Who has seen the Hobbit?

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

As I watched, I kept thinking that I can't believe what I'm seeing.

Stunningly bad - both as an adaptation and as a movie.

It's still not as bad as The Phantom Menace, though. Right? (I'm probably seeing it Sunday)

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

It's still not as bad as The Phantom Menace, though. Right? (I'm probably seeing it Sunday)

It feels worse to me as I am a bigger fan of LOTR than Star Wars.

In looking at the dorks' and geeks' reviews on theonering.net, I am WAY in the minority. They seem to have universally loved it.

I'm one of those people (lotr dork) on many levels. Have probably read the books at least 10 times over the past 30+ years. Loved the first trilogy despite a few (very few, very minor) quibbles. I'm not a fanboy though and I've got MAJOR issues with most of what was done that goes far, far beyond quibbles. Hopefully, the next two movies will save it for me.

Revenge of the Sith was at least decent, right?

I'm refraining from posting my review as it would be spoiler heavy and probably exceed character limits.

I'm not saying people shouldn't see it or even enjoy it. Just saying that I didn't like it on any level - and the thread asked for (broad) opinions.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

I'm refraining from posting my review as it would be spoiler heavy and probably exceed character limits.

I'll be curious to know your thoughts in depth, if you have the time to do it.

I'll probably avoid this thread until after I've seen it this weekend, but I'll definitely be looking to swap opinions (or rather, confirm my worst suspicions) on the final product once I have.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

I'll be curious to know your thoughts in depth, if you have the time to do it.

I'll probably avoid this thread until after I've seen it this weekend, but I'll definitely be looking to swap opinions (or rather, confirm my worst suspicions) on the final product once I have.

Yeah, I just don't want to color anyone's judgement before they see it.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

Yeah, I just don't want to color anyone's judgement before they see it.

I liked it. I understand why you're not happy though. I've come to accept movies for what they are. Jackson took some liberties and had some fun. I got what I wanted out of the film so far though.

At least he didn't name the Blue Wizards, right??

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

I liked it. I understand why you're not happy though. I've come to accept movies for what they are. Jackson took some liberties and had some fun. I got what I wanted out of the film so far though.

At least he didn't name the Blue Wizards, right??

I actually thought that line was quite good and got a chuckle out of it.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

I actually thought that line was quite good and got a chuckle out of it.

I also got a chuckle out of it but I didn't understand its significance, and I still don't. Googling, they had names, but they weren't used in the LotR books.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

I also got a chuckle out of it but didn't understand its significance, and I still don't. Googling, they had names, but they weren't used in the LotR books.

\\


They only appear (named) in Unfinished Tales, so couldn't be used. No rights to anything but the Hobbit and the Trilogy. At least that's my guess.

The other part is that they disappeared into the east pretty early on (after arriving in Middle Earth) and never come back into the tale. This of course is the part of the joke that's for us nerds.


Alatar and Pallando are their names, fwiw.


PS - I had to Google their names. I knew their story, but I'm not such a dork as to actually remember their names.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

\\


They only appear (named) in Unfinished Tales, so couldn't be used. No rights to anything but the Hobbit and the Trilogy. At least that's my guess.

The other part is that they disappeared into the east pretty early on (after arriving in Middle Earth) and never come back into the tale. This of course is the part of the joke that's for us nerds.


Alatar and Pallando are their names, fwiw.

Thanks. I got all of that from googling, except the no rights to the Unfinished Tales part. That makes perfect sense.

 

[Handyman]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

As I watched, I kept thinking that I can't believe what I'm seeing.

Stunningly bad - both as an adaptation and as a movie.

Wow I did not see that coming

A good friend of mine saw it Sunday and liked it (though I think not as much as he hoped...) and I am sure I will see it around Christmas. My expectations are pretty low but even my fears and hopes seem to be on point so I am sure I will enjoy it. I get the sense though Part II might be Attack of the Clones bad though. The Third will save the Trilogy overall.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

Wow I did not see that coming

Me neither.

