Hobbit Movie - Thoughts & Trailer Analysis

[cephron]

For me, the biggest letdown in the LotR movies was the way the eye of Sauron was portrayed in the last movie--a great big ball of fire on top of a tower. The Eye should never have been visible in normal shots, but only in "Ring-vision" flashes or through the Palantiri. IMO, to do otherwise really cheapens the power of Sauron's spiritual presence. And the way they treated his gaze like a searchlight, from which you hide by crouching behind rocks, was really lame. It's a simple change, but I think one could take Sauron a lot more seriously if those shots that panned up Barad-dur simply came to focus on that empty spot where you know Sauron is--but you don't see him.

Beyond that, it would be cool if Gimli wasn't always a complete buffoon. Comic relief isn't bad, but the poor guy didn't get to be much else.

Beyond that, I loved the movies quite a bit, and am ok with most of the changes and omissions made. Looking forward to the Hobbit!

 

[Saladsamurai]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yqVD0swvWU

 

[arildno]

Initial verdicts from reviews at rottentomatoes seems to be..rather underwhelming.
Too many dwarves (inevitable), too awkward&much "humour" (unfortunate), too long introduction (not particularly disappointing), too drawn-out breathless action (major flaw, IMO), too episodic (expected). A particular concern is that the 48 frames per second seems to be more annoying than enriching.
Anyways, I'm probably going to see this movie a dozen times or more..

 

[stargazer3]

My own concern is that this is not another epic trilogy to be filmed. This is a fairy tale! And I'm just not sure if I can tolerate a childhood bedtime story transformed into a yet another Hollywood blockbuster.

Even the dwarves are not the way they ought to be. No brightly coloured cloaks, their lovely instruments are replaced by an epic songsinging, etc. Come on, just take a look at Thorin! In the movie, he is a warrior, while in the book he's a white-bearded wise dwarf. Stubborn, proud, and brave, but fairy-taleish still. One glance at the cast and trailers has confirmed all my fears about the upcoming movie. It is going to be in the same style as LotR, projecting every single thing from the story into desires of masses, who will go to the movie theaters, without reading the book and expecting a thrilling experience.

*sigh*
And yes, I am going to watch it a dozen times too.

 

[SHISHKABOB]

I would like to point out that Thorin, and also two other dwarves, died as warriors, so I'm not sure it's correct to say that depicting them as warriors is completely a bad idea.

I don't know that I'd call The Hobbit a "fairy tale", but it's been a while since I've read it.

 

[arildno]

as of now, 2 out of 3 top critics classify it as rotten, and third, at Variety, is so critical it ought to be regarded as rotten as well.

 

[stargazer3]

I would like to point out that Thorin, and also two other dwarves, died as warriors, so I'm not sure it's correct to say that depicting them as warriors is completely a bad idea.

I don't know that I'd call The Hobbit a "fairy tale", but it's been a while since I've read it.

Good point, but fighting is not the main theme of Hobbit, it is more of a culmination of the whole story. As for the fairy tale, remember all those dwarves making their entry one by one, singing, dancing, riddle games, trolls turned into stone, etc.? Those are clearly a fairy tale elements. When LotR came out, I had a similar feeling (apparently Tom Bombadil was not serious enough to fit in). I think that if not for the battle scene at the end of The Hobbit, Jackson would not make the movie.

Oh, one more about Thorin. Look at him, he has no beard (on a dwarven beard scale)! He's a shame to all the dwarven folk. I will not like hobbit-the-movie Thorin unless they claim it was burned by a dragon (recently), of bitten off by a troll (more recently, considering direct troll proximity), and demonstrate that it's growing back during the film.

 

[arildno]

I think the beard of a true dwarven king reflect the state of his kingdom. Tiny kingdom, tiny beard.

 

[stargazer3]

I think the beard of a true dwarven king reflect the state of his kingdom. Tiny kingdom, tiny beard.

Makes sense!

 

[gravenewworld]

Beh, I won't be seeing this one in theaters. I know I'm in the minority on this one, but IMO, I thought the LOTR trilogy was some of the most overrated set of films of all time. The overacting and melodrama was laughable at times, and the "humor"/dialogue quite corny in certain instances. I don't want more of the same. Next time you watch LOTR, no tice how many overhead flying shots Peter Jackson uses. 70% of the movie has to be overhead flying shots, the cinematography is so repetitive.

 

[arildno]

Beh, I won't be seeing this one in theaters.

One more ticket for me!

 

[r4z0r84]

I thought the LOTR trilogy was some of the most overrated set of films of all time. The overacting and melodrama was laughable at times, and the "humor"/dialogue quite corny in certain instances. Next time you watch LOTR, no tice how many overhead flying shots Peter Jackson uses. 70% of the movie has to be overhead flying shots, the cinematography is so repetitive.

Are you sure your not thinking of Twilight trilogy?

