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The Untold Sides of 'The Hobbit Trilogy'
Th The globally acclaimed fantasy saga The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are masterpieces by J.R.R. Tolkien. Brought to life on the silver screen by director Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings trilogy focused on Frodo Baggins of the Shire. A decade later came its prequel, The Hobbit Trilogy, with Frodo's uncle Bilbo Baggins taking center stage. Though it didn’t quite match The Lord of the Rings in success, The Hobbit Trilogy was fairly well-received. Today’s piece explores some lesser-known facts about The Hobbit Trilogy, which is set 77 years before The Lord of the Rings. 1. Tolkien started drafting The Hobbit around 1928. This means the story predates The Lord of the Rings and serves as its prequel. Interestingly, Tolkien had left the story half-finished. A student of his, Elaine Griffith, brought the unfinished manuscript to a publisher friend, who was highly impressed. Upon Griffith’s encouragement, Tolkien completed the tale. Hence, she played a crucial role in bringing Middle-earth’s enchanting fantasy to the world. 2. In 1994, director Peter Jackson wanted to adapt The Hobbit into a film after being inspired by the 1978 animated The Lord of the Rings. His original plan was to follow up with two Lord of the Rings films. However, due to creative differences with the production house Miramax, the project stalled. Eventually, New Line Cinema stepped in, helping bring both trilogies to the big screen.
By Riham Rahman 9 months ago in Journal
Thunderbolts Delivers the Twist Marvel Desperately Needed . AI-Generated.
The Plot Twist Rendering Thunderbolts Marvel's Most Enjoyable Movie in Years The Marvel Cinematic Universe was in need of a shake-up, and badly. After a string of overstuffed sequels, multiverse flops, and half-hearted streaming shows, the faithful started to worry the magic was gone for good. That's when Thunderbolts rode into town—a movie that could have easily been another dark gritty antihero buddy picture but finds itself being Marvel's most pleasantly surprising movie in years.
By MD NAZIM UDDIN 9 months ago in Journal
Jeffrey Dean Morgan Is Ready to Leave Negan Behind — And Maybe It’s Time. AI-Generated.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan Ready to Ride Off: Why It Might Be Time to Give Negan a Break The actor who brought The Walking Dead's most polarizing character to life recently said he's "getting dangerously close" to riding off into the sunset from the franchise that launched his career as a leading man. And you know what? That might not be so bad for him—or for the fans.
By MD NAZIM UDDIN 9 months ago in Journal
The Untold Aspects of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Pt.2
Last part 8. Avatar (2009) drew significant inspiration from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. How? Let’s explain. In 1994, James Cameron had already completed about 80% of the conceptual work for Avatar. However, due to the limitations of visual effects at the time, he didn’t feel confident enough to begin production. Lacking advanced CGI and VFX, he decided to wait patiently for technological advancements. In 2002, after witnessing the CGI and motion capture used for Gollum in The Two Towers, Cameron was blown away. He realized the time had finally come to bring his dream project to life. And so, he jumped in headfirst to make it happen.
By Riham Rahman 9 months ago in Journal
The Untold Aspects of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Pt.1
Imagine a group of friends deep in discussion about the greatest fantasy franchises in the world. Naturally, names like Harry Potter, The Witcher, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Narnia, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Marvel/DC Comics would come up. However, one name that must also be mentioned is J.R.R. Tolkien's immortal creation — The Lord of the Rings. Whether in books or on the silver screen, this franchise remains unforgettable. Formed with a unique blend of friendship, love, vengeance, lust for power, magic, and diverse races, the fantasy of this franchise can easily rival reality. In 2001, renowned director Peter Jackson brought this trilogy to the big screen with the first installment The Fellowship of the Ring. It garnered immense acclaim from critics and audiences alike, essentially immortalizing the franchise. This article dives into some lesser-known aspects of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. 1. The Production Struggle Initially, it was decided that the film would be produced under the Miramax production house, split into two parts. However, due to budget constraints, the studio informed Peter Jackson that the entire story must be condensed into a single film. Knowing this would result in a disaster due to the vast plot, Jackson stood firm. Eventually, New Line Cinema, under Warner Bros., came forward to realize the dream, greenlighting the full trilogy. 