don't be dull, be fannish

The Hobbit now reached $919 mil. worldwide! It passed The Fellowship of the Rings ($869 mil.) and it will soon pass The Two Towers ($923 mil.). BO Mojo predicts it will cross $1 bil. worldwide before it runs its course. I wonder if the naysayers, haters and other obnoxious people will finally shut up about this being a flop!

Also, it looks like it will be out on DVD in April. I can't wait!!!

The last part :( And now I'm depressed. I felt the same way when I finished the Matrix trilogy. With LotR, there's at least The Hobbit and still two more movies to go and a whole world to explore in the books... Still. I get that when one thing ends, another begins but... *clutches the characters*

All those years back, when I first saw it, I didn't like the ending much. Frodo leaving, that is. But now that I'm older, I understand why he did it and I love the ending. Both he and Bilbo just weren't for this world anymore. They couldn't have just gone back to being "simple" hobbits. Not that they've ever been "simple" hobbits. Still. What's the saying about not stepping into the same river twice? So yeah, I really, really love the ending. Though if it were up to me, I would've ended it with the ship leaving the port, I wouldn't have gone back to the Shire. That was a bit too much.

Legolas and Gimli and their game again. Legolas killing the oliphant - single-handedly, too - and Gimli being all "Still counts as one!" LOL! Or when Gimli said that he couldn't believe he would die side by side with an elf - and Legolas responded, "What about side by side with a friend?" That was lovely. And even lovelier when you know that they will leave together and go on many more adventures in the next 50 years or so before leaving together for the Undying Lands.

And Merry and Pippin. For the first time, I can honestly say that I loved Merry and Pippin. When Pippin found Merry on the battlefield and promised to take care of him or when he saved Gandalf and then later on Faramir, when Merry saved Éowyn... They have grown so much.

I was glad that Éowyn got together with Faramir and Aragorn with Arwen. Both Aragorn and Arwen were too... otherworldly, you could say, Aragorn wouldn't have fit with a normal human. Éowyn needed a human being, but someone who would let her grow and be herself. And let's face it, if there ever was a submissive in the whole world of Middle-Earth, it was Faramir, endlessly needing to please. Éowyn was definitely the one wearing pants in their relationship.

I loved the song that Pippin sang to Denethor and then later on Aragorn's song during his coronation. The music was an experience in itself.

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Now that I finished this trilogy, I will take a break for a few days - probably watch Fringe since it's ending tonight, so I will be able to marathon S5! - and then I will go back and watch the films with the audio commentaries and also the extras. There are still hours and hours of stuff to enjoy. At this speed, I won't be finished with it before The Hobbit will be out on DVD - so far, it's rumored to happen in April.

Legolas and Gimli and their bickering will never not be my favorite part of the movie. I laughed when Gimli told Legolas that 42 was good number for a pointy-eared Elvish princeling but he was at 43 and Legolas shot the orc Gimli was sitting on because it was "twitching" and thus alive. LOL! That was funny.

Oh, speaking about Legolas. What really got me in FotR was the Elvish bread, when Legolas took a single bite and told Merry and Pippin that just this tiny bite was enough to fill a man's stomach for a whole day - and Pippin ate four of those breads, LOL!

The one scene that always gets me? The arrival of the Rohirrim and Éomer. The wave of them riding down the slope to attack the orcs... Gosh, that scene always sets my heart aflutter! *happy sigh*

Arwen and Éowyn. Arwen is definitely more gentle and ethereal, Éowyn feels much more real, fiery and down-to-earth. Yet at the same time, next to Arwen, Éowyn looks a bit bland, IMHO, Arwen is much prettier - but then, it might be her ethereal look...

You know, I never got the fandom's obsession with Faramir. For most of the movie, I wanted to shake him because his daddy issues totally overcame his common sense. I very much preferred the way Éomer dealt with Théoden's rejection - he took the Rohirrim and went to kick major ass, Théoden be damned!

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Oh, anyone in the know care to explain the Undying Lands to me? I get that only immortal beings could reside there and that Bilbo and Frodo were exceptions. According to Wiki, Sam and Gimli possibly too. But the lands alone apparently didn't make people immortal - but why did these four go there then? I mean, I get Bilbo and Frodo, they just didn't fit in the normal world anymore. But Sam and Gimli?

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Another thing - I've always been incredibly fascinated by elves. Some people love dwarves, some love hobbits, some simple humans or wizards. But for me, it's always been the elves. Their longevity and beauty, culture and connection to the land and nature.

And the LotR elves are especially intriguing. I would love to learn more about what Legolas feels or hears or sees when he mentions the trees talking, their anger or despair. Is it like telepathy? Empathy? Something else? It feels like a whole world completely untapped and unexplained. Just thinking about it makes me want to read a book or two about elves.

