Now that the dust has settled on the announcement of Del Toro directing and people have had time to reflect, most seem happy with the choice although there have been a few points raised worth mentioning from Andrew O’Hehir at Salon.
He goes on about how Del Toro told him in a previous interview that he was not a fan of Tolkien. Andrew asked him at Cannes how he had been influence by CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien and he replied:
“I was never into heroic fantasy. At all. I don’t like little guys and dragons, hairy feet, hobbits — I’ve never been into that at all. I don’t like sword and sorcery, I hate all that stuff.”
O’hehir says he considered Del Toro to be speaking from the heart and remember it was he that Del Toro was talking to. However this was in Cannes 2006 and everyone is entitled to change their minds although it has to be said going from “not liking dragons and hairy feet” to directing a couple of movies about dragons and little people with hairy feet is a big swing in anyone’s book, never mind Tolkien’s.
He raises some other points regarding how Jackson will cope handing over his baby to someone else which is something I’ve shared my misgivings about and other reasons he feels Del Toro is not right for the job.
Have a read and see what you think
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I think Jackson will be in the loop enough to keep the reigns on the show, I dont think GDT will let us down, and I certainly dont think that GDT’s style isnt condusive to tolkien. Frankly I see tolkiens work with a very dark aura about it, there is nothing lighthearted and fancy free about it, and personally I would like to see a dark scary tolkien universe, Im tired of hollywood catering to children. F**k Kids, Im paying for the damn movie. As for the sequal I think he is right on the money and I think its a terrible idea, film a two part hobbit movie 4 hours each just like the LOTR.
I say fire him now and get somebody else
Well said Ken..I second that
Peace
I’m a short, hairy-footed, hobbit-like creature wielding a sword, riding a dragon, and Del Toro can suck it!
said better Rough, suddenly I feel like I need bumper sticker for my car.
Thanks Ken,
Seriously though, I really hope he doesn’t taint the Middle Earth we know, and love, which PJ has created so beautifully for actual Tolkien fans. IF his comments above truely are his honest feelings, then he’s just doing it for the $$$, and our worst nightmares will come true. I really hope Bilbo isn’t wearing Nike shoes, and swilling Redbull!
Well, if his comments are true, then why the hell is he directing the movie? I mean, there are a lot of good directors out there who respect what Tolkien did as well as the LOTR movie franchise. I fear that if his comments are true, that he changes his disposition against this type of genre (if he hasn’t already). Fans don’t want The Hobbit directed by a person who is not passionate, or doesn’t have fire in his bones, so to speak. This is a serious concern, to be sure.
You guys are really taking this to seriously, in all honesty a real fan of tolkien would see how PJ butchered alot of the hobbit, does it matter? not really he did a good job. Give GTD the same chance.
>>in all honesty a real fan of tolkien would see >>how PJ butchered alot of the hobbit,
I am assuming you mean the Lord of The Rings Trilogy, not the HOBBIT
what did Peter get wrong..
Frodo should have been portrayed quite a bit stronger than in the movie. Crossing into Rivendell it was just him on the horse, I was fine with the chase scene, but the spoken line of defiance should have remained with Frodo.
Faramir…too much to list here
Saruman being killed in the shire.
The whole ending in the Shire, the point was war affects us all.
The witch King breaking Gandalf the White’s staff, not in this lifetime or any other. He could not even have broken Gandalf the Grey’s staff.
Yeah , Peter messed up quite a bit, but got a whole hell of a lot right.
remember for Lord of the Rings
Fran Walsh (screenplay) &
Philippa Boyens (screenplay) &
Peter Jackson (screenplay)
So will Guilermo Del Toro have 2 women keeping him in line too?
Sorry yeah LOTR. Jackson made serious artistic changes to the films, some that really hurt the heart of the story, Helms deep for instance, but we forgive because he did an awsome job and he made a fantastic movie, I say we give GDT the same chance. and some of you are turning a blind eye to the fact that Peter Jackson is the producer, he choses screenwriters, he has final say in actors, and both he and GTD have both said the films will have complete consitancy. For those of you who are going chicken little on this I offer this to you: Peter Jackson Hired GDT, not hollywood studio execs. A visionary producer can do more for a film then a simple director. Have faith in Jackson/GDT. After all a fresh pair of eyes never hurt anyone, I hate naria but had it not been for C.S. Lewis some of Tolkiens works may have never come to print.
