The Hobbit Movie Trailer!

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

And yes the reaction to Galadriel and Gandalf was not that I thought even PJ would take enough liberty to have some bizarre romance going on more "What are they doing to the story this time?"

Exactly. It is clear what it is: probably some sort of "I am afraid of Sauron and the rest of the Council even does not support me" - "No, I trust you, even if all the others don't" moment, or something like that.

But what I find peculiar is that they decided to put it into the trailer: because, what are people who aren't that familiar with Tolkien lore going to think when they see it? What purpose does it serve? They already show both G's in the trailer, so they don't need to prove any more to the audience that they are going to be there; or if they wanted to show a scene where the two of them are together, then surely there would be even a different scene. But this scene so much opens to the "what is it, a romance?" interpretation that it seems really strange to me that they included it, of all things. Surely they must have known.

P.S. And by the way - I find it funny, because if there is a person who is completely against the movie adaptations of LotR, it is me, but I find the accusations of PJ's "crimes" on this thread surprisingly strong. He is definitely guilty of all that, but for me at least, that didn't mean that I wouldn't be able to give him another chance. I still thought he could make a decent enough movie out of TH. Like I said, though, the trailer did not convince me much about that and right now it seems that he indeed failed the same as with LotR. However, once again like I said, that is only judging by the impressions - the whole movie can still be completely different from the trailer. So I'll wait to see.

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Ben K.

Seems about as justified as sexually confused frat boys reading homosexuality into Frodo and Sam's relationship due to some tactility and concerned glances. It's complete hyperbole from overly critical fanboys.

It's pretty much a hyperbole to find any kind of sexuality whatsoever in the Lord of the Rings, but you don't have to be sexually confused or a frat boy to mistake homosociality for homoeroticism.

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

But what I find peculiar is that they decided to put it into the trailer: because, what are people who aren't that familiar with Tolkien lore going to think when they see it?

Imagining I saw the trailer as someone who didn't know their Tolkien, I'd find the prospect of a non-asexual wizard very fascinating.

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by Ben K

Yes it is totally out of the question. Seems about as justified as sexually confused frat boys reading homosexuality into Frodo and Sam's relationship due to some tactility and concerned glances. It's complete hyperbole from overly critical fanboys.

Hate to break it to you, but you are the queer one here. Show that scene to ten people unfamiliar with the characters and I'd bet that at least nine would see a romantic moment (with sexual connotations).

Do I think that Galadriel and Gandalf will have any R-rated moments together, explicit or implied? No I don't see that happening. Will they have a romance, or the bud of one? Probably not.

I can however easily imagine PJ's Galadriel as a temptress or a tease if you will. A benign manipulator. Perhaps she is testing Gandalf's moral fibres, or something to that effect, him being incarnated as a Man, not immune to Men's inherent weaknesses' and lusts?

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Hate to break it to you, but you are the queer one here. Show that scene to ten people unfamiliar with the characters and I'd bet that at least nine would see a romantic moment (with sexual connotations).

It was certainly a very intimate gesture. Girls will style each others hair but caressing someone's hair is beyond normal social contact. It is in the realm of the closest relationships ...of course the conventions of elf society may be different but I have always got the feeling that they had a bit of a "thing" about nice hair.. I know they are all tall slender and beautiful but it is the feature that gets commented on..

[Kitanna]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

It was certainly a very intimate gesture. Girls will style each others hair but caressing someone's hair is beyond normal social contact. It is in the realm of the closest relationships ...of course the conventions of elf society may be different but I have always got the feeling that they had a bit of a "thing" about nice hair.. I know they are all tall slender and beautiful but it is the feature that gets commented on..

You know in ROTK Legolas gives Aragon what can only be described as the weirdest set of bedroom eyes ever and I don't remember PJ fleshing out a love story based on that.

Scenes like Galadriel caressing a, what looks to me, clearly distressed Gandalf isn't anything but a tender moment that looked weird in the trailer. Though, the conversation that has cropped up here about it is amusing. I look forward to seeing Galadriel back because I am very fond of Cate Blanchett's acting. I also look forward to seeing how well Thorin and Bilbo pull off their roles.

I'm glad this made-up female elf hasn't made it in the trailer.

[Mithalwen]

I was responding to skip's point that to someone who didn't know the context they might get the wrong idea. I still think it is a bit odd though once again I say I never extrapolated that there would be a G on G romantic subplot. It may have been that Gandalf had a buzz cut the last time she saw him and she is osanwe kenta-ing "ooh you've grown your hair you really need some conditioner on the split ends"..

I love Cate Blanchett and I don't think Galadriel could have been better cast or played but I suspect she may have featured in the trailer because she is the token female and a big Hollywood name.

Richard Armitage may not be the obvious choice for a dwarf but he is a serious man. An actor who is prepared to be water-boarded for a part might get a little grudging dwarvish respect.

[Nogrod]

It's interesting to see the row over the scene with Galadriel and Gandalf when it is one of my favourites in the whole trailer...

I mean I do share some, if not many, of Legate's concerns and criticisms, but as we know already that they're going to put some stuff of their own in there whether we like it or not, that part didn't look the worst of it. On the contrary.

Let's not let the physical embodiments of these beings lead us astray: Gandalf and Galadriel have known each other for thousands of years and I think Tolkien let's us understand they have a close relationship (which doesn't have to mean anything sexual to be sure) and they seem to admire each other... and they're the guardians of the rings... So bringing that part of their mutual history forwards looks like a decent addition (comparing to many other ones others and I have already said we hated in the LotR).

And really, even if the porn industry may take it's turn with that one, to me it felt nothing like what is discussed here (even as a joke). Skip may be right in saying PJ's vision might be Galadriel pressing Gandalf for some cause she seems fit, but I'd bet on the scene being more about her trying to soothe him like old friends do.

And I really pray I'm not wrong...


On other issues I do like the different beards (even the smaller ones) and agree that the polish cavalry -style looks fresher than the age old Viking-stereotypes. But - like I think I already complained some elsewhere - why have they made Thorin Oakenshield look and feel like he is? It's easy to see they're trying to pull the same strings they did with casting Orlando Bloom and Elijah Wood on LotR and less easy to see him as Thorin Oakenshield of the book.


But here I pray I'm wrong and Mr. Armitage proves to be an actor to fill the boots of Thorin even if he doesn't have the looks or the feel of a stout, old, revered leader of the dwarves...