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DamienEngland
Rivendell
Apr 1 2010, 10:53am
Post #1 of 57
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Anyone Else Feel The Preamble is Getting Terminally Tiresome ....?
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And that it's high time they put their cards on the table?
I say this as a fan of the existing movies and Del Toro who I regard as a director of total integrity, but seriously - I don't know how much longer the chirade around The Hobbit production can go on for without us all getting exhausted.
YES, online interest will remain at fever pitch, YES sites like this no doubt follow every development, set photo, and glimpse of McKellen in his long johns & stick-on beard stepping out of his trailer into the glorious New Zealand sun, but Jesus. Enough stalling is ENOUGH! Just get the cameras rolling. Please? 
Principally I'm hacked off enough to be writing this for 3 main reasons:
1./ CASTING: Don't know about you, but I feel as though I've been living in Bill Murray's hotel room waking up to I've Got You Babe for approximately three years now. The only difference being the first new item on Radio Groundhog every morning is about Martin Freemann/James McAvoy/David Tennant playing Bilbo. With the exception possibly of McAvoy (who really doesn't really channel Baggins for me either if I'm honest, but did a fine job with Tumnus) All AWFUL CHOICES for one simple reason: screen history. Maybe I'm alone on this, but the great thing about new faces is that they are exactly that. A blank slate.
I don't want to be thinking about Doctor Who or The Office watching The Hobbit, and furthermore as actors, IMO, those guys all have limited range. Hopefully GDT will take us by surprise and go for a middle-aged unknown with more robust acting ability and passable resemblance to Holme instead of a choice that plays to the whims of existing fanboy favourites.
2./ FINANCING: It's off, it's on, it's off again. They sort the mother of all lawsuits then MGM goes to financial purgatory waiting for a bidder. Seriously, what's next? A cheque for a new IMAX camera fails to clear 24 hrs. ahead of day one of principal photography? Del Toro gets stung for tax evasion? What??
3./ D OR NOT 3D? So annoying a proposition in terms of the further delays it will inevitably inflict upon the project for the sake of us feeling the Mirkwood spiders are descending onto our laps, I can't be bothered writing a full paragraph about it. I'm the only man I know who felt that Avatar was an excrutiating experience, both on my critical sensibilities and on my retinas. "I see you"? In the blurred blue flames of hell, preferably Leona. Only in hell. 
"And Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator or Prognosticators predicts ..... DELAYS!"
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(This post was edited by Altaira on Apr 1 2010, 6:20pm)
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Kangi Ska
Half-elven
Apr 1 2010, 11:57am
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Kangi Ska
The Hobbit Deserves More Respect!
At night one cannot tell if crows are black or white.
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Loresilme
Valinor
Apr 1 2010, 1:50pm
Post #3 of 57
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Of course I wish the subject matter didn't exist (i.e., the endless delays).... but I like your style :-). And I am *so* on the same page about finding and using an undiscovered, talented unknown for Bilbo. That's also my choice for the voice of Smaug, btw.
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DamienEngland
Rivendell
Apr 1 2010, 2:41pm
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... and chalk up No. 4 : "Bogus April Fools press releases." Can't help feeling that feels a little like waving rubber bacon in front of a starving man this morning, but whatever gives 'em jollies.
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(This post was edited by DamienEngland on Apr 1 2010, 2:42pm)
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Rick Cottontree
Registered User
Apr 1 2010, 3:22pm
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MGM is contracted to finance half the film and is the process of being for bid and owning $3.7 million. Until the money is in place there can be no movie. Simple.
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DamienEngland
Rivendell
Apr 1 2010, 4:53pm
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Didn't say it was a strategy (although can see with hindsight how the comment about cards on the table gives that impression) and am aware of the situation with MGM. Just saying all these factors in combination have become tiresome regardless of causation, and this latest financing issue feels like deja vu after the settling of the lawsuit.
(This post was edited by DamienEngland on Apr 1 2010, 4:55pm)
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DiveTwin
Rohan
Apr 1 2010, 6:44pm
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While I too am anxious to see things get started, I don't feel Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson or anyone else owes us that. They have been overly gracious by including us on quite a bit of information as it is. And I believe that when there is actual, concrete news that they can (and are allowed) to share, they will happily do so.
But until then, I don't think they need to respond every time their fans get impatient. I think they are as anxious as we are ... but are also in a holding pattern until events unfold in a way that allows them to move forward.
We'll just have to grin and bear it.
