[allamericanreject]

This came from a discussion I was having with some friends a few nights ago, about whether making "The Hobbit" into a movie was a stroke of genius or overdoing it a bit. Quite a few of us felt that it was a brilliant idea, more reason for the fans to fall in love with Peter Jackson, etc., while there were some who felt that it was too much of a good thing, and that the trilogy was better off without a prequel, rather like "Star Wars" was better off before Episode I and the other newer movies.

What do you all think?

[Aerin]

I think that If it is done as well and in the same manner as the LotR series, that the Hobbit will be great.

George Lucas jumped the shark, by not continuing his series soon enough. If we had gradually seen all of the movie making improvements, instead of going from the 1970's tech to the hi tech of today, we may not have thought of them as rubbish. (rubbish may be too strong...) but you get my drift. And never seen a hint of Jar Jar Binks, I think the Star Wars franchise would be in a better state today.

I had better stop there because I could go on for days.

[phoenixqueen]

I am definitely in favor of seeing Peter Jackson work his movie magic on Middle Earth again. I think that only he could pull of something that would be so beautiful and so convincing that everyone would eat it up the way they did Lord of the Rings. If anyone else were to attempt it though, I have a feeling that it would be a dismal failure. Since Fellowship of the Ring came out, people have associated Middle-Earth with Peter Jackson and the cast.

However, I also think that two very important roles (Bilbo and Gandalf) must go to Ian Holm and Ian McKellen, respectively. It wouldn't be the same to see a different Bilbo or Gandalf, specifically since Bilbo can't "age a day" as Gandalf puts it in Fellowship. In Lord of the Rings, we associated Bilbo with the way Ian Holm portrayed him and I think a lot of people have come to picture Ian's role as Bilbo as the way Bilbo should be.

As for George Lucas and his Star Wars masterpiece...I admit that there was a long gap between the originals and the prequels, but that hasn't stopped me from loving both of the prequels as much as I do the originals...in fact, if anything, I like the prequels better, because of the advances that have been made. The originals, which are still very good, seem too old-fashioned to my tastes, but I still love them and would never stop liking them.

I can probably claim to be one of the few people that actually likes Jar-Jar. I found him to be hilariously funny, and I think that he added the right touch of humor to what was an overall angsty movie. I will admit that I have felt the urge to slap him around every once in a while, but I do enjoy watching Episode 1 and laughing at the poor, foolish Gungan...(not to mention that Liam Nieeson and Ewan McGregor are very hot...only a side benefit, of course...although I personally prefer the Episode 1 Obi-Wan to the Episode 2 Obi-Wan...I think he looks cuter without the beard)

Anyway, to get back on the topic of The Hobbit, I will be sorely disappointed if Peter Jackson or New Line decide NOT to do it...personally, I've harbored a desire for a few years now to see someone tackle The Silmarillion (talk about a movie-making challenge!).

[Aerin]

I think that we can both agree that if PJ does it, it will be done the right way....

[BittenBuggy]

Yep, I would go see it. But I'm horribly shallow in that I would probably only see it once, as opposed to the millions of times I saw LotR. For me, a lot of it was truly just about the pretty people I can't see PJ casting gorgeous dwarves...

If Thrandy is ugly, the movie will be ruined for me. (And if they keep the ta-la-la-la-lally elfies from Rivendell) I dont know, Hugo might save it.

[allamericanreject]

[Philia]

One problem I see is ... how would you cast the characters that also apperead later inLord of the Rings? Like Gandalf, Elrond & Bilbo ... Gollum even! If you don't get the same people to play them (And I somehow doubt they'll get Ian Holm to play 'young' Bilbo or Ian McKellen Gandalf again), then it's gonna be weird ... like what happens if you suddenly changed the cast of Harry Potter ...

[Anna]

Ian McKellen has already expressed his desire to play Gandalf again. 'Young' Bilbo? Correct me if I´m wrong, but Bilbo wasn´t that young in the Hobbit, was he? Hellooo, hobbit fanciers...where are you?!

Elrond has to be the same, of course. Gollum, too. Legolas has to make a cameo, IMO. He must´ve been there, after all. Right? Get Orlando to do Legolas again (oooo, naughty thoughts... ) and we have all the fangirls (and boys) camping outside the cinemas!

[Philia]

[Andreth]

Mesa thinks dat Jar-Jar Binks should be taken out into the desert of Tatooine and left for the Jawas. I feel your pain, Anna. Makes you miss Chewbacca, doesn't it? For me, there will never be any comparison to the originals. Lucas has his new CGI toys for the movies now, so plot and characters appear to have fallen by the wayside.

Anyway, as for the Hobbit, I have read in a few different places that Ian McKellen would be willing to sign on and play Gandalf again, but I've read that it's uncertain if Ian Holm would be willing to reprise his role as Bilbo. Which would be a real shame because he was wonderful in the role. And there's no reason why he wouldn't be able to play Bilbo, because Bilbo looked the same at 111 as he did at 51, according to the books. He aged very little, if any, after he came into possession of the ring. There's a scene in FotR (I think?) that has Ian Holm as a 'younger' Bilbo finding the ring in Gollum's cave and he looked just how I imagined Bilbo to be at that time.

I would *love* to see Thranduil played by Julian Sands. Or Jason Issacs. Someone who's both pretty and charismatic. It would be interesting to see who they'd cast as Beorn, Bard and the Dwarves.

[Eyborg]

Okay, so Ian Holm perhaps wasn't too old to play "young" Bilbo when the LOTR movies were made, but perhaps he will be when they finally get around to making the Hobbit movie...

And yes, 50 isn't that old for a hobbit, you know.