Why do people care so much about a feature film adaptation of The Hobbit? To go along with that, why would it matter if Peter Jackson directed it or not? Peter Jackson did a fantastic job with Lord of the Rings, but it just seems like everyone is making such a big deal about something that probably won’t happen for at least another two years and who knows if it will even happen then? Now, even the Los Angeles Times is getting in on the silliness by saying that Spider-Man director Sam Raimi is interested. Whoopy Woo! So what?
First of all, Raimi has gotten far too much love for the Spider-Man films. The first film was seriously geared toward children and too long, which basically means to say “I got bored.” Then, he played tricks on me with Spidey 2, hitting me with a serious dose of Aunt May boredom (how come she couldn’t have been killed and Uncle Ben lived) and then some fantastic action sequences. I was torn, but then I looked at my watch and relized, “Hmmm, without all the Aunt May we might have had a really great movie.” Still, I gave the film an “A-” but looking back I think a “B” or “B+” was in order. Those action sequences the first time you see them in the theater really do floor you and they tricked me. Darn!
So what is this news about The Hobbit and Raimi you ask, gently nudging me to shut up about Spider-Man? Well, the LA Times has posted an article that says the following:
Sam Raimi has been telling associates, as well as his corporate masters at Sony, that he is thinking of directing “The Hobbit,” the prequel to J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterwork, “The Lord of the Rings.” At least two top-level insiders – who declined to be named — have heard the words out of the director’s mouth.
Oh no!! Lock down Hollywood! Whatever shall we do? Does this mean he won’t do Spider-Man 4, which David Koepp is already writing? Hell, he probably already finished a draft and cast so-and-so to play such-and-such from the planet gobbledygook.
Simmer down people. This is rumor. Speculation. Kooky talk.
MGM still holds the distribution rights and they want Pete Jackson. But I am left to wonder if Jackson is just sitting at home waiting for the call to direct The Hobbit. I don’t know about you, but the guy seems pretty imaginative and I have to assume he has something else up his sleeve.
This same article goes on to say that Sony studio chief Amy Pascal has said she wants to make six installments of the Spider-Man tale (shocker!) and I can only assume she wants franchise originator Raimi at the helm. My money is on Spidey – I can only assume Bilbo is just going to have to wait until Ian Holm is 105 before this prequel gets made.
