The Hobbit (2011) - No short jokes

[Darth Turbogeek]

This is a interestign casting decision

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/tobey-maguire-swings-from-spider-man-to-bilbo-baggins/story-e6frfku0-1225820820142

Bilbo Baggins is to be played by Tobey Macguire. And thinking about it, not a bad choice. Of course with WETA comign off the work for Avatar, you just gotta imagine what Smaug gonna look like.

[Figrin D'an]

I'm not a big fan of Tobey Maguire, but I can at least see him in the role, so I'll reserve judgment until the product is on the table.

As long as the necessary actors from LOTR return to their roles for this, and they do a good job casting the dwarves, I'll be pleased with the cast.

[Charley]

Tobey Macguire was born to be a hobbit, so yes this is ace.

[Delgado Xaanan]

Hmm. I wonder how contributory this bit of casting was to the fate of Spider-Man 4... if he quit SM first and got the call, or if it was indicated that he'd be cast if he did...

[Droo]

Tobey Maguire is rather hobbity. Although I'm really not sure what kind of performance to expect out of him - only time will tell on that one. But it doesn't matter, Guillermo del Torro is directing so it's going to be something special!

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well that is still a rumor at this point. I first heard that rumor a few weeks back.

[Yog]

I think he is going to be the perfect hobbit. Excellent cast choice.

[Droo]

The rumour's been debunked by both Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Torro.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Doesn't everyone know that Bilbo was already in LotR? What are the odds they cast the same guy?

[Droo]

Slim since they're auditioning for the part.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah Ian Holm is just too old for the part.

[Figrin D'an]

As an update on this project in general, some unfortunate news...

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/05/30/36920-guillermo-del-toro-departs-the-hobbit/

I like Del Toro, and he would have done a great job directing this project, but I can't blame him at all for not wanting to wait around for this to finally take off when there's other projects I'm sure he wants to do. He will continue to help as a writer, but he won't be in the directors chair. Peter Jackson has said that they are already looking at options for a new director, but he also has said that if necessary, he'll step in and direct the films himself.


With everything still mired down because of MGM's financial mess, don't count on seeing this any time soon.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I'd rather wait and get something great then have it rushed.

[Crusader]

What I do not understand here is why they can't green light this flick. Isn't it obvious that this movie is going to get back the money no matter how much you put in?

[Figrin D'an]

What I do not understand here is why they can't green light this flick. Isn't it obvious that this movie is going to get back the money no matter how much you put in?

There's a whole history of the issues on theonering.net, but basically it comes down to MGM having about 140 different debt holders who now control the sale of the studio, and they are not going to approve a sale beneath what they believe the studio and it's IP is worth. MGM had signed the contract with Warner Bros. to make the films (WB produces the films, MGM distributes them; MGM had the original film rights for The Hobbit), but with the studio's future an unknown, all projects it has ties to are on hold until either MGM is sold, or an arrangement is made involving MGM selling the distribution rights (which won't happen, because those distribution rights are one of the main attractions to lure a buyer). Not just The Hobbit is affected, this is the reason why the next James Bond film is on hold as well.

The main suitor for MGM was Lionsgate, but it's been reported that they have dropped out of the bidding.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah the MGM sale is the problem. it is the same reason the next Bond film was delayed. The rumor is WB is trying to buy MGM, but it has some ways to go.

[Dasquian Belargic]

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/The-Hobbit-Reportedly-Greenlit-Again-With-Peter-Jackson-Directing-21239.html


The Wrap is reporting from an unnamed inside source that The Hobbit has now gotten its official greenlight and that Peter Jackson officially holds the title of not only producer and writer, but director as well. The article says that the production is scheduled to begin in February, but they haven't yet confirmed who will take the lead role of Bilbo Baggins (though Martin Freeman has been heavily rumored). Jackson is, of course, the second director to be named for the project after Guillermo del Toro dropped the project in May.

