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A pretty cold welcome, and although Gandalf seems to still trust him at first (perhaps Saruman was always a cranky sort) Tolkien told us not to like him much from the start.

Gandalf could have been influenced by Saruman's voice at this point whereas in The Two Towers he will not be. (highlight to read)

I didn't like the movie Saruman from the start. I guess it could have been the combination of knowing what was going to happen and not being able to believe Christopher Lee could be playing a good guy.

-Kevin

Right, he seemed creepy, and noticeably filthy when he came down the stairs (He looked like he had been cleaning the fireplace in white robes).

But his outward greeting was warm, like the meeting of old friends, and less outwardly snippy... till the "your love of the halfling's leaf has clearly slowed your mind" comment when they are walking in the garden. Orthanc is such a noticably pretty place. A bad guy wouldn't plant flowering trees and lush gardens would he? - I thought nicely tended garden, and the white robes looking soiled where a nice way for Jackson to show that he has not been a bad guy for very long.