Snark, Critic and Pop!

For those of you who planned on spending the next two holiday seasons basking in the sure to be pure awesomeness of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit movies – better clear your 2014 calendars because like a Mogwai in a tub it is splitting again.  The Hobbit is now a trilogy.  Despite what Jackson and the studio are saying this seems like a blatant money grab, and I for one am outraged.  I will only see each one twice instead of three times (see – I will still go the to movies 6 times).  But on a serious note, I hope that there is some value to the added screen time  and it is just not a watered down experience.  Now lets get it done and get on with making “The Tale of Beren and Lúthien”!

Actor/Comedian Billy Connolly has joined the cast of Peter Jackson’s forthcoming The Hobbit as the dwarven warrior Dain Ironfoot.  Dain becomes King Under the Mountain upon the death of Thorin Oakenshield.  The 69 year old comedian was in the news last week after walking off stage and ending one of his shows early in response to hecklers in the audience.  Aside from his comedy, he has had a successful acting career… he was a late series call up in “Head of the Class” which got him his own spin-off “Billy”.  He also had roles in “Muppet Treasure Island” and “The Last Samuri”.

Tin Tin is director Steven Spielberg’s first animated film, and it’s a home run.  Based on the series of graphic novels by famed Belgian artist/writer Herge, Tin Tin is both true to the source material and vintage Spielberg.

The plot follows a young reporter, Tin Tin (Jamie Bell) and his dog Snowy.  (Insert Rin Tin Tin joke here.)  Tin Tin purchases a model ship, and is immediately beset by multiple parties who seek to acquire the ship by any means necessary.  Sensing a story, Tin Tin looks into the history of the ship the model is based on, the famed Unicorn.  Soon Tin Tin is thrust into a mystery that spans the globe, finding himself pitted with the descendant of the Unicorn’s commander, Captain Haddock, fighting for their survival against treasure hunters who will stop at nothing to acquire the Unicorn’s booty.  So to speak. (continue reading…)

I won’t beat around the bush, here is what you came to see:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Release date December 2012

The Hobbit: There and Back Again – Release date December 2013

And, as we have previously posted, Leonard Nimoy as Smaug!

In 2005 Peter Jackson decided to take on his favorite childhood film, King Kong. Right on the coat tails of his Lord of the Rings success Jackson goes for what I know we’ve all been waiting for: the epic story about an oversized lovestarved monkey. Naomi Watts has a solid set of lungs and dewy eyes as the female lead. Jack Black is serious as an underhanded and short sighted movie producer and Adrien Brody is an “unexpected” hero.

I’ll come out and say it first, then I’ll explain.

I hated this movie. (continue reading…)

There is much rejoicing in Hobbiton tonight.  The director of Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson has stepped up to the plate to direct the forthcoming two films from J.R.R. Tolkein’s Hobbit novel, which introduced the world of Rings.  Article here. 

I’m just relieved it’s not Michael Bay, personally.  Perhaps now there can be peace in Middle Earth. . .

Peter Jackson was knighted in his native New Zealand today.  Now, I know what your saying, “There is no such place as New Zealand… Middle Earth is a fictitious place”.  Well, I went and looked at a globe and it was there, just to the right of Australia.  Seems like it might be to Australia what New Jersey is to New York.  That’s a darn shame.  But apparently it is a real place, and even has some people living along side the millions and millions and millions of sheep….

Jackson (Pictured here with what I believe might be the creature called “Gollum” from the Lord of the Rings trilogy which he is most famous for directing) was knighted for his work in films, weight loss and producing the first mathematical proof of the exact level of fame one needs to reach so that a lack of personal hygiene is socially acceptable. 

But on a more serious note, Jackson is not only a great director, he is a man who has done it his way.  He films in his own country and people come to him.  He tells the stories he wants to tell.  He makes movies of tremendous scope and vision (as well as Meet the Feebles).  Kudos, Mr Jackson!