"Do not come between the Nazgul and his prey"
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the_argonath
Lorien
Apr 1 2010, 6:51pm
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.. but on the other hand, I guess it will kick off when it's ready
~*Haudh-en-Ndengin the Elves named it, the Hill of Slain, and Haugh-en-Nirnaeth, the Hill of tears... the earth beneath which the swords of the Eldar and the Edain crumbled into rust*~
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DamienEngland
Rivendell
Apr 1 2010, 7:55pm
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I agree there's an air of impatience to what I've said, and paradoxically I also entirely agree with the people here who've stressed patience and everything in good time etc. when that's entirely my life philosophy
I also don't think GDT owes us minute-by-minute disclosure really, and has always been incredibly gracious and inclusive re: the fanbase on these things when he DOES have something to tell us - more than most directors that's for sure.
However, I think a lot of people have noticed that since the frantic activity & podcasts of a year or so ago when the formal announcement was made he was to helm things, we progressed to a weird twilight zone of silence from the latter half of 2009 onwards that's become an ambiguous grey zone - both for shoddy journalism, McKellen repeatedly giving us variations of the same words about reprising Galndalf on his blogs and public appearances seemingly in a vacuum all on his lonesome, and of course all that inanely repetitious speculation about the casting of Bilbo Baggins.
To be fair they squashed the McGuire one (worringly not the Tennant one - a choice so wrong for Bilbo, it turns my hair grey thinking about it.) But I think, without wanting to be that old grandad impatiently banging his carpet slippers on the ceiling, it's in everybodys interests for them to name their man as soon as they have him now, and end this phase at least (if not the corporate dragon of the MGM shenanigans which is obviously outside of their control.)
The guessing games have gone on long enough, and in the words of the great poet, Woody of Harrelson .... time to nut up or shut up.
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GAndyalf
Valinor
Apr 1 2010, 8:00pm
Post #11 of 57
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When the "Official Fan Club" will be re-opened for The Hobbit movies. Back for LotR they did it before Fellowship where a $99 for 3 years got you a COOL membership with a regular fanzine, some cool lithos and other stuff AND BEST OF ALL your NAME in the Extended Edition DVDs! I was so excited to see my 15 min of fame on each DVD and I wants MORE, my Preciousss!
"Even the very wise cannot see all ends."
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Arwen's daughter
Half-elven
Apr 1 2010, 8:03pm
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Of course, without a greenlight (which seems to be dependant on MGM sorting itself out) they can't sign the contracts for cast. Until then, even McKellen, Serkis, and Weaving are just speculative. And considering all the uproar that happens when the movies are pushed back or promised announcements haven't been able to be announced, I imagine they won't release any new information until it is completely locked.
And I believe Tennant squashed his own rumor a year ago, or so.
My LiveJournal
My Costuming Site
TORn's Costume Discussions Archive
The Screencap of the Day Schedule for March
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DamienEngland
Rivendell
Apr 1 2010, 8:16pm
Post #13 of 57
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He did, but a few weeks ago, there was the Pegg on Twitter incident that rebooted it, to which he remained silent. As for the whole greenlight formality and formal casting, McKellen has been talking about his role as being anything other than speculative and I'm not sure I understand the logistics of preparing a massive belt of woodland with shrubs and diggers if the planned summer start date is still all up in the air, to be honest.
I'm going back to watching Zombieland.  Someone put Emma Stone in The Hobbit as a bar maid at The Green Dragon or something - she's small, cute and sexy with massive Manga eyes.
(This post was edited by Ataahua on Apr 1 2010, 9:12pm)
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Patty
Immortal
Apr 1 2010, 9:11pm
Post #14 of 57
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You are on there too, GAndyalf?
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If you don't mind, would you P.M. me the name you are on there with? If that's too personal for you I am totally okay with that. But one of my silly, silly fun things to do is look for names I know on the fan credits. I wish I had known that you could go on there as a group, cause I paid individual prices for myself and my husband, and then I had all those duplicates of magazines and pictures. I've since given them away, but hey, I could have saved money.
Permanent address: Into the West
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GAndyalf
Valinor
Apr 1 2010, 9:45pm
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And since my name is easy to come by in many, many ways I'm listed in the EEs as "S. Andrew Alexander", right about as the Hobbit theme starts to play (for which I'm immensely pleased!) Sadly, young Beren (my son) wasn't going to be born for another 4 years when I signed up - but he'll be in THIS incarnation if they do it (I HOPE! I HOPE!)
"Even the very wise cannot see all ends."
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Patty
Immortal
Apr 2 2010, 3:51pm
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I've always regretted not putting my oldest granddaughter's name there...
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she was already a fan, and my daughter became a fan later.
Another thing I've regretted: When the exhibit of the LotR artifacts came to Indy, an opportunity was given to sleep overnight in the rooms with the exhibits ( for a fee, of course). It would have been a great bonding event to do with my granddaughter--I think she would have remembered it forever! But I talked myself out of it.
Anyway--I will look for your name. I wonder if we are going to be on the Blu-ray EE credits when it comes out. I hope so, and since they roll before the last New Line logo, I think there is a possibility.
