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Hobbit Movie in Four Years?

Antarctic Lemur writes "At the Powerhouse Museum LOTR Exhibition in Sydney, Peter Jackson has said a film version of The Hobbit is three years away at least. Reasons for the delay include the sale of MGM, which part-owns the movie rights to The Hobbit, and Jackson's recently filed suit against New Line Cinema, the other part-owner. Jackson is currently filming King Kong at his new facility in Wellington, NZ. Slashdot readers will also be interested in the high security planned for King Kong's pre-release screenings."

251 comments

  1. Unlike Windows Longhorn... by Nova+Express · · Score: 4, Funny
    ...I suspect all of the parts to The Hobbit will be there when it finally ships...

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

    1. Re:Unlike Windows Longhorn... by rathehun · · Score: 1

      Well...reliable sources tell me that since they decided to combine The Hobbit with a remake of Dr. Who, a certain hobbit may be missing a finger....

    2. Re:Unlike Windows Longhorn... by bcmm · · Score: 1

      Or maybe even complete before release.
      They might just announced that major parts of the "new" film will be back-ported to the LOTR Collector's Edition DVD...

      --
      # cat /dev/mem | strings | grep -i llama
      Damn, my RAM is full of llamas.
  2. Just what we need by Bender+Unit+22 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Another King Kong movie.
    We need it as much as another Police Academy movie.

    1. Re:Just what we need by zenneth · · Score: 1, Funny

      Steve Guttenburg needs another Police Academy movie.

      --
      The Chronic *WHAT* les of Narnia!
    2. Re:Just what we need by Scrameustache · · Score: 1

      I've been trying to understand why he's doing it ever since the first announcements, I really, really can't.

      I mean, will there be a King Kong remake every 30-40 years? Is this a trend? Will this CGI King Kong fight the CGI Godzilla?

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    3. Re:Just what we need by HoldmyCauls · · Score: 1

      Well, think about it... you do a big film, then you can get away with some little films. (think about it)

      --
      Emacs: for people who just never know when to :q!
    4. Re:Just what we need by JoshRosenbaum · · Score: 1

      Sadly, I think I'd rather see another Police Academy movie than King Kong. Peter Jackson is wasting talent on this movie.

    5. Re:Just what we need by pipsey · · Score: 1

      Could be worse, could be a Psychic Academy movie...

    6. Re:Just what we need by aurifex · · Score: 0

      Be fair, everyone loves the Police Academy movies.

      All 9,000 of them.

    7. Re:Just what we need by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      There was one by Sony 5 years ago. Bad as battlefield Earth coming from the critics. OUCH!

    8. Re:Just what we need by torpor · · Score: 1

      Movie-making will never be a real religion until it has its own rituals, and the re-make is one...

      --
      ; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
  3. Suit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wait... since when is Jackson sueing New Line?

    1. Re:Suit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    2. Re:Suit? by EvanED · · Score: 4, Informative

      Movie studios have a habit of buying useless stuff from themselves to increase the cost of a movie, thus decreasing the profit and the royalties they have to pay out without actually decreasing their income.

      Spiderman's Stan Lee had to sue whatever studio did Spiderman after they said that movie made no profit (IIRC), I think Jackson is having to do the same thing.

    3. Re:Suit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Stan Lee sued Marvel, not the movie studio.

  4. Whats next... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    In other news, King Kong vs. the Shire, coming soon to a theatre near you, Spring 2010

    1. Re:Whats next... by WebHostingGuy · · Score: 1
      Don't laugh, they did make Freddy versus Jason.


      Think of it--a thousand hobbits attempting to take down King Kong with their pipes as Bredo the lovely female hobbit tries in vain to make peace while on a quest to ... blah, blah, blah.

      --
      Quality Hosting e3 Servers
    2. Re:Whats next... by mink · · Score: 1

      From what I read in the scouring of the shire, I would not want to be on the wrong side of any weapon that is attached to an angry hobbit.

      --
      Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
  5. In Other News... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    My plans to kill myself have been postponed by at least 4 years.

    1. Re:In Other News... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      I remember when the internet only teaser for the LOTR series was posted on Slashdot so many years ago. It was the one where Mr. Wood was talking over some of the crude footage. After hearing of the extended editions, I realzed that I had to wait 4 years to see the complete saga. Arggg.. a long wait, but I also remember thinking that I just had to avoid any accidents so I could survive long enough to see it all. I have been satisfied.

    2. Re:In Other News... by iminplaya · · Score: 3, Funny

      In more other news...
      The MPAA boyccot commitee decided to not take any action against the industry for at least 4 more years. "We have a room full of lawyers deciding our next step as we speak.", a spokesman said.

      --
      What?
    3. Re:In Other News... by JasonEngel · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I actually postponed suicide until after the Return of the King, but by then I was engaged and generally pretty happy. Stupid timing. If I had never read that stupid article back in 1999 about the LOTR movies being made I'd be comfortably pushing up the daisies by now.

  6. All the security in the world... by CtrlPhreak · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can have all the security in the world and you can't keep king kong down, the chains, the fences. Nature always will find a way, he just likes climbing tall buildings grasping girls in his clutches. We just need to accept that and move on.

    --
    WikiAfterDark.com It's a sex wiki, go now!
    1. Re:All the security in the world... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      he just likes climbing tall buildings grasping girls in his clutches

      Who doesn't?

    2. Re:All the security in the world... by gstoddart · · Score: 1
      Nature always will find a way, he just likes climbing tall buildings grasping girls in his clutches.

      But, really, who among us doesn't deep down?
      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    3. Re:All the security in the world... by simetra · · Score: 1

      I think the MOAB would take him out. That would make a pretty cool scene too. Or maybe a sidewinder up the ass ala Luke Skywalker's sinking the bombs down the vent in the first, original, only good Star Wars. That would be cool too.

      --

      "Would it kill you to put down the toilet seat?" -- Maya Angelou
    4. Re:All the security in the world... by SEWilco · · Score: 2, Funny
      "the high security planned for King Kong's pre-release screenings."

      I'll be impressed if it involves fifty-foot-tall gates.
      Or fifty-foot-tall Gates.

  7. Wrong by Picass0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    There will be a "Special Extended Director's Service Pack" on DVD.

    1. Re:Wrong by Saeger · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yeah, but it will be "pre-announced", so that you don't get the right to bitch about the profiteering.

      --
      Power to the Peaceful
  8. Why so much security? by tomjen · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I cannot understand why he wants so much security- those who want it for free, will get i sooner or later, and it is not like the storyline is new in any, according to TFA it is a 193* classic.

    --
    Freedom or George Bush
    1. Re:Why so much security? by elgatozorbas · · Score: 2, Insightful
      I cannot understand why he wants so much security- those who want it for free, will get i sooner or later, and it is not like the storyline is new in any, according to TFA it is a 193* classic.

      He wants them to get it later rather than sooner. If the bootlegs appear at around the time of the first screening, many people will not go to the cinema. If the bootlegs appear _after_ the movie was shown in the theatres, the DVD sales may be a bit lower, but the damage will be less.

    2. Re:Why so much security? by game+kid · · Score: 1
      according to TFA it is a 193* classic.

      <pedantic>No, it's a "193?" classic--otherwise, people could say "What? It wasn't made until A.D.19312345?</pedantic> Also, remember he has made all of these things for profit; he knows anyone can get it for free but he wants tribute from TFM*, so he'd rather have the inevitable^W^W"property-stealing" happen later than sooner by putting it in theaters that'd threaten to get the FBI on your ass if one refuses to give the necessary ticket price. He's asserting the movie is worth something (hell, I would after wasting several years of my life on it). It's not like we have to pay and see King Kong again; we can just ignore it and let him fall into financial oblivion.

      *the fine movie (in Mr. Jackson's opinion at least)

      --
      You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
    3. Re:Why so much security? by ultranova · · Score: 2, Funny

      It will make the movie seem special.

      "Yeah, I heard they kept the raw footage on the Mountain of Despair beyond the River of Fire guarded by the Dragons of Eternity. Must be something special, no one would bother to guard a bad movie like that. Better go and see it."

      It's just a marketing trick, nothing more.

      --

      Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

    4. Re:Why so much security? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, it's a "193?" classic--otherwise, people could say "What? It wasn't made until A.D.19312345?

      No, it's a "193X" classic--otherwise people could say "What, it was made in any of 1930-1939?!" :-p

  9. since this: by LordKronos · · Score: 5, Informative
    1. Re:since this: by Ubergrendle · · Score: 4, Informative

      This is actually fairly common in the movie industry. Its their way of getting outside negotiators involved. Messy, complicated, yes -- but not necessarily anything that would prevent them from working together again in the future.

      Big money = big arguments. No matter how solid your contract is in the first place.

      --
      John Maynard Keynes: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?"
  10. Homerkong by MouseR · · Score: 3, Informative

    The Simpsons already made another remake of King Kong. Move on Jackson!

    As far as Bilbo goes, I would wrap in as much of the Simarillion as is possible.

    1. Re:Homerkong by Orgazmus · · Score: 1

      Of course the simpsons already did it. Your cant let that stop you. You dont watch South Park, do you?

      --
      The system had the verbosity of HTML combined with all the readability of compiled assembly viewed as bitmap images
    2. Re:Homerkong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As far as Bilbo goes, I would wrap in as much of the Simarillion as is possible.

      Actually, I think they'd want to put in some of the stuff from 'Unfinished Tales' too. I.e. "The quest for Erebor", which explains how the story in The Hobbit came about, and how it was relevant in the war against Sauron.

    3. Re:Homerkong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would you include anything from the Silmarillion? The Hobbit and the Silmarillion have almost nothing to do with each other. Its been a while since I have read it but I am pretty sure there is no mention of Hobbits at all in The Silmarillion.

      Thats like combining the Bible and Titanic into one big story...they happened in the same world didn't they?

    4. Re:Homerkong by merlin_jim · · Score: 2, Funny

      As far as Bilbo goes, I would wrap in as much of the Simarillion as is possible.

      Or if they cast Ice T as the king of the wood elves he could rap in as much of the silmarillion as possible.

      --
      I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
  11. One of the years most inticipated movies? by Monkelectric · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Security experts plan to keep King Kong, one of the year's most anticipated movies, out of the hands of pirates.

    I'll admit I opt-out of a lot of pop culture, but I don't know ANYONE looking forward to the King Kong movie.

