Recently watched movies

[Detective]

Manchester by the sea - 7/10

[Pseudonym]

For LOTR/Hobbit fans, is anyone else a bit bewildered by the line in the beginning of Fellowship, when Gandalf peers at Bilbo and says he hasn't aged a day? He looks concerned as he says it, so it's not just one of the polite things people say, he obviously means it (and we know it's because of the ring), so shouldn't Bilbo have been cast much younger? Maybe just slightly older than they cast MF Bilbo, and then he only actually looks old once the ring has been passed onto Frodo? I remember the first time I saw it and I thought well he wouldn't have been out adventuring at that age, so he must have aged a fair bit!

[Carol the Dabbler]

... I'm still pissed about

 

the prickly ash subplot, why would the greatest mind of the 19th century eat RADIOACTIVE plants?!

 

 

Well, the story is set in 1947.

 

Radioactivity was then thought to be a miracle cure for loads of things.

 

So it's consistent with the era.  You can't really blame it for not jibing with current thought.

 

For LOTR/Hobbit fans, is anyone else a bit bewildered by the line in the beginning of Fellowship, when Gandalf peers at Bilbo and says he hasn't aged a day? He looks concerned as he says it, so it's not just one of the polite things people say, he obviously means it (and we know it's because of the ring), so shouldn't Bilbo have been cast much younger? Maybe just slightly older than they cast MF Bilbo, and then he only actually looks old once the ring has been passed onto Frodo? I remember the first time I saw it and I thought well he wouldn't have been out adventuring at that age, so he must have aged a fair bit!

 

That thought never occurred to me, apparently because I was thinking of Ian Holm as sort of middle-aged (maybe I just assumed that he was Bilbo's age?).  In fact, I was indignant when I heard they were going to recast the role for The Hobbit -- but then I happened to look Holm up on IMDb and saw that even when he was playing Bilbo, he was older than I'd assumed, and of course had not gotten any younger in the interim (plus the role in The Hobbit was clearly going to be considerably more physical than what Holm had needed to do for LotR).

 

I must say I was quite pleased with the actor they chose to replace him!

[Artemis]

For LOTR/Hobbit fans, is anyone else a bit bewildered by the line in the beginning of Fellowship, when Gandalf peers at Bilbo and says he hasn't aged a day? He looks concerned as he says it, so it's not just one of the polite things people say, he obviously means it (and we know it's because of the ring), so shouldn't Bilbo have been cast much younger? Maybe just slightly older than they cast MF Bilbo, and then he only actually looks old once the ring has been passed onto Frodo? I remember the first time I saw it and I thought well he wouldn't have been out adventuring at that age, so he must have aged a fair bit!

Yes, I did think they should have cast the original Bilbo much younger. The thing is that hobbits mature slower than humans in years. They don't "come of age" until 33. Merry and Pippin were considered still quite young and rambunctious, almost like teenagers, with Pippin being in his "tweens" (twenties) and Merry in his mid-late thirties. Bilbo was only 50 when he first left the Shire, which to us sounds like middle age but for hobbits is more like our thirties, or even twenties. Frodo was the same age when he left the Shire, so if Bilbo hadn't aged much because of the Ring then they should have looked closer in age.

 

This could have been confusing to people unfamiliar with Tolkien's universe, so I don't blame them for casting an older Bilbo. Unfortunately though, that meant that when it came time to film "The Hobbit", the actor was far too old. It's too bad, the fanatic in me would have really loved to see the same actor play Bilbo in both movies.

[Arcadia]

Yah, but Bilbo was eleventy-one at the start of the Fellowship, and he looked pretty hale and hearty in spite of a few wrinkles, so I sorta think they got it right.

What struck me was that Frodo looked far, far too young at the time he set out with the ring. I sort of rationalized it by thinking he came into possession of it when he was in his thirties, and just maybe hobbits in their thirties could look like humans in their teens. And then he got "preserved" at that age. But I seem to remember even Peter Jackson acknowledging that he looked too young, but Elijah Wood was just too good in the role to pass him over. Something like that.

