Guillermo Del Toro vs. Peter Jackson as Director

[Confusticated]

Guillermo vs. Jackson as Director

I watched my first Guillermo Del Toro film after hearing that he is likely to direct The Hobbit. It was one I had wanted to see anyway, so it worked out.

After seeing it I think he will make a better film than Jackson. While Guillermo and Jackson are good at horror, Guillermo doesn't rub things in our face as much, he has some subtlety. And unlike Jackson at all, he is able to visually create a beautiful scene that looks and feels genuinely good and light. This is something that makes the dark and ugly more horrible by comparison, so even those who like their evil could appreciate that. I also think Guillermo's movie has more depth, and his film doesn't rely as heavily on the visual, even though the visual is super.

These were the things that stood out at me the most. Just my opinions. I admit to being ignorant on the extent to which Guillermo will stick to the books, how much control Jackson will have as producer, and lots of other important aspects.

 

[Confusticated]

Could a moderator please merge this with the other thread of the same title? I forgot my poll the first time!

Thanks!

 

[Gothmog]

threads merged

I don't take much notice of who directed which film, so I cannot say if I have seen any films by Guillermo. I will have to check on what films he has done before having a view on this.

 

[Barliman Butterbur]

Here is an article from the Hollywood Reporter which sheds light on del Toro's place in all of this.

(By the way, I saw Pan's Labyrinth — the special effects were OK, but the plot was sick!

Barley

 

[Eledhwen]

(By the way, I saw Pan's Labyrinth — the special effects were OK, but the plot was sick!

Barley

Agreed!

I just stumbled across this (now quite old) piece and wondered why I had not heard anything earlier.

Excerpt: Said Peter Jackson, “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey.”

I wonder who got sacked to facilitate this? Interesting that "The Hobbit" and "The Hobbit Sequel" are planned. I thought LotR was The Hobbit sequel!

*edit* Ah! Found it: Elijah Wood keen on doing sequel

 

[Barliman Butterbur]

...

I wonder who got sacked to facilitate this? Interesting that "The Hobbit" and "The Hobbit Sequel" are planned. I thought LotR was The Hobbit sequel!

*edit* Ah! Found it: Elijah Wood keen on doing sequel

God's Pants!!! A movie about the 60 intervening years??? And just WHO is supposed to fill them in? Are we to be treated to a movie covering 60 years of ***shudder*** gratuitous jacksonisms???!! I'm writing my suicide note...

(BTW, I voted for PJ only because I halfway know what to expect from him...)

Barley

 

[Eledhwen]

The intervening 60 years

Let me see now, Off the top of my head .... actually during The Hobbit, there's Sauron's build up at Dol Guldur and Gandalf's secret incursion therein, where he finds the dying Thrain (I think that's the name) and takes the map and key; and the White Council meeting where the attack on Dol Guldur is eventually agreed by Saruman, who wants to divert attention from his search of the river, where he hopes to find the Ring, and his discovery of the Elendilmir, and possibly the bones of Isildur (this last bit could be put into the sequel).

I would start The Hobbit itself not with the dwarves arriving at Bag End, but with Gandalf meeting Thorin on the Greenway and discussing his quest with the dwarves at the Prancing Pony.

But I digress. Intervening years... Frodo's parents' tragic drowning accident? Saruman's build up of trade with The Shire? The Ringwraiths' search for the Ring? Bilbo's visit to Erebor (this would not tie in with the LoTR film script, but hey!); the elves starting to leave Middle-earth; the ent seen on the borders of The Shire; I think they are going to have to put a lot of the troubles of the Rohirrim in to make a film of it, including Saruman's 5th column, Wormtongue.

Or alternatively, Peter Jackson could just invent a load of stuff and call it Tolkien.

 

[Starflower]

I have just read somewhere (will hunt around for a link for you), that Jackson will actually not direct wither of the Hobbit movie, but rather produce them.

http://http://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=21696

 

[Eledhwen]

I have just read somewhere (will hunt around for a link for you), that Jackson will actually not direct wither of the Hobbit movie, but rather produce them.

http://http://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=21696

That's what's being said, yes; but what I also want to know is who is writing the screenplay?

