The Hobbit Film Trilogy Thread

[KK 3,313]

But Tauriel's presence isn't justified by the whole Mirkwood plot being included in the film?

Tauriel is an unnecessary character that probably doesn't add anything to the Tolkien universe. Her purpose is most likely simply for mainstream appeal (for the sake of a feminine touch or playful romantic antics).

Galadriel on the other hand is a pre-existing character and a very significant at that (considering she was the most powerful being on Middle-Earth at the time of The Hobbit). And she is an important member of the White Council. Since they're going into the entire White Council affair, her presence is easily justified and even necessary.

[Jay 46,241]

So everybody is upset that they are adding Evangeline Lilly to The Hobbit for mainstream appeal, but nobody minded that Liv Tyler was added to LOTR for mainstream appeal? Yes, I know her character was (briefly) in the book, but her role was greatly embiggened for the movie

[KK 3,313]

At least Arwen existed. And her relationship existed. And most of the major plot points regarding her role happened in the book. And ultimately, they managed to pull it off. Although, they were about to put in warrior princess mode and bring her to Helm's Deep...luckily they refrained from that.

With Tauriel, there's a lot more risk. But I suppose we can't really judge till we've seen the film though.

[Romão 2,473]

So everybody is upset that they are adding Evangeline Lilly to The Hobbit for mainstream appeal, but nobody minded that Liv Tyler was added to LOTR for mainstream appeal? Yes, I know her character was (briefly) in the book, but her role was greatly embiggened for the movie

Arwen also was a very unnecessary addition and only added to the ratio of cringy lines

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,386]

She was hot though!

[Wojo 2,458]

So everybody is upset that they are adding Evangeline Lilly to The Hobbit for mainstream appeal, but nobody minded that Liv Tyler was added to LOTR for mainstream appeal? Yes, I know her character was (briefly) in the book, but her role was greatly embiggened for the movie

What a perfectly cromulent argument!

[Jay 46,241]

I suppose we can't really judge till we've seen the film though.

Thank you.

She was hot though!

So is Evangeline Lilly!

What a perfectly cromulent argument!

[Quintus 6,494]

The Hobbit will end after film 2. A third movie would explore the lore and appendices and expand the 'bridge' into LotR. I'd be okay with it; so long as it featured a brand new cast of leading men and women and not just be a great big middle earth name-check cast love-in of all the movies combined. Even Gandalf should be jettisoned.

[gkgyver 1,647]

As I understand it, the talk is about turning the Hobbit story into three films, not appendices or some shit.

[Incanus 5,890]

As I understand it, the talk is about turning the Hobbit story into three films, not appendices or some shit.

Which would be absurd indeed. I know I am repeating myself but I really can't think of any reason to lengthen this story into three films, with appendix material or not.

[hornist 1,261]

I have a question: I never read The Hobbit, should I read the novel before the film will open or

could it actually be greater and fresher movie experience without reading it?

[Richard P 5,302]

I've never read any of them and I loved all three LotR films. Go figure

[Ren 77]

I don't know. That's a tough call. I always say to read before you view. But like you said it could definitely be fresher without. I say, view. Read. View again

[Incanus 5,890]

Well it might certainly be a fresher movie experience if you haven't read the novel and naturally you would be free from all the preconceptions you would otherwise have if you had read the book before. It is difficult to for me to say would it be a better experience though. I do not have that choice for better or for worse.

[Ren 77]

I love lotr from a Book stand point in a purely different manner than lotr from a Movie standpoint

When I finished rotk (book) I literally felt like I had experienced a religious experience. I was different, changed after reading. HP mildly so if weren't for that damn epilogue. The only other book that did it to me was pillars of the earth.

Edited. Drunk much?

[Incanus 5,890]

I do love the LotR novel on a completely different level than the movies. And since I have lived and breathed the story ever since I was about 12 years old, I have always been curious, what would it be like to experience the story for the first time through the films. Same goes for the Hobbit.

[Ren 77]

That's why I'm really leaning towards the tree of gondor for as my tattoo

[gkgyver 1,647]

That Comic Con footage of the stone giant looks absolutely stunning, as little as there was.

If they make a third one, where would you make the cuts?

I mean, there is no way the Hobbit, as written by Tolkien, can sustain over three 2-3 hour movies, unless they greatly expand the backstory, but that is really the last thing I want. I'm really afraid that the main story of the Hobbit will come off as a secondary story.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Jay 46,241]

They could end up making three 2 hour movies instead of two 3 hour movies.

[Red 75]

I loved seeing the dwarven soldiers briefly in the latest production blog. The whole Battle of the Five Armies is the thing I'm most looking forward to, especially because of the dwarves.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Isn't principal photography finished? If Jackson wanted a third Hobbit film, he would have to do some serious reshooting/rewriting. I think the thing he said at Comic Con, about filming some stuff from the appendices, is more likely.

