The Hobbit

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/07/12/the-hobbit-an-extended-journey/
The Hobbit: An Extended Journey
Posted: 12 Jul 2013 07:31 AM PDT

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug is due this year in December and the fandom has never been more eager to welcome the latest installment with open arms. Of course, considering the massive following the adaptations of works by J.R.R. Tolkien, this isn't really surprising and there are those who expect more from Desolation of Smaug once it rolls around by the end of this year. Oh well, we can assume that it's all worth the journey as the recent release of the trailer for the film has garnered a huge response from fans on its own and the hilarious contents of Peter Jackson's video diary that details his recent activities in completing the film trilogy.
Anyway, as we wait for Desolation of Smaug to come to theaters, Peter Jackson has left us a bit of something to lessen our boredom and longing for the film with a new edition of An Unexpected Journey, the first installment of the film franchise, has received some extended scenes that will leave fans yearning for more. Indeed, this should prove to be a welcome distraction as we await Desolation of Smaug. Here are some of the aforementioned scenes we'll find once the new edition of An Unexpected Journey comes about:


We're going to receive additional shots of Hobbiton, something that we didn't get much with the first release as we immediately cut to Bilbo's house and the subsequent visit of Gandalf to his home as well as the invasion of the dwarves. With the new extended scenes for the film will get more coverage of the beautiful landscape that Peter Jackson has prepared to make sure that fans get the most breathtaking view of the hobbits' idyllic home. They even used more durable materials to make sure that the props on the set would last longer and allow locals to fully experience the magic of Middle Earth for themselves. Heck, thanks to the props and the realistically mystical feel of New Zealand, the place has spawned a tour for fans of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and it even has a little bar made in the image of The Green Dragon Inn in Hobbiton!
Also, remember the opening scenes in Erebor? Of course last time we didn't really get to see much of that but we did get to see Thorin Oakenshield's father Thrain in his throne room with the Arkenstone, a few dwarven women for the first time (which is somewhat different from what Gimli said from his own story) and of course the dragon Smaug descending on the hapless little city and razing it to the ground sparing only its vast treasury to keep for himself. Peter Jackson has confirmed that there will indeed be added scenes involving the little dwarven city and even a new character called Girion who will help in the defense of the mighty dwarven citadel but whether or not he actually survives the encounter with the mighty dragon is something that viewers will have to find out for themselves.
The Hobbit: An Extended Journey is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

Harvey Weinstein: The Battle of Two Companies
Posted: 12 Jul 2013 02:12 AM PDT

We already know about Peter Jackson and his highly successful films such as Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and King Kong. However, let us talk about another showbiz personality, shall we? Here we have Harvey Weinstein, a rather famous British producer who has produced quite a few films in his time like the infamous Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill and Inglorious Basterds and the co founder of the Weinstein Company along with his brother Bob. Lately however, it seems that the company has fallen under fire from the movie titan Warner Bros. which, according to Harvey Weinstein, is directly related to the company's latest project, The Hobbit, which we are now all too familiar with.
Anyway, the Weinstein Company was never really a big business like its current adversary. It was established sometime in 2005 by Harvey and Bob both of whom previously made films for the Disney owned Miramax Films. After establishing their own company, the Weinstein brothers have gradually made their way through the years to make films of their own and become successes in their own right. They even went on to partner with Peter Jackson and Wingnut films when Lord of the Rings was released on the big screen in 2001-2003. However, now it seems that the Weinstein Company has ran afoul with Warner Bros. over the film The Butler which is set for 2013.


Apparently, the ruckus boils down to rights to various films which is all too often the source of these kinds of problems to start with. Based on what Harvey Weinstein has said so far, it seems that Warner Bros. still feels a bit mad about the way the Weinstein Company has managed to secure rights to The Hobbit which, as we all know, is proving to be quite a hit in its own right and while it may suffer from a few disgruntled fans here and there, it's still proving to be a strong contender in the film industry especially with two more sequels that have yet to be shown on theaters.
The Butler, a film that has the unfortunate name of sharing the same name with a number of other films has enabled Warner Bros. to put the film on hold. Harvey Weinstein has gone out of his way to say how unfair this is as there have been many other films out there that have similar names. A good example of this would of course be "Heat" which is found in almost every niche of film, usually of action although there are even adult films with this kind of title. Regardless, it seems to be coming down hard on The Butler and Weinstein Company unless it relinquishes its rights on The Hobbit films.
For those who are curious, The Butler is actually a film regarding the lives of African-American butlers in the White House. The film will feature Forest Whitaker in the role of Cecil Gaines, a kind of tribute to Eugene Allen, who is well known for leading a successful career for 34 years.
Harvey Weinstein: The Battle of Two Companies is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/07/14/battle-for-middle-earth-in-lawsuits/
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Battle for Middle Earth... In Lawsuits
Posted: 14 Jul 2013 07:42 AM PDT

Well, I'm sure we're all aware of how successful the works of J.R.R. Tolkien have become over the years. It is especially noteworthy that its popularity rose to new heights when Lord of the Rings was finally adapted into film in 2001-2003 and managed to increase the size of the fandom exponentially as the book was long considered to be impossible or simply very difficult to put into film. This goes to show how far filmmaking and special effects have come and the films themselves have even gone on to appeal to people who are unfamiliar with the works of J.R.R. Tolkien or those who were never fans of the fantasy genre to start with.
Unfortunately now it seems that the works of Tolkien are now fought over by quite a few major moguls for the opportunity to make a profit off of its rather large fanbase. Among these of course are Warner Bros. one of the many highly successful film companies out there. There is also the relatively new but nonetheless successful (in its own right at least) Weinstein Company who also became part of the Lord of the Rings project with Peter Jackson and Wingnut films. And then there is the Tolkien family, the descendants of the nigh legendary J.R.R. Tolkien who have somehow lost some rights over the intellectual property of the great writer.


