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Post by Stormrider on Dec 30, 2012 6:49:23 GMT -6
Yes, While Radagast is rather cool himself, his rapid-rabbit sled is very strange and a weird twist to the story. Watch for PJ as a Dwarf in the opening Erebor attack by Smaug! He is supposed to be there somewhere. If I go see the movie again, I am going to watch closely for him.
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Post by Desi Baggins on Jan 6, 2013 7:30:04 GMT -6
I am excited to see the movie again... though I am sure it won't be in the theater just cost too much so can't wait for DVD!
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Post by Andorinha on Jan 8, 2013 20:42:30 GMT -6
Saw it. Hmm, did not work for me. About the only positive: it did have a bit more color, not quite as blue as most CGI films. But, the characters of the dwarves seemed like the Marx Brothers combined with the Three Stooges, only not even slapstick funny, just boring.
Wife did indeed fall asleep. Sigh, at least I stayed awake. Tried to judge it not as Tolkien's Hobbit but as Jackson's -- even then, it just did not move me. Even the background scenery, traveling through the forests/ mountains (usually something that gets me) failed to excite. Oh, well, can't please everyone.
All that said, I liked the maquette for Rivendell, liked most of the interior of Erebor before Smaug, and liked the look of Dale.
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Post by Stormrider on Jan 9, 2013 22:52:41 GMT -6
Saw it. Hmm, did not work for me. About the only positive: it did have a bit more color, not quite as blue as most CGI films. But, the characters of the dwarves seemed like the Marx Brothers combined with the Three Stooges, only not even slapstick funny, just boring.
Wife did indeed fall asleep. Sigh, at least I stayed awake. Tried to judge it not as Tolkien's Hobbit but as Jackson's -- even then, it just did not move me. Even the background scenery, traveling through the forests/ mountains (usually something that gets me) failed to excite. Oh, well, can't please everyone.
All that said, I liked the maquette for Rivendell, liked most of the interior of Erebor before Smaug, and liked the look of Dale. I didn't think the Dwarves were like a Marx/Stooge mix. I thought they were more or less like Tolkien's Dwarves (at least at Bag End). I think there was so much to cover in the movie and so many Dwarves that the audience doesn't get enough time to get to familiarize them as individuals. I am not even sure all of them had a chance to speak any individual lines in the movie. At least their own lines rather than group commentary, song, or expletives. I still think the younger Dwarves (Fili & Kili) should have looked more rough and gnarly rather than so smooth and handsome despite the little bit of hair on their faces. Fell asleep anyway. Hmmm. Oh well.
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Post by Stormrider on Jan 9, 2013 23:02:58 GMT -6
I just saw the movie, Willow, produced by George Lucas and Directed by Ron Howard. They used actual little people (is that politically correct?) in this movie. It was a really adorable movie and the little people were so cute and I thought they were perfect. I kept wondering why PJ did not use little people for his Hobbits and Dwarves. Those in Willow were really good actors/actresses and fit perfectly. I suppose PJ wouldn't have been able to show off his special effects talents as well if he had used little people!
I know Willow was made around the time Star Wars was made or shortly after since the character, Willow, was played by an actor who was only 18 at the time who had also been an Ewok in Star Wars. I had heard of the movie but had never seen it and was surprised that Val Kilmer was in it, too!
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Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Jan 10, 2013 1:38:38 GMT -6
I love Willow! Just got that on DVD recently.
I think part of the reason PJ used special effects to portray the Hobbits was so he could cast known actors. Elijah Wood and Sean Astin were not huge stars but had been in a number of films and had the potential to carry the LOTR movies. PJ was familiar with them and felt their personalities fit the characters.
Also, special effects help convey that Hobbits are proportionally the same as Men, only smaller. They are not born with dwarfism or a physical condition, they're a separate fantasy race. I apologize if this sounds offensive (not my intention) but some little people in real life are slightly disproportionate in terms of body type.
In any case, there were indeed little people employed by the production. All the Hobbits had scale doubles, actors who played the smaller characters in shots where they stand beside or interact with larger characters.
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Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Jan 10, 2013 1:45:50 GMT -6
I am not even sure all of them had a chance to speak any individual lines in the movie. At least their own lines rather than group commentary, song, or expletives. I watched for this on my second viewing. Bombur is the only one who doesn't get any dialogue at all. Nori gets only one line as far as I could tell. Bifur has a line but it's in Khuzdul and not translated. Sorry you didn't care for the movie, Andorinha. I had my issues with it (Radagast, Azog, etc.) but there was a lot that I did enjoy. It's certainly not the Hobbit movie I would have made though, if given PJ's budget.
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Post by Desi Baggins on Jan 10, 2013 6:22:55 GMT -6
The Hobbit is written as a more fun adventure story for kids... the LOTR was not written that way... I do think the movies showed that difference... I was worried the Hobbit was gonna be made too dark like LOTR... I was actually surprised that in LOTR there was so much comedy between Legolas and Gimli cuz that was a bit out of the books storyline... My kids really enjoyed the Hobbit so I think it did what it was suppose to do...
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Post by Stormrider on Jan 10, 2013 7:05:53 GMT -6
Also, special effects help convey that Hobbits are proportionally the same as Men, only smaller. They are not born with dwarfism or a physical condition, they're a separate fantasy race. I apologize if this sounds offensive (not my intention) but some little people in real life are slightly disproportionate in terms of body type. Fredeghar, I thought of this, too, but I did not notice the proportional differences that much in Willow. They did a very good job at covering it up or selecting people who weren't as disportortional. Desi: I think once they get into Mirkwood, the movie will get darker and more ominous. Mirkwood always seemed very dark and gloomy to me when I read those chapters. I hope PJ captures the insect eyes glowing in the dark as written in the book. But I know there will have to be enough light so people can see the characters walking through the forest, too.
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Post by Desi Baggins on Jan 12, 2013 7:43:36 GMT -6
I do agree that part is darker... I actually thought that part scarier than Smaug himself...
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Post by Stormrider on Jan 14, 2013 17:09:15 GMT -6
Yep! Mirkwood creeped me out! Smaug was more mezmerizing.
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Post by Vanye on Jan 22, 2013 1:02:44 GMT -6
Well supposedly Mirkwood is spooky cuz of Sauron & the Necromancer's influence due to his presence at Dol Goldur! At least that is my understanding-& at the end of The Hobbit I think that Gandalf says something to Bilbo to the effect that Mirkwood will become less 'spooky' since the Necromancer has left Dol Goldur. Is that right or am I 'full of beans'. Vanye
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Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Feb 4, 2013 21:37:09 GMT -6
A group of academic researchers created a survey about people's reactions to the Hobbit movie. If you want to take part, here is the link: flashq.rcc.ryerson.ca/Hobbit/I just took the survey and tried to explain my mixed thoughts on the movie.
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Post by Stormrider on Feb 5, 2013 7:10:31 GMT -6
Hmmm . . . Fredeghar, after you took the survey, did they provide you with a link so you can check the website(s) periodically so you can see the results?
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Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Feb 5, 2013 17:41:37 GMT -6
Hmmm . . . Fredeghar, after you took the survey, did they provide you with a link so you can check the website(s) periodically so you can see the results? Yes, it takes you to the university website after you complete the survey. I forgot to bookmark the page though.
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