This is like... the Reese's Cup of my fannish obsessions, if it is true.
I'm going to speculate that they have either cast him in some sort of cameo as an elf or wizard or something to do with the Necromancer sub-plot (he's too tall and thin for a hobbit or dwarf, I think) or he'll be cast as Smaug (or maybe the Necromancer? no telling really).
Anybody want to speculate with me? (I don't have a problem. I can quit anytime I want. Don't judge me!)
Posted by Amilia (Member # 8912) on :
Well, I don't know, they cast Aiden Turner as a dwarf, and he's just as tall and almost as skinny as Benedict Cumberbatch.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
The Dwarves are all cast at this point, aren't they? Besides, Turner is definitely a mesomorph and Cumberbatch is a textbook ectomorph.
Though really, if they only cast him in a bit part, it won't matter much. These things can be fudged. It will be interesting to hear what the deal is, either way.
ETA: They have not yet announced who is cast as Bard, so that seems to be the frontrunner in speculation right now. I still say he'd make a fabulous Smaug with that voice of his.
[ May 22, 2011, 10:17 PM: Message edited by: Olivet ]
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Last I heard, Leonard Nemoy was in talks to be the voice of Smaug. Personally I'd vote for Ron Perlman.
The dwarves are all cast. One of them had to drop out and was replaced.
Posted by Marlozhan (Member # 2422) on :
I think Leonard Nimoy should be cast as a Hobbit vocalist. He did such a wonderful job the first time he used his musical talents among the hobbits.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
It's funny how Nimoy said he was retiring from acting only to show up doing voice work. I guess he meant live acting? Whatever happened, I'm glad he's still around. That guy is amazing.
The hobbit could be really good if they do it right...we'll see!
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Marlozhan, I dont say this often but that video creeped me out.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Nimoy wouldn't work for me. When I hear his voice, I see the Enterprise *swishing* through the vacuum of space. Maybe if Nimoy had taken on a wide variety of acting roles since Star Trek, like William Shatner has, he wouldn't be so typecast.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
Ron, did you not see Fringe? He played a MAJOR recuring character. It was pretty awesome.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Yes, Jeff I saw Fringe. One of my favorite shows. William Bell was not really that major a character. Important to the plot, somewhat--but he actually appeared in very few episodes. In one of the last ones--after Nimoy had said he was done acting--William Bell sort of appeared as a cartoon. That was one strange episode.
William Shatner has had several TV series where he was a central character. Like T.J. Hooker, where he played a cop. He played attorney Denny Crane in the television series The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal, where he played an attorney who believed he had Mad Cow Disease. (What a sad comedown for Captain Kirk!) He won two Emmys and a Golden Globe Award for his attorney show roles.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Orlando Bloom will be in The Hobbit, for sure.
Posted by manji (Member # 11600) on :
That video of Nimoy singing the Bilbo song is either the best thing ever or the worst, I can not decide which.
I'm thinking of starting a religion just to worship/denounce it, not sure which yet.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ron Lambert: Yes, Jeff I saw Fringe. One of my favorite shows. William Bell was not really that major a character. Important to the plot, somewhat--but he actually appeared in very few episodes. In one of the last ones--after Nimoy had said he was done acting--William Bell sort of appeared as a cartoon. That was one strange episode.
William Shatner has had several TV series where he was a central character. Like T.J. Hooker, where he played a cop. He played attorney Denny Crane in the television series The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal, where he played an attorney who believed he had Mad Cow Disease. (What a sad comedown for Captain Kirk!) He won two Emmys and a Golden Globe Award for his attorney show roles.
Shatner actively embraces and in fact took full possession of his "Kirk" persona and turned it into his "Shatner" persona. Shatner is pretty awesome guy.
Nimoy is also awesome, his voice is incredibly compelling and I think the perfect fit for Smaug. Smaug's voice was supposed to be incredibly charismatic and magnetic, you just FIND YOURSELF submitting to the seductive words of the dragon against all better judgement.
