The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

[pixletwin]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Nothing about Eowyn has ever bugged me.

Now let's talk about Arwen and her horsie-cry in TTT and Liv Tyler's awful acting in the RotK scene where she confronts Elrond about her having a son.

 

[IrishJedi]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Nothing about Eowyn has ever bugged me.

You're just biased.

 

[The Josh]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Guess, we'll have to agree to disagree then. The moment doesn't bother me a bit.

 

[Khev]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Not "all" as in the film itself, just the tone and pacing... particularly in the first Act. I love that immediately after the Prologue the Theatrical version of FOTR opens with Frodo reading a book under a tree in the shire. It's brilliant, and a perfect visual metaphor for what the viewer is about to embark on as well. Then Gandalf arrives moments later. There is such charm to these scenes, and having them right at the beginning really plunges the viewer (particularly those not familiar with the books, which, let's face it... is most of the audience) into the story and warms them to the characters right off the bat.

I can't post enough of these to echo my sentiments. Thanks for posting that. I absolutely love the segue from Galadriel's speech to the lush green and music of the Shire with Frodo chilling under the tree as "The Fellowship of the Ring" flashes across the screen.

Love it, love it, love it. Just a brilliant opening that engages the audience immediately with the Shire, Frodo, and Gandalf.

 

[IrishJedi]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

BTW, it is kinda creepy/cool/weird how much that Tolkien pic tends to resemble Josh.

 

[Maglor]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Regarding Eowyn, I did like her showdown with the WK but I hate to say it (since I trumpet ROTK as my favorite film of all time) but her scream when she stabbed him did seem a bit corny to me.

"I am no man," was borderline cheesy enough but the scream just put it over the top.

"A sword rang as it was drawn. 'Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.'
'Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me.'
Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. 'But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him'...

...“Eowyn! Eowyn!” cried Merry. Then tottering, struggling up, with her last strength she drove her sword between crown and mantle, as great shoulders bowed before her. The sword broke sparkling into many shards. The crown rolled away with a clang. Eowyn fell forward upon her fallen foe. But lo! the mantle and hauberk were empty. Shapeless they lay now on the ground, torn and tumbled; and a cry went up into shuddering air, and faded to a shrill wailing, passing with the wind, a voice bodiless and thin that died, and was swallowed up, and was never heard again in that age of this world.

I'd love to quote the whole dang chapter or at least the whole scene, but you get the idea.


Eowyn is such a freaking badass in that scene. And it's the one true moment of "girl power" in all of LOTR. If you wanna pick on something, pick on all the stuff that was added with Arwen in Fellowship. She was never at the Ford of Bruinen.

When the Witch-king boasted that "no living man may hinder me," he was referring to the 1,000-year-old prophecy by the Elf-lord Glorfindel, foretelling that the Witch-king would not fall "by the hand of man". I love it when she says: "But no living man am I! You look upon a woman!"

And regarding the scream, yes it was added in place of a good deal of dialogue but it feels totally in keeping with Miranda Otto's character, and appropriate for such a feat of strength after taking such a pummeling.


And now for your viewing pleasure:

 

[IrishJedi]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

I can't post enough of these to echo my sentiments. Thanks for posting that. I absolutely love the segue from Galadriel's speech to the lush green and music of the Shire with Frodo chilling under the tree as "The Fellowship of the Ring" flashes across the screen.

Love it, love it, love it. With a few brilliant seconds you're in love with the Shire and ready to jump right into the magical lives of Frodo and Gandalf.

 

[Darth Waller]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

And then the music kicks in. So beautiful all together.

 

[Khev]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

If you wanna pick on something, pick on all the stuff that was added with Arwen in Fellowship. She was never at the Ford of Bruinen.

I know, and its one of the coolest scenes in FOTR. I'll take a brilliantly executed liberty over a less than great scene copied from the pages of the book.

Awesome paintings of Eowyn's tussle with the WK.

 

[The Josh]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Yeah, its kind of funny when movies achieve this level of greatness how some of the weaker elements seem more pronounced. I remember being briefly taken out of ROTK when Gandalf said to Aragorn, "What does your heart tell you?" Please, the last thing I want when watching LOTR is to be reminded of Shmi Skywalker.

The pillars of Moria were pretty wince inducing as well. The music and Sam's "well there's an eye opener" indicate this awesomely grand sight and its probably the weakest visual in the whole film.

That's a great scene. Its a nice moment of Aragorn being strong reminding Gandalf that things are ok.

Again, nothing wrong with that sequence for me. It is an eye opener to see Moria as they Gandalf light shows a little bit of what was once a great Dwarven realm.

