[Film] The Hobbit

[THE Hal E. Burton 9000]

IMO, we may all know now why Tobey Maguire was so willing to walk away from Spiderman (and no, it's not Robotech):
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/tobey-maguire-bags-bilbo-role-in-the-hobbit/story-e6frfmvr-1225821055820

this will be something to see

I always loved The Hobbit as a better story than TLotR btw, not as pretentious and more enduring (for me anyway) in its themes and allusions

[Xard]

LotR? Pretentious? WTF

(and no, it's not Robotech)

Macross (

[Oz]

Maguire did NOT get the role yet.

It's only a rumor that was even denied by del Toro and Jackson: http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/01/18/tobey-maguire-is-not-bilbo-baggins-in-the-hobbit-really/

[THE Hal E. Burton 9000]

Macross (

^you're kind of splitting hairs there

and yes, yes, yes, I know that LotR is a epic, yadda yadda yadda

there's just too much going on, too many characters and relationships to keep up with, and too many feelings being expressed and worked through as the story develops

of course it's a good classic story, but it's a little hard to relate to as a whole

Bilbo > Frodo

[Merridian]

I always loved The Hobbit as a better story than TLotR btw, not as pretentious and more enduring (for me anyway) in its themes and allusions

comparing apples & bananas. They're two very different kinds of stories trying to accomplish two very different things. Not to mention that the style of writing for each is rather different as well, but that ties into what the overall purpose for each was.

And as formal as LotR is, I wouldn't call it pretentious. Silmarillion was more on that level, but even the Silmarillion backs itself up astoundingly well considering what he was trying to do (coupled with the fact that it isn't actually a finished work ).

EDIT re: Maguire
LOL never mind. Just saw Oz's link.

[Uriel Septim VII]

I'd prefer seeing James McAvoy in the role, but that's probably because him playing young Bilbo has been cemented into my head.

[Xard]

Macross (

^you're kind of splitting hairs there

actually I know it's based on bastardized Robotech universe version of Macross. But I can't help whenever I see that damn word Robotech...

anyway, LotR and The Hobbit are completely different books written with different aims.

[FreakyFilmFan4ever]

Del Toro is the obvious, although well casted choice, as director for The Hobbit. Though, people who only know his from his Hellboy may be a bit confused.

[MugwumpHasNoLiver]

comparing apples & bananas.

But I bet you can't shove an apple up a woman. But who knows? I've never read any Tolkien and I've only seen the LotR movies once a piece, so my opinion probably isn't worth much. I found them to be absolutely beautiful films, but dull and not particularly engaging on an emotional or intellectual level (not unlike Princess Mononoke, really). But . . . I do really admire Del Toro's visual style, and although I haven't seen many of his films, I thought Pan's Labyrinth was a masterpiece, and the Hellboy movies were pandering and dull. I'll probably see The Hobbit, but I'm not going to follow news about it or anything. Well, I have no more purpose in this thread, good day sirs and sir-ettes.

[Mr. Tines]

I'd rather see this as a movie.

But I bet you can't shove an apple up a woman. But who knows?

Somewhere in Illuminatus!, an off-hand reference is made to burlesque act involving disappearing apples...

[Guyver Spawn]

It's about time they got this movie to be made, and I'm a big Tolkien fan also. I wounder if they do a Silmarillion movie afterwards?

[Xard]

I wounder if they do a Silmarillion movie afterwards?

...you might as well try to film The Bible or evenn better, take whole mythology, history etc. of some culture of world (actually many of them), put them in blender and then try to make coherent film from that...

I'm quite pumped for Hobbit - Middle-Earth lives once again! And Toro directning is instant win

[Gendo'sPapa]

I keep crossing my fingers they'll cast Martin Freeman.

But I expect it will be some sort of American pretty boy....

[FreakyFilmFan4ever]

I keep crossing my fingers they'll cast Martin Freeman.

But I expect it will be some sort of American pretty boy....

Haha! Keep your expectations low. So that way if they actually do cast someone only half-fitting for the role, at least you won't be completely disappointed.

That's what I do.

[Eva Yojimbo]

I can't wait to see this. Del Toro is a phenomenal director with a superb eye for art direction and visual detail. I'm not sure how his darker, more romantic style will gel with the lightness and wittiness of The Hobbit. FWIW I always preferred The Hobbit to LotR as well. The former is fun, light, witty, and flows with the smoothness of a river. LotR is weighed down by its own ambition towards being an epic and after a while the repetition becomes monotonous and dreary rather than engrossing. The films are wonderful though; if only because Jackson was able to trim Tolkien's fat.

in its themes and allusions

If you ask Tolkien there is no allegory or allusions in his Middle Earth.

[LiLi]

FWIW I always preferred The Hobbit to LotR as well. The former is fun, light, witty, and flows with the smoothness of a river. LotR is weighed down by its own ambition towards being an epic

The quote above approximates very closely my own thoughts on these books.

IIRC, I also liked the portrayal of the characters more in The Hobbit - less epic, more relatable. The "extras" after the novels proper in the edition I have of LoTR have always fascinated me though.

I'll admit I'm probably not the biggest fan of Jackson's movies, but I'll be looking forward to The Hobbit.

[THE Hal E. Burton 9000]

If you ask Tolkien there is no allegory or allusions in his Middle Earth.

what about The Hobbit's subtleties and the First World War?

[Merridian]

^Most of the "real world" allegory going on in Middle Earth (what little was actually intended anyway, as far as I could tell) had more to do with Tolkien's not-ungrounded fear of rampant industrialization and the disappearance of the good-ole' English country side. Some of the war parallels show up in some form or other, but most of that has less to do with actual meaning--if anything, his war-time experiences gave him the experience necessary to sculpt the darkness prevalent throughout his work. At best, the more meaningful parallels regarding wartime inevitably tie into the modernization aspect (such as how the War of the Ring was fought, how easily/quickly forces amassed, what it did to the landscape, etc.).

LotR is weighed down by its own ambition towards being an epic and after a while the repetition becomes monotonous and dreary rather than engrossing.

Considering the pieces he drew direct influence from, I'd say he pulled it off superbly. It's only weighed down by its own ambition in the same way that Beowulf or the Eddas are.

[Sachi]

I practically grew up with the old cartoon version of The Hobbit, and that was essentially what got me into the Lord of the Rings series before the Peter Jackson movies even began coming out. I look forward to seeing the new movie, and have faith that this will be as good the LotR series.

Although, nothing can beat the music of the cartoon:

"What funny little birds;
they have no wings
Oh, what shall we do
with the funny little things?"

[Seele00TextOnly]

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