[Artemis]

Oh sure, hale and hearty, but not terribly close to as young as what he probably would have appeared in "The Hobbit" (the book) or did appear in "The Hobbit" (the movie), which is what makes Gandalf's comment seem a bit off. If he'd said, "You don't look your age," or something along those lines, that would have fit better. But "You haven't aged a day," is not really true just by looking at him, lol.

 

I thought Frodo looked a bit young too, but I know they wanted the actor, so I can excuse it, lol. He was 33 (just come of age) when he took possession of the Ring, so it could make sense that he would appear so young if you choose to think of it that way. I would have imagined him looking closer to 28 or 30 though, as opposed to whatever Elijah Wood was at the time... 18?

[Pseudonym]

Elijah Wood has always looked a lot younger than he actually is. But yes, I vaguely remember thinking he looked a little bit too young - were they trying to bring in a younger audience or something? But then there are Tolkien aficionados in every generation really, without factoring in the people who are just interested in the latest blockbuster. 

 

The thing is, if a youngish Bilbo was confusing to people who hadn't read Tolkien I think the concerned comment about him not ageing a day would make you assume there was some weirdness going on because of the ring. Of maybe just another quick line to clarify if it wasn't clear, it wouldn't take a long explanation. 

[Artemis]

Yeah, I agree. They could have handled it any number of ways.

 

I'm not sure what they intended, but I doubt their aim was to bring in a younger audience. I think they just really liked him for the role.

[Artemis]

I'm watching a show on Netflix called "Very British Problems".  It's reminding me a lot of another video I saw ages ago called "How to Talk Minnesotan".  The end of the first episode even talks about the British goodbye, which is painfully close to "The Minnesota Long Goodbye", lol.

 

 

[Pseudonym]

Lol, the narrator guy. :D

 

Yup, that does look pretty familiar. I'm not very good at it, I'm more 'okay, I'm going now' and make a break for it. 

[Artemis]

"The Amazing Spider-Man 2".  Saaaad.  I wish they'd gotten to make a 3rd one, I don't like it ending on that note.  Too many loose ends.

 

 

[Arcadia]

Oh sure, hale and hearty, but not terribly close to as young as what he probably would have appeared in "The Hobbit" (the book) or did appear in "The Hobbit" (the movie), which is what makes Gandalf's comment seem a bit off. If he'd said, "You don't look your age," or something along those lines, that would have fit better. But "You haven't aged a day," is not really true just by looking at him, lol.

 

Ah. Well, I knew from the books that Gandalf and Bilbo had met many times since the events of "The Hobbit", so I took that to mean "you haven't aged since I last saw you," not "you haven't aged since we first met." But I agree it could have been phrased better in the movie. Besides, the Ring just prolongs life, it doesn't stop the aging process altogether.

[Artemis]

Ah. Well, I knew from the books that Gandalf and Bilbo had met many times since the events of "The Hobbit", so I took that to mean "you haven't aged since I last saw you," not "you haven't aged since we first met." But I agree it could have been phrased better in the movie. Besides, the Ring just prolongs life, it doesn't stop the aging process altogether.

 

No, although I thought it was said in the books that his appearance was nearly unchanged between the events of "The Hobbit" and his 111th birthday.  Or something to that effect.  So I would still have expected him to look pretty close to how he would have looked when he found the Ring.  In my head he would have only appeared 10 or 15 years older than that; like 1 year for every 5.

 

Since Gandalf had visited during that time, it seems like it'd be sort of meaningless for him to say "You haven't aged a day," if he only meant "Since I last saw you."  :/  If that were the case then it shouldn't be spoken like such an oddity or cause for concern, which is how it came across.  Otherwise it sounds like he's just now noticing it, which doesn't make much sense either.

 

It was just an ill-fitting line I think, lol.  For me it's not consistent with how he is said to look in the books or how or he does look in the movies.  But I don't think we were meant to think about it too much, lol.

 

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

Nah, the Raid 2 is the official movie title, The Raid Redemption is the first one. If you liked the first one, you've gotta watch the second one. I actually like the second one better, there's way more story and it's executed perfectly. One of the shining modern Martial Arts movies imo.

