# 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:** 38
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/741 "2014-11-06T20:11:31Z")
> [@simster](#): > > well of course they’re from Gundabad - the Eagles are from Kindagud. Applause! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/742 "2014-11-06T21:06:18Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > They’re actually in the book. Clouds of bats darkening the sky followed the orc army coming from Gundabad. Yes, you’re right! > [@J.R.R. Tolkien](#): > > "Still more suddenly a darkness came on with dreadful swiftness! A black cloud hurried over the sky. Winter thunder on a wild wind rolled roaring up and rumbled in the Mountain, and lightning lit its peak. And beneath the thunder another blackness could be seen whirling forward; but it did not come with the wind, it came from the North, like a vast cloud of birds, so dense that no light could be seen between their wings. > > ‘Halt!’ cried Gandalf, who appeared suddenly, and stood alone, with arms uplifted, between the advancing dwarves and the ranks awaiting them. ‘Halt!’ he called in a voice like thunder, and his staff blazed forth with a flash like the lightning. ‘Dread has come upon you all! Alas! it has come more swiftly than I guessed. The Goblins are upon you! Bolg of the North is coming, O Dain! whose father you slew in Moria. Behold! the bats are above his army like a sea of locusts. They ride upon wolves and Wargs are in their train!’ > > … > > Soon the thunder passed, rolling away to the South-East; but the bat-cloud came, flying lower, over the shoulder of the Mountain, and whirled above them shutting out the light and filling them with dread." Yes, it’s the cloud of bats that gave the goblins confidence to fight in the daytime. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/743 "2014-11-06T21:16:28Z")
Maybe they’ll eat the goats. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/744 "2014-11-06T21:44:06Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Some of Jackson’s decisions are completely incomprehensibobble to me. That whole long dragon-fight cartoon sequence was in, but Thrain was out? \ I would love to be able to edit OUT lots of scenes in both movies so far. Only six more months until the fan edits begin! Can the trilogy be successfully whittled down to a single three-hour movie? Two two-hour movies? I cannot wait to see what they do with it. ---
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/745 "2014-11-08T04:45:38Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Desolation of Smaug Extended edition is now available on Itunes, with a Blu-ray soon. I saw the Blu-ray in the store this week. I didn’t bother to pick it up. After seeing that latest trailer, I don’t think I’ll be seeing the last film at all. (Yes, I have all the prior movies in EE, have watched the appendices of LotR multiple times, and listened to all the commentary tracks. Oh and I own the soundtracks.) I actually defended Jackson’s changes in Two Towers. But I can’t take any more of this drek. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/746 "2014-11-09T02:46:06Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > Only six more months until the fan edits begin! Can the trilogy be successfully whittled down to a single three-hour movie? Two two-hour movies? I cannot wait to see what they do with it. You and me both. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/747 "2014-11-14T23:14:32Z")
[Here is Billy Boyd’s song for the close of the final movie. I like it.](http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6319735/the-hobbit-song-premiere-billy-boyd-the-last-goodbye) It’s essentially goodbye from the entire crew for 6 Lord of the Rings movies, not just a closing to the Hobbit. Very cute. ---
**Author:** ![plankter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ba0ec/32.png) [@plankter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plankter)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/748 "2014-12-15T15:50:53Z")
Later today, here in the States, I’m going to sit my butt down in front of an IMAX screen and watch all three Hobbit movies. To be brutally honest, it’s less in anticipation of the third film than a tribute of sorts to my nostalgia for the LOTR films, which I wish I could have seen in a similar marathon premiere. That’s not to say I won’t have a good time, but there’s that twinge of regret. ---
**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 15, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/749 "2014-12-15T17:26:45Z")
I’m a bit too busy to do a marathon day, but the Mrs. and I have our tix to a Tuesday night (tomorrow) 3D show all reserved, with assigned seats that recline! Bring out the Comfy Chairs!! ---
**Author:** ![plankter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ba0ec/32.png) [@plankter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plankter)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/750 "2014-12-16T06:57:29Z")
I saw The Battle of the Five Armies and I liked it. That’s as much of a review I can muster just now because I’m way past my bedtime and presently I am still seething at missing the first 20 minutes of AUJ thanks to Disneyland’s moronic traffic policy. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/751 "2014-12-16T14:48:42Z")