    Is this wishful thinking on their part? Am I completely out of it? Or is this a new marketing tactic?

    --

    Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

    1. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by Scrameustache · · Score: 4, Insightful

      is this a new marketing tactic?

      Telling people that other people want it? It's not a new one.

      Hell, I remember some random romantic comedy in the summer of 1999 claiming in their ads to be the most anticipated movie of the year.

      There's lies, and then there's outrageous lies: 1999 is the year where hundreds of fans accross the united states camped in front of movie theatres for weeks to see Phantom Menace, and millions of fans accross the world camped for a day to see it. Now THAT is anticipation.

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    2. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Would you prefer a Donkey Kong movie with Mario climbing ladders and jumping over barrels for 2 hours?

    3. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's not much that is anticipated this year, so it might be technically correct to say that some random movie is somewhere at the top of the anticipation list. Just like "-7" is one of the most positive numbers (among -15, -9, -7, and -6).

    4. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by slthytove · · Score: 1

      Yes. Heck, I've already spent much more than 2 hours of my life playing Donkey Kong...

    5. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On the television, every new show the networks pump out is a "NEW HIT SHOW" before it even airs the pilot episode. So I don't believe you are as "out of it" as the networks are. Also of note, a movie studio thought GIGLI was a hit when they gave it a greenlight.

    6. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the security against pirates consists solely of the "who'd WANT to watch it?" variety. Pretty effective way to keep things out of people's hands is to make something no one wants. I believe there are people who set furniture out on their front lawns for the purpose of allowing some one to have it, and it doesn't always get taken before the trashman comes along.

      That being said, I don't think I really give a crap about the WotW movie coming up. Mars Attacks filled the gap in monster movies for me. If they REALLY wanna do WotW, revive the series, maybe improve on it.

    7. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >> Now THAT is anticipation.

      I think you'll find that, technically, that is called 'mental illness'.

    8. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by rob_squared · · Score: 1

      *that* is a letdown.

      --
      I don't get it.
    9. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by Cromac · · Score: 1
      I'll admit I opt-out of a lot of pop culture, but I don't know ANYONE looking forward to the King Kong movie.

      Is this wishful thinking on their part? Am I completely out of it? Or is this a new marketing tactic?

      You might be completely out of "it", "it" being catering to the lowest common denominator in society. Do you know anyone who actually likes The Simple Life? I don't yet they keep spewing out new seasons of it.

    10. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmm, nothing much anticipated this year?

      A Scanner Darkly, Sin City, Mirrormask, Robots, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Star Wars III, Ring 2 and Amityville Horror if you're into horror remakes, Batman Begins, War of the Worlds, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Hey, it's Tim Burton!), The Brothers Grimm (a Terry Gilliam film),....

      Oh, hell - there are more out there. Those are just some that might appeal to geeks.

      If you don't think that anything in there is something to anticipate, well, I don't know what to say.

      (Disclaimer: not sure of the some of the films - Mirrormask and a few others may slip back to 2006 depending on where in the world you are ;)

    11. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And of course, The Matrix.

    12. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've got more for you :)

      Into Stop Motion Animation? Try Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, or the aforementioned Wallace and Grommit.
      Horror movies? Horror maestro George Romero has Land of the Dead coming out.
      There's a follow-up sequel to Zorro, with Legend of Zorro as well. Swashbuckling action is always something to anticipate :)

      How about The Chronicles of Narnia? Underworld:Evolution? A live action Aeon Flux? V for Vendetta? A remake of The Fog? Saw 2? The much anticipated Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?

      Even if you don't personally want to see ANY of the films I've listed (and that's in the 10-20 range now), you have to admit that they are mostly going to be anticipated by either geeks, or the public as a whole.

      Lets face it: 2005 is a good year for movies :)

    13. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by xsupergr0verx · · Score: 1

      Probably be better than the Mortal Kombat or Tomb Raider movies...

      --

      Click here for a free picture of an iPod!
    14. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by cgenman · · Score: 1

      There was at least one movie that season was honest.

    15. Re:One of the years most inticipated movies? by AndyChrist · · Score: 1

      I don't know anyone who KNOWS about it.

      Note: I am the biggest nerd I know.

      Tell someone there's a remake of King Kong coming out, they'll probably be like "eh...I might see that." Tell them Peter Jackson's directing it, they'll probably say "That name sounds familiar..." Tell them "Uh, you know, the guy who directed Lord of the Rings," and the should continue along the lines of "OH! Cool! I've got to see that!"

      I've had similar conversations twice.

  12. Yet... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Pirate copies are already available in China.

    1. Re:Yet... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bought my copy a week ago.

  13. I reckon trying to blend in in a movie theatre by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...filled with little kids and their parents won't be any easier in three years.

    1. Re:I reckon trying to blend in in a movie theatre by InfiniteWisdom · · Score: 3, Funny

      well you have 2 years and 3 months to find a girl and get her pregnant.

    2. Re:I reckon trying to blend in in a movie theatre by Necroist · · Score: 1

      Girl? Pregnant?

      What is these words you are talking about?

  14. How many chances do we have to really see it? by mu22le · · Score: 0, Troll

    I start fearing slashdot is not as reliable a source as I used to feel.
    I mean, I have heard WAY too many times about The Hobbit movie with no real official confirmation whatsoever, and no tvnz.co.nz is not reliable enough for me.
    I would have rejoiced once but I'm a little too skeptic now to give this news more than a 50% chance. (and a /. post, of course)

  15. Why must it be Peter Jackson? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It might be good to keep the look of the other three movies, but those were bad movies in my opinion. I know it would take an active effort to make it bad to not make money, but a better director might make _more_ money and a better movie.

    1. Re:Why must it be Peter Jackson? by xSauronx · · Score: 0, Troll
      mod this up, jackson isnt a first class director and just because the movies are popular doesnt mean that fact has to be looked over.

      Yes, I enjoyed the movies, and yes, I'd go see "The Hobbit" if he made it. But I'll go anticipating bad attempts at comic relief, overdone lighting, and some really bad story re-writes and add-ins that aren't necessary, or if necessary...not entirely well done (according to the book or otherwise).

      I'm sure it would still be enjoyable, the Lord of the Rings trilogy Jackson directed is great, but they aren't perfect films and to mod someone down because he points out that fact is a bit silly.

      --
      By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth. -- George Carlin
    2. Re:Why must it be Peter Jackson? by snuf23 · · Score: 2, Interesting
      "those were bad movies in my opinion"


      The key phrase here is "in my opinion". Jackson had to make a lot of compromises to make this series successful. You may think that "it would take an active effort to make it bad to not make money" but the fantasy genre has always been a notably poor performer at the box office. In order to succeed financially Jackson had to create a movie which would appeal not to geeks, D&D players, fans of the LOTR books, but a movie with universal appeal.

      The result is a series of movies that purists are always going to have problems with. Personally I was amazed by how people who usually were more interested in seeing the latest Vin Diesal action flick were drawn in to the story. The LOTR movies achieved a huge level of mainstream popularity.
      I also think that it's worth noting that it would have been hard to find a director willing to commit to such a harsh production schedule and willing to immerse himself in the source material. Jackson's dedication was impressive and I loved being able to anticipate each movie one year after another rather than waiting two or three years between them.

      I also applaud the creation of the extended versions which are really a first in the DVD business, seeing as so much additional footage was taking through full production and added in.
      No he's not the best director ever, but he succeeded in a difficult task and the result however you may wish to discredit it is a hell of a lot better than those cartoons with the toad faced hobbits.

      --
      Sometimes my arms bend back.
    3. Re:Why must it be Peter Jackson? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'll lay good money down that in jackson's version it's Bilbo that kills Smaug.

    4. Re:Why must it be Peter Jackson? by Eravnrekaree · · Score: 0

      I was dissappointed by the movies. First because of the drastic changes in the plot of the movie. I know omissions are necessary or else the movie would never fit inside of 3 hours. But they made changes to the movie that were rather unnecessary for time purposes, one example was Frodo being carried to the ford in the first movie by the elf, who was also changed from a man to a woman in the movie. Such changes are inexcusable for time purposes.

      The other thing was the sets, and landscapes. They seemed way off from the books. The dead marshes and mordor seemed way too bright, I always imagined them as being darker, nearly night, and the marshes has being foggy and hazy. But it seemed almost as bright as day in both. Places like Lorien, which I had imagined as being magical and having a brilliant luminance about them appeared to dark and ordinary in my opinion.Hobbiton didnt appear "grown in" enough, not enough trees, the place looked like it was set in the middle of a field, rather than admist woods and rich gardens and shrubbery as I imagined. There was far too little in diversity of landscapes, too little contrast between Mordor and Lorien. The magic of the books is lost as a result in the movies.

      The acting in the movies was simply brilliant, if only the plot and the landscapes had been better.

  16. Took long enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny


    But you know what they say : "You wait .. time passes"

  17. Jackson... by flumps · · Score: 5, Funny

    sits down and starts singing about Gold.

    l

    You are in a comfortable tunnel like hall to the east there is the round green door you see :
    the wooden chest.
    Gandalf. Gandalf is carrying a curious map.
    Jackson.
    Gandalf gives the curious map to you.
    Jackson waits.

    --
    "So there he is, risen from the dead. Like that fella, E. T." - Father Ted Crilly
    1. Re:Jackson... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Kill Gandalf with map

      With one well placed blow of the curious map you cleave Gandalf's skull.

    2. Re:Jackson... by Funkitup · · Score: 1

      time passes

    3. Re:Jackson... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It gets dark. You are eaten by a grue.

  18. The tagline will be: by Ki+Master+George · · Score: 1

    Four more years!

    --
    Before you walk a mile in someone's shoes, you should insult them so you know how they are and what they're doing.
  19. What about the Silmirilion? by Bucaro · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Why would he focus on the Hobbit when the Silmirilion would make a much better movie. He could make a whole group of short films out of those stories, and then film the Hobbit as takes place after the Silmirilion. So if it is in chronological order, then I don't see his reasoning. The Hobbit may be more popular, but if he is going for quality of the films, the Silmirilion would beat it easily.

    1. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Tyler+Eaves · · Score: 4, Insightful

      He has the sense to make movies people will actually WANT to see.

      --
      TODO: Something witty here...
    2. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Scrameustache · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Why would he focus on the Hobbit when the Silmirilion would make a much better movie.

