Official The Hobbit thread

[Doctor Jones]

I thought it was just about the culture in order to separate it from other axes. They looks alot more interesting than the simple axe.

 

[marcvader]

Yes. Those axes with sections of metal cut out in order to save money. I bet the stave was only plywood with a polished pine finish on one side, too.

So they cut the pieces out to save money?

I'm assuming your joking.

 

[Octoberist]

I've been watching the The Two Towers Ext Edition special features, and my lord, they did so much to make the film(s).

And I miss old, fat Pete who wore no shoes and wore sweater-vests. Verus the skinnier, more Hollywood weary Pete, with stylish attire.

So they cut the pieces out to save money?

I'm assuming your joking.

I know that we're all geeks here but to complain about the axes pass the threshold pass nerdom into insanity.

 

[FVD]

With all the changes made by Sir Peter in regards to LotR, I'm now starting to worry whether he might get some of the Dwarves killed off earlier in the film for dramatic effect. I sure as hell hope not. It should be just the Dwarves who fell during the Battle of the Five Armies Fili and Kili not to mention Thorin. Still out of Dain's 500 strong Dwarven warriors I'm sure some of them could fall too. Would love to see Legolas take part in the battle as well! And even Beorn's path of destruction should be freakin' cool. So lookin' forward to that!!!

And I do think it would be awesome if we got to see a flashback of how Smaug assumed control of the Lonely Mountain not to mention his reign of destruction. I also recall Sir Peter saying he didn't like the way Smaug was shot down. Hmm I'm sure he'll come up with something interesting.

 

[echostation]

Is it true that lots of blue background screen will be used for the special effects. Apparently to create a hyper-real 300 style environment?

 

[WarBlade]

New Zealand IS Middle-earth!
(Just had to add my voice to the chorus happening around Auckland Orcland these days)

And I miss old, fat Pete who wore no shoes and wore sweater-vests. Verus the skinnier, more Hollywood weary Pete, with stylish attire.

Oh don't worry. Pete's just throwing that stuff on for the camera.

I also recall Sir Peter saying he didn't like the way Smaug was shot down. Hmm I'm sure he'll come up with something interesting.

Yeah, Bard's mighty

Spoiler

Hobbit launcher looks pretty impressive. It gleams menacingly in the sunlight and looks even better with a terrified Hobbit loaded in and armed with a dagger.

 

[regwec]

I know that we're all geeks here but to complain about the axes pass the threshold pass nerdom into insanity.

Nope, I just think they look crap. In fact, they look a bit like Zulu throwing axes, which is a cultural misstep for the Nordic Dwarves.

So they cut the pieces out to save money?

I'm assuming your joking.

That's a truly dazzling use of intuition.

 

[Spider-Who?]

Nope, I just think they look crap. In fact, they look a bit like Zulu throwing axes, which is a cultural misstep for the Nordic Dwarves.

http://theknivesonline.com/admincp/ProdImgs/limg/l_1-58.jpg


http://www.worthpoint.com/pmimages/images1/1/0207/17/1_65b40b8b0849a41a6e5167819228329d.jpg


yup. TOTALLY similar.

 

[marcvader]

Thank ya, thank ya very much.

 

[Spider-Who?]

.......and here's a nordic ax:

http://historyshop.piratemerch.com/images/celtic_axe_22-628G.jpg

That's a truly dazzling use of intuition.

...and it would actually cost MORE money to "cut holes" into them, since you're having to pay some one to take the time to design the holes and then cut them out of the blades, smooth the cuts, etc. Not to mention the EXTRA time it'd take and price of tools to do so.

So no, they'd be saving money only if they did NOT cut holes into them.

 

[regwec]

I do hope that you, too, are being satirical.

 

[regwec]

http://theknivesonline.com/admincp/ProdImgs/limg/l_1-58.jpg


http://www.worthpoint.com/pmimages/images1/1/0207/17/1_65b40b8b0849a41a6e5167819228329d.jpg


yup. TOTALLY similar.

Here is an African throwing axe:

http://thedarkblade.com/wp-content/uploads/nzappa-zap.jpg

I would say that this sort of thing is fairly obviously an inspiration for Gimli's axes.

 

[Spider-Who?]

look at the nordic ax that I posted, then look at the ax in Gimli's right (our left) hand in the other pic. They are nearly exactly the same.

now, look at the pic YOU posted, and look at either of the gimli axes. The ONLY similiarity is the fact that one of gimli's axes also has holes. The shape of the blade is entirely different. It is very obviously of Nordic influence.

not to mention the fact that it was a common thing for battle axes with large blades to have holes in them all throughout history, regardless of culture. It lightens the weight of the blade. Nothing more, nothing less.