I did say however, that I'd admit it if I didn't like it.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

Yeah, I just don't want to color anyone's judgement before they see it.

Pretty much aligned on most of what you've said. Although I thought it was just fairly poor vs. 'stunningly bad'.

I still do think that the trilogy can be salvaged...making a box set worth a purchase. Maybe seen in that light...it will be OK. For me this is the case with Two Towers...which when sandwiched between two awesome films becomes quite good.

 

[rufus]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

I didn't notice it. Was the standard version of the film, which is the one that I saw, at 48 frames/sec or only the 3D version?

BTW, is there anything to be gained by seeing the 3D version?

AFAIK, the 48 fps version is only in 3D. Also only at a select few theaters, 100 I believe. I would assume only the major markets, or the small theaters that have prestigious rep or good connections will get the 48fps version.

 

[rufus]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

Question about The Necromancer. Since I haven't read the book since high school, and with the LOTR in mind, is this supposed to be Saruman, or is this someone else entirely?

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

Question about The Necromancer. Since I haven't read the book since high school, and with the LOTR in mind, is this supposed to be Saruman, or is this someone else entirely?

Necromancer = Sauron, not Saruman.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

Three movies is simply too much for the amount of story contained in The Hobbit. I was ok when they stretched it to two movies, but going to three is just milking the thing to death.

For the six millionth time. The three movies are not just The Hobbit. The three movies are The Hobbit and the 60 years or so between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

I don't understand why that is so hard for people to understand. As I understand it everything from the book The Hobbit will be over by the end of film 2.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

I don't understand why that is so hard for people to understand. As I understand it everything from the book The Hobbit will be over by the end of film 2.

Actually, and while what you say was in the original plans several years ago, all three movies will now take place within the story of the Hobbit.

The final movie is called "There and Back Again."

Most people are guessing that the second movie ("The Desolation of Smaug") will end with Smaug's death.

The third movie will most likely cover the gathering of the clouds through the end of the book.


(Here's where I support your argument - this isn't aimed at you.)

None of that though means that they couldn't have made three good movies out of this. There is in fact more than enough going on during this year of time.

Naysayers try to compare the Hobbit to LOTR - one is 300ish pages and the other is what, 1000? It's become a talking point as you see it over and over in many articles and reviews. But the Hobbit would have been far longer had it been written with the same detail and/or in the same style as the LOTR. The converse is just as true.

For instance, the Battle of 5 armies. In the Hobbit, it probably is covered in 3-4 pages (not gonna look).

A similar battle in the LOTR would be (maybe) the siege of Minas Tirith, which is probably a 40 page chapter.

What I'm getting at is that you cannot judge the two stories by the number of pages. The amount of content and the events that are happening are probably pretty similar. There just aren't as many words describing them in the Hobbit.

There's plenty to show, but it must be executed properly. PJ & company decided to fill in those missing words and that's why we have three movies, among other more cynical reasons, of course.

 

[Handyman]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

For the six millionth time. The three movies are not just The Hobbit. The three movies are The Hobbit and the 60 years or so between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

I don't understand why that is so hard for people to understand. As I understand it everything from the book The Hobbit will be over by the end of film 2.

Even if you are right...do you not see the stupidity in calling the movie The Hobbit if in fact it isnt based on the book or about it? If this was any other story you would be ripping it to shreds over all this and you know it!

 

[goldy_331]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

I wonder how many Hobbits could dance on the head of a pin?

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Who has seen the Hobbit?

Even if you are right...do you not see the stupidity in calling the movie The Hobbit if in fact it isnt based on the book or about it? If this was any other story you would be ripping it to shreds over all this and you know it!

Considering that The Lord of the Rings could have been called The Hobbit you're wrong. But, you can think what you want about me. Everyone does.

The name of the movie is irrelevant.