The Hobbit - The Movie

[pyan]

There's usually a surge in the sales of a book-of-the-film after the movie's release - hopefully this will do the same. But I'd love some feedback on what people that hadn't read LotR before seeing the films thought of the adaptation. Most posts I've seen on fora are from those that had read the book first.

Unsullied? The books will still be read a century from now, when film is a forgotten media, known only to research students and groups of strange people who meet clandestinely in dusty rooms. Whatever you do to them in the short term, the books, any books, will endure.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Originally Posted by pyan

Visually, I'd agree. I'm less sure about his wholesale replacement of JRRT's dialogue, however.

Although I loved the movies, I was disappointed with most of the dialogue, too. Although I wonder how many of the actors they hired could have delivered the real thing with conviction? I don't mean a line here and there. I mean could they have kept it up through the entire movie?

Bean, Holm, Lee, Hill, Blanchett, and McKellan could have done it for certain. I have my doubts about most of the others.

[KaptariMind]

I agree. But not only would it have been difficult for the actors to maintain, but it may have made the films more difficult to follow for certain viewers—especially younger ones. Highly stylized or even archaic language is much easier to follow in written form (especially when you're unfamiliar with the style) than it is when written. The first time I read The Hobbit, I was in sixth grade, and I remember really having to take my time with some of the dialogue in the beginning. By the end, I was in the flow, and enjoyed it so much I actually ended up turning around and rereading it immediately. But if I had had to listen to said dialogue (especially in a crowded theatre where you can't turn to a parent and ask, "what did he mean?") I worry that I would have been somewhat lost.

That being the case, as long as he's true to the meaning/emotion of the dialogue, I'm pretty happy. I guess I look for the impact. After watching The Hobbit, will I feel the way I felt after having read it? That's what I'm looking for.

[devilsgrin]

i have no doubt about Elijah Wood's ability to pull off the original dialogue. But i agree that most of the others would struggle (aside from those you mention TE) - Viggo and Sean Astin in particular struggled with what they were given, let alone what Tolkien wrote.

The problem Kaptari, is that PJ warps the intentions and emotions of the dialogue to support HIS notion of the storyline. In LotR for instance, for 90% of the production, he was under the impression that Aragorn was the hero of the books.... and not Frodo and Sam. In fact he had shot a scene at the battle before the black gate that had King Elessar fighting Annatar - the "elves deceiving" form of Sauron (thankfully this was replaced with Elessar fighting a troll instead). Throw in the torn, "i don't want to be king" aragorn, which is a complete fabrication, since the Aragorn from the books was MORE than ready to be king... he wanted the throne quite badly.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by devilsgrin

Throw in the torn, "i don't want to be king" aragorn, which is a complete fabrication, since the Aragorn from the books was MORE than ready to be king... he wanted the throne quite badly.

Not to mention the fact that Elrond had said specifically that he couldn't marry Arwen until he was king, and had reunited the North and South Kingdoms...

But when Aragorn came again to Rivendell he (Elrond) called him to him, and he said:

"... I say to you: Arwen Undómiel shall not diminish her life's grace for less cause. She shall not be the bride of any Man less than the King of both Gondor and Arnor."

RotK - Appendix A (v)

[Teresa Edgerton]

Most of the big changes that Jackson made I believe I understood, could see the reasoning, felt that the reasoning was good. But that didn't mean I always liked them. Very often I didn't.

I would have been far happier with a less-conflicted Aragorn, an Aragorn utterly prepared to take on his destined role ... but I did appreciate a little hesitation in the matter of Arwen. I never quite liked how comfortable he was with the idea that the woman he loved would give up her immortality when she married him. (In fact, there have been times when I've been reading "The Tale of Arwen and Aragorn" that I've wanted to slap him.) I suspect that Jackson thought modern movie-goers wouldn't like it either.

When the Hobbit movie comes out, I expect to have mixed reactions to many of the decisions there, too.

But then there were places in LOTR where he exceeded my expectations. I am hoping the same will be true for the new movie.

[Daisy-Boo]

If you haven't seen it already, this i09 post has a video clip and pictures from the press conference where the main cast was introduced. Martin Freeman, James Nesbitt and Aidan Turner in the same movie. Woot!

[KaptariMind]

Devilsgrin, Pyan, and TE, you all have extremely valid points. Though I never got the feeling from the movies that Aragorn was the "ultimate" hero of the story—I think it remains quite clear that no matter what he accomplishes, all is lost if Frodo and Sam fail—it's definitely true that his part of the story line is framed in extremely heroic terms. But I think this gave balance to the feature. If we had to watch any more of Frodo struggling and suffering, the movies would have been difficult to get through, and it would have been hard to see how we could possibly come out winners. I, for one, felt Frodo was more heroic, simply because his task was so clearly difficult for him in every sense, as opposed to Aragorn who was a fighter who had to do more fighting, with strong fighting friends at his side.

But I think PJ accomplished some of this additional heroism of Aragorn precisely by making him conflicted about taking up the crown. Who can relate to a glory-hound? Part of today's notion of heroism is the idea that someone is willing to fight for something they believe in, especially when fighting is the last thing they want to do. Just as TE was saying about Aragorn's conflict with Arwen's choice to give up her immortality, this creates a more sympathetic character—at least for today's viewers.

Just as Pyan said earlier, the books will last forever—utterly timeless—but the movies were made today, for today's audience.

Now, if we could all just agree to agree...

Thanks for the heads-up, Daisy-Boo.

[ctg]

One thing that I'm going to love is the thirteen dwarves and one 'extraordinaly' hungry hobbit doing an adventure. The another thing I'm going to love is that there isn't going to elves in this movie. So as a dwarf lover my expectations are on quite high. And there isn't going to be many things that they can cut away from the Hobbit.

[KaptariMind]

Seriously, Ctg... I'm hoping for a lot of fun with this one. But I hate to tell you this: as far as we can tell, the plan is definitely to have elves in the movie, at least momentarily. Sorry.

[ctg]

Originally Posted by KaptariMind

Seriously, Ctg... I'm hoping for a lot of fun with this one. But I hate to tell you this: as far as we can tell, the plan is definitely to have elves in the movie, at least momentarily. Sorry.

I can live with that, but seeing another scene, where an [deleted] elf pops out from under a pile of [deleted] snow without anything affecting his [deleted] hair is [deleted], not talking about the [deleted] shield surfing.

[Mouse]

Just reading back through this thread. Personally I thought Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd (Merry and Pippin) were the best actors in LotR. Apart from Sir Ian, but that's a given.

Anyway, looking forward to the Hobbit and perfectly happy with PJ directing it.

edit: just read all of Daisy's post. Didn't realise the lovely Aiden Turner (Mitchell from Being Human) was going to be in it! Yay!

[KaptariMind]

I can live with that, but seeing another scene, where an [deleted] elf pops out from under a pile of [deleted] snow without anything affecting his [deleted] hair is [deleted], not talking about the [deleted] shield surfing.

Ahahahahaha!!! Inappropriate laughter? Maybe. But that was just really funny!

And I thought Monaghan and Boyd did great jobs as well, Mouse.

[Menion]

Anybody else read/hear about Jedward playing Fili & Kili? I can't remeber where but I read it a while ago. I am so glad they arn't.

[shaun45]

i hope there will be