Richard Armitage talked about Kili a bit and about what's in store for the youngest dwarf:

In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, we meet Thorin Oakenshield’s nephew Kili, a naive, rash, yet brave young dwarf played by Irish actor Aidan Turner. Kili has his own story to tell over the course of the three films. ( Vague spoilers for The Desolation of Smaug )

and, in the final film, Kili’s character is developed further as Richard Armitage (who plays Thorin Oakenshield) explains:

“In the third film [Thorin and Kili] had some really kind of sensitive, intimate moments. [Kili]'s such a heroic character in the first movie and his journey is fascinating and he goes through all sorts of traumas, so it was a real privilege to play that with [Aidan] and he really gave himself up to it.”

Source

I didn't know that Kili was Thorin's nephew. Interesting. I wonder if that's Tolkien's bit or if Peter Jackson added that connection. In any case, I can't wait for this. Kili's such a wonderful, sweet character *happy sigh*

Ah, the Mines of Moria! The best setting of all in FotR, hands down. The huge halls and columns, the bridge... Wonderful. I know that they filmed this with green-screen but it looks so good. What a fantastic setting. It really felt like they were there. Though I also loved Galadriel's home, Rivendell and the Argonath. But Moria... Man, that place was awesome!

Speaking about Moria - poor Balin. You know, there were times when I didn't care about hobbits or dwarves. But after seeing The Hobbit... just knowing what fate has in store for those 13 dwarves... Kili and Fili, Thorin... then later on Balin... ;_; Yes, I'm mush, sue me.

You know, those who call The Hobbit boring or too drawn out obviously haven't seen FotR in a long time because, come on, it takes Frodo half the movie to get just to Rivendell! Both movies follow pretty much the same line of storytelling. But those who want to bitch, will bitch, no matter what *sigh*

I loved the fight with the orcs in Moria and then later on Balrog. Gosh, that was scary awesome. And I just adore Legolas' fighting style, those two beautiful knives with white handles that he carries on his back. Yeah, it doesn't hurt that Orlando Bloom looks gorgeous kicking ass. He makes it look so effortless. I really hope will play a large-ish part in the upcoming two The Hobbit movies. I just really want to see him do his thing again!

Ah, loved all the added stuff with Galadriel. All the gifts she gave to the fellowship. And I LOL'd when Legolas asked Gimli what she gave him. Ha! I could see the beginning of their friendship right there.

Oh, speaking about Legolas, one of my favorite scenes is the one in the mountains, when everybody is ploughing on, straining against the deep snow - and Legolas just skitters above it. Ah, it's nice to be an elf. And quite athletic one too :P

I actually cried this time when Boromir died. Weird. His death never affected me before. Huh.

And I love Frodo. He and Bilbo, they are my favorite hobbits, hands down. I felt so sorry for Bilbo when he went all nuts for the ring - and then broke down and apologized to Frodo for dragging him into this. I adore their relationship so much. Though it really does feel like they just don't fit among the hobbits, like they are destined for far greater things, don't you think? No wonder they both leave with the elves at the end...

Gosh, I love these movies so much. It's too bad that there aren't more pure fantasy books adapted this way. And yeah, I know about Game of Thrones and how popular it is - more power to you if you enjoy it - but I prefer my fantasy to be of the heroic kind, not politicking and back-stabbing and borderline porn. Oh well, still 2 movies and tons of extras to go!

Went to see The Hobbit for the second time, this time in 2D and subbed - my first time was in 3D and dubbed. Gosh, and I'm still as much in love with it as before. I don't even really know why, just... Bilbo and Thorin and Kili and Fili... they made me actually love the halflings and dwarves which I didn't think was possible. I like Bilbo so much more than the LotR hobbits! And the dwarves - thanks to this bunch, I now see them as something more than angry little men.

Also, looking back, I now really love that Bilbo left with the elves when they went away at the end of LotR. Now that I got to know him, saw his adventures - at least some of them - it feels so sweet...

And yes, I still like Jackson's version so much better than the book, his addition of Azog included. I think Jackson was right, the story needed an immediate threat, a pressing sense of doom, a real, existing bad guy on their heels, not just a giant serpent sleeping under a mountain. And Azog is... creepy! So much creepier than the lead orc in LotR, what with being all white and scarry and crazy - Manu Bennet did such an amazing job with his facial expressions, you can see them even through the CGI, he does crazy furious so well!

And Galadriel and Gandalf - is it wrong that I ship them like whoa? So sweet and intimate, you can feel just how close these two are. BTW, Cate Blanchett doesn't age, does she?

