Weta's special effects stun expert

Stuff.co.nz ^ | 20th May

[maquiladora]

ping

[HairOfTheDog]

I am glad that Weta is getting recognition for their cutting edge work here. Hopefully they will have the same success now that Industrial Light and Magic did after Star Wars. (IL&M is still the all-time coolest name for a company)

So how DID they do the scene with Gandalf and Bilbo inside the front door in Hobbiton?

I understand how most of the rest was done... small character doubles were used if faces were not shown, and the hobbits were either on their knees or on a lower floor if their feet were not going to be shown. I saw a split screen where Bilbo and Gandalf were in the kitchen (the rattling table is the giveaway when Gandalf bumps it) BUT...

In the scene I am Gandalf is standing at the door and Bilbo walks up and takes his hat and staff. You can see his face and his feet for the whole scene, and he is only 3-4 feet tall. It doesn't LOOK split screen. Is it? Anyone know?

[HairOfTheDog]

I just watched it again. The reason I don't think it is split screen is that Bilbo actually walks away in front of Gandalf. He is not restricted to one side of the screen.

[maquiladora]

What about the scene when Frodo jumps into the cart and into Gandalf's arms, that one and the Bilbo/Gandalf staff and scene are the two that really impressed me.

Cave troll was great too, as was the Balrog (even though I wasn't too impressed the 1st time I saw it,).

One of the most awe-inspiring moments for me was when the camera swoops around Saruman standing on Orthanc as he calls a storm to form over the mountains. The huge sky filled with broiling clouds....incredible...my jaw hit the floor like a 20lb weight.

[HairOfTheDog]

And the whole Saruman top of Orthanc scene was blue screen/CGI background I think....

I think the Frodo leaping scene was a small double... not sure... gee, will have to watch it again to be sure!

[HairOfTheDog]

Cave troll was great too, as was the Balrog (even though I wasn't too impressed the 1st time I saw it,)

That's interesting... What failed to impress you about the Balrog the first time around? - I thought he was fantastic! - Great huge fiery demon (wing wings!) I felt the heat and fire when he roared. He was exactly what I pictured in my head. What was your vision of him before the movie?

[2Jedismom]

gee, will have to watch it again to be sure!

I feel the need to watch it today! It finally started raining, a nice steady rain, good for the fertilizer. I think a bowl of popcorn and a nice blanket on the couch sounds good...after school is done of course!

[maquiladora]

I don't know, but maybe I was expecting something different, something more....I can't explain it. It just wasn't vivid and memorable enough for me. There's a huge surging build-up of tension that explodes in Moria, the Cave Troll, the Orcs, the crumbling bridges...each more dramatic than the previous so I kind of braced myself for some real eyecandy, but when the Balrog actually entered I sort of just felt "Is that it?". The only two things that impressed be was when the Balrog roared and when it flashed it's whip around the place, but the creature itself seemed too shadowy and ill-defined at times to be truely memorable.

I came out of the cinema, overjoyed, but when somebody asked me what the Balrog looked like, I couldn't remember.

After seeing it multiple times now, yes, I agree that it is stunning, but yet not jaw dropping.

[maquiladora]

What was your vision of him before the movie?

Well, even though the movie Balrog is just as the description is in the book, I always had a slightly different vision. I imagined it to be gigantic, a huge, towering demonic figure that would fill the screen. I also expected it to look more physical and less vague and shadowy.

[Penny1]

Hmmm...I am hankering to watch it too--is it time yet for another chat-viewing?

[HairOfTheDog]

Could be... could be! - any night other than tonight!

[maquiladora]

Viewing it totally from memory of course, we don't have those illegal bootleg videos, oh no sir. Photographic memory.
;-)

[HairOfTheDog]

yes, hehehehe - photographic memory! ;~D

[Restorer]

I was disappointed by the balrog. I think it was the horns or whatever they were. I expected a more man-like and size figure with its menace more implied, I guess.

[maquiladora]

The Cave Troll more than made up for it.

I can't wait to see the newly winged Nazgul in the coming movies.

[LinnieBeth]

Do you have a copy of the movie?
A couple of you seem to be able to watch it over and over. I've only seen it one time, and by the time I finished the book - a hurried read - it had left our town and I had to drive into Atlanta to see it. The movie was so overwhelming, and a little confusing for someone new to LotR that I really need to see it again.
I have fallen in love with the Soundtrack, and think that knowing the music better will help the next time I see the movie. But, is there somewhere online that you can review it, maybe even like a VCR that you can stop and rewind??

[Texaggie79]

[JenB]

Hehehe, that's great! Almost makes up for the time I was forced to watch "Dude where's my car". Almost. Did you do that yourself?

[Texaggie79]

Saw it one late night when it was on cable. I thought it would be like Dumb and Dumber (my favorite comedy), but it absolutely sucked. That should have been for 4 year olds.