The Hobbit

[Jobydrone]

The over all story is still The Hobbit.

Here's how I look at adaptations..  Book versions of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings that's J.R.R. Tolkien's version of Middle Earth. The Hobbit movies and LOTR movies are Peter Jackson et al's version of Middle Earth. There are similarities but there are differences.. to me they are two totally different things. I love both of them equally.

I love them both too but maybe not equally lol

[Rico]

Kenny posted this on the FB group showing the actors reacting to a set of fans watching the trailer.  It's awesome!

Happy Elves

[Bromptonboy]

Peter Jackson and his cast and crew have come a long way in making some of the most epic films in the 21st century. One of his earliest successes was the film The Frighteners with Michael Jay Fox in 1996 and went on to stun the world with Lord of the Rings in 2001-2003. Then, in 2005, he left the world wonderstruck again when he directed a remake of the epic film King Kong that featured veteran stars like Naomi Watts and Adrien Brody. And then, in 2012, Peter Jackson finally gained the rights to make a movie based on The Hobbit, much to the delight of fans at the time. However, things have somewhat changed after information on its second installment has been released. We'll get into that in a bit.
So okay, much like Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit has also been divided into three parts: An Unexpected Journey, Desolation of Smaug and There and Back Again. So far, we've only seen An Unexpected Journey, but it has proven to be one of the most successful films of 2012 and has gone on to become one of the most widely sold and rented home videos of 2013 when it was released in both DVD and blu-ray. Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of fans of both the films and the book are disappointed regarding Peter Jackson's handling of the story's canon. While Peter Jackson claims that many of the altered or additional elements that he has added to the films is purely for the purpose of enriching the story and endearing more fans to the franchise, some fans question whether all these changes are necessary at all.
One of these most apparent changes is of course the alteration or addition of characters into the film. A good example of this is of course the presence of the character Azog in An Unexpected Journey. Apparently, the character is only a posthumous one in the original novel and it is his son Bolg who serves as the antagonist for Bilbo and his thirteen (fourteen if you add Gandalf in the mix) companions. However, in the film, not only is the character alive, but antagonizes the protagonists every step of the way.


There are of course more of these issues that will likely appear in Desolation of Smaug, the second installment, once it rolls around in December of this year. As seen in the trailer, Legolas the elf prince that everyone knows and loves from Lord of the Rings will indeed be making an appearance. Of course, being the son of the wood elf king Thranduil, it wouldn't at all be that surprising for the character to make an appearance in the film.
This now brings us to one of the most egregious examples of Peter Jackson taking his artistic license too far in the films with the character of Tauriel. An original character created specifically for the film, the fandom is now effectively divided between those who want to accept the character as a welcome addition to the story or Peter Jackson needlessly altering the plot in order to please fans and earn a bigger profit.
It's been a huge argument among fans whether Peter Jackson's introduction of original characters like Tauriel in the up and coming installments of The Hobbit with Desolation of Smaug (coming this year in December) and There and Back Again (coming late next year) is an insult to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien or is she a welcome embellishment that adds a slight feminine touch to an otherwise male-dominated story. However, it should be noted that a lot of modern fans who are largely unfamiliar with the original source materials often wonder at the lack of strong female characters in the story.


While there are indeed quite a few of them with Galadriel and Eowyn, with the former being a strong and wise queen who often offers useful advice to the protagonists as well as the occasional trinket that can prove to be quite handy in risky situations and the latter being a brave princess who claims her own share of glory when she takes down the lord of the Nazgul with a little help from Merry (the film takes this a step further when Eowyn successfully makes her own tally of orc kills) and is altogether one of the most battle-hardened characters in the story. There's also the fact that the name "Luthien" is etched upon the grave of Tolkien's beloved wife Edith right beside his own, a true testament to Tolkien's devotion to his wife as Luthien was a powerful angelic being that fell in love with the mortal Beren, with the latter's name inscribed on Tolkien's own grave. However, one can still note that there are few female characters in Tolkien's work that openly participate in the adventures of the characters with the aforementioned Luthien just being one of those few instances where a female character does all the fighting.
The films however, as interpreted by J.R.R. Tolkien, put a different spin to things such as adding more action for the female characters of the film and, in the case of The Hobbit film trilogy, creating an original character. Indeed, most female characters in the stories of Middle Earth tend to play a minor role at best and most seem to be peripheral characters and is why Peter Jackson went on to expand on some of them such as Arwen (played by Liv Tyler) and her brief action in Fellowship of the Ring and Eowyn (played by Miranda Otto) with her added scenes in the Return of the King.
In Tolkien's defense though, he lived in a time when women did in fact play only minor or peripheral roles. While feminism did in fact begin to have its way with most of society, most women of the time were content with their station in life and only later during the 70s onward did women begin taking on more major roles in film, television and various other media. A good example of this idea would be that in Tolkien's time in the military, World War I to be specific, women played only a supporting role in wars or none at all while women are everywhere in the military forces of today, be it in the army, navy, air force, marine corps or coast guard.
However, it would be jarring to actually see an entwife or a female orc in the films...