Apparently, Warner Bros. has seized any rights from other companies or organizations to make use of The Hobbit themed products. There was even the last issue with Harvey Weinstein who claims that Warner Bros. was somewhat upset by the fact that the Weinstein Company had access to the rights of The Hobbit which countered by seizing rights to "The Butler" which is a film slated for release this August and is a project of the aforementioned Weinstein Company. A film that details the story of black butlers who have served in the White House over the years and features Forest Whitaker as the hero of the story. According to Warner Bros. however, the title "The Butler" has already been used for one of the films they've produced and own the rights and title of said film even if their film has little similarity to the Weinstein Company's latest project.
As for the Tolkien Estate, it seems that Warner Bros. has seized rights to a lot of the materials for The Hobbit, though luckily it only seems to extend towards online and gambling games. While it may not mean much for those who simply focus on the books and films of J.R.R. Tolkien, it is apparent that due to this recent development, the Tolkien Estate will no longer be able to take advantage of licensing opportunities that may help in expanding its assets.
Even before all this started it seems that a lot of Tolkien's intellectual properties have often been debated over. As a matter of fact, one of the main reasons that it took so long for Peter Jackson to finish up with the production for The Hobbit was because he was only allowed to draw materials from Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and other sources by Tolkien were off-limits.
Battle for Middle Earth... In Lawsuits is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/07/16/dwarvicise-staying-fit-in-middle-earth/
The Hobbit Movie New Post

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•   Dwarvicise: Staying Fit in Middle Earth
•   Times of Ending
•   Guillermo Del Toro: A Very Busy Man
Dwarvicise: Staying Fit in Middle Earth
Posted: 16 Jul 2013 07:57 AM PDT

We've been following Peter Jackson's films in Middle Earth for quite some time now starting with the Lord of the Rings film trilogy in 2001-2003 to The Hobbit which has finally made it to the big screen in 2012 with its first installment, An Unexpected Journey. A welcome development since it took Peter Jackson nearly nine years to clear all the legal and financial issues regarding the film and of course finding the right actors and actresses to play the many characters in the world that J.R.R. Tolkien created. So far it seems that he succeeded or there are still fans who are openly discontent about the way Peter Jackson has handled Tolkien's intellectual properties such as his addition of new characters like Tauriel and slightly altering existing ones like Azog the Defiler as the latter was mostly a posthumous character in the original novel.
Now, the project is getting closer and closer to its fruition as the cast and crew is finishing up with the remaining films Desolation of Smaug and There and Back Again. Actors who have now left the project to be part of other upcoming films include Ian McKellen, who we'll certainly never forget as Gandalf, has gone on to complete other projects such as the next installment of the X-Men franchise called Days of Future Past. And then there is Orlando Bloom who has gone on to even leave fans with a video of himself singing "They Have Taken The Hobbits To Isengard" while drunk as a kind of awkward but hilarious farewell. Lastly, we have Martin Freeman who has taken his leave to return with Benedict Cumberbatch in the the British TV series Sherlock that features them as Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes respectively.


Sadly, Peter Jackson has gone on to announce that their usual appearance in San Diego for the annual Comic Con has been cancelled in order to complete a lot of their pick-up shots for the remaining films of The Hobbit. It has even been announced that An Unexpected Journey, the first installment, will even receive some extended scenes such as additional shots of The Shire, a battle in Erebor as Smaug tries to overtake the little dwarven city and some scenes involving the Goblin King. And then, to give us more things to distract ourselves with as we wait for the remaining films to roll into the theaters, there's Peter Jackson's video diary.
The video diary contains the various activities and antics the cast and crew have been up to while they finish the pick-up shots as well as the long-awaited Battle of Five Armies which will certainly be one of the most epic scenes in the film series. And, much to the joy of some fans, the video does include some scenes of Thorin Oakenshield and company struggling to keep themselves fit for the up and coming scenes of the film as it surely must be challenging for dwarves to keep up with such large enemies like the orcs.
Speaking of the orcs though, it one can only wonder how Azog and his son Bolg manage to keep such athletic physiques that Peter Jackson should also include another video featuring orc-sercise...
Dwarvicise: Staying Fit in Middle Earth is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

Times of Ending
Posted: 16 Jul 2013 02:15 AM PDT

There you have it, it seems that filming for The Hobbit films is now coming to an end and that a lot of the cast and crew have now been gathering up and moving on to new projects. Not to worry though as the project is still quite far from being over and we can definitely expect more from Peter Jackson and his crew as Desolation of Smaug is due this year in December and There and Back Again is slated for release somewhere late next year. There is even going to be some extended scenes of An Unexpected Journey which I'm sure fans are now eagerly anticipating.
Unfortunately though, it seems that some members of the cast are indeed done with The Hobbit and are moving on to other projects. For instance, it seems that Ian McKellen is done with his part as Gandalf and is possibly moving on to a new project, likely the new installment of X-Men entitled Days of Future Past where he will be reprising another of his iconic roles, the mutant leader Magneto. Then there is also Orlando Bloom who has also moved on from the project and has even left us with a funny and somehow sad farewell video involving him singing "They Have Taken The Hobbits To Isengard" while probably mildly intoxicated. Of course, it's been a fun journey but seeing the departure of actors who have become such a staple part of the franchise who have made the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit what it is can still bring a tear to the eye.


