Hobbit movie progressing

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Mugwump

And (I hope) Gollum? They're not thinking of casting someone other than Serkis, are they?!

I wish they would.. and McKellen. Seldom have performances been so over rated.... Ah well I tried to watch Pan's Labyrith again the other night and once again fell asleep after 5 minutes so I am really not hopeful about this in any way...

[Mugwump]

I disagree with you about McKellen and Serkis, but I agree about Pan's Labyrith.

For all the complaining people do about Peter Jackson's version of LotR, he still did a magnificent job and it's going to be incredibly hard for anyone to measure up to that standard.

[Mithalwen]

I thought the costumes etc were beautiful but I have never managed to sit through it all again. It just about worked in the cinema when it all washed over me but the CGI looks very dated now IMO. And the endless action scenes at the expense of character and plot bore me. But I am not the demographic they were aiming at.

I would have loved to see someone else try. I hate the idea that PJ is the only person who can interpret Tolkien. As a visual interpretation I much preferred the London version of the musical and the radio version has a hold on me that has endured twentyfive years.

I think McKellen is a lazy and mannered actor. He seems to be the same in everything these days and he always seemed to me to be Ian McKellen being Gandalf rather than just Gandalf. Vocally Peter Woodthorpe was incomparable as Gollum, visually Michel Therriault was superb without CGI. Some of Jackson's casting was great even if the actors were not as described in the books
but these two I could do without.

[Mugwump]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I hate the idea that PJ is the only person who can interpret Tolkien.

There is no widespread acceptance of such an idea. Like all good myth, Tolkien's world can, has been, and will be interpreted by many. There can be many good interpretations and versions of the same myth, and they need not all agree in every particular.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

About Andy Serkis returning, on TORN there's
this from del Toro.

About ONLY 3 actors returning: I think the emphasis on “only” is what slant the news the wrong way. I cannot imagine Gollum being played by anyone but Andy and in the second script there is still much in discussion to lock everything for now

I agree AS could be replaced, but apparently won't. So who's
the third, apparently guaranteed, returnee? Kate Blanchett? Or Agent Elrond?

[Rumil]

Leggie of course!!

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Ah, ha! Legolas finally figures out that daddy, being an elf,
just might keep kinging for centuries so disguises himself
as a mortal (calling himself Bard) to start a kingdom around
Laketown. Brilliant!

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Mugwump

There is no widespread acceptance of such an idea. .

We clearly haven't been to the same websites..... when there was the blessed chance it would be someone else you would have thought the world was literally coming to an end in some quarters. I don't hate the movies... I reserve such emotions for more worthy targets. Its a curate's egg. I just find that I have more interesting things to do with my life than sit though them again on a TV screen.

Reagardless I think too much time has passed to try and shoehorn the Hobbit in to the established LOTR mould. Maybe one day when the copyrights have expired someone will do a remake that will tell the entire history of the Quest of Erebor and the War of the Ring without having to martyr themselves to continuity. Jackson's LOTR was Frodo's story and the one place where he was very faithful was following the hobbit centric perspective of the book. Personally I think you could tell the history as Aragorn's story and you solve a lot of the dramatic problems which apparently necessitated the more major changes. No doubt many would disagree.

However having made the Rings as a stand a lone film I think it would be better to do the same for the Hobbit. And I really can't see how they can stretch it out over two films. Is there really enough and will people be interested enough to go back months or a year later?


I adore Hugo Weaving and he might lure me in. I thought he was good as Elrond. It isn't a huge role and I guess he might well do it if asked. though maybe not if he has to tralalalally...

[Lindale]

I'm hearing these ridiculous rumors in FB about Toby Maguire as Bilbo... was amusing at first, now I have to let it out of my chest and into the Downs.

[Mithalwen]

He wouldn't be my first choice but I don't think he would be a disaster.. he was quite good in Seabiscuit.

Some newspapers are reporting he is cast.