New Hobbit film - songs or not?

[Kahuna Burger]

The issue with a song like "That's what Bilbo Baggins hates" is that it's obviously made up on the spot, since they've only just met Bilbo Baggins... but all the dwarves sing it in unison.

So either the dwarves are all experienced improv comics who know each other well enough that they can sing improv songs in unison (not entirely unthinkable, I suppose, given dwarven lifespans)... or you get the "Once More With Feeling" we're-living-in-a-musical vibe.

-Hyp.

Or, 3) the song is almost exactly the same as a popular middle earth drinking song called "That's what Innkeep Brownings hates" and was amusingly appropriate to the circumstances. I'm reminded of a scene in the Doogie Howser MD show where the poor blokes on xmas duty started making up a 12 days of christmas takeoff starting with "an asthmatic in the ER". There was nothing "Once more with feeling" about it, nor did they give the impression of being an improv troupe.

(you say all the dwarves sing it in unison, but I can't recall that being specified in the book. Who says they aren't making up a verse each then singing the earlier made up parts together? Not that unusual ime for close friends with a common cultural background)

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Unless the film reproduces note-for-note the glory of the "Goblin Town " song from Rankin-Bass' version of The Hobbit, Peter Jackson will be dead to me! My chief complaint about his version of Return of the King was that he neglected to include "Where There's A Whip, There's a Way". Completely ruined the film.

I just hummed it to myself as the orcs marched past in Two Towers.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Songs are good for a fade out of a scene.

 

[Mark Hope]

I just hummed it to myself as the orcs marched past in Two Towers.

Hmm, good idea. Plus, there was something in the way that the orcs came waddling out of Minas Morgul in unison that made me think that they were about to burst into song.

In all seriousness, though, if PJ handles the songs in the same way that he handled them in the LotR movies, it will be fine by me. Having Gandalf ride up humming "The Road Goes Ever On" was a great touch, as well as hearing "Namarie" on the soundtrack when the Fellowship left Lorien. Good stuff. I'm sure he'll handle it just as well this time around.

 

[frankthedm]

Unless the film reproduces note-for-note the glory of the "Goblin Town " song from Rankin-Bass' version of The Hobbit, Peter Jackson will be dead to me! My chief complaint about his version of Return of the King was that he neglected to include "Where There's A Whip, There's a Way". Completely ruined the film.

While normally I'm for anything that distances Middle earth from the Rank Ass animations, the Hobbit book DID have a good deal of song and poem IIRC. So there needs to be at least some of it in the movie.

 

[Relique du Madde]

Only if the songs were rewritten by Danny Elfman.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Only if the songs were rewritten by Danny Elfman.

Hrm, The Hobbit, directed by Tim Burton, soundtrack by Danny Elfman...... hmmm......

 

[Masquerade]

I can accept a LotR without Tom Bombadil, but it just isn't The Hobbit without "That's what Bilbo Baggins Hates."

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Or, 3) the song is almost exactly the same as a popular middle earth drinking song called "That's what Innkeep Brownings hates" and was amusingly appropriate to the circumstances. I'm reminded of a scene in the Doogie Howser MD show where the poor blokes on xmas duty started making up a 12 days of christmas takeoff starting with "an asthmatic in the ER". There was nothing "Once more with feeling" about it, nor did they give the impression of being an improv troupe.

(you say all the dwarves sing it in unison, but I can't recall that being specified in the book. Who says they aren't making up a verse each then singing the earlier made up parts together? Not that unusual ime for close friends with a common cultural background)

Or just completely unexpected, pulling musical instruments out of the dishwater, etc.

The Auld Grump, picturing that with Thorin, Balin, Dwalin, and the rest of the gang....

 

[Tonguez]

The issue with a song like "That's what Bilbo Baggins hates" is that it's obviously made up on the spot, since they've only just met Bilbo Baggins... but all the dwarves sing it in unison.
-Hyp.

you know there are rl cultures we're this kind of improvised mocking song is a common part of social interaction. I myself often make up little ditties about things happening around me and I can well imagine Dwarf work parties making up such improvised songs as part of their marching and work

I actually wouldn't mind seeing the dwarfs do this ...