"Bilbo was bumbling because that's how he's supposed to be early on."
Either you misread my comments or I didn't explain myself clearly enough. Bilbo is NOT bumbling in the film. To requote myself, he's "normalized." That is why I HATE film Bilbo. He's fundamentally changed right from the beginning of the film. Book Bilbo is one of my all time favorite characters, but the Bilbo in this film is not that character. I am simply appalled Peter Jackson would turn the reluctant adventurer into...
As for not judging it because it's the first part of a 3 part film. I joined the fandom way back in 2001, but because I'm a cinemaphile, I was following the press for it back in 1999-2000. The Tolkien fandom and most of the film community were eyeing these films VERY closely. Back then, Peter Jackson was an indie oddball. New Line Cinema was ridiculed for making a 3 part blockbuster all at once. It was ...basically expected to flop. It didn't largely because Jackson and company sought out the Tolkien fandom and reassured them every step of the way. He explained why he made changes big and small to the book. He also courted the film press (we take it for granted, but back then fantasy film was considered unsellable): Just give it a chance. Look at the CGI (which was very revolutionary). The films being a success are taken for granted now, but back then, it was actually a surprise. To everyone. (Even Tolkien fans thought they were going to get screwed over with a bad film.)
TH is a success, but most people acknowledge the goodwill of the fandom isn't there, that Jackson and New Line are doing it for money rather than for passion of the project. Nor is the critical acclaim there. (Which really says something. Cuz once upon a time, LOTR could no wrong. I sat through the excruciating putdowns HP got from 2001-2003, where every critical review contained a 'go see LOTR instead cuz it's flawless.')
Richard Armitage is good, but I didn't sign up to see 'Thorin.' I hate that everything in the film has been epicized! noble-ized! grand!. Where are my petty but not bad natured drawves?
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-08 12:50 am (UTC)Either you misread my comments or I didn't explain myself clearly enough. Bilbo is NOT bumbling in the film. To requote myself, he's "normalized." That is why I HATE film Bilbo. He's fundamentally changed right from the beginning of the film. Book Bilbo is one of my all time favorite characters, but the Bilbo in this film is not that character. I am simply appalled Peter Jackson would turn the reluctant adventurer into...
As for not judging it because it's the first part of a 3 part film. I joined the fandom way back in 2001, but because I'm a cinemaphile, I was following the press for it back in 1999-2000. The Tolkien fandom and most of the film community were eyeing these films VERY closely. Back then, Peter Jackson was an indie oddball. New Line Cinema was ridiculed for making a 3 part blockbuster all at once. It was ...basically expected to flop. It didn't largely because Jackson and company sought out the Tolkien fandom and reassured them every step of the way. He explained why he made changes big and small to the book. He also courted the film press (we take it for granted, but back then fantasy film was considered unsellable): Just give it a chance. Look at the CGI (which was very revolutionary). The films being a success are taken for granted now, but back then, it was actually a surprise. To everyone. (Even Tolkien fans thought they were going to get screwed over with a bad film.)
TH is a success, but most people acknowledge the goodwill of the fandom isn't there, that Jackson and New Line are doing it for money rather than for passion of the project. Nor is the critical acclaim there. (Which really says something. Cuz once upon a time, LOTR could no wrong. I sat through the excruciating putdowns HP got from 2001-2003, where every critical review contained a 'go see LOTR instead cuz it's flawless.')
Richard Armitage is good, but I didn't sign up to see 'Thorin.' I hate that everything in the film has been epicized! noble-ized! grand!. Where are my petty but not bad natured drawves?