[Figrin D'an]

theonering.net has several stories tied to this as well. It looks like it's legit that the project has been greenlighted. Still kind of disappointed that Guillermo del Toro won't be directing, but I think everyone can be confident that Peter Jackson will do a good job with it. It looks like he's sticking with the screenplay that he co-wrote with Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro.

There's still the whole labor union issue to deal with as well. Hopefully that won't delay things any further.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I like how Peter Jackson was all "You guys can refuse to work with Hollywood, that's fine, we'll just take our business elsewhere." New Zealand actors guild will cave, I'm sure.

[Droo]

Martin Freeman will make a great hobbit, but the casting of Mitchell the vampire and Sir Guy of Gisborne is awesome news! :D

[Atreyu]

The actors playing Bilbo and the 13 dwarves:

http://www.bleedingcool.com/wp-content/uploads//2011/02/dwarves-and-hobbit.jpg

[Droo]

John Mitchell, front and centre! Well, sort of to the left but hoorah!

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Having hot dwarves (Aiden Turner I'm looking at you :love) has blown my mind.

[Droo]

He's more than a pretty face, you know, he's not just some piece of meat for you estrogen fiends to drool over! :mad

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Shhh, you're ruining it.

...:love

[Figrin D'an]

Bumping this, as it was announced that production started today. So, a couple of years later than originally hoped, but it's finally off the ground.

[Atreyu]

Pics from first day of production:

http://au.eonline.com/uberblog/b231946_hobbit_finally_begins_filming_peter.html?u tm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=imdb_tv-movies

[Anna Fernandez]

Oh my goodness its so beautiful. :cry I can't wait for more and they better be doing extensive behind the scenes again like they did for LotR because I love that stuff.

Also, Peter Jackson is looking healthy. :)

[Captain Untouchable]

Speaking of more extensive behind the scenes stuff (how awesome am I for tying in to the post above, eh?), this is the first of many behind the scenes features that Peter Jackson is going to make available over the coming years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfesknLk5uI

Is it me, or does his fan suggestion to Ian McKellan sound a bit dirty? :uhoh

I'm really struggling to imagine what Richard Armitage is going to look like as a dwarf. He is a fantastic actor, but he is so spectacularly not what I imagined when I read the book. Can't wait to see him in costume!

[Atreyu]

Guess who's been cast as Smaug ... and 'the Necromancer'?

Linky poo (http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/motion-captured/posts/benedict-cumberbatch-signs-for-two-key-roles-in-the-hobbit-including-smaug)

:)

For those not up with their Tolkien lore, the Necromancer is Sauron himself.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

That is really awesome news :)

[Figrin D'an]

It's going to be pretty damn cool to see Jackson's interpretation of the battle between the White Council and the Necromancer

[Dasquian Belargic]

Benedict Cumerbatch :eee

[Figrin D'an]

Was announced today that Evangeline Lilly is joining the cast as an elf of Mirkwood.

Her character is one which is being added by Peter Jackson, and was not part of the original story. I'm a little leery on making up new characters. Tweaking existing characters is one thing, but this is an entirely different degree of freedom being taken with the storyline.

That said, I'll give PJ the benefit of the doubt on this.

[Crusader]

To be honest. I always considered the moments in the LOTR movies where he goes off the road the most enjoyable since he could surprise me as well and all that stuff added to the experience naturaly.

Stuff like Bilbo going Gollum in Rivendell and Galadriel and the mirror scene.

I still think that Return of the King is the weakest LOTR movie because PJ did not bring his own vision in like he originally intended like adding Sauron at the battle of the gate.I think having a double showdown at the gate and at Mount Doom would have worked better as a movie than as a book.

[Figrin D'an]

A few pictures, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20504849_20980350,00.html

[Atreyu]

Ian McKellen seems to have barely aged a day. And Martin Freeman is looking good as Bilbo. :)

[Morgan Evanar]

I don't care about this movie any more. I was more interested when Guillermo del Torro was directing. I'm sure it will be good/solid but I don't see anything special about it now.

