not excited about the Hobbit movie

[dbskyler]

When I was a teen, I was a HUGE fan of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books. I could reel off Elven poetry (and Bilbo Baggins poetry), and I don't know how many times I re-read them, but it must have been around seventy-umptillion.

I know that for a fact, because when I saw the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, I noticed every single little detail that was different from what had happened in the books, even though it had been years since I'd read them.

Okay, perhaps I didn't notice *every* different detail. After all, how would I know what I didn't notice? But I do know that I noticed a LOT of discrepancies, and I also know that they severely detracted from my enjoyment of the movies. Perhaps it's a case of being too much of a fan to be a fan? I don't know. I didn't go in with a "this better be an exact dramatization of the books" mindset, but I noticed the discrepancies. They just kept hitting me over the head, and every time it took me right out of the movie experience. So overall, I didn't find the movie trilogy very enjoyable.

Now I'm worried about the exact same thing happening with the new Hobbit movie. Of course, they apparently are purposely putting in a lot of stuff that wasn't even included in the book -- how else could they get it to 3 cashboxes of movies? -- and I don't know, maybe it won't bother me at all to see dramatization of new stuff. But out of curiosity I went and read Wikipedia's entry on the movie -- I want to know what I'll be getting into if I see it -- and already I find myself getting annoyed at the little plot points that were mentioned that aren't correct. For example, according to Wikipedia (which perhaps is wrong), Bilbo is the one who keeps the trolls arguing until sunrise. NO, it was GANDALF who did that. Also, there is apparently this whole new conflict with Orcs that hits them before they even get to Rivendell. What??? WRONG, that is WRONG!!!! And apparently the movie ends before they even get to Mirkwood, which is . . . well, annoying, but not unexpected (see stretching-one-book-out-to-3-movies).

If I'm going to get this annoyed at the Wikipedia entry, I suspect I will get even more annoyed at the movie. But then I'll feel culturally left out if I don't go to see it. On the other hand, at least I know what happens. Or at least, what's supposed to happen . . .

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I'm refusing to go and see it. Like you, I've been a fan of the books for a long time (Hobbit since 8, LotR since 15) - and I ended up hating the LotR movies (although they are very well made films and I adore Howard Shore's music). So I've decided to wait until the DVD comes out, because at least if I hate it, no one else will be disturbed by my rantings as I watch - plus hiring a DVD is cheaper than a cinema ticket, so I'll resent the "misspent" money less if I hate it.

[lolmac]

Can I offer you kudos and cookies and shiny things and anything else you like? See my rant below. I HATE Jackson's pathetic take on the stories -- beautifully-made movies with crap writing underneath, made worse by the fact that the crap writing is the result of an arrogant idiot who gave himself free rein to rewrite brilliant work. He ruined a masterpiece. My only consolation is that he hasn't made any money off me since 2001.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the kudos, cookies and shiny things!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Yeah, good plan to wait for the DVD. Much less risk, and even if I hate it, I can make a drinking game out of "Things that are WRONG"!

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

LOL I suspect you wouldn't get to the end of the movie because you'd have passed out first! :D

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I'd make it to Rivendell . . . :D

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

*snorts* How used are you to drinking alcohol - 'cos if the answer's 'not very', I predict you won't!