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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 29, 2012 13:26:23 GMT 12
I went to see the film The Hobbit on Thursday. Has anyone else been to see it? I didn't really know what to expect. I liked the three previous films akthough I'm not overly a fantasy film fan. So I wasn't sure I'd actually enjoy it. Regarding the story, when i was about 10 years old our teacher Mrs Adams (also known as 'The Life And Times of Grizzly Adams" to us kids ) read us the book in daily installments and I am sure I never really understood all of what was happening. And before seeing the film I had no real memory at all of the book. The thing I was most worried about though was we were to see it in the 48 frame per second 3-dimensional version. I had heard loads of people have become ill watching it. However in the end I thorughly enjoyed and understood the story, and I think the casting was even better than the earlier films. Martin Freeman was superb in the lead role, and makes the perfect younger version of Sir Ian Holm. And the 3-D and frame rate was absolutely fantastic. I have never seen 3-D that good before. This new technology is amazing. It's great to think it has been developed here in New Zealand. And no-one seemed to leave the cinema throwing up either! I really hope that they use this frame rate and 3-D technology in Dambusters. That would be totally incredible.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Dec 31, 2012 9:30:04 GMT 12
I've heard mixed reactions to the film (not stomach wise). Not a fantasy fan myself either, I watched on TV the first of the LOTR trilogy the other night. I think I fell asleep twice. Too long, boring as hell except for the last half an hour of fighting. Not to detract from Sir Peter Jackson's abilities as a director though, I'm sure his work exceeds the standards and abilities of anyone else trying to recreate such a complex and long tale onto the screen. I think I will pass on paying to see the Hobbit in the cinema. Bring on the Dambusters!
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Post by shamus on Dec 31, 2012 10:00:27 GMT 12
I think its 48 frames per second, Dave.
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Post by sparrow on Dec 31, 2012 10:23:30 GMT 12
Just home from it now. I, too, am not a fantasy film fan, saw the first LOTR film, and havn't bothered with the rest, but I went with an open mind. Also the first 3D film I've ever watched!
It was quite well done I thought, and I did giggle at a few bits. In the first half hour or so I thought some of the visuals were not great, some of the fast movement was very 'shuddery'.
To fans of this sort of thing, I'm sure they'll enjoy it, but it really isn't my cup of tea and I won't be bothering with any more of it.
Nice to see a little bit of NZ in it though.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 31, 2012 11:06:45 GMT 12
I think its 48 frames per second, Dave. Haha, quite correct. I don't know why I wrote per minute. I never saw any shudderyness Sparrow, perhaps it was the particular print or equipment your cinema had?
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Post by phil82 on Dec 31, 2012 11:41:31 GMT 12
A British view of the Hobbit and New Zealand, from Royd Tolkien, great grandson of the author himself.
"When I was eight I fell in love for the first time. Miss Arnell was a supply teacher who stepped in to replace the grumpy, crabby Mrs Rogers. I didn’t know it was love back then; I was just eight and keen on Action Man and climbing trees. What I do know is that I couldn’t wait to see her, and when I did my heart would skip a beat. She was a breath of fresh air and every time I went home I longed to see her again. I relished every moment with her and craved her attention. I couldn’t stop thinking about her and still do.
That is what New Zealand is to me. It’s my supply teacher/super model/A-list-star all rolled into one – the beautiful, breathless, love of my life.
My eyes were opened for the first time in 2003. New Line Cinema invited me to the final bits of filming on The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. I was given a small role [as a Gondorian ranger]. I was beyond excited just to go on set and see behind the scenes. To watch how such a colossal film is so intricately crafted and pieced together was inspirational and planted a seed in me that has since grown into a love of film production and a desire to reach the heights scaled by Peter Jackson (the director of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films). It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.
I’d met people at the premieres of the first two films but had never asked to go to New Zealand because, even though I’m related to J R R Tolkien, I didn’t expect any special treatment. But then I kept seeing reports that filming for the Return of the King was coming to an end and I thought, “If I don’t ask, I’ll never know.” So I sent an email, and within a couple of weeks I was in New Zealand.
As soon as I landed, Sir Christopher Lee wanted to have a cup of tea with me as he’d met my great-grandfather in Oxford in the Sixties. So I went from not expecting anything to drinking tea with Sir Christopher, literally within hours of arriving. It was wonderful.
