The Hobbit

A collection of 38 posts

Looking Elsewhere

Looking Elsewhere: Trailering Malick; Burying "The Hobbit"; Christian Bale's Bible Reading; and More!

This week, in my community of arts-and-faith explorers, conversations have been focused on the joy of Christmas carols, the mixed feelings over a new Terrence Malick trailer, the predictably disappointing conclusion to Peter Jackson's ruination of The Hobbit, some interesting conversations with the Exodus team, and the traditional

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The Abomination of "Desolation": Two Hobbit-Related Lists

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is here. But I didn't attend the press screening. Why? I'll explain. But first, here are five important bits from a review by my favorite movie reviewer...

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The Desolation of "The Hobbit"

Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" is turning out to be, for many of us who love the book, a failure of "Phantom Menace" proportions.

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Has the Power of the Ring Corrupted The Hobbit's Filmmakers?

Today's Entertainment Weekly story about The Hobbit's new character played by Evangeline Lily has dealt a heavy blow to my hopes that this series will improve.

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Matthew Dickerson on "The Hobbit" - Part 2

Did you read Part One of Matthew Dickerson's reflections on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey? If so, enjoy Part Two... What Have I Got In My Review? My Hands. String. Hopes. Fears. Maybe Nothing. Last night I watched Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.  I went

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Matthew Dickerson on "The Hobbit" - Part 1

In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit. And on a wooded hillside in Vermont lived a writer who loved Hobbits, their homeland, and their author: J.R.R. Tolkien. I am blessed to know Matthew Dickerson and his wife Deborah as dear friends. I've been

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

The filmmakers took one children's book and expanded it into three movies. So I'll take this one movie and expand it into two movie reviews...

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What If Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli Made "The Hobbit"?

Can you imagine what Tolkien's Middle-Earth would look like through the eyes of the animators that brought us Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo, and My Neighbor Totoro? I can. Over the last decade, I've discovered the treasure trove of animated fantasy

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Nine Years Ago, I Met Gandalf

Even though I was starting a brand new job the following Monday, and even though I had the flu, I got on that airplane and I traveled from Seattle to Hollywood, where I checked into the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills, and joined my friends and colleagues Steven Greydanus

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How to Take A Hobbit Journey Again... For the First Time

The new trailer for Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has arrived! What do you think? I first read The Hobbit when I was 7 years old, and moved right on up to The Lord of the Rings at age 8. If you're like me, you'd love to have the thrill of discovering a world as awe-inspiring as t

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Kili and Fili in 3D

Peter Jackson has posted another video blog from the set of The Hobbit. This time, he's talking about 3D: the technique, the hardware, the experience. ... Watch carefully, and you'll recognize some key scenes from The Hobbit being filmed, including my favorite moment from the entire novel.

Benedict Cumberbatch

The Hobbit casts Bard the Guardsman... and Smaug.

Well, for fans of The Hobbit, there have been two more big questions related to casting Peter Jackson's upcoming movie. Who will play Bard the Guardsman, a strong fellow whose skill as an archer becomes very important in the story? And who will give a voice to the

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What moment from The Hobbit are you most eager to see on the big screen?

Moviefone's "exclusive" is going to spread like wildfire, stoking the fires of expectation in Tolkien fans everywhere. <i>The Hobbit</i> screenplays (yes, plural) are written! And yet, these two projects have yet to get the green light. What moment from The

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The Hobbit Begins Shooting in June...

...according to Gandalf. And Gandalf's a fairly reliable fellow. Here's the MTV.com link. It's amazing to think that by the time The Hobbit opens in theaters, more than a decade will have passed since the opening of The Fellowship of the Ring. Ian

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Has Smaug Found His Voice?

Tom Waits as the voice of Smaug the Dragon in "The Hobbit"? I say, "Yes, please." It's just speculation right now, but looks very possible, and sounds too good to be true.

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Guillermo Del Toro's Hints About "The Hobbit"

TotalFilm has a revealing interview with Guillermo Del Toro about his two upcoming Hobbit movies. I'm very encouraged by Del Toro's answers. I'm encouraged too. And now I'm going to lie awake at night wondering what you might do to make a

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Del Toro Answers "Hobbit" Questions

At MTV, Guillermo Del Toro is answering questions about The Hobbit... like this one: Q More questions and answers in Part Two here.

U2

The Browser, 6/5: Tolkien tidbits; Ray LaMontagne; U2 anniversary; best animated films; Farina in trouble

The Browser: News & links to raise your eyebrows & furrow your brow. * Christopher Tolkien wants to "terminate" Hobbit movie It's not surprising that Christopher Tolkien isn't happy about New Line's plans for a movie of The Hobbit. He wasn't

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Will it be James "Bilbo Baggins" McAvoy?

The Daily Express may have the answer to the question that has kept the imaginations of Hobbit fans firing on all cylinders in recent weeks: Who are Del Toro and Jackson planning to cast in the lead of The Hobbit? So, Mr. Tumnus... how's your Ian Holm impression?

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Del Toro Wants Puppets to Invade "The Hobbit"; Plus, Andy Whitman on Great Christian Rock Albums

At Arts and Faith, Peter Chattaway comes up with two interesting links on The Hobbit. The first one is an interview, in which Del Toro says things that make me want to cheer. The only thing I will be pushing for more in these films that the other three are

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Tell "The Hobbit" Screenwriters: What Do You Hope They Get Right?

I was rereading a chapter of Watership Down the other night, refreshing my memory on the way that Richard Adams builds such excruciating suspense without sacrificing beautiful descriptive language. And I began worrying about what might happen when Hollywood gets around to cooking up another big-screen version of this great

Looking Elsewhere

The Browser 2/14: Derrickson on U23D. Patrice Leconte. Hobbit. Pics.

Scott Derrickson on U23DFilmmaker Scott Derrickson found some time in the middle of his hard work on The Day the Earth Stood Still to comment on my euphoric reaction to U23D. He writes: I had a very similar experience Jeffrey. The new Technology is astounding, and I now understand why

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WWGD?

What would Gandalf do? The Associated Press: Tolkien estate sues New Line Cinema Wow. That Hobbit movie is hardly a sure thing, considering New Line's escalating troubles. The writer's estate, a British charity dubbed The Tolkien Trust, and original "Lord of the Rings" publisher

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It's official: Guillermo Del Toro Will Direct "The Hobbit"

The Guardian makes the announcement. Guillermo del Toro has officially signed up to direct The Hobbit, according to reports leaking out from a film premiere in France. The Pan's Labyrinth creator will oversee a double-bill of films based on JRR Tolkien's fantasy adventure, which paved the

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Casting "The Hobbit": Who Would You Choose?

TheOneRing.net is buzzing again, now that a big-screen version of The Hobbit is a sure thing. The big question of the day: Who should be cast? They perpetuate the popular idea that Martin Freeman should play young Bilbo. Or Colin Firth. I like both ideas, but... ...definitely *not* Shia