The Hobbit Movie Trailer!

[mark12_30]

The dwarves can sing... good, good. Instruments would be better, but still. I liked it.

Rivendell... good, good.

I find the continuity pleasant and hopeful. I'm not expecting perfection. Overall I liked it. And I plan to enjoy it.

[Kuruharan]

I liked the singing.

I think Bilbo is going to turn out alright.

Aside from some bothersome beardlessness and the glaringly fake ears the dwarves look more or less ok. Kiligolas is the worst offender on the beardless front in my opinion. He doesn't even have a beard at all, just stubble.

Is it my imagination but does Thorin's nose change size..? When he's shown starting the song it looks all big but later when he's whispering to Gandalf it looks normal sized again.

Evidently we are also going to get a fight with the trolls rather than what is described in the book (what a surprise).

I originally thought the shots of Gandalf by himself in the ruin were of him exploring Dul Guldur, but I have changed my mind and think it is just some random ruin.

We are also apparently going to have to deal with some typical elven egotism when the dwarves arrive at Rivendell (if that is indeed what that ridiculous scene with the elves on horses riding around the dwarves was).

apart from Galadriel sharing a tender moment with Gandalf

That kinda creeped me out. I don't think many people picked that the silly and uncalled for romance in The Hobbit would be between Galadriel and Gandalf...but it suddenly looks that's the way it will go.

[EDIT] Apparently I'm not the only one bothered by the prospect of Galadriel and Gandalf bumping uglies.

[The Might]

Celeborn has been working so much lately and I feel so alone up in my flet...

Definitely strange and perhaps unnecessary, then again we just saw it out of context, perhaps in the movie it makes more sense.

[Kitanna]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan;665262
[EDIT

Apparently I'm not the only one bothered by the prospect of Galadriel and Gandalf bumping uglies.

My first thought upon seeing the trailer was "Galadriel and Gandalf, whhaaa?" A romance? No. A tender moment that looks awkward in the trailer? Oh yes.

The dwarven song was cool, very haunting. Based on that quick trailer I am looking forward to seeing it. PJ does know how to make a good movie even if his adaption of books stray from the original the further he moves along in the story.

Does anyone know if Howard Shore will be doing the score? Or have they just taken his themes and found a new composer? I doubt and hope not.

[Mithalwen]

I am fairly sure it is just by ear...and I think I read it was but if it isnt' Shore someone is a musical "forger" par excellance...


And yes the reaction to Galadriel and Gandalf was not that I thought even PJ would take enough liberty to have some bizarre romance going on more "What are they doing to the story this time?"

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

And yes the reaction to Galadriel and Gandalf was not that I thought even PJ would take enough liberty to have some bizarre romance going on more "What are they doing to the story this time?"

Exactly. It is clear what it is: probably some sort of "I am afraid of Sauron and the rest of the Council even does not support me" - "No, I trust you, even if all the others don't" moment, or something like that.

But what I find peculiar is that they decided to put it into the trailer: because, what are people who aren't that familiar with Tolkien lore going to think when they see it? What purpose does it serve? They already show both G's in the trailer, so they don't need to prove any more to the audience that they are going to be there; or if they wanted to show a scene where the two of them are together, then surely there would be even a different scene. But this scene so much opens to the "what is it, a romance?" interpretation that it seems really strange to me that they included it, of all things. Surely they must have known.

P.S. And by the way - I find it funny, because if there is a person who is completely against the movie adaptations of LotR, it is me, but I find the accusations of PJ's "crimes" on this thread surprisingly strong. He is definitely guilty of all that, but for me at least, that didn't mean that I wouldn't be able to give him another chance. I still thought he could make a decent enough movie out of TH. Like I said, though, the trailer did not convince me much about that and right now it seems that he indeed failed the same as with LotR. However, once again like I said, that is only judging by the impressions - the whole movie can still be completely different from the trailer. So I'll wait to see.

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Ben K.

Seems about as justified as sexually confused frat boys reading homosexuality into Frodo and Sam's relationship due to some tactility and concerned glances. It's complete hyperbole from overly critical fanboys.

It's pretty much a hyperbole to find any kind of sexuality whatsoever in the Lord of the Rings, but you don't have to be sexually confused or a frat boy to mistake homosociality for homoeroticism.

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

But what I find peculiar is that they decided to put it into the trailer: because, what are people who aren't that familiar with Tolkien lore going to think when they see it?

Imagining I saw the trailer as someone who didn't know their Tolkien, I'd find the prospect of a non-asexual wizard very fascinating.

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by Ben K

Yes it is totally out of the question. Seems about as justified as sexually confused frat boys reading homosexuality into Frodo and Sam's relationship due to some tactility and concerned glances. It's complete hyperbole from overly critical fanboys.

