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L. Ron Halfelven
Grey Havens
May 1 2008, 4:08pm
Post #26 of 158
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Two rocks rubbing together would be silicon. Silicone would be two... oh never mind./
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weaver
Half-elven
May 1 2008, 4:20pm
Post #29 of 158
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a pun thread on Movie? Opal-eeeessse...///
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Weaver
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weaver
Half-elven
May 1 2008, 4:52pm
Post #31 of 158
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yep, I'll granite you that.../
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Weaver
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N.E. Brigand
Half-elven
May 1 2008, 5:35pm
Post #32 of 158
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Very American, but excellent nonetheless.
But he was a well-known actor, too.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
We're discussing The Lord of the Rings in the Reading Room, Oct. 15, 2007 - Mar. 22, 2009!
Join us Apr. 28-May 4 for "Treebeard".
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AinurOlorin
Half-elven
May 1 2008, 6:15pm
Post #33 of 158
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I remember seeing The Hobbit as a child, and while I have always been closest to Gandalf, of course. . . but I rembemer not wanting Smaug to be killed. He was that fascinating. I knew he was full and wrath and ruin, but there were points where I had wished he'd just been left alone in the mountain. That is how much presence Boon'e representation of the dragon, speaking the words of Tolkien was had to me. I cannot imagine them taking his speaking out to be more "adult"
If Treebeard didn't ruin Two Towers, Smaug certainly won't ruin The Hobbit.
"Hear me, hounds of Sauron, Gandalf is here! Fly if you value your foul skins, I will shrivel you from tail to snout if you step within this circle!"
"Do not be to eager to deal out death in judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends."
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weaver
Half-elven
May 1 2008, 7:15pm
Post #35 of 158
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Weaver
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Compa_Mighty
Tol Eressea
May 1 2008, 7:24pm
Post #36 of 158
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First of all, I'll have to agree with MrCere
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This will have to replace Draco as THE dragon, a title Sean Connery's beast still holds.
As for what you say, I agree. i believe Howe's depiction of Smaug is by far the best of any Tolkien illustrator, and I believe WETA will do a marvelous job in transalting that into the screen, whether it is by a huge animatronic for close-ups (which is highly likely) or by a detailed CGI model for his attack to Esgaroth.
Of course voice is vital, and MrCere's point is an important one. Someone mentioned her ein the forums that no one who previously voiced a lion, a dragon or a Jedi should voice Smaug. While I don't fully agree, I believe it is a good general starting point for making Smaug unique. I still believe they should go with and older British gentleman (there are many who fit that description!) Someone who can get away with Smaug's age, be elegant and menacing at the same time. A moderately modified Anthony Hopkins could do the trick.
Here's to Del Toro becoming the Irvin Kershner of Middle Earth!
Essay winner of the Show us your Hobbit Pride Giveway!
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MrCere
Sr. Staff
May 1 2008, 7:26pm
Post #37 of 158
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Kong was indeed amazing, and there was a bit of a giant-ape glut as there is a Dragon glut. WETA hit a home run with Kong and I do have full confidence in them but I do think Smaug is a challenge of a different magnitude.
I have no choice but to believe in free will.
The cake is a lie
The cake is a lie
The cake is a lie
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Annael
Immortal
May 1 2008, 7:34pm
Post #38 of 158
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I love gabbro-ing with you all./
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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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weaver
Half-elven
May 1 2008, 7:41pm
Post #40 of 158
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and I love it when things get iron-ic//
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Weaver
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
May 1 2008, 7:45pm
Post #41 of 158
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Only you could think that up, Hengist! 
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
May 1 2008, 7:47pm
Post #42 of 158
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(I know - rare) about the movie Reign of Fire. They had the dragon secreting two different liquids from glands basically at the corner of the mouth which, when mixed, became liquid napalm.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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Voorhas
Lorien
May 1 2008, 8:32pm
Post #43 of 158
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...I've heard the theory (or is it a hypothesis?) that we're fascinated by dragons because they combine aspects of our primate ancestors' three main predators: snakes, winged raptors (hawks, eagles) and big cats. We're hard-wired to respond to that archetypal image, even now.
"They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." -- E.A. Poe
(This post was edited by Voorhas on May 1 2008, 8:33pm)
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greendragon
Sr. Staff
May 1 2008, 11:13pm
Post #44 of 158
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We dragons aren't a problem... 
'There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of my fridge...'
'You never know what will happen next, when once you get mixed up with TORnsibs and their friends.'
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MrCere
Sr. Staff
May 2 2008, 2:12am
Post #45 of 158
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Bilbo and I both know the one subject guaranteed to draw a dragon into conversations: dragons! 
I have no choice but to believe in free will.
