As you might recall, when the trailer for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug debuted during the week, actors Orlando Bloom and Ian McKellen went on the Today show to have a chat about the filming, share exclusive sneak peek of the trailer itself. Continue reading “See Orlando Bloom and Ian McKellen talk Hobbit trailer on NBC Today!”
Year: 2013
With the human face of Beorn finally revealed (Warning: visual spoilers on that link!), I thought readers might be interested in a little bit of book character history and background.
The most common questions that people ask concern his ability to change shape. Is it magical? Is he cursed? Does he have control over it? Did Tolkien mean Beorn to be some kind of beserker?
Here, Tolkien scholar Michael Martinez has a quick look at the evidence available. Continue reading “Was the Beorn of The Hobbit a were-bear?”
One wonders how much Middle-earth’s Hobbits, wizards, elves and dwarves have contributed to the success and growth of the Lego company over recent years. It has now grown bigger than Hasbro, and become the second-largest toy company in the world.
The boss of Lego Group carries two business cards – one the usual kind and the other a Lego mini-figure in his likeness, complete with beard and glasses, with contact details on the back.
That kind of playful thinking has helped the Danish company become the world’s second-biggest toy maker as it clicks with fast-growing Asia and builds on its popular plastic bricks with video games and theme parks.
“We are seeing a society where the wealthier it becomes, the more room there is for what I call the business of play,” Chief Executive Jørgen Vig Knudstorp told Reuters in Singapore.
“In that I will include the role of play in education, the role of play in theme parks and family entertainment, the role of play in adult age.”
Video games are big business and Lego Group has “a major role through licensing arrangements” but the digital realm is a complement, not a replacement, for physical play, he said.
That figure includes the major 266 days of filming with actors that was completed last year, although it doesn’t include an additional two months or so of “pick-up” shoots done this year. There will likely also be additional post-production costs as the next two movies are completed.
Through March 31, production had cost 676 million New Zealand dollars, or $561 million at current exchange rates, according to financial documents filed Friday in New Zealand, where the movies are being made.
Distributor Warner Bros. and director Peter Jackson may consider it money well spent. To date, only the first movie in the latest trilogy has been released. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” took in just over $1 billion at the box office. Continue reading “Hobbit film trilogy has cost $561 USD million so far”
It’s one of the things that we’ve been waiting for and waiting for — the opportunity to see what Peter Jackson’s Beorn looks like in human form. From the front.
For some this will be a huge SPOILER. So run away now if you’re avoiding them! Continue reading “Finally! See the human face of Beorn!”
Ringer Ryan sent us in the following gif made from the trailer, slowed down to show Smaug in all his fiery glory.
For those who haven’t seen the trailer… SPOILER ALERT