Nimoy's voice I think could be perfect for this.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Peter Dinklage as Bilbo!
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by umberhulk: Peter Dinklage as Bilbo!
Bilbo has already been cast, and in my opinion, Martin Freeman is an absolutely perfect choice for young Bilbo.
Posted by Tarrsk (Member # 332) on :
I hope it's not Nimoy. I'm a huge fan of the man, but his voice is (a) too recognizable and (b) not what it used to be. Nimoy's voice has become seriously frail-sounding in the past ten years. It's still "compelling," but I'm not sure I would describe it as still being "charismatic" or "magnetic."
Nimoy's current voice worked great for his character on "Fringe," who's supposed to be in his twilight years and facing mortality, but I don't think it would work for Smaug, who is supposed to be as powerful and vital a being as we've ever seen in Middle Earth.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
A hobbit rumor:
The word on the street is that Gundolpho Bolger liked to dress up in women's clothing.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: I'm thinking of starting a religion just to worship/denounce it, not sure which yet.
You could alternate. Maybe worship on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays; denounce on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Fridays off.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Noemon: A hobbit rumor:
The word on the street is that Gundolpho Bolger liked to dress up in women's clothing.
This is going to be the talk of the South Farthing.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
No, I agree. It was just a joke. Cause you know, Tyrion.
Martin Freeman is the guy from the Fellowship though, right?
Posted by Tarrsk (Member # 332) on :
quote:Originally posted by Noemon: A hobbit rumor:
The word on the street is that Gundolpho Bolger liked to dress up in women's clothing.
Does he hang around in bars?
Posted by C3PO the Dragon Slayer (Member # 10416) on :
Man, all that's floating around about The Hobbit is making me a bit apprehensive.
The Hobbit is one of my favorite books of all time, and I'd hate to see the storyline changed so drastically as to lose focus. And this is what looks like might happen. It looks like they're going to go all-out with the battle sequences (many of which, in the book, don't happen "onscreen;" the main focus is and should be on Bilbo and his companions). For some reason they're inserting Legolas into the movie, even though I'm pretty sure he doesn't appear in the book. I can only hope his role in the film is minor. And then there's this business about splitting the movie into two parts. While the longer screentime might allow the filmmakers to produce a more accurate and thorough adaptation, but I am not convinced the move is anything but a cash-in, since the Hobbit is a solidly structured story that isn't easily divided into two separable acts, and really, not enough happens in the story to justify two movies.
It's funny; I easily forgive the Lord of the Rings movies for taking liberties with sequences like Helm's Deep because I hadn't read the books (except for Fellowship, which I enjoyed) when I first saw them and recognized their value as their own products. I must then admit to a bit of hypocrisy in worrying about similar treatment to The Hobbit, which I have read and treasure deeply.
I think my worry is more justified, though, because while The Lord of the Rings was more or less about the fate of the world, where the heroes are in charge of a MacGuffin that is the key to defeating the baddest sorcerer ever (unless you've read The Silmarillion or that posthumously-published "supplementary material" that retcons in an even grander struggle that completely mitigates the events of LOTR), The Hobbit was about a humble adventure by humble people, where the main antagonist is a dragon who, while threatening, isn't out to destroy the world. The story is told through the eyes of Bilbo, who does not witness the big battles it looks like they're padding the movie with, and it makes me worried that in upgrading the stakes to an epic scale, the filmmakers will lose focus on what the story is about. I'll probably still see the movie, or at least sample the first one if they really are splitting it into two parts, but I will do so with cautious expectations, since I'd hate to see The Hobbit torn apart by a lousy adaptation.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
quote: Martin Freeman is the guy from the Fellowship though, right?
Nope. Ian Holm played Bilbo in the LotR movies. However, Martin Freeman is the ideal choice for Bilbo in The Hobbit, I think.
