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

[woodsy]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

It does but then again the whole picking of casts seems strange to me. As far as the selection process it could just be he tested well but once things got going they realized it was the wrong choice. It happens. itI mean Harrison Ford wasn't even originally gonna be Han Solo he just tested other folks and ended up with the role. These things make no sense to me as I said. .

I'm with you on that one, I don't have a clue as to how the casting process works. And no doubt, he must have tested very well, but since he was released BEFORE ever filming a single scene I'd like to know on what basis he was all the sudden the wrong choice. This also raises a question as to PJ's character. Either he was telling the truth when he said he released him because of the age issue, or there was more to that decision and he lied to us as to the real reason. I prefer to think he was telling the truth.

Well, I don't think you could personally be more wrong. Viggo was brilliant in this role and truly what's in the book to life. There are actors who could have played the role but none of them better from my pov. I mean Viggo is an actors actor and hell he's even been nominated for at least one Oscar. Townsend sucks and can't act. He's the guy you stick on screen to look pretty thats it and the biggest award he's been nominated for is lucky dog who's is with a hot chick.

Well, I've been wrong before so this won't be the first time I'm not saying Viggo isn't a good actor, but he wouldn't have been my first choice prior to being selected [certainly not based on his acting portfolio prior to LOTR] nor after the fact. Unfortunately, I think the work he's done after LOTR [in particular 'A History of Violence' and 'Eastern Promises'] is far superior to that of his role as Aragorn.


Now none of this really explains to me why Stuart Townsend wouldn't be able to pull off the role of Bard. Is there some complexity to the character of Bard that I've somehow missed during the numerous times I've read the Hobbit that would render Townsend incapable of playing the role? I think if history teaches us one thing it is that we never learn from our mistakes. Ten years ago you couldn't find a single person who was happy with Elijah Wood playing the role of Frodo because he was a 'lousy' actor and it was a terrible choice. Some people were so upset they were even talking about boycotting the movies.....and they were all 100% wrong [myself included]. Sometimes I think the more things change, the more they remain the same.

 

[The Josh]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

I'm with you on that one, I don't have a clue as to how the casting process works. And no doubt, he must have tested very well, but since he was released BEFORE ever filming a single scene I'd like to know on what basis he was all the sudden the wrong choice. This also raises a question as to PJ's character. Either he was telling the truth when he said he released him because of the age issue, or there was more to that decision and he lied to us as to the real reason. I prefer to think he was telling the truth.

Well, honestly I don't think we'll ever know the real reason as to why he was given the boot.

Well, I've been wrong before so this won't be the first time I'm not saying Viggo isn't a good actor, but he wouldn't have been my first choice prior to being selected [certainly not based on his acting portfolio prior to LOTR] nor after the fact. Unfortunately, I think the work he's done after LOTR [in particular 'A History of Violence' and 'Eastern Promises'] is far superior to that of his role as Aragorn.

I don't know if he would have been my first choice either. So I'm glad they wouldn't have listened to me back then. He was great in those but he was nothing short of brilliant in LOTR. He owned that role and brought it to life.

Now none of this really explains to me why Stuart Townsend wouldn't be able to pull off the role of Bard. Is there some complexity to the character of Bard that I've somehow missed during the numerous times I've read the Hobbit that would render Townsend incapable of playing the role? I think if history teaches us one thing it is that we never learn from our mistakes. Ten years ago you couldn't find a single person who was happy with Elijah Wood playing the role of Frodo because he was a 'lousy' actor and it was a terrible choice. Some people were so upset they were even talking about boycotting the movies.....and they were all 100% wrong [myself included]. Sometimes I think the more things change, the more they remain the same.

He can't act. He's horrible thats why. He's put on screens in the few things he's been in cause he's "pretty" thats it. These movies one must be able to act to pull off well enough. Thats one of the reasons why these movies are great is because these folks can act.

 

[woodsy]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

He can't act. He's horrible thats why. He's put on screens in the few things he's been in cause he's "pretty" thats it. These movies one must be able to act to pull off well enough. Thats one of the reasons why these movies are great is because these folks can act.

Sorry Josh, but your arguement falls to pieces with two words....Orlando Bloom. If a guy with the acting abilites of a canned tomato can play Legolas, then Stuart Townsend should be fine as Bard.

 

[The Josh]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Sorry Josh, but your arguement falls to pieces with two words....Orlando Bloom. If a guy with the acting abilites of a canned tomato can play Legolas, then Stuart Townsend should be fine as Bard.

Legolas barely says anything in LOTR. Thats how you get away with that Bard has a important role as we get to the end of the hobbit. Not to mention it will be probably be expanded upon in the film version.


I get your point though on the comparison.

 

[woodsy]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Legolas barely says anything in LOTR. Thats how you get away with that Bard has a important role as we get to the end of the hobbit. Not to mention it will be probably be expanded upon in the film version.


I get your point though on the comparison.

Well, all I can say is whoever PJ choses to play the role of Bard will be good enough for me. I have eaten enough crow in the past to know better than to question PJ when it comes to picking actors for specific roles.

 

[The Josh]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Well, all I can say is whoever PJ choses to play the role of Bard will be good enough for me. I have eaten enough crow in the past to know better than to question PJ when it comes to picking actors for specific roles.

