So I saw The Hobbit

[cleolinda]

Due to the computer trouble (see the previous entry) and also my general and regrettable allergy to deadlines, I haven't finished the Breaking Dawn thing yet. However, even if I do finish it this weekend… I'm not sure when it will be appropriate to post it, given the really, really awful events in Connecticut. Charlie's Over-Protective Father

Comments

[hippydippymama]

**SPOILERS if you don't know the book ends**

I was UNPREPARED for the awesomeness of Richard Armitage's Thorin. Like, I knew seeing all the old guard (both Ians, Hugo, CATE AND OMG ELIJAH HI ELIJAH!!) was going to do me in, and I knew Martin would be an endearing, adorable Bilbo, but HOLY FUCKING SHIT, THORIN GODDAMNED OAKENSHEILD.Basically, I agree with you here

[jubilantia]

Amen, with the Thorin love. I actually remembered at the end of this movie about his dying, and I was like "oh no... surely not yet?" But yeah. That part will break me.

I loved his eyeroll, and the comic timing was BRILLIANT.

I think Jackson has a gift for distilling and shaping the story into something that would work for a movie, i.e. the Home/Hearth/Friendship themes that really fit with hobbits, and creating the Pale Orc character as an antagonist for this movie, until we meet Cumbersmaug.

[cleolinda]

Every time I started thinking "omg Thorin is so awesome" I always finished the thought with "...and he's gonna die." And also? Fili and Kili. MAN, that is tough to think about.

[hippydippymama]

I know they can't really do it, or it completely defeats the purpose of the story, but I would not really mind if they changed that. Seriously. It would be like the ultimate fix-it-fanfic.

[jubilantia]

Dude, how is this the "for kids" one? Didn't more of the Fellowship make it out? Or is it more of an equal percentage thing, where Thorin, Kili and Fili=Boromir?

[cmdr_zoom]

For what it's worth, I think Thorin did too. :p

Oh Noes!

[rasmusb]

I had completely forgotten that! This is going to be bad -- I teared up a few times in this movie -- I'll be bawling when the Trio of Hot Dwarf Dissonance start to fall. :(
I'll have to go see it with absolutely no one who knows me ... maybe another city. :p

I do have to admit the 'new' Thorin was much more sympathetic than the one I recalled (vaguely) in the book.

[ext_1553352]

"Also, am I the only one who thinks Armitage is hotter as a dwarf? Like... the hair and the beard do it for me."

Not at all, sister. Not. At. All.

As a 30+ year Tolkien fan I feared I'd feel skeevy, lusting after Thorin (I loved the Rankin-Bass cartoon as well), but the moment he appeared on screen, I said to hell with my guilt and repression. Mine me, oh mighty Dwarven king! (JRRR would be embarrassed and appalled, but oh well.)

I've always been a fan of dark haired, dark bearded dudes and it suits Armitage, whom I've loved for a long time, perfectly.

And that voice. That voice could make you do things you didn't even know you wanted to do.

I will be seeing it again, in the theater, sans kid and nephew this time. Although one of my nephews is now officially enthralled with Middle Earth, and at the same age (11) as I discovered it. So somebody's getting the Hobbit/LOTR boxed set for Christmas.

[hippydippymama]

Benedict Cumberbatch and Armitage need to be in something together. It doesn't matter. They can be in a commercial for all I care. The government could harness the power of those voices for mind control. I'm telling you.

I didn't care for Thorin at ALL in the books. But with this adaptation (or really interpretation, of both Jackson and Armitage) I think the struggles he went through AFTER Erebor, and the fact that he's kind of got this well-deserved chip on his shoulder about how he was supposed to be King Under the Mountain and now he's leading this ragtag band of dwarves through the wilderness and working for men, while trying to give all of them SOME kind of life. He came off a lot more noble and a lot less pissy and greedy. Still some of that there, which is good (since I think the whole purpose of the character is to sort of contrast with Aragorn- there are parallels but they don't line up *exactly*).

I may have overthought this.

[ext_1553352]

No, Book Thorin is a bit of an ass. Movie Thorin much more sympathetic and admirable.

I agree with you about Cumberbatch's voice. There's something about his face that bugs me - I don't find him at all attractive.

BTW - Love your avi.