The cake is a lie
The cake is a lie
The cake is a lie
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Tampa Phil
Rivendell
May 2 2008, 2:49am
Post #46 of 158
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Long time no chat.
Once you accept that The Hobbit won't be Lord Of The Rings #4 but, essentially, The Chronicles Of Narnia #3 (if you count the upcoming Prince Caspian as #2), you can relax and attune your supercharged expectations accordingly.
Don't be looking for "emotional highlights." There are no Theoden Crying Over Dead Son moments or San Heroically Carrying Frodo As Music Swells moments.
I expect it will look great and go down well with a tub of popcorn. Perhaps an Oscar or two for Special Effects and Sound Editing.
Dragons are dragons (are dragons). Smaug is going to look like Saphira and sound like Jeremy Irons.
(Your Friendly Neighborhood) TP.
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Sunflower
Valinor
May 2 2008, 4:57am
Post #47 of 158
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we do have Bilbo Talking with Dying Thorin moment, maybe Gandalf Taking The Map From Dying Thrain Moment, and who knows, PJ was able to get a lot of mileage out of invented characters....village woman and her two lost kids. Who knows who we'll meet in Laketown?
Plus, Bilbo will not be the same Bilbo who ran out the door of Bag End.
And that's just The Hobbit....
Let's see....the White Council? And the Possible Meeting of Aragorn and Gollum?
BTW, Tampa Phil, Love your statement about GDT's calculator, and his reply to you. Gotten over that one yet? I do hope you were jesting.
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MrCere
Sr. Staff
May 2 2008, 6:01am
Post #48 of 158
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First, we may not have chatted but I have been watching your new career here with great interest. Yours is a flavor we have been badly in need of. I am comforted to know you will not squee at me or hug me virtually.
But, if I had one wish in all the casting of "The Hobbit", and clearly I will not be granted any wishes, it would be that Jeremy Irons isn't the voice of Smaug. I would take Darth Vader or James Bond or even Aslan over him. In fact I would take GDT doing the voice work. I love Mr. Irons but his voice is HIS voice (and Scar's) and Smaug should be more than the obvious go-to villain voice. So, "and will sound like Jeremy Irons" cuts me bad. 
And do you really think team WETA will settle for Saphira? I thought the T-Rex battle in King Kong had more suspense and emotion from non-speaking combatants than all of the Saphira scenes (well...okay the 30 minutes I watched and the remainder projected) in the whole of that particular dragon film.
The Hobbit may not have the emotional beats of LOTR but if it amounts to no more than what you suggest I will be disappointed and will admit it frankly. Even Mr. del Toro's comments about the loss of innocence he sees in the tale should make it more than "The Golden Compass goes to Middle-earth". No?
Kudos for one thing, "Smaug is going to look like Saphira and sound like Jeremy Irons," sums up my particular fears better than the whole essay above. I wish I had stated it so economically.
I have no choice but to believe in free will.
The cake is a lie
The cake is a lie
The cake is a lie
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Timdalf
Rivendell
May 2 2008, 12:20pm
Post #49 of 158
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Just to add to your anxieties... One of the most telling failures in the creation of the dragon department have been those trying to create Wagner's Ring Cycle dragon: Fafner... The Met Opera's latest attempt reduced him to some sort of huge spidery figure in a hole! The infamous Chereau Ring of 1976 reduced him to a michelin tire guy looking thing on toy wheels! Even Wagner himself failed in 1876... the neck ended up in Beyruth, Lebanon, rather than Bayreuth, Bavaria!! But there are added difficulties to putting a dragon on stage. I always thought the most effective thing would be simply to leave it at his glowing, hostile eyes and let the audience imagine the rest... But that is not an option here.
So he has to be sly and threatening, huge and vicious, malicious and slovenly... some combo! And have no resemblance to Jabba the Hut!! But I think he will have to have some resemblance to the fireworks dragon in FotR at Bilbo's bday party, no?
As to his voice, yes, Anthony Hopkins would be great buuuut..., like the Liam Neeson Aslan of the new Narnia, his voice and style would be instantly recognizable.
They found a relative unknown for Gollum/Smeagol and Serkis is a complete triumph.
I am sure they will succeed. Their Balrog was sublime, and who could recognize John Rhys Davies as Treebeard's voice? But I thought their giving Sauron a voice was a bit corny....
Timdalf
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deej
Tol Eressea
May 2 2008, 1:08pm
Post #50 of 158
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The screen dragons i've seen tended to have rough, grumbly voices, and it would make sense that they'd have to have an inner lining able to withstand such high temperatures. But when I hear Smaug's voice in my head, it sounds deep but smooth, like a soul singer. More Barry White than Sean Connery. 
Insert signature here....
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