It's official: Jackson to direct the Hobbit

[Othello]

Peter Jackson will direct The Hobbitt

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/10/16/peter-jackson-to-officially-direct-the-hobbit/

Warner Bros., New Line Cinema and MGM have finally officially announced that Peter Jackson will direct J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit with production beginning in February 2011. The film is planned to be divided into two installments and will be shot in 3D. Said Jackson, “Exploring Tolkien’s Middle-earth goes way beyond a normal film-making experience. It’s an all-immersive journey into a very special place of imagination, beauty and drama. We’re looking forward to re-entering this wondrous world with Gandalf and Bilbo – and our friends at New Line Cinema, Warner Brothers and MGM”.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Re: Peter Jackson will direct The Hobbitt

Yep

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Re: Peter Jackson will direct The Hobbitt

So he's going to direct both The Hobbit and The Hobbit 2: The Quest for More Money? cool!

 

[Skellington]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

Why would there need to be a "young Ian McKellen"? Gandalf isn't a human, he's a divine spirit sent to oppose Sauron and provide guidance to the peoples of Middle-earth, along with Saruman and three other Wizards. They'd all been in Middle-earth for about two thousand years by the time of The Lord of the Rings, though two of the Wizards disappeared into the East and were never heard from again.

Yes, there's no such thing as a young Gandalf.

 

[Dream]

Re: Peter Jackson will direct The Hobbitt

Already a topic about this.

http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=130543

 

[Tiberius]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

Except we're not talking about full color or stereo sound, are we? Current 3D is a gimmick. As of right now, it's the equivalent of going from b&w to, say, 6-bit color. You're simply not getting a full three-dimensional experience from current 3D tech, no matter how badly its proponents want to proclaim otherwise. And the lack of full three dimensional detail is a detriment, particularly in a film like the Hobbit, which is meant to link with films previously shot in 2D. I'm sure at some point 3D will develop to the point where it is equivalent to going from b&w to full spectrum color. But that won't happen in time for The Hobbit.

So it shouldn't be done until it's a holodeck?

And I suppose that when sound first camer out in the cinemas, it was a mistake for them to use mono or stereo until they had the technology to do the full surround sound experience?

 

[Tulin]

Re: Peter Jackson will direct The Hobbitt

Already a post about that.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

Casting buzz seems to suggest that Martin Freeman will be Bilbo, while David Tennant and James Nesbitt might also be in it. Has Steven Moffatt been whispering in Jackson's ear during the making of Tintin? (All have appeared in Moffatt shows - Dr Who, Sherlock and Jekyll).

I hope Sylvester McCoy gets the role he says he's up for in addition to these rumors. It would be fantastic to have two Doctors in this.

 

[JarodRussell]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

Except we're not talking about full color or stereo sound, are we? Current 3D is a gimmick. As of right now, it's the equivalent of going from b&w to, say, 6-bit color. You're simply not getting a full three-dimensional experience from current 3D tech, no matter how badly its proponents want to proclaim otherwise. And the lack of full three dimensional detail is a detriment, particularly in a film like the Hobbit, which is meant to link with films previously shot in 2D. I'm sure at some point 3D will develop to the point where it is equivalent to going from b&w to full spectrum color. But that won't happen in time for The Hobbit.

So it shouldn't be done until it's a holodeck?

And I suppose that when sound first camer out in the cinemas, it was a mistake for them to use mono or stereo until they had the technology to do the full surround sound experience?

Not to forget about depth of field blur that isn't at all like our eyes perceive reality, or motion blur that is only the result of film having only 24 frames per second.
What Samuel Walters seems to want is the Holodeck indeed.


And the claim about 3D being a detriment is nonsense, sorry to say that. It will look just like Lord of the Rings, only in 3D. If you watch it in 2D, you will not notice any differences to LotR.

 

[Candlelight]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

3D done right is very good. So providing it's done right...

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

well if its being filmed in 3d there's a good chance the 3D will actually be worthwhile.

I saw Last Airbender and Clash of the Titans both in 3D. Boy was the 3d effect annoying and shitty there. but the movies sucked too.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

Why would there need to be a "young Ian McKellen"? Gandalf isn't a human, he's a divine spirit sent to oppose Sauron and provide guidance to the peoples of Middle-earth, along with Saruman and three other Wizards. They'd all been in Middle-earth for about two thousand years by the time of The Lord of the Rings, though two of the Wizards disappeared into the East and were never heard from again.

I wasn't being entirely serious.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

Except we're not talking about full color or stereo sound, are we? Current 3D is a gimmick. As of right now, it's the equivalent of going from b&w to, say, 6-bit color. You're simply not getting a full three-dimensional experience from current 3D tech, no matter how badly its proponents want to proclaim otherwise. And the lack of full three dimensional detail is a detriment, particularly in a film like the Hobbit, which is meant to link with films previously shot in 2D. I'm sure at some point 3D will develop to the point where it is equivalent to going from b&w to full spectrum color. But that won't happen in time for The Hobbit.

So it shouldn't be done until it's a holodeck?

And I suppose that when sound first camer out in the cinemas, it was a mistake for them to use mono or stereo until they had the technology to do the full surround sound experience?

Not to forget about depth of field blur that isn't at all like our eyes perceive reality, or motion blur that is only the result of film having only 24 frames per second.
What Samuel Walters seems to want is the Holodeck indeed.


And the claim about 3D being a detriment is nonsense, sorry to say that. It will look just like Lord of the Rings, only in 3D. If you watch it in 2D, you will not notice any differences to LotR.

