The Hobbit??? aka In a highly controversial move...

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Hmmmm? I don't know if I like the idea or not. It really depends on what they do. Maybe we'll get some of Thorongil's story. That could be kewl.

But thanks for the heads up, TORN. You seem to be our resident Hobbit movie info finder.

[Primula Baggins]

I'm excited about the idea of a "bridge" film not directly based on any book, just because I wouldn't have the investment in it and could simply enjoy the story, assuming it was told well. There's a lot he could put into such a film.

[yovargas]

Even for an unabashed super-revisionist like myself, that's kinda scary...

[Primula Baggins]

Really?

I guess I just don't have that much emotional investment in The Hobbit. I don't want to see it maimed, but if it comes off as well as the LotR films did, I will be very happy. And the "footnote" material for the second film seems like a pure bonus to me, again if it's done as well as LotR.

I'm aware that many people's mileage really, really, really varies.

[yovargas]

Oh, I'm really excited about The Hobbit. Really! It's the idea of him more or less creating an entire LOTR plot from what amounts to rough outlines that strikes me as...risky.

[axordil]

yovargas--

Yeah, it gives me pause too. There's SO much potential in the sketchy bits, but potential for really big mistakes as well.

[Primula Baggins]

I can't argue with that point. However, I still intend to be hopeful.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

The LOTR appendices (which would have to provide the bulk of the material for the second film, I would think), are so episodic, I really have a hard time imagining a coherent film being crafted from them. I can picture great bits and pieces, like the story of Helm Hammerhand, or Averdui last-king, or the battle at the gates of Moria between the Orcs and the Dwarves, or the kin-strife in Gondor, but how to tie them all together?

[WampusCat]

Two movies?

[TORN]

Seems like Variety has updated its article and has extensively revised the information provided about the Hobbit, to wit:

As for "The Hobbit," Sloan confirmed MGM was in talks with Peter Jackson to make two movies based on J.R.R. Tolkein's "prequel" to "The Lord of the Rings."

However, making the film is contingent on negotiations with New Line, which owns the right to produce "The Hobbit" (MGM owns only the right to distribute the films). And people close to Jackson say that until his ongoing lawsuit with New Line -- over monies he says are owed him from the "Lord of the Rings" franchise -- is settled, a serious conversation over "The Hobbit" cannot proceed.

Even so, Sloan remains optimistic. He said the first "Hobbit" pic would be a direct adaptation of "The Hobbit," and the second would be drawn from footnotes and source material connecting "The Hobbit" with "The Lord of the Rings."

Here it is: http://www.variety.com/article/VR111795 ... id=13&cs=1

[Primula Baggins]

So we're back to more or less what we already knew, other than the tidbit about how two films would be divided up.

New Line would be idiots not to settle this and get back to making money off PJ. But I have nightmares of hearing they've agreed to go ahead without him—with, say, Chris Columbus directing. . . .

[superwizard]

New Line would be idiots not to settle this and get back to making money off PJ. But I have nightmares of hearing they've agreed to go ahead without him—with, say, Chris Columbus directing. . . .

I quite agree Prim.

[TORN]

To steal a bit of the Howard Shore interview (this portion relating to the Hobbit) that Alatar posted in the TTT Complete Recordings . . .

CC: Now that you say that, there has been quite a bit of talk about THE HOBBIT being made into one or two movies...possibly by Peter Jackson. If that happens, do you see that as another opportunity to dive back into that world and detail?

HS: Yes. Definitely. Peter and I both want to make the movie. We've talked about it. We really want to do it, so we're hoping it all works out. I would love to return to Middle Earth and write more music for that world.

CC: In the back of your mind, have already begun that process?

HS: Yes.

CC: Sort of difficult not to, I'd think!

HR. Yes.

[Pearly Di]

He said the first "Hobbit" pic would be a direct adaptation of "The Hobbit,"

Yay!

and the second would be drawn from footnotes and source material connecting "The Hobbit" with "The Lord of the Rings."

Golly.

Well, that could be kinda ... cool. A bit like a Fanfic Movie.

Any rate, I remain 100% convinced that a straight adaptation of The Hobbit should be made as ONE movie only.

[Aravar]

Any rate, I remain 100% convinced that a straight adaptation of The Hobbit should be made as ONE movie only.

The purist in me would prefer two, provided they stuck as far as possible to the book itself and didn't use it as an excuse to bring in Aragorn material, or indeed too much about the attack on Dol Guldur. They might well have rights difficulties with the latter anyway.

P&P a bok of similar length to The Hobbit, albeit more dialogue driven, was far better over five hours by the BBC than the two of the various film versions.

[Pearly Di]

P&P a bok of similar length to The Hobbit, albeit more dialogue driven, was far better over five hours by the BBC than the two of the various film versions.

I dunno, Aravar.

Take 'Cold Mountain', which is a book about as long as 'The Hobbit' and arguably just as complex in terms of plot density and incident. That worked just fine as a two-and-a-half hour movie, in terms of narrative. The film had other problems - I disliked the casting of Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellwegger as Ada and Ruby - but I thought Anthony Minghella did a decent job of actually adapting the story for the screen.

The superiority of the BBC P&P over the 2005 film is, of course, beyond dispute.

So you may be right.

[MithLuin]

I really don't see why it would take more than 2 hours to tell the story of the Hobbit. Maybe 2.5, if we're talking about PJ-esque battle sequences.

But seriously....all we have to do is:

• 1) Unexpected Party
  2) Journey to Rivendell (Trolls)
  3) Rivendell - let me read your map and your swords
  4) The Misty Mountains - Goblin Attack
  5) Lost in the Mountains - Gollum and Riddles
  6) Warg Attack - 15 birds in 5 fir trees
  7) Eagle Eyrie
  8 ) Beorn's House
  9) Journey through Mirkwood - don't leave the path
  10) You left the path! Attack by spiders
  11) In the Halls of the Elven King
  12) Escape by Barrels
  13) Laketown - set up for later
  14) The Lonely Mountain - using the key
  15) Smaug (More Riddles)
  16) Destruction of Laketown and Death of Smaug
  17) The Dwarves explore the mountain (Arkenstone)
  18 ) The armies debate, and Bilbo plays traitor
  19) The Battle of the Five Armies
  20) Death of Thorin
  21) The Journey Home

None of those things requires more than 6 min., and some require less. I would give the intro (#1) more time (10 min), just because we have a lot of people to introduce. And I do realize that, if PJ is directing, #19 will take 20 min . But that is still just 2 1/2 hours....

The Rankin/Bass cartoon cuts Beorn and the Arkenstone, but covers most everything else. And it is just a normal length movie.

[Pearly Di]

I really don't see why it would take more than 2 hours to tell the story of the Hobbit.

Mith, you are the girl.



And I love the six-minute rule.

[yovargas]

A lot of that stuff could easily take way more then 6 minutes.

[eborr]

You could easily have two films

1 Hob
2 Bit

Like some others I don;t care so much about the Hobbit, neither did I care much about Kong - I bought the Kong DVD - and have not been able to watch it all the way through.

My memories of the hobbit book are by and large it's a story with much restraint - sure the battle of the 5 armies is EPic, but I don't remember two many other epic moments.

Cannot see how he will get a work-around to the complete lack of female characters - Hollywood won't stand for that- So what will it be - a female Bilbo, or will we have some fiesty shoulder pad waring female dwarfs, oh the speculation.

However doubltess for the next few years I shall be scouring the message boards looking for every rumour that I can find