[Crusader]

Well I always considered Del Torro's involvment as the icing on the cake but in the end I still like cake.

[Droo]

I don't care about this movie any more. I was more interested when Guillermo del Torro was directing. I'm sure it will be good/solid but I don't see anything special about it now.

I have to admit, I'm also finding it very difficult to be interested, and for the very same reason. A Guillermo del Torro film would've been an eye orgasm, and really quite magical in the most beautifully dark kind of way. We know Peter Jackson is more than capable of creating a stellar film, and I'm sure he will, but I was really hoping for something different. Although, I bet I'll turn into a pant-wetting little fanboy the moment I see a trailer.

[Yog]

I don't get the disappointment about Guillermo del Torro. He is a terrific director, but as far as the Tolkien universe is concerned, no one, not Spielberg, not del Torro, not God himself can reach Peter Jackson up to his knee caps. He really nailed the LOTR movies perfectly, maybe the best book to film adaption of all time. I am thrilled to the bone that Peter Jackson and no one else on this planet is directing The Hobbit.

Sure, del Torro could have made a more artsy Pan's Labnyrinth type of movie, cinematically beautiful and all, but this is a bit like saying you would prefer Star Wars was directed by Stanley Kubric or Martin Scorsese directed Citizen Kane.

Personally, I am excited so much of the original cast is returning.

[Figrin D'an]

I was kind of looking forward to what Del Torro could do from the director's chair on this. But, to me, it's hardly a "he's gone so screw it" type of disappointment. Even with Del Torro, this was still a Peter Jackson project, so PJ's influence was going to be seen everywhere. I also suspect that we'll still see some of that Del Torro touch as well, as was one of the co-authors of the script and was instrumental in story-boarding much of the film.

[Crusader]

Honestly I am still more disappointed that PJ did not do a Evangelion or a Halo movie since the Hobbit still sounds like more of the same(fun).

[Darth Turbogeek]

Honestly I am still more disappointed that PJ did not do a Evangelion or a Halo movie since the Hobbit still sounds like more of the same(fun).


Given how good the LOTR project turned out....... gimme more of the same anyday! Leave those other two for Uwe Boll.

[Vince]

Given the look of the dwarves in one of the three shots, I'd say that Del Torro's influence on the final product will still be considerable.

[Morgan Evanar]

Honestly I am still more disappointed that PJ did not do a Evangelion or a Halo movie since the Hobbit still sounds like more of the same(fun).
Given how good the LOTR project turned out....... gimme more of the same anyday! Leave those other two for Uwe Boll.Well I'm not really sure that anyone other than the Japanese should touch Evangelion, and there was some sort of re-release which I haven't bothered with.

Halo is a very solid sci-fi universe and it's a damn shame that the movie distributors kept dicking Microsoft around because Neil Blomkamp was lined up to do it with Jackon/WETA's technical backing and MS dollars.

I wouldn't wish Uwe on either one of those properties, and fortunately the rights holders aren't that stupid. Your ignorance is showing again Mark, you really shouldn't wave it around in public so much.

I'm sure the movie will be sound, and Jackson will do a fine job, but I've seen it (in a way), and I don't really care to see it again.

[Darth Turbogeek]

And here I was thinking I would have been told to go back under my bridge.....

[Crusader]

And here I was thinking I would have been told to go back under my bridge.....

Nay, we just try not to feed you after 11PM Australien time.

[Atreyu]

First look at Dori, Nori and Ori (http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2011/07/07/45799-first-look-at-dori-nori-and-ori-in-the-hobbit/)

And a nice big pic too:

Linky poo (http://www-images.theonering.org/torwp/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Dori-Nori-and-Ori.jpg)

:eee nice hairdo. :)

[Figrin D'an]

<A HREF="http://www-images.theonering.org/torwp/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/DwarvesFinal.jpg">The Dwarves</A>

[Atreyu]

They look terrific. Particularly like Balin, plus also pleased to see how Gloin looks like his son (Gimli in LOTR). :)

[Captain Untouchable]

Here's the latest vlog from Peter Jackson:

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[Morgan Evanar]

That's incredibly impressive. I'm going to go see it in 3d just for the experience.