And then now we have Martin Freeman, whom we have all come to know and love for his portrayal of Bilbo Baggins in the films is also taking his leave from the project. Although one can note that the actor has played the actor quite well despite the fact that Martin Freeman was at first hesitant to take up the role of Tolkien's "Hobbit" due to his commitment to the British TV series Sherlock and, at one point, Peter Jackson even considered recruiting Jack Black and even Ian Holm for the project despite the latter's age. Thankfully though Martin Freeman did show up for the role and the project was a go. Sadly though, it seems that Martin Freeman is indeed moving on to new projects, possibly another eagerly awaited film of this year, The World's End, which is part of the Cornetto trilogy that includes Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.
The movie itself, The World's End will also feature quite a few other actors who are quite well known in the film industry such as Simon Pegg, whom we all remember well from the Cornetto trilogy as well as his various roles in other films such as Benji Dunn of the Mission Impossible and Scotty from Star Trek. It centers around the story of a group of friends making their annual attempt at a pub crawl but then takes a turn for something else entirely when the group, along with all humans in the vicinity, are attacked by robots.
Times of Ending is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

Guillermo Del Toro: A Very Busy Man
Posted: 15 Jul 2013 02:25 PM PDT

Well, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is proving to be quite a hit, going on to become one of the big movies in 2012 alongside The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers. It also became one of the films ported to home video that has managed to keep a lot of home video companies afloat despite the troubles brought about by the economy which seems to be tanking, well at least according to some sources. That doesn't even include the fact that Peter Jackson has now included some extended scenes to the latest edition of the home videos which will feature a bit more of The Shire as it seems that the crew wants viewers to see more of the lovely New Zealand countryside, an expansion on the events when Smaug overran the city of Erebor and even includes a new character and then there are a few additional scenes involving the Goblin King somewhere in Goblin Town.
However, it's quite peculiar that Guillermo Del Toro, one of the screenplay writers for An Unexpected Journey, still hasn't seen the film proper. Of course, given the man's many projects, it's quite likely he just hasn't found the time to watch them. After all, he seems to be working on some really big films as of late and probably has even more in store for us. One of his latest projects, Pacific Rim has proven to be an epic film thanks to the massive machines and monsters duking it out in cities around the world. It seems that Guillermo Del Toro did live up to his promise to delivering some of the biggest monsters and most badass robots onto the big screen. And now it certainly seems that Guillermo Del Toro is quite busy in preparing other new films for his ever growing fanbase.


While it's been a long development hell, it seems that Guillermo Del Toro may be finally making some progress towards resolving the Hellboy films. Of course, this is still largely tentative as Ron Perlman and Guillermo Del Toro have only discussed the possibility as of late but it does seem that the two are intent to finally put the project into motion after the success of Pacific Rim.
And there is Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein project. Apparently, he has been a big fan of the 1994 adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and indeed he has made plans to making his own film based around the aforementioned film and the Bride of Frankenstein. And to make matters even better, it seemed that Guillermo Del Toro has gone on to ask Benedict Cumberbatch to become a part of his film. One can only imagine the implications of this considering a lot of Benedict Cumberbatch's success in a lot of other films such as Star Trek: Into Darkness where he played the role of the mysterious terrorist John Harrison. And of course there's his epic portrayal of, not one, but two of The Hobbit films' major villains such as Smaug the Dragon and The Necromancer.
Guillermo Del Toro: A Very Busy Man is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/07/15/the-journey-back/
The Hobbit Movie New Post

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The Journey Back
Posted: 15 Jul 2013 01:08 AM PDT

They say that all things must come to an end and the case has never been more true for the cast and crew of The Hobbit. After the success of the first installment, An Unexpected Journey, in December of last year, it seems that a lot of those involved in the project are ready to wrap up the remaining loose ends of the remaining films Desolation of Smaug and There and Back Again. Sad to say that we'll have to say goodbye to a lot of the cast members but it's quite true that a lot of them have indeed left to complete other projects. Among those to be mentioned are Ian McKellen who has made an excellent and memorable portrayal of Gandalf and Orlando Bloom who has made Lord of the Rings extra special for Ringers when he took up the role of Legolas in both Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. This is even made worse by the fact that Peter Jackson has only been given access to Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and is barred from using any other works by J.R.R. Tolkien like the Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin as sources.


Indeed, it seems that Ian McKellen has indeed left for other projects and seems to be involved in the latest installment of the X-Men franchise, Days of Future Past and Orlando Bloom has left us with a comical but somehow heartwarming video of himself while singing "They Have Taken The Hobbits to Isengard" as a kind of farewell on Peter Jackson's own video blog. And now it seems time that we also said goodbye to two other actors who have made the journey even more interesting, Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch, without whom The Hobbit films would be nothing like what they are now.
Indeed, Martin Freeman, whom we've all come to easily recognize as the character who is often forced into situations way beyond his ability to cope or even understand with his predicament seems to be done with his role as Bilbo Baggins, a character who easily fits into the kind of character Martin Freeman is often cast into. However, while there were other actors who were considered for the role of Bilbo Baggins such as Jack Black and even Ian Holm, it seems that Peter Jackson made no mistake in choosing Martin Freeman for the role despite the hassles that took place before he could be recruited as he initially seemed to busy with his work in Sherlock.
Then of course there's Sherlock Holmes himself, or at least the man who plays the role of Sherlock Holmes, Benedict Cumberbatch. We all seem to be familiar with his silken and sexy voice that has landed him in some major roles such as Sherlock Holmes, as mentioned above, and the mysterious terrorist known only as John Harrison from the second installment of the Star Trek reboot, Into Darkness. It seems that he is in for quite a few more roles come this 2013 with August: Osage County and The Fifth Estate.
The Journey Back is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/07/17/smaug-goes-puff/
The Hobbit Movie New Post