Hate to break it to you, but you are the queer one here. Show that scene to ten people unfamiliar with the characters and I'd bet that at least nine would see a romantic moment (with sexual connotations).

Do I think that Galadriel and Gandalf will have any R-rated moments together, explicit or implied? No I don't see that happening. Will they have a romance, or the bud of one? Probably not.

I can however easily imagine PJ's Galadriel as a temptress or a tease if you will. A benign manipulator. Perhaps she is testing Gandalf's moral fibres, or something to that effect, him being incarnated as a Man, not immune to Men's inherent weaknesses' and lusts?

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Hate to break it to you, but you are the queer one here. Show that scene to ten people unfamiliar with the characters and I'd bet that at least nine would see a romantic moment (with sexual connotations).

It was certainly a very intimate gesture. Girls will style each others hair but caressing someone's hair is beyond normal social contact. It is in the realm of the closest relationships ...of course the conventions of elf society may be different but I have always got the feeling that they had a bit of a "thing" about nice hair.. I know they are all tall slender and beautiful but it is the feature that gets commented on..

[Nogrod]

It's interesting to see the row over the scene with Galadriel and Gandalf when it is one of my favourites in the whole trailer...

I mean I do share some, if not many, of Legate's concerns and criticisms, but as we know already that they're going to put some stuff of their own in there whether we like it or not, that part didn't look the worst of it. On the contrary.

Let's not let the physical embodiments of these beings lead us astray: Gandalf and Galadriel have known each other for thousands of years and I think Tolkien let's us understand they have a close relationship (which doesn't have to mean anything sexual to be sure) and they seem to admire each other... and they're the guardians of the rings... So bringing that part of their mutual history forwards looks like a decent addition (comparing to many other ones others and I have already said we hated in the LotR).

And really, even if the porn industry may take it's turn with that one, to me it felt nothing like what is discussed here (even as a joke). Skip may be right in saying PJ's vision might be Galadriel pressing Gandalf for some cause she seems fit, but I'd bet on the scene being more about her trying to soothe him like old friends do.

And I really pray I'm not wrong...


On other issues I do like the different beards (even the smaller ones) and agree that the polish cavalry -style looks fresher than the age old Viking-stereotypes. But - like I think I already complained some elsewhere - why have they made Thorin Oakenshield look and feel like he is? It's easy to see they're trying to pull the same strings they did with casting Orlando Bloom and Elijah Wood on LotR and less easy to see him as Thorin Oakenshield of the book.


But here I pray I'm wrong and Mr. Armitage proves to be an actor to fill the boots of Thorin even if he doesn't have the looks or the feel of a stout, old, revered leader of the dwarves...

[Kuruharan]

Does anyone know if Howard Shore will be doing the score?

Yes, he's doing the music again.

[Rumil]

Ooooh nice,

Interesting, so what's happening, what clues do we have, what do we think my preciousssessss?

Bilbo I like but should be fatter at least at the beginning

We've commented on the Dwarves before, and the extreme lengths they had to go to to differentiate them, especially regarding hairstyles.

Bombur looks to be the comedy relief, to an extent he was in the Book, but I expect the film to be less subtle

Agree Esty, missing clarinets, drums and whatnot! Also a lack of colour-coded hoods, which you'd have thought would have been helpful.

Thorin seems dark and brooding which fits well, not sure he's properly dwarf-shaped though but I guess we'll see.

Where's Gandalf supoosed to be at 1.19? I can't think where open-air ruins fit except for maybe the remains of Dale or his earlier mission to Dol Guldur?

Gandalf meeting Galadriel - White Council scene presumably

1.36 Gandalf in Goblin-Town or Dol Guldur?

Who are the elves(?) on horseback at 1.52 Rivendell? (if so, then not terribly tra-la-lalally) or Thranduil's place, in which case it looks too Rivendelly?

1.58 Where's Gandalf fighting??

Must say I'm quite looking forward to it!

[Galadriel55]

I'm very glad to see that two best aspects of LOTR (IMO, of course) will be present in TH as well: the music and the scenery.

[Lalwendë]

I've been geeking out and watching on freeze frame and there are musical instruments at Bag End! I spied a lute (or similar) behind Nori at 0:44.

I'm very pleased with the Dwarves as they don't look like an amorphous mass of hairy, belching, short people. Lots of creative hair styles going on, some of the moustaches remind me of the kind of thing you see in these bizarre moustache growing competitions. And Kili is excused because maybe not having a beard is a sign of being a young rebel Besides, that's Aidan Turner, and he's no Orlando Bloom, he's capable of being perfectly 'brooding' as any Being Human fan knows.

