The Hobbit movie - good / bad idea?

[Gerbil]

OK so I know everyone will scream 'GREAT IDEA!' but really rather than just post a 'me too' can people say WHY they think this and justify it rationally?

I'm currently re-reading the Hobbit (yeah like the day it takes to read ) and I'm thinking it's actually not very good material for a movie. Certainly not if it's to join onto the LotR films.

The material is just too different and more childish.
Style aside, it also does not fit very well into the world of LotR (as we all know it was in part retro-fitted into the LotR story and mythology) - it would just need too many changes to become consistant.

And of course - changes are bad, right? We don't want another Liv Tyler putting her ugly mug in shot, do we?

So go for it, explain away, but EXPLAIN please! Don't just say 'cos I want to see it!' (No bonus points for being the first to quote that as the only thing in your message).

I'm looking for serious reasoned opinions. I leave it to you guys to show me whether I've come to the right place or not for that

[Nibs]

I'd like to see it done for the same reasons that I wanted LotR. Sure, things would be altered, but you expect that from a book to film transition. And, though the Hobbit is written in a different style than LotR, it would (I'd assume) play about the same as the other films, which I think would suit it. The Hobbit, as a film, would have the same standing as the trilogy: it's someone's portrayal of the literature. It doesn't necessarily need to affect mine. And, truthfully, I think it would make quite an epic adventure. A well-done CG Smaug would be impressive.

[Khamûl]

I think it's a good idea, if it's well done. You got a glimpse of Hobbit in the history part before Fellowship of the Ring movie. You also wouldn't have to wait a year between movies, since it would be just one movie. Some people who haven't read the book might be interested in the story of Frodo's mithril coat, Sting, and Glamdring. The Battle of the Five Armies at the end would be epic. The end would also be emotional and powerful. The book almost got to me and I almost started leaking. Like I said, if it was well done (Peter Jackson are you listening?) I would be all for it.

[jerseydevil]

I think it would be good. Even if - and this will surprise people - it had to be changed to fit more in with LOTR.

I think the Hobbit can be made less "childish" and be a really cool movie. The hardest thing would be the goblins in the Misty Mountains - they are way nastier in LOTR. Of course I guess it could be made where the Goblins are a different kind of orc. The songs would probably have to be left out too for it to be made less childish.

I was thinking about how I wish The Hobbit would be made into a movie after LOTR is done - or even while we're stiill waiting for RotK to come out.

[FrodoFriend]

I think it would be a good idea because I like seeing other people's interpretations of books. Plus I would love to see Mirkwood, Smaug, the riddling game, etc.

On the other hand, it would be extremely difficult to capture the Hobbit's air of serious humor. It can't be too silly or too solemn. It'd be hard to get an audience for a movie of it, too - not quite a kid's movie or an adult movie.

But hey, Time Bandits pulled it off. I'd be overjoyed to see a Hobbit movie.

[Twilight]

I would like to see a movie on the Hobbit, but I doubt it will happen. It would take a lot of funding if it is going to be done properly. I don't think it would get as much of an audience as the other movies in the series. Changes from the book would may need to happen, but that wouldn't be too bad. I am hoping that somebody will eventually get around to making one. It would be interesting to see what they do with it.

[Lightice]

I think it would be a great idea to make a Hobbit movie. That is, if it's done well. Goblins/orcs could be same a like as the one in Isengard who asked what are the orders of the Eye (I had imagined orcs just like that ).
I believe, that after RotK the producers will beg PJ to make Hobbit movie...

[bropous]

It took what, 280 million to make all three films? It has so far taken in something around 800 million. This proved there IS a market for Tolkien in the films. You can bet someone has at least pitched the idea to Peter Jackson.

As for WHY the film should be made, The Hobbit fills in a few of the blanks in the story, like someone said above: Sting, Orcrist and Glamdring, the Stone trolls, the relation of Gloin to the story, etc. Also, it would be an interesting movie. Hobbit is a book in a childish voic,e but there IS a good story underneath. Again said above, Smaug and the Battle of Five armies are good spectacular sights for the end parts of a film, and the heroism of Bilbo at times is an interesting character study in Hobbits. Might help folks understand hobbits better, who knows.

