Three Times The Hobbit?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

It's possible that some media outlets are keeping the story alive in order to see what the reception for such a film might be, but hopefully, it's just that some of them haven't properly caught up with the geek news from Comic-Con.

If that's the case, and it is all just hot air, I only hope this forum ends up being one of the places checked for "reception".

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

If that's the case, and it is all just hot air, I only hope this forum ends up being one of the places checked for "reception".

It's likely. Almost all Government policy is 'leaked' or issued in advance ramped up so that they can gauge public perception and/or then actually do something slightly milder (but still rubbish and nasty) - it's called Managing Expectation.

Oh I'm a cynic. But it's true.

Originally Posted by alatar

Ah come on...I need something to keep the criticism fire burning until I actually see the movie(s).

I know. The moaning and the criticism and worry is part of the fun. We'll all still go and see it, no matter what. It reminds me of us Brits moaning about the Olympics. We enjoy the moaning and if we grudgingly say about the ceremonies and games "Yeah, was alright I s'pose" then that's generous heaps of praise

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

It reminds me of us Brits moaning about the Olympics. We enjoy the moaning and if we grudgingly say about the ceremonies and games "Yeah, was alright I s'pose" then that's generous heaps of praise

yes, I noticed that a certain visiting American stoked this British reserve.

And speaking of Olympics, do you folks know that the Return of the Ring conference is having a dwarf tossing competition? Yes, with knitted dwarves.

[MCRmyGirl4eva]

He wants money. I'm able to understand two movies, though I don't like it, and I don't like having to wait for two-part movies, but I get it. A trilogy for the Hobbit, though?

Jackson's being a money-grubbing greedy @$$hole.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

yes, I noticed that a certain visiting American stoked this British reserve.

And speaking of Olympics, do you folks know that the Return of the Ring conference is having a dwarf tossing competition? Yes, with knitted dwarves.

I am expecting something similar in an hour on BBC1. Danny Boyle has built Hobbiton as London's newest urban farm in the middle of the stadium, complete with sheep, cows, geese, bees and a shire horse. There are even some wee Samwises wandering about.

Just hoping the BBC actually show this unlike the unwatchable fiasco that was the Jubilee river pageant that was just a parade of rubbish presenters and celebrities. Speaking of money grabbing celebrity.....



P.S. That was epic. Don't miss it.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

And speaking of Olympics,

Caught a glimpse of the opening ceremonies. Though this 'Merican doesn't understand the British obsession with the stovepipe-hatted Abraham Lincoln (vampire hunter though he may have been), I did like that, in the end of that one sequence, the One Ring is forged...at least that's what I saw.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by alatar

Caught a glimpse of the opening ceremonies. Though this 'Merican doesn't understand the British obsession with the stovepipe-hatted Abraham Lincoln (vampire hunter though he may have been), I did like that, in the end of that one sequence, the One Ring is forged...at least that's what I saw.

Tch. That was Isambard Kingdom Brunel

It looks like I am wrong about the third film. However, I am quite pleased.

[Kuruharan]

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=746962

The line in this that really gets me is:

"there was more story to tell than could be contained in the originally planned two films"

I assume this must translate to, "I threw out almost all of the original material (because let's face it, Tolkien was a horrible writer and he wasn't PJ) and made up as much junk as I possibly could to service and worship my own ego (PJ be praised!) because...I mean gosh, who else but me could deserve this much mone...I mean adoration!!!! Next week, I shall announce that for no other reason than to service and worship my own ego (PJ be praised!) the trilogy will be doubled! Huzzah!!!!!"

[Nogrod]

My first worry is this though: they have wrapped filming and realised they had moore footage they could fit in two films... then one night after too much wine and in frenzy after looking at required cutting-choices they thought, goddammit, let's make three films with this material! All is required is a speedy re-cut for film one, and then they have time to make tricks to make the two latter films to work... maybe a few additional shoots then next year?

But OMG what will the quality of that sudden remodelling of a two-part movie turned into a trilogy be? I'm not too optimistic... (especailly when it is a PJ movie )

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by alatar

Caught a glimpse of the opening ceremonies. Though this 'Merican doesn't understand the British obsession with the stovepipe-hatted Abraham Lincoln (vampire hunter though he may have been), I did like that, in the end of that one sequence, the One Ring is forged...at least that's what I saw.

I find it quite funny that most fans immediately read a Tolkien context into much of the ceremonies, but I've also read non-Tolkien fans ask why there wasn't any recognition of Tolkien.

[alatar]

It's simple math:

• LotR is three books (or one very long one), and yet with three long films, PJ found the need to insert PJisms to...what? Increase everyone's love of the author's work, make the story more understandable, scare the audience, tick off the fan base, prolong the agony? Go rewatch the scenes like Aragorn falling off the cliff, Gollum falling off the cliff, Denethor diving off a cliff, the need to have the sewers of Osgiliath, the bad bouncing scene...
• 3 Tolkien books = 3 PJ movies + filler
• The Hobbit is one smaller book, was written more with children in mind, and yet from this material we're going to have three even average length films? How many Dwarves will need to fall off cliffs in this trilogy?
• 1 Tolkien book = 3 PJ movies + ?

[Kuruharan]

Originally Posted by alatar

How many Dwarves will need to fall off cliffs in this trilogy?

Stop it, alatar! You are going to give me nightmares!

Yes– it's awfully, awfully late in the day for them to be making such a radical change, isn't it? Not that it's the first time P.J. & Co have given the impression they're not quite sure what they're actually trying to do with "The Hobbit". *sigh*

Sadly, I suspect they know exactly what they are trying to do, milk as much money out of this as possible. What I think they are unclear about is the best means to get the milk out of the cow, because obviously something faithful to the text and spirit of Tolkien's original writing is not up to the task.