Returning to Middle Earth, but not the Middle Earth we saw in Lord of the Rings. We go much further back than that, we go 60 years before the start of Lord of the Rings and are about to head on an unexpected journey with Bilbo Baggins. We are about to find out how true Bilbo’s tales were and what adventure he had far away from Bag End and The Shire.
This day marks the Diamond Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II which is just an incredible occasion. I therefore decided to make a top 10 list of movie queen’s we have seen over the years!
16-year-old Hanna (Ronan) who was raised by her father Erik (Bana) to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent Marissa (Blanchett) and her operatives.
The latest blogathon event around the film-blogging world is ‘A Life in Movies’ this quite simply means I have picked a film from each since I was born. That year being 1987. The approach I have taken to this post is to document the films which have meant something to me. Mainly from that time (although the first couple of years will be that I watched them when old enough to remember).
I always enjoy doing blog posts like this one as it always lets you take a trip down memory lane when it comes to certain films. Also the thought of then posting them the same day as many other blogs and then having the chance to compare and see if they have chosen any of the same films in their list as well.
Most of the films in my list consist of my most watched films ever. Mainly because of over watching as a child and not being able to pass the film over if it is on TV now. So here goes my life in movies . . .
Reports around the web today are stating that Orlando Bloom is set to return as Legolas the role which really got him noticed in The Hobbit. After the announcement of Cate Blanchett returning as Galadriel yesterday. Three more actors are in talks at reprising roles, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Hugo Weaving as Elrond and Andy Serkis as Smeagol/Gollum.
Let’s face it though they have to get the original Lord of the Rings cast members back to reprise their roles it would not be the same if someone else had to take them on. I guess this is another reason why Peter Jackson just had to do The Hobbit too. Surely he would have no problem convincing the actors to come back again.
Filming is still scheduled to start in February 2011. So lets hope the next couple of weeks or even days brings us news of more of the LOTR cast members coming back to make appearances in The Hobbit.
The much-anticipated prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy has been speculated for years now. With it being done after the Lord of the Rings, that follows how I read the books Lord of the Rings first then I read the Hobbit. I actually ended the book The Hobbit more than I did with Lord of the Rings. I found it easier to read and get into, so I am very much looking forward to The Hobbit being filmed and eventually released! I was very happy when it was announced that Peter Jackson was to step back in and sort out the mess which occurred over the film for the past few years. I mean after what he did with Lord of the Rings, no-one else really could have taken on The Hobbit.
Martin Freeman was announced a few months ago now as the man filling Ian Holm’s shoes as Bilbo Baggins. As obviously Holm’s is too old to take on the role of Bilbo in The Hobbit, after all it was his younger years and adventures with Gandalf and slaying a dragon. Looking at the two pictures above, Freeman is a very good choice to play the young Bilbo.
Speculation has also been rife to whether Ian McKellen would return as Gandalf, but surely no-one else can play Gandalf since McKellen was incredible in Lord of the Rings. Other members from the Lord of the Rings cast rumoured to be back are Andy Serkis as Gollum, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel. Brian Blessed is also rumoured to have a part in the films.
News today has brought us that The Hobbit is going to be in 3D and will be filmed with red epic cameras, 30 hand held cameras. Shot in real 3D none of the post film making 3D stuff that has been so overdone in recent years. I am not really sure how I feel about it being in 3D as I am certainly not a big fan, unless Jackson goes along the Avatar route instead of playing up to the 3D – which I am sure he will.
The film is going to be split into two parts hence the 2012 and 2013 release dates penned at the moment. Filming is due to commence at the start 0f 2011. So lets hope they stop encountering problems, as this film really does seem to have to fight against well everything in the build up to filming! I am sure Peter Jackson and his team will not disappoint, I will have regular updates on the blog as news comes through and filming begins.
Middle Earth is full of different species and creates and many legends, great stories and the possibility of an amazing adventure. Frodo Baggins a Hobbit who lives in the shire ends up having an ancient ring in his possession which is actually the one ring.
Today’s quote comes from Benjamin Button . . . yes I know I have picked way too many quotes from that film. But this is very nice and possibly very true?
“We’re meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?”
Every now and then I am going to post a movie scene which I think is brilliant, and you can say if you agree or disagree with my choice.
The first in the series is from “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” when we see how much little decisions and things that happen can have a major impact on events which unfold.
Well my original plan was to have this top 10 done and out on Valentine’s Day mainly because tragic love stories where people don’t end up together seem to be more of a reality than the rom-com’s with the whole cliché of they lived happily ever after the end. I decided to make a long list of possible films which I could have put in my top 10 list.
In the list you will find many different love stories but all a lot shorter than they should have been.
Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, The Bridges of Madison County, Splendor In The Grass, Titanic, Brokeback Mountain, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Romeo & Juliet, City of Angels, Ghost, Love Story, A Walk to Remember, (500) Days of Summer, Phantom of the Opera and The Way We Were.
I guess I have nothing better to do but thought I would have a look into the future of film and pick out some movies that I am looking forward to being released in 2010. At this very moment in time, my list of what I really want to see only contains 10 movies. I am sure as time goes by this will increase to so many more . . .
So here it goes. Yes your probably thinking, its about time. But I have been trying to complete this since like February haha.