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Smaug Goes "Puff"
Posted: 17 Jul 2013 07:38 AM PDT

All things must come to an end and this never more true with the current status of The Hobbit films. While we can certainly await the up and coming sequels of the film which are still quite a ways off, with Desolation of Smaug still several months away and There and Back Again scheduled to hit theaters in late next year, it seems that a lot of the filming has already ended and we can only say tearful goodbyes to the many people who made The Hobbit films what they are. Indeed, since it seems that Peter Jackson has been barred access from any other sources by J.R.R. Tolkien, it seems that the journey is indeed over.
Still, it's still quite a journey and definitely worth remembering as a lot of viewers may note. Ian McKellen, whom we've all come to know and love as Gandalf the Grey has left the project perhaps to move on to other projects. There is also Orlando Bloom, beloved by the world as Legolas Greenleaf, the elf prince of Mirkwood and son of Thranduil, has also said his farewells on Peter Jackson's video diary by leaving a video himself possibly being intoxicated and singing "They Have Taken The Hobbits To Isengard". And then we have Martin Freeman who is quite done with his role as Bilbo Baggins and is now moving on to other projects, possibly The World's End which is the the third and final installment of The Cornetto trilogy which includes Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.


But now it's time for us to also say goodbye to another very important member of the show's cast, Benedict Cumberbatch who plays not just one but two of The Hobbit's major villains Smaug the Dragon, who is responsible for the destruction of the dwarves' once prosperous city of Erebor, claiming its treasure for its own and leaving the dwarves for dead and also The Necromancer who I'm sure fans of the original works of J.R.R. Tolkien are quite familiar with. Benedict Cumberbatch even went on to expound that he didn't simply provide the voice of Smaug, but actually played the role as any other live-action role, no doubt made even more realistic with some of the equipment designed to make motion capture even more believable with 48fps that manages to capture even the smallest movement detail of actors to present viewers with top-notch CGI animations.
As of late, Benedict Cumberbatch has made quite a performance in the second installment of the Star Trek film franchise, Into Darkness, where he plays the role of the mysterious and unquestionably dangerous John Harrison who is definitely more than he seems to be considering his aptitude in combat. He even appeared briefly in Japan to further promote the popularity of Star Trek's alternate universe. He also seems to have some up and coming projects of his own as Guillermo Del Toro, who actually wrote part of the screenplay for An Unexpected Journey, has considered making him part of his own adaptation of Frankenstein.
Smaug Goes "Puff" is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

Weta Workshop: Commemorating Legends
Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:26 AM PDT

After a few years of hard work, putting together funds, more hard work, recruiting the cast members for the films proper and even more hard work it seems that the efforts of Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and all of Wingnut Films have finally paid off considering the anticipation of The Hobbit's fanbase. Oh well, we're certainly expecting the second installment of The Hobbit, Desolation of Smaug this coming December and it certainly seems that we'll be in for quite a ride as it seems that the adventure will get even more exciting as characters like Tauriel, Bard and Beorn will soon be joining the fray. That doesn't even take into account that the book's primary villains are now also taking center stage with Benedict Cumberbatch taking up the role of both Smaug the Dragon and The Necromancer. Also, it seems that Azog the Defiler (played by Manu Bennett) will be making a reappearance and is now accompanied by Bolg, the pale orc's son and is played by Conan Stevens.
Sadly however, it seems that filming is coming to an end and some members of the cast have been leaving the project proper. Among those who have left include Ian McKellen, whom we all remember well for playing the role of Gandalf the Grey, Orlando Bloom, whose unforgettable performance as Legolas earned him numerous leading roles in other blockbuster films and now even Martin Freeman, whom we have all come to know and love as Bilbo Baggins has gone on to move to other projects as well as return to his role as Dr. Watson in the British TV series Sherlock along with Benedict Cumberbatch who plays as the titular detective.


Then again though, we still have much to look forward to as the remaining films of The Hobbit are set to theaters with Desolation of Smaug and There and Back Again still a long ways off late next year. Nonetheless though, it seems that we still have a few goodies we can enjoy before the last two films come up and some of these include the latest figures presented to us by Weta Workshop.
For instance, we have here a figure of Bilbo Baggins as he flounders about in his little barrel as he and the dwarves escape the elves of Mirkwood using the barrels they found near the banquet. In this small figure alone, we can clearly see what a lost character the young hobbit is compared to the great challenges that he and the rest of his companions must face further along on their journey to Erebor, the city of the dwarves which has been overtaken by the dragon Smaug.
And coming soon, we have a figure of Tauriel, the red-headed elf action girl whose causing quite some controversy among the fans of both the book and film. Being absent from the original novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, it seems that fans are divided over accepting the character as a welcome addition or consider her as an affront to Tolkien's original canon.
Weta Workshop: Commemorating Legends is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/07/19/virgin-media-dropping-3d-in-films/
The Hobbit Movie New Post

