November 2012

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #9 & #10. There are any The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #9 & #10 in here.

A few weeks ago The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey soundtrack was posted as a preview for its December 11 release. However, the player would not allow you to pause or skip tracks. Now Rolling Stone has reposted the soundtrack in a new player that devices the music into its tracks and gives you pause functionality. If interested in replaying some of your favorite tracks, you can find the player here. You can pre-order the extended edition and regular edition at Amazon.

The Hobbit: AUJ Entire Score Separated In Tracks. There are any The Hobbit: AUJ Entire Score Separated In Tracks in here.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #8. There are any The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #8 in here.

Starting on Monday (December 3) to Thursday (Dec. 6), The Colbert Report will have The Hobbit week to help promote An Unexpected Journey. The news doesn't come as a surprise as Stephen Colbert is a huge fan of Tolkien (can speak elvish) and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, making frequent references (for TV anyway) to the movies on his show. Also he was spotted on The Hobbit set and rumored to have a cameo in the movie. Planned guests include Ian McKellan (Dec. 3), Martin Freeman (Dec. 4), Peter Jackson (Dec. 5), and Andy Serkis (Dec. 6). I am sure he has more then just guests planned for the week as this is his chance to just unabashedly geek out.

The Hobbit Week on The Colbert Report. There are any The Hobbit Week on The Colbert Report in here.

Thursday The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was announced as 1 of 10 films that is on the shortlist of 10 films to potentially compete for the Best Visual Effects Oscar. The Oscar is the highest film award in Hollywood and considered a huge achievement to even be nominated.

The 10 films: The Amazing Spider-Man, Cloud Atlas, The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, John Carter, Life of Pi, The Avengers, Prometheus, Skyfall and Snow White & the Huntsman

The visual effects branch of the Academy will have a "bake-off" on January 3rd where they can view a 10 minute reel for each film that highlights the movies visual effects. From that, the branch will vote on who the five finalists are which will be announced on January 10, 2013. At that point the entire Academy will be able to vote on who will win the Best Visual Effects Oscar which will be announced during the 85th ACademy Awards presentation on February 24, 2013.

The Hobbit: UEJ on Oscar VFX Short List. There are any The Hobbit: UEJ on Oscar VFX Short List in here.

For those attending the midnight showings of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on December 14th, participating theaters will be giving away four character posters (below). One per person but I wouldn't not be surprised if enterprising folks can work out getting the full set if choose too.

Four The Hobbit IMAX Posters for Midnight Viewings. There are any Four The Hobbit IMAX Posters for Midnight Viewings in here.

Starting 6:50PM PST/9:50PM EST will be the live stream (watch below) from the red carpet in Wellington, New Zealand for the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Usually these streams involved watching cast members, local celebrities and whoever else from Hollywood that chose to make the trip as they walk down the red carpet looking glamorous and occasionally engaging in quick interviews about the movie. After this will be various country premieres over the next few weeks as much of the cast starts promoting the movies on local news and talk shows.

Until the live stream starts, it will loop the trailer.
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Live from The World Premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. There are any Live from The World Premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in here.

Over the weekend the below clip from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey aired on the SyFy channel. In the clip Galdalf hands over Sting to Bilbo Baggins. Sting is the sword that glowed near orcs and goblins that Frodo carried in the Trilogy and given to him by Bilbo in Fellowship of the Ring.

The Hobbit: AUJ Bilbo, Galdalf and Sting Clip. There are any The Hobbit: AUJ Bilbo, Galdalf and Sting Clip in here.

As you are reading this, Wellington, New Zealand is prepping for the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey set for November 28th...New Zealand time. Which is about 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time or 18 hours ahead of the United States east coast (and not accounting for daylight savings time). In other worlds, for Europe, the premiere is occuring before dawn and for the states it is in late afternoon or early evening. Why does this possibily matter since none of us are there? As part of the red carpet event, Hero Complex is promising a live stream from the red carpet that will start at 6:50 PST/9:50EST/2:50GMT. I have no idea if the stream will be limited to the States or not. Once I know the link for the stream I will post it on the blog.

