# The Hobbit movie(s) anticipation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969 "2010-10-22T02:44:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/241 "2011-12-22T22:38:24Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I hope not. The sickly-green stuff Jackson used to represent ghosts and the necromantic was one of the biggest drawbacks to the trilogy, one I hope Jackson won’t inflict on us again. > > Which isn’t to say that it’s bad by itself: it just doesn’t go well with the rest of the cinematography _at all_. I don’t mind Minas Morgul so much. I like that sort of visual creepitude. The whole Way of the Dead section (especially the extended edition version) I do my level best to forget happened in the film at all. “Scull Avalanche” sounds like the name of a marginally creepy island inhabited by a crochety old ex-sailor who pretends to ex-piracy in a Hardy Boys Adventure novel, not an action-point description for what should have been a rather serious side-quest with a decent expectation of death and utter spiritual desolation - and that’s if it ended WELL! ---
**Author:** ![Ratcatcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Ratcatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ratcatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/242 "2011-12-22T22:44:24Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Yes. There was (limited) dwarf humor in the LOTR movies too. So? > > I thought the singing was a somber dirge… Did I miss some other song? > > Let me repeat: I felt that the BOOK, The Hobbit, to be more… aimed at kids… than LOTR. The style of writing, the language used. It’s been 5 or 6 years since I’ve read it, but I do remember having that opinion when I finished it. > > The movie (based on the trailer) may not match the tone (I described) of the book. > > You think it will be a mad cap comedy? 😃 No “opinion” here, The Hobbit _was_ aimed at children. However, I think they decided to make the movie more in line with the LOTR films. The basic story will be followed, but it’ll be less fairy tale-like. I don’t even expect the eagles to speak in the film. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/243 "2011-12-22T22:49:24Z")
> [@Ratcatcher](#): > > No “opinion” here, The Hobbit _was_ aimed at children. However, I think they decided to make the movie more in line with the LOTR films. The basic story will be followed, but it’ll be less fairy tale-like. I don’t even expect the eagles to speak in the film. Thanks. I apologise to everyone if I worded my question poorly. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/244 "2011-12-22T22:55:22Z")
> [@Ratcatcher](#): > > I don’t even expect the eagles to speak in the film. Oh bother. I hope they still have the Elder Raven speaking to the Dwarves. That would be a real bummer to me if he didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/245 "2011-12-22T23:03:48Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Oh bother. I hope they still have the Elder Raven speaking to the Dwarves. That would be a real bummer to me if he didn’t. Yeah - “old Carc”, wasn’t he? Ancient and bald. I want to read _The Hobbit_ again, but I’m going to wait until late-ish next year to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/246 "2011-12-23T00:39:16Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Good point. I would guess that the first movie will end before the Company even reaches Lake-town, much less encountering Smaug. Smaug could certainly still appear in the first movie, though, such as in a flashback of how he drove the Dwarves out of Erebor and secured his vast hoard. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/247 "2011-12-23T01:15:23Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Oh bother. I hope they still have the Elder Raven speaking to the Dwarves. That would be a real bummer to me if he didn’t. Wagner had the woodbird speak to Siegfried. Let’s hope Peter Jackson has heard _the Ring._ ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/248 "2011-12-23T01:31:01Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Good point. I would guess that the first movie will end before the Company even reaches Lake-town, much less encountering Smaug. Perhaps with Bilbo getting the ring? Is that far enough for the first movie? > [@mlees](#): > > Based on the new trailer, would you say that Jackson appears to be trying for a “serious” action/adventure fantasy? > > I ask, because I felt that _The Hobbit_, as written, to be more of a young’un fairy tale than the more serious _Lord of the Rings_ or the _Simarillion_. I hope he keeps some of the tone of book. It’s hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/249 "2011-12-23T01:44:55Z")
If they wrap up the first movie with a brief lull following a major action sequence the way FotR and TTT did, maybe the first movie will end at Beorn’s house? That puts three fairly major action sequences (plus whatever non-_Hobbit_ backstory bits in the first film leaving three majors action sequences in the second. And they should definitely leave any reveal of Smaug for movie two. He’s the major money shot - no sense in diluting the first reveal. If is very effective in the book - should be even more so visually. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/250 "2011-12-23T02:14:28Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > And they should definitely leave any reveal of Smaug for movie two. He’s the major money shot - no sense in diluting the first reveal. If is very effective in the book - should be even more so visually. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/251 "2011-12-23T02:35:40Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > And they should definitely leave any reveal of Smaug for movie two. He’s the major money shot I wonder what dragon in the D&D mythos would breathe out _that_. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/252 "2011-12-23T02:42:19Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I wonder what dragon in the D&D mythos would breathe out _that_. Moonstone? Capiz-shell just doesn’t seem substantial enough. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/253 "2011-12-23T02:48:40Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Oropher himself had come from Valinor Cite? Everything I’ve read indicates he was a Sindarin, possibly a kinsman of Thingol, who resided in Doriath and never went to Valinor with Olwë. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/254 "2011-12-23T03:23:29Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Cite? Everything I’ve read indicates he was a Sindarin, possibly a kinsman of Thingol, who resided in Doriath and never went to Valinor with Olwë. only on the SDMB folks, only on the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/255 "2011-12-23T12:46:19Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > …And they should definitely leave any reveal of Smaug for movie two. He’s the major money shot - no sense in diluting the first reveal. If is very effective in the book - should be even more so visually. After the first movie is released, they could begin teasing us with glimpses of the dragon. And snippets of That Voice… ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/256 "2011-12-23T13:00:05Z")
Smaug is kind of like the Balrog from Fellowship. It’s better not to see it before you enter the theater. I remember the anticipation in the theater as the crowd knew the Balrog was coming. People went “whoa!!!” when he finally appeared and roared. It wasn’t the special effect. It was just really well handled. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/257 "2011-12-23T18:40:59Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Smaug is kind of like the Balrog from Fellowship. It’s better not to see it before you enter the theater. > > I remember the anticipation in the theater as the crowd knew the Balrog was coming. People went “whoa!!!” when he finally appeared and roared. It wasn’t the special effect. It was just really well handled. Yeah, I remember seeing that in the theater and my internal reaction was “OMG OMG OMG OMG awesome awesome awesome awesome Squueeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!” or something to that effect. Great reveal. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/258 "2011-12-23T19:09:14Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Yeah, I remember seeing that in the theater and my internal reaction was “OMG OMG OMG OMG awesome awesome awesome awesome Squueeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!” or something to that effect. Great reveal. And then the Wing/No-Wings people began a pitched battle in the balcony… ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/259 "2011-12-23T19:15:16Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > And then the Wing/No-Wings people began a pitched battle in the balcony… Fuck wings. PJ nailed the “a shadow and a flame” thing pretty damn well in the CG, so I for one can forgive lots of other nitpicky details with that Balrog. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/260 "2011-12-23T19:15:26Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > If they wrap up the first movie with a brief lull following a major action sequence the way FotR and TTT did, maybe the first movie will end at Beorn’s house? That puts three fairly major action sequences (plus whatever non-_Hobbit_ backstory bits in the first film leaving three majors action sequences in the second. Given that one of the dwarves is apparently shown covered in spider webs in the trailer, I’m guessing that they at least make it into Mirkwood, if not to the Elven-King’s home. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969.md?page=14)