      The Silmarillion is not a good movie story. It's a collection of background notes that were never meant by their author to be published, a dense tome that is read by fanatics of the Lords of the Rings for it's value-adding goodness. Not a product suitable for mass market appeal.

      The Hobbit, however, is a light tale of dragon-slaying adventure with characters and settings already familliar to the consummers.

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    3. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by hunterx11 · · Score: 1

      I'd rather have a Túrin Turumbar movie. Or a Beren and Lúthien movie. Both would be much more practical to make, and would actually have some appeal to non-geeks.

      --
      English is easier said than done.
    4. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by DarkEdgeX · · Score: 1

      As someone who's never read it, it sounds from your description like there isn't any story whatsoever. Surely there's something to it other than just notes? Is there enough of a story there to even make one movie out of it?

      --
      All I know about Bush is I had a good job when Clinton was president.
    5. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by MikTheUser · · Score: 2, Insightful

      ...the Silmirilion would make a much better movie

      You simply cannot make a decent movie of the Silmarillion. It covers more time than and features more characters than even the Bible does, and it is utterly impossible to depict some of the characters (The Vala? Liv Tyler was a good shot for Arwen in LOTR, but which actress would you have playing the part of Beauty Itself, i.e. Elbereth? Not to mention Morgoth - Jackson wouldn't even show Sauron in LOTR) and it is even more impossible to cover all that the Silmarillion tells.
      You might make a movie of one part of the Silmarillion, like but which? They are all connected, in a myriad of ways, and the book achieves most of it's greatness by that alone. Even the history of the Noldor alone would make for a movie longer than all three parts of LOTR together.

    6. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is a story to it of course, but it spans so many years and features so many different characters that it feels like each chapter of the book is a new short story that is only marginally related to the others. It's very different from LOTR in that the storyline doesn't follow any few characters too closely but instead gives a sort of 'historical' overview of the first age.

    7. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Rasta+Prefect · · Score: 1

      As someone who's never read it, it sounds from your description like there isn't any story whatsoever. Surely there's something to it other than just notes? Is there enough of a story there to even make one movie out of it?


      Nope, thats about it. Seriously, it reads like a Cliffs notes history of middle earth. It wasn't published by Tolkien but by his family post death, if I recall correctly.

      --
      Why?
    8. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by neonfreon · · Score: 1

      Except that nobody has ever heard of the Silmarillion and many people have heard of The Hobbit (it was required reading for most of my friends and I when we were in grade school), and if they haven't heard of The Hobbit then they at least know what Hobbits are.

      Be glad that they aren't making a movie out of the Silmarillion, it is the last big bastion of Tolkien to remained unscathed by popularization via animation or film.

      What about making a cartoon series for "Adventures of Tom Bombadil" ? ;)

    9. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by northcat · · Score: 1

      People like cute little hobbits and the movie makers want to sell them to the people. You should have figured that out after watching LOTR.

    10. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by ornil · · Score: 1

      There is an overarching story. However, it is true that basically it is a collection of related stories. As some other people said, who is too stop him from taking one interesting one and making a movie out of that. He'd have some latitude in filling in the blanks. Besides Beren & Luthien story which is an obvious candidate, you could also do the Fall of Numenor & The Last Alliance, which would end exactly where the LotR movie begins, with the battle where Sauron is vanquished.

    11. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Feanturi · · Score: 1

      Particular stores though, would make fantastic feature-length movies. You could get a great three hour film out of Beren and Luthien.

    12. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by beamdriver · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You could make a movie about Beren and Luthien, putting in just enough back story to make it comprehensible.

    13. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by novakyu · · Score: 3, Informative
      It's a collection of background notes that were never meant by their author to be published...

      I take it that you are not a Tolkien fan? Silmarillion was actually submitted to a publisher and rejected (more details available in the endnotes of "Lays of Beleriand", by Tolkien (whichever one you want)). There, in fact, JRR Tolkien is quoted as writing that he hope to publish it some day. The end result of the publisher wanting some more "Hobbit story" but rejecting the Silmarillion was, in fact, LOTR!

      Granted, the Silmarillion was never "complete", at least not to Tolkien's standards, but IMHO, it is far more complete (in plot-line and style) some of the junks I read in Sci-Fi (or any other fiction) genre.

      When the publishers rejected Silmarillion, they said, not to offend Tolkien, that "rather than a story in itself, it is a mine to be mined" (quoting from memory, so not sure whether my i's are dotted right and t's are crossed right) for other books, and so it became such for Tolkien (you can see lots of elements of LOTR mirroring what happened during the First or Second Era). If the movie-makers had any brain, it should be the same for them: Silmarillion should be a mine to be mined for more movie scripts! They always "defile" the originals anyway, and if they are going to change the original text, they should be doing it on an "incomplete" text as Silmarillion, not the completely-polished product as LOTR (yes, I didn't like LOTR movie trilogy too much) or Hobbit.

    14. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by MikeB90 · · Score: 3, Informative

      What is to stop him? Only the fact none of the movie rights for anything except the Hobbit and LOTR were sold, and the Tolkien Estate has been pretty unhappy about movies being made for any reason, saying they cheapen the book experience (I'm paraphrasing). The snippets of pre-LOTR history such as the Last Alliance were only usable because they were directly discussed in LOTR. Similarly one could cobble together PIECES of the appendices, but they are largely insufficient for any additional full story with the possible exception of the Fall of the Kingdom of the North (there is enough outline there, though little flesh, to make a story, but I don't think it would be that successful). But the Silmarillion core story material is offlimits.

    15. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Scrameustache · · Score: 1

      As someone who's never read it, it sounds from your description like there isn't any story whatsoever. Surely there's something to it other than just notes? Is there enough of a story there to even make one movie out of it?

      It's commonly known as "The Silmarillion", but it's true name is "a bunch of notes we found in dad's study after he died". It's interresting if you are fascinated by the rich cultural background he created for middle earth, but it's only a story as far as the old testament is a story.
      And boy, you'd better be in the mood for Elf genealogy!

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    16. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Scrameustache · · Score: 1

      If the movie-makers had any brain, it should be the same for them: Silmarillion should be a mine to be mined for more movie scripts!

      There's no market for it. I can think of a ton of people I could tell that would be interrested to hear that a Hobbit movie is coming out, but only a few sword-owning ones who'd be interrested in the Silmarillion.

      In the Real World, brand recognition and mass market appeal make for good movie scripts. Not intricate histories and complex mythologies.

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    17. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      It seems more like the Middle-Earth bible to me. It's full of begats and slayings... And as dry as the sahara in the middle of summer during a dry spell after an airliner carrying a supply of dessicant pellets explodes overhead.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    18. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by FuzzyBad-Mofo · · Score: 1

      I agree with you about the Silmarillion being dry and hard to digest, although there truly are some great stories in there. For a much more fleshed out rendition of some of these (such as the fall of Gondolin), see Tolkien's "Unfinished Tales."

    19. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by hunterx11 · · Score: 1
      What I meant was that making a Silmarillion movie would be much less practical than making one of its chapters into a movie. Think of the trailer, that deep voice guy saying, "In a time of legend, a man destined to fight alongside the gods challenged his own fate..."

      Of course a Hobbit movie would fare ever better, and seems pretty likely actually to happen.

      --
      English is easier said than done.
    20. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by XMyth · · Score: 1

      Is there something strange about owning a sword?

    21. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Scrameustache · · Score: 1

      Is there something strange about owning a sword?

      I'm an axe man myself.

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    22. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Zeinfeld · · Score: 1
      Why would he focus on the Hobbit when the Silmirilion would make a much better movie. He could make a whole group of short films out of those stories, and then film the Hobbit as takes place after the Silmirilion. So if it is in chronological order, then I don't see his reasoning. The Hobbit may be more popular, but if he is going for quality of the films, the Silmirilion would beat it easily.

      First the Hobbit is a much better commercial prospect, it is a known quantity with broad appeal. The Silmirilion is not, it would require a heck of a lot of scriptwriting to get it in a viable format.

      But the bigger reason is that Jackson knows that there is no way he can get the rights to any Tolkein material apart from the material already sold until his son Chistopher Tolkein is not controlling the rights.

      It appears that Christopher is now denying having said he would refuse to talk to his son for watching the LOTR movie but he does not appear to be any happier about dramatizations. It may be that the issue could be settled with a matter of money but I doubt it.

      --
      Looking for an Information Security student project suggestion?
      Try http://dotcrimeManifesto.com/
    23. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Galvatron · · Score: 1
      yes, I didn't like LOTR movie trilogy too much

      Then why would you want Jackson to remake the Simarillion? You probably wouldn't like that either.

      --
      "The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than that of whether a submarine can swim" -EWD
    24. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by EvilAlien · · Score: 1

      Maybe he could spice it up a bit and make "Passion of the Rings" or something... on a serious note, I'd like to see Jackson tackle some fantasy with less rabid canon-obsessed fans. Maybe something even original. Does R.A. Salvatore do any screenwriting?

      --
      perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5, (41*2), sqrt(7056), (unpack(c,H)-2), oct(115), 10)'
    25. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by L0rdJagged · · Score: 1

      jackson could do a great job on the ice wind dale trilogy, or the dark elf trilogy. good idea, let's start a petition!

    26. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by dswensen · · Score: 1

      Yeah, if there's anything Tolkien fans love, it's heavily compromised material. Shave 90% of the Silmarillion off and make a love story! They'll eat it up!

      Hah. No.

    27. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Jarlsberg · · Score: 1

      Oh, there's a story allright, but not in a traditional sense. It tells how world was created, the story of the elves and the higher beings and of the emergence of men, the lesser beings who would eventually dominate Middle Earth. It's pure mythology, with some very interesting stories. It's definitely not everyone's cup of tea, but I sure enjoyed it.

    28. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, well. They said The Lord of the Rings could not be made into a film. Maybe even Tolkien believed this, thinking within the limits of a 90 minute feature.

      Peter Jackson raised the bar. Now The Silmarillion must be regarded as impossible to turn into a "movie".

      And who knows, maybe PJ himself will eventually do exactly that.

    29. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by CaptainAvatar · · Score: 2
      In the Real World, brand recognition and mass market appeal make for good movie scripts. Not intricate histories and complex mythologies.

      Sure, but Jackson and co have already created the brand recognition and mass market. There are a lot of people who loved the LOTR films who hadn't read the books, but would probably enjoy another foray into Middle Earth. The fact that the Silmarillion is virtually unreadable would not necessarily be an impediment to making a good film - there are some great stories in there, so the trick would be to take the book as a starting point, pick one or two of the stories and rewrite them into a coherent script, not try to film the whole thing.

