|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Danielos
Nargothrond
Dec 5 2015, 10:19am
Post #1 of 18
(2325 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Billy Connolly
|
Can't Post
|
|
I just viewed the documentary about Dain Ironfoot and I was surprised nothing was said about replacing Connolly with CGI. Did they not want to admit it or was he merely digitally airbrushed like Ian Holm?
Billy Connelly seems like a really honest, funny guy though. I laughed when he admitted that he don´t really like fantasy and Tolkien fans and made a little fun of us geeks. 
|
|
|
Bishop
Mithlond
Dec 5 2015, 4:54pm
Post #2 of 18
(2104 views)
Shortcut
|
It's a technical feat in and of itself. Arguably Cgi Dain may be one of the most successful/convincing CGI humanoid characters to date (Cgi Jeff Bridges gives me the major creeps). So the idea that no one wants to talk about it really says something. I think given everything we know, including a statement from the team is enough to piece it together.
We know the production team often got themselves into trouble. They built incredible, stunning armor for the Dwarves, but never considered they'd actually have to move around in it (Der!). And that's why they don't charge in the armor. We know that the production schedule was a bit wonky and they were making up a lot of decisions on the fly. We know that they couldn't get Dain's makeup right and they kept losing Connelly under it. We know that the team has said they needed more flexibility with Dain, mostly because he was inexpressive under the makeup, but we can infer also that there were doubtless other reasons such as having him fight in battles that had not yet been choreographed.
I surmise thusly. When push came to shove it was simply easier to use a fully CGI Dain. You can do anything you want in the computer. And as to why they don't make a big deal out of it, I'm sure it's a little embarrassing to them that it was not the plan to make Connelly CGI. It is not normal to replace an actor with a fully CGI rendering. So as incredible as it is, it's still the result of problem solving rather than a pre planned vision.
(This post was edited by Bishop on Dec 5 2015, 4:56pm)
|
|
|
Eruonen
Gondolin
Dec 5 2015, 9:02pm
Post #4 of 18
(1973 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Though disappointed, it is a job and actors often play roles they
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
may not identify with....the end product is key of course, is it obvious he was just cashin in or did the actor do his job convincingly?
For his limited role, I did not see a lack of effort.
|
|
|
Kilidoescartwheels
Doriath
Dec 5 2015, 11:59pm
Post #5 of 18
(1891 views)
Shortcut
|
Actors not only need to make a living, but they need to self-promote, which can sometimes mean taking parts you are less than crazy about just to keep visible. Both Martin Sheen and Ricardo Montelban have said just that - basically you can't call yourself an actor if you're not acting. And "The Hobbit" is a pretty high-profile movie, which for an actor is more important than loving the genre. I don't know how Richard Armitage felt about playing Guy of Gisborne (IMO the show was beneath him), but it sure boosted his profile, didn't it?
Proud member of the BOFA Denial Association
|
|
|
Morthoron
Hithlum
Dec 6 2015, 2:07am
Post #6 of 18
(1841 views)
Shortcut
|
Did Armitage insult the people who would actually be watching his portrayal? The fans who would actually be purchasing tickets? It's one thing to dislike your role, it's another altogether to insult the fans.
Please visit my blog...The Dark Elf File...a slighty skewed journal of music and literary comment, fan-fiction and interminable essays.
|
|
|
Kilidoescartwheels
Doriath
Dec 6 2015, 5:20am
Post #7 of 18
(1800 views)
Shortcut
|
But some entertainers believe ANY publicity is good publicity - and this is just speculation on my part, but there are actors/comedians who make a living insulting people; Billy may have been doing that. As for Richard, well he has the opposite reputation, he goes out of his way to be polite; but then again he's not a comedian.
Proud member of the BOFA Denial Association
|
|
|
SauronsDog
Registered User
Dec 6 2015, 6:57am
Post #8 of 18
(1786 views)
Shortcut
|
During the battle footage Peter complimented Connelly for his fighting skills in the footage.
|
|
|
Noria
Hithlum
Dec 6 2015, 1:01pm
Post #9 of 18
(1731 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Like many who are not Tolkien fans,
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Connelly may honestly think that we geeky fans are way over the top and find us amusing. That’s because we are. So what! I’ve been a Tolkien fan for getting on towards fifty years and got used to that attitude decades ago. That brief interlude in which the LotR movies made Tolkien “in” and “hot” with the media and the general populace has passed.