2. Casting Surprises Christopher Lee, who played Saruman, originally wanted to play the powerful wizard Gandalf. He was the only cast member who had read the entire book series multiple times—every year, in fact—and even memorized large portions. A true fan of the franchise, he was also the only cast member to have ever met J.R.R. Tolkien. Upon hearing that a film adaptation was in the works, he personally wrote to Peter Jackson requesting to play Gandalf. However, Jackson suggested he take the role of Saruman instead. Interestingly, Scottish actor Sean Connery was offered the role of Gandalf and even promised 15% of the total box office revenue. But he declined, saying he couldn't grasp the complexity of the character. Eventually, the role went to Sir Ian McKellen, who brought Gandalf to life brilliantly. For the role of Aragorn, actors like Nicolas Cage, Stuart Townsend, and Russell Crowe were approached but declined. Ultimately, it went to Viggo Mortensen. American actor Jake Gyllenhaal auditioned for Frodo, but Elijah Wood was chosen instead. 3. Helicopter Fear on Set Sean Bean, who played Boromir, had a severe fear of helicopters. The mountain scenes in the first film were shot in New Zealand, and most cast and crew were flown in by helicopter. But Bean refused to fly, so he would hike for nearly two hours to reach the shooting location. As a result, the entire crew had to wait for him every day on the mountain. 4. Differences Between the Book and the Film While four hobbits accompany Frodo in the films, there were five in the book. The missing one was Fredegar “Fatty” Bolger, who stayed behind in the Shire. He played a role in defending the Shire when Saruman attacked later. He briefly appears in the extended cut. Sauron is only shown as a giant eye atop a tower in the films, but in the book, he has a full physical description. His hunt for the One Ring was aimed at world domination. While the film shows Frodo setting out shortly after Bilbo gives him the ring, in the book, his journey begins 17 years later. Saruman’s death also differs. In the book, after the ring is destroyed in Mount Doom, the hobbits return to find that Saruman has taken over the Shire. They fight him, and eventually, Gríma Wormtongue kills Saruman by slitting his throat in a place called the Scouring of the Shire. 5. Epic Runtime Binge-watching this trilogy is no easy task. Each movie runs for nearly 3.75 hours on average. The original theatrical cuts total 9 hours and 18 minutes, while the extended editions stretch to an astounding 11 hours and 55 minutes — a record-setting runtime for a trilogy. 6. Groundbreaking Effects When the first film was released in 2001, CGI and VFX were just emerging technologies. Many new techniques debuted in this trilogy. To maintain realism, the director heavily used practical elements. Astonishingly, around 18,000 costumes were used, with 30–40 duplicates for each main character. There were also 2,000 unique weapons and about 10,000 arrows used, along with nearly 300 horses. The differences in character heights were achieved using clever camera angles and new visual effects. 7. Editing Nightmare The three films were released in 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively. The editing team was pushed to their limits managing such large-scale productions. At one point, editing for The Fellowship of the Ring had just finished while The Two Towers was in production, and footage for The Return of the King was already being cut. Even after the theatrical release of the final movie, Peter Jackson shot additional scenes for the extended edition.
By Riham Rahman 9 months ago in Journal
Tom Cruise's 'Massive Breakfast' Fuels Death-Defying 'Mission Impossible' Airplane Stunts
Tom Cruise, the seemingly ageless 62-year-old Hollywood icon, is once again pushing the boundaries of cinematic action with his death-defying stunts in the upcoming installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, titled Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Known for his unwavering commitment to performing his own stunts, Cruise has now revealed the surprising fuel behind his high-octane performances – a "massive breakfast."
By Arif Islam9 months ago in Journal
This 40% Off Beauty Sale Is the Self-Care You Deserve. AI-Generated.
So let's talk about something we all love but often don't get at the same time: great beauty products and heavy discounts. If you ever filled your cart with lipsticks, foundations, and nail polish only to abandon it when you saw the price—this one's for you.
By MD NAZIM UDDIN 9 months ago in Journal
‘Thunderbolts’ Review: Florence Pugh and Pals Kick Some Asterisk*
Marvel Studios has taken another bold leap into its ever-evolving cinematic universe with Thunderbolts — a film that feels like a fresh mix of anti-hero grit, comedic flair, and emotional nuance. Directed by Jake Schreier and headlined by Florence Pugh, Thunderbolts doesn’t just attempt to subvert traditional superhero storytelling—it gleefully flips the formula on its head.
By MD BILLAL HOSSAIN9 months ago in Journal
Elevating Corporate Experiences: Your Trusted Event Company in Baku . AI-Generated.
Planning a corporate offsite or MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) event in an exotic destination can be a game-changer for any organization. With its unique blend of Eastern charm and modern sophistication, Baku has quickly become a top choice for companies seeking to mix business with leisure. Whether you’re looking to engage your team through high-energy retreats or organize a seamless conference in a luxurious setting, choosing the right Event Company in Baku makes all the difference.
By sk vishesh9 months ago in Journal