There's something puzzling me though. At 0:52 there appears to be a Man in Bag Eng. It's not Gandalf, he is to the left, and I don't think it's a Dwarf sitting on a table. He has no beard and he has a tankard. Who is this?

I'm very pleased with Martin Freeman as Bilbo.

[Mister Underhill]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I'm very pleased with Martin Freeman as Bilbo.

Originally Posted by Ben K.

Freeman feels fantastic already.

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

Martin Freeman does make a good Bilbo...

I agree, and I think his talent will cover a lot of other sins. For me, many of the problems with LotR stem from, in my humble opinion, a miscast Elijah Wood. Just imagining Freeman in the Frodo role in the original films takes them up to a whole new level for me.

[Pervinca Took]

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

For me, many of the problems with LotR stem from, in my humble opinion, a miscast Elijah Wood. Just imagining Freeman in the Frodo role in the original films takes them up to a whole new level for me.

My thoughts exactly! But I think it was really more down to the role being, both from the outset and throughout, badly written, badly conceived and badly directed.

Martin Freeman in those scenes reminds me very much of the character of Frodo as I see him. Also, Gandalf seems to be having a "rather more compassionate than canon" conversation with Bilbo about the fact that he may not come back from the quest. That, too, is more in spirit with "The Shadow Of The Past" than the style of "Very amusing for me, very good for you, and profitable, too, if you ever get over it." I didn't really expect the "style" of The Hobbit to transfer to the films (it didn't with PJ's LOTR either) - but it seems to work better here. I wasn't able to love PJ's LOTR. I think I might like this better, though. The dwarves' song seems to hit the right notes, too (in both senses of the word).

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

And what is up with that!? A teaser for a spinoff movie? Coming Fall 2014: The Council of Seduction or, One Night With a Wizard.

Ahahaha! I look forward to that!

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

Is it my imagination but does Thorin's nose change size..? When he's shown starting the song is looks all big but later when he's whispering to Gandalf it looks normal sized again.

I find it more likely it was just your imagination because I usually pay a lot of attention to noses but didn't see anything. Or of course they might be having trouble with the prostheses (I'm assuming even Richard Armitage's nose wasn't good enough for them).

I was pleasantly surprised because there were few things I found outrageous. The lack of beards was one of them, though. I know they can't be true to the entire book, but how am I supposed to take a Dwarven prince seriously if his beard is about as long as Aragorn's? Fili and Kili are alright in the sense that they're very young and it could be argued theirs haven't grown yet, but Thorin? I am truly and deeply sad about it.

Edit: huh, crossed with Gal, Legate and Lal!

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

One thing: okay, after rewatching it for about fourth or fifth time, I can start to see what might be nice about it - if it works out. It can be epic. (I have been now paying attention to the transformation of the song into the theme, which is probably going to be the main theme of TH.)

But still, what I said above, holds.

[Aganzir]

I feel so shallow now. Here I am, chattering about noses and beards, while some people go through the pains of explaining why Peter Jackson's vision is wrong. And no, I'm not poking fun at Legate - he has a point. That's what I felt too while watching the trailer, but being naturally inclined towards everything dark and gloomy and serious, I didn't mind. I think it might be a good movie, but I can also add my voice to Legate's one-man choir and say it's not going to be The Hobbit I know.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

I feel so shallow now. Here I am, chattering about noses and beards, while some people go through the pains of explaining why Peter Jackson's vision is wrong. And no, I'm not poking fun at Legate - he has a point. That's what I felt too while watching the trailer, but being naturally inclined towards everything dark and gloomy and serious, I didn't mind. I think it might be a good movie, but I can also add my voice to Legate's one-man choir and say it's not going to be The Hobbit I know.

Well, as for noses and beards - I went through that already when I first have seen the pictures of the Dwarves So I have sort of accepted that they look the way they look. Many of the Dwarves look like 17-century Warsaw militia, but I am fine with that. At least they do not look all like Vikings, which would have been the easiest, most "mainstream" (and most stupid) way anyway. I would second that the colored hoods are missing, though: one more, if not one of THE most important things, also related to the mood of the "real Hobbit".

But of course, beards should be long. Especially Thorin's, since he's the most prominent Dwarf. (See what I said about him looking not like a Dwarf, but more like Jon Snow's father... or whatever they have there.)

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

But of course, beards should be long. Especially Thorin's, since he's the most prominent Dwarf.

Gimli's was longer, and he's just Gimli.

[Ben K.]

Meh, it's a trailer, the director doesn't usually make them. Check out early LOTR trailers and see how much bearing they have on the movie. The aim of this trailer was to sell an LOTR prequel to general audiences - probably why Gandalf has such a disproportionate focus, one would think the title is "The Wizard".

A great trailer for what it was trying to achieve - and Freeman feels fantastic already.

