[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq]
I liked the movies, qua movies. I liked the visuals, even in the context of the books. But I have never forgiven him for the added and changed portions of the story. Leaving out Bombadil was unimportant; things had to be left out or we would have had six movies instead. But adding things was unforgivable and unnecessary. I hope whoever is chosen to do The Hobbit will avoid that particular foolish egocentrism.
[/QUOTE]
For shame! How else are we going to know that Aragorn was such a badass he could survive a fall into a canyon after a rigorous battle in which he appeared to die? Huh? Huh?
[QUOTE=Ludovic]
For shame! How else are we going to know that Aragorn was such a badass he could survive a fall into a canyon after a rigorous battle in which he appeared to die? Huh? Huh?
[/QUOTE]
He could have fought off an army of orcs at Helm’s Deep I suppose.
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
He could have fought off an army of orcs at Helm’s Deep I suppose.
[/QUOTE]
No, leave that to the Elves. actually, I didn’t mind elves at Helm’s Deep.
[QUOTE=Ludovic]
No, leave that to the Elves. actually, I didn’t mind elves at Helm’s Deep.
[/QUOTE]
That bugged me, it would have bugged me less if it was Elladan & Elrohir with the Ranger of the North, but it still would have bugged me.
Like I’ve said elsewhere, I don’t care who does the directing as long as WETA Workshop does the props and scenery. Say what you want about WETA Digital’s CGI (I’m a big fan, esp. of Massive), Workshop’s props are great, and gave both LOTR and TLTW&TW a feeling of veritas that would be good to have in The Hobbit. Also, Alan Lee on staff would be good, too, John Howe not essential but nice-to-have.
[QUOTE=Ludovic]
No, leave that to the Elves. actually, I didn’t mind elves at Helm’s Deep.
[/QUOTE]
Who will do it while skateboarding down a set of stairs… :rolleyes:
Well, I wouldn’t pay money to see it if it were directed by anybody else, especially not Bob Shaye.
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq]
Who will do it while skateboarding down a set of stairs… :rolleyes:
[/QUOTE]
I completely agree that the skateboarding (and the dwarf throwing) was wrong.
But Jackson got so much right!
The book is a nightmare to film:
- the chief villain is disembodied
- there is a huge cast of characters, some of whom appear once (Glorfindel)
- there is a massive backhistory, including characters who are thousands of years old (Elrond)
- the book arbitrarily jumps between plots (Two Towers)
- there are chapters in the book full of lengthy explanation (Council of Elrond)
PJ’s the logical choice.
I just re-watched all the extended edition behind-the-scenes DVDs, and was again stunned by the incredible devotion and detail put into every level of the production. There’s just noone else out there right now that is going to go to those extremes, and frankly, that’s what made the Trilogy a hit for PJ.
I had some fundamental differences with PJ over what he did to LOTR (for one thing, elves out of Helm’s Deep!) but I respected and enjoyed his work quite a bit. It’s art, people. That’s how it works.
In another 10 or 15 or 20 years, someone else can come along and put their vision of what JRRT’s works should look like on the screen. That’s how it should be.
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan]
PJ’s the logical choice.
I just re-watched all the extended edition behind-the-scenes DVDs, and was again stunned by the incredible devotion and detail put into every level of the production. There’s just noone else out there right now that is going to go to those extremes, and frankly, that’s what made the Trilogy a hit for PJ.
I had some fundamental differences with PJ over what he did to LOTR (for one thing, elves out of Helm’s Deep!) but I respected and enjoyed his work quite a bit. It’s art, people. That’s how it works.
In another 10 or 15 or 20 years, someone else can come along and put their vision of what JRRT’s works should look like on the screen. That’s how it should be.
[/QUOTE]
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa created a show of LOTR movie “artifacts.” And it made a stop at Houston’s Natural History Museum.. Seeing the props close up was amazing. Arms & armour galore, from elegant Elvish stuff through crudely impressive Uruk Hai gear. Costumes for all–including a few true “fairy princess” gowns for the ladies. Remember the ancient books & manuscripts Gandalf read in Minas Tirith? They were there, too.
