The following is a transcript of an exclusive interview with Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of the Woodland Realm. The interview took place in a quiet garden in Ithilien. Please note: Legolas declined to speak the Common Tongue for this broadcast, insisting on his native Sindarin. Our entertainment reporter, Sarah Jenkins, provides the live translation.
SARAH JENKINS: I am sitting here with a legend of the Third Age, Legolas Greenleaf. He looks as ageless as ever. Legolas, thank you for joining us. It has been over two decades since Peter Jackson’s 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy was released to the world of Men. Have you seen them?
LEGOLAS: Mae govannen. Hannon le. Tíriel i-charch nín... ach ú-iston i-phent. I-Chîr Jackson... carnant 'film' veleg. Brui. Aníra teithad 'CGI' ammen.
SARAH JENKINS: He says, 'Well met and thank you.' He mentions he has seen the... 'tapestries of light,' I believe he calls them. He admits he does not recognize all the speeches. He calls Mr. Jackson's work 'mighty' and 'loud,' though he believes the wizard Jackson used too much 'CGI'—which Legolas seems to think is a type of dark Elvish sorcery.
SARAH JENKINS: Speaking of sorcery, fans loved your action sequences. Sliding down the stairs on a shield at Helm's Deep? Taking down the Oliphaunt single-handedly? How accurate were those depictions?
LEGOLAS: (Laughs softly) Ú-chebin estel anim. I-maethor... Orlando Bloom... tîr bain. Ach, man cerig? A shield? Ú-dhaer. Cerin gûl, law maeth. Naug... Gimli... ú-lala.
SARAH JENKINS: Okay, that’s a candid response. He says he 'keeps no hope for himself' regarding those scenes. He thinks the actor, Orlando Bloom, looks fair, but he is baffled by the choreography. He asks, 'What are you doing? A shield? It is not great.' He insists that was 'magic, not fighting.' And apparently, Gimli did not laugh during the actual battle.
SARAH JENKINS: That brings me to my next question. The friendship between you and Gimli is the heart of the story. In the movies, Gimli is often used for comic relief. How do you feel about that portrayal?
LEGOLAS: Mellon nîn... Gimli. Hon thalion. Hon gorn. Mi 'movie'... hon lala. Hon ú-naug... hon mellon. I-Chîr Jackson... ú-chenion.
SARAH JENKINS: He is getting a bit emotional here. He calls Gimli 'my friend' and 'steadfast' and 'valorous.' He says in the movie, Gimli is just... laughing. Legolas insists, 'He is not a stunted creature; he is a friend.' He says of Peter Jackson: 'I do not understand.' He feels the dignity of the Dwarves was traded for cheap amusement.
SARAH JENKINS: Finally, Legolas, many purists were upset that the 'Scouring of the Shire' was cut from the end of the films. Do you miss that chapter of the history?
LEGOLAS: I-Periannath... dorthanner i-naur. I-film... teithant 'happy ending.' Ú-tíriel i-nîdh. Estel... ach ú-nîdh. Hannon le, hiril.
SARAH JENKINS: A poignant thought to end on. He says the Halflings 'endured the fire.' The film wrote a 'happy ending' but did not show the 'hurt' or the 'scar.' He believes the movies captured the hope, but not the cost. He thanks us for our time. Suilad, Legolas.
LEGOLAS: Galu.
SARAH JENKINS: And 'good fortune' to you all.
Backgrounder Notes
As an expert researcher and library scientist, I have analyzed the interview transcript to identify key historical, linguistic, and geographical concepts. Below are backgrounders for several terms that provide essential context for the reader.
Woodland Realm Located in northern Mirkwood, this was the kingdom of the Silvan Elves ruled by Legolas’s father, King Thranduil. It is characterized by its subterranean palace and served as one of the last major Elven strongholds in Middle-earth during the Third Age.
Ithilien A fair, forested region of Gondor situated between the River Anduin and the mountains of Mordor. Following the War of the Ring, Legolas established an Elven colony here to help restore the land’s natural beauty, which had been ravaged by the proximity of Sauron’s forces.
Sindarin Originally the language of the Grey Elves of Beleriand, Sindarin became the primary Elvish tongue spoken across Middle-earth by the Third Age. It is linguistically distinct from Quenya, the more formal "High-Elven" speech used largely for ritual, lore, and song.
Third Age This era of Middle-earth history began with the first downfall of Sauron and ended with his final defeat at the conclusion of the War of the Ring. It is defined by the gradual "fading" of the Elves and the eventual transition of world dominion to the race of Men.
Helm’s Deep A massive fortification located in a valley of the White Mountains, famous for the Battle of the Hornburg. It was here that the forces of Rohan, aided by Legolas and Aragorn, made a desperate and ultimately successful stand against the Uruk-hai of Saruman.
Oliphaunt (Mûmakil) These were colossal, elephant-like creatures native to the southern lands of Harad, utilized by the Haradrim as mobile war platforms. In Tolkien's lore, they were legendary beasts of such scale that they were often dismissed as myths by the inhabitants of the Shire.
The Scouring of the Shire This is a pivotal chapter from the novel The Return of the King that was omitted from the film adaptation. It depicts the Hobbits returning home to find the Shire enslaved by a diminished Saruman, illustrating that no part of the world was left untouched by the industrialization and trauma of war.
Periannath This is the Sindarin term for "Halflings" or Hobbits. While the Hobbits called themselves such, the Elves and Gondorians used this more formal title, which literally translates to "the Small People."