      The Hobbit would be much easier to write, film and market, of course. But I'd love to see Anacalagon breaking mountains as he fell ...

      --
      The real Captain Avatar is a fictional character, so I suppose he doesn't mind if I impersonate him.
    30. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by CaptainAvatar · · Score: 1
      Who cares about the Tolkien fans? The LOTR films didn't become massive blockbusters by appealing only to hardcore Tolkien geeks. There's no reason why any Silmarillion film would have to do so - in fact, it wouldn't be financially viable if it did.

      And yes, I'm a Tolkien fan, and I've even read the Silmarillion.

      --
      The real Captain Avatar is a fictional character, so I suppose he doesn't mind if I impersonate him.
    31. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by dswensen · · Score: 1

      The LOTR films didn't become massive blockbusters by throwing everything about the books straight out the window, either. They stayed true to the essential story and spirit of the books, without stripping out tons of material, or just dealing with a small part of it.

      I think the point is the Silmarillion is orders of magnitude harder to adapt than LOTR.

    32. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by CaptainAvatar · · Score: 1
      There's no doubt that it would be much harder. But if remaining "true" to the spirit of the Silmarillion and satisfying the hardcore Tolkien fans means making some monster epic that's 30 hours long with dozens of major characters coming and going over a span of however many thousand years it is, trying to explain the creation of the universe and who all the Valar are and the destruction of Numenor and the difference between the Sindar and the Noldor and the creation of the Silmarils and the forging of the rings of power and Luthien and Beren and the rise and fall of Morgoth and the rise and fall of Sauron and the rise and fall of the Witchking of Angmar and what Earendil liked for breakfast, it will never be made, and if it were, it would never make a profit, because your average non-Tolkien geek filmgoer will not watch it. It has to be cut down to size (probably even a trilogy is too much - it was a reasonable bet for LOTR, but unlike LOTR the Silmarillion is not one of the world's best loved books, virtually nobody has read it). So you have two approaches. Strip the story back to the bare plot points, so that it is basically a documentary, with little character development. Or focus on one part, eg Beren and Luthien, and tell it well. There's no doubt in my mind that the second approach would be far more commercially viable and thus more likely to get made.

      It's a moot point, of course, because The Hobbit would be easier to adapt and film than any Silmarillion project, and even that's over the development horizon ...

      --
      The real Captain Avatar is a fictional character, so I suppose he doesn't mind if I impersonate him.
    33. Re:What about the Silmirilion? by dswensen · · Score: 1

      Well, you're right. But I, as a Tolkien fan, would rather see them just not adapt the Silmarillion rather than see them make something heavily cut, compromised, and bastardized. I have high hopes for the Hobbit, but for everyone's sake, I hope they leave the Silmarillion alone.

  20. Out of the way...... by darth_silliarse · · Score: 5, Funny

    1. I ,for one, welcome our new hobbit overlords.
    2. In Soviet Russia the hobbits own you.
    3a Make LOTR Trilogy
    3b Sue New Line Cinema
    3c Make Hobbit
    3d ?????
    3e Profit!
    4. Imagine a beowulf cluster of Hobbits!
    5. Hobbits? Do they run Linux?
    6. Hobbits are real, Netcraft confirms it.
    7. Didn't you RTFA??
    8. All your hobbits are belong to us.
    9. I have no hobbits, you insensitive clod!

    --
    I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born - Ronald Reagan
    1. Re:Out of the way...... by Hexydes · · Score: 1

      5. Hobbits? Do they run Linux?

      I don't know about Linux, but a Hobbit powered the original BeOS computers.

    2. Re:Out of the way...... by Bishop923 · · Score: 2, Funny

      You forgot:
      10. In Korea, only the old make Hobbit movies.

    3. Re:Out of the way...... by SydShamino · · Score: 1

      Isn't it:

      3a Make LOTR Trilogy
      3b Profit!
      3c Sue New Line Cinema
      3d Profit!
      3c Make Hobbit
      3e Profit!

      --
      It doesn't hurt to be nice.
    4. Re:Out of the way...... by ChairmanMeow · · Score: 1

      6. Hobbits are real, Netcraft confirms it.

      Shouldn't that be, "Netcraft confirms: Hobbits are dying"?

      --
    5. Re:Out of the way...... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...in Japan!

    6. Re:Out of the way...... by Scott7477 · · Score: 1

      You forgot:

      These are not the hobbits you are looking for...

      --
      "Lack of technical competence coupled with the arrogance of power, as usual, leads to no good end."
    7. Re:Out of the way...... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      9. I am a hobbit, you insensitive clod!

    8. Re:Out of the way...... by ChuckleBug · · Score: 1

      10a Bilbo just poured hot grits down his pants!

    9. Re:Out of the way...... by goofyheadedpunk · · Score: 1

      On the off chance that we /. that site your forgot:

      10. Was their server running on a hobbit?

      God I hate that joke.

      --

      What if the entire Universe were a chrooted environment with everything symlinked from the host?
  21. Good for them by roman_mir · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If I was distributing movies I wouldn't want anyone to get their little dirty hands on the copies and distribute the copies without my permission.

    Technically speaking it is possible to achieve this, it is possible to require ID from everyone going to see the movie, and keep that info in the database. The movie itself could have embedded watermarks of somesort, so that it would be possible to correlate the illegal copy to a specific screening, and by using cross linking with other copyright infringement incidents it could be possible to narrow down the list of suspects to just a few. Then bring out the lawyers and just destroy the mofos who film movies in the theaters and distribute them.

    Securing the DVDs sent to the Oscars judges (or whoever) is even easier, I cannot believe how many good quality copies are available.

    Anyhow, it should be possible to reduce the incidents of such nature by annihilating a few of these 'pirates'.

    1. Re:Good for them by Ryeng · · Score: 1

      Technically speaking it is possible to achieve this, it is possible to require ID from everyone going to see the movie, and keep that info in the database. The movie itself could have embedded watermarks of somesort, so that it would be possible to correlate the illegal copy to a specific screening, and by using cross linking with other copyright infringement incidents it could be possible to narrow down the list of suspects to just a few. Then bring out the lawyers and just destroy the mofos who film movies in the theaters and distribute them.

      Technically you could monitor all citizens at all times, creating databases and profiles to decide who was a potential criminal. I imagine such a project could decrease crime and increase the chance of capturing a criminal. However, there are laws in place to prevent this sort of program. Although the effectiveness of these laws have been greatly debated.

      That being said; I am a great supporter of the line of thought that people shouldn't be forced to obey the law; they should choose to obey the law. Of course when a person doesn?t choose to follow the law they should be punished. But databases and monitoring of citizen dehumanize us and breaks the presumption that we are all innocent until proven guilty.

    2. Re:Good for them by roman_mir · · Score: 1

      One way or another there will be mechanisms put in place that monitor behaviour of people who, let's say, are watching a flick in a theater, to make sure they are not recording the movie.

      Databases with information on who bought the tickets are already available if the tickets were bought by using a credit card or a bank card. Of-course this is not very precise, your kid could use your credit card to buy the tickets. This is why requiring Id and logging it in a db would be beneficial: you wouldn't get in trouble if someone uses your plastic. Of-course this is still open to identity theft.

      So, installing equipment in the movie theaters that will monitor recorders maybe a simpler choice.

    3. Re:Good for them by Refrag · · Score: 1

      It's a silly little movie. The security is blown way out of proportion. Besides, it is not going to work.

      --
      I have a website. It's about Macs.
  22. you're right.. by jasonhamilton · · Score: 1

    I look forward to king kong about as much as I look forward to watching another romantic comedy (translation: girly flick with idiotic lines that aren't funny)

    --
    SearchIRC - Now with live chat directory!
  23. Does this remind anyone else of by mschaffer · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Oliver Stone's JFK and Nixon movies?

    Oliver Stone had so much conspiracy crap in the JFK movie that he needed to corroborate it with another movie a few years later with more of the same conspiracy crap.

    I feel Jackson's bludgeoning of the LOTR series needs to be followed by an equally twisted version of the Hobbit stories to corroborate his misdeeds with the LOTR.

    Mabye it's just me....

    1. Re:Does this remind anyone else of by rob_squared · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I have never before seen such accuracy between a book and it's movie. And you're saying that he bludgeoned it?!

      --
      I don't get it.
    2. Re:Does this remind anyone else of by fr2asbury · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I can think of another example, that was at least or more accurately transferred from book to film. The first two Harry Potter movies, which left stuff out to be sure but fairly accurately portrayed everything that got put in. The LOTR movies made some serious derivations but on the whole were much more accurate than most movie to film adaptations. Just ask Stephen King! ;-)

  24. Art meets life... by SpaceTaxi · · Score: 1

    Anyone else find it ironic that part of plot of the Hobbitt includes multiple party "parleys" on the division of treasure? Too bad we can't send over a Goblin horde to speed up the negotiations!

    1. Re:Art meets life... by zpok · · Score: 1

      And if they're not careful, the sun will come up ...

      --
      I think, therefore I am...I think.
    2. Re:Art meets life... by Razzberry28 · · Score: 1
      Anyone else find it ironic that part of plot of the Hobbitt includes multiple party "parleys" on the division of treasure?

      /random 100

      Problem solved.

  25. Fay Wray by Skiron · · Score: 1, Funny

    The obligatory scream:

    AaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhoooOOOOOO ooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

  26. Armed guards, night vision goggles... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...and every banana on Skull Island to be RFID enabled. Jackson will tolerate no monkey business this time unless he is getting a piece of the gross.

  27. Re:The books by JamesTRexx · · Score: 1

    Well dùh! Why else do you think it'll be at least four more years...

    :-P

    --
    home
  28. Hopefully done in an appropriate style by quantax · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While this is not un-expected, I really do hope that Jackson adopts a style that suits The Hobbit as the atmosphere in 'Lord of the Ringss' is much more serious than that in The Hobbit. What is enjoyable about The Hobbit as a book is that it has a much more fairy tale, easy-going quality than the epic that is LOTR; it is well suited for children, (for whom Tolkien originally wrote for anyway, his own children specifically). It's only at the end of The Hobbit that you really begin to see the type of writing that is present in LOTR, and the final battle of The Hobbit is the most action-filled scene in the book. I just hope Jackson does not merely use the same exact atmosphere from LOTR 'because it works', and instead considers that The Hobbit is not merely a prelude to LOTR, but its own seperate story & unique tone.