Honestly, The Hobbit just kindof makes me sad at this point. For all my frustrations with the LotR movies, I am genuinely fond of them, and there was a serious magic surrounding both the films and their creation, and I really feel like, whatever I might think of Phillipa Boyens and her stupid script, a genuine, good faith effort was made to make a series of truly moving films that held true to their source material. I barely recognize The Hobbit at this point. Movie 2 was just so full of “Whut?” that I’ve basically completely dissociated it from Tolkien at this point. I don’t know that I expect film 3 to be better. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/752 "2014-12-16T14:59:30Z")
I also did the IMAX marathon yesterday and while the third installment certainly had flaws, I do think it was better than the first two. I’ll post a fuller review later today (probably a separate thread). ---
**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:** [January 4, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/753 "2015-01-04T17:48:59Z")
I ask we keep this open until the extended cut of the final movie comes out, which will mark the end of the journey/experience for everyone. [I just read that the final movie will be extended 30 minutes on the DVD that comes out in about 11 months](http://screenrant.com/hobbig-battle-five-armies-extended-cut-running-time/). I know not everyone will agree, but I think it desperately needs it. I certainly hope(and kind of expect) that most of that footage will be non-battle footage, which should help flesh out things better. I see it will will include some Beorn footage, which is good since he just showed up and “beared out” in the movie with no intro. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/754 "2015-01-04T18:32:59Z")
Yeah, if it’s quiet, character-oriented stuff consistent with Tolkien’s writings, and not just more frantic battle and chase scenes, I’m all for it. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/755 "2015-01-05T01:20:00Z")
In the book, when does Gandalf find out about the invisibility ring? I swear Bilbo confesses and tells him not long after sneaking up on the group and surprising them. In the movie, it ends with Bilbo telling him to relax and that the ring fell out during the battle. Gandalf does not call him a liar, but simply looks distressed and says something about Bilbo being a small man in a big world. I expected him to say, “You are a great man and fine adventurer…but a terrible liar.” It was weird. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/756 "2015-01-05T11:58:21Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > In the book, when does Gandalf find out about the invisibility ring? Which version of the book? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/757 "2015-01-05T16:57:49Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > In the book, when does Gandalf find out about the invisibility ring? I swear Bilbo confesses and tells him not long after sneaking up on the group and surprising them. > > In the movie, it ends with Bilbo telling him to relax and that the ring fell out during the battle. Gandalf does not call him a liar, but simply looks distressed and says something about Bilbo being a small man in a big world. > > I expected him to say, “You are a great man and fine adventurer…but a terrible liar.” It was weird. Bilbo never tells Gandalf about the ring in the book. When he first meets up with the Company after escaping the Misty Mountain, he tells them everything about the encounter with Gollum, except the Ring. In Mirkwood, he eventually has to explain about the Ring to the dwarves during the battle with the Spiders, but Gandalf isn’t around then. He doesn’t meet up again with Gandalf until after the battle, and they never discuss it. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/758 "2015-01-05T20:48:39Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Which version of the book? The revised edition. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/759 "2015-01-05T20:49:53Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Bilbo never tells Gandalf about the ring in the book. When he first meets up with the Company after escaping the Misty Mountain, he tells them everything about the encounter with Gollum, except the Ring. In Mirkwood, he eventually has to explain about the Ring to the dwarves during the battle with the Spiders, but Gandalf isn’t around then. He doesn’t meet up again with Gandalf until after the battle, and they never discuss it. Thanks, my memory was obviously wrong and I was thinking of the Mirkwood scene. So Gandalf finds out about the ring between Hobbit and Lord of the Rings? Do we ever find out when he learned about it? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969/760 "2015-01-05T20:54:49Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Thanks, my memory was obviously wrong and I was thinking of the Mirkwood scene. So Gandalf finds out about the ring between Hobbit and Lord of the Rings? Do we ever find out when he learned about it? Nothing more specific than before the Birthday Party. The intro to FOTR discusses how Bilbo had originally lied about his meeting with Gollum, and Gandalf eventually dragged the truth out of him, but no indication of when that occurred. For all we know, it happened during their trip from Erebor back to Bag End, but was left out of “The Hobbit” itself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hobbit-movie-s-anticipation-thread/557969.md?page=39)