This purist will forego the reading of the book first

[Thorin]

Well, I never thought (and probably neither of you who know me!) that I
would say this but...

I've decided not to refresh my memory on 'The Hobbit' before seeing the
movie.

I haven't picked up the Hobbit for many a year now and even now I only have
a general remembrance of the plot line and sketchy on the details.

Considering the pain and torture I and many other NPW (that's nit-picking
weenies for all the newbies...it's a long story) experienced by PJ's
destruction of many characters and plot details that nearly spoiled the
whole experience, I've decided to allow the movie to speak to me and so I
can enjoy the movie on it's own instead of always comparing it to the book.

I haven't internalized and revered The Hobbit like LoTR, Sil or UT so I
think I can say that without feeling like I'm betraying my principles!

Anyway...ruminate on that one, purist haters and FADs (film adaptation
defenders) :D

[Runyadur]

I was thinking of doing the exact opossite. I haven't read the Hobbit as many times as I've read the Lord or the Silmarillion, and when I learned a hobbit movie is discussed I thought that I should read the book as many times as possible so that I have a clearly defined picture of it in my head.
Even to this day I still get confused about wether some things and dialogues of the Lord of the Rings were in the books or in the films, and I wouldn't want this happening with the Hobbit too.

I don't think your approach is to be frowned upon by anyone. To the very least you'll (probably) enjoy the films more than us and you'll be able to be objective about them

[Nóm]

I hope you'll thank yourself Thorin. Seems like I went nearly a year between reading LOTR and viewing either TT or RotK, and ended up being glad that I did. Since you have a much bigger gap of time it should have more impact.

Do you expect more from Guillermo than Jackson? Just curious.

[Barliman Butterbur]

Well, I never thought (and probably neither of you who know me!) that I
would say this but...

I've decided not to refresh my memory on 'The Hobbit' before seeing the
movie.

I haven't picked up the Hobbit for many a year now and even now I only have
a general remembrance of the plot line and sketchy on the details.

Considering the pain and torture I and many other NPW (that's nit-picking
weenies for all the newbies...it's a long story) experienced by PJ's
destruction of many characters and plot details that nearly spoiled the
whole experience, I've decided to allow the movie to speak to me and so I
can enjoy the movie on it's own instead of always comparing it to the book.

I haven't internalized and revered The Hobbit like LoTR, Sil or UT so I
think I can say that without feeling like I'm betraying my principles!

Anyway...ruminate on that one, purist haters and FADs (film adaptation
defenders) :D

Imagine what would have happened had you used the same procedure on LOTR, O newly-wise NPW! ;) :p

Barley

[Snaga]

Since I never had a problem with the movies (well... not too many problems!), no such strategies are required here. But, well, if it works for you Thorin, that's fair enough.

After all, you can always read the book again afterwards, and realise with hindsight that you hated it, but without the immediate feeling that you wasted your money on the ticket!:D

I'm encouraged by the choice of Del Toro, and his remarks so far. So I'm looking forward to the movie.

[Illuin]

from Snaga
Since I never had a problem with the movies (well... not too many problems!), no such strategies are required here.


I’ve never had a problem with the movies either, and I usually am a very outspoken NPW myself. I wouldn’t want a movie made of The Silmarillion though. My imaginary view of the land of Beleriand and the characters is too lovely to be blemished by Hollywood. Not that they didn’t create a spectacular environment in LOTR, but I think the technology isn’t quite there yet for The Silmarillion. Maybe in ten years or so. I'm quite certain NLC "The Hobbit" will be awesome. No need to worry. ;)

[Barliman Butterbur]

I’ve never had a problem with the movies either, and I usually am a very outspoken NPW myself. I wouldn’t want a movie made of The Silmarillion though.

Nor would I — I'd be suicidally depressed!

Barley

[Illuin]

Nor would I — I'd be suicidally depressed!


Ha ha.
Well, maybe I’m a little odd, but I just don’t find The Sil depressing at all. It's glorious! Sure it’s tragic but that just makes it interesting and exciting for me. I love a lot of death and destruction in my literature and movies. Don’t get me wrong, in reality I’m a very peace loving guy and hate violence…but I can’t get enough of it in books or films. Sci-fi/fantasy/adventure, war, and horror is all you will find in my various collections. And The Sil’s got it all.

[Thorin]

[SIZE=2]I’ve never had a problem with the movies either, and I usually am a very outspoken NPW myself. I wouldn’t want a movie made of The Silmarillion though

Ah, but taking into account the fuller narration of 'The Fall of Gondolin' in Book of Lost Tales II and wouldn't you just DROOL to see that play out on the big screen?

[Thorin]

Do you expect more from Guillermo than Jackson? Just curious.

I don't know. It's iffy. Taking into account the previews I've seen of the bizarre Pan's Labryinth and the Clive Barker/David Cronenberg-ish soon to be released 'Hellboy II' and I see that the potential could be really good or an unmitigated disaster of brutally fabricated liberatic proportions.

We'll have to wait and see

[Illuin]

From Thorin
Ah, but taking into account the fuller narration of 'The Fall of Gondolin' in Book of Lost Tales II and wouldn't you just DROOL to see that play out on the big screen?


Oh jeez….indeed; I would in a BIG way! But I would hope that CG and cinematic technology advances significantly before that happens. But I hear you my friend…I hear you indeed ;). And if I were bereft of any manners; and clueless regarding tact, discretion, and couth as it were; I would take the word “drool” one step further; if you know what I mean :o.

