Book, Film & TV Reviews
Over the past couple of years, I have documented every film I have watched and reviewed them all. As a way to motivate myself to read more, I thought I would do the same for what books I have been reading. So, this year I set myself a challenge of reading one book a month; a small challenge, maybe, but it was a start.
This year I set myself a challenge of 12 books. Here’s how my 2014 challenge went, with a short review and rating for each of the books that I read:
From the author of The Lord of The Rings trilogy, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the same crew behind their film adaptations, Peter Jackson and his writing team, The Battle of the Five Armies is the final instalment in a trilogy of films based on the classic fantasy novel, The Hobbit. Picking up from The Desolation of Smaug, this final third follows on with the dwarves as they attempt to reclaim their homeland of Erebor, as the titular battle ensues on The Lonely Mountain, with the Goblins and the Wargs fighting against the Men of Lake-town, the Elves, the Dwarves and Eagles.
Continue reading “Film Review: The Hobbit – The Battle of the Five Armies”
“Farewell, Master Burglar. Go back to your books, your fireplace. Plant your trees, watch them grow. If more of us valued home above gold, it would be a merrier world.”
From the author of The Lord of The Rings trilogy, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the same crew behind their film adaptations, Peter Jackson and his writing team, The Battle of the Five Armies is the final instalment in a trilogy of films based on the classic fantasy novel, The Hobbit. Picking up from The Desolation of Smaug, this final third follows on with the dwarves as they attempt to reclaim their homeland of Erebor, as the titular battle ensues on The Lonely Mountain, with the Goblins and the Wargs fighting against the Men of Lake-town, the Elves, the Dwarves and Eagles.
Continue reading “Book v Film: The Hobbit – The Battle of the Five Armies”
“Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway.”
Yes, you should be reading The Hobbit …or at least the final 85 pages of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s classic fantasy story, that is.
From the author of The Lord of The Rings trilogy, and with the same crew behind their film adaptations, the final instalment in a trilogy of adaptations, The Battle of the Five Armies, is set to be released on 12th December.
Although they are all based on the same, single book, The Hobbit trilogy of films began with An Unexpected Journey in 2012, followed with The Desolation of Smaug in 2013, and is set to conclude at the end of this year.
Again directed by Peter Jackson, the final instalment will focus on the final third of The Hobbit book, as the dwarves attempt to reclaim their homeland of Erebor.
“I will not die like this, clawing for life… If this is to end in fire, then we will all burn together!”
The second instalment in Peter Jackson‘s trilogy of adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s classic fantasy novel, The Hobbit, The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) after escaping the Misty Mountains, accompanied by the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) to The Lonely Mountain. As their epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor comes to an end, Bilbo and the dwarves must finally face the enormous and powerful dragon, Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), and find the treasured Arkenstone.
Continue reading “Book v Film: The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug”
The second instalment in Peter Jackson‘s trilogy of adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s classic fantasy novel, The Hobbit, The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) after escaping the Misty Mountains, accompanied by the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) to The Lonely Mountain. As their epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor comes to an end, Bilbo and the dwarves must finally face the enormous and powerful dragon, Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), and find the treasured Arkenstone.
Continue reading “Film Review: The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug”
“Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay… small acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I am afraid… and he gives me courage.”
Prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy and set sixty years before, Peter Jackson returns behind the camera to direct one of 2012’s most anticipated films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first instalment of a three-part film adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s 1937 novel, The Hobbit. Focusing on the character of young Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), he is chosen by Gandalf (Ian McKellen) to accompany thirteen dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), on an ‘unexpected’ quest to reclaim their stolen mountain home, the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, from a dragon named Smaug.
Continue reading “Book v Film: The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey”
Prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy and set sixty years before, Peter Jackson returns behind the camera to direct one of 2012’s most anticipated films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first instalment of a three-part film adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s 1937 novel, The Hobbit. Focusing on the character of young Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), he is chosen by Gandalf (Ian McKellen) to accompany thirteen dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), on an ‘unexpected’ quest to reclaim their stolen mountain home, the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, from a dragon named Smaug.
Continue reading “Film Review: The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey”
“Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway.”
Written by English author J. R. R. Tolkien and originally published in 1937, The Hobbit is a children’s fantasy set in a time “Between the Dawn of Færie and the Dominion of Men”. Centring around the character of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, who is sent on a quest by the wizard Gandalf, alongside Thorin and his band of dwarves, to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and its vast treasure from the dragon Smaug.
On their journey, Bilbo and the dwarves encounter numerous creatures, including trolls, goblins, and rock-throwing giants, as well as elves, gigantic eagles, and a strange creature called Gollum. Through Rivendell, over the Misty Mountains, and through the black forest of Mirkwood, the story comes to an end as dwarves, men and elves must band together in the Battle of Five Armies.
(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)
Another new image has been released, debuted by The Los Angeles Times earlier this month, for Peter Jackson‘s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, featuring Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins with his sword named Sting.
An Unexpected Journey is the first of two films to be adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which sees Jackson return as director, whilst also serving as producer and co-writer as well.
2012 has only just begun, and we’re already talking about some of the amazing films that are set to be released over the next year. With many anticipated films that have already been released in the US that we are yet to see, to the many Marvel films that we are frantically waiting for, we won’t be short of great films to put on the ‘to see’ list. Let’s not forget Peter Jackon’s The Hobbit as well, of course.
So, films of 2012, assemble! Here’s a list of what to look forward to this year, and also a few that you may want to avoid.
(Written for BritScene)
With the release of the first trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey earlier this week, director Peter Jackson has released a brand-new production video from the set in New Zealand, and a new image of Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and four behind-the-scenes photos have also been put online over the past few days.
Continue reading “New Image, Behind The Scenes Photos and Video for ‘The Hobbit’”
With the release of Peter Jackon’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey earlier today, I’ve written a cast list so we know who to expect in this epic two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien‘s novel, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
(Written for BritScene)
Warner Bros. Pictures has released the first trailer for Peter Jackson‘s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey online today. Not only is the trailer brilliant, but there’s also a lot of British actors in this, and we already can’t wait to see it.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first of a two-part series of films to be adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien‘s novel of the same name, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Jackson, director of The Lord of the Rings, returns as director and also serves as producer and co-writer.
Continue reading “First Trailer & Poster for ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’”
Read, Watch & Drink Coffee 