    --
    "What can a thoughtful man hope for mankind on Earth, given the experience of the past million years? Nothing." -Bokonon
    1. Re:Hopefully done in an appropriate style by Pop69 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      He'll probably cut out the last few chapters and skip the last battle.

      Worked for Lord of the Rings so why the hell not ?

    2. Re:Hopefully done in an appropriate style by j1m+5n0w · · Score: 4, Interesting
      I really do hope that Jackson adopts a style that suits The Hobbit as the atmosphere in 'Lord of the Ringss' is much more serious than that in The Hobbit.
      To some degree I agree with you, the Hobbit was not as serious a book as the LOTR, and had less serious themes, so it need not be as serious in tone as the LOTR. However, I don't think it need have as light a tone as the book, either. Remeber that within the tale, the Hobbit was written by Bilbo (in the 3rd person, but not an omniscient 3rd person), who wrote in a lighter tone than Frodo, who wrote most of the LOTR. The actual events were not necessarily as light in tone as Bilbo would have recorded them. The unreliability of Bilbo as a narrator can be seen to some extent in "The Quest for Erebor" from unfinished tales:
      But you know how things went, at any rate as Bilbo saw them. The story would sound rather different, if I (gandalf) had written it. For one thing he ded not realize at all how fatuous the dwarves thought him, nor how angry they were with me. Thorin was much more indignant and contemptuous than he perceived. He was indeed contemptuous from the beginning, and thought then that I had planned the whole affair simply so as to make a mock of him. It was only the map and the key that saved the situation.

      Also, later in life, Tolkien did not entirely approve of the way in which he had written the Hobbit:

      When I published The Hobbit - hurriedly and without due consideration - I was still influenced by the convention that 'fairy-stories' are naturally directed to children (with or without the silly added waggery 'from seven to seventy'). And I had children of my own. But the desire to address children, as such, had nothing to do with the story as such in itself or the urge to write it. But it had some unfortunate effects on the mode of expression and narrative method, which if I had not been rushed, I should have corrected. Intelligent children of good taste (of which there seem quite a number) have always, I am glad to say, singled out the points in manner where the address is to children as blemishes. (draft of a letter to Walter Allen, April 1959, from _The_Letters_of_JRR_Tolkien)
      I think it would be possible to make the movie in a more serious tone than the book without ruining the atmosphere or the story. I would be more concerned with any modifications that change the nature of Tolkien's characters (like they did to Faramir) or incompatibilities introduced between the events that occurred in the book and the events that occurred in the movie. Being given two irreconcilable accounts of a particular story is a quick way to destroy the imagined world a story tries so hard to create.

      They do have an opportunity to introduce additional scenes, for instance from "the quest for Erebor" from Unfinished_Tales, or a brief encounter with a young Aragorn (if he was alive and in Rivendell at the time, I haven't checked) without doing any harm to the tale.

    3. Re:Hopefully done in an appropriate style by zantispam · · Score: 1

      I think it will be. Watching all the extended (extended) crap on the extended (extended, extended) DVDs has given me the impression that he's big on telling a story that, if not completely faithful to the book, at least manages to capture the style, the tone, and the feel of the book.

      Also, Aragorn was alive, but not in Imaldris at the time.

      --

      censorship is a form of noise, which actively seeks to drown out content with silence - Crash Culligan
    4. Re:Hopefully done in an appropriate style by Dorm41Baggins · · Score: 1

      Judging from his handling of the trilogy, I think Jackson is both capable and likely to handle The Hobbit appropriately. The Two Towers and The Return of the King were much darker movies than The Fellowship of the Ring. I see no reason why Jackson would not reverse the process and make The Hobbit lighter than the The Fellowship.

    5. Re:Hopefully done in an appropriate style by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dark dwarf jokes? Dark elf surfing? Dark I don't fucking care about the books, but will line my pocketses with gold while pretending to do?

    6. Re:Hopefully done in an appropriate style by corblix · · Score: 1
      Also, Aragorn was alive, but not in Imaldris at the time.

      Well, given Jackson's slavish adherence to every last detail of the books, he wouldn't dare put Aragorn in the Hobbit movie, would he?

    7. Re:Hopefully done in an appropriate style by j1m+5n0w · · Score: 1
      I looked it up in the timeline in the appendix B to the LOTR:
      • 2931 Aragorn born (a year after Denethor)
      • 2933 Arathorn II slain, Aragorn taken to Imladris
      • 2941-2942 Bilbo's adventure (the Hobbit)
      • 2951 Elrond tells Aragorn who he is, Arwen meets Aragorn in the woods of Imladris, Aragorn goes out into the wild
      • 3018-3019 The Lord of the Rings
      From this, it looks to me like Aragorn was in Imladris (Rivendell), and was 10 years old when Bilbo came through. In appendix A, though, it says:
      But when Estel (Aragorn) was only twenty years of age, it chanced that he returned to Rivendell after great deeds in the company of the sons of Elrond...

      So he grew up in Rivendell, but left at some uspecified point to do great deeds and then returned. It seems unlikely that he would have left before the age of ten, so I will assume he was in Rivendell when Bilbo came through unless you can prove otherwise.

  29. The Hobbit will be a let-down by Anthony+Boyd · · Score: 1, Informative

    I'm basing my comment on one thing: the lawsuit. And I'm hoping I'm wrong. Here's my thinking: when you do something for the love of it, and you take an inordinate amount of time to do it -- money be damned -- you might just create something amazing (although the movie Dungeons & Dragons was a labor of love, and it was unwatchable); but when you get caught up in the movie receipts and the merchandising revenue (which seems to be what is going on with Jackson), you've effectively become George Lucas.

    I know that's overly harsh, and Jackson hasn't let me down yet. So I'm taking even my own comment with a grain of salt. But it's worrying, you know? It makes me want to pre-emptively lower my expectations, just so I won't get my ass kicked for a third time (the other two being Star Wars and the Matrix).

    1. Re:The Hobbit will be a let-down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They had a contract New Line dind't respect it he has every right to sue, and taking a look at the way New Line is spending the money earned in LOTR, (son of the mask) I hope PJ wins big :)

  30. Yes. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    At least he'll have a harder time screwing that up.

  31. Quote of the day by iminplaya · · Score: 0

    "But I think it's gonna be a lot of lawyers sitting in a room trying to thrash out a deal before it will ever happen."

    Business as usual, right?

    --
    What?
  32. You laugh by jfengel · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A friend of mine really did put off suicide until she knew how Star Wars turned out (we're talking about the original three movies.)

    Boy, did Jedi piss her off.

    1. Re:You laugh by genrader · · Score: 1

      why? Jedi had a wonderful ending...

    2. Re:You laugh by ckaminski · · Score: 3, Funny

      So she killed herself, then?

    3. Re:You laugh by zulux · · Score: 4, Funny

      A friend of mine really did put off suicide until she knew how Star Wars turned out

      You could say it gave her.. ... .. a new hope.

      --

      Moneyed corporations, non-working 'poor' and criminal prisoners are turning productive citizens into tax-slaves.

    4. Re:You laugh by jfengel · · Score: 1

      She's going to hurt you for that.

      It may take her years to track you down, but I assure you she'll stay alive for that. So, uh, thanks.

    5. Re:You laugh by zulux · · Score: 1

      It may take her years to track you down, but I assure you she'll stay alive for that. So, uh, thanks.


      Excellent!

      --

      Moneyed corporations, non-working 'poor' and criminal prisoners are turning productive citizens into tax-slaves.

  33. Re:Bantering by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope he visits you without wearing shoes, otherwise I'd be wondering how she knows ...

  34. I hate every ape I see... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...from chimpan'K' to chimpanzee.

    Let's just hope the remake of Kong does more for Jackson than the just-as-unnecessary remake of Apes did for Burton.

  35. Silmarillion is not movie material. The Hobbit is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Parent post may be flamebait, but there's a grain of truth in there.

    The Hobbit is a very accessible story that most of us read in school. (In my case, my grade 4 teacher read it with us). It's a straightforward adventure story, it has a "main character", good guys, bad guys, a dragon, and the Battle of the 5 Armies for the finale.

    The Silmarillion is much more abstract and challenging material to make a movie out of. How the hell would you write *that* script? It's inneresting stuff but hardly the stuff of a mainstream hollywood adventure movie. The only audience would be *core* Tolkien fans. It turns out that a large percentage of people who consider themselves fans of LotR, haven't read (and wouldn't WANT to read) Silmarillion.

  36. Countermeasures by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Before each show, strip search every single visitor... every spot should be checked! In case someone has managed to get a camera into the cinema, the snipers would quickly put a stop to the suspect.

  37. No, it is most certainly not. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The silmarillion isn't a dense tome of value-added goodness. It has multiple stories that are better than both the hobbit and LoTR. The silmarillion is the bible of middle earth, telling of its creation and its early stories. Perhaps you are thinking of "Unfinished Tales", which is a collection of unfinished stories pieced together after he died?

  38. RTFparent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    HIS wife. The gnome's wife. I'd be wondering if she DIDN'T know what his feet looked like.

  39. Hi. I'm Troy McClure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hi. I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from such ill-conceived Tolkien adaptations as "Hanna Barbara's Elf-a-Lympics" and "The Real Fellowship of the Ring Reality Show"

  40. For great security by CPgrower · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Motion Picture Association's New Zealand representative, Kevin Holland, said the industry took seriously the job of keeping movies secure from pirates.

    They hired an 800 lb. gorilla.

    1. Re:For great security by rob_squared · · Score: 1

      They hired Dennis Miller? Oh wait, that's 400lbs...

      --
      I don't get it.
  41. Re:The books by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now, this is the first time I'm posting AC, but can someone tell me why the hell the parent was modded "Flamebait" thrice?

    Regardless of whether you consider the movies to be terrible like I do or regard them as the best thing ever, you can't say they have any consistency with the books.

  42. Bad for them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Bad for them. They complain about not getting enough money, but here there is a product (a DVD of a movie) where there is a huge market, and they refuse to sell it: they don't even want the money. Let the pirates have free reign in situations where the studio is too lazy to release the DVD to the mass market themselves. It is not as if it results in lost revenues.

