The Hobbit, you ever read it?

[someonehairy-ish]

Of course. Still haven't waded through the silmarillion yet though.

The film looks like it will be good. But it's Peter Jackson directing again. So it will be. I hope the same guy does the music, LOTR's soundtrack was fantastic.

 

[Aeriath]

I love the LotR movies so I've been keeping an eye out for this.The trailer is looking good =D.

Given the majority of answers in this thread I feel a little bad admitting that I never even got halfway through The Hobbit or the LotR trilogy. Unfortunately Tolkien's writing style reminds me of a drunk relative trying to tell you a story and I wasn't stubborn enough to keep going, which is a shame since I hear a lot was cut to streamline the movies.

 

[thejackyl]

Required reading in fourth grade, did a book review in school in third grade. Never read Lord of the Rings past the first 2 chapters though, and I feel bad about that, but it starts out so slow. (from what I remember, it was before the movies came out when I tried to read it last)

 

[Yosato]

I thought Balin was the oldest? Anyway, read the book three times now as of last week. I actually prefer it to the Lord of the Rings books to be honest. I mean I love that trilogy, but the narration of The Hobbit is so much easier to read and it's a lot more fast-paced (once you get past the opening).

Totally stoked for this film. This along with Skyfall and The Avengers are going to make this year something really special, though I have a feeling The Hobbit might just steal the gold medal for me.

 

[Xaio30]

'Twas quite a few years since I last read The Hobbit, but I'm pleased to say that this trailer only brings back good memories.
I can't wait for this movie!

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

Tolkien was more concerned with creating an internally consistent and detailed universe than actually having anything interesting happen in it (much like Bethesda on the Elder Scrolls, really). Both the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were completely uninteresting to read for me. The films were pretty good.

 

[Gatx]

I've only ever read the Fellowship. Took a while but I actually get pretty into it, though was just a little thrown off by how many times they broke into song.

The trailer isn't bad by any means, though it seems arguably less epic. Like, compared to the grand, sweeping vistas of the LotR trilogy, this seems a little more compact for whatever reason, though it might just be the scenes they've included in the trailer.

 

[The Diabolical Biz]

The edits were performed mostly for updating the language (terminology, grammer, etc), the major changes were made by Tolkien's heirs afterwards.

Be that as it may, it still doesn't change that Gollum had a very different personality in Tolkien's original book, and it was changed so the circular macguffin could take center stage in the trilogy. Say what you will about Lucas, but he didn't completely invert any character's personalities.
I hope that this movie does well enough to merit a Silmarillion movie. Morgoth makes Sauron look like a chump.

Sauron is a chump. Who would make an artifact that contained their very essence as a being and wear it as a ring?! Should have made golden undergarments of power or something.

Also the Silmarrillion would make a solid film, but it would be tricky to keep track of every damn character whose name has at least 6 f's in it.

 

[ryanthemadman]

loved the book, cant wait for the movie!

 

[CoL0sS]

1) Of course I read The Hobbit. I even liked it more than LOTR when I was a kid. It has been some time though.

2) Thoughts on trailer? I can't remember the last time something got me this hyped up. I almost forgot Hobbit is coming out this year so trailer kinda blew my mind. Casting is spot on, costumes look great and music seems on par with LOTR trilogy. I'm sure it won't disappoint.

 

[ImperialSunlight]

I haven't read it so I'm not going to watch this movie until I get the chance to read it. I've been meaning to for a while.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Yes I have read The Hobbit. I read it a loooooooooong time ago way back when I was in Grade 5. It's been so long that I've forgotten a lot of it and what I do remember i remember more from watching that one animated film adaptation of it rather than from actually reading the book; although I did read the book first. Never the less, the movie looks interesting and if it's done even half as well as the LofR trilogy was then it shall be well worth seeing. I look forward to finding out for sure. Although I sure hope this new theme of breaking single stories into multiple movies doesn't become common.

 

[Censorme]

I read "The Hobbit" a very long time ago. I remember it being very good.

I tried to read the first book of the "Lord of the Rings" and found it too boring in comparison.

That trailer was nice. That'll be worth seeing in theaters.

 

[Tiger Sora]

Only once, which was last year.

I loved the way the book was written, just so much different from other authors. But once I read The Fellowship, it was drastically different in writing style and....... took more effort to read.

I'll pick it up in another 5 or so years for a reread.

As for the movie. Very much looking forward to it. I'm sure it will have it's shortfalls as I'm an incredibly critical person, but just because I see them won't ruin the film for me, provided the movie itself isn't a live hand grenade buried in a pile of rusty nails.

The bar is high, I hope it can get over it. or as a Hobbit would, under it. *Wink*.

 

[willsham45]

I never read it then again i am not much of a reader.
I think it is funny, My Dad read lord of the rings Loved it and thought I need to read the hobbit and hated it.
Then my Girlfriend read the hobbit liked it thought the logical follow up would be lord of the rings and did not like it.
I attempted and failed at lord of the rings, i think i should give the hobbit a go at some point but I very much dout I ever will

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Read it, thought it was dull as ditchwater.

Actually put me off Lord of the Rings for a long time.

 

[DarkSoldier84]

I read it last a few years ago. I liked it. There's certainly a lot of difference between its mood and that of the Lord of the Rings.

 

[Malyc]

I have read The Hobbit, and I enjoyed the story line.

I did not, however, like how the LotR trilogy was converted from book to movie.

Spoiler

They killed Sarumon off WAY too early. in the book, he lived on to cause a ruckus in the Shire, and managed to escape Isenguard.

 

[Aisaku]

Read it and loved it. I even like it better than LOTR.

About the trailer... needs more dwarf shenanigans and less 'epicness'. From watching Martin Freeman in Sherlock I think he's the perfect man to embody Bilbo.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Yep it was one of my favourite books when I was young. I felt sort of strange watching the trailer. I think they have got it pretty much spot on to how I imagined it in my head. Apart from Thorin Oakenshield looking so handsome... It will be interesting to see how they manage all the dwarves. That's a lot of characters.