[Bromptonboy]

Legends Making Legends
Posted: 14 Jun 2013 07:19 AM PDT

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey proved to be one of the most successful films of the decade, garnering in a massive profit that made it one of the most profitable films of 2012 alongside Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers. An Unexpected Journey also gained quite a following in terms of home video and became one of the most widely sold and rented films of 2013 when the film finally came out on DVD and Blu-Ray somewhere in April. While it's not really surprising with Peter Jackson's record, considering how Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) and King Kong (2005) fared during their respective releases.
While the success of the films can be chalked up to a lot of factors, from the great direction of Peter Jackson, the new motion-capture techniques used by the film crew to make the characters and scenes as realistic as possible or the lovely vistas and sets provided by New Zealand. Perhaps the most notable factor that boosted the film's success is its amazing cast of actors and actresses who have time and time again proven themselves to be legends in their own right. Here are just a few of the men and women who have made Peter Jackson's interpretation of Middle Earth what it is.
First off, we have the actor Hugo Weaving whose acting skill has allowed him some of the most impressive roles to date. Some of his memorable though include his portrayal of the character "V" in V for Vendetta, a masked terrorist/freedom fighter with noble intentions but often questionable methods. And of course, we also remember him well as the villain of The Matrix trilogy, the brutal Agent Smith who wants to assimilate all the denizens of The Matrix and make them all identical to him. Lastly however, fans of the Transformers franchise can easily identify him as Megatron, the leader of the evil and megalomaniac Decepticons. In both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings however, we see him as the mild-mannered elf lord Elrond who often offers useful advice to the protagonists if not assisting them directly.


Then we have Cate Blanchett, a popular British actress with a prolific record with one of the most memorable being her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth of England in the film Elizabeth as well as her role as a sexy Russian spy in the latest Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Thanks to her versatility, we've also seen her in other films such as a deeply aggrieved mother in the film Babel as well as the love interest and best friend of a backward-aging man in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. In The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings however, we get to see Cate Blanchett as Galadriel the elf queen who also serves as a kind of guide to the heroes on their journey and occasionally gives them helpful trinkets on their way there. Strangely though, we also get to see her make an uncredited cameo in Hot Fuzz with Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit director Peter Jackson.
Then we have the amazing actor Christopher Lee who has just turned 91 lately. Perhaps one of the biggest names in British cinema considering his time in being part of it, we've seen him play as Dracula, a very memorable James Bond villain and even a Sith lord in some of the latest installments of the Star Wars franchise. We also know him well as the cunning and powerful wizard Saruman in both Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and his impressive acting lends the character an even more sinister feel. And to top it all off, the man just recently released his heavy metal album, Charlemagne: Omens of Death.
Legends Making Legends is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

Desolation of Smaug: Not Premiering in New Zealand?
Posted: 14 Jun 2013 02:56 AM PDT

So there you have it, the first trailer for Desolation of Smaug has hit theaters around the world and the reception has never been bigger or better. Some swooned at the appearance of Legolas, there are those that either fell head over heels or retched at the sight of Tauriel, those that jumped back at the sight of Beorn's huge nose and there are some left utterly speechless at the sight of Smaug the dragon as he rose up behind a helpless Bilbo Baggins in one of the most epic parts of the trailer near the end. It seems that fans will surely be in for quite a treat once Desolation of Smaug rolls around this December. If the trailer already seems to be as epic as it is, one can only imagine what the finished product will actually be like once it hits theaters late this year.


Surprisingly enough however, it seems that Desolation of Smaug will not be premiering in New Zealand, as confirmed by Matt Dravitzki, the spokesperson for Peter Jackson. This is certainly a surprise as the film has been made almost entirely in New Zealand (save perhaps the scenes involving Christopher Lee as the 91-year-old actor was simply too frail to make the journey to Wellington and instead had his scenes filmed in London) and the director Peter Jackson is from New Zealand as well.
While the decision to not premiere Desolation of Smaug in New Zealand is certainly surprising, it has done little to slow or dampen the popularity of The Hobbit and other works of J.R.R. Tolkien like Lord of the Rings in New Zealand. As a matter of fact, it seems that New Zealand has made a steady profit because of how the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films has made the country a hotspot for Ringers.
There is even a running tour throughout New Zealand that lets Ringers experience Middle Earth for themselves. This is mainly in part because of Peter Jackson and his film crew's efforts at making their sets as durable as possible so that common folk who come over to the scene can experience what places like Hobbiton and the Shire must really be like. They even have a Green Dragon Inn that comes complete with a bar that people can find out what completes the days of hobbits after a long day's work.
Then again though, it is quite curious as to why Peter Jackson chose not to premier the film in New Zealand but one supposes he has a right to and that he probably has other, more pressing, issues to attend to. Oh well, the important part is that we've all seen the trailer and know the kind of goodies we're in for come this December, from the lovely Evangeline Lilly and her long red hair to the mighty maws of both Beorn and Smaug, we're surely not short of anything epic with Desolation of Smaug!
Desolation of Smaug: Not Premiering in New Zealand? is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

I'm sure everybody's heard of the actor Stephen Fry one way or another. He's been in plenty of films after all, and his relaxed expression as well as his laid back attitude in his various roles throughout his films has become easily identifiable to fans if not outright iconic. A fairly active fellow, he has often written screenplays and whatnot for various shows and has even gone on to host them such as QI, a comedy panel show and Kingdom, a show that delves into the laws that surround law enforcement and how they are actually upheld.