When it came to film my part, I arrived at the Wellington Stone Street Studios and joined scores of people dressed as Orcs, Gondorian rangers and knights. There were horses everywhere. That was the beginning of my wonderful relationship with New Zealand.
My passion for the country is shared by some of the stars I’ve met, such as Sir Christopher, Viggo Mortensen and Orlando Bloom. They have a clear love of New Zealand – and of the friendly, family atmosphere on set that Peter creates.
My great-grandfather’s books feel so rich because of the very real and visual landscape in which he set them. He coloured it with deep tones of language and a rainbow of characters.
Everyone has his own view and opinions on the books, and of course certain things have to be adapted to make them work on film. Personally, I always try to keep a separation in my mind between the books and the films. I watch the films for what they are, and what Peter Jackson and all the cast and production team have done with them. Without doubt, though, New Zealand is the canvas upon which Peter and his team brilliantly manage to create, in a different medium, the effect achieved by my great-grandfather.
I confess that I’d watched the first two Lord of the Rings films and had an impression of the country but thought they had jazzed it up for the screen. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
For a land that’s only a fraction larger than the United Kingdom, it is unequalled for its variety in climate and landscapes and lends itself perfectly to Middle-earth. Be it the luscious emerald green sweeping countryside of The Shire, the barren volcanic terrain used for Mordor, the mountainous alpine regions where Edoras was filmed or the vast glacial range that became the Misty Mountains, it’s as though New Zealand had been lifted straight from the pages of the books.
There are areas that also remind me of home in Wales, which adds to the comfort of being there.
That first trip sparked my crush and I’ve been obsessed ever since. I’ve been back six times and on one occasion I was lucky enough to live there for three months while doing post-production work on a film of mine at Park Road – Peter Jackson’s insanely wonderful film centre in Wellington where editing, sound and effects are added. That gave me the chance to plant my feet and have more than a holiday romance.
Every weekend I made a point of exploring – either by hopping on the plane for the 20-minute flight from Wellington to Blenheim, at the top of the South Island, or by driving around the North Island. With a fishing rod in the boot, a flask of coffee, a pile of food and no map, I’d go on mini adventures and explore the country’s diverse and spectacular landscape.
On my most recent trip to New Zealand, I was asked by Air New Zealand to play a cameo in its slick Hobbit-themed safety video (youtube.com/airnewzealand), after which I discovered one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited.
Getting there involved a scenic two-hour drive south of Auckland and then being transported to somewhere that has to be seen to be believed: Hobbiton – the same Hobbiton you see on screen and the same Hobbiton I see when I read my great-grandfather’s books. I could write 1,000 words and show you a million pictures, but standing there is simply the most magical experience I’ve ever had.
The buildings at Hobbiton, set in the unspoilt rolling countryside on the Alexander family farm on the outskirts of Matamata, were erected 10 years ago for the filming of the Lord of the Rings but were only intended as temporary structures. For the filming of The Hobbit trilogy they have been made more permanent.
The Hobbit homeland is set within 10 acres of gorgeous, pristine, green countryside, and the cute little gates are now open, so everyone can share in its treasures: you can walk around, touch it, smell it and roll in the grass. This ain’t no ordinary film set, mate, it’s real, and you don’t even have to be a fan of the Hobbit films to see its appeal.
There’s one thing I’ve not mentioned in all of this, actually more than four million things. The best bit of all: the Kiwis. I love ’em!
It’s as though they have collected all the best nuggets of character from around the world. They have a lovely warm friendliness, a can-do attitude, they’re easy-going, loyal, straight to the point, have a great sense of humour, an adventurous outlook on life, they go out of their way to help people, they love good food and drink and they have buckets of ingenuity.
There are lots of fantastic places in which to eat in New Zealand, too, but if I had to recommend one it would be the Chocolate Fish Café in Shelly Bay, a 10-minute drive south along the coast road out of Wellington.
Here’s where you go for a great selection of fresh barbecued seafood and impossibly good coffee. It’s my first stop after landing at the airport and a great start to my trip. It may be 12,000 miles from Britain, but I would encourage everybody to visit this heavenly place.
Explore and enjoy New Zealand’s vibrant cities, fish in its isolated streams, bungee-jump off a bridge, ride a jet boat down a river, sunbathe on its beautiful beaches or head for its glorious mountains. Gorge on the superb food and wash it all down with a glass or two of the perfect wine.
Do it all – because if you don’t, you’ll be missing out on the best love affair of your life".