[Yog]

Amazing the effort and attention to detail they put into the 3D. I suspect Jackson might meet and go beyond the benchmark Cameron set with Avatar, much like he set a benchmark for CGI with Gollum in LOTR. Also, I see he put back some weight, which is when he makes good movies. Maybe that is when he is in Tolkien "geek mode"? The cheeseburgers are the real executive producers of these movies. :)

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Finally watched the vlog - totally amazing. The total cost of just the RED cameras alone (48 of them!?) is mind boggling. And they have concept artists drawing 3d images? So crazy.

I wish it was coming out this December. :(

[Crusader]

Talking about december: The teaser for the Hobbit will be featured infront of Sherlock Holmes.

The teaser was already shown in Texas at the "Ain't it cool" film festival and the reactions seem to have been more than positiv.

Robert Downey Jr. plus scenes from The Hobbit: Next week's premiere sounds like a win win situation to me.

[Atreyu]

Teaser trailer is out!

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:eee

[Crusader]

^^Having a LOTR nerd in your bed means that you wake up this morning and then you have to watch the teaser before going to work...

I like the song it gives me goosebumps!

[Nínim]

^^Having a LOTR nerd in your bed means that you wake up this morning and then you have to watch the teaser before going to work...

Well, at least she didn't wake you up at 3 a.m. (GMT +1) when the teaser went online...

[Crusader]

^^Having a LOTR nerd in your bed means that you wake up this morning and then you have to watch the teaser before going to work...

Well, at least she didn't wake you up at 3 a.m. (GMT +1) when the teaser went online...

:love ...yeah but it took like 2 months and a single LOTR thread to get her posting on this forum :love

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

I almost posted this last night, but got real lazy.

Also, HI MARTINA! :)

[Dasquian Belargic]

:wave hi Martina

(this is Jenny :D)

[Captain Untouchable]

Hi Martina! :dance


Martin Freeman makes an awesome Bilbo... and Guy of Gisborne sings surprisingly well for an MI5 agent!

Teasers like this are damn mean, though. I knew it wasn't out until Next December, but c'mon. Why rub it in my face, meanies? :(

[Atreyu]

... and Guy of Gisborne sings surprisingly well for an MI5 agent!
:lol reminds me of a quote from RiffTrax from the original films:

"Presenting the Fellowship of the Ring: Magneto, Kevin from Sin City, Will Turner, the guy from Lost, and that other guy ..."


Teasers like this are damn mean, though. I knew it wasn't out until Next December, but c'mon. Why rub it in my face, meanies? :(
I think they need to - there are still people out there who don't even know this film is being made. |I

[Crusader]

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[Atreyu]

Radagast! :eee

[Darth Turbogeek]

<object height="315" width="560">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ocwXjmMysZ4?version=3&hl=de_DE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="315" width="560"></object>


Mr Jackson, take my money. NOW.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

It just looks amazing. I can't imagine it cut into three parts, and I know they're 'adding' things to it from the assorted works of Tolkien or whatever - I'm just excited to see all three movies.

And then in four years I can host a Super Marathon with the three Hobbit movies and then the three Lord of the Rings movies.

(Oh my God I just thought - what if each LotR book had had three movies...)

[Dasquian Belargic]

This looks so good. So so good. Damnit why do we have to wait so long :cry

[Atreyu]

New poster:

http://www-images.theonering.org/torwp/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Hobbit-movie-dwarf-poster.jpg

[Lilaena De'Ville]

There are at least three legit hot dwarves. I don't know how I feel about that.

