HOBBIT NEWS

Roll Sound, Roll Camera and Action on The Hobbit

The Hobbit is in production in New Zealand, and filming at all the original sound stages that The Lord of The Rings filmed on. Just like LOTR's did, The Hobbit makes everything as real as possible. So all actors go through a training bootcamp for horses. In the video below you will see what type of team it takes to bring something like this to the silver screen. The movie will be broken up into two parts. The films will follow Bilbo Baggins and his friends on a journey to reclaim the treasure taken by the dragon Smaug.

The equine actors in The LOTR's movies gave superb performances. The trainers worked very hard to bring the characters to life that J.R.R Tolkien created, like Shadowfax and Bergo. The Hobbit will hopefully do the same as Peter Jackson has decided to reprieve his role as Director along with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens to write it. At one point Guillermo del Toro was set to direct it, but now he is co-writing it with the girls. All the original cast will reprieve their roles, except for Martin Freeman who takes the title role of Bilbo Baggins. Ian McKellen returns as the great Gandalf the Grey, and Kate Blanchett will return as Galadriel. Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Orlando Bloom, and Christopher Lee will all return to play their original characters. Ian Holm who played Bilbo in the LOTR films will make an appearance as old Bilbo in the Hobbit.

The Dwarves are played by Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield), Ken Stott (Balin), Graham McTavish (Dwalin), William Kircher (Bifur) James Nesbitt (Bofur), Stephen Hunter (Bombur), Rob Kazinsky (Fili), Aidan Turner (Kili), Peter Hambleton (Gloin), John Callen (Oin), Jed Brophy (Nori), Mark Hadlow (Dori) and Adam Brown (Ori). Jeffrey Thomas and Mike Mizrahi also join the cast as Dwarf Kings Thror and Thrain.

Movie is set to release for the first installment in December 2012 and will be in 3D

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=76430

HORSES TO WATCH FOR

The Prequel to The Wizard of Oz

Oz, The Great and Powerful follows in the footsteps of Wicked. We get to go before Dorthy hit the yellow brick road in her red shoes and see how the Wizard of Oz really came upon the kingdom of Oz. The film will take us back to when Oz was a Circus wrangler in Omaha. When a balloon accident brings him to the world of Oz. This is where he gets mistaken as a know-it-all and labeled the Wizard of Oz.

Walt Disney will bring this prequel to life. James Franco is set to play the infamous Oz, and Mila Kunis will play the witch Theodora. Late Spiderman director Sam Raimi is set to direct it. Michelle Williams is also casted in the film and will play Glinda the Good Witch and Rachel Weisz will play Evanora. Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp were both offered the roles in the early stages but eventually they went with Franco.

Although filming hasn't started and no set stills yet this is a film to watch for some equine actors. Like the Wizard of Oz there was the infamous Horse of a different color. He played a role that isn't forgotten by the Equine actor fans.

FILMS TO WATCH FOR

JONAH HEX

Based on the legendary Graphic novel of the mysterious Jonah Hex. The movie centers around a last resort gunslingin bounty hunter, who has been given an ultimatum that he can't refuse. His life and history as it appears is dipped with myth and legend. his only real human connestion is with the beautiful Megan Fox who plays the brothel, ass kickin chick, who has a history of scars as well.

You will expect tons of western horses in this film, but not your typical western with cowboys and Indians. Jonah Hex has a way of doing things and they aren't your everyday pistol shooting Cowboy. Head Horse Wrangler is the ledgenary Rusty Hendrickson. He has worked on a multitude of horse films all the way from Dances with Wolves to Seabiscuit. Look forward to a unique comic book western.

The Eagle of the Ninth

This is a film that I'm really excited for. Based on the novel of the same name, set in the dangerous world of second-century Britain. 20 years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the Scotland Mountains, Marcus Aquila played by Channing Tatum, goes to solve this mysterious disappearance. His Father was the commander of the Ninth, so it seems to be more of a personal mission. This is a mission/journey film as Roman Knights enter into a world of savage tribes.

As horses go I have only heard of a little on the film, but there will be some fight scenes, and Channing will be riding and fighting. How I feel about that is undetermined. Until I see him I will not put it past him on his capability on riding, so we'll see.

Horses to Watch Out For

Horses in Centurion

Violent battle scenes means daring horse stunts, and a film set in the breathtaking Scottish highlands means scottish breed horses.

Centurion is set during the war between Roman soldiers and Pict tribesmen during the 2nd century Roman conquest of Britain. Michael Fassbender stars as Quintus Dias, Roman centurion and son of a legendary gladiator who leads a group of soldiers on a raid of a Pict camp to rescue a captured general played by Dominic West. The son of the Pict leader is murdered during the raid, and the Romans find themselves hunted by a seemingly unstoppable group of the Pict’s most vicious and skilled warriors, led by a beautiful and deadly tracker (Kurylenko), who are hell bent on revenge.

From the stills it looks like some risky horses stunts, that I hope are done tastefully. What most people don't know is that to do a horse scene it is a thoughtfully choreographed thing. When it's not done properly and safly, that is when you start losing horses physically and mentally.

What gives me hope for this film is that if you look at the still below you can see a wrangler holding the horse while the actor delivers his performance. A camera can cut around that and make it look like the horse is in action and fighting with his soilder rider.

Neil Marshall is the Director, and he ahs Doomsday, the Descent, and now the Centurion.