 

Oh I see. Thought Redemption is the sequel.

 

Thus I have watched every Nolan movie.

That guy in my opinion is a genius and one of the most talented and creative people in showbiz.

One of my faves as well, duh.

Agree.

I love both Nolan's work.

You like both or which?

[Van Buren Supernova]

Following - 8/10

Thus I have watched every Nolan movie.

That guy in my opinion is a genius and one of the most talented and creative people in showbiz.

One of my faves as well, duh.

Have you watched the latest, Dunkirk?

Freshly walked out from cinema, and confident you'll love it.

 

I went in blind for this one, have been a bit grouchy about available movie choices lately. Skipped Spiderman Homecoming, I don't know, just don't feel like watching another remake of Spiderman and another animation sequel Despicable Me 3. I suppose they are decent, but I really crave for more originality and less blockbusterish type.

 

Then I saw Dunkirk as one of the new movie and went in blindly just because of Nolan. Only know it's something to do with war, that's it. Didn't know the historical background or even the stars. And that is how I like it, the biggest payoff for me especially when it's good.

 

Spoiler on casting.

 

Only caught a glimpse of Tom Hardy to let us recognize him in the beginning, and Cillian Murphy is hardly recognizable at first. I love these actors so it's a very plesant surprise and it's even better when they blend in that way. Not familiar with Harry Styles, but from stranger's view, he delivered decent performance. And my favorite uncle John Nolan make a cameo.

 

 

Spoiler on story telling.

 

 

Wondering about it for a short while before I realize the style of multiple timeline based on perspective. And I love it, it's very effective with the story telling and the revealation of each crossing is awesome.

 

 

Gripping, high tension, edgy= edge of seat, biting the edge of my seat, edge of finger, intenseeee.

It's a 9/10!!

 

P.S. and one of my favorite composers Hans Zimmer.

[Arcadia]

Hmmm, have to check that out, I generally like WW2 movies for some reason. Not Saving Private Ryan so much, surprisingly. The handheld camera really bothered me, and it was a little too ... I don't know what. It didn't sit well with me, is all. Tom Hanks was brilliant as usual, though.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

I want to see Dunkirk. What brief clips I've seen make it look interesting. Still haven't seen all of Saving Private Ryan (I did catch part of it once).

[Pseudonym]

I hate war films, but I do keep hearing how good Dunkirk is. Probably seeing Spiderman next. I am getting a bit sick of superhero films but it looks a bit different and Spidey has always been my favourite.

[Artemis]

I hate war films, but I do keep hearing how good Dunkirk is. Probably seeing Spiderman next. I am getting a bit sick of superhero films but it looks a bit different and Spidey has always been my favourite.

^ Same. I saw the Spider-Man movie a week or two ago. It is a bit different, and pretty good too I thought.

[Arcadia]

Well, Dunkirk is such a great story anyway. It always fascinated me as a kid.

[Carol the Dabbler]

You're talking about the combined military and civilian fleet rescuing the stranded soldiers? I agree.

 

One of my English professors was intrigued by the fact that Dunkirk means literally hill-church, same as Churchill (who was PM at the time).

[Van Buren Supernova]

I didn't know anything about Dunkirk until the movie.

And now I'm reading a lot about it.

Amazing piece of history and as far as I know, the makers did their researches well.

[Fantasy Lover]

One of my English professors was intrigued by the fact that Dunkirk means literally hill-church, same as Churchill (who was PM at the time).

Actually, dune-church is more accurate.

I didn't know anything about Dunkirk until the movie. And now I'm reading a lot about it. Amazing piece of history and as far as I know, the makers did their researches well.

Actually, they forgot the Belgians. Abel Devos, for example. King Leopold III surrendered himself but Abel and his men kept fighting.

[Artemis]

Every time I see this happen in a movie now I think of

.

 

 

 

[Pseudonym]

Ha! I really don't know why they still do the explosion walk in modern movies. It's so cheesy it's not remotely cool anymore.