[Crusader]

Yeah Bombur, Bifur and Gloin are sexy as hell!

[Captain Untouchable]

Well, Fili and Kili are meant to be Thorin's nephews (the children of his sister), so I'm guessing they've descended from some sort of dwarven super-stud or something.

I'm kinda impressed by the family resemblance they've managed to stumble across / fake there. Kili (Aidan Turner; dark hair, top) has a slightly more youthful version of Thorin's chizzled features, while Fili (Dean O'Gorman; blond, left) has exactly the same intense stare that Thorin has.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Got myself a copy of The Hobbit today. Finally time to get rid of the nerd shame of never having at least tried to read that book.

[Atreyu]

I love someone's comment on another forum:

"Kili looks like an underwear model that just wandered into a group shot of dwarves." :lol

Good luck with the read Dasq - I actually prefer The Hobbit to LOTR personally.

[Captain Untouchable]

Got myself a copy of The Hobbit today. Finally time to get rid of the nerd shame of never having at least tried to read that book.

I have trouble reading the Hobbit in big chunks. I'm the kind of person who will read a book from cover to cover in a matter of hours... but the Hobbit was written as letters, so each chapter eases in and trails off. There's also a lot of telling you what's happening rather than describing it, so while the language is easier to deal with than Lord of the Rings, it's less immersive.

It was our class reading book in Year 6, and it worked well for that. During my first year of uni, I read a chapter a night to an old girlfriend (long story). It's great for situations when you're only going to get one chapter read at a time - so if you're finding it hard going, maybe try reading it on your way to/from work, if you can? It seems to work out better in those situations.

[Crusader]

During my first year of uni, I read a chapter a night to an old girlfriend (long story).

Thank you, Jace. This one sentence just negated all the romantic things I ever did for Martina...

[Atreyu]

Some bright spark scanned a copy of EMPIRE magazine with the latest picture of Radagast:

http://www.bluealert.co.uk/images/omg_radagast.jpg

Yes, those are bird droppings on his face - apparently his hat doubles as a birds next. :whaa

[Vince]

I'm just saying Cate Blanchett's Galadriel is once again mesmerizingly hot. Just saying.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I've got tickets for an over-night marathon of the LotR trilogy, the weekend before The Hobbit comes out :D

[Atreyu]

14 New Character Posters (http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/rorschachsrants/news/?a=69566)

[Dasquian Belargic]

Ahaha Air New Zealand :3:

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[Darth Turbogeek]

NZ (Neil Finn) musical legend (And then some) with one of the tracks of the soundtrack

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/neil-finn-reaches-epic-heights-on-song-of-the-lonely-mountain-song-premiere-20121112

[Captain Untouchable]

As excited as I am for this movie, I think I'm actually anticipating the release of the soundtrack more, so I can hear the dwarf-sung version of that song in full. :ohno

[Droo]

You want to hear the soundtrack, you say? Hear it in its entirety, you say?

Boosh! (http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=35757)

[Captain Untouchable]

Post production is scheduled to finish two days before the premiere. :|

4vqyzHwnEiY

I'm really enjoying these behind the scenes vlogs. I find the process of making movies and television absolutely fascinating... makes me wish I'd made some different subject / course selections at school and uni!

[Crusader]

Empire was finished the night before the first screening so this should not be a big deal from a SW Fan's perspective.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Post production is scheduled to finish two days before the premiere. :|


Exactly the same as LOTR movies were.

[Captain Untouchable]

Just because it's been done before doesn't make it any less bonkers, or impressive. For a movie that is so heavy on post production, you think they'd give themselves a little bit more room for error.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Just because they're still making it better up until the last minute doesn't mean it isn't already awesome. :) That's how I see it. I doubt they have a huge battle still rendering or anything like that.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Just because it's been done before doesn't make it any less bonkers, or impressive. For a movie that is so heavy on post production, you think they'd give themselves a little bit more room for error.