I think Benedict Cumberbatch would make an awesome Smaug. Here are a couple of YouTube links of Benedict Cumberbatch as himself and impersonating Alan Rickman. And because I am completely shameless, here he is reading from a book about Casanova. That voice could certainly persuade me, is all I'm sayin'. Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
quote:The word on the street is that Gundolpho Bolger liked to dress up in women's clothing.
Sounds like orc talk to me.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
C3PO - Wow, lots to cover here! I disagree you with a fair but, though, I do share your underlying concern.
quote:And this is what looks like might happen. It looks like they're going to go all-out with the battle sequences (many of which, in the book, don't happen "onscreen;" the main focus is and should be on Bilbo and his companions)
Actually, a fair bit of the Battle of Five Armies IS described. We know exactly how the armies were situated, we know the goblins flanked them until Thorin rushed out into the middle of the fight and trapped himself, we know that Beorn showed up to rescue Thorin and kill Bolg. (I'd love a brief flashback to the Dwarf/Goblin Wars). Bilbo isn't knocked out until the Eagles arrive. And for that matter, we know that Gandalf and the Council drove the Necromancer out of Dol Guldur. Tolkien is somewhat famous for having battles that never happen. He describes these epic scenes of horrendous carnage and then without actually saying how they went, shifts to "after the battle was over..." or merely describes vague turns of the tide. It clearly wasn't where his interest lay, but it IS a big part of his stories. PJ isn't making a documentary (much as I'd love that), it's a movie, so the actions scenes, appropriately, get more air time than Tolkien gave them in the book. I would add though, that PJ, despite massive battle scenes in the LOTR movies, NEVER lost the fact that it was about Frodo and the Ring, and never lost track of the Fellowship as a Fellowship, even after it was broken. I trust him to do that again.
quote:For some reason they're inserting Legolas into the movie, even though I'm pretty sure he doesn't appear in the book. I can only hope his role in the film is minor.
He wasn't in the book, per se, but there's no reason why he shouldn't be there. His father, Thranduil, is one of the key actors in the book. Why wouldn't his son be there?
quote:And then there's this business about splitting the movie into two parts. While the longer screentime might allow the filmmakers to produce a more accurate and thorough adaptation, but I am not convinced the move is anything but a cash-in, since the Hobbit is a solidly structured story that isn't easily divided into two separable acts, and really, not enough happens in the story to justify two movies.
Fair enough, it's a valid concern. Yes, I'm a bit leery, as are others, about adding in all the stuff with the White Council, Radagast, etc. It's stuff that DOES happen, it's not like it's being made up, but it wasn't directly in the narrative. Frankly I think the book breaks into two movies just as easily without it. A LOT of stuff happens in that fairly short book, and remember just how long and harrowing the journey is. And maybe it is just cashing in, but, unlike some things, isn't this one of those times where you're okay with paying for more? Personally, I was thrilled when I heard it was two (with reservations), just like I was thrilled for two Deathly Hallows movies.
quote:I think my worry is more justified, though, because while The Lord of the Rings was more or less about the fate of the world, where the heroes are in charge of a MacGuffin that is the key to defeating the baddest sorcerer ever (unless you've read The Silmarillion or that posthumously-published "supplementary material" that retcons in an even grander struggle that completely mitigates the events of LOTR)
Not sure if I count The One Ring as a Macguffin. That's usually a derogatory term used for things that don't really matter, they just move the plot along. The LOTR never loses focus on TOR, in fact, unlike some movies where the Macguffin is usually forgotten after the first third of the movie, the climax of 9 hours of movie is TOR's destruction. It remained the driving force all the way through.
Furthermore, the Sil is in no way a Retcon. Tolkien was writing the Sil way before he wrote LOTR. He just finished LOTR before he ever finished the Sil, though really, since Chris didn't write a word of it, but only edited and organized, Tolkien really had a fully fleshed out history for it before his death. Morgoth is even mentioned a time or two, as are events of the distant past, in LOTR, that come up in the Sil. For that matter, the Sil covers events like where Glamdring came from. And I don't at all see how it "mitigates" the events of LOTR. What happens in LOTR is a natural extension of an unfinished story from 4,000 years before, or really, 10,000. Sauron feigned good behavior, destroyed a couple of civilizations through deception, forged TOR in the Second Age, and was defeated at the end of the Second, but Isildur was an idiot, and that set up the Third Age, culminating in the events of LOTR. It's a grand, epic story, and rather than one mitigating the other, I think they complement each other rather well.
quote:The Hobbit was about a humble adventure by humble people, where the main antagonist is a dragon who, while threatening, isn't out to destroy the world.
