MetaFilter posts tagged with Hobbit

Bunny Sled!

St. Alia of the Bunnies — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:29:34 -0800

Radagast's racing rhosgobel rabbits: A recreational musher looks at the realities of bunny sledding.

The King Under The Rock

JHarris — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:36:08 -0800

Hey guys, remember that old show "Fraggle Rock?" And, and you know that recently-released movie The Hobbit? Well, why not combine the two?

Lord of the Miserables

crossoverman — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 04:36:30 -0800

Listen to Gollum sing "I Dreamed a Dream". (SLYT, via)

Speak "friend" and enter.

MsMolly — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:12:44 -0800

Explaining the languages of Middle-Earth. Ever wonder how Peter Jackson and the Lord of the Rings writers developed lines of dialogue for the elves or dwarves when they weren't quoting directly from Tolkien? They asked David Salo, a linguist who specializes in Sindarin and the other languages of Middle Earth. Tolkien said of his own works: "The invention of languages is the foundation. The ‘stories’ were made rather to provide a world for the languages than the reverse." And the list of languages he invented is extensive. Salo's new blog gives a behind the scenes look at the process of building a language, why those with a keen eye might see two different runic alphabets in The Hobbit, and what the connection is between Dwalin's axes and Emily Bronte's dogs.

Walking To Mordor And Back Again

The Whelk — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:20:38 -0800

For the release of the Hobbit, Lindsay Ellis of the Nostalgia Chick (previously) has decided to look back at all the LOTR films in order to analyze how they changed genre film-making, expected movie length, extended cuts, the problems of adaptation, and why Eowyn and Merry are made for each other. (Fellowship Of The Ring, Two Towers, Return Of The King Part 1, Part 2) Still need more? Then why not watch Kerry Shawcross and Chris Demarais of Rooster Teeth (previously) try to walk the 120+ mile journey across New Zealand from the filming location of Hobbiton in Matamata to the filming location of Mount Doom, Mount Ngauruhoe in A Simple Walk Into Mordor.

Referred to hereinafter as 'Burglar'

Wordshore — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:50:28 -0800

A lawyer provides a detailed analysis of the contract between Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves in The Hobbit. Contract may not be legally binding. Contract may not be real, may instead be commercial product officially licensed from 'THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY'. The value of your pipe-weed portfolio may go down as well as up. Your hole in the ground may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. IANAL. IANAH.

The Royal Mail marks 50 years of Dr. Who

chapps — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:58:48 -0800

Dr. Who gets a commemorative stamp Meanwhile New Zealand post offers the Hobbit stamps (coins seen previously). Past science fiction stamps include Australia's Star Wars series and a US Post Star Trek series, as well as a 2004 UK stamp commemorating Tolkein's works. But no one tops Jules Verne. Everyone has a stamp about him! (warning funky old slide show site)!

An unexpected gathering of bricks

Artw — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 23:31:17 -0800

What It Takes to Build a Lego Hobbit [cached version] - How Lego's An Unexpected Gathering was designed from the 2,700 pieces of the modern Lego "system of play", which remains compatible with a brick design that goes back to 1958. Despite worries that the stacking brick system has become less creative, a persistant series of complaints that have spawned their own bingo card, it remains hugely popular, in part through quality control and clever licensing. The Lego Bag-End house also comes in a life size version.

"Hobbit House"

gladly — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 06:18:36 -0800

"A lifelong fan of The Lord of the Rings, for the last 50 years [Vince Donovan] has been amassing an enormous collection of all things J.R.R. Tolkien. So much so, he hired an architect to design a house to contain it."

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.

h00py — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:23:20 -0800

The complete soundtrack to the upcoming movie, The Hobbit, is available here. "The score is composed by Howard Shore who also wrote all three films in The Lord of The Rings trilogy for director Peter Jackson. “I have looked forward to returning to the imaginative world of Middle-earth for quite a while,” says Shore of the score. “I read all of the books by Tolkien, including The Hobbit, when I was in my twenties, and his deep love of nature and all things green resonates deeply with me.”"

Hobbit Aboard

vac2003 — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:10:52 -0800

Air New Zealand's latest safety video has a Lord Of The Rings theme. (SLYT) Previously and previously.

Nine French Toast Squares for Mortal Men Doomed to Die

ursus_comiter — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:58:37 -0800

Denny's will soon be launching a Hobbit inspired menu. Featuring such delights as Bilbo's Berry Smoothie and Radagast's Red Velvet Pancake Puppies, second breakfast and elevenses will never be the same! (via boingboing)

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit

Wordshore — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 00:43:31 -0800

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, went on sale 75 years ago today. The first printing, by Allen & Unwin, was for 1,500 copies (which now fetch a premium at auction); the first reviewer, the son of the publisher, was paid a shilling. Through a contorted publishing history, exact or even approximate sales figures are unknown; "over a hundred million" is often quoted. Tolkien was born in the Orange Free State (now South Africa) in 1892. Via Birmingham and Worcestershire, and active service in World War I, he spent much of his life in Oxford where he taught at the university, wrote The Hobbit and several other works, and studied, invented and translated languages. One significant revision to the original text of the Hobbit was made here when Tolkien was drafting The Lord of the Rings, to make the nature of the ring, and its effect on Gollum, compatible with this later work. While some speculate on the endurance of the story, read one of the many companion books, or the ebook version in which Tolkien sings 'Chip the glasses and crack the plates!", replay the ZX Spectrum game adaptation, celebrate the anniversary by partaking of a second breakfast at 11am this morning, or watch the latest trailer for the first in the forthcoming film trilogy (or watch one of the previous adaptations), others may choose to hear the author himself read from The Hobbit, or explain how he wrote the first line. In addition to todays anniversary, many fans celebrate tomorrow (September 22nd) as Hobbit day, marking the birthdays of both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. After a long academic career at Oxford University, Tolkien retired to Bournemouth. He died in 1973. John and Edith, married for 55 years, are buried in the same grave in Wolvercote Cemetery, Oxford.