Expected to appear on the red carpet and possibly answer questions from reporters are Peter Jackson, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Ian Holm, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Christopher Lee, Lee Pace, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood and more. Ian McKellen had to cancel for unknown reasons. Neil Finn will also be there to perform at the event including "Song of the Lovely Mountain" that is part of the end credits. Not sure what else is going on but red carpet world premieres are mostly a way to get a bunch of quit interviews into TV and magazines as the various stars that attend look their very best. Having watched a live stream before of a red carpet thing for Transformers 2, it is actually pretty boring unless you like to star watch. Hopefully though might seem some more Hobbit inspired touches like the Bag End baggage carousel and Gandalf knocking images in this post.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey World Premiere Live Stream Planned. There are any The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey World Premiere Live Stream Planned in here.

In a new article from NZ Stuff, Peter Jackson discusses his approach to filming The Hobbit compared to the Lord of the Rings, his enjoyment and what he thinks of the criticism in regards to 48FPS.

‘‘The Lord of the Rings is about good and evil and the fate of the world. I mean, it's about the biggest possible issues you could imagine and that's huge armies and huge empires fighting against each other, as well as the story of Frodo getting to the mountain. So, it a much more [an] epic type of movie. The Hobbit is more of a character ensemble film and an adventure story.

‘‘I'm trying to shoot The Hobbit in the same style as The Lord of the Rings, but obviously the subject matter is different, in the sense, we're following Bilbo [the hobbit] and the dwarfs and we're taking them on this adventure – which is very different to any of what happens in The Lord of the Rings. It simply isn't about such intense kind of issues and intense themes as The Lord of the Rings.’’

Jackson on Filming The Hobbit . There are any Jackson on Filming The Hobbit in here.

Happily, I am all moved into my new apartment - yea! - but unhappily, I have been without internet and will continue to be without it until this Thursday evening. That of course means no Blogger and even more important, NO NETFLIX. Seriously guys, what the hell am I going to do for the next few days? No Law and Order: Criminal Intent? No getting through some of the movies in my queue? I feel as though I will soon go batshit crazy. So if that happens, I might not be with you guys anymore. If not, see you in a couple days.

Moving sucks.... There are any Moving sucks... in here.

Peter Jackson has posted the next production diary for The Hobbit. This one covers the post-production for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey with a look at some filming, creating the visual effects, sound effects, editing, color correction and recording the soundtrack. No major spoilers but get glimpses at new scenes not in the various trailers and tv spots. Like the bit about "beard capture technology".
Video #1 | Video #2 | Video #3 | Video #4 | Video #5 | Video #6 | Video #7 | Video #8

The Hobbit Production Video #9 - Post Production. There are any The Hobbit Production Video #9 - Post Production in here.

The official The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 3D glasses are now on sale on Amazon for $10. As previewed a few months ago, the plastic glasses made by Look3D are for use when seeing the movie at 3D locations with a design inspired by the key of Erebor. To buy, click here.

Official The Hobbit 3D Glasses Now Available. There are any Official The Hobbit 3D Glasses Now Available in here.

ClassicFM has posted a new interview with The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings composer Howard Shore. In the interview he discusses writing the music for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, working with Peter Jackson again, the influence the novels have on his writing and finishing the movie score. The 11 minute interview can be found here. The soundtrack will be out on December 11th in standard and extended edition. You can also preview it. (via TOR)

Howard Shore Audio Interview. There are any Howard Shore Audio Interview in here.

Below is a fan made 7 and half minute "supertrailer" that is a combination of all the trailers and TV spots 1-7 that have been released. It essentially edits all of them together, dropping the repeat scenes. A good way to see all the footage available up to this point.
Trailer #1 | Trailer #1.1 | Trailer #2
TV Spot #1 | TV Spot #2 | TV Spot #3 | TV Spot #4 | TV Spot #5 | TV Spot #6 | TV Spot #7

The Hobbit: AUJ Unofficial Supertrailer. There are any The Hobbit: AUJ Unofficial Supertrailer in here.

In a post on his official Facebook page, Peter Jackson answered a few questions about HFR 3D, aka high frame rate in 3D, aka 3D at 48 frames-per-second. Since 1927, all films have been shown at 24 frames per second, with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey being the first to show it at 48FPS in history. Because of the tech upgrade costs, it will be only shown on around 500 screens in North America (list here) so most will not be able to view it in the format that Jackson would prefer all see it in. Still if you in an area that will be showing The Hobbit in HFR 3D but on the fence about that extra 3D cost (the 48fps is a bonus), his Q&A may be useful in making a decision.