    1. Re:Bad for them by roman_mir · · Score: 1

      They are maximizing the profits. The movie doesn't go stale just because it's 6 month's old. First they will sell to everyone who goes to the theater, and it makes sense, these are the preferred customers. Then they will sell to everyone who wants a DVD, and that makes sense. Those who watched it in the theater and liked it will buy a DVD, and the others who heard about it and wanted to buy a DVD will simply have to wait a little. In this case illegal distribution can and should be stopped.

  43. Broken logic mister. by Scrameustache · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If the bootlegs appear at around the time of the first screening, many people will not go to the cinema.

    The people who stay at home to watch the free low-quality bootleg wouldn't have gone to see it at the theatre anyway.

    Personally, as uninterrested as I am in yet another remake of King Kong, if I wanted to see it at all it would be on a BIG screem, to enjoy the bigness.

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

    1. Re:Broken logic mister. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Depends. I'd say:

      watch bootleg
      |
      Is it good? > Yes > Watch again in cinema, with friends
      |
      No
      |
      Don't go to cinema, warn your friends

      You only need to worry about security and leaks if the film sucks. Think about why bad films get a synchronised worldwide launch nowadays and good ones often don't bother.

    2. Re:Broken logic mister. by BrokenSoldier · · Score: 1

      I watched " The Incredibles" before I went to the theater because the oldest of my three children is 5 and I wanted to makes sure the comments of " its not necessarily a kids movie" werent too on the mark. We ended up going two times, my wife, myself, and my three children. So, some people do watch before they watch, if you will. C

      --
      If it's not broken, let's fix it till it is.
  44. That's a flame, too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They don't have any consistency? Yes, you are perfectly correct. This is why Jackson got rid of the hobbits, and had 8 smurves instead. No ring, either: the movie was about taking a bracelet and dropping it in a pool.

    1. Re:That's a flame, too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Two things that got me completely freaked out was when the Galadhrim suddenly showed up at Helms Deep (note: they were hostile to the Rohirrim, anyone who entered Lothlorien never had a chance to come back); and when Minas Morgul was shown as glowing a sickly green colour. You need to be on pretty bad shrooms to give green lights to a city...

      I'm not talking about details, which disagree with the books a lot. The two above things are pretty major, though.

  45. Just keep me in the loop, ok? by AtariAmarok · · Score: 3, Funny
    "Before each show, strip search every single visitor"

    Just make sure to let me know about it when Halle Berry is going to the premiere.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  46. 40 years from now. by AtariAmarok · · Score: 2, Funny
    " mean, will there be a King Kong remake every 30-40 years? Is this a trend? Will this CGI King Kong fight the CGI Godzilla?"

    40 years from now, we will have moved beyond flimsy CGI similucra. By 2045, genetic engineeering will have advanced to the point where you will have an actor fully mutated into a full-sized King Kong fighting an actor fully mutated into Godzilla. Generic modification of actors is the next frontier of Hollywood SFX technology.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
    1. Re:40 years from now. by dionwr · · Score: 2, Funny

      Generic modification of actors is the next frontier of Hollywood SFX technology.

      Gee, would it be possible to modify Renee Zellweger to make her NOT SO GODD**MED IRRITATING? Or at least reduce the cheek pockets into which she always seems to have a winter's supply of nuts hidden?

      This has possibilities. We could insert talent into someone like Kevin Costner. Or a sense of humor into Sly Stallone. Or writing and story ability into George Lucas. Or add some height to Tom Cruise. Or Mel Gibson. Or Russell Crowe.

      Hell, you could use it on people in the background: give some taste to folks who would otherwise be producing "Police Academy VI," or a soul to any executive from Disney. Of course, you also have to recognize the limitations: it would not be possible, for example, to give some humility to Harvey Weinstein.

      --
      Make a man a fire, and he's warm for a day. Set him on fire, and he's warm for the rest of his life.
    2. Re:40 years from now. by 2old2rockNroll · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sort of like major league baseball?

    3. Re:40 years from now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WTF? Who was the crackhead that modded this offtopic?!?

      Give this man some Funny points!

      (I would do it myself, but I used all my mod points sensibly already.)

    4. Re:40 years from now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    5. Re:40 years from now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We could insert talent into someone like Kevin Costner.

      If by 'insert talent' you mean 'insert an umbrella up his backside and then open it' then I'm all for it!

  47. small mistake by Eternally+optimistic · · Score: 1

    A small misunderstanding, happens all the time; The Hobbit will be 4 years long.

    --
    What keeps me going is my inertia.
  48. Not me by AtariAmarok · · Score: 1
    "Yes. Heck, I've already spent much more than 2 hours of my life playing Donkey Kong..."

    Not me. I was so bad at Donkey Kong that those two hours would have cost me at least $15 in quarters.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  49. I disagree by jesterzog · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm not exactly an insider (apart from living in the same town as Peter Jackson), but I don't think that's so much the issue here. As far as I can tell, he wants what's fair and what he was contracted for. Even if you love your day-job, you should make sure that your employer isn't ripping you off. They are getting your work out of it, after all. Look how much Newline's benefiting from Jackson's work. I'd be annoyed if they weren't giving me my fair share that'd been previously arranged.

    What Peter Jackson loves a lot is making movies (and various other things like restoring WW1 fighter planes). He's built up an entire industry in NZ, based around his film-making and special effects companies, which personally I think do a very good job. If Newline's shortchanged him by several tens or hundreds of millions of dollars (I forget how much it is), it automatically hinders his ability to do everything else that he really loves doing, including his own investment in other films that he thinks are worth making.

    In any case, I don't think he's another George Lucas. The telling point for me is that Lucas has been irritating his fans in exchange for the money he can make from them. Jackson's simply fighting with his employer for what he thinks he's owed.

  50. Do you mean.... by AtariAmarok · · Score: 1

    Do you mean that "The Hobbit movie real soon! " stories are to Slashdot the way "The new age of the airship is upon us!" articles are to "Popular Science" magazine? I'm still waiting for those personal helicopters to land in my driveway.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  51. Don't stop it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    I'm talking about the period after which it has left the theatres.

    "and the others who heard about it and wanted to buy a DVD will simply have to wait a little"

    The company is not maximizing its profits if they have to "wait" for no reason at all. I have no problem at all with the pirates who come in during this period and give it away. If the studio wanted the money, they would be selling the DVD at this time.

    1. Re:Don't stop it by roman_mir · · Score: 1

      no 'pirates' have the right to steal the movies. Noone has the right to have the movie provided to them outside of the control of the distributors either. So if the pirates exist and get caught they should not be surprised if the punishment is severe.

    2. Re:Don't stop it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Having copyright is one thing. Using copyright to make only limited supplies of works easly available in unlimited supplies is another. It should NOT be their right to do so.

    3. Re:Don't stop it by roman_mir · · Score: 1

      That's a ridiculous point of view. Of course it is their right to do so. It should be the right of the author of the work to either make it public or leave it within the control mechanism of his/her own choosing. Like the movie distributors. The view that the author should not have the right to control usage/distribution channels of his/her own work is asinine.

    4. Re:Don't stop it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't see why your opinion is more walid than mine, so "ridiculous" won't cut it. Copyright should benefit both the author and the public. The view that the author should be able lock away a culturaly important work is asinine.

    5. Re:Don't stop it by roman_mir · · Score: 1

      Well, when the public pays for the production, advertising, distribution and other related costs of the movie, then you would have a half-valid point. Until then, the public's only role is to quitely accept what is given to them by the director.

      Besides, I am not sure that King-Kong is a culturaly important work :], plus even if it was, the copyright laws must still apply.

  52. Re:What about the Silmarillion? by menace3society · · Score: 2, Funny

    I heard it once remarked that the Silmarillion oughtn't be made into a feature film, but rather fake documentary-type thing. You know, stock footage of elven soldiers preparing for war, home movies of Beren and Luthien, and after-the-fact interviews with the few people who survived and stayed in Middle-Earth. I can see it now: Sauron: "Well, Morgoth (or Melkor, as he liked to be called) wasn't so much of a bad chap. Sure, he wreaked havoc across Middle-Earth and caused the Two Trees to wilt, but he wasn't *evil*... just misunderstood. He only wanted to be loved and respected. *sniff* He used to call me, 'kid.' 'Take care of yourself, kid' he'd say. I still miss him sometimes. *sniff*" Tom Bombadil: "Truth be, I missed the whole Dagor Bragollach bit. Heard it was quite the battle. I got meself these new yellow boots, though. I just wished they matched my jacket..."

  53. Here's Why. by simetra · · Score: 3, Insightful
    This is what happens. Geeky little bastard becomes "inspired" by a movie as a child, goes on to make it big, then has to remake the move that inspired him.

    Here's a partial list of movies that should NEVER, EVER, EVER be remade again, having been absolutely beaten into the ground:

    • King Kong
    • Dracula
    • Frankenstein
    • Tarzan
    • A Christmas Carol

    Please join me in ridiculing those who insist that these deserve yet another interpretation!!!

    Thanks
    --

    "Would it kill you to put down the toilet seat?" -- Maya Angelou
    1. Re:Here's Why. by sgant · · Score: 1

      King Kong? Um...it's been remade once...that's it. The second "remake" wasn't really a remake anyway as it was an updated story.

      At least Jackson is keeping it in the 1930's. And it looks pretty good so far.

      But I agree with your other choices. But King Kong hasn't been "beaten into the ground" at all.

      --

      "Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
    2. Re:Here's Why. by Look+KG486 · · Score: 1
      Agreed. I'm an aspiring screenwriter, and I'm often tempted to write a remade script for a television show, movie, or book. Why? It's easy, and don't discount the value of familiarity.

      Known quantities I've wanted to remake:

      • Miami Vice (GTA: Vice City prompted this, but it looks like Mann is going to do it himself)
      • Bullitt (along with everybody else, but this should stand on its own, it likely won't though)
      • Star Chamber (1983, starring Michael Douglas, so much relevance today, I may yet write an updated script)
      • Fandango (before Coster was big, a great coming of age flick, I'm writing an adaptation already =) )
      • Aguirre, Wrath of God (A celebration of Nietzsche, this should be remade in a modern setting (U.S. army in Iraq?), take it to the bank I'm writing an update to this!)
      Well, shit. I just talked myself into rewriting a few. Sorry. =O
      --

      "Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold." -- Joseph Chilton Pearce

    3. Re:Here's Why. by WankersRevenge · · Score: 1

      I agree with the above movies with the exception of Frankenstein. The Borlis Karloff Frankenstein is a true travesty. The Kenneth Brannaugh version was at least in the ball park, although the movie itself was truly horrible in the most epic way. I have yet to see the "pain" of this book translated on film. When I do see it, then I'd agree with you.