Also, Connelly is a comedian and a Scot and probably enjoys taking the mickey out of everyone. His performance was excellent and IMO that’s all that counts.
|
|
|
dormouse
Gondolin
Dec 6 2015, 2:09pm
Post #10 of 18
(1716 views)
Shortcut
|
And you're right, it's the kind of man Billy Connolly is - it's his kind of humour.
Though even if it weren't, I'm not sure that it's reasonable to expect an actor to have any real-life association with the parts he or she plays. If someone were cast as Churchill, or Abraham Lincoln, or Margaret Thatcher would we expect them to share their character's political views? I don't think so (and if they were playing Hitler I'm sure we wouldn't!) Their job is all about entering the mindset of another person. If they do that convincingly that's all that's needed, isn't it?
|
|
|
Danielos
Nargothrond
Dec 6 2015, 2:31pm
Post #11 of 18
(1703 views)
Shortcut
|
I think your overserious reaction kind of justify why Connolly is making fun of us.
|
|
|
dormouse
Gondolin
Dec 6 2015, 4:42pm
Post #12 of 18
(1650 views)
Shortcut
|
|
I think you might have misunderstood Noria's post, Danielos...
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
... seems to me it's very relaxed about the whole thing. Those of us who've been Tolkien fans for a long time are used to the jokes and tend not to take them seriously!
Billy Connolly is a good Dain - as Noria says, that's all that matters.
|
|
|
Eruonen
Gondolin
Dec 6 2015, 4:48pm
Post #13 of 18
(1651 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Actually, I think he personally did identify with the role of Dain.
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I think Dain reflected the type of Glasgow tough he knows very well.
|
|
|
Lio
Menegroth
Dec 6 2015, 10:33pm
Post #14 of 18
(1575 views)
Shortcut
|
|
I never got the impression he "despised" The Hobbit
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Just that he was poking fun at the Tolkien geeks of his own time (who were responsible for things like this, so I really can't blame him.  ). So I don't think his comments were even directed at contemporary Tolkien fans (I was going to say "us", but I don't know how old everyone around here is  ). In any case nothing he said came off as malicious or belittling.
I recall some threads about this from before The Battle of the Five Armies came out, I think, and was pretty put off. But the whole thing seems really exaggerated now after actually seeing the interviews in the extended edition bonus features. I don't know too much about Billy except for what I saw in the features, but he seems like a nice enough guy.
Dwalin Balin Kili Fili Dori Nori Ori Oin Gloin Bifur Bofur Bombur Thorin
Orcs are mammals!
"Don't laugh at the Dwarves because they will mess you up." — Dean O'Gorman (Fili)
Want to chat? AIM me at Yami Liokaiser! (Does anyone still use AIM?)
|
|
|
emre43
Nargothrond
Dec 7 2015, 6:13pm
Post #15 of 18
(1458 views)
Shortcut
|
|
I'm not bothered by Billy's comments
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
because I dislike his comedy anyway
Two things I love most, good horses and beautiful women, And when I die I hope they tan this old hide of mine and make it into a ladies riding saddle, So I can rest in peace between the two things I love.
- Russell J. Larsen
|
|
|
malickfan
Mithlond
Dec 8 2015, 5:38pm
Post #16 of 18
(1389 views)
Shortcut
|
|
I wasn't bothered by his comments either
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Not everyone is going to be a fan of the source material, and at his age it was probably just a fun job and welcome pay check to do something a little different, sorta reminds me of Harrison Ford's position on Star Wars, respects the source material and fans, but doesn't have much emotional attachment or fondness for the genre.
He's a very good actor with great comic timing so I was looking forward to seeing what he could do with the character...and then I watched the film and cam away disappointed...
|
|
|
emre43
Nargothrond
Dec 18 2015, 12:32pm
Post #17 of 18
(1255 views)
Shortcut
|
having actually watched his EE comments, rather than just read what they were on here, I am really disappointed.
He actually told the interviewer to get a life!
Two things I love most, good horses and beautiful women, And when I die I hope they tan this old hide of mine and make it into a ladies riding saddle, So I can rest in peace between the two things I love.
- Russell J. Larsen
|
|
|
Imladris18
Menegroth
Dec 18 2015, 2:57pm
Post #18 of 18
(1248 views)
Shortcut
|
Lots of hyper-sensitivity in here over nothing.
|
|
|
|
|