QUESTION: Why did you shoot The Hobbit Trilogy using the High Frame Rate (HFR) format?
PETER JACKSON: We live in a rapidly advancing digital age. Technology is being continually developed that can enhance and enrich the cinema-going experience. High Frame Rate shooting for a mainstream feature film has only become viable in the last year or two, and yet we live in an age of increasing home entertainment. I started shooting The Hobbit films in HFR because I wanted film audiences to experience just how remarkably immersive the theatrical cinema experience can be.
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Peter Jackson's Q&A on 48FPS. There are any Peter Jackson's Q&A on 48FPS in here.

According to animal wranglers who had worked with The Hobbit production, around 27 animals died during production. They allege (through PETA) that the farm the animals were kept on was dangerous with bluffs, sinkholes, fences and other "death traps." The farm was used to house around 150 animals used for the film. The deaths did not occurs during actual filming of the film but while being kept at the farm.

The production does admit that two horses died from events that could have been avoided and improvements were made to avoid those but no specific details were provided on the other 25 deaths, which the wranglers do admit some (but not how many) were caused by natural causes. Other deaths was one other horse, six goats, six sheep and a dozen chickens. Most of the deaths were caused by sinkholes that were caused by underground streams. Some by the animals going over bluffs and multiple chickens were killed by dogs. After two horses died, "hundreds of thousands" in upgrades were performed on the farm area but apparently it wasn't enough to prevent additional harm. The American Humane Association (AHA) was on set and verify no animals were harmed during filming of The Hobbit but they have no oversight on what happens off set.
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Peter Jackson Refutes Animal Abuse Accusations. There are any Peter Jackson Refutes Animal Abuse Accusations in here.

In just a little over a week The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will have its world premiere in Wellington, New Zealand. The occasion has not slowed down the many problems that the Tolkien Estate has had with Warner Bros and movie rights holder Saul Zaentz Company. The two sides have been in legal hell on and off for over a decade now with each side winning and losing their share of battles. They once again enter into battle with yet another lawsuit.

The latest is over a breach of contract over how Warner Bros has chosen to take advantage of the Tolkien's world for the digital age. The source of the anger is due to the online gambling game "The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring: Online Slot Game" that apparently WB signed off with plans to produce regular LOTR slot machines for casinos. The Tolkien Estate is suing to prevent to take down the Slot Game, prevent the gambling machines from moving forward, and prevent WB from using their merchandising rights in areas the original 1969 contract did not cover such as hotels, restaurants, ringtones, online games, and more. The $80 million is to cover how the "infringing conduct has outraged Tolkien's devoted fan base, causing irreparable harm to Tolkien's legacy and reputation and the valuable goodwill generated by his works."

Hard to say how this will be handled but chances are this will be eventually settled with a hefty payout and alteration of the existing contract. Considering how much the Tolkien Estate and remaining family seems to genuinely hate the films (they prefer a literal book to film translation, which trust me would be an awful thing), don't take this to mean that somehow WB might get further rights to Tolkien's other Middle-Earth works.

Tolkien Estate Suing Warner Bros for $80 Million. There are any Tolkien Estate Suing Warner Bros for $80 Million in here.

In an article with New Zealand Stuff, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey co-writer Philippa Boyens discussed returning to Middle-Earth, handling various story elements and why they decided to invent a new character for the films.

On returning to Middle-Earth:
When asked, there's a long pause before she answers. "I loved the world. I loved [JRR] Tolkien's writing. [But] I think there was a quality about myself where I felt like 'I'd done it'," she says while in Wellington. "But that feeling didn't last very long because The Hobbit is a whole other fantasy really, a whole other work. Once we got into it and started writing it I felt really good about it and then I started loving it more and more. It was a natural process of falling back in love."
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Philippa Boyens Talks About Writing The Hobbit. There are any Philippa Boyens Talks About Writing The Hobbit in here.

Okay, Alec, I guess it was only fair that I had to watch one of these David DeCoteau 1313 movies, too. Doesn't mean I have to like it. I've never watched any kind of officially "gay" movie before either so this turned out to be an, um, interesting experience. 1313: Bermuda Triangle is thankfully quite short (didn't cut into my marathon of Law and Order: Criminal Intent that much) and quite dense, and only required the bare minimum of my brain power to get through it. Here we go...