      If you haven't read Frankenstein, I highly suggest you do. It's such an insightful look at the selfishness of people and the pain bestowed on others because of it. Anyone who has ever felt on the "outside" will certainly relate to this book.

      On an aside, the reason we see so many "remakes" is because usually the source material is just so damn good. I say usually for the case of King Kong, but the others make for some wonderful reads. You open the book feeling the cliche, and when you finish it, you'll realize how off the mark those cliches really are.

    4. Re:Here's Why. by ElectricBrain · · Score: 1

      You forgot Godzilla.

    5. Re:Here's Why. by MonkeySpank · · Score: 1
      Let's add:
      • Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
    6. Re:Here's Why. by mink · · Score: 1

      For all the cheese of Van Helsing, I think I liked The Monster that was shown there, I think he was more of a character then the rest of them.

      --
      Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
  54. Silmirilion was meant to be published by j1m+5n0w · · Score: 1
    It's a collection of background notes that were never meant by their author to be published,
    Not true, Tolkien tried to get the Silmarillion published at the same time as the Lord of the Rings (though in a much different form than the version published by CJRT after Tolkien died), but it was rejected by the publisher.

    I do agree that it wouldn't make a good movie. (Certainly a single movie couldn't cover more than a small fraction of the content.) Personally, I think the book is a great work of literature, but it usually doesn't appeal to casual readers (too many names to remember).

    1. Re:Silmirilion was meant to be published by Scrameustache · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Personally, I think the book is a great work of literature, but it usually doesn't appeal to casual readers (too many names to remember).

      That is probably the biggest issue I had with it. After a couple of hundred pages I had no idea who I was reading about anymore.

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

  55. Duh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why the fuck would Slashdot run a story about NeroLinux? Who in their right mind would want an intuitive, user-friendly graphical interface driven CD/DVD burning solution? Only retarded people, that's who! Real nerds love command-line driven applications with arcane parameters and dozens of man pages filled with about 8 lines of useful information. I'm only half-kidding.

    1. Re:Duh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Eh?

  56. You know I saw the hobbit first time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When it was called LOTR

    I've also seen King Kong before when it was called King Kong

  57. Bring Sidney's LOTR exhibit to the US by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    I've already contacted Seattle Center in my home town, suggesting that they invite the Sidney/New Line/New Zealand LOTR exhibit there. Others might want contact the public arenas in their cities with a similar suggestion. If dozen or so cities worked together on this, the cost of bringing all the "stuff" across the ocean wouldn't be that great. And it could go from the US to Canada and Europe.

    Here's the link to the exhibit:

    http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/lotr/

    --Mike Perry, Seattle

    Author: Untangling Tolkien

  58. What is going to fill the gap? by [cx] · · Score: 1

    For the past years, as long as I can remember(not very long), I've been watching Lord of the Rings or Star Wars every year in the theatre, good god man what movies am I going to see now?

    1. Re:What is going to fill the gap? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh wow. So many:
      Comic book/cartoon adaptations:
      V for Vendetta, Aeon Flux, Sin City, Spider-man 3, X-Men 3, Fantastic Four (heheheh), Batman Begins, Superman, Ghost Rider.
      Stop Motion:
      Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, Wallace and Grommit.
      Book adaptation goodness:
      A Scanner Darkly, His Dark Materials, Chronicles of Narnia.
      Horror movies:
      George Romero's Land of the Dead. The remakes of Ring 2 and Amityville Horror and The Fog, Saw 2
      Animated:
      Robots, Ice Age 2.
      Weird Goodness:
      Neil Gaiman's Mirrormask, Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm.
      Other Geeky Fun:
      War of the Worlds, Underworld:Evolution, Star Wars 3, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (worth a look, since it is Tim Burton and Jonny Depp). Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Legend of Zorro...

      And so many more :) Something in there should tide you over, and that's just for mostly 2005, with a few 2006-2007 movies in. I have no doubt the next few years will hold quite a few more to enjoy :)

  59. Hobbits by uberdave · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hobbits n,pl: A short people who, upon seeing Natalie Portman pour hot grits down her pants, would think "What a waste of grits".

  60. Security already cracked! by payndz · · Score: 1
    The ending's been leaked onto the internet...

    ...a large ape falls off a tall building and dies.

    --
    You must think in Russian.
  61. Re:Just what we need....WTF!!! when?!?!? by mr_z_beeblebrox · · Score: 1

    We need it as much as another Police Academy movie.

    I didn't know this was coming out! When? Will Steve Guttenberg be in it? I am going to post this everywhere, it will be more anticipated than that "part III of trilogy I which was filmed after trilogy II" thing that Lucas did.

  62. Early review? by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Informative

    If the bootlegs appear at around the time of the first screening, many people will not go to the cinema.

    Why? Is it that bad?

    If it's any good word of mouth would drive more people to the actual theaters - I'm not sure how you know it's going to be bad.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Early review? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You seem to misunderstand.

      The film may, or may not be good. It won't matter.
      Irrespective of quality, there will be a large vocal contingent of people saying it sucks - even if they haven't seen it. If they manage to get their hands on some crappy quality video cam version, this will only give them ammunition as they do everything possible to spoil, ruin and trash the film far and wide.

      It is sad, but some people get a kick out of that.

      Look at recent movies - Hulk: Quite a good film if you ignore the rabid comic book fans who threatened to boycott it time and again. The Matrix Sequels: Well-liked outside of America, and not anywhere near as bad as popular opinion makes out.

      Hell, even Gigli: If it was such a flop, why does everyone seem convinced it was crap? The vast majority of people haven't even seen the trailer let alone the movie!

    2. Re:Early review? by tylernt · · Score: 1

      "Hulk: Quite a good film if you ignore the rabid comic book fans"

      What are you smoking?! I thought 'Hulk' was one of the worst movies evar, and I don't even read comic books.

      --
      DRM 'manages access' in the same way that a prison 'manages freedom'
    3. Re:Early review? by elgatozorbas · · Score: 1
      If the bootlegs appear at around the time of the first screening, many people will not go to the cinema.

      Why? Is it that bad?

      Maybe my wording was a bit sloppy: I wanted to say that more people will get the original product (=movie in theatre) when no alternative (=bootleg) exists. No opinion on the movie quality was intended, although I really like the 1933 version (even have an 8mm copy) and feel no need for a remake.

      And to answer another comment (on my original post): yes, these bootlegs are stopping theatre visits. Some people (like me) sometimes just want to know what the fuss is about. When you can see the movie, be it under suboptimal conditions, this lowers the chance you pay another $10 to see it in a theatre, even though the quality is lower.

      Also bear mind that the European (where I am) release usually lags some time. For example, the Matrix 2 circulated in divx BEFORE the release in the theatre. Many fans are anticipating it, and they are not going to wait to see it in a movie theatre. Once they saw the divx version, many of them will NOT see it again in a theatre (especially in this case).

  63. Re:What about the Silmarillion? by jasonmicron · · Score: 1

    I heard it once remarked that the Silmarillion oughtn't be made into a feature film, but rather fake documentary-type thing.

    That would make more sense to me. Disney has already raped the "short-story into 90 minute debacle" idea with Grimm's Stories.

    Or maybe put the Silmarillion on the "Extended DVD" cut of The Hobbit as a documentary?

  64. Better make it soon! by Spudley · · Score: 1

    As long as they make it before Ian McKellen dies, otherwise they could have a problem - Gandalf has an even bigger part in The Hobbit than he did in LOTR.

    (not that I'm suggesting he's about to keel over... but he is getting on a bit - and look what happened to Dumbledore)

    --
    (Spudley Strikes Again!)
    1. Re:Better make it soon! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't worry. If the original Gandalf guy dies, they can always get Magneto to fill in. That actor could do a pretty good job if he puts on an English accent, I reckon.

    2. Re:Better make it soon! by arkhan_jg · · Score: 2, Informative

      Dumbledore was played by Richard Harris, who was born in 1930, and died in 2002, making him 72 when he died of hodgkins disease.

      Ian McKellen is 66 in May this year, which is quite a bit older than I thought. Still, here's hoping he's got plenty of time to make more films!

      --
      Remember kids, it's all fun and games until someone commits wholesale galactic genocide.
    3. Re:Better make it soon! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, he's still spry enough to chase 20-something year old rentboys, so I think he'll have enough energy for another film :)

    4. Re:Better make it soon! by skingers6894 · · Score: 1

      Quick sign him up now - with a "no dying" clause.

  65. Will the ghost of LOTR ruin this movie for me? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It's excellent that Jackson is going to revisit the LOTR et al. universe it really is ... but, can anyone else see themselves four years from now sitting in the theatre, watching the treasure and the dragon and the midget but somewhere in the mist of his mind, hearing the epic music of LOTR and seeing the armies of man defending Minas Tirith and watching the Final Battle, etc....

    It's bound to be a good movie ... but lol its going to be hard to sit in the theatre and watch Bilbo climb a hill and think ... an army of 100,000 men ... the White City ... Gandalf the White

    Ah, I need something of epic scale again.

  66. Piracy by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 1
    Piracy is estimated to cost the movie industry US$3 billion ($4 billion) a year.

    And how much of that is from people who see a poor quality pirate copy, and realize that the movie is even worse than the pirates copy is, and certainly isn't worth the price of admission to see it in a good theater, or the price of a good DVD with all its extras? A lot, I'm guessing.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
    1. Re:Piracy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Watching a poor quality pirate copy is liking seeing a movie with two fat a-holes sitting in front of you chatting on their cellphones the entire time.

      There is no way you will enjoy it, and you'll come away thinking the movie is bad, when it was really only the viewing circumstances that were.

      Poor quality sound and video have a way of ruining what is good about a film, since they destroy any atmosphere you might otherwise get.

      But if morons want to judge based on poor quality crap, then they are welcome. It must suck to go through life not getting the best experience out of things because they must rush to ruin for themselves, but if they are that cheap/poor/unconcerned with enjoyment... let 'em suffer :)

  67. Hobbit Movie in Four Years? by kenchie · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Personally I'd rather see Terry Gilliam make it - that would make for a far more interesting film!