Certainly the dwarves aren't humble. I see your point though, and this is what I was alluding to earlier. Have some faith! LOTR had a lot going on it it, and I think you could narrow the main story down to three or four different things. For a lot of people it was all about Frodo and the Ring. Despite everything else happening at the time, PJ never lost sight of Frodo. I think we can trust PJ to not lose focus on Bilbo either. On the other hand, you have to remember that this is also the story of a Hobbit caught up in events that are often far beyond him. To ignore those events, I think, does the larger story a disservice. Why did Gandalf want him there? What was Bilbo's larger purpose in the grander scheme of things? The effects of The Hobbit are felt in many, many ways in LOTR, not just the finding of TOR. I hope Bilbo stays the main focus, but it's not just about him.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I don't think it's really possible to be true to the feel and experience of The Hobbit while simultaneously showing its significance in the larger story. To me, a key aspect of The Hobbit is that our protagonist is a tiny player in large events, and he (and the audience) never understands more than a minuscule fraction of what's really happening. To get answers to those larger questions, you have to leave the small and comforting world of The Hobbit and enter the larger world of LotR, then its appendices, then The Silmarillion, etc..
[ May 28, 2011, 02:30 PM: Message edited by: mr_porteiro_head ]
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
That makes sense since this is a younger Bilbo.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I am *so* excited about this.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: I don't think it's really possible to be true to the feel and experience of The Hobbit while simultaneously showing its significance in the larger story. To me, a key aspect of The Hobbit is that our protagonist is a tiny player in large events, and he (and the audience) never understands more than a minuscule fraction of what's really happening. To get answers to those larger questions, you have to leave the small and comforting world of The Hobbit and enter the larger world of LotR, then its appendices, then The Silmarillion, etc..
I think PJ will manage to find a balance. Most of the fight scenes in the book will still be shown fairly, as they ARE described in the book. Some of the bonus stuff that might be thinking of throwing in will distract somewhat from the simplicity you lean towards, but I'm fine with that. I think he did a good job of it in LOTR, and it should be even easier here.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
It makes sense that those who are pleased with what PJ did in LoTR would have more faith in what he'll do in The Hobbit than I do.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: It makes sense that those who are pleased with what PJ did in LoTR would have more faith in what he'll do in The Hobbit than I do.
There were a lot of things I didn't like about LOTR. I thought Fellowship was excellent. Two Towers was good. I think Return of the King was the worst of the three, and a lot of it I just didn't like at all. Taking the good with the bad, I think as a whole it was a great adaptation, and part of why I'm less worried about The Hobbit is that there's just less going on for him to mess with. I suppose that's why he feels the need to add things in, but, so long as what he's adding is canon, I'm not bothered.
I think I was one of the few who thought Arwen being in the movies was just fine. I heard a lot of "but she was never in the books!" except she was, at least in the appendix. Tolkien said flat out that she was meant to be there, that she was in the story, he just didn't have a way to shoehorn her into the narrative, so he put her at the end. Close enough for me. Same with the other added material that's going in. So long as he finds a way to do it without making it look like a non-sequitor, I'm down.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I hated some of the changes thoug. The whole "Let the Nazgul see Frodo with the ring near Mordor" stuff, making Farimir another man under the sway of the Ring, and having Gandalf on his back, staff broken, only the have the King of the Nazgul WALK AWAY BECAUSE OF SOME HORNS......
Yeah, ROTK was my least favorite.....lol....