So the first scene will soon become quite familiar as the movie goes on. A buff dude in swim trunks named Ryan walks into this random house. He proceeds to spend the next, oh, about four minutes walking into every room of the house and constantly yelling inane things like, "Hello? Anybody here? It's Ryan! Hello, is anybody there?" over and over and over and over and over agin. Who is this guy and who is he looking for? Already, I don't care. And we don't find out anyway because Ryan's search is interrupted when he walks into the gym and is hit with some kind of electric charge or whatever (CGI lightning appears on his body). The next bad effects shot is Ryan strung up by one of the gym machines in only his tightie whities. The cameraperson manages to get a pretty good amount of zooms on Ryan's package while he struggles around for a while.

Uh huh. So that's the kind of movie this is going to be. Goody. Like I said this is my first David DeCoteau movie. It sure as fuck better be my last. Don't get me wrong, I don't have any problem with gay and lesbian movies at all, but seriously. This is basically the softest core porn I've ever seen with only the slightest attempt at some other kind of plot. Shirtless guys walk around this beach house, swimming, taking showers, acting badly. Why didn't DeCoteau just make an actual porn and get it over with?

Anyway, back to the movie. After the first scene with Ryan, there's a quick scene with some other shirtless dudes including our main guy, Sean, talking about some secret diving mission. Not long after that, another shirtless boy in shorts, this time called Jesse, walks into the same house that Ryan did at the beginning, and starts wandering around asking if anybody is there. Oh my gosh, really? And guess what - he gets hit with electricity too and ends up (in his tightie whities of course) tied to the staircase railing. He does some more lame struggling, but does do some great poses that show off his ab muscles and ass, and then... nothing happens again.

Okay, so I guess the main "story" of this movie is about the aforementioned muscular hunk named Sean who is in the Caribbean searching for underwater treasure and planning to write a book about it and have a reality show or some such crap. He's a douchebag, but you could pretty much tell that by looking at him. We are later introduced to some "experts" that he's brought into his beach house to help him with research and stuff, but none of them end up doing much more than walking around in their speedos and go swimming. They all just happen to be hot young guys.

Oh no wait, a chick shows up! Not a hot chick, of course, but a chick nonetheless, and she does nothing to help the characters or the movie itself. These actors were obviously only chosen for their looks and their willingness to be in a really bad gay movie. Um, yea for them?

After the scene where Sean supposedly kills his island contact with an enormous piece of driftwood, and before we meet any of the other main characters, the movie goes back into a familiar pattern. Yup, a THIRD guy (Josh, as he tells us, and strangely not shirtless) walks into the house and starts walking around asking if anybody is there. STOP IT, STOP IT RIGHT NOW! I can't watch another scene like this again without anything happening or without them explaining anything. But surprise surprise, nothing is ever really explained enough to anybody's satisfaction.

Lemme just try to sum up what they say is going on here. While Sean was searching for whatever at the bottom of the ocean he took an important artifact from Atlantis. Yeah, Atlantis. One of the guys in Sean's house is impersonating the expert Clay he brought in and he's like a citizen of Atlantis whose been doing experiments on people and all the planes that disappear over the Bermuda Triangle and taking the people into the fourth dimension. Does that make sense? Didn't think so.

The most exciting part of the movie for our gay viewers is probably the scene where Sean takes a shower - though he doesn't need it - for THREE MINUTES. I say this is the best scene because Sean has arguably the best body of any of the guys in the movie. So DeCoteau lets us enjoy that by showing him running his hands over his (very ripped) stomach and arms. I thought for a second that something was wrong with the movie because he uses the exact same shot twice in this sequence... just to prolong it, I guess.

What happens at the end? Goodness help me, a FOURTH guy walks into the house looking for people. He gets hit with the lightning and tied up in the shower. Still no good explanation for why we have to watch naked guys struggling - other than to, you know, watch naked guys struggling. I don't really give a crap one way or the other but it's frustrating. And then what happens after the fourth dude gets tied up? No, more than just nothing - the movie ENDS.

It's bad, you get that. It's a gay movie and it's bad. The acting is one dimensional and mechanical, the plot is beyond lame, the music is repetitive and annoying. Shirtless guys walking around. That's all it is. And there are apparently a lot more movies like this from DeCoteau, which is cool for his fans and all but this is obviously not my thing. Until the next Project Terrible, I leave you with the only screenshot I could find for 1313 Bermuda Triangle, which is of our main shirtless guy, Sean. Enjoy!

Project Terrible: 1313: Bermuda Triangle (2011). There are any Project Terrible: 1313: Bermuda Triangle (2011) in here.

Warner Bros recently explained its decision to limit its rollout of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey at 48 frames-per-second to Deadline. The 3D at 48FPS tech, which WB calls "HFR" for High Frame Rate, is being rolled out slowly because there are glitches that need to be corrected and "This is a technology that is going to change the way people see movies…You have to do it right."