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Virgin Media: Dropping 3D in Films
Posted: 19 Jul 2013 06:36 AM PDT

After the announcement that Virgin Media was presenting a host of blockbuster films for one of their big events has now expanded the choice of films to be viewed asides from the mentioned films in 3D. While it seems that we'll indeed be getting some of the films, it's likely that Virgin Media has allowed for more film choices that audiences can pick from probably to take advantage of the way films in 3D will now be handled.
So far, few can really argue with the quality provided by 3D technology. It was very popular during the 70s but it then quickly lost popularity for one reason or another. Reasons vary over the topic but some go on to blame the fact that there was some sort lack of creativity among filmmakers and that they had come to rely too much on the flair and visual effects provided by 3D instead of providing viewers with an intriguing plot while some simply deemed it too impractical. However 3D experienced a resurgence sometime in 2003 when it could present the viewers with even more epic views of their favorite films but also began losing popularity when the equipment involved in as well as the budget to afford them was beginning to become less and less practical. Also of note was that when a lot of film companies and producers, like Virgin Media mentioned above, decided against producing any more of them on TV despite its current decision to put out more film choices for its audiences.


All in all though, it seems that 3D films experienced a resurgence especially with films like Avatar in 2009. Somehow the film, with its awesome scenery and depictions of high-tech space marines and their ultra-advanced equipment fighting against a race of scantily clad blue-skinned cat people, it's small wonder that viewers were quickly taken by the special effects masterpiece. As the years rolled by with more films however, it seemed that 3D has once again lost popularity when people decided that paying extra money to see an otherwise mundane film with (for some at least) rather cumbersome glasses.
It just seems all too bad that Virgin Media has decided to pull the plug on some of the films it was planning to present in 3D. Some of its presentations that will come through would of course include Silent Hill: Revelations, the long awaited sequel to the first Silent Hill film but also conflicted with its predecessor when the creators wanted to be more loyal to the game's storyline. We also have Wreck-It-Ralph which is a film about video game characters and their activities during the downtime of their respective games. Then we have The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first installment of The Hobbit film trilogy and it has even been announced that the film will be receiving some extended scenes to boot to link it to its upcoming sequels. It has been confirmed however that BBC will be shelving its 3D film section once it finishes up with its Doctor Who presentation.
Virgin Media: Dropping 3D in Films is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

TORn Tuesday: Something To Look Forward To
Posted: 19 Jul 2013 02:33 AM PDT

It's been a long time coming but it seems that we'll finally get to see some more action as we wait for the second installment of The Hobbit, entitled Desolation of Smaug. Though Peter Jackson sadly announced that he nor any of the materials he's using will be making an appearance at Comic-Con San Diego, it seems that there will indeed still be some events commemorating the success of first film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the apparent fan anticipation of the sequel The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. You'll find some exciting Webcasts and what not discussing the the movies in question as well as everything else between them such as Peter Jackson's video diary featuring some of the antics he and the film cast and crew of The Hobbit have been up to in making the films.
Sadly, filming seems to have finished for the movies and a lot of the cast and crew have already left the project. Among these actors include Ian McKellen who has played the role of Gandalf the Grey since Lord of the Rings and we will surely miss him in his resplendent robes and who can really forget his "You Shall Not Pass" speech to the Balrog in Fellowship of the Ring? We also have Orlando Bloom who has played the role of Legolas Greenleaf and has endeared fans from all over the world as well as boosted his otherwise small-time career at the time and has left us with a memorable video of him singing "The Have Taken The Hobbits To Isengard". There's Evangeline Lilly who's played the role of Tauriel, perhaps the only main female character to appear in the film trilogy and is entirely absent from the original novel. Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch have also left the project possibly to continue their adventures in the British TV series Sherlock.


The journey is far from over though and fans can certainly anticipate the arrival of the following films as Desolation of Smaug is set to hit theaters this December and There and Back Again scheduled to appear sometime in late next year. An Unexpected Journey even received a few extended scenes to make the journey even more complete for viewers with various scenes depicting more of the landscape in The Shire, the fierce but futile battle the dwarves fought in their attempt to repel Smaug from their kingdom and then there's a few more scenes involving the Goblin King in Goblin Town.
And now, as we continue to wait for the films to hit the big screen, we can enjoy a lot of the antics that are going on at the Comic Con WebCast and discuss scenes as well as artwork and other such activities. There are even various fan art of the various characters as they go about their adventures with one depicting a scene where Bilbo and the dwarves desperately try to hold on to the barrels they are swept through the river as well as a rather attractive amazonian depiction of Tauriel.
TORn Tuesday: Something To Look Forward To is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/07/18/the-hobbit-moving-on-and-settling-down/
The Hobbit Movie New Post

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The Hobbit: Moving On and Settling Down
Posted: 18 Jul 2013 07:18 AM PDT

The Hobbit films have proven to be quite a ride for cast, crew and audience and it's a bit sad when you think about the fact that most of the filming has already been done and a lot of the cast and crew are now leaving the project. Nonetheless though it has indeed been a great journey and it seems that Peter Jackson has made the journey even more amazing by providing some extended scenes for An Unexpected Journey and leaving us with something to distract ourselves before Desolation of Smaug and There and Back Again hits theaters in December of this year and late next year respectively by letting us look into his video diary which provides with some laughs while explaining what the cast and crew have been up to during filming.
Among those to leave include that of Evangeline Lilly who plays the role of the female elf Tauriel. The character is largely debated over by many fans as Tauriel was never present in any of the source materials, leading some to condemn her as an insult to the works of Tolkien. However, the actress herself has stated that the character was created to further enrich the story of The Hobbit and some fans have indeed come to welcome the character as an embellishment to the already iconic legend of The Hobbit.