The Man With The 'ANIMAGICAL' Typewriter

Huck500 — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 08:11:07 -0800

Romeo Muller wrote some of the most popular holiday (mostly Christmas) specials of all time for Rankin/Bass, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Little Drummer Boy, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (bonus Justin Bieber version with Animagic!), Jack Frost, and Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey. The very last special he wrote was Noel, based on a story he told on the radio every year at Christmas. It aired just days before his death on December 30th, 1992. Another special, called The Twelve Days of Christmas, aired in 1993, and was based on a story by him, but was written by someone else. Romeo is also known for writing the 1977 version of The Hobbit, and later The Return of the King, as well as episodes of many children's cartoons. He wrote and acted in a live-action Rankin/Bass production called Marco. It starred Desi Arnaz, Jr., and you can see Romeo, dressed as a Chinese man, yelling at the beginning of the film.

The Hobbit - There in 1977 and Back Again in 2012

Effigy2000 — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:31:52 -0800

As the trailer for Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Hobbit premieres online, it's worth remembering that this isn't the first take on the journey of one Bilbo Baggins. There was the 1977 animated version as well. Here's some screencaps and a trailer. Of course, if that's not enough for you, you could just watch it on Youtube (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). And before it was a film, it was something called... a book? Here's pictures of the cover of this 'book' thing from all over the world.

Back and There Again.

SpacemanStix — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:17:41 -0800

Many ages ago, before some had yet to hear of The Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings or the collectible LOTR glasses sold at Burger King, critics did their initial reviews. Here's the original review by the New York Times of The Hobbit in 1938. Then came The Fellowship of the Ring, followed by The Two Towers, and of course The Return of the King. Here's a 1967 interview with Tolkien after the influence of his work was starting to be felt. One interesting detail noted is that Tolkien typed the entire 1200+ page manuscript of TLOTR with two fingers. Of course, not everyone viewed the books so favorably. The BBC has detailed some initial criticism against the books, but this seems to have been the minority response within a generally broad and warm literary reception.

The Illustrated Hobbitses

curious nu — Mon, 02 May 2011 10:17:48 -0800

Hobbitish is a site that collects the various cover and interior paintings and illustrations of The Hobbit from versions around the world. Some random examples: Swedish: cover, a simple Gandalf Bulgarian: cover, Bilbo French: cover, Smaug

Abandoned Hobbiton from “Lord Of The Rings” taken over by sheep

stbalbach — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:41:59 -0800

Abandoned Hobbiton from “Lord Of The Rings” taken over by sheep.

Move any mountain

Artw — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:00:29 -0800

Director Guillermo Del Toro has announced that he will no longer be directing The Hobbit, and has made a follow up statement today. Speculation is rife as to what he might work on next, having given up that massive commitment. Some are speculating, based on this AICN interview promoting the movie Splice, that going forwards with his adaptation of HP Lovecraft's At The Mountains of Madness may be on his mind again.

Madshobbithole

Fizz — Sat, 15 May 2010 19:29:32 -0800

My name is Maddie Chambers and this all began when I was a young child and read the Hobbit for the first time. And so, a year later I have a nearly finished replica of Bag End. I still have quite a bit of work to do on it, but I think it can be classed as an ongoing project that I can improve over the years (yes I am a perfectionist when it comes to things that I make!)

Hullo! 'Tis I, Olo Bumbleroot of Haysend!

chillmost — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:46:27 -0800

The Hobbit Name Generator: You have a secret name. Discover it. Also available in Elvish if that's your sort of thing.

The Hobbit Movie, It's Offical

Mintyblonde — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:35:20 -0800

It's official, Del Torro is on board for the new Hobbit move and it's...um..sequel. Anyway, he seems to be adamant in keeping the as much as the original creative team on board which is a encouraging sign, roll on 2010?

Smoots in the West End of the Shire

rob511 — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 14:53:13 -0800

The LoTR musical needs Hobbits of a certain stature. What stature is that, budding thespians might ask? Well, smoot-height, of course! (Actually, 5'7" — or 170 cm — is the maximum height a would-be Frodo or Bilbo could be.) Another requirement is the ability to sing two songs ... and hairy appendages wouldn't hurt. So start knitting those foot-merkins! Auditions: 18 September, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine St (tube stop: Covent Garden).

But then, who destroyed the ring?

31d1 — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 11:54:26 -0800

According to the BBC, hobbits may not be real.

Hip-Hobbit

Orange Goblin — Wed, 19 Feb 2003 04:08:59 -0800

You may remember the Lords of the Rhymes from a previous post, but now they've taken the next step towards Middle Earth-wide fame and released a video. The hour long download on a 56k is well worth it, so get going!