide-brimmed round hat, and a long cloak and a white fawn is nuzzling his upturned hands.