Now Watching, Films/ movies discussion Options

[Kiln]

Shawshank Redemption. Damn good movie.

Agreed. Just watched it about three days ago.

[SubRosa]

I am working from home today thanks to the snow. So I have been watching the Appendices of the Hobbit all day as I plug away at a database. One of the most mind-boggling thing was the goblins. They were people in full costumes that were so hot they could not leave the heads on for more than a few minutes at a time. At the end of one day one guy took his costume foot off, and at least two or three cupfuls of sweat literally poured out of it. In that scene where the dwarves fall into the pit trap in Goblintown, and the gobbies come to grab them, there were goblins falling out after every shot. One of the dwarves said that by the end of the day, there were about 4 of them left.

The beginning of principal photography was the scene with the dwarves meeting at Bag End. It took nearly three weeks to film that. And that was not even the entire thing. The entire time Peter Jackson was doing the first unit shooting, Andy Serkis was doing second unit filming at the other end of the studio. The two units had to time when they shot, in order to alternate between the two, because of the noise. So when the 1st unit was between shots, the 2nd was doing its shooting, and vice-versa. Then after all the 1st unit was done, the 2nd still had more shooting. All of the bits with the dwarves sitting at the table carousing, like Dwalin pouring ale down the other fella's hearing trumpet, was done then. Most of it was adlibbed by the actors as well.

The one little shot of Thorin running through the burning forest to attack Azog took one entire day. All day he ran down that ramp through burning trees. The short flashback to the Battle of Moria took two weeks to film. The entire principal photography for just the first film took 266 days. Compare that to a regular film where it takes 90.

The way that they filmed Ian McKellan and the dwarves and Bilbo was amazing too. Because the movie is also in 3D, they could not rely on simple perspective tricks to make Ian look larger (by putting him closer to the camera than the smaller characters). They had to film the scenes simultaneously on two different stages, with cameras that were linked together. Ian's stage was almost all green screen, and his camera was 25% closer to him than the dwarves. So he looked 25% larger. Then afterward they took the footage from both cameras and composited them together. So every line Ian delivers is to empty air, and every time the dwarves speak to him, or even hand him things, he is not really there. Not even a scale double.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jan 7 2014, 03:49 PM

[Kiln]

Yeah I read that as well. I'll bet that Ian Mckellan was very frustrated at times because of how the movie was shot. He didn't get to actually shoot with anyone for the majority of the film.

[SubRosa]

He was so miserable that he wanted to quit after the first day of shooting. The actors all had little personal break rooms they could go to between takes. Basically just a 10' tent with a chair, table, and a few things. Overnight the crew went and secretly did up his tent with a bunch of props from Rivendell. By the time they were done it looked like a room in Elrond's house. He walked in the next morning and was completely amazed at what everyone had done for him. After that, he wasn't so depressed. It also helped that Peter Jackson was then able to show him some of the composited takes, so he could see how it was really going to look when it was finished.

I think the only scene that McKellan did with other actors present was the council with Elrond, Gladriel, and Saruman. They had video of them all getting together before shooting just to talk about it, their character's motivations, thoughts, etc... It was really fascinating to see. Ian said is a bit unusual in movies, but something he loves to do. He is used to being given a script, then being expected to show up on a certain date and do the scene as it was written, that is it.

Speaking of the actor's tents, the fella who played Dwalin (the big, bald, berserker/warrior dwarf) asked the propmaster if he could get a few things to dress up his chair to make it look scary. The next day he had a Throne of Doom™ It was all bones and skulls, and really creepy. Then they had little clips of him slouching in the chair Evil Overlord™ -like rumbling things like "Kill him, kill her, kill them all!" Here it is!

Oh, and I never would have guessed it, but the three trolls were played by three of the dwarves. Bifur, Gloin, and Dori. They just volunteered for it for s&gs, and said it was strange to be trying to kill themselves! And Peter Jackson's daughter plays a hobbit. She was in Fellowship too, playing one of the children. There is a little video of the actor who plays Dwalin being interviewed between takes by his daughter, and she asked some good questions.

