Tag Archives: The Hobbit

Boxing Day film releases

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Traditionally the busiest day in cinema, Boxing Day usually features releases of some of the year’s most anticipated films. This year continues the institution with at least seven releases slated for the day.

The-Hobbit-The-Battle-Of-The-Five-Armies-Movie-Poster-Wallpaper-1024x768[1]Probably the most anticipated is the final (for now?) Middle Earth based films, with the third of the Hobbit trilogy The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies. Starting with the second film’s cliffhanger of Smaug the Dragon’s awakening and vengeance upon Laketown, and of course, as the title states, it culminates with the infamous battle of five armies at the base of Erebor. Fans of the book are divided over director Peter Jackson’s significant additions and deviations from the original text, however given how popular the films have been, I expect that most are pretty forgiving!

big hero 6Big Hero 6 is a Disney animated film, inspired by the Marvel comic of the same name. A Disney animated film, this one is expected to be popular with children and adults alike. Featuring a likable yet unlikely hero, in the form of homemade health robot, and follows his adventures with his creators siblings and friends.

The other films scheduled for Boxing day have no ties to books, however no doubt will keep the candy-bar busy include the next installment in the popular Night at the Museum franchise, Aussie film The Water Diviner and the British biography Mr Turner.

What films are you looking forward to seeing these holidays?
Don’t forget that the library has all of the most recent DVD releases and you can reserve your copy on our catalogue.

More books-to-film 2014

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2014 is shaping up to be a huge year for books that have transitioned to film. In January I wrote about a few that were due early in the piece, most have since been released, but there’s still over 20 more that are scheduled for the next few months.

The-Hobbit-The-Battle-Of-The-Five-Armies-Movie-Poster-Wallpaper-1024x768[1]Arguably the most popularly awaited is the final installment of the adventures of hobbit Bilbo Baggins, titled The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies.  Acclaimed director Peter Jackson’s expanded story is bound to culminate in some fantastic imagery and character fun, it’s grown much larger and somewhat darker than the children’s book upon which it was based. It’ll be interesting to see if any further fan service occurs in the form of LOTR characters who appear who are not actually present in the book. The changes made by Jackson and his crew usually do add value however, and it should be an action packed and emotional finale. The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies is due for release on December 26.

dark-places-book-coverGillian Flynn has had a massive year, with both of her popular books Dark Places (2009) and Gone Girl (2012) due for release in coming months. Charlize Theron and Christina Hendricks star in Dark Places, the 1980’s set story about the survivor of a massacre in a small US rural town, thought to be perpetrated by a Satanic cult. The bestseller Gone Girl, about a dysfunctional family, narrated by unreliable accounts is due for release on October 2 starring Ben Affleck and Rosamunde Pike.

If-I-StayAnother 2009 novel to hit the big screen is Gaye Forman’s If I Stay, a young adult novel that deals with some difficult themes. The main character Mia, played by Chloe Grace Mortiz (a significant change from her previous character of Hit Girl!) is comatose after a near fatal accident, reliving her life and possible future life depending on whether she chooses to live or to let go. If I Stay is due out in a couple of weeks on August 28.

Stay tuned for more books-to-film next week!