10. Body of Lies
Leonardo DiCaprio is really showing the different depths and roles he can take on. While Russell Crowe ate his way through the film, it must have been some type of record as in nearly every scene he was in he was eating something. I think he put so much weight on for the role as well. It was a pretty long film, and to be completely honest I thought it was going to be a bit boring and drag. But I really got into it and enjoyed it. Mark Strong who was in “RocknRolla” really impressed me in this film.
9. Mamma Mia!
It just had to make the list, because while it is my no means the best film ever made or anything like that. It is such a feel good movie its unreal, you cannot help to smile and be happy while watching (and singing along). Meryl Streep shows that she can sing, and Pierce Brosnan shows that he is up for a laugh as he really can’t sing. Everyone in the theatre started to laugh every time he sung. But it was all in good sport for the movie. It just looks as though all the cast had such a fantastic time while making the movie.
8. Flashbacks of a Fool
Probably not a film many people went to see, I think it was on limited release and only stayed on at the cinema I go to for a week. But with being a huge Daniel Craig fan I really wanted to see this film (yes, I was a little disappointed that he wasn’t in it for a big part of the movie) but that was essential to the story. Harry Eden was fantastic playing the younger Joe Scott. In the story explaining why Joe acted the way he did in the present day.
7. Tropic Thunder
I suppose reading what this movie about is rather complicated. A movie about making a movie, that goes wrong when they end up in a real warzone. But some fantastically funny moments with loads of great one liners. Robert Downey Jr becoming black, Tom Cruise in a fat suit as a movie producer dancing was just hilarious.
6. RocknRolla
I really enjoy the movies that Guy Ritchie makes, and this was no exception. Gerard Butler was just great, but Mark Strong really stood out for me. He was just fantastic and I loved the Archie slap, pure brilliance. So funny but so serious all at the same time, love it. It was like Richie’s other movies in terms of the swearing and violence. But also so funny like his other movies, I would say this is his best since Snatch (not as good though – but close). I was a little annoyed with the ending as it suggested sequel straight away. Just concentrate on one movie at a time, haha.
5. Iron Man
Probably the biggest supriseof the year for me, as I hadn’t read much about this or heard any of the hype about it before I went to see it. I love the comic book adaptation movies, so was like ok “Iron Man” will see what its like. Ended up totally loving it. Robert Downey Jr was just again so great as Tony Stark.I loved the whole story of how he became Iron Man and trying out the different suits was so funny. It was a typical early summer blockbuster. You really cannot beat a comic book movie.
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Benjamin Button was born old and getting younger. This causes a problem when he meets the love of his life, but they do eventually meet in the middle and manage to have a few years together when they are physically the same age, although in reality he is only a year or two older than her. A really adorable love story and the chemistry between Brad and Cate was just fantastic. I really loved how much they cared for each other and looked after each other in a backwards way of the ageing process.
3. The Dark Knight
Probably a suprise this isn’t my number 1 but it was such a difficult decision to make. “The Dark Knight” was such a fantastic installment in the new batman series brought to us by Christopher Nolan with Christan Bale in the helm as Batman/Bruce Wayne. With such incredible actors, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman as support to Bale, and the introduction of the Joker portrayed by the late Heath Ledger, it was really just an incredible movie. Heath Ledger brought a whole different edge to the Joker and was so psychotic. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent deserves some praise as well , as he was another major part in the puzzle for the great cast.
2. In Bruges
Biggest surprise package of the year. Not much was really said about this movie at the time of release, which was April time. It was such a refreshing British movie which basically offended everyone it could (with so many different jokes to laugh at). A story of two hitmen hiding out in Bruges, is such an interesting story. As it unfolds why they are there, its rather sad and the emotions are flying. Fantastic screenplay, totally original. Colin Farrell was brilliant as Ray, who was most of the time like a spoilt child.
1. The Wrestler
Brilliant, its just totally unreal. I fell for this film well and truly and I feel for the ram, I felt everything for him and cried with him. Mickey Rourke is truly brilliant and put so much into the role it. I was a fan of this from just watching the trailer as I just knew that I was going to love it from the Bruce Springsteen song played over the trailer. (Which is also on the credits). I firmly think this film is my joint favorite with ‘Million Dollar Baby’. Yes I have a thing for sport, and can understand the need and desire to compete in your chosen sport.
I am glad that Cate Blanchett has the part, I think she is a fantastic actress.
Sienna Miller lost the chance to play Robin Hood‘s sweetheart in Ridley Scott‘s new Medieval epic – because she’s too young.
The actress had been attached to The Sheriff of Nottingham for over a year but when the project went through a rewrite, it quickly became clear she was no longer the right fit – and Cate Blanchett became the new leading lady.
Miller tells WENN, “The script has been evolving and changing and it often happens in films. They’ve been trying to make this for a couple of years and they rewrote the script and they needed someone who was older.
“There’s a husband who has been away at war for 10 years and he comes back, so it’s just not feasible for me to play her. Cate Blanchett is doing it.”
Miller insists there have been many other cast changes – but the media refuses to focus on them.
She adds, “The media doesn’t have to make quite as much a meal of it as they do when it happens to me. I’m sure it will be a wonderful project but this is not an absolutely shocking thing to happen in the movie industry when scripts evolve and casts change.
“Other people have changed in that cast, but the media just won’t document it. I would obviously love to work with Ridley and still I hope to in the future.”
