THE FIRST VIDEO FROM THE HOBBIT BRINGS BACK WARM MEMORIES

3:30 AM and I am sitting here by myself, geeking out.  I almost wanna wake up my wife and kid.

All in all it's kind of sad, and kind of awesome.

I know exactly how you feel, Bailey. I had to content myself with just posting links on Facebook and Twitter, and just hoping for a pingback.

Let's hug!  Well, maybe not, I've got the worst cold.  Virtual hug!

Are you listening to the soundtrack too?

Just me?

Just you, but that's because my head hurts so bad -- the theme is going to be stuck in my head all night as it is.  

Mentally planning when I can rewatch the entire trilogy though!!

Yeah, I find at this moment I am exceedingly glad I paced myself with this series.  I don't think I have cracked open anything regarding it for 3-4 years.  Time for that to change.

This pushed my buttons alright.

Was that Holm's voice at the end, or Freeman doing an excellent Holm impression?

Look at me. I'm turning 37 next week, an old ass man, and I'm watching this smiling like a buffoon and tearing up with joy. Ridiculous. 

It's that damn Howard Shore, I tell you.

You could layer "Concerning Hobbits" over George Bush staring into space with "My Pet Goat" on his lap and it'd still get me.

Yeah, when Ian McKellen comes into shot down there in Bag End where all the dwarves are gathered round Bilbo's table it's a little bit fucking magic.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul C 

This pushed my buttons alright.

 

Was that Holm's voice at the end, or Freeman doing an excellent Holm impression?

That's Freeman.

"Mr. President, we have been informed you have just watched a video detailing the start of filming The Hobbit. Do you have a comment?"

Giddy giddy giddy omg omg omg squeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!! That made me geek out like crazy. But in a really good way. I always thought the only way The Hobbit should have been made was at the hands of Jackson. Nobody else could, or should, do it I felt. I am offically wanting more more more!

Well, anyone here with even a passing knowledge of my adoration for Tolkien and Jacksons films has a pretty good idea at how I was going to react to that - but I have to say, having watched the wonderful behind the scenes documentaries on the LOTR Extended Editions almost as many times as the films themselves and finding the story of the passion and dedication that went into the making of those almost impossible epics almost as inspirational as Tolkiens tales, seeing everyone assembled again like that ten years later, the sets, the old faces and new, was pretty fucking special.

...and yeah fuck you, there were tears. Christ by the end with Freemans voice coming in note-perfectly with "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit..." I'd become a gigantic blubbery mess.

This really is it, the last of the geek properties I'm truly emotionally married to getting the big screen treatment.

Expect zero objectivity or perspective from me on this from here on in folks.

Star Wars: Episode I

Yes. This is exactly the same. You are correct.

Definitely echoes of 1999, when they released that 6-minute BTS video and none of us had any idea of what was coming.

Biggest thrill for me was seeing McKellan on set. So glad they're bringing him back. What was sort of surreal was seeing the WETA folks and thinking, "No, they look younger!" Not only have almost ten years passed, I'm sure working on Jackson movies heavy with FX have aged them.

I really hope this film is a magical capper for a year with a lot of potential.

Damnit i wish I could watch this at work :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueharvester 

Star Wars: Episode I

Honestly at this point, that's just mean.

...and while we're at it, Episode 1 wasn't based on one of the most beloved stories ever told if you want to be technical about it.

Just cause your franchise shit the bed in epic style doesn't mean you can crap your sour grapes on the people getting so excited about this.

Yeah, I can't get behind the Episode 1 comparison. Jackson's far better at directing, you know, actual human beings, and cares about having an emotional core for the story that - again - actual humans can relate to. And he's working with fantastic source material, rather than having to do a shitload of retconning and plot gymnastics.

Jackson's post-LOTR output is mixed, for sure, but I think the chances of this being an Episode 1-sized letdown are pretty slim.

