Semmern, I've seen a behind-the-scenes clip of Ian McKellen doing just that, almost breaking down in a scene by himself surrounded by green walls, alone and acting against paper cut-out popsicle stick props standing in for other actors. A kind of hell, impersonal and lonely. Quite unhealthy in my book, for an actor of his caliber and for the viewing audience. We can pick up on stuff that looks amiss or eyelines that are somewhat off or moments when we can perceive that one actor is not really looking into the eye of or reacting to a fellow human actor. Ah well. Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage I felt did a pretty darn good job with their roles as well as Ian McKellen. He really makes a great Gandalf. I also loved the Misty Mountain song they all sing together at the beginning.