Why? Almost all the film is done, it's digital, that's the flexibility of the format The Hobbit is being shot in. They will only be doing finishing touches and final renders now. I'm surprised they are stopping with two days to go to be honest - they could literally just walk a hard drive across to the premiere and finish a few minutes before if they wanted to.

Also I read somewhere else it's finished anyway so it's a mute point

[Garrick Kane]

It's a big movie. There's a lot of special effects. Delays happen, and 48 hours isn't really that much time.

Sure, they could walk across the street with the hard drive, but when there's that much anticipation and that much money involved, why risk it? Why be so cavalier about it? Why work right up to the wire when you could give yourself a few extra days of leeway, and finish comfortably before your deadline?

In the job I used to have, if I left something to the last minute, someone inevitably came along and either cocked things up or changed the objectives. I guess I'm just accustomed to managing my time and my deadlines so that I can get stuff finished comfortably on time.

[Dragon]

Tweet from Peter Jackson on the evening of December 12:

"Aw, crap. Did anybody have that backed up?"

[Lilaena De'Ville]

:lol

I am lining up child care for the 14th. :) SO EXCITED!

[Crusader]

The Hobbit was awesome.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Just got in from seeing it: the film flew by!

Very enjoyable experience :D

[Nen Lev'i]

To celebrate The Hobbit, the Honest Trailers guys went back and did one for the Lord of the Rings trilogy:

AOIi9SjJvgU

[Figrin D'an]

Saw it this afternoon. Enjoyable, although I can understand some of the criticism of the run time. I personally didn't mind, but I can see how some would. PJ was pretty faithful to the source material, considering he's splicing The Hobbit with other content from the LOTR appendices and The Silmarillion.


HFR is amazing. This is the future (quite frankly should be the present) of movie making. Critics who complain that it takes away from the "magic" of the film experience are searching for an excuse to hang onto an archaic and now completely irrelevant standard. They want be these noble guardians of tradition, because... tradition. Kind of like audiophiles convincing themselves that vinyl sounds better because change and technological advancement automatically means the loss of some unmeasurable, non-tangible quality from the standards of their youth. 24 fps is a relic of a bygone era that should have died a long time ago. Kudos to PJ for forcing the issue and showing the public what can be done to make the cinema experience more enjoyable.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I really liked it. We saw it in the 48fps, IMAX 3D, and it was so ....different. Not bad, though, although at times it looked like things were a little sped up for some reason. It was much cleaner and better than the fudged HFR of a soap opera or Clear Motion on your HDTV, and the 3D was amazing. Usually I get some eyestrain from 3D, especially if its a long movie, but there was none of that here.

Actual story and everything - I loved it. I cannot wait for the next one. Roast Mutton was perfect, Riddles in the Dark was perfect, I really want to see it again.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Hmmmm.

Very good but with problems, the biggest one being reality whiplash. For example Riddles in the Dark is seriously immersive and well done - the effects on Gollum are beyond mere comment. But then you switch to the dungeon escape and then it goes hyper and there's places where suspension of disbelief gets done in and I'm thrown out of the scene because it's just too ridiculous. Towards the end it really got even sillier and it's a relief to get out of the action.

After the monster headache The Avengers gave me I avoided the 3D showing like a disease so 2D. The problem is then too much whizzing around and a lack of focus on action so it suffers shakey-cam disease.

Thinking about it, the actors and script was extremely good, effects top notch BUT it could have done with better editing. When they stuck to the Tolkein it really, really worked.

[Droo]

It was nice to return to Middle Earth, I suppose, but overall I thought the film was a bit rubbish. It was long, self-indulgent, ill-disciplined, and often boring. The cast were fine, and the production was top notch, but the direction and writing were seriously lacking. They took one small book and have turned it into an epic trilogy padded out with a load of inconsequential tosh and, as a result, the narrative and pacing were all over the place. I was thoroughly disappointed.