[Prince of Cats]

I'm gonna listen to my three and a half (abridged) version of the hobbit audiobook *right now* so I can have a less specific idea of the movie
:D

or just cause I want to, and something to play my flute along to :o

[Narya]

I never expect the Book version when they are converted into film, which is why I enjoyed all three films and still love re-reading the books every now and then.

Nit-picking a film because it didn't follow the book is, for me, a waste of time. For one, film-makers don't have the same liberties as the authors so naturally there will be some changes done for "cinematic purposes". I don't mind the changes that PJ did to the stories because at the end of the day, he stuck to the main plotline anyway and created the best film collection in history. ROTK is the only film with as much Academy Awards as Titanic, which holds the record for the most number of Academy Awards for a single film. But as a whole, the entire collection holds the most number of Academy Awards in history--that is an accomplishment!

I have been re-reading the Hobbit (it's my favorite book to read in the Loo! :D) and I'm still excited with the film. It's just a matter of tolerance, I think. Live and let live.

[Thorin]

Well, I ended up breaking my vow. At our resort we were visiting, my wife found a little 'borrowing library' and took the Hobbit because I needed something to read. So I read it again.

It has been a long time since I read it and as I did, newer questions arose but I can't remember what they were now. Also, as I read it, I was thinking about how it would convert to the screen.

I can see that there will be many necessary changes to make this movie come across as believable (i.e, taking out most of the sing song and rhymes). I think that I will be more open to changes in this film.

It will be impressive to see how the Battle of Five Armies comes across on film!

[Illuin]

by Thorin
"I can see that there will be many necessary changes to make this movie come across as believable (i.e, taking out most of the sing song and rhymes). I think that I will be more open to changes in this film."



Purist to the end huh? :D
Well, I believe “sing song and rhymes” could still work if the setting and environment is precisely fitting, and the context is handled with TLC ;).

[Nóm]

Hehe... isn't this a little soon Thorin?

But I wonder if the reason that you think The Hobbit has more room for changes in an adaption than LotR does is that you are a bigger fan of LOTR than The Hobbit? I wonder if you would have preffered a more serious Hobbit book? I remember some readers voicing this opinion in the past.

This could be interesting to look into. I have a slight preference for The Hobbit over LotR, and hope the songs get to stay, and missed some LotR silliness in PJ's film.

Should I open a thread? "Which is your favorite - LotR or The Hobbit? AND which of the two can tolerate the most change in a film adaption?" To find out if the story better lends itself to a looser adaption or if it is a matter of taste for playfulness.

[Prince of Cats]

I Sure hope they do the singing!!

[Illuin]

I think GDT is in a bit of a pickle; especially if he's nervous about pleasing everyone. I would guess that 90% of all people would saw the movies; and liked them, have never actually “read” one sentence from any of Tolkien’s books. My guess is that they want to see a prequel to what they have seen already; different, but having the same darker tone. If these folks are told there is a lot of singing; they will probably think it is going to be more like the Munchkins in Munchkinland than the Dwarves in the Lonely Mountain. GDT also has quite a few critical, pretentious Tolkien fanatics to please as well; and then some in-between. Also, I think it is fairly safe to assume that GDT will wish to max out at the box office. What would you do in "his" shoes; disregarding personal opinion?

[Nóm]

I can't see him going too far out of his way to make sure the film is just like the book for the sole purpose of not upsetting the relatively few readers who will be super-critical of any changes he makes.

What is important to him, I imagine, is going with what feels right. Only then could he be at his best, whether or not the critical few agree.

The hope is that what will feel right to him just so happens to please those few more often than not through the movie.

[baragund]

Well, GDT has had enough box office success to make him pretty secure in his career. He certainly doesn't have to worry about making the rent anymore!:D Same goes for PJ.

That financial security may allow everyone involved to be not quite so concerned with pleasing everyone, and indulge themselves in something that is more of an "art" movie. An example of this is Pixar's latest film Wall-E. After a string of HUGE successes, Pixar intentionally set out to make something that did not have quite the universal appeal as their earlier movies and had a more powerful message. But it turned out to be one of their best efforts.

[Thorin]

I Sure hope they do the singing!!

I would guess that 90% of all people would saw the movies; and liked them, have never actually “read” one sentence from any of Tolkien’s books. My guess is that they want to see a prequel to what they have seen already; different, but having the same darker tone. If these folks are told there is a lot of singing; they will probably think it is going to be more like the Munchkins in Munchkinland than the Dwarves in the Lonely Mountain. GDT also has quite a few critical, pretentious Tolkien fanatics to please as well

I can't speak for all the fanatics here, but I don't believe any of us faulted PJ's version of LoTR because he didn't have all the songs and rhymes in it. I think even the most hardened amongst us didn't lose any sleep because PJ eliminated Tom Bombadil (who by his nature was very much like the tone and structure of The Hobbit) and would have agreed that putting him in and trying to make him fit would have been disasterous.

So pitting cutting the singing with making the purist happy by leaving it in is not accurate at all.

I disagree with Prince of Cats (I'm finding that I'm disagreeing with PoC alot lately. ;)). Doing the Hobbit as is written with all the singing and rhyme would come across the screen as even more hokey-Disney than Disney.

GDT has to make this movie more mature than the book. What comes across well on the printed page will not necessarily come across on the screen as well (unless you want to go for Disney).

The problem that can occur is if GDT changes the nature and motives of the characters like PJ did with Aragorn, Arwen, Elrond and Faramir. Taking out nonsensical things that won't work from the book to the screen and replacing them with worse non-sensical things would be an insult.

PJ was a master at doing this...hopefully GDT will avoid it.