I liked his characterization and his look in the movie; I loved the way PJ used his comments that "I am on nobody's side because nobody is on my side" (I quote from memory and I'm not sure whether he says so in the book too) and later his decision to choose a side anyway. However I did think his scenes where he walks with the Hobbits were repetitive. I think it was mostly a matter of editing. In the Extended Edition, the rhythm is better with the insertion of Treebeard's house and the potion.