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"Song of the Lonely Mountain - The Hobbit 2012 - Official Soundtrack - End Credit Song" (Watch on YouTube)

A strange thing happened. When I first listened to The Hobbit OST, I liked it but except for the Misty Mountains song, I didn't find it all that memorable. But the more I listened to it, the more I loved the OST in general and The Song of the Lonely Mountain in particular. Especially once I really started listening, following the lyrics. I especially love this part:

Some folk we never forget
Some kind we never forgive
Haven’t seen the back of us yet
We’ll fight as long as we live
All eyes on the hidden door
To the Lonely Mountain borne
We’ll ride in the gathering storm
Until we get our long-forgotten gold

And this, this very sentiment is why I like The Hobbit much more than The Lord of the Rings trilogy. In LotR, the halflings and the dwarves just didn't speak to me. Frodo and Sam were sweet but Merry and Pippin? Gimli? Mostly comic relief. Or painfully idiotic. With some great development, true, but it didn't change my first impression of them. But in The Hobbit...

For the first time, I saw the halflings and dwarves as, well, people with ambitions, daily struggles, with friends and enemies, people who felt betrayal as deeply as anyone else. The movie made the dwarves three-dimensional, fighting for their right, heroic people but also vain and short-tempered.

And Bilbo... I guess I didn't like the halflings in LotR much because the actors didn't do much for me. Good actors, don't get me wrong, but I didn't know them before - only Sean Astin did I see in something else - nor did I feel like following their career after. But Martin Freeman... He's one of my favorite actors and his Bilbo is... never too earnest, never too much of a comic relief, never too much of a chicken. He's a normal person and he plays the part beautifully.

So yeah, in LotR, there were places that felt... empty to me - Faramir and his daddy issues, come to my mind - but The Hobbit I adored as a whole, the story and all the characters, whether we followed Bilbo, Thorin and his gang or Gandalf, everyone's arc was fascinating and captivating.

And basically this song, The Song of the Lonely Mountain, with its melody and lyrics, embodies my love for the movie!

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.

You know, compared to FotR, this was a bit... boring and slow. At least this part, the first hour and 40 min., it's mostly the characters walking/running and then walking/running some more. I mean, I know it's needed and it sets up the battle at Helm's Deep, still. And with the added scenes, it feels even longer.

I guess it suffers the usual pains of being the second movie in a trilogy. Luckily, The Desolation of Smaug won't have this problem what with Mirkwood, the spiders, Thranduil, the Lake Town, the Lonely Mountain, Smaug, then Lake Town again and the slaying of the dragon. The second movie will be action-packed from the very beginning till the end.

The added scenes, what I really liked was Théoden's son's funeral and Éowyn's singing. And then the scene in the stables, in which Aragorn calmed down the spooked horse using Elvish tongue. That was beautiful.

And Gimli. He's hilarious, so, so funny. I love how he complains about every little thing, all the time. He's one grumpy dwarf, let me tell you. Though I loved how Legolas jumped to his defense when Éomer threatened to cut Gimli's head off. Yup, they're starting to become friends.

Oh, speaking about Éomer and Legolas - these two? No buddies. It was dislike at first sight. But it's a bit funny, to see these two standing next to each other. They are of almost the same height, yet where Legolas is all slight and slim, Éomer is a real buff and all muscle. Nice.

Part 2 tomorrow!

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

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!

It looks like The Hobbit might end up being a trilogy after all: link.

THR reports that they have sources close to The Hobbit telling them that Jackson is indeed pushing forward with his intention to turn The Hobbit into a trilogy – a plan that would require the cast and crew to reconvene for additional shooting (which, it is speculated, would take place next summer). The report also states that “Warner Bros., Jackson, producer Fran Walsh and writer-producer Philippa Boyens” began talks after Comic-Con to see if The Hobbit 3 is a feasible endeavor; those talks are said to have accelerated recently, with the studio giving its blessing on the new addition – if a reasonable budget can be worked out.

If it were the studio pushing for it, I might be wary but since it's Jackson himself, I'm ALL for it! If he thinks there's material enough to expand the duology into a trilogy, I trust him. I want to see more of the Middle-Earth and of the elves and dwarves and now that Martin Freeman's playing Bilbo even of the hobbits. Peter Jackson hasn't let me down yet, his LotR movies are a pleasure to watch. So, if he thinks he can make it work then, IMHO, HE CAN MAKE IT WORK! And sheesh on all the naysayers. They haven't even seen it yet but they already KNOW it will be a disaster. Are they for real? :-/

The July issue of the Czech fantasy/sci-fi/horror magazine Pevnost - link - has a huge article about The Hobbit with some amazing info (and one of the short stories that I translated for them, which is why I got my hands on it). You know, the more I hear about the films, the more I want to see them!



So, the info. According to the article, Legolas' part should be a LOT bigger than everybody thought, not just a cameo as planned at first. Now it looks like ( could be considered a spoiler! ) Just how awesome is that? \o/ Please, let it be true! I need more Legolas in my life. Though I wouldn't mind if he ( my speculations! )

Also, Lee Pace as Thranduil, Legolas' father? Can I squee now already? I hope there will be a lot of gen fics about Thranduil and his son. I need them in my life RIGHT NOW! I mean, Lee Pace! He's younger than Orlando Bloom! Young looking Thranduil and his son Legolas, that kind of pushes all my father-son buttons!

I wasn't sure about Evangeline Lily at first, but I really can't wait to see her Tauriel now. And I hope that the article was right and Tauriel and ( spoiler ) become a couple. I would really, really love that and I'm not even much of a het fan.

And it looks like the part of Bard the Bowman will be much bigger too. He should be the Aragorn of the 2nd movie. I really like Luke Evans and I hope he will do the part justice. His Aramis was one of the best parts of the new The Three Musketeers - together with Orlando Bloom's Buckingham!

Oh, and I didn't know that they considered James McAvoy for the part of Bilbo when Martin Freeman's Sherlock schedule clashed with The Hobbit's. Now I'm torn. Martin Freeman will rock the part like whoa, that's for sure, but... James McAvoy!

Also, the article detailed the plans Guillermo del Toro had for the movie, while he was hired to direct it a couple of years back, and I'm really, REALLY glad that Peter Jackson took over in the end. Del Toro wanted to tinge it all gold and use dummies instead of CGI. Wha...? Can you imagine a Smaug made of rubber? O.o Thank the gods above for Peter Jackson!

But mostly... LEGOLAS! \o/