Then we have Ian McKellen, a rather famous actor whom we've all come to know and love as the wizard Gandalf in The Hobbit films. Indeed, before Ian McKellen was chosen for the role, Peter Jackson had briefly considered getting other actors for the role such as Sean Connery, but decided to settle for Ian McKellen when it was decided no other actor can emulate the character as well. However, it seems that Ian McKellen's part in the films are done and is now moving on to other projects, most possibly the next installment of the X-Men franchise entitled Days of Future Past wherein he will reprise his iconic role as Magneto, the mutant rebel leader.
Next up, it seems that Martin Freeman who we've come to accept as Bilbo Baggins, the titular "hobbit" whom the story centers on has also taken his leave and has moved on to other projects. Some of his other films which we can soon expect him in is The World's End wherein he, along with other actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are a gang of friends attempting their annual pub crawl which always ends in failure. This time around though, it seems that robots and other nasties are involved turning the otherwise mundane but difficult pub crawl into an epic adventure.
And then we have Orlando Bloom, who, along with Ian McKellen, has become an iconic figure in the franchise due to his role as Legolas, has also taken his leave from the project. However, he has left a rather memorable video of himself on Peter Jackson's online diary involving him singing "They Have Taken The Hobbits To Isengard". Also, now that the Hobbit is now complete, it seems that he's using the time given to him to spend more time with his son Flynn as the two had been spotted in various scenic places just enjoying the countryside.
The Hobbit: Moving On and Settling Down is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

The Hobbit in 3D and Many More at Virgin Media
Posted: 18 Jul 2013 02:06 AM PDT

Virgin Media has announced that will be introducing a large number of films for moviegoers to enjoy all of which will be in 3D to add to the atmosphere and enjoyment of fans. There's been considerable argument whether or not 3D films are the way to go but with the impressive collection Virgin Media is giving us, perhaps we'll be able to to finally decide if watching films in 3D are truly worth it. So let's see the big line-up that Virgin Media has just prepared for us and decide for ourselves! While there are effectively more than 20 films for our viewing pleasure, here are at least a few of them that we can certainly enjoy.
First off we have Silent Hill: Revelations, the long awaited sequel to the Silent Hill film which picks up a few years after the events of the film although a lot of its contents are contradictory to the original film. For one thing, when the last film ended, it left Rose Da Silva, played by Radha Mitchell, and her daughter Sharon stranded in the misty otherworld in a bittersweet ending. However, the sequel begins with Sharon and her father Harry, played by Sean Bean (whom Ringers will also possibly remember as Boromir) who are on the run from the law and are forced to return to the eponymous town of mysterious monsters and demons in order to find an end to their troubles.


Then we have Wreck-It-Ralph which is a film by Pixar which has always been the mainstay of CGI films responsible for memorable movies like Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Wall. E and, finally, Monsters University. Anyway, Wreck-It-Ralph is the story of videogame villain who, during the game's downtime, is actually a good guy who just wants to prove to himself and others that he can be a hero. This leads him to leave his own game and search for fame and recognition in other games but turns out to have a number of consequences on its own.
Also on the list of films to see on Virgin Media is the Life of Pi, the story of a young Indian man who had somehow survived the sinking of the ship that he and his family was on. Based on the novel of the same name by Yann Martel, the story plays out much the same way that Pi relates his story of being stuck in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger as he makes his way across the pacific.
Then last but not least, we have The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey which has definitely set the mood for the up and coming Desolation of Smaug which is set to hit theaters this December and There and Back Again which will make an appearance late next year. In the meantime though, we can certainly enjoy An Unexpected Journey as Bilbo begins his trek with the dwarves towards Erebor, the dwarven city now overtaken by the dragon Smaug and must face numerous enemies and dangers like orcs and trolls along the way.
The Hobbit in 3D and Many More at Virgin Media is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/07/20/giveaways-at-comic-con/
The Hobbit Movie New Post

________________________________________
Giveaways At Comic-Con
Posted: 20 Jul 2013 07:39 AM PDT

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug is coming this December and There and Back Again is due for release late next year. And indeed, the fandom has never been more eager for some action. However, while the wait can seem tedious, we still definitely have quite a few goodies to take note of as the films come closer and closer to a theater near you. Among these are of course the extended version of An Unexpected Journey which will go on to include a few more shots of The Shire, a more detailed account of Smaug's attack on Erebor and even features a new character and additional scenes involving the Goblin King.
And then now we have the figures on offer here at Comic-Con as the stuff of legends prepares to hit theaters once the two films roll around. One of these figures include that of Azog the Defiler, the pale orc we all remember all too well from An Unexpected Journey. Perhaps one of the most debated characters alongside that of Tauriel, Azog has received considerable criticism for being a posthumous character in the original books. Of course, being played by Manu Bennett, also known for his role as Crixus in the TV series Spartacus, the character has enjoyed at least some positive reactions from fans. Anyway, the figure itself is presented with quite a few features that I'm sure fans will enjoy as the miniature Azog can be made to pose in his incarnation during the battle against the dwarves in Moria where he triumphantly raises the head of Thror, Thorin Oakenshield's grandfather after he successfully decapitates the dwarf leader or his more recent appearance with his rather painful looking prosthesis in place of the arm that Thorin Oakenshield has severed.


