So I Finally Saw The Hobbit
Dec. 26th, 2012 09:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bloodyrosemccoyIn 2D, of course. I'd have gone that way no matter what, since 3D always gives me issues. I am assured it was the right decision.
Anyway, first thoughts:
-While I do think a lot of the character arcs in Lord of the Rings worked better in the movies, I can definitely say that Bilbo's character is Better In The Book. A lot of the reasons for this are understandable, considering the constraints of cinema, but there are a few things I definitely prefer in their original version. For one thing, I like that he didn't really consciously DECIDE to go on an adventure in the book--instead of appealing to his adventurous spirit, Gandalf pretty much flusters him into going ("You're late! If you run you can catch them!") and uses his own petty pride against him. I missed that petty pride. The noble thoughts it was replaced with were fine enough, but it's the way that little moment of "I'll show those Dwarves!" gets everyone caught by trolls, and how that contrasts with his later usefulness, that gets me. (Although the way the script took off with the fine points of Trollish cooking amused me.)
Plus, there wasn't nearly enough hobbity bitching. It's funny to realize how important it is that Bilbo piss and moan the whole way to the Lonely Mountain.
Martin Freeman did well with the script, though. I really liked some of his Ian Holm-y mannerisms.
-Even with the changes, gotta love moviemakers who are so enamored of the source material, down to the weird details. I especially liked the Stone Giants and their five minutes of fame. I always wanted to see more of them after the brief mention in the book, which was rather along the lines of, "Hey, look at those stone giants tossing boulders at each other. Don't see that every day. Pass the ketchup." I liked them as part of the action. And of course the addition of Radagast can't go wrong. (In other book-nods, I liked that Elrond commented that it was quite handy that the day and phase of the moon were perfectly aligned to show the Moon Runes, because in the book that always seemed awfully convenient.)
-Gollum was a perfect combination of lonely, hungry, tragic, childlike, and creepy as FUCK. I loved how very torn he was between eating Bilbo and actually interacting with another being after four hundred-odd years of feral goblin-chewing. I kept hearing that the Riddles in the Dark scene was pulled off well, and was DYING to see how. I was not disappointed there. Andy Serkis: finest unseen actor of our age.
-Could not stop laughing at Galadriel's rotating stand. Kept picturing her slowly spinning throughout the entire meeting with Saruman & Co. "I fear a dark time is--hang on, I'm coming back around, gimme a minute." Do they put her up in the middle of the room and hang tinsel on her at Yuletide?
It must be really annoying having her at a council meeting, too, if she just randomly drowns out the PowerPoint presentation with telepathy. GALADRIEL IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, SAY IT TO THE GROUP.
-I guess one of the things about the characters is that, when you don't have an inner monologue/narrator, the motivations have to come out. But even then, these movies always wax wordy. I liked the sentiment of Bilbo's little Get Back To Where You Once Belonged speech. But my favorite version of the I Will Come With You exchange is undoubtedly the one in Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal, when Kira summons landstriders to get to the Skeksis Palace:
KIRA: They'll take us!
JEN: But--Kira, you don't have to go!
KIRA: I know.
And then they go.
I think that's another reason the Riddles scene worked so well--Gollum didn't blurt out every bit of his backstory, and Bilbo didn't carry on about how Pity Is Totally Staying My Hand Right Now, Bro. Trust the audience.
But then, if the characters quit making speeches, the movie would be over far too soon. And it was too darn fun to end. So dammit, let's have the next one! I want to see the Mirkwood spiders.
-WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE DWARVES' KINGDOM? I DON'T THINK I HEARD IT THE FIRST EIGHTY TIMES, MOVIE. SAY IT AGAIN.
Anyway, first thoughts:
-While I do think a lot of the character arcs in Lord of the Rings worked better in the movies, I can definitely say that Bilbo's character is Better In The Book. A lot of the reasons for this are understandable, considering the constraints of cinema, but there are a few things I definitely prefer in their original version. For one thing, I like that he didn't really consciously DECIDE to go on an adventure in the book--instead of appealing to his adventurous spirit, Gandalf pretty much flusters him into going ("You're late! If you run you can catch them!") and uses his own petty pride against him. I missed that petty pride. The noble thoughts it was replaced with were fine enough, but it's the way that little moment of "I'll show those Dwarves!" gets everyone caught by trolls, and how that contrasts with his later usefulness, that gets me. (Although the way the script took off with the fine points of Trollish cooking amused me.)
Plus, there wasn't nearly enough hobbity bitching. It's funny to realize how important it is that Bilbo piss and moan the whole way to the Lonely Mountain.
Martin Freeman did well with the script, though. I really liked some of his Ian Holm-y mannerisms.
-Even with the changes, gotta love moviemakers who are so enamored of the source material, down to the weird details. I especially liked the Stone Giants and their five minutes of fame. I always wanted to see more of them after the brief mention in the book, which was rather along the lines of, "Hey, look at those stone giants tossing boulders at each other. Don't see that every day. Pass the ketchup." I liked them as part of the action. And of course the addition of Radagast can't go wrong. (In other book-nods, I liked that Elrond commented that it was quite handy that the day and phase of the moon were perfectly aligned to show the Moon Runes, because in the book that always seemed awfully convenient.)
-Gollum was a perfect combination of lonely, hungry, tragic, childlike, and creepy as FUCK. I loved how very torn he was between eating Bilbo and actually interacting with another being after four hundred-odd years of feral goblin-chewing. I kept hearing that the Riddles in the Dark scene was pulled off well, and was DYING to see how. I was not disappointed there. Andy Serkis: finest unseen actor of our age.
-Could not stop laughing at Galadriel's rotating stand. Kept picturing her slowly spinning throughout the entire meeting with Saruman & Co. "I fear a dark time is--hang on, I'm coming back around, gimme a minute." Do they put her up in the middle of the room and hang tinsel on her at Yuletide?
It must be really annoying having her at a council meeting, too, if she just randomly drowns out the PowerPoint presentation with telepathy. GALADRIEL IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, SAY IT TO THE GROUP.
-I guess one of the things about the characters is that, when you don't have an inner monologue/narrator, the motivations have to come out. But even then, these movies always wax wordy. I liked the sentiment of Bilbo's little Get Back To Where You Once Belonged speech. But my favorite version of the I Will Come With You exchange is undoubtedly the one in Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal, when Kira summons landstriders to get to the Skeksis Palace:
KIRA: They'll take us!
JEN: But--Kira, you don't have to go!
KIRA: I know.
And then they go.
I think that's another reason the Riddles scene worked so well--Gollum didn't blurt out every bit of his backstory, and Bilbo didn't carry on about how Pity Is Totally Staying My Hand Right Now, Bro. Trust the audience.
But then, if the characters quit making speeches, the movie would be over far too soon. And it was too darn fun to end. So dammit, let's have the next one! I want to see the Mirkwood spiders.
-WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE DWARVES' KINGDOM? I DON'T THINK I HEARD IT THE FIRST EIGHTY TIMES, MOVIE. SAY IT AGAIN.
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no subject
Date: 2012-12-27 08:36 pm (UTC)