The Appendices always have so many little gems. The way these films are made is just incredible. They are nothing like easy, ordinary movies. The challenges that the crew faces, like having to invent new filming methods, or spending all day in a suit so hot that they literally sweat gallons, is astounding. For example, the final scene of Smaug's eye in the horde was literally not finished until the day of the premiere. The head of the CGI department stayed up all night and did it himself. He fell asleep during the premiere because he was so exhausted.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jan 8 2014, 08:53 PM

[Kiln]

I 've always though Peter Jackson and his team were amazing. Even with the LoTR series the effects were cutting edge and the level of work they go through to get good scenes is amazing. For instance in the LoTR, they have a line that Gimli has to deliver after running up a hill in armor. Jackson actually made him run the hill in armor before delivering the line so that it'd be more realistically delivered.

[mirocu]

I 've always though Peter Jackson and his team were amazing. Even with the LoTR series the effects were cutting edge and the level of work they go through to get good scenes is amazing. For instance in the LoTR, they have a line that Gimli has to deliver after running up a hill in armor. Jackson actually made him run the hill in armor before delivering the line so that it'd be more realistically delivered.

Now that is dedication!

[SubRosa]

I just saw the most surreal Magnum P.I. episode. Death and Taxes from Season Seven. It was done like an episode of Miami Vice, right down to having a Phil Collins song playing at climactic moments. The whole thing is very introspective, filled to the brim with silent, intense stares and brooding closeups. There is none of the usual Magnum light-heartedness, not even a truly happy ending. Even after the bad guy is caught, there still remains a question of why? What made him do it? Who was he really? And what really made people do the things they do, Magnum included?

[mirocu]

Even after the bad guy is caught, there still remains a question of why? What made him do it? Who was he really? And what really made people do the things they do, Magnum included?

The script probably

[Callidus Thorn]

Heh, just watched Be Cool.

It's amusing.

I'm not saying it's great, but it's amusing.

Get Shorty was better.

[mirocu]

Watching a LP of the NES game Robowarrior, which I happen to have btw. Such a boring game!

[Callidus Thorn]

Just watched Pulp Fiction. Awesome film.

Probably gonna start watching Cowboy Bebop later, it arrived today. May leave it 'til tomorrow though.

[Grits]

Callidus, you’re making me want to read Elmore Leonard.

I just started series 6 of Doctor Who. Frankly I’m a little sick of hearing “Hello, sweetie.” But enjoying it anyway.


Oh! And Justified is back on. Love that show!

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Jan 10 2014, 06:04 PM

[Callidus Thorn]

*Googles Elmore Leonard*

Hmm, funny how things work out

Just finished watching Transformers. I never realised before today how little sense that film makes. [censored] Michael Bay

I might have to go back to the Transformers film from the 80's. I've got all four series of the cartoon to go with it. And Megatron transforming into a gun was so much cooler.

[SubRosa]

I just started series 6 of Doctor Who. Frankly I’m a little sick of hearing “Hello, sweetie.” But enjoying it anyway.

I got sick of it very quickly as well...

I just finished watching the Name of the Doctor, and with it the end of season Seven. It was really neat seeing all of the old incarnations of the Doctor, even if just in little momentary flashes. It was also really cool to finally learn why Clara is the Impossible Girl. That means tomorrow will be the Day of the Doctor. I've been looking forward to seeing that for a while now.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jan 11 2014, 03:48 AM

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Just got back from watching Desolation of Smaug.

Loved it.

[Callidus Thorn]

Just started watching Cowboy Bebop.

It's all good so far.

[King Of Beasts]

Werewolf: The Beast Among Us


It's not bad but it's hard to follow

[ThatSkyrimGuy]

Recently finished watching all 3 seasons of Homeland. Superb show!

Right now (well, not at this very minute ), I started watching Helix on the SyFy Channel. It has potential. And I am looking forward to the rest of season 4 of The Walking Dead, which returns on Feb. 9th.

[mirocu]

All these TV shows... And I have not even heard of any of them!

[Callidus Thorn]

Just finished watching Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

I'm too much of a Transformers fan

This post has been edited by Callidus Thorn: Jan 11 2014, 11:23 PM