New tech has glitches, that is to be expected. Another issue is cost. It seems that the cost of turning a screen into HFR ready can cost $5000 per projector and as high as $20,000 for IMAX. If the projector was recently purchased, there is still a $1,500 cost for the software upgrade. This does not include the faster bulb burn out rate and the high cost of replacing them.

It seems the plan is basically to use The Hobbit as a proof of concept to encourage studios to start paying out for the upgrade. The more that upgrade, the more the tech can be perfected and the faster the cost will drop. This means that The Hobbit has to get it right the first time as unlikely to be any second chances if audiences do not like the experience.

Why So Few Screens for the 48FPS Hobbit. There are any Why So Few Screens for the 48FPS Hobbit in here.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #7. There are any The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #7 in here.

Below is a short, cute video that has Prince Charles meeting Dori the Dwarf when royalty visited The Hobbit set over the summer. Make sure to pay attention to Peter Jackson who seems to be enjoying it more then anyone else. (via AICN)

When Charles Meets Dori. There are any When Charles Meets Dori in here.

When The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey debuts on December 14th nationwide in IMAX 3D, 500 screens will present the first 9 minutes of Star Trek Into Darkness to audiences.

“Our longtime partners J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk and the Bad Robot team have really hit it out of the park – the footage is absolutely incredible,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “Their use of the IMAX Camera and canvas is sure to impress current and future Star Trek fans alike, and we’re thrilled to once again work with our friends at Paramount Pictures to offer this extended ‘first look’ at this highly anticipated summer blockbuster.”

The final list of theaters isn't know but a list of The Hobbit in IMAX 3D for North American can be found here. Chances are most, if not all those theaters will have the Star Trek preview.

The Hobbit IMAX 3D Getting a Star Trek Experience. There are any The Hobbit IMAX 3D Getting a Star Trek Experience in here.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #6. There are any The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #6 in here.

Empire Magazine has posted the full soundtrack to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey online. A previous post provided a minute preview of each track but this time its the entire thing. Sadly the widget does not allow you to skip around but still cool to hear if only to rev you up for the movie. If decide to pre-order the soundtrack use these links so the site gets credit - extended edition and regular edition. The soundtrack will be released on December 11th. If just curious about Neil Finn's credit song, you can find that below thanks to Rolling Stone.
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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Full Soundtrack Preview. There are any The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Full Soundtrack Preview in here.

A Japanese TV spot for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey reveals a few more scenes over the previous spots released for the states including a great shot of Gollum creeping up on Bilbo. The movie will be out on December 14th. (via TOR)

Hobbit Japanese TV Spot with More Scenes. There are any Hobbit Japanese TV Spot with More Scenes in here.

Just a reminder that Lego Lord of the Rings has been released for all consoles and the PC. The game is based on the movie, using the voice work and music from the films to re-create the trilogy in the Lego (aka kid friendly) way. An interview with the developers is here and can order it from Amazon here.

Lego Lord of the Rings Out Now. There are any Lego Lord of the Rings Out Now in here.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #5. There are any The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #5 in here.

New Zealand Stuff has posted two articles for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. One is a interview with Martin Freeman as he discusses getting cast as Bilbo, taking over the role from Ian Holm. In other is a behind the scenes look at the film. Links below. In addition ComicBookMovie has posted 150 behind the scene images that is really a catalog of all the ones previously released (including the 60 from yesterday) so if got behind its a useful way of catching up but otherwise nothing new to see. If don't want to click through each one, the thumbnail list is here.
Martin Freeman | Behind the ScenesRead more »

The Hobbit 150 Behind the Scenes Images, Article and Martin Freeman Interview. There are any The Hobbit 150 Behind the Scenes Images, Article and Martin Freeman Interview in here.

Below are five videos posted by OxoArchiveAddict from a live performance of the soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings as the movie played. The concert occured on October 25th at the Paris Palais des Congrès. The five videos below are short (otherwise might get into copyright issues) but gives you a feel for what was probably an great experience for LOTR fans. A description of the event is here.

Fellowship of the Ring With Soundtrack Performed Live. There are any Fellowship of the Ring With Soundtrack Performed Live in here.