EPISODE ONE also sprung direct from George Lucas' techn-nerd mind, whereas  this has a rather well-known story to adapt. Jackson would actually have to screw up WORSE than Lucas in order for this to be anywhere near the calamity that PHANTOM MENACE was.

People, please. This thread should be for rejoicing and sweet nerd tears only. Keep the films that shall not be named away from this one.

Exactly.

I felt 10 years younger watching that. Watching Jackson walking around the set of Bag End and Rivendell was like coming home. Everything just seemed right and my god, watching Freeman reach down and grab the ring, even on the video tap, was chilling and his voice over and oh my god I'm squeeing....

Best thing about this? They built the goddamn sets again. No unnecessary fucking blue screen.

Also, seeing Jackson wandering around the sets in NEW ZEALAND, with all those wonderful NEW ZEALAND crew members hard at work, just makes it all the more special for a homesick Kiwi like me.

No matter how the films turn out, this whole production makes me happy about movies again.

I could watch the last ten seconds of that video over and over and over...

Anyone else freaked out by thin PJ? I mean, I'm glad for him - he's obviously healthier. But I'm still used to beefier PJ, always in shorts and a parka.

Also, the actor who speaks before Freeman at the powhiri speaks excellent te reo for a Brit. Is he Richard Armitage (Thorin)?

I'm not at all a fan of the Lord of the Rings books or movies, but I gotta admit it was nice to see Jackson with so much enthusiasm in that blog. Always great to see happy filmmakers even if I have no vested interest in the overall product. 

I was abroad and engaged in my own adventures during the release of the original Fellowship of the Rings videos, so it's nice to be able to catch these as they arrive.  And as a huge Tolkien fan (although I'll defer to Rain Dog and Dickson here), I'll simply say two words: Goose and Bumps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rain Dog 

 

Expect zero objectivity or perspective from me on this from here on in folks.

Yeah, you and me both. Fuck, that got me almost unexpectedly excited. I'm almost 30, so it's going to happen less and less and less. And this may be the last time I'm able to get worked up as a true "fan" again (for something like this, anyway). I'm going to fucking enjoy this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeypants 

 

Yeah, you and me both. Fuck, that got me almost unexpectedly excited. I'm almost 30, so it's going to happen less and less and less. And this may be the last time I'm able to get worked up as a true "fan" again (for something like this, anyway). I'm going to fucking enjoy this.

I'm over 40, and while it does happen less, it doesn't stop, necessarily. I already know I'm going to be WB's bitch for the next 16 months for TDKR.
 

Man, I actually clapped my hands like a little girl when Sir Ian showed up.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelM 

Anyone else freaked out by thin PJ? I mean, I'm glad for him - he's obviously healthier. But I'm still used to beefier PJ, always in shorts and a parka.

Hasn't he been thin for quite a while now? If anything, he looke a little heavier in this video than some recent pictures I've seen of him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelM 

I'm over 40, and while it does happen less, it doesn't stop, necessarily. I already know I'm going to be WB's bitch for the next 16 months for TDKR.
 

 

Oh, of course. I just think this is probably the last of the beloved childhood properties for me. I'll get insanely geeked out about many, many things in the years to come. But there's a very special feel with something like Tolkien's works.

When PJ's strolling around Rivendell and then when Sir Ian shows up at Bag End, I caught myself holding my breath. Big smiles for me. Certainly needed it too. Stressful week. Taxes due.

And that's Freeman at the end? No way! If it is, that's a mighty fine impersonation.

So many glimpses! Hooray for the Hobbit! I'm with RD and the rest. Hard to be objective here.

Yeah, this has rendered me pretty much helpess. As in, "Helpless" from The Last Waltz with Joni Mitchell on backing vocals-type helpless.

Man. It's really happening? God.

How do we know that's Freeman at the end? I kind of thought that, and it would make sense, but it kind of doesn't sound like him. Especially the first part.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeypants 

How do we know that's Freeman at the end? I kind of thought that, and it would make sense, but it kind of doesn't sound like him. Especially the first part.

