There and Back Again [Official Hobbit Movie Discussion Thread]

[Elemental_Elf]

An Unexpected Journey and There & Back Again

The titles of the two Hobbit movies were just announced yesterday:

"The first film, titled 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,' will be released on December 14, 2012. The second film, titled 'The Hobbit: There and Back Again,' is slated for release the following year, on December 13, 2013."

So I figured why not create an official discussion thread for the two films. Granted they won't be released for a year and a half (2 and a half for T&BA) but we may as well strike well the iron is hot. So let's get this discussion going!

 A few weeks ago, Peter Jackson released a special behind-the-scenes first look at the movies, showcasing some of the acting talent, wardrobe and sets. The video is great, if for no other reason than to see the all the cool stuff going on in the background. Some of the biggest casting news for the movies lately has been the fact that Stephen Fry and Orlando Bloom will be in the films. No one knows how Bloom's character will fit into the movies but there has been much speculation (ranging from flash-forward scenes, to him hanging out with Elrond randomly, to him walking around in the background). It was confirmed earlier today that Benedict Cumberbatch will be in the film as well, though no one know which character he will play.

[Ninja D!]

I'm really disappointed that Del Toro is no longer directing this.

Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the coolest names ever.

[SA]

Wait what?

No Del Toro?

*cries*

Also:

No 3D.

Just, no.

[Magnus Pym]

Will be nice! It's in a while though.

[Weave]

Wait what?

No Del Toro?

*cries*

Also:

No 3D.

Just, no.

Do you mean "no 3D" in the sense that the film isn't going to be in 3D? I was curious because I wasn't sure if it'd be in 3D or not (I'd prefer the latter, though it really depends on if they go the "Avatar style" of 3D, where it's meant to compliment the immersion of the film, or the other, all too frequent style, where stuff just obnoxiously pops out at you).

[Elemental_Elf]

The movie is being shot in 3D.

Sadly I have yet to see a movie where the 3D didn't feel like a gimmick meant to pry three extra dollars out of my wallet. Honestly, even in Avatar, outside of the human computer screens, the 3D didn't really add anything to the experience. Additionally, there are a lot of people that can't see 3D, due to various medical problems, so I really hope the fad dies soon.

[Nomadic]

I really hope they offer a non-3d version in the theaters as if they don't I won't be able to see it :(

I have one of those aforementioned medical problems. I'm nearsighted so not only can I not wear the 3d glasses (my normal glasses which let me see more than a blur on the big screen get in the way), but if I hold them in front of my eyes I get serious migraines due to the fact that my condition screws with my depth perception in subtle ways that disagree with 3d movies.

[SA]

Nomadic: I am in a similar situation. I can still wear 3D glasses over my own, but it subtly shifts perspective and blurs the image.

Weave: I mean damn 3D to hell. It doesn't make movies better. In fact, by separating the image into numerous planes, it renders images conspicuously two-dimensional. I outgrew that gimmick the day I lost my dinotopia pop-up book.

[Weave]

The movie is being shot in 3D.

Sadly I have yet to see a movie where the 3D didn't feel like a gimmick meant to pry three extra dollars out of my wallet. Honestly, even in Avatar, outside of the human computer screens, the 3D didn't really add anything to the experience. Additionally, there are a lot of people that can't see 3D, due to various medical problems, so I really hope the fad dies soon.

Oh, don't get me wrong: the whole 3D thing is a gimmick regardless of the film. The tickets are ridiculously expensive at my local theatre. I just figure that if they insist on having it, they at least go for the less annoying one.

I'm also hoping the fad dies soon as well. But this is about the Hobbit, not 3D, so I digress.

I've been so damn excited for these films for ages. I'm a little sad that Del Toro isn't with it anymore, but I guess I have a good degree of faith that Peter Jackson can put out two excellent films, if not two excellent and somewhat lengthy films. I'll also be seeing the soon to be re-screened versions of the LotR trilogy with my gaming group and some of our friends (and unexcited girlfriends) who haven't yet seen the films. Can't wait!

[TheMeanestGuest]

You guys could always buy a pair of 2D glasses!

http://www.2d-glasses.com/

[Ninja D!]

I don't enjoy the 3D thing at all. For Avatar, it made things blurry and ruined the only good thing about that movie.

[LD]

I've seen about 3 films in 3D. Avatar used it to decent effect; Toy Story 3 was nearly ruined for me because of it; a documentary about space used it to decent effect. It seems that space movies are really the only appropriate use for 3D.

[Elemental_Elf]

I've seen about 3 films in 3D. Avatar used it to decent effect; Toy Story 3 was nearly ruined for me because of it; a documentary about space used it to decent effect. It seems that space movies are really the only appropriate use for 3D.

I saw Alice and Wonderland in 3D... It was terrible.

So I'm hoping the Hobbit's 3D will be at least the quality of Avatar and I pray that they release a normal 2D version of the film.

[LD]

>>So I'm hoping the Hobbit's 3D will be at least the quality of Avatar and I pray that they release a normal 2D version of the film.

I agree. I am making a point to avoid 3D films after being disappointed Toy Story in 3D. Regrettably, a few cinemas in my area have converted about a 3d of their screens to 3D... thus making it difficult to see non-3D films.

[Ninja D!]

For a movie this big, they will have both.