CHARACTER STUDY Of somewhat human origin (he's actually a hobbit beneath that oily skin), Gollum has become a detestable, slithering slug. Possessed by the One Ring, he lurks in the shadows, following hobbits Frodo and Samwise on their journey to Mount Doom.

SOUND BYTE Obsessing about the One Ring: ''It came to me on my birthday…it's mine… my own… my preciousssss…''

WHY WE LOVE HIM He's ''The Goonies''' Sloth, ''The Twilight Zone'''s airplane gremlin, and ''Saved by the Bell'''s Screech all rolled into one -- simultaneously twisted, frightening, and dramatically annoying. Furthermore, he's got a wicked mullet that would make Billy Ray Cyrus blush. His brief appearance in ''Fellowship'' is enough to make audiences long for his gruesome star turn in ''The Two Towers.''