“I say we give GDT the same chance”
In a word..No, Peter Jacson actually liked LOTR and you know read it…
GDT is not the kind of person you want directing this. Most fantasy oriented films fail the traslation from book to film because they hire someone
A) that is there for the money
B) has never read the book
C) has no passion for the story itself
d) has no passion for the story itself
I would add it a 3rd time but C and D are the most important…GDT fails miserably on these counts
Well I guess peter jackson must be pretty clueless then? I suppose PJ, having no former experience, isn’t qualified to make this desision… Oh wait… thats right… he is. You all just need something to bitch about. Hes not doing it for the money. Who are you to judge GDT? You cant base your desision on 1 sentence pulled out of context. Let his work be your basis. Last I checked Peter Jackson had a pretty good handle on all things Tolkien, frankly I think your a bit dense to think that he doesnt care enough about this to hire the right man.
I am allowed to bitch, I actually saw a several of Peter Jackson’s movies before he did LOTR and thought he had the passion for it and I still held my breath for all 3 movies hoping they could keep it together.
>>care enough about this to hire the right man.
Would not be surprised if he lost some of his heart to carry on after thos idiots over at Newline dragged things out over a powerplay issue with Peter Jackson and PJ being able to call the shots.
Never said Peter did not care, but he is not directing and that passion carries over to the directing and the actors. Just ask all the actors from LOTR that repeatedly stood by for him to do the Hobbit because his heart was in it.
Those actors voices and loyalty were for PJ because it gave them something to draw on and help give that energy back to their part.
It was a a once in a lifetime chance for those actors and all the people that put it together.
The Hobbit should be and can be that once-in-a-lifetime chance, but not if their hearts are not in it.
Frodo lives, peace
I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about GDT directing the Hobbit and to be honest I still am. I am skeptical that GDT will not put the same care, love and respect into directing this enormously popular book as P.J. did with The Lord of the Rings. I am afraid that GDT will simply direct this movie simply to direct it (probably for the publicity), put his own spin on the story without any respect, and walk away having raped a book that I love more than life it’s self! I am sorry GDT, but the remarks you said in the article does not inspire any confidence and having ventured into only one fantasy film (Pan’s Labyrinth) does not make you “the perfect person to direct” this classic, vastly loved and remarkable fantasy legend. So with that said, I have only one thing to say to GDT…you better not F*CK this up!!!!
I hope he doesnt make smaug look like a guy ffrum pans labrynth
lol - sorry gotta laugh at the naivity of all you PJ fan’s - Take ‘his’ trilogy and stripe away all the brilliant design work by WETA, the artistic vision of JOHN HOWE and ALAN LEE, the majesty scenery of NEW ZEALAND and the awesome soundtrack of HOWARD SHORE and you are left with PJ/Fran Walsh scripted adaptation of THE LORD OF THE RINGS and it is completely SHIT!!! Take your bloody rose tinted glasses off… If you all truely believe the JRR TOLKIEN would have liked PJ’s films you know nothing of the MAN or his WORKS!
In my opinion, a better and natural choice for The Hobbit task would be Peter Jackson. According to what Del Toro said I don´t think he is the best option. As he confessed, he has never read the book and he has no passion for the story itself.
I do think Peter Jackson would take the task again on his hands and make the best that only him can do it!
Rogerio
you all mad
Del Toros work is far more beautifull then anything PJ done
take away weta and you got shit
Rillanor..uh I think you missed a few things.
Peter Jackson was a founder of WETA
Peter Jackson is From New Zealand
>>the artistic vision of JOHN HOWE and ALAN LEE
Pretty sure that was given but despite having WETA Peter Jackson realized they need more people that had the same passion for the work.
Oh and he fired the lead actor for the Aragorn part and got Viggo. General impression was because he was not taking it seriously enough.
>>JRR TOLKIEN would have liked PJ’s films you
Yes, he would have liked it, he would be upset with the scouring of the shire being left out.
Faramir’s part being bent way out of character
but eventually being put back in place. And alas Frodo’s part not being up to par.
But overall he would have liked it.