( Specific spoilers... )

Gosh, I can't wait for movie #2! 11 months still to go *whines* I will be getting this film on DVD as soon as it's out - and then the extended version once all the movies are out, that's for sure. And now I want to re-watch LotR. Just as I have a thing for Kili killing monsters in this movie, I had a thing for Legolas killing stuff in the first trilogy. Yes, archers simply do it for me, so sue me! :P

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey crossed $700 mil. worldwide! Please, please, let it cross $1 bil. before it runs its course, just so the haters finally shut up!

Also, I loved what Deadline wrote about Bilbo, how Peter Jackson's take on the character differed from Guillermo Del Toro's:

“It shifted and changed into someone who, rather than being slightly younger and more innocent in the world, once had a sense of longing for adventure and has lost it and become fussy and fusty,” she says.

That led Jackson to Freeman. “We needed a dramatic actor because it is ultimately a dramatic role, but Bilbo Baggins is a much funnier character than Frodo was,” says Jackson. “There’s very few dramatic actors who can do comedy very well, but Martin seemed to possess the perfect qualities.”

I'm really glad that they didn't go the "young and innocent" route, that would've been way too similar to Frodo. I love this Bilbo, kind and courageous but also "fussy and fusty", as they say :)

Also, this bit was interesting, Andy Serkis talking about how they had filmed the Riddles in the Dark scene:

“We played that scene out in its entirety every time we shot it, and it’s a 13-minute scene,” says Serkis. “It’s like a theater piece really, and we just explored it and mined it for everything that it was worth, and Peter shot it from lots of different angles.”

Wow, every time in its entirety? That's admirable.

I'm sorry I cannot link to the article directly, if I did, LJ would not allow me to post this entry because they consider everything that links back to Deadline.com spam.

Here’s a snippet of what McAvoy told us when we asked if there was anything else that he was itching to do after his recent spate of diverse projects.

“I’d like to play Gandalf,” he told us, laughing.

‘Gandalf: Origins’, we offer? “It’s called The Silmarillion! It’s a collection of poems and songs that chart the ancient history of Middle-earth. My true geek is coming to the fore, but they’re really, really beautiful stories.

“In part of that is the genesis of Gandalf, or Mithrandir, or Stormcrow, or any of his many, many names. Anyway, maybe that’s the one!”

Source

Could this man be in any way more perfect? I would love to see him play young Gandalf. He pulled off young Charles Xavier fabulously, after all. That would be sweet!

Yes, the dwarves. 13 of them! And people seem to have fallen hard for...



... the heroic and noble Thorin Oakenshield who's just as brave and kick-ass as Aragorn was in LotR. And Richard Armitage is sex on legs, on that we can agree, right? Right. But for me, personally...



... it was Kili all the way. Just as brave but much funnier and rather... Well, he and his brother Fili reminded me of Merry and Pippin in the LotR movies. Always getting into some mischief. Like with the ponies...

I was simply smitten with his fighting skills. Basically a baby among the dwarves - no BEARD! - he was the best shot, picking off their enemies and... just the way he twirled a sword! *_* I have a thing for bowmen, I really, really do.

And his wonderful relationship with Fili! Gosh, you just had to love these two.

I feel like watching the whole LotR trilogy, the extended version - FINALLY. But... the next week or so, I need to work really, really hard to be able to have some time off over Xmas. So, in the evening, I'm usually so tired, my brain's mush. I think I'll leave it and watch it over Xmas. I'll have something to look forward to!

I needed to cool off before I posted this, otherwise my reaction would've been all "AHTOAUTASBHGNAHOTFGJSDFPHPIO!!!!" *keysmash* Yes, it's THAT good! Great! Fantastic! Excellent! Beautiful! Amazing!!!!

My God, peeps! Go and see it! I saw it in 3D and I wish it were available in 48fps here, I would've loved to see it in the high frame rate. The setting was amazing, the CGI breathtaking - I'm so glad that they didn't use rubber heads instead of CGI! - and it was the best use of the 3D technology I've ever seen!

Yes, the first half is slower than the second but it is good so. You get to know the characters, you have a few good laughs with them and you get to care about them - and that's why the second half is so great, because you care about what happens to these character, you fear for them! I think this introduction was necessary because not many people like dwarves as characters. I didn't care about them in the book - but I fell in love with them in the movie. The movie is so much better than the book, let me tell you. For me, it was, hands down, the best movie of the year, even better than The Avengers or The Dark Knights Returns. Yes, it's THAT good! When the movie ended, I immediately wanted to see it again *bounces*

( Spoilers! )

So many thoughts, my head is full of them. The movie is terrific - and terrifying! I don't think it's in any way a movie for kids, not with the wargs and Azog - and why the hell didn't anybody tell me that Azog is played by Manu frickin' Bennett! Even under all the make-up, I thought I recognized the mannerism!

Gosh, I'm so happy with it. I want to roll in it and coo like a demented bird. It's all I wanted it to be and more! 10/10, definitely \o/