Hobbit Trailer looks crap

[Mithalwen]

Having had anothwr look the rare glimpses of Bilbo which were about the only things I rcognised from the book save the doorstep were relatively appealing. The look on Freeman's face when he breathes clear air and sees butterflies was perfect. But it was a nanosecond in a lot of portentous extraeneous stuff. F they hadn' been so desperate to echo the LOTR films there mighthave been a jolly romp of a Bilbo focussed film there. If the trailer is representative then calling it the Hobbit might contravene trade descriptions.

Why ARE Tauriel's ears so big? Much larger than the male elves... really distracting.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

If the trailer is representative then calling it the Hobbit might contravene trade descriptions.

Happily trailers are not representative as their basic raison d'être is to catch the attention of as many - or the right kind of - people as possible. So all the trailers of action films (which the Hobbit sadly seems to be) are even more packed with action than the real films as they have to convince the wannabe audiences they will get some reaallly hard and fast speed stuff to blow their minds off... they kind of pack the thick of the action scenes into a short music video kind of burst in trailers.

[Bêthberry]

The movie Life of Pi is a superbly done adaptation of the book of the same name--and it isn't slavishly done. And even more stunning is the fact that the special effects and even the 3D support the story rather than supplanting it.

So modern technology can enhance a narrative. Just not in Jackson's hands apparently.

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Happily trailers are not representative as their basic raison d'être is to catch the attention of as many - or the right kind of - people as possible. So all the trailers of action films (which the Hobbit sadly seems to be) are even more packed with action than the real films as they have to convince the wannabe audiences they will get some reaallly hard and fast speed stuff to blow their minds off... they kind of pack the thick of the action scenes into a short music video kind of burst in trailers.

I wonder if they've ever considered that such trailers can turn people off? Or have done marketing surveys to suggest that they will get more money from those who want action flicks than from those who don't?

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

I wonder if they've ever considered that such trailers can turn people off?

They probably even know it - but consider those people a marginal matter compared to their views of the more desired audiences.

Or have done marketing surveys to suggest that they will get more money from those who want action flicks than from those who don't?

If you just check what kind of films are the blockbusters and bring in the most revenue... Now there sure are exceptions to that, but they are insecure aka. they can't be predicted. So when you are basically just making money (instead of art) you take the more safer road and rely on action and advertising.

[Mithalwen]

Yes I knowthey are after the young male demographic but isometimes there is nothing that appeals to other audiences. When I lived in Paris where you are allegedly never more than a quarter of a mile from a cinema and it was cheap and i had no telly i went to the cinema ja lot and saw nearly everything goimg if it wasnt quite my glass of miruvor it wasnt a great loss. Now with the price of petrol and parkimg and a twenty five mile roumd trip it has to really appeal. This doesn't. And I have to admit that seeing th fellowship trailer changed my mind about seeing the film. Maybe I am just gettimg old and grouchy

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

The movie Life of Pi is a superbly done adaptation of the book of the same name--and it isn't slavishly done.

Note that that movie has nothing to do with mathematics or the discovery of 22/7.

I wonder if they've ever considered that such trailers can turn people off? Or have done marketing surveys to suggest that they will get more money from those who want action flicks than from those who don't?

Me guesses that the number of movie-going persons attracted by action packed trailers greatly exceeds those that aren't.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

The look on Freeman's face when he breathes clear air and sees butterflies was perfect.

Perfect, perhaps, except that the butterflies were blue and not black. Mirkwood, by definition, is reflected by the dark denizens habitating therein (a point Tolkien referred to often). A white stag offers a color variation that is notable as a folk motif. And so, we're back to that whole subtlety thing that PJ is utterly incapable of divining.

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Why ARE Tauriel's ears so big? Much larger than the male elves... really distracting.

Perhaps she got caught in a lie.