Yep, have to admit that I thought it was Ian Holm (which makes even less sense when one considers that they're bringing Woods back to frame the narrative, right?).
 

I was also thinking it wasn't Freeman. Not sure who, but not Freeman.

Actually I just listened again. It's clearly Freeman. Bizarre how close to Holm he can sound. I assume he's going to do that voice the whole film.

The only work of Freeman's I've seen is The Office, Hitchhiker's, and Love Actually.  That makes it very hard for me to imagine him doing that voice.  Pretty amazing.

What's missing in this video is a jolly Peter Jackson.  That would truly take me back.  As he is now, it feels like a prodigal son returning home, world-weary.  Heheheh...  Other than that, this is great stuff.  

It could be Freeman AND Holm speaking and they digitally mixed the voices, a bit like the way they made Gandalf sound like Saruman in that scene in the forest from The Two Towers? In order to make it sound like a slightly older Bilbo than in The Hobbit? 

God I'm a nerd today. 

If that was Freeman's voice it was pretty impressive. But if that's what he's planning for the whole thing I have to hope trying to nail a Holm impersonation doesn't get in the way of his own performance.

Jackson has been thin for six or seven years now but I don't think people will ever quite get used to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul C 

If that was Freeman's voice it was pretty impressive. But if that's what he's planning for the whole thing I have to hope trying to nail a Holm impersonation doesn't get in the way of his own performance.

 

 

 

Get some headphones and listen closely. That's him. I have a pretty good ear for these things.

I wouldn't worry about it affecting his performance. It's really just speaking in a lower register and altering his accent slightly. I don't think it'd affect his performance any more than all these English/Australian/NZ actors who do American accents.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnooj82 

 

What's missing in this video is a jolly Peter Jackson.  That would truly take me back.  As he is now, it feels like a prodigal son returning home, world-weary.  Heheheh...  Other than that, this is great stuff.  

That's the impression I got of Jackson as well.  That look on his face when he says "the next two or three years" was definitely full of mixed emotions.  

Having said that, if there was a chance to already pre-order tickets for opening night 2012, I would have done so by now.  
 

noticed a slight pause when Jackson said "2 to 3 years"... some reason I think he cried himself to sleep that night.

If you guys watch the Costa Botes docs on LOTR, there is plenty of "that PJ" on there too. Otherwise it might've dampened my enthusiasm a bit. 

Something I remembered... I got a chuckle when PJ mock-cringed at the dismembered limb in Gollum's cave, knowing his resume (that others AKA mainstreamers might not). "I love those hobbity ring movies... No, I've never seen BAD TASTE, what's that? MEET THE FEEBLES? Looks cute... I should rent that for the little ones."

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeypants 

If you guys watch the Costa Botes docs on LOTR, there is plenty of "that PJ" on there too. Otherwise it might've dampened my enthusiasm a bit. 

Yeah, going by the docs Jackson was beaten half to death by the end of making the trilogy. This is probably him emotionally pacing himself.

Can you imagine what it must feel like to be him? The stakes are enormous. This can only be seen as an unprecedented success or a cinematic disaster that dwarfs any previous one.

Ok finally caught up with this and damn that was good. the cast already looks like it has geld well together which is a big help.  Havent got anything usefull to say except I'm stating to trust PJ again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Savage 

Ok finally caught up with this and damn that was good. the cast already looks like it has geld well together which is a big help.  Havent got anything usefull to say except I'm stating to trust PJ again.

I've always trusted him. Say what you want about Kong, it wasn't the work of a hack. And for as bad as Lovely Bones undoubtedly is, there are still sequences and scenes in that film that reassured me that he very much still has it.

Namely the bit with Wahlberg and Tucci picking up firewood, as well as the big "violation" sequence. Even though shit fell through the floor and then some after that, those small bits were so good and well put together that I never doubted for a second that he'd find his way again.