Of course, it came as a surprise that he will indeed be appearing in the latest installment of The Hobbit, Desolation of Smaug which is due for release this coming December. He will portray the character of the master of Lake Town, a rather greedy fellow who seems to be more concerned with monetary gain than the safety of his own people. Stephen Fry has refused to reveal too much about his character although he has described the Master of Lake Town as a rather unpleasant and unattractive fellow who seems to be a caricature of a typical corrupt politician.
We've also seen Stephen Fry in many other films with some of the most memorable being his role in V for Vendetta where he is Gordon Deitrich, a brave TV show host willing to speak out against the tyranny of the local government which is run by Adam Sutler (played by John Hurt) a Hitler expy who has now taken over Britain and has made it a nation not that different from Oceania from George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty Four. In the midst of all the turmoil, Gordon Deitrich also tries to help a young woman named Evey Hammond (played by Natalie Portman) who is also helping V, the terrorist/freedom fighter who is the designated hero of the film.
We also get to see Stephen Fry in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows where he plays as the rather lazy and eccentric Mycroft Holmes. In this film, Sherlock Holmes (played by Robert Downey Jr.) and Doctor Watson (played by Jude Law) finally face off with their archenemy Dr. Moriarty. Due to the cunning and skill of their enemy, the duo are then forced to leave Watson's fiancé Mary in the care of Mycroft Holmes who, in his own way, try to care for her and help out in his brother's current predicament.
All in all, it seems that we're certainly in for a star studded cast once Desolation of Smaug finally rolls around this December. We've got a wealth of other characters that will certainly make an appearance in the second film of The Hobbit like Luke Evans as Bard and Orlando Bloom as Legolas. Also, we'll certainly be eager for the appearance of Stephen Fry's character once he makes his appearance in Desolation of Smaug. However, Stephen Fry has gone on to state that he has never really read The Hobbit but is certainly looking forward to how the movie will come out.
Stephen Fry and The Hobbit is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

[Bromptonboy]

More Fun than a Barrel of... Dwarves?
Posted: 18 Jun 2013 07:01 AM PDT

Okay, so we've seen just how fans have reacted to the first trailer of the much awaited second installment of The Hobbit film trilogy, Desolation of Smaug. There's been everything from costume competitions, children's games, feats of storytelling, youtube videos, musical tributes and many, many more to commemorate the success of Peter Jackson's latest project and perhaps second trip (the first being the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, of course) into Middle Earth, the strange and wonderful world created by J.R.R. Tolkien and populated with his beloved elves, dwarves, hobbits and more.


The trailer, which is perhaps one of the most anticipated trailers of the year along with that of the fourth installment of the Transformers franchise and maybe the second installment of The Avengers, has proven to be immensely popular and has gone on to take viewers around the world by storm. So far we've been treated to a good view of Middle Earth as Thranduil, played by Lee Pace, narrates the adventures and objectives of Thorin Oakenshield and his party on his quest to liberate the kingdom of Erebor which has been destroyed by and now occupied by the dragon Smaug who will be portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, the same actor we know who played the enigmatic and very dangerous individual John Harrison in Star Trek: Into Darkness.
And now we have this stunning poster by digital artist Kibbitzer that features Bilbo Baggins as well as the dwarves Thorin Oakenshield, Ori and Kili as they are within the barrels and rolling about the river and battling the currents. This epic scene is also featured quite prominently in the trailer of the film and even involves a number of elves pursuing them among the trees as they are washed about in the water. This specific scene is also featured in the book when Bilbo and his friends must escape the banquet after stealing food for themselves, which probably explains the elves flitting from branch to branch above them and their less than amused dispositions toward them.
Whatever the case, we're definitely in for quite a movie once Desolation of Smaug rolls around in December of this year. We've also been given a view of many new characters we'll encounter such as Legolas (once again played by Orlando Bloom) whom fans of Lord of the Rings can easily recognize as well as Tauriel (played by the lovely Evangeline Lilly), a glimpse of the great shape shifting man-bear Beorn and, finally, the Wicked Worm himself, Smaug the dragon whom Bilbo and his companions must confront in their quest to reclaim the dwarven kingdom of Erebor.
As for the artist of this lovely poster, you'll find Kibbitzer and his work on Deviant Art and has done quite a number of other images for various works as well. This includes a work of Loki from Avengers in his costume from the original comics as well as the Incredible Hulk. It's kind of surprising how many good artists are out there these days and you're guaranteed to find a lot of them at Deviant Art.
More Fun than a Barrel of... Dwarves? is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

The Hobbit and New Zealand Tourism
Posted: 18 Jun 2013 01:40 AM PDT

Well, the moment Ringers around the world have been waiting for months has finally come. The first trailer of The Hobbit has finally appeared in various cinemas along with Man of Steel just the previous week. So far we've been treated for quite a bit of adventure as it is revealed to us what's in store for us in Desolation of Smaug. We've seen Lee Pace in all his costumed glory as Thranduil the elf lord, seen a glimpse of Orlando Bloom who will be once again taking up the bow of the all too familiar Legolas the elf prince, the hot and hotly debated female elf guard Tauriel played by Evangeline Lilly and, of course, there's the mighty dragon Smaug, often nicknamed "The Wicked Wyrm", who will be portrayed by none other than Benedict Cumberbatch. It's also apparent that the characters will soon be entering Mirkwood, the home of the wood elves and explore other parts of Dale such as Lake Town, a dwelling of Men near the Misty Mountains and encounter the mighty shape-shifter Beorn somewhere along the way. Familiar scenes from the book, such as Bilbo and the dwarves rolling around a river in barrels as well as Bilbo's fateful encounter with Smaug has also been featured, resulting in the surprise and delight of many fans. Well, it certainly seems that fans had gotten what they had been hoping for with fans around the world reacting positively to what the trailer has shown them so far.