I do hope that you, too, are being satirical.

why?

 

[LOBO3315a]

The one with the holes cut in it was a throwing axe. It would help make it lighter, and allow it to go through the air straighter and further with the holes in it.

The broad-faced axe was likely a back up throwing axe, which wouldn't have gone as far, but likely would have hit harder than the lighter one. It could also be used in an emergency as a hand axe, if the double-edged axe couldn't be unsheathed in time.

And the double-edged axe was likely made lighter because of the holes it had in it. Otherwise using it as a defensive as well as offensive weapon would have been difficult indeed.

Dwarves are legendary for building durable, lasting weapons of exotic materials. Comparing a Dwarven axe to a Man-made axe would be like comparing a Volvo to a Yugo.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

I do hope that you, too, are being satirical.

Rather than being snarky and throwing out words you may not fully understand the definition of, I'd like you to explain EXACTLY how "cutting holes" in an axe is going to save money in any notable way, especially in a series of movies with a production budget of God knows how many hundreds of millions of dollars.

 

[regwec]

I was being facetious; it is pretty rich for you to try to insult somebody's intelligence.

look at the nordic ax that I posted, then look at the ax in Gimli's right (our left) hand in the other pic. They are nearly exactly the same.

To be fair, the "Nordic ax" that you posted is just piece of tatty merchandise that is made to conform to a pop-culture idea of what a viking axe should look like.

This is a genuine viking axe head.

http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/mu...atives//reassessing/jpeg_014/mid/A15675_a.jpg
It is plain, utilitarian and relatively undesigned. It is not unlike Gimli's axe, but nor is it any more like it than practically any other axe head.

now, look at the pic YOU posted, and look at either of the gimli axes. The ONLY similiarity is the fact that one of gimli's axes also has holes. The shape of the blade is entirely different. It is very obviously of Nordic influence.

The point I am trying to make is that cutting sections from the axe heads seems to follow an African rather than a Scandinavian design theme. I am not saying that the African and the Dwarven axes are identical; I return to my original point that putting the holes in the axes makes them look more African/Zulu.

not to mention the fact that it was a common thing for battle axes with large blades to have holes in them all throughout history, regardless of culture. It lightens the weight of the blade. Nothing more, nothing less.

Really? I have seen African, Indian and Persian battle axes with sections cut out of the heads. As far as I am aware, it is most common in sub-Saharan Africa, however. I have never come across an original Scandinavian/Anglo-Saxon axe head with sections removed. I would be genuinely interested to be proved differently.

EDIT: In the interests of pursuing a proper debate, I have had a quick peek at the British Museum catalogue. The only axe head they show which has sections cut out of it is from the Congo, in Africa. http://www.britishmuseum.org/search_results.aspx?searchText=axe&currentPage=1

 

[itsthebatman]

Whatever's happening here... I agree with regwec.

 

[Jackasscoley15]

Does anybody else think they're going to have songs written for the end of each movie, like the trilogy?

 

[Doctor Jones]

I hope so.

I'm just thrilled Shore is doing the score. The music never gets old.

 

[Poeman]

great news about the cast!!

 

[redhawk23]

I was being facetious; it is pretty rich for you to try to insult somebody's intelligence.


To be fair, the "Nordic ax" that you posted is just piece of tatty merchandise that is made to conform to a pop-culture idea of what a viking axe should look like.



It is plain, utilitarian and relatively undesigned. It is not unlike Gimli's axe, but nor is it any more like it than practically any other axe head.


The point I am trying to make is that cutting sections from the axe heads seems to follow an African rather than a Scandinavian design theme. I am not saying that the African and the Dwarven axes are identical; I return to my original point that putting the holes in the axes makes them look more African/Zulu.

Hey dude news flash, its a franchis about a mythical reality, not a period film or documentary about Scandanavian warriors. Who the hell ever said they have to be strictly Scandanavian? Its dwarvish culture, developing on its own, who says they cant come up with some of the same technology and concepts used in non scandanavian axes? being so fond of axes, they possibly have gone through every possible combination.

 

[LOBO3315a]

^^^ That!

 

[dark_b]

i find it funny when i hear that WETA will maybe not work on the movie because they are not in the US.

Double Negative is in London and noone has any problems.

 

[redhawk23]

i find it funny when i hear that WETA will maybe not work on the movie because they are not in the US.

Double Negative is in London and noone has any problems.

woah woah what? please explain

 

[tecnowraith]

WETA Digital is working on it now cause a friend of mine is a creature designer and he said will be busy for awhile. Now WETA Workshop is another question. There 2 different WETA production companies.