Permanent address: Into the West
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Captain Salt
Tol Eressea
Apr 2 2010, 6:54pm
Post #17 of 57
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But "D or Not 3D"? Oh, come on, man and/or woman!
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Iowaboy
The Shire
Apr 2 2010, 10:40pm
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I think this is unfortunately not all that unusual....
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.....in the movie-biz. The unusual part is that THE HOBBIT films will be wildly successful, probably gross over a billion dollars total--so why in heck are they so hard to finance?
Greed. Usually it's a risk problem (risk of losing money) but with these films it's a greed problem--EVERYONE wants a piece of this Hobbit pie. But since they will basically be a license to print money, they WILL get made sooner or later.
The problem is that time waits for no man, and unless we want a 92 yr old Gandalf and a 70 year old Elrond, we'd better hope they get made soon, huh?
Finally, for Damien the original poster, I dislike AVATAR about as much as you do. My fear is that if THE HOBBIT production is rushed, that we will have two "eye candy" films and not two wonderfully thrilling and touching and beloved fantasy epics. Let me make it clear that I do not think that will happen, but the more rushed the process becomes, the more likely an unsatisfying result will occur. A little delay is fine--let's screenwriters think things through--but a really long delay would be a problem.
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Glaurung63
Lorien
Apr 2 2010, 11:14pm
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I hear you, it does get frustrating, I like your writing....but I have full faith in PJ and GDT, and the whole team...I think they are doing all the prep work now, and will be ready to go when the light turns green. I have reservations about The Hobbit 3D, but if anyone can outdo Cameron, it's these guys....I thought the 3D of Avatar was great, it was not 'in your face', the world felt real....so if they go that way, I'm sure Hobbiton will feel even more real. I too am concerned with the casting for Bilbo, but it needs to feel right, like Ian Holm, Elijah, etc. I think they will find someone who not only makes the connection to Ian's Bilbo, but creates the younger version...one who never had any adventures...lol.
Yes, I wish I could watch now!! But I will remain patient, as this movie will get made....
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Guillermo
Rivendell
Apr 3 2010, 5:35pm
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But know these facts:
-NO delays have been caused by "discussing" or "adapting" 3-D.
-Can't close deals with actors without a green light.
-Can't give a green light to the project when one of the studios is going through a "to be or not to be" auction moment.
For good or bad this project has demanded for so much to be solved before it gets going. So, the Phil Connors syndrome is met with great empathy.
Best
GDT
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macfalk
Valinor
Apr 3 2010, 5:40pm
Post #21 of 57
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Thanks for popping in and clearing some stuff up
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Everything depends on the auction, if I got it straight.
(This post was edited by macfalk on Apr 3 2010, 5:42pm)
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Magpie
Immortal
Apr 3 2010, 6:12pm
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I feel obliged to tell you that not all fans... of Tolkien's, of the movies, and of you... are 'hacked off'. Some of us are feeling quite patient that things will progress when they are meant to progress... that no one is out to intentionally mess with our heads, disrespect us, or destroy our lives... and that we have other things to occupy our attention while circumstances are sorted out so that things can proceed.
And some of us have learned that sometimes the outcome of delays is that something even better manages to come about. Reference Doug Adams' situation with his book due out this fall on the LOTR film music.
The only problem is, those of us of the patient persuasion are not nearly so vocal as the those who find themselves in a different state of existence on this matter.
Please know that the most vocal are not necessarily the only voice. And that some of us would be appalled to speak to another as some people here seem quite comfortable speaking.
Best wishes. Your friends are with you.
LOTR soundtrack website ~ magpie avatar gallery ~ Torn Image Posting Guide
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Kangi Ska
Half-elven
Apr 3 2010, 6:17pm
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It is so good to hear from you.
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It as I suspected. Your presance is reassuring even if there is nothing new to say. I really hope the MGM thing moves on soon for everyone's sake.
Thanks.
Kangi Ska
The Hobbit Deserves More Respect!
At night one cannot tell if crows are black or white.
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macfalk
Valinor
Apr 3 2010, 6:22pm
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I guess most of the fans are frustrated because everyone was so focused of what was to come, the planned schedule. When this new Smaug came and blocked the way from nowhere (that's how it felt... at least to me)
And also this nagging fear of not knowing when it all will end. Most of us are not so experienced in film business.
(This post was edited by macfalk on Apr 3 2010, 6:24pm)
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Kangi Ska
Half-elven
Apr 3 2010, 6:51pm
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It is hard for us but imagine how it is for Guillermo.
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His whole life is waiting for the other shoe to drop and then when it falls it never hits the floor and he finds it is back in his hand. I am glad that there are still some outward signs of Pre-pre-preproduction. It gives me faith that the Bullet train is ready to roll. All they need to do is get tho old cow (or should I say lion) off the tracks.
Kangi Ska
The Hobbit Deserves More Respect!
At night one cannot tell if crows are black or white.
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