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Question is........is anyone anxiously awaiting the release of The Hobbit motion picture.........or are you like me, and are sensing a bit of dread that the motion picture industry will do a degree of "injustice" to that one work of literature that I've placed on a pedastel?
It seems to be a universal truth that the book is always better than the movie. That being said, I watch the movies anyway, if for nothing more than to critique what the movie-makers got wrong. :mrgreen:
I slogged my way through The Hobbit when I was maybe 9 or 10 because it was "the book" you just had to read. I found it immensely boring. Podykane Of Mars and Glory Road (and other Heinlein) is how I became a Sci-Fi nut and The Hobbit gave me an aversion to Fantasy that I only overcame in my senior-hood when I discovered Joe Abercrombie, Richard Morgan and Scott Lynch.
Just making book conversation here. I don't have a political point to make
For me, The Hobbit, because of its scope, was the first book that made me feel as if there was another entire world with its own vast history (and there was) and that I'd been dropped into the center middle of just one tiny tale. As I came to discover later, Tolkien had created just that. Obviously, I've read much deeper, and more complex sci-fi/fantasy since that first encounter over 30 years ago.......Robert Heinlen, Stephen R. Donaldson, Stephen Baxter, and Larry Niven come to mind.......but I still have that place in my heart for Tolkien and The Hobbit. IMHO it's "the one" that started the whole concept of the "modern epic fantasy".
I'm well aware that my reaction is the less popular perspective. I really wanted to love Tolkien (and Rowling) but I guess my circuitry is wired a little differently. No disrespect intended, just making conversation.
It seems to be a universal truth that the book is always better than the movie.
I don't know if anyone else can relate but I'd just like to share that as a young boy (maybe 3rd or 4th grade) the first really "substantial" book that I remember reading was The Hobbit. I was completely hooked. I was amazed by the scope and style of the tale. From that point on, I became an avid fan of the Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre of literature. Went on to read all things Tolkien, Bradbury, Heinlen, Asimov, Brooks, Pratchett, etc. I essentially found the one thing that would "spur" me on to become a good reader and a capable writer. Also got deep into AD&D and other "original" RPG's and "acquired" a whole new and "interesting" set of friends. :lol:
In summary....reading The Hobbit was a turning point for me way back then......and I've probably re-read it 25-30 times since. I share all this to get to the topic of the new movie.
Question is........is anyone anxiously awaiting the release of The Hobbit motion picture.........or are you like me, and are sensing a bit of dread that the motion picture industry will do a degree of "injustice" to that one work of literature that I've placed on a pedastel?
I got my start with Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke and others at an early age...but I did read Tolkien while I was a teenager.
Given that Jackson did a quite good job with Lord of the Rings, I expect he'll do just as well with The Hobbit and I'm looking forward to it. This will be a movie I will pay the extra money to see in a theater.
The Hobbit was also my first book. LOTR became my second straight after. I was happy with the LOTR adaptation and I view the literature and the motion pictures independently.
The Hobbit will undoubtedly be even more different than LOTR was, which was surprisingly faithful given Hollywood's record. The tone of the book simply is not what I see in the trailers. I'll enjoy it on it's own merits, and the producers have their work cut out to invent new storyline to carry a trilogy.
The Hobbit was not my first substantial book, it came along later for me, after I'd read Heinlein. That said, I love The Hobbit and the LOTR trilogy, having read all at least three times. The Tolkien's writing does my favorite thing when I read, completely take me away to another place.
Now to the movie, I don't have a need for a movie to be a literal translation of a book. If stuff is left out, I'm usually ok with it (though I thought some of the first Harry Potter films could have lifted dialog from the books and have been a lot better than the script :2razz: ).
Given the astounding LOTR movies, I have no fear of how The Hobbit will fare. I'm sure I will enjoy it.
Fluffy, did you like the LOTR film trilogy?
Exactly, thank you.
I read The Hobbit when I was young, and loved it... but the book itself is more of a children's story than LOTR. In viewing the trailers for the movie, it looks like the tone has been changed to a bit more serious one, and I hear that a lot of battles and such that took place "off screen" in the book will be done up big in the movies.... and I am GLAD they are doing this rather than being strictly 100% by-the-book.
I think it will make for a more interesting movie.
Purists will now howl for my head on a spike.
Why, yes, I did enjoy them....immensely. There was, initially, that period of disappointment, where there were some of my favorite elements from the books that I would've loved to have seen depicted on film....but they weren't included (the encounter with Tom Bombadil comes to mind). But after getting over that, I was able to appreciate the scope and visual beauty of what Jackson was attempting to portray. He's still no Lucas or Spielberg......but he's getting pretty darned close.
Exactly, thank you.
I read The Hobbit when I was young, and loved it... but the book itself is more of a children's story than LOTR. In viewing the trailers for the movie, it looks like the tone has been changed to a bit more serious one, and I hear that a lot of battles and such that took place "off screen" in the book will be done up big in the movies.... and I am GLAD they are doing this rather than being strictly 100% by-the-book.
I think it will make for a more interesting movie.
Purists will now howl for my head on a spike.
I enjoyed the trilogy movies, I hope The Hobbit is just as good.
I wrote my 11th grade "thesis" on The Fellowship (aced it).
I don't know if anyone else can relate but I'd just like to share that as a young boy (maybe 3rd or 4th grade) the first really "substantial" book that I remember reading was The Hobbit. I was completely hooked. I was amazed by the scope and style of the tale. From that point on, I became an avid fan of the Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre of literature. Went on to read all things Tolkien, Bradbury, Heinlen, Asimov, Brooks, Pratchett, etc. I essentially found the one thing that would "spur" me on to become a good reader and a capable writer. Also got deep into AD&D and other "original" RPG's and "acquired" a whole new and "interesting" set of friends. :lol:
In summary....reading The Hobbit was a turning point for me way back then......and I've probably re-read it 25-30 times since. I share all this to get to the topic of the new movie.
Question is........is anyone anxiously awaiting the release of The Hobbit motion picture.........or are you like me, and are sensing a bit of dread that the motion picture industry will do a degree of "injustice" to that one work of literature that I've placed on a pedastel?
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