Plus many sketches by Alan Lee & John Howe. A great deal of love went into those movies–on all levels.
Many of the wonderful details didn’t show on screen. But Bernard Hill said that the Golden Hall & his beautifully finished armour truly made him feel like King Theoden.
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan]
PJ’s the logical choice.
I just re-watched all the extended edition behind-the-scenes DVDs, and was again stunned by the incredible devotion and detail put into every level of the production. There’s just noone else out there right now that is going to go to those extremes, and frankly, that’s what made the Trilogy a hit for PJ. <snip>
[/QUOTE]
This is really the biggest point in my opinion. PJ put much more effort and time into making LOTR as detailed and as accurate a production as he could. I don’t see any other director putting that much time and energy into making The Hobbit.
For me, the work that Peter Jackson put into LOTR always mentally reminds me of what Electronic Arts did with the computer game Starflight in the 80’s. They put four years into developing the storyline of that game…something that is unheard of today. Same with the effort that PJ put into LOTR, no directors want to work that hard today.
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan]
I just re-watched all the extended edition behind-the-scenes DVDs
[/QUOTE]
I watch them more often than I do the films themselves. 
Hell, I can’t remember the last time I even watch the films themselves without the commentaries on. THREE different commentary tracks?!? I’m in heaven.
It would be nice to have continuity (pre-continuity?) of both locale and actors: Jackson’s set designs for Hobbiton, for instance, seemed perfect to me. It would be nice if Ian McKellan could do Gandalf and a CG-Andy Serkis could continue Gollum, and Hugh Wossname for Elrond. I think Peter Jackson would do a good job, assuming he’d recognize the difference in story-telling style between the Hobbit and LotR and make a more light-hearted film. However, he wouldn’t be required… if they could get the sets and actors.
There still couldn’t be complete continuity because that would require Ian Holm to play decades younger than he is–and though it may be technologically possible to pull it off (as seen in X-Men 3), it’d be a far greater expense than I think most studios would be willing to commit for one character actor assigned a major leading role.
I don’t think Peter Jackson is short enough to do the Hobbit.
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy]
There still couldn’t be complete continuity because that would require Ian Holm to play decades younger than he is–and though it may be technologically possible to pull it off (as seen in X-Men 3), it’d be a far greater expense than I think most studios would be willing to commit for one character actor assigned a major leading role.
[/QUOTE]
Why would he have to be decades younger. He has lived something like 800 lives of men I don’t think 50 years is going to make that much of a difference.
[QUOTE=etgaw1]
Why would he have to be decades younger. He has lived something like 800 lives of men I don’t think 50 years is going to make that much of a difference.
[/QUOTE]
Ian Holm was Bilbo as an older Bilbo at ages 111 and later. He needs to play a 50 year old hobbit, which should be someone in their 30s.
Jim
[QUOTE=etgaw1]
Why would he have to be decades younger. He has lived something like 800 lives of men I don’t think 50 years is going to make that much of a difference.
[/QUOTE]
That’s Ian McKellen you’re thinking of. 
[QUOTE=Terrifel]
I also think the story’s tone would have to be altered somewhat, from a children’s book to something that would appeal more broadly to all ages-- you couldn’t go back and have the Elves in Rivendell singing “Tra-la-lally,” for example. There’d have to be a clear continuity between the films. I believe that Jackson’s team has the confidence and respect for the original works to make it work. Plus, I don’t want the filmmakers to pull too many punches with Smaug’s attack on Laketown, let alone the Battle of Five Armies…
[/QUOTE]
Another Doper, I forget just who, suggested that this be dealt with by a framing device. Have Bilbo telling the story to a bunch of hobbit kids. Any childish stuff is then due to Bilbo tailoring the story to his audience of kids.
OneCentStamp
Err. yes you are right. I will slink away now