Not "all" as in the film itself, just the tone and pacing... particularly in the first Act. I love that immediately after the Prologue the Theatrical version of FOTR opens with Frodo reading a book under a tree in the shire. It's brilliant, and a perfect visual metaphor for what the viewer is about to embark on as well. Then Gandalf arrives moments later. There is such charm to these scenes, and having them right at the beginning really plunges the viewer (particularly those not familiar with the books, which, let's face it... is most of the audience) into the story and warms them to the characters right off the bat. In the EE, by the time we get to these moments much more has happened (including stuff with Bilbo in the shire) that it just feels completely different. And I like the TE better and think it works much better as a film. And I have a feeling that after THE HOBBIT the early Bilbo scenes in the EE of FOTR will feel even more superfluous to me. Film is such a different medium than prose (obviously) and many times less is more in cinema. In books, it's always good to pack as much detail as possible and then let the reader conjure the world in his/her mind. But film is different. It's not just about story & detail. It's about imagery, sound/music, pacing, emotions, and so many other things. I really think FOTR is a good example of this.

I just can't disagree overall. What is given in the TE is amazing as I said but what is given in EE for me I guess only add to the films. I guess you're correct that non book readers probably do prefer the TE because its straight to the point. I just feel that the EE gives you a better film because you get so much more of the story and the characters within.

Again, no real problem with the line itself... just how she says it and how it plays on screen. It's not a horrible scene as it is. It just feels off to me compared to the near pitch-perfect elements of most of the rest of the films.

LIke I said to Khev I just don't have a problem with it. It plays out really how it played out in my head reading the books so many times. I didn't have the scream per say but I can't imagine someone not doing that either.

 

[The Josh]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

BTW, it is kinda creepy/cool/weird how much that Tolkien pic tends to resemble Josh.

Maybe that explains why Middle-Earth as a subject matter means so much to me.

 

[The Josh]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

I know, and its one of the coolest scenes in FOTR. I'll take a brilliantly executed liberty over a less than great scene copied from the pages of the book.

Awesome paintings of Eowyn's tussle with the WK.

Its a change I have no problem with at all. Its a nice way to introduce Arwen and her importance within the story as things go on. There is a definite balance that needs to be done between keeping the heart of the book within the movie. PJ did that amazingly well in the TE but even more so within the EE.

 

[DinoDB1975]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

The one extended scene that doesn't "work" (for lack of a better word) for me is Boromir's final battle at Amon Hen. While I like the additions to the scene (the theatrical version didn't show Merry and Pippin throwing rocks at the advancing Uruk Hai and there is one scene that shows multiple Uruks falling backward), I don't think this scene in the FOTR EE works as well because Howard Shore had the re-score the scene.

Maybe it's just me, but watch that scene in the theatrical version and the music works flawlessly with the scene, while the extended scene and the re-scored music in the EE seems somewhat disjointed.

The one scene I REALLY love is in the Two Towers EE when Gandalf has returned as Gandalf the White. Aragorn and Gandalf are up while Gimli and Legolas are asleep, and Gandalf states that their only hope lies in Frodo's hands alone. Aragorn then replies "Frodo's not alone. Sam went with him". You see the surprise and optimism in Gandalf's eyes, and Ian McKellen's plays that scene perfectly.

Got the EE's on Blu-Ray for Christmas, I may have to start re-watching them tonight.

 

[IrishJedi]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Maybe that explains why Middle-Earth as a subject matter means so much to me.

You are the reincarnated Tolkien sent back to collect the merchandise spawned by your epic creation.

 

[pixletwin]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

You are the reincarnated Tolkien sent back to collect the merchandise spawned by your epic creation.

 

[Khev]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Getting back to The Hobbit for two seconds has PJ or anyone confirmed whether or not Smaug will be in the first movie or is it all trolls, goblins, and spiders?

 

[The Josh]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

You are the reincarnated Tolkien sent back to collect the merchandise spawned by your epic creation.

They could have sent me with a little more money.

 

[The Josh]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Getting back to The Hobbit for two seconds has PJ or anyone confirmed whether or not Smaug will be in the first movie or is it all trolls, goblins, and spiders?

Nothing has been said at all. Heck nothing has been said where the breaking point will be between the two movies. As I said earlier, I would venture to guess we will see Smaug during the first film in a flashback, but not a full on smaug attack until the second film.

 

[IrishJedi]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

They could have sent me with a little more money.

 

[jye4ever]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

You are the reincarnated Tolkien sent back to collect the merchandise spawned by your epic creation.

They could have sent me with a little more money.

That's just 100% pure golden blossom humor right there folks!