One should also note how The Hobbit, as well as a few other of Peter Jackson's films like the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, were filmed in New Zealand and how the environment somehow made the fantasy complete and even more believable than originally anticipated. It's like as if New Zealand is a magical land on its own or some lost part of Middle Earth that has somehow found its way into the real world. Of course, this can be attributed to the fact that New Zealand was one of the last places on Earth to be fully colonized by Western civilization. It's why it seems that the land seems to be in fairly pristine condition with rolling, grassy hills, dense and verdant forests and mountains that seem to have come straight out of some epic film. Interestingly, there are even those who go on to comment that many of the shots in both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings have CGI backgrounds despite the fact that much of the action in the films were taken directly from the open fields of New Zealand.
It also comes as no surprise that Peter Jackson's films have boosted tourism throughout the islands thanks to the ever growing popularity of film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's work. Thanks also to making the sets of The Hobbit more durable than the norm, New Zealand even has a running tour of Middle Earth including that of the Green Dragon Inn which many of the characters in Lord of the Rings remember and speak of fondly.
The Hobbit and New Zealand Tourism is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Geekyfanboy]

Thanks for all these awesome articles.. but if you don't mind could you post links as well.. thanks :)

[Bromptonboy]

Thanks for all these awesome articles.. but if you don't mind could you post links as well.. thanks :)

Sure, will do - these are actually email updates I have been getting.  I'll include the links going forward.

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/06/18/more-fun-than-a-barrel-of-dwarves/

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/06/19/desolation-of-smaug-raising-the-stakes-upsizing-the-players/

Desolation of Smaug: Raising the Stakes, Upsizing the Players
Posted: 19 Jun 2013 06:58 AM PDT

No one can doubt the success of the first installment of The Hobbit film trilogy, An Unexpected Journey. While some openly compare it to Lord of the Rings and state that it is not quite the same as Frodo's adventure into the lands of Mordor, it is nonetheless another testament of Peter Jackson's ability to put epics like Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien into film. Fans now eagerly await the second installment of the film franchise, Desolation of Smaug to hit theaters this year in December.
While we've seen the trailer and have been utterly amazed by what we've seen so far, one can only imagine what the finished product will be like once it finally hits cinemas around the world. We've seen glimpses of the elf king Thranduil narrating the journey of Bilbo and seemingly scoffing at their objectives such as their quest to take back the dwarven kingdom of Erebor and slay the dragon Smaug in the process. We're given a view of a clearly distraught Thorin Oakenshield as he weakens with every step on his journey and Bilbo's importance to the party grows ever greater. We also get to see Bilbo and the party rolling about the river as they try to escape elves flitting among the trees above them. And then we see Legolas (from Lord of the Rings with Orlando Bloom returning to reprise his role) and Tauriel (an original character portrayed by Evangeline Lilly) appear to confront and perhaps even aid the dwarves on their quest.
However, some of the most prominent features of the film are of course Beorn and Smaug, two very iconic characters of the original novel and are very likely to appear in Desolation of Smaug. We can only gleefully anticipate more information regarding the characters.


For the uninitiated, Beorn is a skin-changer, a kind of shape-shifter in Tolkien's stories. In the case of Beorn, he can take the form of a massive black bear capable of rending apart armies of orcs with just his mighty claws and teeth. Played by Mikael Persbrandt, an actor who is well-known for playing the role of "tough guys" in many films, Beorn becomes an even more ominous and terrifying figure. Also of note is the fact that they only show most of his nose and teeth (in bear form no less) in the trailer and we can only be thankful that he is more or less on friendly terms with Gandalf, Bilbo and the dwarves.
Finally we have Smaug, the Wicked Worm that everyone's been waiting for. In the final scenes of Unexpected Journey, all we've seen of him are his nostrils and eye, much like the original sketches of Tolkien. However, the full trailer finally shows him and his head in all his glory rising to confront a rather frightened Bilbo who has wandered into his lair. It seems all too bad that he doesn't speak as we could have heard the rather enticing voice of Benedict Cumberbatch.
Desolation of Smaug: Raising the Stakes, Upsizing the Players is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

The Hobbit and the Fandom
Posted: 19 Jun 2013 02:34 AM PDT

The trailer for The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug has finally been released to theaters around the world along with the release of Man of Steel which has proven to be a huge success in its own right. However, The Hobbit film trilogy is starting to receive a bit of criticism from fans of both the original book by J.R.R. Tolkien as well as moviegoers who have kept up with Lord of the Rings in 2001-2003. Oh well, its first installment, An Unexpected Journey, has proven to be a success in 2012 and ranks among the most successful films of that year alongside Avengers and has also gone on to be one of the most widely sold and rented films of 2013 when An Unexpected Journey was placed into DVD and Blu-Ray.
Like Lord of the Rings before it, which was just one novel but divided into three films with each lasting about an average of three hours and include Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and Return of the King (2003), The Hobbit has also been divided into three films which is one of the factors leading to the discontentment of some fans. The three films started with the aforementioned An Unexpected Journey in 2012, which is followed by Desolation of Smaug this year in December and finally ending with There and Back Again late next year. Also of note is the fact that all three films have roughly the same length of their Lord of the Rings counterparts.


