With LotR, whatever... but The Hobbit is a childrens story. He should be attempting to create something geared in that direction, something lean and pacey, not some self-indulgent, stretched out and endlessly padded monstrosity that's going to have kids fidgeting in their seats the entire time waiting for it to be over. Twice.
There is no way New Line would allow Jackson to make a property that's STILL as hot as LotR specifically for children. There are too many people that have grown up with LotR just because of the movies and the studio, and all the other people that have a piece of the pie as it concerns a Hobbit movie, are going to want to sell it to those people over and over again. They can't do that if they aren't included in the target audience.
It's all about making a big impression on as many people as possible. Perception is everything, and if the buzz is all positive, from all fronts, that equals more money.
My view:
As long as it's a good interpretation, I'm eminently pleased with it. Regardless of whether or not stretching the length of the story is designed to double their possible profits. Jackson will do it justice.
The only thing that seems odd to me about this trailer is how...well,
dashing Thorin looks. I always imagined him being just as much a caricature as the other dwarves. Maybe even MORE 'dwarven,' since he's their leader. Sort of an ultimate expression of the dwarves. But he almost looks human in this. I'm sure it'll be fine. It's jut an observation.
Speaking of dwarves, anybody that likes them should read
The Dwarves by Markus Heitz. I know there's a series, but I really liked the first book. It's a bit dark and gory in places, but I thought it was a pretty good tribute to the dwarves, a race that gets mishandled in fantasy stories all too often IMO.
)