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
It's not like Gandalf was in the battle at that point, and never did anything important since that scene. And Sauron's army is more important. Besides, the withc king whooped him. He could just do it again.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
They should show the Turtle.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
A friend sent me this link to a couple of bizarre if not outright berserk videos involving Leonard Nimoy. The first one is a recent one with Leonard Nimoy as the central character in a brief but really strange mood piece depicting him as a sort of grumpy old man who goes about his daily routine--including going to the store--in his pajamas and bathrobe. The second, on the same page, is a much earlier music video with a young Nimoy singing the Bilbo Baggins song.
Nimoy was also Galvatron in the Transformers movie.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I liked Orson Wells better as Unicron.
Posted by Geraine (Member # 9913) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jeff C.: It's funny how Nimoy said he was retiring from acting only to show up doing voice work. I guess he meant live acting? Whatever happened, I'm glad he's still around. That guy is amazing.
The hobbit could be really good if they do it right...we'll see!
He was also on Fringe after he retired... Then he lent his voice to Fringe. He has also said in interviews he would come back to Fringe if they found a way to bring him back.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: I liked Orson Wells better as Unicron.
Its said that Orson Welles put little effort into it... And yet surprisingly... it works so well he truly sounds like a powerful god.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Ian McKellan, in a fairly name-droppy Hobbit Blog post, mentioned seeing a snippet of Cumberbatch's screen test, which he said was "electrifying, vocally and facially." That seems a fairly strong hint, to me. He said it was shot in super close up, too, so I'm still guessing Smaug.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
Can someone tell me if there are any books that take place after the Lord of the Rings, or are the rest just prequels?
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jeff C.: Can someone tell me if there are any books that take place after the Lord of the Rings, or are the rest just prequels?
There is a bit in the Appendices of RotK set after the events of LotR, but there isn't anything (to my knowledge) in any of Tolkien's other writings.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Yup. It talks a little bit about Aragorn's death and Arwen's wasting away in grief, but there's not much there.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
Bah, Hollywood just needs to go ahead and make a sequel, Appendices be damned!
Hey, they did it with Jarassic Park And they are basically doing that with the Hobbit by splitting it up into two films (which makes zero sense). I wonder if they'll keep milking the franchise. Maybe they'll make a trilogy about the Simarillion (sp?).
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jeff C.: Can someone tell me if there are any books that take place after the Lord of the Rings, or are the rest just prequels?
Tolkien started writing a sequel at one point, but only got a few chapters in before deciding against it.
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
Actually, Crichton wrote at least one-perhaps two, I don't remember for sure-sequels to Jurassic Park.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I don't think the sequels to the movie had much in common with the sequels to the book, though.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Cumberbatch will voice/motion capture Smaug, and voice the Necromancer. He's teh shiznit!
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by ricree101:
quote:Originally posted by Jeff C.: Can someone tell me if there are any books that take place after the Lord of the Rings, or are the rest just prequels?
Tolkien started writing a sequel at one point, but only got a few chapters in before deciding against it.
The sequel is about Aragorn and Arwen's son in the Fourth Age. It's very, very short, and doesn't really tell you all that much. You can find it in one of the Histories of Middle Earth volumes. I can't remember which one, I think it's one of the last couple, called something like "The Coming Shadow" or some such.
You can also find out about what happens afterwards in the appendices and in the Histories, like what happens with all of the main cast members, who marries who, has what kids, dies, goes across the sea, all of that.
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
Having heard Cumberbatch in a few radio plays and things over the years, he really is a chameleon when it comes to voice acting. So he would be a good choice.
I don't see the point of sequels to LOTR. Evil empire defeated. Order restored. Everyone lives happily ever after until they die. That's how stories are supposed to end.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
quote:Originally posted by Rakeesh: Actually, Crichton wrote at least one-perhaps two, I don't remember for sure-sequels to Jurassic Park.
He wrote the Lost World. I was referring to Jarassic Park 3 and now the supposed fourth movie Spielburg is trying to make.
I didn't know there was a sequel story about their son. That's kind of cool!