[The Ringbearer]

I think a Hobbit movie would be a good idea because half the people in the theaters probably haven't read The Hobbit, or The Lord of the Rings. They would have to change some things though; like when Gandalf and Co. are arriving at Rivendell, they hear the elves singing at the dwarves, making fun of their beards and such. Can you imagine the elves from the movie acting like that? It has been bugging me for months that they would have such a change of character like that.

[bropous]

Welcome to the Moot, the Ringbearer! Konichi-wa.

Agreed that they would have to "standardize" the Hobbit Elves to the LotR Elven model to make a Hobbit film to mate up with the three Jackson films. I think it's just a natural progression for Jackson to tackle Hobbit to come out the Christmas after RotK.

[elf_princess]

I think that a Hobbit movie would be a good idea but might prove to be unsuccessful... It might be hard for the average person to figure out what exactly is happening and to make it all fit in with the LotR... it could be a little confusing and overwhelming... I myself would love to see a movie of the Hobbit... I've rented the cartoon version from the library countless number of times...

[GandalfTheWhite]

i think the hobbit would have been a good movie if it had been made and released before lotr just because if it is released after lotr it wont really grab attention and be liked by audiences because it is much more tame of a story, does that make sense?

[bropous]

"I think that a Hobbit movie would be a good idea but might prove to be unsuccessful... It might be hard for the average person to figure out what exactly is happening and to make it all fit in with the LotR..."

Well, elf princess, I think the way you solve that is at the opening of the film, you have a graphic which states, "This is the story of how Bilbo Baggins found the One Ring and set the events of the Lord of the Rings in motion..."

And The Hobbit may be more "tame" than LotR, but it is still an interesting tale and still has a good amount of action included.

Besides, if they act quick the only person they have to replace is Bilbo *wink*

[Spock]

For all of the above and more, I recommend seeing the animated move "The Hobbit". It goes very well with being all one could expect.

[Strange-Looking Lurker]

Picture this:

Your sitting in the theater, and it's dark. Dark, "dwarvish" music is playing, and than Thorin's voice comes over the speakers. "Far over the Misty Mountains, standing like a fortress, lays the Lonely Mountain. (shot of the lonely Mountain from afar, slowly getting closer) The dwarves mined and tunneled there....(Thorin begins to sing)

The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
while hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beheath the fells.

Now a CG Smaug flys over the top of the screen.

The pines were roaring in the height....

And so on. Seriously, can you imagine a better start to a movie? It would be just wonderful.

[azalea]

It wouldn't be too bad having The Hobbit come out after LotR. Kinda like Episode I. All I can say is after seeing Hobbiton in The Fellowship, I wanted to see The Hobbit done. But it would be a big pain for PJ, having to redo all of the scenery, hobbit feet and all that. He should have just done it at the same time as the other three.

[Lightice]

It could be great spetacular, indeed.
And for making it longer and more interesting, it might include some cameo about the White Council driving the Necromancer from Dol Guldur, and perhaps even telling the audience, that this dark socerer actually was Sauron himself. That cameo ofcourse would require, that a good bunch of actors from LotR trilogy would get involved.
Well, at least I can hope...

[azalea]

Also I hope they include the Beorn episode (who could play him?). That was the funniest chapter in the book (Gandalf adding dwarves as the story progresses -- I don't know that might not work well as a movie scene).
you know, since the cartoon version didn't include that.

[Twilight]

If the Dol Guldur part is to go it, then it is problably better for the Hobbit to come out after the other movies. Otherwise it would be kind of strange for Gandalf to all of a sudden disapear to go after some mysterious enemy. It would at least help to take care of some of the introduction to it. If they show the white council, then they could maybe show some forshadowing to Sauruman's fall.

[azalea]

Funny how everyone's talking as if it's already in the works.