phyncke

Edge of your seat, spy-ish kind of thing with the girl (Saoirse Ronan) who got cast in The Hobbit (as Itaril). I have not seen her act before but she was brilliant in this and I think, after seeing this that she will make a fine elven girl. She has a translucent quality to her look that will work. I know that people are up in arms about there being an inserted character in this movie but I am now kind of excited to see what will happen with this. This girl is fantastic and has great range as an actor. She rocked it in Hanna, ROCKED it. Played it with some steel and vulnerability, giving a performance that showed depth and versatility. I look forward to seeing her as an elf. Not a popular sentiment but I don't believe I have expressed an opinion on this yet so not contradicting anything previously stated.

Cate Blanchette - it was weird to see her in a villainous role but she was devastating here. Her American accent a bit, well hard done and overdone but she got that to some degree. She did not seem to be speaking naturally at times. They could have easily had her character be British so I am not sure why they stuck her with an American there, a small plot point change would have helped her out of that. She still was diabolical and twisted - good role for her.

I had fun with the friends and hit Borders going out of business sale (sob) and bought a strange vampire book with Jane Austen being a vamp. Interesting lark of a novel that was half price. Looked amusing. I wanted Stephen MacGuire and got this one.

Jane and the Damned
http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Damned-Novel-Janet-Mullany/dp/0061958301/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303621743&sr=1-5

Anyways. That is it for a Saturday night. Next up, Bunday. Woot.

PS-thank you, heyurs for my Passover matzoh v-gift! That totally rocks!


by jovi_diva

Peter Jackson to Produce `The Hobbit'
Published: 12/18/07, 11:46 AM EDT
By JAKE COYLE
NEW YORK (AP) - Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema have reached agreement to make J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," a planned prequel to the blockbuster trilogy "The Lord of the Rings."

Jackson, who directed the "Rings" trilogy, will serve as executive producer for "The Hobbit." A director for the prequel films has yet to be named.

Relations between Jackson and New Line had soured after "Rings," despite a collective worldwide box office gross of nearly $3 billion - an enormous success. The two sides nevertheless were able to reconcile, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) splitting "The Hobbit" 50/50, spokemen for both studios said Tuesday.

"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," Jackson said in a statement. "We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth."

Two "Hobbit" films are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, similar to how the three "Lord of the Rings" films were made. Production is set to begin in 2009 with a released planned for 2010, with the sequel scheduled for a 2011 release.

New Line Cinema is owned by Time Warner. Sony and Comcast are among the owners of MGM.
(ADDS detail, quotes, background. SUBS overline to CORRECT that Jackson will produce, sted direct, films.)