YES! Jackson to make Hobbit film

[Kahuna Burger]

But the length of a book and a movie aren't all that closely connected, and from the filmmaker's point of view are almost inverses. What takes a lot of page space to describe in a book, such as detailed setting or character details, is conveyed quickly visually. By the same token, things that typically take little space in a book, such a an epic battle (because "he swings, she swings, they swing" makes for boring reading in general) are much more interesting visually and stretch on a good deal longer.

I agree. For instance, if they ended the first film with the barrel escape, the first film could easily open with 15 to 20 minutes of white water and rescue that took, what, two sentences?

The big question for me, possibly even the make or break question is simple : Songs or not? (I should totally make a poll on that...)

 

[Steel_Wind]

I could be wrong. This old interview with PJ on Aint It Cool News indicates otherwise. You'll have to skip down to the Hobbit bits of the interview, but PJ liked the idea of fleshing out and splitting The Hobbit to give it more of an adult feel like LotR

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30085

I would agree. I expect the backstory that takes place during the Hobbit, namely, the White Council's attack on the Necromancer of Dol Guldur will be more front and centre.

PJ is not going to go towards making a children's film after copping a best picture for RotK.

I expect their spin will be: "Tolkien had a devil of a time finding a publisher for serious adult fantasy and so he was forced to package the Hobbit as a children's book - obscuring the much deeper and more adult tale that lurked within. The adult tale had to wait to appear in LotR. The adult tale that was always within The Hobbit is the one Tolkien always wanted to tell - and one we think the fans in the 21st century now want to see. But as always, we'll respect the original vision and maintain the same feel for Middle Earth that we always have."


(Mind you, if one of those dwarves becomes cute, female, beardless and a Bilbo love interest, Jackson will have to join Rushdie in hiding.)

If it was anybody other than PJ and FW - I'm looking for the fire exits. But I think its pretty clear they love this material as much as anybody on this - or Middle- Earth.

 

[Ranger REG]

PJ should direct. It's not like he's going to make a HALO film anytime soon (not like we desperately need a HALO film).

 

[ssampier]

Smaug smaug smaug

Yes! A good "Hobbit" movie.

 

[thalmin]

Looks like 4 more DVDs to purchase. YES!

 

[Piratecat]

Just so long as he doesn't get George Lucas to direct...

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I haven't even bought the LotR trilogy on DVD yet, though I do have the first on VHS. I'm waiting for it to come out in HD/BD.

 

[Orius]

Unfortunately, it has been a while since I last read The Hobbit, so I am not really sure where to break the film... Either at Beorn's, or after Bilbo gets the casks rolling down the river I would guess.

I think it is possible perhaps to lengthen it out they might feature the side trek of Gandalf at some point. Been too long, had something to do with Aragorn and the Necromancer a.k.a. Sauron, right?

Gandalf at this point had convinced the White Council (Elrond, Saruman, Galadriel, and a few other important elves) to attack Dol Guldur to drive Sauron out. This wasn't his first attempt to get the Council to do so, because previously Saruman had resisted. Saruman cooperated at this point because Sauron's agents were snooping around the Gladden Fields were Isildur died, and Saruman was worried that those agents would find the One Ring before his own agents did. Naturally, Gollum had the Ring, and Bilbo ended up with it. And the strike on Dol Guldur was largely meaningless, since Sauron just snuck out and returned to Mordor.

With two films, I certainly hope Beorn gets some screen time. The Battle of the Five Armies is probably going to be great the way it is given the PJ has already proven how well he can handle the epic battles, but it won't be the same without a massive CG Beorn in bear shape smacking down goblins left and right. The audience will likely cheer when he shows up and saves the day.

As for the second film, I believe that PJ wants to show some of the stuff that connects the story of the Hobbit with the LoTR. So possibly there'll be Dol Guldur, elements of the White Council, and maybe Gandalf meeting with Thorin and the other dwarves before recruiting Bilbo. There may also be stuff that occurs between the two books.

 

[Arkhandus]

......And many huzzahs and hoorays were heard across geekdom, like unto thunder....

*GLEE!*

 

[Ranger REG]

I haven't even bought the LotR trilogy on DVD yet, though I do have the first on VHS. I'm waiting for it to come out in HD/BD.

I don't think New Line put their films on Blu-Ray.