Fantasy Book Club discussion

After re-reading the Hobbit for the discussion a while back, I got to thinking. IMDB has stated that the plan is two films based on the Hobbit. So my question is where are they making the film break? My friends and I have discussed it a little and we've come up with a few different spots in the storyline where they could have a break without destroying the desire for the second movie.

1. After Rivendell. I'm not on this wagon as much. I don't think enough happens before Rivendell to make that a good spot for the story to pause.

2. In the Mountain, right before or after we meet Gollum. To me this one is the most logical. We, the viewers will recognize Gollum from the trilogy and know that this is where Bilbo gets the ring but unless you've read the books you won't know how he gets it.

3. After the escape from the mines. Again, that's one that doesn't make as much sense to me. It feels...late.

Well? what do you all think? Do you like any of these ones or do you have different places entirely?

I think it would be good to close out the first film at that point where Bilbo escapes Gollum. To me, that whole encounter would make a great climax. You would leave plenty of story for the second movie too.

First film: Meeting the dwarves, the trolls, Rivendell, the Misty Mountains, Orcs, and Gollum.

Second film: Escaping the Orcs and Wargs, the Eagles, Beorn, Mirkwood, Spiders, Elves, Laketown, Smaug, Battle of 5 Armies.

That's a very good question. I was thinking maybe they could end the first movie after Beorn, when Gandalf leaves them, right before the spiders.

Chris wrote: "I think it would be good to close out the first film at that point where Bilbo escapes Gollum ..."

That leaves a great lot of action for the second film, besides it cuts in two the encounter with the goblins.

This is how I see it:
- For the first film, imagine an ending scene with the eagles flying away, leaving the company on a rock in the middle of nowhere.
- The second film then begins a little like the first, but here the unexpected party is at Beorn's place.

I like it that way, but that still leaves more than half of the book for the second part. I hope they don't cut too much of the story.

I had heard rumors that the movie for The Hobbit will cover additional material - that part of the first installment will pick up some of the backstory from the Silmarillion and lead into the Hobbit as we know it.

If true, that could be extremely exciting, if the integrity of the story isn't butchered.

I had also heard that it will also cover some of the time inbetween the Hobbit and LOTR, such as Aragorn's story and the things that were developing - return of Sauron to power, etc.

I definitely agree with Janny, that this will potentially be an excellent movie as long as they get it right.

I had also originally heard that the second movie was going to be a "bridging" movie to cover events between the Hobbit and LotR, but now they're saying that they're going to make the Hobbit - itself - span two movies.

Del Toro: "We’ve decided to have The Hobbit span the two movies, including the White Council and the comings and goings of Gandalf to Dol Guldur."
Jackson: "We decided it would be a mistake to try to cram everything into one movie. The essential brief was to do The Hobbit, and it allows us to make The Hobbit in a little more style, if you like, of the trilogy."

Of course, this is back from April, so maybe things have changed again?

What I'd heard came from a long tome ago as well. lol.

Whatever the movie is going to be, I'm excited to see it.