Another more memorable figure is that of Bilbo Baggins himself, the titular "hobbit" of the book and films as portrayed by Martin Freeman. Apparently, the character is done in the scene where he struggles against the currents of the river inside a barrel, one of the more iconic scenes of The Hobbit and is one we're likely to see once Desolation of Smaug comes about. After all, it was all but confirmed in the trailer that we would definitely see the river scene as well as a few other scenes that has made The Hobbit the grand adventure that it is. Hopefully they'll even have a figure soon of Bilbo facing against Smaug, as was shown in the trailer.
Asides from the figures featuring characters from The Hobbit, Comic-Con will also be providing fans with other figures from epic superhero films from both the DC and Marvel Superheroes such as Spider Man, Batman and Superman. If that isn't a good way to commemorate some of the most epic films of last year, I don't know what it, so don't hesitate to join up Comic-Con to get a chance to win one of these figures. Details on how to join and how to win can be found on Yahoo Movies.
Giveaways At Comic-Con is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

The Hobbit: A Literary Treat
Posted: 20 Jul 2013 01:46 AM PDT

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug is coming this December and already fans just can't seem to wait for it to get here. Of course, it's not really surprising as The Hobbit series is one of the most awaited masterpieces by Peter Jackson after his success with Lord of the Rings. Apparently, he just had too much trouble with making The Hobbit due to a lot of legal issues and the fact that the cast were not all accounted for as actors like Martin Freeman who would play as Bilbo Baggins was unavailable for the part as he was busy with other projects and Hugo Weaving who was meant to portray Elrond the elf lord was somewhat reluctant to reprise his role. However now, we can at least be thankful that the movie did come through after all even if the three parts of the film are years apart.
However, since we're on the subject, one must note that The Hobbit, at least in terms of the literature crowd, has always been popular. Indeed, based on how many stories of fantasy changed after the beginning of the 20th century, more specifically in the 1930s after J.R.R. Tolkien first came out with the book. Before then, most stories of fantasy were more or less stereotypical children's stories with all manner of magical creatures and generally idyllic settings while some turned out to be dreams and was not something Tolkien approved of calling "fantasy" according to the lectures and essays he left behind such as "On Fairy Stories". The Hobbit changed all that with its own set of mystical creatures that Tolkien brought over from even older sources such as Germanic folklore and was tempered with a gritty feel that was representative of Tolkien's own often tragic experiences during World War I.


Of course now, we simply enjoy his works and those that it inspired at leisure. One can note that the creatures found in Middle Earth can also be found in much of the worlds created by Dungeons and Dragons, the many characters and their dynamics with one another can be found somehow similar with that of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and there's the fact that Warhammer Fantasy shares some resemblances with Tolkien's creations but throws all the idealism out the window and plunges it straight into tragedy and cynicism.
On the whole though, as we wait for Desolation of Smaug and There and Back Again to hit theaters, it may be a good idea to read up on Tolkien's masterpiece which the movies are supposedly based on. After all, there are now many complaints over the liberties that Peter Jackson has taken with the artistic license for the films such as the addition of new characters or the heavy alterations of existing ones.
In some universities even, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings have become college courses for those who wish to learn more about them. The Hobbit is also preferred by many readers over Lord of the Rings due to its more simplistic tone and more idyllic feel. While Lord of the Rings can be considered an epic showdown between good and evil, The Hobbit is more or less a coming-of-age story and Bilbo's struggles in achieving both fame and fortune.
The Hobbit: A Literary Treat is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Rico]

Last day of filming was today, July 25, 2013.

It is no doubt with a heavy heart that Peter Jackson now begins his final day of production on the set of The Hobbit in Wellington, New Zealand. He has, however, a special treat for fans as he works through his final hours in Middle Earth.

"Ever since starting these blogs," he writes on his official Facebook page, "there's been something I thought I'd like to try one day (as well as answering the other 19 questions I owe you!) - blogging throughout a shoot day in real time. Try to give you all a feeling for what we deal with on an average day. Today is not exactly "average", given it's our last day of shooting, but if I don't do it today, I never will!"

You can check out the fruits of his labor when The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug arrives this December 13 and The Hobbit: There and Back Again concludes the trilogy on December 17, 2014.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=106999

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/07/28/a-long-journey/

It seems that filming for The Hobbit has already ended and the cast and crew are going their separate ways. Ian McKellen seems to have left to continue with the long-awaited film franchise of X-Men with its latest installment, Days of Future Past where he shall be reprise his role as the rebellious mutant leader Magneto with a lot of the original members of the film franchise like Patrick Stewart and his awesome baldness to play as Professor X and the lovely Anna Paquin as Rogue. Orlando Bloom has also been noted to be interested in being part of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise again but so far, he seems to be content spending time with his son Flynn as he had been spotted with his beloved little boy in New York City Park. While Andy Serkis doesn't seem to be finished with the series after he had been appointed as assistant director to Peter Jackson but it seems that he's slated for projects of his own such as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes where he will once again take on the role of Caesar, the leader of the rebellious apes. Benedict Cumberbatch on the other hand has gone back to play the role of Sherlock Holmes in the TV series Sherlock with Martin Freeman also reprising his role as Dr. Watson.
All in all though, it's been a great ride for everybody, from the cast, the crew and the audience who had never been more supportive. After all, a lot us have waited for the films to actually come out and while some may have complaints here and there, it has nonetheless been an epic journey for all of us. And take note to remember that the journey is far from over as we still have quite a ways to go before Desolation of Smaug and There and Back Again.