While The Hobbit will most likely have the same length as Lord of the Rings, one wonders if it will garner as much popularity as that of Lord of the Rings. The trailer did get to show off a lot of good parts of the film as fans have hoped and have indeed gotten a lot of fans excited for what's to come in Desolation of Smaug. We definitely got a glimpse of The Hobbit's iconic villains like the orcs, the giant spiders and, let's not forget Smaug, the dragon that destroyed the dwarven city of Erebor and claimed its treasures for its own and the slaying of which is one of Bilbo and his company's objective. In the meantime though we are treated to new characters that will surely make things a bit easier if not a bit more complicated for Bilbo's party. Among them are Thranduil the king of the wood elves, the return of Legolas (whom we all remember well from Lord of the Rings), Tauriel the female elf guard (a source of griping for some fans due to her absence from Tolkien's book) and of course the gigantic bear who can only be Beorn the skin-changer.
Most of the complaints regarding the film trilogy can of course be attributed to the changes that Peter Jackson has brought on to the films that are contradictory to that written in the book. Some good examples of this include the presence of Azog in the films who was only a posthumous character in the book and Tauriel who is actually an original character created for the films.
The Hobbit and the Fandom is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/06/22/a-time-for-sequels/
A Time for Sequels
Posted: 22 Jun 2013 07:39 AM PDT

Gone are the days of one-shot movies. Or at least it would seem so considering the way that the most successful of films often get two or even more sequels. Heck, almost everything comes in trilogies nowadays perhaps inspired by the successes of film trilogies like Star Wars, The Matrix and Lord of the Rings. And some even go for even more as the demand for films just seem to profitable to resist. Some argue that this is why some horror films manage to make it as far as seven or sequels thanks to fan demand. Movies like Saw and The Grudge spring to mind...
However we're in for quite a few blockbuster sequels in the coming years which are likely to spawn or be followed by sequels of their own. Here are just a few of these films in question:


First on our list would be Kick-Ass 2, a sequel to the original Kick-Ass film which was about a young man who decides to take on the identity of a superhero after purchasing a bodysuit. However, he soon gets struck by a car during a crime bust gone bad but has some unsuspecting benefits: getting his nervous systerm rewired and thus granting him superpowers. Kick-Ass 2 features the return of  Kick-Ass, the aforementioned superhero who has now inspired others to become superheroes as well which include that of Colonel Stars and Stripes who will be portrayed by Jim Carrey.
Next up would be Thor: The Dark World or Thor 2. After the success of the first film Thor and The Avengers crossover film, Thor: The Dark World picks up one year after the events of The Avengers. Apparently, there have been many complaints regarding the loose ends of the first film, especially concerning Thor's relationship with the scientist Jane Foster. Thankfully however, Chris Hemsworth (the man portraying Thor no less), has confirmed that many of these loose ends will finally be resolved or at least given some light with the sequel.
Another long awaited sequel would of course be the fourth installment of the Transformers franchise. The film is believed to be in production and release will still be a ways off in 2014 although it's quite apparent that the fandom probably can't wait for another episode of epic robot brawling. Though there is scarce information on what the film will be about and what new characters we'll see, it's been made apparent that the film will feature a new cast with Mark Wahlberg as Flynn Vincent, a new human protagonist for the series.
And now for perhaps one of the most eagerly awaited film of them all, we have The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. After the release of its trailer during the first screening of Man of Steel it's quite obvious that fans simply can't wait for the return of the heroes of Middle Earth. Along with the familiar faces we've seen in both Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, we'll also be introduced to newcomers Bard the bowman (played by Luke Evans) Tauriel the elf guard (played by Evangeline Lilly) and Smaug the dragon (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) and many, many more.
A Time for Sequels is a post from: The Hobbit Movie

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/06/23/x-menthe-hobbit-crossover-artwork/

X-Men/The Hobbit Crossover Artwork
Posted: 23 Jun 2013 07:47 AM PDT

Ian McKellen has proven to be one of the most successful actors of our time. With his extensive career in the film industry, what with him being 74 now and all, it seems that he is now pigeonholed for roles involving both wisdom and authority. We've seen him in countless films from X-Men, Lord of the Rings, The Golden Compass, Stardust and many, many more. Due to his often imposing posture and the ability to command a rather fearsome voice as shown in Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring and his occasional verbal bouts with Patrick Stewart in the X-Men films.
And now, Deviant Art artist Dino Tomic presents us with this crossover portrait of two of Ian McKellen's most prominent roles in the film industry: Gandalf the Grey and Magneto/Erik Lehnsherr. Oh well, it seems Dino Tomic has always been a huge fan of fantasy films and has drawn characters from other franchises as well. In the meantime though, there's no doubt that these two characters are by far Ian McKellen's most famous roles as anyone can probably recognize the wise and bearded wizard from Lord of the Rings and the badass leader of the rebel mutants of X-Men.