I think he likes us! The Chocolate Fish Cafe incidentally, is in the former CPLS Club at Shelly Bay!
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Post by sparrow on Dec 31, 2012 11:43:14 GMT 12
It was very early in the film, and a little bit later, not the whole screen, just parts of it. Probably a technical term but I don't know it.
Out of interest, what is a cinema ticket in NZ these days? It cost me €36.35(aprox $60) for the 2 tickets, and a large combo deal(packet of choc munchies, large sprite and large popcorn). The tkt themselves were €13.20 inc 3D glasses, but think it's normally about €11 for a standard movie and seat. I never did understand the need to stuff ones face while watching a film at the cinema, but I always lose out in that argument with the wife, and she dosn't understand why I never want to go to the cinema with her!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 31, 2012 11:53:32 GMT 12
That is a great article.
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Post by phil82 on Dec 31, 2012 13:19:20 GMT 12
...and read by millions! It was published last week in the UK Daily Telegraph. There was another article which said Americans and Brits are flooding ANZ with travel requests. Perhaps they think we all look like Bilbo Braggins... I also caught an interview of Stephen Fry on the Jonathon Ross show on UKtv where Ross asked Fry what he thhought of New Zealand [having just come back from filming in the Hobbit], and Fry said:" I absolutely love it, and I could quite happily move to Wellington because the people there are so nice". Well, I knew that.....
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Post by phil82 on Dec 31, 2012 13:32:03 GMT 12
It was very early in the film, and a little bit later, not the whole screen, just parts of it. Probably a technical term but I don't know it. Out of interest, what is a cinema ticket in NZ these days? It cost me €36.35(aprox $60) for the 2 tickets, and a large combo deal(packet of choc munchies, large sprite and large popcorn). The tkt themselves were €13.20 inc 3D glasses, but think it's normally about €11 for a standard movie and seat. I never did understand the need to stuff ones face while watching a film at the cinema, but I always lose out in that argument with the wife, and she dosn't understand why I never want to go to the cinema with her! I tend to avoid Cinema chains, and instead opt for the "Lighthouse" cinemas, of which there are about three in Wellington.. The Petone one has four cinemas, all seating about 80 people, on couches, state of the art screening and sound, and NO fu**ing popcorn! Tickets are NZ$17-00, [8 pounds, tops! Average price for cinemas full of popcorn munchers and people who don't know how to turn their phones off, is $16-00
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Post by ngatimozart on Dec 31, 2012 15:00:32 GMT 12
I am a diehard Tolkien fan but haven't seen the movie yet. It's a thing to be done with son, also diehard Tolkien fan, who has very busy schedule. Anyway have been thinking about 48 fps 3D and Dambusters. If that's the case I'll be wanting to take a flak jacket, combat helmet and a .50 cal to shoot back at the flak towers ;D ;D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 1, 2013 19:16:32 GMT 12
The cost for an adult ticket into the 3D 48 frame per second version was$19.00 plus $1.00 for 3D glasses.
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Post by ngatimozart on Jan 2, 2013 12:01:32 GMT 12
That's a good price. At the local Hoyts (Northlands ChCh) it's $21.50 incl 3D glasses.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 2, 2013 12:38:32 GMT 12
I should add that was in a flash new cinema at Westfield Chartwell with proper comfy armchairs and armrests for each person. The place still stunk of that rancid popcorn they dish out to people though. Yuck.
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Post by ngatimozart on Jan 2, 2013 12:59:47 GMT 12
Smuggle some KFC in next time Dave.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 11, 2013 8:31:37 GMT 12
Good luck to Sir Peter Jackson and all the cast and crew of The Hobbit: And Unexpected Journey, for their nominations at the BAFTA Awards, in the categories of Best Special Visual Effects, Best Sound and Best Hair and Make-up.
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Post by strikemaster on Feb 11, 2013 12:59:34 GMT 12
They should also be nominated for best use of an off hand "Laughing gear" line. :-)
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 25, 2013 18:33:11 GMT 12
It is surprising and sad that this film failed to win a single Oscar.
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Post by obiwan27 on Feb 25, 2013 20:16:13 GMT 12
The competition in the fields they were nominated in are tough Dave. Surprising that they didn't win something but then the Oscars don't always pick the ones you expect either. There are lots of people in the industry who miss out until it's 'their turn'.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 25, 2013 20:55:18 GMT 12
It is surprising and sad that this film failed to win a single Oscar. That's what happens when you make a movie with no discernible plot.
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