A new track from the Howard Shore composed sountrack to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has been released called "The Adventure Begins" which echos themes from The Lord of the Rings soundtrack. A previously released track, Radagast the Brown, can be found here. In addition below are three "videos" that give you about a minute preview of every track on the extended edition of the sountrack. There are two editions, the extended edition and regular edition with the main differences being longer versions of some tracks and a few additonal tracks. Full details on those editions are here.

New The Hobbit Track, Preview Entire Score. There are any New The Hobbit Track, Preview Entire Score in here.

Not sure how they got them but Tolkien Brazil has posted 60 images from behind the scenes of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The images show the crew at work with a focus on Peter Jackson and the cast of the film. To view the full gallery, click here.

60 Behind the Scene Photos from The Hobbit. There are any 60 Behind the Scene Photos from The Hobbit in here.

The posters keep coming for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey that is out on December 14th. The other day four banners were released and today we have three more. As before the images are from The Hobbit Scroll from early summer.

Three More Banners for The Hobbit. There are any Three More Banners for The Hobbit in here.

I guess if I wanted to keep up my marathon, it would've helped to update my dang DVD queue. Hence the Argh. So I'm gonna be a little behind on getting Freaks and The Fly done. Meantime, I've gotten onto one of my little TV show-watching kicks. This time it's...

... which means that I am now hopelessly obsessed with Vincent D'Onofrio. My gosh, is he awesome on that show. Per this obsession, I also had to pick up the new Jennifer Lynch movie with him in it.

Watching it right now, actually. Not sure if I'll do a review yet, but D'Onofrio is still kicking ass as always. He's doing something weird with his speech, though, and I don't get it. I might listen to the commentary on this one from D'Onofrio and Lynch before I send it back.

Random update. See you all later!

Argh. There are any Argh in here.

New images from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey have been posted online. The images provide a look at more of the characters and creatures in the movie including the Wargs, Goblins/Orcs, Trolls, The White Council meeting spot, Radagast the Brown, and more. The pictures can be found here or mirrored here.

New The Hobbit: UEJ Images. There are any New The Hobbit: UEJ Images in here.

Denny's has started posting the promised behind the scenes videos for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The video shows some of the behind the scenes fun with the cast as they filmed the dinner party at Bags End that will likely be in the first 30 minutes or so of the movie. (via The One Ring)

Denny's An Unexpected Dinner Party Featurette. There are any Denny's An Unexpected Dinner Party Featurette in here.

WB has released four new banners to promote the December 14th release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. If the images seem familiar it is because were used in The Hobbit scroll a few months back.

Four New Banners for The Hobbit: AUJ. There are any Four New Banners for The Hobbit: AUJ in here.

ComicBookMovie has posted several images of Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman on The Hobbit set as he performed a stunt on Laketown set. Assuming he doesn't get an early introduction, the character will probably not show up until The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Three more images can be found here.

Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman on the Hobbit Set. There are any Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman on the Hobbit Set in here.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #4. There are any The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #4 in here.

Below is video from Air New Zealand that shows some of the behind the scenes for "An Unexpected Briefing" airplane safety video created with Peter Jackson for the company. (via Weta)

Behind the Scenes of "An Unexpected Briefing". There are any Behind the Scenes of "An Unexpected Briefing" in here.

The One Ring has compiled a pretty comprehensive list of the North American theaters that will have The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in formats other then regular 2D. In total there are about 4 different formats to the movie with 2 main sound options. It can get confusing pretty easily. Peter Jackson would prefer you see the movie in "HFR 3D" (in 3D at 48 frames-per-second with Atmos Sound). Only a tiny fraction of movie theaters have the equipment (either can't do 48FPS or no Atmos) to do this so if most of us will not be able to see it the Peter Jackson way. As a result the theater listing/cheat sheet will be very useful to figure out just how close you can get to the ideal in your area. Personally I think I would rather experience the movie the same way I did The Lord of the Rings trilogy so sticking with good old fashion 2D at 24 FPS. BTW tickets are on sale now.

The formats:
HDR 3D - in 3D at 48 frames-per-second (Peter Jackson preferred)
IMAX 3D - in 3D at 24 frames-per-second
IMAX - in 3D at 24 frames-per-second in huge scale
3D - in 3D at 24 frames-per-second
2D - how movies have been for last 90 years (Lord of the Rings trilogy format)

Click here to view the theater listing or here to download the PDF listing.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Theater Format List. There are any The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Theater Format List in here.

The third TV spot has been released for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey that will be released on December 14th.
TV Spot #1 | TV Spot #2

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #3. There are any The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #3 in here.

