Guardian columnist James Russell writes in a sure-to-be-controversial piece that he doesn’t think the move to make the Hobbit into a trilogy is all about money. Rather, he wonders, is Peter Jackson “pushing his new Tolkien project to ridiculous extremes because he has nothing else to offer?”
He writes: “I think something much more dispiriting has motivated the decision: creative stagnation.”
“Who knows, the movie(s) might be good, and I might have to eat my words. While it may be maddening for those who see cold, hard profit as the prime motivation behind The Hobbit, it looks sad rather than venal to me. Jackson used to be a genuinely capable and interesting figure, with a particular talent for pioneering technical accomplishments (his decision to film in 48fps is the most compelling thing about The Hobbit). It sounds crazy to say, in light of the visionary epic fantasies he has created, but surely he could choose more creatively ambitious projects than this.”
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Some new images of Richard Armitage’s Thorin Oakenshield have popped up online over at RichardArmitageNet. The images come from newly released children’s movie tie-in book The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Annual 2013. It also provides a backstory of sorts to Thorin’s character, although it contains little that wasn’t already known from The Hobbit, or the part of the LoTR appendices about Durin’s folk.
More, including the pictures below the cut. So if you’re not keen on spoilers, best turn away now. You can pick up the Almanac/Annual at your favourite bookstore now. Continue reading “New Thorin images in Hobbit 2013 Annual!”
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Welcome to our collection of TORn’s hottest topics for the past week. If you’ve 
fallen behind on what’s happening on the Message Boards, here’s a great way to catch the highlights. Or if you’re new to TORn and want to enjoy some great conversations, just follow the links to some of our most popular discussions. Watch this space as every weekend we will spotlight the most popular buzz on TORn’s Message Boards. Everyone is welcome, so come on in and join in the fun!
Continue reading “TORn Message Boards Weekly Roundup – September 3, 2012”
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A French Tolkien site has laid its hands on a couple of very intriguing images that may reveal Barry Humphries’ Great Goblin and one of his minions. As you can imagine, they look appropriately gruesome!
For those who are keen to avoid spoilers, best to not look below the cut! Continue reading “Could this be Barry Humphries’ Great Goblin?”
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Rubbermonkey, an online audiovisual superstore and film production company based in Wellington, is currently auctioning a film clapperboard signed by the Hobbit crew to raise money for four local charities — the SPCA, SAFE, NICU, and Ronald McDonald House.
The IKAN clapperboard wasn’t used on the Hobbit, but has been signed by members of the Hobbit cast, including Martin Freeman and Ian McKellan.
The auction is running now on Trade Me, and closes on Monday September 10 at 3:51pm. (Some of you might also be interested in the twin charity auction of a filmclapper signed by the All Blacks.)
[Charity Auction] | [Rubbermonkey Blog]
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Actor James Nesbitt (who plays the dwarf Bofur in the upcoming Hobbit films) appeared this morning on ITV’s breakfast program Daybreak.
Oz website digital spy reports that he said of Bofur: “I’m sort of the thinking woman’s dwarf, the George Clooney of dwarves.” He added that Bofur is “considered to be the optimistic one who always sees the goodness in most people”.
Nesbitt will return to New Zealand in 2013 for extra filming. He said of the expansion of the films: “I think when Peter began to cut it, he thought, ‘There’s more in this than [we] thought’.”
He praised Sir Ian McKellen, and went on to say that “Martin Freeman as [Bilbo] is just a revelation”. UK people can probably view the clip on ITV here. The rest of us are left out in the cold as usual because of licensing restrictions. Thanks to Ringer DanielLB for the heads-up.
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