Although the film version of The Lord of the Rings was a massive worldwide success, getting J.R.R. Tolkien’s prequel, The Hobbit, to the screen has proven much more difficult. With the rights finally sorted out after being tied up for years and a studio feud with Rings director Peter Jackson resolved, the project finally began [...]
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Infographic: The tortured 73-year history of The Hobbit film
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August 30 2010, 4:55pm | Comments »
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The Hobbit Animated Movie, Review
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Eoghanncom/~3/8e1xZdAYHss/the-hobbit-animated-movie-review
Image by ProfessorMortis via Flickr
I’ve been on a bit of a Tolkien kick recently (in all honestly I’ve been on a Tolkien kick for my entire life) so I thought I’d watch the 1977 animated tv movie of The Hobbit. I went into this knowing that I really wasn’t the target audience for this adaptation, but curious none the less. What I found was a really mixed bag. There are some elements of the movie that are remarkably strong and others that just jar my nerves. I was surprised by how faithful the animated movie was to The Hobbit. It’s short running time inevitably means that plot elements are left out, but the core of it remains true to the book and all the major characters are featured and they even included the Battle of Five Armies. That’s really more than I expected from an animated movie from Rankin/Bass. The voice work is mainly good and the animation is tolerable to good (shout out to John Huston as Gandalf). If you’ve seen other Rank/Bass productions you’ll know what to expect. The musical elements were inevitable, and at least they used Tolkien’s poems for them. But it does feel forced and distracts from the story rather than adds to it. In terms of design, it’s a strange mixture. The backgrounds feel entirely in keeping with Tolkien’s work. The colors and styles are very reminiscent of stuff I’ve seen before. On the other hand the character designs don’t seem to match up with any of Tolkien’s descriptions. The dwarves aren’t terrible, but are a lot less impressive than I envisage. The goblins look hideous at least, but nothing like I pictured them. But the elves are absolutely terrible. I don’t know what they were thinking with that design. Perhaps it has something to do with the Japanese animation house used for much of the work. Putting aside the visual elements, my main problem with Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass’ adaptation of The Hobbit is that none of the dwarves are really given enough time to develop a personality. Only Thorin gets any significant amount of lines. It’s a result of the short run time of course and the producers made the obvious decision to focus on Bilbo Baggins (the titular Hobbit) at the expense of everyone else. There’s also something missing. When I read The Hobbit, I get a huge sense of fun throughout the book, even the darker chapters. The animated movie feels a bit bleak. And that’s really strange for a Rankin Bass production. Somehow I don’t think J.R.R. Tolkien would be terribly impressed with the animated Hobbit. But then I doubt Tolkien would be impressed with any of the adaptations. It’s certainly not the adaptation that I picture in my head. But you have to look at it for what it is. It’s aimed firmly at children and it’s a mainstream tv movie from 30+ years ago. Set your expectations to a realistic level and there is something to enjoy here. Related articles by Zemanta
Soviet Hobbit illustrations (boingboing.net) Peter Jackson Meets With Actors For The Hobbit (perezhilton.com) Ian McKellan Dropping Out Of The Hobbit? (perezhilton.com) the passion of the hobbit (bripblap.com) Nine Hobbits that Could Happen (tor.com) Warner recruiting for more than one Hobbit title (vg247.com)
Eoghann Irving is a sci-Fi fan, self professed geek, owner of too many computers and general know it all. Follow me on Google Buzz, LinkedIn or Twitter to chat about this or anything else.
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August 14 2010, 4:07pm | Comments »
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Hobbit Films At Risk Of Losing Ian McKellen
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BleedingCool/~3/OpxkjaiGPHo/
In the following clip from New Zealand’s Good Morning show, Ian McKellen states that he does expect an imminent announcement on that will reveal The Hobbit’s start date or new director… or maybe it will be that the films aren’t going to happen at all. All the same, he’s not 100% committed to sticking with the films through thick, thin and seemingly endless delays: Well I’m not under contract and my time is running out and I’m enjoying working in the theatre and frankly, I would like to race after doing Waiting For Godot, get on with doing another play but we’ll have to see. I don’t give the producers the impression that I’m sitting waiting. Here’s the clip with Hobbit talk starting around the 4:30 mark:
It’d be pretty awful for The Hobbit to lose its Gandalf. The ties that bind the upcoming films to the already standing Rings trilogy are crucial to the fan community’s anticipation. In fact, a quick straw poll of three strangers in this bar tell me that even casual viewers think recasting Gandalf (“That’s the wizard, right?”) would be “Stupid”, “A bad idea” and worth a worried “No, no, no”. Thanks to The One Ring for showcasing the video and putting a bit of a frown on my Saturday afternoon relaxing on the South Bank.
July 3 2010, 8:39am | Comments »
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Guillermo chimes in with MGM / Hobbit delays
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/04/03/35886-guillermo-chimes-in-with-mgm-hobbit-delays/
TheOneRing.net message board member (and director of films that win like – you know – Academy Awards) Guillermo del Toro chimed in today to elaborate a bit on the seemingly eternal pre-pre-production state of a pair of “Hobbit” films and the MGM situation. Chatting up the regulars he said: But know these facts: -NO delays have been caused [...]
April 3 2010, 7:56pm | Comments »
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Will MGM sell ‘Hobbit’ rights to Warner?
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/04/03/35874-will-mgm-sell-hobbit-rights-to-warner/
After the debtholders of MGM’s $3.7 billion extended its payment deadline for the fourth time (yes fans, that might mean more delays to the much pined-for “greenlight”) Wired.com posts a story that says historic Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio might sell off “The Hobbit” franchise and that Warner Bros. is interested in buying. James Bond is another of [...]
April 3 2010, 7:26pm | Comments »
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More Hobbiton Set Pics!
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/03/30/35817-more-hobbiton-set-pics-4/
This feels like 1999 all over again, we have another collection of set pictures from the New Zealand set of Hobbiton. Thanks to Paul for sending these along!
March 30 2010, 4:11pm | Comments »
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Source says the MGM situation of ‘great importance’ to two ‘The Hobbit’ films
"At this stage we are all working and hoping for the best case scenario. Without a doubt, the MGM situation carries great importance."
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March 27 2010, 6:38pm | Comments »
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Hobbit Shooting Begins in…June?
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/03/16/35627-hobbit-shooting-begins-in-june/
Ataahua sent in the tip: But British actor Sir Ian McKellen – best known for his role as Gandalf in the Rings sword and sorcery epic – said on his website that he would reprise the role of the grey-haired wizard and expected shooting to begin this June. More..
March 16 2010, 8:13pm | Comments »
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