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Bella Bee - I agree completely on both counts. I think he'll be a fantastic Smaug/Necromancer, without the previous associations attached to the other voices people in this thread have suggested. (I love Nimoy, but I've never heard him sound like anything except Leonard Nimoy.)
Plus, I have no trouble believing whatever he lends to either voice part will be scary as heck.
About sequels, When Neil Gaiman ended his Sandman comic more or less at the height of its popularity, he said something along the lines of "Stories that matter, end." I wholeheartedly agree. Whatever fondness I bear for the characters, I would hate to see them fall prey to something like the last season of the X-Files. To every thing there is a season, y'all. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Bella Bee: Having heard Cumberbatch in a few radio plays and things over the years, he really is a chameleon when it comes to voice acting. So he would be a good choice.
I don't see the point of sequels to LOTR. Evil empire defeated. Order restored. Everyone lives happily ever after until they die. That's how stories are supposed to end.
Yeah, but even LOTR didn't end like that. The whole point of the Scouring and Frodo leaving for Valinor is that you can't always go home again for the happy ending, that no one was safe from the evil, and that evil's touch was so malevolent that Frodo was too weary for Middle Earth.
Besides, just because Sauron and Morgoth were gone didn't mean there was no evil left in the world. I do agree, though, that I'm perfectly happy to let the end of LOTR be the end of that world's timeline. More background knowledge I wouldn't have minded, but stories about Eldarion I probably could do without.
Posted by Geraine (Member # 9913) on :
Sometimes it is better to just leave a world alone after it concludes. I remember a little over 10 years ago there was a trilogy of books that take place after the events of the Willow movie.
Yeah...At first I was like "Cool!" and afterwards thought to myself, "Why?"
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I probably have the specifics wrong, but after the success of 2001: A Space Odyssey, my undestanding is that they kept trying to get Clarke to write a sequel. "Nope," he said, "that was the end of the story. There's nothing left to write."
But after being offered enough money, he eventually discovered that yes, there was another story to tell. And it wasn't horrible.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
Not only that, he went and wrote three sequels.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I'm pretty nervous about J.K. Rowling's "Pottermore" announcement/website. Nobody knows what it is, except that it's not a book. Details are supposed to be forthcoming within the week, and unless it's an announcement for a BBC TV series, where each series is one book, I don't think I want it.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jeff C.: Not only that, he went and wrote three sequels.
Those last two were terrible.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
quote:I do agree, though, that I'm perfectly happy to let the end of LOTR be the end of that world's timeline.
Of course, Tolkien wrote LOTR to be a prehistory of Eurasia. So the end of LOTR is meant to be the beginning of our world's timeline.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
I'm of two minds about whether the two Hobbit movies will be awesome or kind of overdone and distorted, but I trust Peter Jackson.
My butt will be in the seat for both. Possibly even in a camp chair outside the theater well before showtime.
It might even call for another WenchCon. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson:
quote:I do agree, though, that I'm perfectly happy to let the end of LOTR be the end of that world's timeline.
Of course, Tolkien wrote LOTR to be a prehistory of Eurasia. So the end of LOTR is meant to be the beginning of our world's timeline.
We're in what, like the Eighth Age right now? I remember someone wrote to him and asked him specifically what age today is, but I can't remember the answer.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade: I'm pretty nervous about J.K. Rowling's "Pottermore" announcement/website. Nobody knows what it is, except that it's not a book. Details are supposed to be forthcoming within the week, and unless it's an announcement for a BBC TV series, where each series is one book, I don't think I want it.
Be sure to tell us what that is all about when you find out. I'm curious now.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
She's hinted in the past that she wants to return to the series at some point. Other than a book though, I don't really know what I'd want from her.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
PJ has confirmed the casting info from earlier this week (Luke Evans as Bard and Cumberbatch as Smaug), as well as announcing that Evangeline Lilly will appear as a named elf:
[ June 19, 2011, 11:17 PM: Message edited by: Olivet ]
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I just listened to a couple things with Benedict Cumberbatch...and I don' really hear it at all.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
I had trouble finding examples of his vocal range on YouTube. Perhaps Bella Bee could find better examples?