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/07/29/from-the-shire-to-bouldin-creek/
I don't think anyone can ever forget the youthful appearance of Elijah Wood who seems to be perfect for the role of a hobbit, considering his almost ageless looks and ability to put on the innocence of a lost and heartwarming puppy. Anyway, it seems that the actor has moved on to Bouldin Creek last year in a large Victorian home that seems to have cost up to at least a million US dollars which, while probably fairly affordable for such an affluent and quite famous celebrity, may be a bit too much for the more common citizen. Oh well, after Lord of the Rings, he did go on to state in one interview that he had already succeeded in being part of the century's most epic fantasy flick and considers it one of his greatest achievements. No doubt the fandom agrees with him considering the success of said films and has even gotten him at least a cameo appearance in The Hobbit films.


Elijah Wood has been around for quite a while in the film industry with his beginnings somewhere in TV commercials. Later on, he played as an extra in Back to the Future and from there began to steadily grow popular. Due to his innocent appearance, as mentioned above, he went on to play the roles of troubled children like that of Mark Evans from The Good Son who finds himself at the mercy of a psychotic cousin/brother played by Macaulay Culkin and Mike from Radio Flyer where he must fight against an abusive father to protect his brother from harm. And then there was The War, a truly heart-wrenching story about the effects of the Vietnam War and how the pieces of a shattered family attempts to put itself back together.
Apparently, Elijah Wood, who seems to be in the process of filming Cooties, a horror comedy film about some strange virus hitting an elementary school where Clint Hadson (Elijah Wood's character) happens to be a substitute teacher at.

[WillEagle]

I have The War on my Netflix Q.

[Bromptonboy]

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/07/30/sherlock-and-the-hobbit/

The Hobbit Movie New Post

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Sherlock And The Hobbit
Posted: 30 Jul 2013 01:45 AM PDT

Filming for The Hobbit films have finally ended and we are now only waiting for the second installment of The Hobbit entitled Desolation of Smaug to hit theaters sometime this December. While just a few months away now, it still seems to be quite a wait for a lot of fans and indeed Peter Jackson has thrown a few goodies along the way to make the wait just a little bit more bearable. Some of these of course include  the extended scenes for the first installment An Unexpected Journey which will include some additional scenes for both Hobbiton and the desperate attempts to repel Smaug from Erebor and of course, there's Peter Jackson's very own video blog that includes some of the silly antics that cast and crew have been up to during the filming process.


Sadly though, it seems that for much of the cast who made one of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpieces come alive, the journey does seem at its end. Indeed, Martin Freeman who played the role of Bilbo Baggins and Benedict Cumberbatch who portrayed both Smaug the Dragon and The Necromancer, have left the project and have continued their roles for the British TV series Sherlock with Cumberbatch taking on the role of the eponymous Great Detective and Freeman playing as the ever reliable Dr. Watson.
Martin Freeman has even gone on to note that his role as Dr. Watson in Sherlock is possibly more popular than his role as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit. This is probably justified considering that the previous season of the show ended with a cliffhanger with Sherlock Holmes falling off from an otherwise fatal height. Of course, to those who have followed the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, it's probably no longer a surprise but Benedict Cumberbatch has indeed left a few clues as to how the Great Detective survived. Apparently, he has stated that he had become quite tired of keeping secrets from fans like he did in Star Trek: Into Darkness and The Hobbit. However, making sense of the clues will probably be entirely up to the viewer.
Sherlock And The Hobbit is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

Meet The Lord of the Rings
Posted: 29 Jul 2013 05:53 PM PDT

While the works of J.R.R. Tolkien claim that it was Sauron with the help of some elven smiths who crafted the Rings of Power, apparently, all Peter Jackson needed to make the rings for his films was but one man by the name of Nelson Benjamin Clark. And while Sauron crafted at least twenty rings (that's the One Ring, three for the elves, seven for the dwarves and nine for men, which also turned those nine into wraiths in the end) to bring all of Middle Earth to its knees, it seems that Clark had made at least twice as much. That's right, the Lord of the Rings films required at least forty rings and he had been hired to do fifteen more when The Hobbit came about.


Surprisingly enough, this Ringmaker is nowhere near as old as Sauron or the elven smiths mentioned above. In fact, this expert jeweller got his start when he was only seven years old, producing rings as an apprentice for his father, and had been making rings and other jewelry ever since. Clark goes on to note that one of his biggest challenges was when an American couple called him to make ring for them that was in the shape of a nail. After successfully giving the couple one of his best works to date, Clark felt confident about his abilities as a jeweller and silversmith and went on to make the iconic props of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
However, it seems that success stories do not come without making sacrifices and indeed Clarke has mentioned that when he had first started his business he had to rely on his girlfriend's salary but had finally secured a bank loan after a few months. And from there, his career took off despite he himself admitting that it wasn't entirely what he expected as a career choice and has made quite a name for himself as a jeweller in New Zealand.
Meet The Lord of the Rings is a post from: The Hobbit Movie
       

[Rico]

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition
Street Date: November 5, 2013

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=107210

[Bryancd]

Saw this and I think I will order it up. :)