The Hobbit movie will happen!

[Curubethion]

McClellan? He really sucked as a Civil War general, and I'd hate to see him playing Gandalf.

Ian McKellen...on the other hand...I liked him, personally, but even if you didn't like him, you've got to admit that it's going to cause serious continuity issues if you change the actor. I mean, compare to having someone like...oh, I dunno...Mel Gibson as Aragorn for the very last movie? Yah, that would be distracting.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

10 Reasons Gandalf HAS GOT to go.

10) We're all way too attached to a mediocre/decent Gandalf when we could have a better one.

9) Ian McKellen helped mess up the story and script of LotR.

8) Ian McKellen is too much of a "lovable" and laughing Gandalf whose eyes sparkle 24/7.

7) We don't need anymore "hobbits are amazing creatures" inside jokes.

6) I can't take another Japanese Spa Scene whereby Gandalf has his hair straightened, and lies in the very shiny tanning bed.

5) McKellen just isn't that convincing in the role...

4) Gandalf does not act like he is the King of Gondor one moment, and the next pouts about Life to Pippin.

3)

10) Piddle.
9) Piddle.
8) Fair enough, granted.
7) Say wha?
6) Nincompoop. That doesn't have to do with Ian McKellen.
5) This is a repetition of 8.
4) Piddle.
3-1) Ooo, invisible reasons! How fascinating!

Originally Posted by Jon S.

Saying McClellan must always play Gandalf because you liked him in the LOTR and got used to him is like saying you have to marry the first girl you #$&%ed because it was good and that's also the only experience you have.

Sir Ian was fine in LOTR but he ain't the only good actor in town.

Whew! Lucky I'm not saying that.

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Jon S.

Saying McClellan must always play Gandalf because you liked him in the LOTR and got used to him is like saying you have to marry the first girl you #$&%ed because it was good and that's also the only experience you have.

Sir Ian was fine in LOTR but he ain't the only good actor in town.

That's very nice for your girl friend: "Sorry love, but you ain't the only girl in town. I'm off to get some more experience." Real classy.

I don't think 'there are other good actors' is a good enough argument to get a new name to play Gandalf. If we follow that argument we should remake and remake every other movie just to get other good actors to play that specific character for want of another experience.

I'd say, if you didn't like him and want another man to take up the grey robes and pointy hat, by all means, do. But if it ain't broke, no need to fix it.

But instead of continue knocking sir Ian McKellen, lets look at other good Gandalf possibilities. Which other good actor would you like to play Gandalf instead?

[hectorberlioz]

[deleted]

[Earniel]

True, it doesn't have to be a known actor.

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

Earniel, is the only reason you and Gwai want to keep McKellen because you want to play it safe?

I can't speak for Gwai, but for myself: hardly. And I'm sure I have already said several times why I'd like McKellen to return for the role.

[Al Gore]

I think I would make a dashing Aragorn....

[hectorberlioz]

[deleted]

[Earniel]

Oh haha.

You know hector, if I wanted Gandalf to be eye-candy, I'd have lobbied for the likes of Hugh Jackman by now...

[hectorberlioz]

[deleted]

[Earniel]

Jealous much?

[hectorberlioz]

[deleted]

[Peter_20]

I sincerely hope that they won't make weird arrangements like leaving out The Unexpected Party or crap-ideas like this.

Movies based on books have this tendency to rush everything, so don't expect any slow development like in the book.

*Gandalf SHOULD chat a while with Bilbo at the door-step
*The Dwarves SHOULD make a long visit so as to let the audience get to know them
*The party SHOULD visit Beorn
*The movie SHOULD explain the situation in the Elven-king's halls

PLEASE, don't leave this out.

[Tom_Bombadil]

How dissapointing. I was expecting this post to be about a possible Hobbit movie but all it centered around was one man's obsessive, opinionated, ill-founded critique of an actor. If there was an intelligent foundation for the criticism it wouldn't be so bad.

You are never going to have a completely satisfactory and accurate transition from book to film...they are entirely different mediums. A character in a book will always lose some profundity when taken to the big screen and it has to be; in most cases, visual over character because that's what movies are.

Given the circumstances Ian Mckellen did a great interpretation of Gandalf. Lets not forget he's an actor not a director, working for a director who's visual effects orientated. Honestly, who is going to play a perfect Gandalf? A demi-god in the form of an old man?

We are talking about an actor who has over forty years of acting experience playing an extremely difficult role for a visually obsessed director.

You are living in dreamworld if you think someone could ever play Gandalf perfectly on screen. Gandalf by his very nature is enigmatic...No one knows what he was like as Olorin...how much he revealed of his true nature through Gandalf and how much he did not.

If you were a thespian with four decades of experience also you would be in the position to criticise peer performances. Or maybe its not his performance you have a problem with...maybe its his sexuality. Who knows.

[hectorberlioz]

[deleted]

[Rían]

Originally Posted by Tom_Bombadil

If you were a thespian with four decades of experience also you would be in the position to criticise peer performances.

YOU gave an opinion on his performance - you said, "Given the circumstances Ian Mckellen did a great interpretation of Gandalf." Are YOU a thespian with four decades of experience? Lighten up, Bombadil! He gave an opinion just like you did.

Personally, I thought he was a very good Gandalf in the first movie. But as soon as he got white, he came off as pretentious most of the time. But I think that was mostly Jackson's fault.

[Rosie Gamgee]

To quote the famous hobbit himself:

Hear, hear!!

[Curubethion]

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

Personally, I thought he was a very good Gandalf in the first movie. But as soon as he got white, he came off as pretentious most of the time. But I think that was mostly Jackson's fault.

Which means he'd be fine in TH, since...he's Gandy the Gray again.

[Tom_Bombadil]

Yes Rian I gave an opinion, which consisted of one sentence, not a multi page spanning rant, which is what I was complaining about if you read what I had written. Please, enlighten me...how did he come across as being "pretentious" in his Gandalf the White embodiment? It was my understanding, from reading the books, that in that incarnation he was meant to be more pretentious..more action...reveal more of his power. A naked flame, as it were, as compared with the grey ashes, hiding the power within.

Sometimes I think that maybe some things were lost in translation when the books passed across the pond.

Oh btw, hector...how did he "meddle'?

[Rían]

Originally Posted by Tom_Bombadil

Yes Rian I gave an opinion, which consisted of one sentence, not a multi page spanning rant ...

Is there some length limit on opinions that I'm not aware of?

... which is what I was complaining about if you read what I had written.

Yes, I read it, and you didn't mention a "multi page spanning rant". You said, "How dissapointing. I was expecting this post to be about a possible Hobbit movie but all it centered around was one man's obsessive, opinionated, ill-founded critique of an actor."

I don't agree with your view of the situation, since lots of people were participating in a pleasant, fun, back-and-forth discussion. (and I thought your comment was a bit snarky for a newbie, too! )

Personally, I think Hector's posts are fun, and usually quite perceptive, too. I thought he had some good points.

Please, enlighten me...how did he come across as being "pretentious" in his Gandalf the White embodiment?

Nah, I wouldn't dare try to enlighten you, since I'm not a thespian with 40 years of experience!

[Rían]

Originally Posted by Curubethion

Which means he'd be fine in TH, since...he's Gandy the Gray again.

true - good point! Give the man his pointy hat back!