The Hobbit

[Rico]

I've never quite got why they want to do this in two movies.  The Hobbit is a pretty simple and fairly short book.  Unlike the recent Potter movie which really does need two movies to tell the story well, I don't see it here.  Looks more like a money grab to me.

[Bromptonboy]

I've never quite got why they want to do this in two movies.  The Hobbit is a pretty simple and fairly short book.  Unlike the recent Potter movie which really does need two movies to tell the story well, I don't see it here.  Looks more like a money grab to me.

I agree - the should make The Hobbit - then treat this new 'bridging movie' separately.  Although filming them both at the same time makes sense - the actors ain't getting any younger..

[Bryancd]

And what about the whole 3Dissue? Total double standard. I WANT MORE Middle Earth, the longer the better. I could care less about Harry Potter. I say that's also a total money grab and you all know it.

[Rico]

And what about the whole 3Dissue? Total double standard. I WANT MORE Middle Earth, the longer the better. I could care less about Harry Potter. I say that's also a total money grab and you all know it.

I don't agree.  Not quite sure even if you are being serious or not.  And for the record, (again) 3D is not needed for just about any film in my opinion.  You certainly know what I think about that by now.  I've read both of these books.  "The Hobbit" is a simple tale, and only about 300 pages long.  "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows" is the final book in a long series and about 750 pages long.  It is a fairly complex story and has to wrap up the entire series.  I've also seen this film too and it greatly benefits from being split in two movies (I talked about this on my recent podcast).  While I have no doubt you can certainly make two movies out of "The Hobbit" it really isn't that necessary.  Now, I enjoyed both books and I'm certain I will enjoy "The Hobbit" too, but from a purely technical aspect two films is a bit of overkill, in my view at least.

[Geekyfanboy]

Well rumors have been going around that they were splitting The Hobbit into two movies.. but then they said no.. that The Hobbit will be the first movie and a second movie will be stuff from the appendix, kind of like a bridge movie between The Hobbit and LOTR.. I don't think anything official has been said yet.

And Bryan I'm sure WB saw $$ when they talked about splitting the final book into two stories.. but as Rico has said it was done because of final story is so big and grand and could support two movies.. and to be honest the final few books could have been made into 2 movies each.

[Bryancd]

And what about the whole 3Dissue? Total double standard. I WANT MORE Middle Earth, the longer the better. I could care less about Harry Potter. I say that's also a total money grab and you all know it.

I don't agree.  Not quite sure even if you are being serious or not.  And for the record, (again) 3D is not needed for just about any film in my opinion.  You certainly know what I think about that by now.  I've read both of these books.  "The Hobbit" is a simple tale, and only about 300 pages long.  "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows" is the final book in a long series and about 750 pages long.  It is a fairly complex story and has to wrap up the entire series.  I've also seen this film too and it greatly benefits from being split in two movies (I talked about this on my recent podcast).  While I have no doubt you can certainly make two movies out of "The Hobbit" it really isn't that necessary.  Now, I enjoyed both books and I'm certain I will enjoy "The Hobbit" too, but from a purely technical aspect two films is a bit of overkill, in my view at least.

And I disagree. I would put two pages of Tolkien up against 10 pages of anyone else, so the "complexity" or page count number doesn't fly with me. I think it's naive at best disingenuous at worst to suggest that splitting the Harry Potter movie in two is anything beyond an attempt to capture revenue. Same with the Hobbit, however, I love the Hobbit and welcome and expansion on the story. Simply my opinion.  And I heard what you said in the podcast and I think you are giving the Potter franchise a total pass on your criticism because you like it. Well, I like Tolkien and want more of it.

[Bryancd]

And where is the anti 3D rant? Does the second Harry Potter movie need to be in 3D? Will it add to the story? Will you pay more to see it? This is purely about what we all like. I love LOTR films, I don't care about HP films. If PJ wants to make extended versions of the Hobbit story that will bridge to Fellowship, I'm in. As HP fans, clearly so are you and Kenny. That's fine, but don't give me the argument that this isn't all about $ but about the content.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

And where is the anti 3D rant? Does the second Harry Potter movie need to be in 3D? Will it add to the story? Will you pay more to see it? This is purely about what we all like. I love LOTR films, I don't care about HP films. If PJ wants to make extended versions of the Hobbit story that will bridge to Fellowship, I'm in. As HP fans, clearly so are you and Kenny. That's fine, but don't give me the argument that this isn't all about $ but about the content.

Personally, while I am sick of 3D, ranting about it is a lost cause, I hope they wake up to the fact that 3D is not selling.  It hasn't sold since Avatar came out and its already what I consider a dead tech.  My next monitor/graphics card will not be based around the intent of getting 3D.  Hollywood is grasping to 3D so badly so it can get ppl back into the theaters again.  In the long run, its a wasted effort.

King

[Bromptonboy]

It doesn't sound like they are 'splitting' The Hobbit - but making 'The Hobbit' and then a new and distinct movie based on the Indexes (at least that is what I hope they are doing).  Mixing the 2 and dragging it out will disappoint me.  I am a complete Tolkien nut - having read everything he has written.
Has anyone listened to the Rob Inglis unabridged audio book for The Hobbit?  It is spectacular.

[Feathers]

No ranting but I'll do my best not to watch either in 3D and I love both franchises.

[Bryancd]

Personally, while I am sick of 3D, ranting about it is a lost cause, I hope they wake up to the fact that 3D is not selling.  It hasn't sold since Avatar came out and its already what I consider a dead tech.  My next monitor/graphics card will not be based around the intent of getting 3D.  Hollywood is grasping to 3D so badly so it can get ppl back into the theaters again.  In the long run, its a wasted effort.

King

I think the jury is still out on that. It doesn't take a lot of predictive skill to realize that TRON is going to likely do big 3D business and besides "Despicable Me" there hasn't been a true 3D film in thetaters since "Avatar", all the rest have been up-conversions of dubious quality. Done right, 3D provides a different experience which I and many people I know really like and will pay more for.

[Rico]

Bryan, you and I will never agree on this.  I'm probably as big a Tolkien fan as you.  I also read a lot of other fantasy and other books too.  But again, 3-D is not needed for this film or any other.  A good movie will usually make money.  Simple as that.  As far as two films for this, again I don't see the need.

[Bryancd]

Bryan, you and I will never agree on this.  I'm probably as big a Tolkien fan as you.  I also read a lot of other fantasy and other books too.  But again, 3-D is not needed for this film or any other.  A good movie will usually make money.  Simple as that.  As far as two films for this, again I don't see the need.

That's cool, we can agree to disagree, but I still think you gave HP a complete pass on it's future 3D effort, both in your comments on the forum and the podcast. You brushed right by it and I found that surprising.

[Rico]

Bryan, I'm not giving the next part of HP in 3D "a pass", I just felt like I had made my opinion known on 3D enough by now.  But I'll make sure to talk it up again when the next movie comes out.  :)

[Bryancd]

You'll have TRON way before that! And I know you will be there, glasses on! :)

And in regards to my response to King, it is correct that there hasn't been a live action, native filmed, 3D release since "Avatar", correct? Even "Alice in Wonderland" was an upconversion, I thought.