 

[Confusticated]

I remember a discussion from over 3 years ago where some of us said we would want someone other than Jackson to direct The Hobbit if only because it would be fun to see another person's vision of what Middle-earth looked like.

I'd like to see a different and less dreary Lothlorien! In fact the only location I wouldn't mind staying the same as in Jackson's film is the Shire. I think it was perfect. Rivendell was nice too, but I can imagine it a lot of other ways.

I think Guillermo could make an interesting Mirkwood. That location stands out the most in mind when I think of him making The Hobbit.

Different looking goblins and Elves would be priceless. I wonder if he will dare to attempt some Elvish song?! If it were well done it would be a nice addition of something that Jackson's films were lacking... to my regret. And in his films there was no Elvish merriment at all... I hope the next movie is not the same in that regard. The song that Bilbo hears on entering Rivendell could be the perfect chance. And also their comeback when Bilbo wakes up back in Imladris on his way home... his loud storing. There is plenty of humor direct from the book.


PS. Thank you Gothmog

 

[Eledhwen]

Nóm has just listed my dream interpretation of The Hobbit.

The Elves were so merry when Bilbo and the Dwarves arrived; and to keep that merriment, yet retain their otherworldly strengths would be a real achievement and an excellent contrast to their seriousness in the face of the rise of Sauron in LotR.

I wonder if they dare keep Beorn in.

 

[Starflower]

Oh! I forgot about Beorn...

They would have to do the whole charade where Gandalf builds the dwarves' entrance into a story...

Also the realm of the Elven-King, who is Legolas' father... the Elves were actually very cruel to the dwarves in the book, that doesnt fit in with PJ's Elves.

 

[Eledhwen]

Oh! I forgot about Beorn...

They would have to do the whole charade where Gandalf builds the dwarves' entrance into a story...

Also the realm of the Elven-King, who is Legolas' father... the Elves were actually very cruel to the dwarves in the book, that doesnt fit in with PJ's Elves.

The Elves of Mirkwood were the only ones in Middle-earth who had actually begun to feel the re-emergence of Sauron, so they had a right to be jittery; especially as Thorin flatly refused to say what he was doing there.

A good film maker should be able to stick to the story and make it fit;

... even if the story does have four legged animals serving supper.

 

[Barliman Butterbur]

... even if the story does have four legged animals serving supper.

I always did wonder how they did that using paws and hoofs!

Barley

 

[Eledhwen]

I always did wonder how they did that using paws and hoofs!

Barley

I had to picture the kind of tray that hangs from its handles, so the creatures could use their mouths. It's all really quite Narnia, isn't it!

I won't hold out many hopes of seeing it in the film, though; if I remember rightly, the cartoon version didn't even have the Arkenstone.

 

[e.Blackstar]

The only Del Toro film I've seen in Pan's Lab. I loved it, but it certainly didn't seem analagous to The Hobbit at all, and I'm doubting Del Toro's ability to direct it.

What other Del Toro films are out there that I should watch?

 

[Eledhwen]

The only Del Toro film I've seen in Pan's Lab.

I found Pan's Labyrinth a bit sick; a storyline for a ten year old and violence for 18+. He was the creative producer for the Hellboy animated films, but I haven't seen those. Here's the trailer for The Orphanage (El Orfanatao) which I also haven't seen, but it seems from this to have a similar mood to Pan's Labyrinth. Here's a shorter trailer (different images).

 

[Turgon]

Didn't Del Toro do Hellboy? If so he gets the thumbs up from me. Hellboy was such a good film. All those crappy Marvel adaptations could learn a lesson on how to turn comic books into films from this guy. Can't wait for Hellboy II. He is a demon... but he also loves kittens. A man after my own heart. And let's get Ron Pearlman to play Beorn while we are at it.

 

[Eledhwen]

And let's get Ron Pearlman to play Beorn while we are at it.

Ah! Someone with some optimism about the inclusion of Beorn. What are the chances, do you reckon, of the food-serving fauna getting into the film, even if they do include the Bear-man?

 

[Turgon]

I really hope Beorn is included as The Hobbit would not be the same without him. As for the animals, I can see them being left out. I guess it all depends on who the film is targetted at. I mean The Hobbit is a children's book, but will it be a children's film? I'm sure it will contain scenes of mild peril at the very least...