    1. Re:Hobbit Movie in Four Years? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, sure.

      We'd have filming for three years and an abandoned project... But at least 5 years later we'd get a kickass documentary out of it :)

    2. Re:Hobbit Movie in Four Years? by 1u3hr · · Score: 1
      Jackson actually said that it's at least three years away. Somehow this gets translated into "Hobbit Movie in Four Years". Same fanboy wishful thinking as the "New Indiana Jones Movie Going Ahead" story we get every few months when Spielberg or Harrison Ford say something like "Sure we're doing it". There are a million movies in development at any time, and every middling-big movie immediately has sequels planned. Most of these never get further than a press release.

      I actually believe that there's a good chance Jackson will make The Hobbit, sometime, but nothing has happened recently to make it any more definite.

      I suppose it's about time someone finds the Rendezvous With Rama website again and submits another story how that's coming Real Soon Now.

    3. Re:Hobbit Movie in Four Years? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gilliam will be lucky if they let him direct traffic.

      Tragic, but true.

  68. Hate to break this to you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Remeber that within the tale, the Hobbit was written by Bilbo (in the 3rd person, but not an omniscient 3rd person), who wrote in a lighter tone than Frodo, who wrote most of the LOTR.

    I hate to break this to you, but Bilbo and Frodo are in fact *shock* non-existant fictional characters. Hard as it is to believe, LOTR and The Hobbit were written by this guy named Tolkien. Now go cry into your pillow if you need to.

  69. Re:The books by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does "duh" really have an accent over it? Either way, I applaud you.

  70. You're looking at it the wrong way by CHESTER+COPPERPOT · · Score: 1

    "The Silmarillion is not a good movie story."

    I think this could work if it were like a documentary and not a movie. I think it could be a new trend for the movie industry if it were created. Documentary's filled with actors to create the background story of the world.

    Of course the money is directed at the slack-jawed masses not the foaming fan boys so why would the movie industry care about setting up a background story?

  71. But your movies fail to make your point by SuperKendall · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The problem with your examples is that in every case, they were examples of people decrying the fundamental content of the movie.

    The only possible difference negative feedback from sketchy pre-release copies had would come the first hours of opening day, after that it's all word of mouth about the movies qualities as they stand.

    But fundamentially I've never seen a case where people hated a poor quality screen because of movie content, and then decided after seeing the movie in a theater that it was in fact good. Those Hulk complaints came along well before even a sketchy version was around to critique, and the comments would have been there regardless of being downloaded on the internet or not.

    Basically people can see these low-quality theater rips and decide if the movie itself is good or bad based on content, and the word will get out. That word is going to get out anyway, so why not earlier rather than alter? In the end it makes little difference.

    I do agre with you about the Matrix movies, I liked all three just fine thanks.

    I don't know why you would defend Gigli in any way though, when even the actors admit it was drek. Yes I saw the trailer.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:But your movies fail to make your point by Fred_A · · Score: 1

      Not to mention all those morons giving away the plot.

      Oh, and kong dies at the end.

      That was a spoiler btw.

      --

      May contain traces of nut.
      Made from the freshest electrons.
    2. Re:But your movies fail to make your point by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Gigli comment was just thrown in because it is the supreme example of groupthink.

      I haven't seen it - I don't know if it is crap or not. But everyone seems to profess it is crap at the top of their lungs, as if their life depended on it...Even though most of the ones criticising it have never seen it, or seen the trailer, or even know the plotline.

      Don't you think it's the slightest bit sad that people are so willing to accept another person's viewpoint as their own without examining it critically?

      Sheeple. That's the problem with the world today :)

  72. Serkis by cgenman · · Score: 1

    To be fair, Andy Serkis is slated to play Kong, meaning the big monster will probably be pulled off with a lot of skill and personality. If anyone can do it right, he can.

    The other actors associated with the project, Jack Black (Tenatious D, and an underrated performance in The Jackal), Naomi Watts (The Ring, I Heart Huckabees), etc, are all totally underrated gems... The kinds of actors that you think would be able to come together in support of eachother and make something great.

    King Kong deserves a good remake. The original story was essentially a quintessential animal human trapped and ostracised in a modern environment. But unlike certain other films which have been remade recently (Dawn of the Dead anyone?) that stop motion ape is falling apart. Having a real actor in a real modern remake that paid close attention to what made the original story so touching could be worth seeing. You and I may think the original 10 fps lump of clay and hair is cute, but the story can be told far, far better these days.

    1. Re:Serkis by Scrameustache · · Score: 1

      The other actors associated with the project, Jack Black

      Jack Black is innit? Oh man, that's bad.

      Anyway, it's not like I'm saying there is no way this will be good, I mean, that Jackson fellow has a great team around him, and they've proven that they can make a movie that includes giant monsters that kick all kinds of ass, but...
      It seems like a pet project that Jackson only gets to do because he's gotten SUCH a lot of success with his last project that he's now unstopable. And I'm a tiny bit worried that it's a situation akin to the "Lucas and Jar Jar" fiasco... where there is no one to tell him he's wrong about it. You know?

      We'll see... I'm just completely devoid of excitement at this time. It's not the same as being filled with dread : )

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

  73. A third King Kong? by beforewisdom · · Score: 1

    It will be interesting to see what Jackson does with King Kong. The 1976 with Jessica Lange that had the much more high powered special effects didn't do that much for the movie. For me, part of the fun of the 1933 version was the otherworldy effect from the goofy, long extinct effects techniques from the 30's.

    1. Re:A third King Kong? by 1u3hr · · Score: 1

      Long-extinct? Stop motion is alive and well. Heard of Aardman Animations? (Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, etc).

    2. Re:A third King Kong? by beforewisdom · · Score: 1

      Modern pictures, with modern special effects techniques do not have the same look as the 33 Kong. Modern pictures no longer do something(s) that pictures from the 30s do so they don't have that same interesting look that made the original KK interesting........and a classic

  74. Ugh! I'll sit this one out. by bruce_the_moose · · Score: 0, Troll

    Fuck Peter Jackson and his abuse of the Tolkien stories. I hate hate hate hate the his movie version of LOTR. Great visuals, but apparently Tolkien's story wan't good enuf for him. Had to write his own version now, didn't he? If he never makes the Hobbit, I would rate that as a good thing. Thank you, I feel much better now.

    --
    To reduce crime, make fewer things against the law.
    1. Re:Ugh! I'll sit this one out. by iamzack · · Score: 1

      PJ didn't single-handedly write the scripts for LOTR. There were one or two other people. You have to think about why the scripts were done as they were: running time and PROFIT. Most people would rather see Liv Tyler than some dirty troll or hobbit. Not to say it does justice to the book, but the movies wouldn't be as big as they were.

      As for the Hobbit, it seems almost impossible that they can screw it up. It's 100% adventure with no love story and very little subplot. It's just a bunch of dwarves and a hobbit doing cool shit.

    2. Re:Ugh! I'll sit this one out. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now, now Mr. Lucas... lets get you back to the ranch where there are people paid good money to give a shit what you think.

  75. They should have made The Hobbit first... by iamzack · · Score: 1

    Peter Jackson's LOTR was pretty dull as far as I'm concerned. Should have had a nutcase like Tim Burton do them. Although if you've ever seen Dead Alive, you'd probably think Peter Jackson was a nutcase.

  76. maintaining plausibility within a fictional world by j1m+5n0w · · Score: 1
    I hate to break this to you, but Bilbo and Frodo are in fact *shock* non-existant fictional characters.
    Note that I said:
    within the tale, the Hobbit was written by Bilbo...

    Of course it was written by Tolkien, but good fiction should be at least plausible to whatever extent is possible. One way to achieve this is to include some sort of explaination of how the story came to be written down within the fictional world, and hence (fictitiously) came to be in our own primary world.

    Within the text of the Lord of the Rings, Bilbo's book "there and back again" (the Hobbit) is mentioned, as well as the written form of the Lord of the Rings, written in large part by Frodo.

    I think Gandalf's narrative (which was intended to be part of the LOTR, but was removed to shorten its length) which I quoted before was a clever way for Tolkien to explain the difference in tone between the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings (and, in a way, to appologise to his readers for those aspects of the Hobbit that he would rather have written differently) without stepping out of the world in which it was written. Of course the Hobbit is a rather silly book, it was written by a rather silly Hobbit, who wrote things as he saw them based on his own limited understanding of the world.

  77. If I hear even a peep of: by Chas · · Score: 1

    Turin Turambaranta, I'm fucking GONE!

    --


    Chas - The one, the only.
    THANK GOD!!!
  78. LOL WHAT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Planet of the Apes. Whyyyyy....?

    1. Re:LOL WHAT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get your stinkin paws off my movie you damn dirty ape!

  79. LOL WHAT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or the story of Túrin Turambar.

  80. But the bootleg it not an alternative to 99.999% by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Maybe my wording was a bit sloppy: I wanted to say that more people will get the original product (=movie in theatre) when no alternative (=bootleg) exists. No opinion on the movie quality was intended, although I really like the 1933 version (even have an 8mm copy) and feel no need for a remake.

    This though is my point - I really feel that in all measureable aspects, the bootleg and the movie are different things and one is not really an alternative that matters, in any measureable sense to the popualtion at large. So, any good movie will in fact see a boost in sales from bootlegs due to word of mouth alone. I think that's going to be true for a long, long time - until an appreciable amount of the world popualtion has the bandwidth to get movies, the ability to find them in the first place, and a way to display them with a quality even coming close to theater or DVD system. Who knows, perhaps shaky HD camcorders in theaters will offer a far superior bootleg. And I'm not even sure a measurable percentage of the population will even ever want to bother trying.

    Yes the terrible movies have something to fear from bootlegs. But they already do anyway, as a bad movie can start an SMS storm in the first hour that will pretty much kill it dead anyway - it's the ability for other people to tell people what is going on so quickly that is spreading early doom for movies, not so much the bootleg preview copies. So again, I would say theere is little measureable effect from a screener leaking out for even a bad movie - because people will find out and they will tell other people very quickly.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  81. Re:The books by JamesTRexx · · Score: 1

    It's to emphasize the lower "uh" sound in the word. I'm not sure if it's used commonplace, maybe because it's to much of a hassle to some to type ù instead of plain u. For more info I direct you to my new book "Typing and the art of messaging" available on Amazon for 49.95 or ten easy payments of 13.95.

    *takes a bow and leaves the stage*

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