Del Toro Quits 'The Hobbit'

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

You know whose name I'm surprised I've never seen on any of these lists, especially the original search? Brad Silberling. I thought he did a fine job with the Lemony Snicket movie. I thought that should have been a bigger hit, but I guess it had a particular sort of humor which might not have translated well overseas. And now, well, let's face it, the crime against cinema known as Land of the Lost has probably relegated him to the B- or C-list for the foreseeable future. You don't want that stink on The Hobbit.

But wasn't Peter Jackson a B or C list director prior to the filming of LotR? I seem to recall saying 'Who?' when a friend told me PJ was named as LotR director. The friend then rattled off a few movies that PJ had directed, and I again replied 'Who?'

Honestly, it would appear to me that the Lord of the Rings movies were Jackson's shining moment, because I have not been enamored of his projects prior or since. King Kong? Meh...I prefer the 1933 black & white classic. PJ offered nothing new to the film. And 'Lovely Bones'? Again, nothing really to get all worked up about. I certainly wouldn't go out and buy the DVD for my collection. I saw it on cable and have no interest in seeing it again.

Oh, and I really enjoyed Lemony Snicket, but you are right, Silberling should be consigned to the ninth circle of cinema hell for Land of the Lost.

[PrinceOfTheHalflings]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

But wasn't Peter Jackson a B or C list director prior to the filming of LotR? I seem to recall saying 'Who?' when a friend told me PJ was named as LotR director. The friend then rattled off a few movies that PJ had directed, and I again replied 'Who?'

Not exactly. "Heavenly Creatures" (1994) got an Academy Award nomination and it also got other awards and nominations. It was more that he was an independent director working in a small country that meant that he wasn't so well known.

He was working outside of the Hollywood system, so notions of "A list" or whatever don't really apply. He still doesn't work in Hollywood, BTW.

[Mister Underhill]

Yes, Heavenly Creatures was nominated for an Oscar for the screenplay, and got some other awards attention.

More importantly, though, Tolkien wasn't a multi-billion dollar franchise when New Line decided to take a big gamble on Jackson. As Bob Dylan once said, things have changed.

Jackson has his virtues. I mean he's not soulless like Bay, or clueless like Boll. I heartily agree that the original Kong is awesome, a landmark film of its time, like Star Wars, that fired the imaginations of a generation of filmmakers and still holds up today. Still and all, I thought there was some nice work in Kong. I agree overall though that he's not the "New Spielberg" he was hailed as when the LotR was breaking the bank.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

Yes, Heavenly Creatures was nominated for an Oscar for the screenplay, and got some other awards attention.

More importantly, though, Tolkien wasn't a multi-billion dollar franchise when New Line decided to take a big gamble on Jackson. As Bob Dylan once said, things have changed.

Jackson has his virtues. I mean he's not soulless like Bay, or clueless like Bole. I heartily agree that the original Kong is awesome, a landmark film of its time, like Star Wars, that fired the imaginations of a generation of filmmakers and still holds up today. Still and all, I thought there was some nice work in Kong. I agree overall though that he's not the "New Spielberg" he was hailed as when the LotR was breaking the bank.

Has anyone beside me seen Jackson's 1996 film, "The Frighteners"? I thought it was quite entertaining and very well-made.

I especially enjoyed the cameo by R. Lee Ermey. That was a touch of genius.

[Thinlómien]

I was really disappointed when I heard this a few days ago. Maybe it's like Nogrod says - Del Toro was too good for this. It would've just been very interesting to see his Middle-Earth: I think he's the kind of director who has enough vision of his own that he could "save" the jacksonified Middle-Earth. I'm not expecting that from any random blockbuster/fantasy movie director...