‘Cine’cism

So like Isildur walking away from Mount Doom, Guillermo Del Toro has recently left his duties with the One Ring unfulfilled by walking away from “The Hobbit” (I have no idea what that analogy means). 

Del Toro has been working on the project for two years now, and filming has not yet even begun. But still, there is a 2012 expected release date for Part 1 of the “Lord of the Rings” prequel. Del Toro’s commitment was for three years, and by the time both films are completed, he’d have banked six. 

And Peter Jackson won’t take his place. Both will finish writing the screenplay and are committed to its success, but they have more interests at stake than another massive epic in New Zealand.

No matter which way it’s spun, this is horrible news for the “LOTR” franchise. I’m looking at these numbers of how much time has already been invested in this project, and my impression is less than optimistic.

I mean, six years? Name one other movie we’ve ever talked about six years before it was supposed to come out. Even though it was in production, I don’t ever remember reading news about “Avatar” back in 2003. 

And what could a director leaving a project possibly mean? Even if you didn’t care for Del Toro, he’s already invested his full vision into this. He’s spent two years designing characters, costumes and effects that will all be an integral part in the final product, and any director that could come in to pick up where he left off simply wouldn’t have the same mindset. 

Perhaps Alfonso Cuaron could do the job, as he’s another wizard of fantasy and his friendship with Del Toro puts the two on the same wavelength. But it can’t possibly be the same.

Going back to “Avatar,” what if James Cameron left the project open for someone else two years in (although, some of you may argue that would’ve been a good thing)? I similarly imagine “A.I.” would’ve been a vastly different film had Stanley Kubrick been alive to finish it.

I’m equally shocked that not a moment of this epic has been filmed yet, but there is still a set release date. How in the world will they crank this out? MGM and New Line no longer have the capacity or the money to do so. 

This also does not bode well for the continually suffering studio system in Hollywood, if the majors cannot even keep their most precious (no pun intended) franchises afloat (so don’t hold out for the future of James Bond, either). 

My point is this: With all that goes into filmmaking, it’s amazing any movie ever gets made. So many films are never able to find an audience even before they’re made, and any movie with the string of hiccups “The Hobbit” has had would be canned in an instant.

I’m as hopeful for the continuation of this franchise as anyone, but the only reason this movie is still alive is because of the pitiful optimism any fans still have for it.
It’s time to let this one die.