This also goes hand in hand with the fact that it seems that Ian McKellen's career is showing no sign of slowing down despite his age. Oh well, he still seems to have a lot of projects over the horizon and, Illuvatar willing, he'll definitely be in for even more. First off, there's still Desolation of Smaug, the second installment of The Hobbit film trilogy that's slated to hit theaters this December and is soon to be followed by There and Back Again which is believed to finally roll into cinemas late next year. As for his role in X-Men, it has been officially confirmed that X-Men, after seemingly ending with X-Men: The Last Stand, will indeed receive a fourth sequel with Ian McKellen in it and is likely to last a 5th and possibly 6th sequel.
As for the artist of the X-Men/The Hobbit portrait, it seems that Dino Tomic has plenty of artworks based on some of the most epic and badass characters of the film industry. We have popular characters like Samwise Gamgee of Lord of the Rings, Frodo's faithful gardener and companion as portrayed by Sean Austin, a vicious portrait of Danny Trejo, Morgan Freeman and Captain Jack Sparrow as portrayed by Johnny Depp. Anyway, we certainly hope to catch more artwork from this guy as we're certainly in for even more epic films coming this 2013 and 2014. There's of course oncoming superhero movies like Thor: The Dark World and many more.
As for all you Ringers out there, the first trailer for Desolation of Smaug has indeed been released in theaters near you and features some of the scenes we're definitely see once the film itself rolls around in late this December. So stay tuned Ringers because Bilbo's journey is far from over!
X-Men/The Hobbit Crossover Artwork is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

Frodo Goes Psycho
Posted: 23 Jun 2013 01:46 AM PDT

Elijah Wood has a rather iconic face in the film industry. In fact, it's not a stretch of the imagination to think that his face is possibly the best way to describe an innocent character who seems to be way in over his head, much like his role as Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings. As a child, he was fawned over by the media and was noted for his looks that just made you want to cuddle him and tell him that everything will be okay. That is, of course, until you find out what else he's been up to.
Anyway, as mentioned above, we've seen plenty of the young (or not-so-young as it turns out) Elijah Wood in quite a number of films as it is. Usually though, we can easily identify him as the often innocent character of a given program or movie that you just want to hug and say that everything will be alright. That is of course, until you find out what he's been up to. Well, let's just take a look at the good man's career and see for yourself what I'm actually talking about, shall we?
Well, Elijah Wood got his start starring in various advertisements on TV and then moved on to being featured in various TV series like Child in the Night. However, he would later appear in small roles in various other films like Back to the Future and Internal Affairs that would later serve to boost his career in the film industry.


Finally, he would appear in Radio Flyer in 1992 with Joseph Mazzello. A film about domestic abuse and the attempts of two boys to escape their abusive environment, it is a blend of fantasy and reality that never really sat well with critics due to its escapist message and tone. It tells the story of Mike and Bobby as they design a flying machine that they hope will take Bobby away from their cruel stepfather.
Later on, in 1993, Elijah Wood appear in the film The Good Son alongside Home Alone superstar Macaulay Culkin. In this psychological horror film Elijah Wood plays the role of Mark Evans, a boy who had recently lost his mother and is being raised with his aunt. However, he soon learns that his cousin Henry is a dangerous psychotic who slowly becomes more and more dangerous over time.
Then finally, we get to see Elijah Wood's career really bloom when he stars in Lord of the Rings in 2001-2003. Cast in the role of the (relatively) young hobbit Frodo Baggins, he is thrust into an adventure of epic proportions as he must now rid the world of the One Ring, a powerful artifact that could very well enslave all of Middle Earth.
And now, much to the surprise of many, Elijah Wood starred in the film Maniac in 2012-2013 which is a remake of the film of the same name in 1980. In a rather bizarre reversal of roles, this time it is Elijah Wood who plays the role of a psychotic killer who scalps female victims and attaches his gruesome trophies atop the heads of his mannequins at home.
Frodo Goes Psycho is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/06/24/new-faces-in-desolation-of-smaug/

New Faces in Desolation of Smaug
Posted: 24 Jun 2013 07:23 AM PDT

The trailer for The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug is set for release this coming December and fans have never been more excited. So far, we've seen a lot of scenic views featuring some of the most memorable vistas of New Zealand and a lot of the excitement we're definitely in for once the film actually rolls around near the end of this year. We're also treated to a good number of epic parts of the film that have left many fans longing for more. Oh well, it's been almost half a year since An Unexpected Journey hit theaters late last year and its not like we can blame Ringers around the world to be so crazy for the film's next installment.
Anyway, we can also expect that a lot of the action will be every bit as shown in the trailer, with Bilbo and the dwarves bobbing about in the river inside barrels and finally meeting the people of Dale who live in fear of the dragon Smaug. We'll also definitely see a lot of old faces like Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Martin Freeman as Bilbo and many, many more. Even Orlando Bloom, who we all remember playing the role of Legolas in Lord of the Rings, will also make a return to Middle Earth. However, one of the more interesting parts of the film are the new characters that Ringers can enjoy.
One of these is of course Luke Evans who has taken the role of Bard in the film proper. A rather grim-faced bowman with a serious issue with the way his town is being run, he remains to be one of the most steadfast of characters in the film proper and focuses on protecting his beloved town from the looming threat of Smaug the dragon. As a side note, Luke Evans will also be starring in the latest installment of The Crow films, a definite surprise as the entire film franchise has long been believed to be cursed.