Agreed! He seems to have the knack at getting things right when it comes to middle earth.

 

[Bullseye]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Saoirse is an amazing actress for her age. This girl is going to be one of the best of her generation. Having worked for PJ in the past will be a positive.

 

[The Josh]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Oh I'm ok with her addition. I believe pj will add her correctly.

 

[The Ween]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

You might be right, though I suspect we'll never know. Doesn't it however, seem a bit strange to you that he made it though the entire selection process including numerous screen tests, was given the role over countless others, and then canned just before shooting was to begin. My question to you would be, how on earth could no one have figured this out before selecting him in the first place? I mean, we're not talking about some trivial role in some 'B' movie, we're talking about the lead role in the most expensive movie ever made......The idea that after such an extensive search and selection process over a timespan of well over a year....the fact PJ and company only realized he couldn't act was just before shooting began makes absolutely no sense to me.
And I know I may be flogged for say this, but quite frankly I wasn't all that impressed with Viggo Mortensen's performance. I think he was average at best and I can think of alot of actor's who IMO would have done a better job in the lead role.....and we'll never know for sure, but personally speaking I don't think Stuart Townsend would have been any worse......

Here's your flogging!

 

[Red]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Come on people its obviously "Creative Differences".

Come to mention that didn't Mr Townsend get kicked off Thor for the same reason. Obviously we don't know what happened but reading between the lines as well as ST saying "I had been having a rough time with them" i think things just weren't working out. I would say the age factor got mentioned if anything for him to save some sort of face but i do recall reading that he wasn't working hard enough which in the end is all pure speculation.

Whilst Viggo certainly came from left field(Viggo who?) i thought he played the part perfectly. He didn't over play his hand and created an extremely likeable character(for most anyway) with no ego something that is rarely seen or believed in an on screen hero these days.

Just one of the many things that made LOTR work was that the majority of the cast would have been relatively unknown to the everyday viewer and lets hope that same formula works with The Hobbit.....i'm sure it will.

 

[willocrew]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

This is no big mystery.

The guy has been sacked twice already. Directors do not like to sack lead actors at the last minute for obvious practical reasons.

The only plausible reason is that Townsend was being a bit of a prima donna jack@$$ and got the sack as a result.

A bold statement doubt, but i really can't fathom any other reason for the sacking.

 

[The Ween]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Found this in Wiki......

Townsend was hired to play the part of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, but was replaced by Viggo Mortensen the day before principal photography began.<SUP id=cite_ref-ew_3-0 class=reference>[4]</SUP> According to Townsend:<SUP id=cite_ref-ew_3-1 class=reference>[4]</SUP>
<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; MARGIN: auto; WIDTH: auto; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none" class=cquote><TBODY><TR><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; COLOR: #b2b7f2; FONT-SIZE: 35px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top width=20>“</TD><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 4px" vAlign=top>I was there rehearsing and training for two months, then was fired the day before filming began. After that I was told they wouldn't pay me because I was in breach of contract due to not having worked long enough. I had been having a rough time with them, so I was almost relieved to be leaving until they told me I wouldn't be paid. I have no good feelings for those people in charge, I really don't. The director wanted me and then apparently thought better of it because he really wanted someone 20 years older than me and completely different.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[The Ween]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Another one......

He was not quite so bitter when he spoke to The Irish Independent:

As for his replacement in the role of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings by Viggo Mortensen who is 20 years his senior, Townsend says that after two months preparation in New Zealand: "They fired me before filming even started because they said I wasn't working hard enough, which is totally ridiculous. I love to work, I'm a worker." But he says he doesn't regret it at all.

"It was only work, it was only an ego thing. I didn't get my heart broken and no-one died on me."

That said, Townsend hasn't seen or nor has he any intention of seeing whatever did happen to Frodo Baggins.
​

 

[The Ween]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Last one, I'm bored.

https://www.compleatseanbean.com/sundaystar1.html

 

[woodsy]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

I didn't know about theTownsend/Thor situation, but it appears he is one of those actors whose negatives far outweigh the positives. He sounds like a real winner......

 

[FrodoEyes]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

He doesn't come across too well there, and maybe that's what PJ saw.

 

[Fritz]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

Weta site sell them

https://www.wetanz.com/t-shirt-with-the-dark-lord-sauron-black/from/type

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[Fritz]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

...And I know I may be flogged for say this, but quite frankly I wasn't all that impressed with Viggo Mortensen's performance. I think he was average at best and I can think of alot of actor's who IMO would have done a better job in the lead role...

:emperor

 

[woodsy]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

And I know I may be flogged for say this, but quite frankly I wasn't all that impressed with Viggo Mortensen's performance. I think he was average at best and I can think of alot of actor's who IMO would have done a better job in the lead role...

Here's your flogging!

:emperor

Admittedly....I did see this coming

 

[woodsy]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit" movie thread

It looks like another Elven role has been cast. I couldn't care less about Orlando Bloom, but I am still waiting to hear something concerning Hugo Weaving.

https://www.theonering.net/torwp/20...on-figwit-aka-bret-mckenzie-will-play-lindir/