I have an audiobook of him reading the first Silverwing novel, and his range of voices is impressive in that.
As far as acting goes, he's been cast frequently as the brainy type or as a slightly awkward/sensitive type in what I've seen. Sherlock was a break out for him, but he was memorable as William Pitt in Amazing Grace and as the man who committed the crime James McAvoy was punished for in Atonement. I would guess he's the type to be cast as a villain in a typical Hollywood style movie.
I've heard his portrayals of Dr. Frankenstein and the Monster (he swapped roles with Johnny Lee Miller, depending on the night) at the National Theater were incredible. Here's a link to the trailer for that:
But, yeah, most of the stuff I could find on YouTube doesn't show his range very well.
[ June 19, 2011, 11:18 PM: Message edited by: Olivet ]
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
quote:Evangeline Lilly will appear as a named elf
Even weirder, Dame Edna Everage (or her alter-ego Barry Humphries) is voicing the Goblin King. If he doesn't call anyone 'possum' I shall be so disappointed.
I have no idea where to find free examples of Cumberbatch's voice acting, I heard them on the radio and I don't even remember when. But I do remember that he was good.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Oh, Goodness. That's who Barry Humphries is? *boggles* Not that any actor or actress is capable of doing only what they are best known for, mind.
Posted by Dobbie (Member # 3881) on :
Also, I really like this concept for the movie poster.
edit: Though I think they should find a way to distinguish Bilbo.
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
Aw. It's really real! Nice to see Bag End again.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Though I think they should find a way to distinguish Bilbo.
Bilbo is the much shorter one at the end of the line.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
quote:Though I think they should find a way to distinguish Bilbo.
Bilbo is the much shorter one at the end of the line.
Yes I noticed that later, but he seems to be just a blob, rather than the protagonist.
I'd like to see him holding a ring between his thumb and pointer finger. I suppose his shorter height is enough, but I think there's a better presentation in there somewhere.
edit: Plus maybe I am falling victim to my own bias rather than letting the book tell me how things were, but I naturally expected to find Bilbo running almost on the skirts of Gandalf's robe, not bringing up the rear.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade: Set pictures!
Also, I really like this concept for the movie poster.
edit: Though I think they should find a way to distinguish Bilbo.
The dwarves look a lot more badass than I thought they would.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade: I'm pretty nervous about J.K. Rowling's "Pottermore" announcement/website. Nobody knows what it is, except that it's not a book. Details are supposed to be forthcoming within the week, and unless it's an announcement for a BBC TV series, where each series is one book, I don't think I want it.
If this is a side series about Luna then this will be the best thing in the history of creativity.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
quote:Originally posted by Olivet: I'm of two minds about whether the two Hobbit movies will be awesome or kind of overdone and distorted, but I trust Peter Jackson.
My butt will be in the seat for both. Possibly even in a camp chair outside the theater well before showtime.
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I see your point though, and this is what I was alluding to earlier. Have some faith! LOTR had a lot going on it it, and I think you could narrow the main story down to three or four different things. For a lot of people it was all about Frodo and the Ring. Despite everything else happening at the time, PJ never lost sight of Frodo. I think we can trust PJ to not lose focus on Bilbo either. On the other hand, you have to remember that this is also the story of a Hobbit caught up in events that are often far beyond him. To ignore those events, I think, does the larger story a disservice. Why did Gandalf want him there? What was Bilbo's larger purpose in the grander scheme of things? The effects of The Hobbit are felt in many, many ways in LOTR, not just the finding of TOR. I hope Bilbo stays the main focus, but it's not just about him.
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And they are basically doing that with the Hobbit by splitting it up into two films (which makes zero sense). I wonder if they'll keep milking the franchise. Maybe they'll make a trilogy about the Simarillion (sp?).
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