A track from the upcoming soundtrack for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has been released. Titled "Radagast the Brown" for the wizard that Sylvester McCoy is playing and whose role in the trilogy remains unknown. The music, composted by Howard Shore, proves that the music for The Hobbit trilogy will remain as fantastic as it was for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. There are two editions of the 2-disc soundtrack, a regular edition and special edition that will be released on December 11th.

"Radagast the Brown" Track from The Hobbit Soundtrack. There are any "Radagast the Brown" Track from The Hobbit Soundtrack in here.

Starting at noon on Wednesday, November 7th, advance tickets for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will go on sale in the United States. In addition some theaters will have The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Trilogy marathon on Saturday, December 8th and Sunday, December 9th.

On the format front, things remain confusing but Regal Theaters provided some clarity by saying that their 48 frames per second will be in 3D only or what they label as "HFR 3D". Still this leaves 2D at 24fps, 3D at 24fps and 48fps, IMAX at unknown fps, IMAX 3D at unknown fps and that is before you Dolby Atmos to the equation.

To simplify, if you goal is to watch it the way Peter Jackson wants you too then you want 3D IMAX at 48fps in Dolby Atmos. If you want to remain consistent to the Lord of the Rings trilogy (my preference if only to avoid the format headaches) then stick with traditional 2D at 24fps that most theaters will have and how have been watching movies your entire life.

The Hobbit, LOTR Marathon Tickets on Sale Wednesday. There are any The Hobbit, LOTR Marathon Tickets on Sale Wednesday in here.

Of all the classic monsters that I have and will cover in this little marathon, I think it's safe to say that Frankenstein's Monster is perhaps the most iconic, if not at the least the most recognizable. You can be a snob and remind people that "Frankenstein" is actually the name of the doctor that created the quite well-known monster with a flat top head, bolts in his neck, and a lumbering walk - but honestly, that doesn't really matter anymore. What matters is that the bare bones of this story written by Mary Shelley have continued to influence media for damn near 200 years since it was first published.

The story perhaps does not need repeating but I like talking about it anyway. A seemingly mad scientist creates a human body from pieces he has stolen from graves and the gallows and brings it to life using electrical machines powered by a great thunderstorm. The creature at first seems to be rather simple and harmless, but soon shows his murderous capabilities - perhaps caused by the fact that he was implanted with the brain of a criminal. The creature doesn't understand what he's doing, but is nonetheless hunted down by the proverbial angry villagers with torches and burned down in the very building where he was "born."

Dracula and Frankenstein are like the two main Titans of this oeuvre of Universal monster movies. Everybody knows their names and their stories, but all the parody and popularization of their images has perhaps made many people forget (or not even know in the first place) that these characters were first presented to us in really, really excellent movies. Frankenstein may be an "old" movie and it may be in - gasp! - black and white, but guess what? It can still be an awesome movie, and this one most definitely is. As I've mentioned before with these Universal movies, there's much more beneath the surface than just a movie about a monster causing some mayhem. Like The Invisible Man, Frankenstein is a more character-driven story and is at its core an important morality tale.

Don't forget that the subtitle to the original novel was "The Modern Prometheus." Not that new Ridley Scott movie, but the mythical figure who created man by molding him out of clay, and who stole fire from the gods to be used by man. Mary Shelley was above all trying to tell a cautionary tale about any man who attempts to play God and messes with life and death, and the consequences that could arise from it. There are countless, and I mean countless, movies and stories that deal with some kind of monster or being created by science where things end up going horribly wrong. These scientific experiments are usually meant to somehow improve upon life - to makes us live longer, for instance - or they are done out of sheer arrogance, to prove that something seemingly impossible can be accomplished with science. And the moral of every story like this seems to always be that just because you can do something does not mean that you should do it, as Dr. Frankenstein proves in this movie.

The infamous scene with the Monster and the little girl Maria when he throws her into the lake and drowns her still makes the skin prickle a bit to watch it today. On the one hand, you're terrified for the girl who is incredibly adorable and innocent looking, but on the other, you feel bad for the Monster too. There's no way he can understand what he's doing, and his immediate fear and remorse show that he's learning. In that way, the scene can even make you angry at Dr. Frankenstein for doing this to both the Monster and the girl. Actually, the scene where the Monster kills Maria was not the worst for me. No one ever seems to mention the next part of the story, which has Maria's father carrying her dead body through the village to Frankenstein's house. The way her lifeless arm and head bounce around as he walks and the reactions of everybody in the background make this a difficult scene to watch, and a brave scene for the movie to do at the time.