Another character confirmed to be added to the roaster is Mikael Persbrandt, a Swedish actor who will be playing the role of Beorn the skin-changer. A powerful man capable of transforming himself into an enormous black bear, Beorn lives amid the Misty Mountains and mainly keeps away from the activities of the other races save perhaps the orcs whom he enjoys slaying. Mikael Persbrandt has long been known for taking on the roles of tough guys and the idea of him being cast as Beorn isn't at all that surprising.
Then we have Stephen Fry playing as the Master of Lake Town who is, as described by the actor himself, a rather unpleasant fellow who seems to be a stereotypical evil politician found in many films and stories and his appearance itself was tailored to fit this. Anyway, for those of you who don't know, Stephen Fry has made a lot of other appearances like V for Vendetta and the second installment of Sherlock Holmes, Game of Shadows, where he is infamous for being nude.
New Faces in Desolation of Smaug is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/06/25/what-could-have-been/
What Could Have Been...
Posted: 25 Jun 2013 07:29 AM PDT

Well, for those of you Ringers out there, the trailer for Desolation of Smaug is now out there in theaters for all of you to enjoy. There's plenty enough for everyone as they give us everything from a few quick previews of what we'll see once the film itself rolls around this December. We've been treated to a short narration from Lee Pace who will be portraying the role of the elf lord Thranduil as some of the most breath-taking views of Middle Earth which is in turn portrayed by the scenic landscape of New Zealand plays in the background. We also get to see plenty of other treats such as Beorn's nose, the hobbit and the dwarves rolling about a river, Azog the Defiler finally taking an offensive stance and, last but not least, the dragon Smaug rears its head to face off against a frightened and alone Bilbo.
However, it should be noted that Peter Jackson had quite a few other plans for the film proper that never really came into fruition. While not really a huge loss if one were to think about it and, indeed, since most of the changes he was planning to introduce were mostly original ideas that were absent from the book, some even see this as a good thing. But oh well, here are some of them:


Viggo Mortensen was invited to make an appearance in the film but the actor turned it down. Yes, that Viggo Mortensen, the dude we all remember who took on the role of Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings film. According to Peter Jackson, they wanted to create a bridge to like The Hobbit with Lord of the Rings despite the sixty year gap between the two stories. Unfortunately, it should be noted that Peter Jackson was denied any rights in using any of the other source materials by Tolkien due to legal reasons, a rather sad development and is probably one of the reasons he is making liberal use of his artistic license.
Though it is kind of sad that we won't be seeing much of Viggo Mortensen even after his good performance in the previous Lord of the Rings film and many other projects. It's surprising to note now that one of the first glimpses we've seen of this actor with some of the most memorable being his role as a very mean drill sergeant in G.I. Jane and the devil himself in The Prophecy.
Second on our list is Saoirse Ronan, the pretty Irish actress we all know from another Peter Jackson film in The Lovely Bones which is adapted from the book of the same name by Alice Sebold. A lovely young woman of Irish descent, she was scheduled to make an appearance in the Desolation of Smaug but it seemed she had other commitments at the time. After all, she did recently appear in the film The Host, a movie adaptation of the novel by Stephenie Meyer and has earned some acclaim in portraying as its heroine. Oh well, at least some fans are pleased as they won't be dealing with any more of Peter Jackson's deviations from the visions of Tolkien.

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/06/25/new-figures-for-the-hobbit-and-lord-of-the-rings/

Well, for those of you not in the know, the first trailer for the second installment of The Hobbit film series, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug has already hit theaters around the world at the same time that Man of Steel also hit theaters. The trailer presented us with sights and sounds we're sure to see in the finished product when the film itself finally rolls around this year in December. We got a front row seat for some of the things we're sure to see such as The Hobbits rolling in the river inside barrels as well as meeting some of the characters we'll surely meet in the film such as Legolas (with Orlando Bloom reprising his role), Thranduil (portrayed by Lee Pace), Tauriel (portrayed by Evangeline Lilly), Bard (portrayed by Luke Evans), Beorn (portrayed by Mikael Persbrandt) and, of course, Smaug the dragon (portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch).
And now, to commemorate all those chills and spills so far, Comic-Con and Weta Workshop has presented us with these new and exclusive figures for fans of both Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit to enjoy and reminisce over those iconic scenes in both film franchises. Here are just some of those aforementioned figures:
First among these are of course Frodo and Sam as they travel into the heart of Mordor, the kingdom of the Dark Lord Sauron. In this particular figure however, they are garbed in the disguise of orcs in order to avoid detection and save finally destroy the One Ring once and for all. The figure also shows Sam Gamgee's devotion to his friend, extending far beyond just being Frodo's gardener and following him into the very jaws of death and worse as he surverys the land around them, searching for ways to approach Mount Doom, the one place that the One Ring can actually be destroyed.


