The Hobbit Update: Production

This is a story of how  a Baggins had an adventure... 

That is how The Hobbit begins... Well it's not literally the first thing
 in the book but it's on the second page and I think this way it has a more dramatic way to start things.

The first thing I thought was some events are probably going to be highlighted more than they were in the book, such as the troll scene and definitely Rivendell parts. They barely make up a chapter in the book but judging by the trailers, we will see more of Elrond than the six pages mentioned in the book.


According to TheOneRing.Net, director Peter Jackson said "We expended out the universe a lot more so that we weren't just staying with Bilbo and the Dwarves on their journey, as the book pretty much does. We started to expand some of what's happening to Gandalf outside of that journey."  

That is great news, 'cause I think we will see much more of Gandalf's and Radagast's interaction than the book mentions.


Actually I think this poster pretty much sums up what we will see in two days..

I've watched the production blog videos with great amusement and excitement, some more than the others. Here is a link to all of them, it's just a little over 90 minutes but so much fun! The little trivia you learn as well as looking out for the things you expect in the movie is worth the time. Also things like learning the technology behind the 3D filming is mind blowing, I don't want to spoil much so if you're interested just make the time to watch them.




Here are the links to #1-6, #7, #8, #9 respectively:
The Hobbit - Full Production Video Blogs 1-6 - Lord of the Rings
The Hobbit - Production Video #7 (2012) Peter Jackson
The Hobbit - Production Video #8 (2012) Peter Jackson
The Hobbit - Production Video #9 - Post Production (2012) Peter Jackson

The games they play with our perception always amazes me. These photos both explains it actually. With the Bag End, the door looks so little, but in the Bilbo one, Peter Jackson himself looks like a hobbit.

The cast is hilarious and such amazing people that I'm sure almost a year working with all of them was a hoot. And seeing Andy Serkis as the Second Unit Director was a nice surprise. A side note, pay attention to the 33:33 mark in the first video, and the events leading up to that point, someone epic makes his appearance finally.

Something else is that has me puzzled is that, there is to be two films as two directors Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis discuss in the videos, but there are entries for three movies in Imdb. Now they are both very reliable sources as one come from the director, but the blog videos were done a little time ago and I can't find a recent confirmation. Imdb says there is to be:


The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (December 2012),
The Hobbit: The Desolations of Smaug (December 2013),
The Hobbit: There and Back Again (July 2014)

Maybe the third one will be some sort of documentary because 2012 and 2013 were the confirmed dates for the movies.

In the same conversation with Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis, Serkis asks him how come they had a half way jumper of 133 days for three movies for Lord of the Rings and now they have a halfway hoodie of 127 days for the two movies of The Hobbit, for that he answers: "Easily explained. We're all 10 years older." (That makes 88 days per movie for LOTR and 127 days per movie for The Hobbit)  That was a very cool moment at the 1hr mark of the first video.



This is Exclusive extended Misty Mountains clip was released on TheOneRing.Net The effect on the trailer is obviously greater but I still think the song is very brilliantly composed nonetheless from the lyrics in the book.

 When you watch the full production blog videos you get hit in the face by how much Peter Jackson and his crew care about this project. This is not just a movie or any other script to them. They dedicate a huge chunk of their lives to even begin the beginning of the movies and at the end they become a family. It really is inspiring to see people who work so hard to give J.R.R. Tolkien's work the care and the importance it deserves. I can't wait for the 14th, because there may be things that you don't expect in the film but one thing Peter Jackson never does is disappoint the expectations.