I'm wondering how much focus Gandalf will have given the additional plot. The story they're selling here is Gandalf the chess-player putting his loved ones in harms way for the greater good, somewhat unsure of the outcome. This was a major thread in the LOTR movies as well. I started to suspect with the casting of Radagast that they were going to explore this aspect of Gandalf, with Radagast having too much love of the world to achieve his mission and Saruman having too little to achieve it, in a sense mirroring the ultimately successful Gandalfs potential duality. Maybe I'm looking too much into it, but since Gandalf is essentially carrying the other half of these movies (indeed, the half that will act to prequel-ise it) I wouldn't be surprised to see the writers do that.

I'd probably like it to, since I've come to enjoy Jacksons reinterpretations of some characters.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

One thing: okay, after rewatching it for about fourth or fifth time, I can start to see what might be nice about it - if it works out. It can be epic. (I have been now paying attention to the transformation of the song into the theme, which is probably going to be the main theme of TH.)

But still, what I said above, holds.

An argument in favour of it being more epic can be demonstrated in the contrast between RTD era Doctor Who and Moffat era Doctor Who. The former was epic, the latter wanted to be more 'fairy tale' - and it just doesn't work as well especially when you are expecting 'epic'. I think to be 'fairytale' in film a modern audience just can't take it without hefty dollops of irony (see Stardust - one of my favourite films, incidentally) and I'd rather not have loads of irony in The Hobbit.

However...this is a trailer and they're known for ramping up the action and it may all turn out differently in the final cut. And Martin Freeman has a knack for carrying off a role like Bilbo with a light touch.

Originally Posted by Galadriel 55

I thought it's one of the younger beardless Dwarves.

That would mean it was Kili, and being a seasoned Aidan Turner watcher (ahem) I'm sure it's not him.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Do you have a particular GoT character in mind, or is it just the general air around Thorin?

Like I said, I haven't really seen it (except for a few glimpses, trailers, pictures etc.), so it's the general air.

Yes, it could have. They could have ruined the scenery and the music. Then it would be as bad as it gets.

True. But it isn't much (what I said about that being enough for a documentary about nature, but nothing else).

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

An argument in favour of it being more epic can be demonstrated in the contrast between RTD era Doctor Who and Moffat era Doctor Who. The former was epic, the latter wanted to be more 'fairy tale' - and it just doesn't work as well especially when you are expecting 'epic'. I think to be 'fairytale' in film a modern audience just can't take it without hefty dollops of irony (see Stardust - one of my favourite films, incidentally) and I'd rather not have loads of irony in The Hobbit.

I did not expect them to make a fairytale, but there still was the chance to preserve at least a bit of the atmosphere.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

I did not expect them to make a fairytale, but there still was the chance to preserve at least a bit of the atmosphere.

I always think of it as being more of a 'fairytale', but that's possibly davem's influence! Really, I don't know how they could uncouple it from what was portrayed in the LotR films, as that is what audiences will expect, and I have to say it's what I'd expect myself from a Peter Jackson adaptation of the book. So I'm coming to this with those expectations in mind.

I can't explain away Thorin's beard! He does look a bit like an escapee from Westeros but maybe that's not such a bad thing.

[Kuruharan]

I'm very pleased with the Dwarves as they don't look like an amorphous mass of hairy, belching, short people.

I’ve been doing some more thinking about the look of the dwarves (more in fact than I did when their look was first published) and I’m coming around to this point of view. I still think that there could be some more bits of beard but I think Lal is right and it *is* a good thing that the dwarves are not going to just be short masses of hair (we will see about the belching…I would be very surprised if there is no belching).

Looking at real world cultures where beards are customarily worn, there are all kinds of variety and lengths that are employed. They don’t just wear huge unkempt messes.

Still, all of them should have actual beards, though even if they are braided up or otherwise dealt with so they aren’t so prominent on their faces. Even a very large beard can be tied up into a pretty small package…in fact, I would imagine dwarves would have to do this frequently when they are working in the forge to keep from setting themselves on fire.

Many of the Dwarves look like 17-century Warsaw militia, but I am fine with that. At least they do not look all like Vikings, which would have been the easiest, most "mainstream" (and most stupid) way anyway

And I heartily concur with this sentiment. At least they avoided going for the drunken, rampaging Viking theme.

Besides, that's Aidan Turner, and he's no Orlando Bloom, he's capable of being perfectly 'brooding' as any Being Human fan knows.

That’s not my point. He’s Lego-like in the sense that I believe he’s there to be gurl-food.

I'm assuming even Richard Armitage's nose wasn't good enough for them

Part of the dwarf motif they seem to have selected is instead of giving them all beards is to make their noses and ears very large. The nose thing does have some basis in Tolkien…not so much the ears.