Re: Countdown to Release [2] SPOILER THREAD

[chris63]

This is Neil Finn in his early days in a group called Split Enz.

[chris63]

Read this on Facebook and totally agree.

Meh. The singing is far too light, mellow, lacking any real emotion. The whole thing is like a forgettable Chris de Burgh song (and the added lyrics/arrangement does little justice to the original). It's especially disappointing when the original of the song, as sung by the dwarves in the first trailer, is so hair-raising and beautiful. I'd much rather listen to the deep harmonies from that scene.

[Eldorion]

I guess I'm in the minority here but I actually like the ending song. I was a bit uncertain about the preview but I actually enjoy listening to the whole track. That said, it does not feel very much like Middle-earth to me. I'm not trying to just say "it's different so it sucks", but it reminds me a lot of other folk and medeivalesque music I've heard -- which I like -- moreso than anything about LOTR or The Hobbit. I'm not sure how it will work in context but I think the atmosphere of the Dwarf song in the trailer was more fitting.

If nothing else though, this song will make good listening for me in the future.

[halfwise]

That statement about 'medieval music' made me think you need to be acquainted with your local early music group, Eldo. I've performed with and taken lessons with several of the members of this consort. Though this example is Renaissance rather than medieval I think it fits the Shire best.

[Tinuviel]

The song reminds me of "Frodo of the Nine Fingers" from the animated ROTK. I CAN'T STAND IT! It's just so peculiar, it sounds more like an independent thing than something official. Hell, they want an official song for the movie, let it be "Ramble On" my Led Zeppelin!!!!

[Norc]

IS IT THE OFICIAL ENDING TRACK!

[Eldorion]

Yes...

[Mrs Figg]

I agree with the statement Chris posted, its exactly how I feel too. and I agree Halfwise its not medieval at all. Its eeze listening with jingly jangly ethnic yodelling. utter rubbish.

[RA]

I found this.
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/11/hobbit-movie-tie-in-books-kid/

[azriel]

Sadly,this is exactly my point on books,& the future reading generation. Gone are the days when a story was told truthfully, Now its all to glossy, told to simply, & the into of silly games ? Wheres the imagination ? where's it gone ? Stories are condensed smaller & smaller, (so you can get back to your Xbox or PS3 ?) When I read books as a child, I was engrossed & read till I fell asleep. I couldnt wait till the next night to continue the story. The pages might have been plain,devoid of illustrations,but to me that didnt matter, I had my Imagination ! & I got excited about it. Even "Annuals" are slimmer now. I look at my grandsons books & think "is that it ?!"

[Eldorion]

I'm not too worried about the tie-in books. There were a ton of those for LOTR as well. Some were pretty cool, many of them mixed up a lot of Lore-related information. Even just a couple of years afterwards, though, most of them had been forgotten. I suspect that will be the same with most of The Hobbit's marketing push. Their main job is to get people excited about the movie, not to contribute to the lasting legacy of the story.

[MeikoElektra]

I'm back!!

Sorry, was ill for a long time, then very busy catching up on all the things I'd fallen behind on...

Just listening to the soundtrack now. Must say, while it isn't groundbreaking stuff, I am appreciating the slightly more chirpy hobbit theme early on, with (I think) a clarinet. I also liked "Axe or Sword". Not quite halfway through yet so I will comment on the later pieces soon. I quite like the cheery bit of "The World is Ahead", although it is a bit Jane Austen/Victorian BBC production (not that they're bad at all!)...until the Misty Mountains theme comes back in, and then it's awesome!

I'm still getting excited when I hear Richard Armitage & Co singing the Misty Mountains song - BUT I do wish there were more verses being sung...seriously one of my favourite favourite Tolkien poems, I regularly sing it when going home (usually to the R&B tune, or the one my mum made up when reading me the book when I was 6 - but lately also the new version, they've all got similar elements/mood).

More thoughts later.

And hello everyone!

[Eldorion]

Hey Meiko, it's good to see you back! I'm sorry to hear that you were ill but I'm glad that you're doing better now. I hope life calms down for you.

I've heard a lot of good about the Misty Mountains song but I haven't had the time to sit through the entire streaming album. Is that the song sung by the Dwarves in the first trailer or is it an instrumental piece? I really liked the music in the first trailer, it gave me hope for the film as a whole.

[MeikoElektra]

Thank you! I'm moving to Melbourne to live with my partner (finally - it's only been seven years!) so half the time I'm envisaging Utopic scenes of domestic bliss, and the other half I'm imagining us sleeping in some gutter because we've stuffed up our finances properly

The song is sung by the dwarves, or at least RA (not our RA!) and a small male chorus, and is really nice - but only one verse is sung (the intro bit is hummed which is also nice). But the theme is revived in a number of other parts, and I've really rather fallen in love with it.

I generally liked the rest of the music too - except the ending song. Really not sold on it. But then, I didn't like "Into the West" at all when I heard it in the cinema (I've warmed a little to it more recently but still...not right for me, even though I love Annie Lennox doing other stuff). "May It Be" and "Gollum's Song" were much closer to the tone of the films and not jarring at all.

But jarring credits music happens all the time - V for Vendetta and the first season of Game of Thrones (much as I love The Rains of Castamere, I wasn't keen on The National's performance - the American accent was very distracting after Brit accents throughout the show). Still, it's annoying because I'm one of those people who likes to sit through the full credits just absorbing the film and stuff - I frequent the opera far too much, leaving during the credits of a movie would be like leaving during the bowing and applause!

[Pettytyrant101]

Welcome back Meiko- glad you are feeling better once more- and I shall be adding your name to Best Newcomer category in this years Forum Awards!

I have to ask though whats up with the V for Vendetta soundtrack? I love that album!

edit add- looks like Eldo was ahead of me! Your name was already on the list he provided.

[Norc]

Yes...

I'm crying.... it|s too spacy. maybe it|ll be better when I've seen the movie and I am in the mood.

[halfwise]

I just went and looked up the rains of castamere: yeah, it deserves such a better treatment.

The idea of not liking into the west is unusual, but I have to admit if not heard in the context of the film ending it might be jarring. For most people it gave the proper swell of emotion.

[CC12 35]

They should fake kill Gandalf and then play Dylan's A Hard Rain's a gonna fall & credits

Probably won't happen though

[CC12 35]

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=35757

Will it play for anyone else? Because I can't get it to

[azriel]

It played for me,Carly. I got to the "dear frodo" track,about 20mins in, then I had to ruin my son's digestive system with my cooking, (poor sod!) What I heard thus far was typical Howard Shore "LOTRs" style music, which I really like.No surprises in store yet, I'll catch up with it later,

[Eldorion]

TV spot #6. Haven't watched it all the way through yet since I can't use sound right now.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10101828951059236

[CC12 35]

I think this one is my favourite tv spot

[Eldorion]

Just watched the whole thing and I have to agree with Carly. This felt a lot different from the others with the focus squarely on Bilbo as a character rather than your typical mish-mash of action scenes and one-liners that make up most TV ads for movies. I really, really liked this. Martin Freeman

[azriel]

Thought I caught a glimpse of the Stone Trolls in there ?

[Mrs Figg]

Hi Meiko, hope you are feeling better, good to see you again.

I am no musician but The Rains of Castamere is brilliant. I think its perfect as it is. The only track I like on the Hobbit at the moment is the Misty Mountains song.