I'm going to have a little LOTR geekout now, and that's just how it is.
It's been a long time since I was excited about a movie... a very long time. The best I've managed to muster in recent years is a sort of wistful hope which is usually sorely crushed (I'm looking at you, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland).
However, the more I hear about "The Hobbit," the more I realize that fangirl fluttering that's been missing for so long is back. Yesterday, I was subbing at a school where the teacher had a Return of the King poster (The big one with Viggo's head and the sword) signed by the full cast, and I nearly decided that giving up the job and establishing a new identity would be totally worth stealing that baby.
The Rings films were special to me, and to a lot of people of my generation. They were special in the way I imagine Star Wars was for the generation before me, or the original books were to the first geeks to stumble on those treasures. These films defined me and the circle of people that were my world at the time, many of whom still are. Indeed, and I say this very rarely, these films are a lot more special to me than the books. While I'd read and enjoyed The Hobbit and LOTR as a kid and again before the movies came out, it was the films that really stuck to me. It was the world-changing special effects, the smart writing, the brilliant acting, the Viggo's hair blowing in the breeze... It was Buckleberry Goddamn Ferry.
From 2000-2004, I knew what my friends and I would be doing every premiere, whether it was lining up in costume for midnight showings or piling in front of TV's with cast commentary and cases of soda for the DVD releases. I am now really too old to handle midnight showings or cases of soda (not that I don't try...), but when these films are on my heart goes right back to that wonderful, geeky home.
Initially, I was worried about the new films because Peter Jackson hasn't done anything that impressed me since the trilogy (and even ROTK left me a bit hollow), and I just didn't think The Hobbit would translate as well. The Hobbit is far more a children's tale, the language is different, and there are just so many dwarves. I still don't know how they are going to deal with all those dwarves in a scene! Plus they're shooting in 3D of which I'm not a fan, and they're adding a female character for no reason but to have a female character which always bugs me. But watching the vlogs, I find my concerns are starting to be overpowered by the strength of my squee.
Martin Freeman is ideal for playing both Bilbo and young Ian Holm. Let's face it, Bilbo is the same character as Arthur Dent only shorter and hairier. Alan Lee and John Howe are positively geeking out over drawing in 3D. Hugo Weaving in his Elrondness makes me so happy. I'm just thrilled. Thrilled enough that I'm willing to set aside my initial biases, dust off my one ring necklace, and queue for this baby.
My hopes may be dashed. It has happened before, and recently at that. But for the moment, I'm ready to enjoy being a fangirl again.
And now, the reason I bothered blogging this much on a Friday evening at all, Peter Jackson's latest vLog in 3D!
However, the more I hear about "The Hobbit," the more I realize that fangirl fluttering that's been missing for so long is back. Yesterday, I was subbing at a school where the teacher had a Return of the King poster (The big one with Viggo's head and the sword) signed by the full cast, and I nearly decided that giving up the job and establishing a new identity would be totally worth stealing that baby.
The Rings films were special to me, and to a lot of people of my generation. They were special in the way I imagine Star Wars was for the generation before me, or the original books were to the first geeks to stumble on those treasures. These films defined me and the circle of people that were my world at the time, many of whom still are. Indeed, and I say this very rarely, these films are a lot more special to me than the books. While I'd read and enjoyed The Hobbit and LOTR as a kid and again before the movies came out, it was the films that really stuck to me. It was the world-changing special effects, the smart writing, the brilliant acting, the Viggo's hair blowing in the breeze... It was Buckleberry Goddamn Ferry.
From 2000-2004, I knew what my friends and I would be doing every premiere, whether it was lining up in costume for midnight showings or piling in front of TV's with cast commentary and cases of soda for the DVD releases. I am now really too old to handle midnight showings or cases of soda (not that I don't try...), but when these films are on my heart goes right back to that wonderful, geeky home.
Initially, I was worried about the new films because Peter Jackson hasn't done anything that impressed me since the trilogy (and even ROTK left me a bit hollow), and I just didn't think The Hobbit would translate as well. The Hobbit is far more a children's tale, the language is different, and there are just so many dwarves. I still don't know how they are going to deal with all those dwarves in a scene! Plus they're shooting in 3D of which I'm not a fan, and they're adding a female character for no reason but to have a female character which always bugs me. But watching the vlogs, I find my concerns are starting to be overpowered by the strength of my squee.
Martin Freeman is ideal for playing both Bilbo and young Ian Holm. Let's face it, Bilbo is the same character as Arthur Dent only shorter and hairier. Alan Lee and John Howe are positively geeking out over drawing in 3D. Hugo Weaving in his Elrondness makes me so happy. I'm just thrilled. Thrilled enough that I'm willing to set aside my initial biases, dust off my one ring necklace, and queue for this baby.
My hopes may be dashed. It has happened before, and recently at that. But for the moment, I'm ready to enjoy being a fangirl again.
And now, the reason I bothered blogging this much on a Friday evening at all, Peter Jackson's latest vLog in 3D!
Click to view