[KK 3,313]

Isn't principal photography finished? If Jackson wanted a third Hobbit film, he would have to do some serious reshooting/rewriting. I think the thing he said at Comic Con, about filming some stuff from the appendices, is more likely.

Precisely. It's too much hassle to get the whole crew all rallied up for a 2014 release. This is probably all talk for media attention. We're just going to end up with extended editions.

[Incanus 5,890]

I really can't wait for PJ to release some post production videos before the first film. Hopefully there will be one on the music.

[Quintus 6,494]

As I understand it, the talk is about turning the Hobbit story into three films, not appendices or some shit.

That goes against a comicon interview I saw with Jackson and Boyens.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Incanus 5,890]

I am sure Monsieur Hans Zimmer is waiting in the wings ready to take over.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Incanus 5,890]

I really could not imagine anyone replacing Shore on these films. His musical voice has become such an integral part of the LotR world.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Quintus 6,494]

That cover would be the Blu ray art if Lucas had directed this.

[Incanus 5,890]

Andy Serkis looks pretty no-nonsense in that picture with Freeman. Almost like he is saying "Don't screw this take Martin or I'll have to strangle you for real".

[KK 3,313]

I must say, Gollum really looks fantastic. There's really no stopping the guys at Weta.

[Incanus 5,890]

The only design aspect of Gollum I don't like are the eyes. I have always felt they take away some of his inhuman aspect which Tolkien describes so vividly. I have always imagined them to be like the eyes of a blind fish but greenish. But otherwise the Weta Gollum looks pretty fantastic.

[Romão 2,473]

Yeah. he's almost cute in a way. And it's hard to pull of big eyes without it looking at least slightly cartoony

[Jay 46,241]

I must say, Gollum really looks fantastic. There's really no stopping the guys at Weta.

[Wojo 2,458]

I think that Gollum has human (er, hobbit) eyes to remain sympathetic, or else the pity shown him by Frodo in TTT would be less believable than it was. They make Gollum scary by his motives and actions, not by just his appearance.

[KK 3,313]

I think that Gollum has human (er, hobbit) eyes to remain sympathetic, or else the pity shown him by Frodo in TTT would be less believable than it was. They make Gollum scary by his motives and actions, not by just his appearance.

[Incanus 5,890]

Yes the more natural eyes were one aspect that helped to sell the character to the audiences at large. I completely understand that but I think the creepy, greenish and pale eyes described in the novel would have been perhaps even more effective, Frodo forgiving to a monster, a creature so twisted and changed by the Ring and his own malice. As they show Gollum's humanity (hobbitness) through his clear blue eyes they in my opinion humanized him almost too much. He should be tragic and horrifying but not entirely relatable I think.

But given the medium they wanted to make the character more relatable and the eyes are big part of that interaction and emoting.

[Brónach 1,330]

You and your twisted evil fantasy creatures.

I like Gollum as he is in the film.

[Incanus 5,890]

You and your twisted evil fantasy creatures.

I like Gollum as he is in the film.

To each his own. I would have just liked to see Gollum closer to Tolkien's original descriptions. The film counterpart never captures the alienness of the creature but makes him likeable and too pitiable.

[Brónach 1,330]

I'm not sure how The Hobbit describes Gollum, but the first time I read it when I was a kid, I imagined him not humanoid. Like a small Lovecraftian creature with tentacles and feet, but not too scary, almost a bit funny looking.

[Incanus 5,890]

I'm not sure how The Hobbit describes Gollum, but the first time I read it when I was a kid, I imagined him not humanoid. Like a small Lovecraftian creature with tentacles and feet, but not too scary, almost a bit funny looking.

Many artists have depicted him with almost a frog or fish like head. I remember forming quite a vivid image of him based on LotR and naturally when I read the Hobbit I could not think of him as anything else.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Incanus 5,890]

Oh my. Finnish illustrator and author Tove Jansson of the Moomin fame also illustrated one of the Finnish translations of the Hobbit (which is quite awful as a translation).

Look at her Gollum:

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Quintus 6,494]

Although Gollum isn't how I imagined him whilst reading the book (I'd seen the marvellously snarky Bakshi Gollum far too many times before reading it), I still think Weta and Serkis absolutely nailed him for the movie and he's since become my definitive version of the creature, even moreso than anything Tolkien himself ever wrote about him.

Gollum really has become an icon since these movies, which speaks volumes for the execution and appeal of him in the trilogy.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[JoeinAR 1,957]

I'm officially less interested in the Hobbit now that they have stretched it to 3 films for on book.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

That's cool, Joe.