I guess it's time to talk about the man himself, Boris Karloff. Frankenstein's Monster is his most well-known role and is what made him a Hollywood name. The Monster's inability to speak was perhaps fortuitous because it is what Karloff does with his body and facial expressions that really creates the character, and easily conveys all of his feelings of confusion, fear, and anger. The way he walks when the Monster makes his first full appearance, the way he reaches for the sunlight - all his moves are simply perfect in every way, and any actor today only wishes he could copy what Karloff does without looking silly at all.

A lot of love and praise is heaped upon Karloff for this movie, but what of the man playing Frankenstein himself? At least in the first part of the movie, he is the real star of the show for me, and yet I had never even known his name before I decided to write about Frankenstein. Colin Clive is remarkable as Henry Frankenstein. His portrayal is so magnetic and charismatic, aided by his piercing eyes and a voice that conveys madness, desperation, and determination all at the same time. That one lock of hair that falls in front of his eyes when he's going all crazy-rambling? Perfect image, and dead sexy as well. He made only 18 films during his short career, but he no doubt made a lasting impression with this role - helped by his wonderful delivery of the famous line "It's alive!"

Sidenote: Loved seeing Dwight Frye again as Frankenstein's hunchbacked assistant Fritz. Same as his role in Dracula, Frye brings such amazing creepy comedy and physicality to this role. Awesome actor! Also, the guy playing Baron Frankenstein was a freaking hoot.

Have I heaped enough praise on this movie yet? Do you get that it is an amazing classic that will never be forgotten? Good. There's so much more to talk about here - the ominous lack of music; the fantastic set at the windmill; the finale with the villagers - but hopefully I've highlighted enough of what the movie means to me to make you go see it and love it as much as everyone else does. Another horror icon with an indelible place in film history, the story of Frankenstein and his monstrous creation has and will always with be us, no matter where the genre goes in the future.

And just for the fun of it again, here's a picture of me with Frankenstein's Monster at Madame Toussaud's in NYC.

Classic Monster Movie Marathon: Frankenstein (1931). There are any Classic Monster Movie Marathon: Frankenstein (1931) in here.

Now posted online thanks to Empire, below are 17 new posters depicting each of the major characters in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

17 New The Hobbit Character Posters. There are any 17 New The Hobbit Character Posters in here.

In an article from Hero Complex, The Hobbit trilogy director Peter Jackson commented on the move to the a trilogy, aspects of the story expanded from the novel, and about designing the look of Smaug.

Highlights:
- Announcement of change to a trilogy "was announced to us the day of the wrap party" according to Martin Freeman (Bilbo).
- The Lord of the Rings appendices used to provide more of Gandalf's history, how he joined Thorin's company of dwarves and provide more story for Gollum.
- After Guillermo Del Toro left the production, "I thought, if I’m going to do it I need to actually be comfortable, to do the thing that I want to do in my head. So I suddenly found myself scrambling. I was literally scrambling to get designs ready on time for the film that I wanted to make. And we were revising the script furiously. The delay didn’t help anybody. It didn’t help him. It didn’t help us. It didn’t help the film."
- On Smaug: "The trouble with redesigning dragons is that if you really get fruity with it, it suddenly starts to look like some sort of monster from another planet — you very quickly can go into science-fiction territory. ...So I’m not trying to step away from the dragon. I just want to present the most venal, scary, decrepit, nasty dragon that I possibly can."
- "I just like to tell stories," Jackson said. "I don’t set out to try to preach to people and put hidden meaning into things. I just think if you can entertain people and give people a good time at the movies you’re doing your job well. I don’t think it’s any more complicated than that."

Peter Jackson on Trilogy, Smaug Design. There are any Peter Jackson on Trilogy, Smaug Design in here.

Today the details for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Soundtrack composted by Howard Shore confirming previously leaked info including that Neil Finn performs the closing credits song called "Song of the Lonely Mountain". There are two editions of the 2-disc soundtrack, a regular edition and special edition. The special edition has four additional tracks and six extended versions of selected music. The sets will be released on December 11th, just a few days before the movie is release worldwide. Below is the track list but spoiler warning as the titles do hint at movie events. If plan on purchasing, use one of the edition links above so the site gets credit.

Press Release:Read more »

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Soundtrack Cover, Tracks. There are any The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Soundtrack Cover, Tracks in here.

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