Come Bilbo, won't you join me on an adventure...?

[Tawmis]

The Hobbit Trailer. I is excited. I know they changed it from the story that essentially shaped my life; but I enjoyed Lord of the Rings, so I am placing a lot of trust here!

[MusicallyInspired]

I thought they were just adding to it (I heard it's going to be in two parts).

[Tawmis]

I thought they were just adding to it (I heard it's going to be in two parts).

Well, Frodo and several other characters, in the movie, were never in the book. But I can see why they're doing it. It's a great way to attach this movie as a prequel to Lord of the Rings, and make it all tie in much easier.

[MusicallyInspired]

Well, it moreso seems like Frodo and some of the others are just going to be in a "once upon a time" scenario where Bilbo tells the story. That's certainly what the trailer promotes. That said, Galadriel does seem to be part of the story. Still, I don't think they're going to be raping any childhood memories here.

Also, the original plan at the end of Return of the King was to have Sauron regain human form and Aragorn was supposed to do battle with him. They dropped that. They're smart.

[Tawmis]

Well, it moreso seems like Frodo and some of the others are just going to be in a "once upon a time" scenario where Bilbo tells the story. That's certainly what the trailer promotes. That said, Galadriel does seem to be part of the story. Still, I don't think they're going to be raping any childhood memories here.

Well, that's what I am saying! That's why I said I am placing a lot of trust in this because - despite the changes in LOTR - I still enjoyed it IMMENSELY! So I don't think they're going to fubar THE HOBBIT at all, despite the changes. (I am, admittedly more sensitive to THE HOBBIT than I am to LOTR, because of the impact THE HOBBIT had on me; but I do not think they're going to mess it up!) Puzzled that they could do LOTR, 1 for 1 (one movie per 1 book), and yet they're breaking THE HOBBIT into two... I am hoping, this just means they're going to be adding most of the details and adventures of the actually book, and not because they're completely rewriting it.

[MusicallyInspired]

I did hear that they were going to add in stuff that was only alluded to in the book, like where Gandalf keeps going all the time.

[Maxor127]

I noticed it looks like they have another "wizard duel" in it. I thought the wizard fights in LOTR were some of the worst parts of the films. Just old men flopping around. Peter Jackson has said he hates "magic," so we get geriatric jedi instead.

[Maiandra]

I'm actually looking forward to this. I always thought The Hobbit would make a better movie adaptation than the LOTR trilogy.

[Maxor127]

I'm actually looking forward to this. I always thought The Hobbit would make a better movie adaptation than the LOTR trilogy.

I've always thought the exact same thing.

[Rath Darkblade]

I noticed it looks like they have another "wizard duel" in it. I thought the wizard fights in LOTR were some of the worst parts of the films. Just old men flopping around. Peter Jackson has said he hates "magic," so we get geriatric Jedi instead.

Hardly geriatric Jedi or old men! Gandalf and Saruman (and Radagast, for that matter - who, I think, will be in the Hobbit movie!!! ) are not old men at all, but Maiar - Elder Spirits from the First Age of Middle Earth, who wander Middle-Earth disguised as old men until their time has come to leave. When that is, no one knows - not even them. Witness, for instance, Gandalf's belief that he died after the battle with the Balrog, but was sent back for a reason - to do battle with the enemies of Men, Elves and Dwarves, and to counsel those who waver (like Theoden of Rohan) to stiffen their resolve.

Nor does Peter Jackson specifically "hate" magic. He allows Gandalf to use a "Light" spell from his staff, and Saruman to throw fire balls. However, I think that what Jackson means by "hating" magic is the idea that magic should be allowed to change the world (like illusion magic, alteration magic, magic to open locks etc). I think his reasoning is sound: I don't remember, in the LOTR books, anyone using illusions (except for the Wood Elves in The Hobbit). Nor do I remember anyone using magic to open locks (a la D&D), etc. - so I think Jackson wanted to keep the movies as true to the books as possible, and not stray into D&D-land, where you can use magic for just about anything. Also, if Gandalf/Saruman/etc. could use magic to do anything in the films, then what would be the point of all the OTHER characters? They'd all be standing around and looking at the pretty magic show.

Anyway, on to The Hobbit trailer! I like it very much! I can't help thinking that it introduces far too many characters - in the books, the only dwarfs with a decent personality were Thorin, Kili (who constantly helps Bilbo), Bombur (the fat one) and Balin (who ends up ruling the Mines of Moria). We know he does because in LOTR, during the Mines of Moria segments, we see Balin's tomb and Gandalf reads: "Here Lies Balin, Son of Fundin, Lord of Moria").

I like the representation of Bilbo and Gandalf, and especially Gollum in the very last scene - very creepy! Just like the Hobbit book!

However, I am confused as to why Galadriel is back at all. I know that we get to see Legolas again during the scenes in Mirkwood, where we will also see Thranduil, his father and king of the Wood Elves. I hope that this doesn't mean that we'll get cameos from ALL of the Fellowship - that would be very tedious and distracting, and certainly not like the book at all. However, if we do get to see where Gandalf goes, that would be fun. I know that, at an early part of the "Hobbit" book, he tells the dwarves that he'd gone to spy on a keep belonging to The Necromancer (which is one of Sauron's nicknames). Does that mean we get to see Sauron? Or maybe one of his lieutenants? Or the Mordor orcs?

Anyway, don't mind me. I'm just speculating...

[Maxor127]

I know the characters are Maiar. But the actors are still old men. I thought it was lame when Gandalf and Saruman were tossing each other around with no battle of wills or resistance or anything. I think the Ralph Bakshi version handled that scene better. But the beginning of Two Towers with the balrog fight was amazing. I don't expect fireballs or anything. Just something other than force pushing each other around back and forth.

[Rath Darkblade]

So....... *sits back and watches the tumbleweed roll past*

Has anything been happening with this movie, hmm? Any news?

[Tawmis]

So....... *sits back and watches the tumbleweed roll past*

Has anything been happening with this movie, hmm? Any news?

It will probably be some time... I imagine, like Lord of the Rings, it's a pretty massive production.

[Datadog]

I only just learned about this song last night (late on the memes as usual). I think it's enough to tide me over until next Christmas.

[Maxor127]

I've heard the song but never seen the video. It was worse than I could've ever imagined.