One Hobbit Good, Two Hobbits Bad - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Sauron the White · 02-02-2008, 01:37 PM

Prudence dictates that it is best to judge the pie after it has been eaten.

davem · 02-02-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

Prudence dictates that it is best to judge the pie after it has been eaten.

Even if you already know the ingredients?

Estelyn Telcontar · 02-02-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

Prudence dictates that it is best to judge the pie after it has been eaten.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davem

Even if you already know the ingredients?

Well, guys, if we use that simile, then consider these threads to be discussions of recipes!

A very valid topic, yet reading a recipe cannot substitute for the actual experience of tasting the finished product. Therefore this is a preliminary to the meal - enjoy it for what it is. When we've eaten, we'll come back to discuss how it tasted!

Oh, and check out this thread for further discussion of the second film idea...

Lalwendë · 02-02-2008, 03:00 PM

Note, this is not about what it may or may not contain, it's about the 'ethics' of making such a film, about if it's a good idea or not.

For me, it's not a film I'm looking forwards to seeing at all. Unlike The Hobbit (even if it does turn out to feature a Greek chorus of eructating Dwarves) which I will certainly go and see.

It's odd. I lapped up the merchandise produced for the LotR films, even the dodgy content of books like Weapons & Warfare was something I could skim over just for the sheer fun of it all. It was all based on characters I loved, in situations I'd read about, in places I quite fancied visiting. An adventure. But I'm quite the opposite about the 'bridge' film. It feels like treading on Tolkien's grave somehow.

There isn't that sense of seeing a much-loved story brought to life.

Do we want to see Tolkien's stories on screen or just see more of Legolas and Galadriel like they're soap characters?

I'd be interested to know if anything similar has worked?

Sauron the White · 02-02-2008, 03:09 PM

Many beloved and great films have been made from a great deal less than the material contained in the LOTR appendicies. ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE was adapted from a holiday greeting card.

Lalwendë · 02-02-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

Many beloved and great films have been made from a great deal less than the material contained in the LOTR appendicies. ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE was adapted from a holiday greeting card.

Hmmm, it was at least original though. I'm thinking about "spin-offs", which this will be. In the main, spin-offs are not great. One which does work is Torchwood, taken from Doctor Who, but then firstly they have the character of Captain Jack and John Barrowman's personality to use, and secondly, Doctor Who was always written by 'committee' anyway, and wouldn't exist independently of the TV scripts. Whereas Tolkien's world does exist independently and it comes from one mind.

Sauron the White · 02-02-2008, 03:36 PM

Well BELLS OF ST. MARYS was spun off from GOING MY WAY and that was pretty good. On tv we had MORK AND MINDY which was spun off from a one shot HAPPY DAYS appearance. And then there were a whole slew of successful shows spun off from both ALL IN THE FAMILY and MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW.

Is that what you are looking for?

here is a rather lengthy list of TV spinoffs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...sion_spin-offs

Lalwendë · 02-02-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

Well BELLS OF ST. MARYS was spun off from GOING MY WAY and that was pretty good. On tv we had MORK AND MINDY which was spun off from a one shot HAPPY DAYS appearance. And then there were a whole slew of successful shows spun off from both ALL IN THE FAMILY and MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW.

Is that what you are looking for?

here is a rather lengthy list of TV spinoffs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...sion_spin-offs

Not sure I know all those apart from Mork and Mindy (nanu nanu .... awesome

) and Happy Days. But like I say, TV spin offs and originals can't exist independently of the TV itself (same with films), but this Tolkien spin-off comes from something which already exists (i.e. Tolkien's stories), whether a film is made or not.

It's as if seeing the success of the Colin Firth Pride & Prejudice, the BBC decided to make a sequel...has that kind of thing been done before? Has it worked? Is it OK to do that?

skip spence · 02-02-2008, 03:46 PM

As far as I'm concerned, two films are better than one.

Perhaps the second one (and it does seem like there's little material to make a good full length movie) will be crap. This would of course be disapointing but it wouldn't take anything away from Tolkien's written works. People who enjoy reading the books can keep on enjoying them even if the movie fails to meet their high standards. Besides, a movie is something all together different from a book, and can't be judged by the same standards. So, the way I see it, if the second movie is poor, nothing is lost really, exept perhaps a moderate sum of money and a couple of hours of your precious time which you probably would have wasted anyway.

Then again, it just might be really good too. Even if much of it is invented by the filmmakers and not by Tolkien himself. Then all the better.

I really enjoyed the trilogy despite lots of flaws and quite annoying simplifications of the storyline. I expect to enjoy the coming movies as well.

One thing though, there isn't much Hobbit stuff in the appendixes, is there?

02-02-2008, 03:00 PM	#4
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Note, this is not about what it may or may not contain, it's about the 'ethics' of making such a film, about if it's a good idea or not. For me, it's not a film I'm looking forwards to seeing at all. Unlike The Hobbit (even if it does turn out to feature a Greek chorus of eructating Dwarves) which I will certainly go and see. It's odd. I lapped up the merchandise produced for the LotR films, even the dodgy content of books like Weapons & Warfare was something I could skim over just for the sheer fun of it all. It was all based on characters I loved, in situations I'd read about, in places I quite fancied visiting. An adventure. But I'm quite the opposite about the 'bridge' film. It feels like treading on Tolkien's grave somehow. There isn't that sense of seeing a much-loved story brought to life. Do we want to see Tolkien's stories on screen or just see more of Legolas and Galadriel like they're soap characters? I'd be interested to know if anything similar has worked? __________________ Gordon's alive!

02-02-2008, 03:36 PM	#7
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	Well BELLS OF ST. MARYS was spun off from GOING MY WAY and that was pretty good. On tv we had MORK AND MINDY which was spun off from a one shot HAPPY DAYS appearance. And then there were a whole slew of successful shows spun off from both ALL IN THE FAMILY and MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW. Is that what you are looking for? here is a rather lengthy list of TV spinoffs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...sion_spin-offs Last edited by Sauron the White; 02-02-2008 at 03:39 PM.

02-02-2008, 01:37 PM	#1
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	Prudence dictates that it is best to judge the pie after it has been eaten.

02-02-2008, 03:09 PM	#5
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	Many beloved and great films have been made from a great deal less than the material contained in the LOTR appendicies. ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE was adapted from a holiday greeting card.

02-02-2008, 03:46 PM	#9
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	As far as I'm concerned, two films are better than one. Perhaps the second one (and it does seem like there's little material to make a good full length movie) will be crap. This would of course be disapointing but it wouldn't take anything away from Tolkien's written works. People who enjoy reading the books can keep on enjoying them even if the movie fails to meet their high standards. Besides, a movie is something all together different from a book, and can't be judged by the same standards. So, the way I see it, if the second movie is poor, nothing is lost really, exept perhaps a moderate sum of money and a couple of hours of your precious time which you probably would have wasted anyway. Then again, it just might be really good too. Even if much of it is invented by the filmmakers and not by Tolkien himself. Then all the better. I really enjoyed the trilogy despite lots of flaws and quite annoying simplifications of the storyline. I expect to enjoy the coming movies as well. One thing though, there isn't much Hobbit stuff in the appendixes, is there?