/sarcasm

 

[Borg]

Ooh. Another trilogy in the making?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6uEGtGg3Jk

 

[Tommy1995]

CAN'T WAIT !
This film is gonnnaaa bee awesome! Elves, hobbits, dwarves, a wizard, a dirty rat livin in a cave, dragon slaying, betrayal, separation, orcs and a ring that can turn you invisible! what more could you want out of a film?

 

[arildno]

CAN'T WAIT !
This film is gonnnaaa bee awesome! Elves, hobbits, dwarves, a wizard, a dirty rat livin in a cave, dragon slaying, betrayal, separation, orcs and a ring that can turn you invisible! what more could you want out of a film?

Hmm..realism? Genital intermixtures, perhaps?
No, I guess you are right, I look forward to this film as well.

 

[Borek]

From the trailers I have seen so far I don't like the way dwarves look like. Plus, Thorin is way too young. Then, it is a thin book made into three parts, so I expect it to be watered down. I plan to watch it, but I am afraid it will be disappointing.

 

[Borg]

Here's a handy dwarf guide to take to the theater.

 

[turbo]

It's hard to get too worked up about this latest film-series. I read the Hobbit in college, then bought the LOTR 3-book boxed set and devoured that in less than a weekend. My roommate was not really impressed, because I asked him to turn the stereo down (or OFF), so I could read in peace. Eventually, he borrowed my books and got hooked, too.

 

[stargazer3]

Ladies and gentleman, I've FOUND it!

I used to have this Soviet Hobbit book (don't buy the webpage claim that it's LotR, they are morons) with delightful illustrations. To be precise, it was a Ukrainian version of it. Please check it out, it is very cute indeed. Also, the translation for Gollum was Hum-Hum (equivalent to "Nom-Nom" in English).

I guess now you'll excuse me my frustration about the overall tone of the film adaptation.

Borek, did you have this one in Poland?

 

[Borek]

Borek, did you have this one in Poland?

No, Polish editions that I remember were using standard original pictures for maps and were not illustrated.

There was one edition that was advertised as a "collectible", but it stank of abused Corel Draw on every page.

Edit: sorry, that "collectible" version was LOTR, not Hobbit. Still, everything else holds.

 

[arildno]

I saw it today, in 2D, 24 fps.
It was..amazingly beautiful and satisfying.

 

[strangerep]

Thorin is way too young.

Nah, he's only 195 at the time of The Hobbit.
That's only middle-aged for a dwarf... :-)

[Oh, I'm so embarrassed that I actually know that...]

 

[Jack21222]

I watched the movie tonight, and it was a good, fun movie. The scenes with Radagast were hilarious.

Gandalf: Those are Gundobad Wargs. They’ll catch and eat you.
Radagast: These are Rhosgobel rabbits! I'd like to see them try.

 

[nitsuj]

The Hobbit is the only book i have ever read, for a school english exam. I hope i don't get frustrated by the book during the movie from suttle differences.

please post back when you have seen the movie.

I would like to know how you feel about the comparison between literature & motion picture.

 

[rodsika]

Has anyone seen the 3d 48fps version? If I'd watch it, it will be solely to experience what's it's like to see 48fps in movies, it's supposed to be the first movie that offers the experience

 

[Borg]

Saw the Hobbit yesterday and enjoyed it very much. My wife isn't really into it but went with me anyway. When the movie ended, she was confused and said "that's it?". I replied that this is the first of three parts. Her reply? NOOOOOO!

 

[arildno]

Saw the Hobbit yesterday and enjoyed it very much. My wife isn't really into it but went with me anyway. When the movie ended, she was confused and said "that's it?". I replied that this is the first of three parts. Her reply? NOOOOOO!

dumb woman.
My mom is much smarter than your wife.
Moms tend to be smarter, in general.

 

[Jack21222]

Saw the Hobbit yesterday and enjoyed it very much. My wife isn't really into it but went with me anyway. When the movie ended, she was confused and said "that's it?". I replied that this is the first of three parts. Her reply? NOOOOOO!

My girlfriend had a very similar reaction.

 

[dipole]

I saw it two days ago, and I was horribly dissapointed...

I can't believe intelligent members of the PF community are praising the movie. Perhaps they've never read the book or don't care for integrity.

Peter Jackson basically has completely corrupted Tolkien's work and made it into his own story. I'm so disgusted with it I doubt I'll watch either of the next two.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

I can't believe intelligent members of the PF community are praising the movie. Perhaps they've never read the book or don't care for integrity.

Since when did intelligence and personal taste go hand in hand?

I saw it last night and was ambivalent about it. Two main things hindered my enjoyment: the more childlike style (though admittedly The Hobbit was a children's book) and gratuitous CGI. With regards to the latter it was mainly things like the animals in the forest (why CGI a dead rabbit?) and the orcs which had far more of an impact in the other films when they were actors with cosmetics. The CGI orcs seemed too cartoony and didn't conjure up any real sense of fear or gravitas for me. That and the CGI seemed sub-standard, perhaps because it was so heavily used.