Second we have the fateful meeting of The Hobbits with Strider, or Aragorn, as he is later known. While the figure only shows Aragorn, Sam and Bill the pony as they set out on their journey into the wilds beyond Bree to evade the pursuing Nazgul. Though relatively simple, the figure shows how the characters look forward to the challenges that the Fellowship of the Ring will soon have to face. From Sam's unflinching but cautious look ahead to Aragorn's wary watchfulness, this only shows that the Fellowship is in for even more hardship but they all seem willing to face it regardless.
And finally, for The Hobbit fans out there, there's this figure of Azog the Defiler, the pale orc we've all seen in the movies. He seems to be every bit as imposing and fearsome as the character we all saw in An Unexpected Journey. He even comes with detachable arms to better fit his scenario. From the sword he wielded in the battle for Moria where he successfully beheads Thror (Thorin Oakenshield's grandfather) and carries it off or the

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/06/26/an-unexpected-nomination/
An Unexpected Nomination
Posted: 26 Jun 2013 07:17 AM PDT

Well, looking back now, it seems that the world is now eager to see the second installment of The Hobbit trilogy, Desolation of Smaug which is slated for release sometime this December. With the trailer having been released in theaters along with the film Man of Steel, the reaction from fans and their apparent eagerness to see the film are quite understandable. Just the simple taste of what's to come has apparently sent fans into arguments over details as well as many fangirls fawning over the return of Orlando Bloom as Legolas and a lot of fanboys drooling over the newcomer Tauriel as played by Evangeline Lilly. Finally, nothing has hooked fans more than the appearance of Smaug the dragon in the closing part of the trailer, finally showing us the Wicked Wyrm in all his glory and horror as opposed to the eye and nostril we got of him in An Unexpected Journey.
However, it should be noted that An Unexpected Journey managed to make waves of its own. In fact, it proved to be a massive success in the box office and proved to be one of the most widely viewed, rented and sold home video when it was finally ported to DVD and Blu-Ray.
And now it seems that An Unexpected Journey, particularly Park Road Production, one of those in charge of making the special effects of An Unexpected Journey has been nominated for the IBC2013 Innovation Award for their great work in the film. Of course who can argue with the great CGI scenes in the film from the battle at Moria with Azog the Defiler, the fateful meeting of the party with the large and powerful Goblin King and, last but not least, Bilbo's encounter with Gollum in the tunnels beneath Goblin Town.


Anyway, Park Road Production indeed got the nomination for their excellent work with the 48fps cameras that allow for the amazing motion capture capabilities of the film and give the characters a realistic and entirely breath-taking experience. The 48fps (meaning 48 frames per second) is a new technique that enables the team who made An Unexpected Journey even more refined than that of Lord of the Rings which was only a 24fps film at the time. This can be seen in the finer gestures and expressions of the CGI characters in the film proper like Azog the Defiler, Gollum, the three trolls in the forest and the Goblin King.
Whatever the case we definitely hope they win as they are truly deserving of a good award for their efforts in An Unexpected Journey. Of course, everyone remembers the creepy moments with Gollum in the tunnels below Goblin Town, the epic battle between the orcs and dwarves of Moria and the appearance of the three trolls in the forest who ambush Bilbo and company. And then we can only pray for even better work when Desolation of Smaug finally rolls around in December with even more action and characters like Beorn and Smaug.
An Unexpected Nomination is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

Desolation of Smaug and Other Films on Empire Magazine
Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:50 AM PDT

Empire magazine has always been one of the leading names in media regarding what's up and coming in cinemas and what fans can expect. Based in Britain and known for making essays for some of the most prominent films of the time, they have established their name as one of cinema's most trusted names when it comes to telling the world what to expect in their favorite up and coming blockbuster. Some of their most famous works have included Raging Bull, Silence of the Lambs and The Harry Potter series. As for this year however, it seems that Empire Magazine has more to throw at us. What with the sudden appearance of new blockbusters for 2013, is it really all that surprising?
First off, we have The Lone Ranger, based on the old classic radio series of the same name. Scheduled for release on the 3rd of July, the film will boast a considerable cast with Armie Hammer as John Reid or the Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp, the man who made Pirates of the Caribbean famous as Captain Jack Sparrow, will play as the ever iconic Tonto, the Lone Ranger's reliable sidekick. Other actors and actresses in on the action will include Helena Bonham Carter (a woman Johnny Depp has worked with on numerous occasions) who will play as Red Harrington. The film has also received some criticism on the idea of Johnny Depp playing as a Native American but it's been confirmed that they are getting advisers on the topic in order for the film to be more accurate.


Then we have The World's End, the third and final installment for the Three Flavors of Cornetto Trilogy. It began with Shaun of the Dead in 2004, Hot Fuzz in 2007 and now, we finally have The World's End. Like the films before it, The World's End is a rather bleak British comedy that deconstructs a given genre of film and, in this case, disaster films. Anyway, it tells the story of five friends who attempt a pub crawl after their previous attempts end miserably but thing slowly start to take a turn for the worse when robots begin invading their town and taking over everything. Talk about the world ending. Anyway, as the troubles around them escalate, the five friends come to realize that there is more at stake here than their pub crawl.
Finally we have Desolation of Smaug, the second installment of the planned The Hobbit film trilogy. Composed of An Unexpected Journey (which we all probably saw in late 2012) and followed by Desolation of Smaug (which is scheduled for release this December) and, finally, There and Back Again which we'll catch sight of at the end of 2014. Anyway, the trailer for Desolation of Smaug has only recently hit theaters and it is already raking in even more fans as we speak. Three of the characters slated to appear in the film, Thranduil (played by Lee Pace), Legolas (played by Orlando Bloom) and Tauriel (played by Evangeline Lilly) have even graced the cover of the magazine in all their elven splendor.
Desolation of Smaug and Other Films on Empire Magazine is a post from: The Hobbit Movie