Both comments entirely missed the point. The "holodeck" comment -- a straw man's argument if there ever was one -- perfectly illustrates the inherent problem with these comments: one doesn't need a holodeck to have a seamless 3D experience, but one does need to create the illusion of a seamless 3D experience. Second, these comments overlook the fact that I've made no objections to current 3D tech in principle -- it works very well in some cases. What I am saying is that current 3D is a limited technology (which is a fact, 3D can and will be improved markedly), and not only can those limitations be a liability for audiences -- not every audience member, but many of them -- but will quite obviously date the look of the film. Therefore, and because The Hobbit is meant to be a visual equivalent to LOTR, I believe it is inappropriate to use current 3D tech in The Hobbit, specifically.

 

[P0sitr0nic]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

Current 3D is a gimmick.

So was color when it was new.

I for one cant wait to see a 3D Middle Earth.

 

[JarodRussell]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

Both comments entirely missed the point. The "holodeck" comment -- a straw man's argument if there ever was one -- perfectly illustrates the inherent problem with these comments: one doesn't need a holodeck to have a seamless 3D experience, but one does need to create the illusion of a seamless 3D experience.

How? You say so repeatedly, but you don't give a possible example of what you mean.

[...] and because The Hobbit is meant to be a visual equivalent to LOTR, I believe it is inappropriate to use current 3D tech in The Hobbit, specifically.

No problem, just watch the 2D version of it and it will look like LotR. Nobody forces you to watch it in 3D. The DVD and bluray will be 2D anyway.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

Current 3D is a gimmick.

So was color when it was new.

And originally color had its limitations as well. At least you admit that current 3D is a gimmick with limitations.

Both comments entirely missed the point. The "holodeck" comment -- a straw man's argument if there ever was one -- perfectly illustrates the inherent problem with these comments: one doesn't need a holodeck to have a seamless 3D experience, but one does need to create the illusion of a seamless 3D experience.

How? You say so repeatedly, but you don't give a possible example of what you mean.

Take live-action scenes from Avatar. Either the scene where Jake gets off the ship on Pandora or the scene where Jake wheels in to the cafeteria to listen to Quaritch give the pep talk. Or the scene in which the avatar chamber was being cleaned with water. Watch the scenes again in 3D and explain how every element in the frame was constructed to present a seamless illusion of three full dimensions -- that there was no distinction whatsoever between elements that were brought to the fore (closer sitting characters, sprays of water), and others (further sitting characters, the windows, the transports) placed to the rear. Say what you will, but those scenes, in 3D, didn't look remotely like three dimensions as I perceive it. And no amount of rationalization from 3D fans will compensate for the current limitations of the technology.

Better to acknowledge those limitations and use them where its most appropriate (i.e. not in The Hobbit).

[...] and because The Hobbit is meant to be a visual equivalent to LOTR, I believe it is inappropriate to use current 3D tech in The Hobbit, specifically.

No problem, just watch the 2D version of it and it will look like LotR. Nobody forces you to watch it in 3D. The DVD and bluray will be 2D anyway.

I've already said I will. In fact, I'll see it in both, because there's no point in ignoring the 3D and I'm curious to see how the tech is improving. But that's hardly a compelling argument that current 3D is appropriate for The Hobbit.

 

[JarodRussell]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

Take live-action scenes from Avatar. Either the scene where Jake gets off the ship on Pandora or the scene where Jake wheels in to the cafeteria to listen to Quaritch give the pep talk. Or the scene in which the avatar chamber was being cleaned with water. Watch the scenes again in 3D and explain how every element in the frame was constructed to present a seamless illusion of three full dimensions -- that there was no distinction whatsoever between elements that were brought to the fore (closer sitting characters, sprays of water), and others (further sitting characters, the windows, the transports) placed to the rear. Say what you will, but those scenes, in 3D, didn't look remotely like three dimensions as I perceive it. And no amount of rationalization from 3D fans will compensate for the current limitations of the technology.

That didn't answer the question. How does one create a "seamless 3D experience"? How do you get rid of the "limitations of the technology"?

You can't say that holodeck comment was a straw man argument if you can't bring an example of what you mean.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

The holodeck comment was most certainly a straw man argument since I never once brought it up, nor intimated that films had to reproduce three physical dimensions with which the audience could interact. I have said, repeatedly, 3D needs to create the illusion of three full dimensions -- but its current incarnation is limited in its ability to seamlessly do so. By bringing up the notion of a "holodeck" you misrepresent my point of view to its utmost extreme in order to refute it. That, by definition, is a straw man argument.

As for "how does one one get rid of the 'limitations of the technology'" ... well, if I knew how to create a seamless 3D illusion I'd patent the idea and live comfortably for the rest of my life. But since I don't, and since I'm a consumer and not a producer, all I'm concerned with is the result -- which, at this point, is limited and therefore, in my opinion, not appropriate for The Hobbit.

And once again, I feel the need to point out that I am not at all arguing against the idea of 3D cinema in general, nor even the current incarnation of 3D, provided it's used in such a way that its limitations are minimized. All I'm saying is that, in its current iteration, 3D cinema isn't as immersive as many of its proponents claim it to be, that it's often being used inappropriately as a gimmick, and that, for The Hobbit, those limitations can be a detriment for many (but certainly not all) viewers.

 

[JarodRussell]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

So you have no idea if it would even work what you propose, if it could even be as immersive as you want it to be, and dismiss the current 3D anyway.

 

[SPCTRE]

Re: The Hobbit OFFICIALLY greenlit, Jackson to direct and in 3D

To be perfectly honest, in terms of visual coherence with the LotR trilogy I'm more worried about The Hobbit not being shot in NZ.

Couldn't care less whether or not they're going to implement 3D.