So I was right about the day this would happen but wrong about him appearing alone. I should have known he would have Orcrist. :D
As usual, you can click to enlarge, and the still is from TORn.
The Thorin Character Study
TheOneRing.net has uploaded their latest Hobbitin5, and yep, we finally get Thorin’s study:
If you want a thumbnail of that information, then the Hobbitin5 is the way to go. But for something more in-depth yet not overwhelming, Mulubinba has a great series. Just scroll down to “Posts related to Thorin Oakenshield” on the right sidebar.
From Cats to Dwarfs — New Interview
A new interview with Richard Armitage is in Project Magazine (issue #8), but you can only get it on iPad. He talks about playing a Nazi. Makes me want to check out the biography he mentions and a whole lot more. :D Thankfully, for those us who haven’t bought an iPad yet, RichardArmitageNet.Com has just uploaded, and you can find it here.
A few of my favorite photos from the interview:
Last image courtesy of Iz4blue.
RA in Specs — a Theory
You can thank bccmee for this public service post. ;-)
Several of us dig Richard Armitage in glasses, and the obvious reason might be that glasses usually make someone appear more intelligent. Oh, I’m sure that’s part of it — as if he needed that help! LOL! But if I let my mind relax and think of what it is that viscerally affects me when I see him in glasses, I boil it down to two things: 1) it’s like his eyes are magnified to better see who’s checking him out, and 2) he’s sort of hidden from the general public as someone hot, so he’s still ours in a sense. Ours=you and me, the early fans.
Okay, I’ve revealed quite enough about my thinking on this, and I hope SO never reads this blog. LOL! Good thing I’m anonymous or I might be ashamed of exhibiting a little CWS. Do I need an emoticon here so you realize I’m teasing? Too bad I don’t have a clown handy.
You can also thank Servetus for this post. Her analysis is rubbing off on me. Unfortunately, her prose is not. :D
Screencaps courtesy of bccmee, RichardArmitageNet.Com and my stash.
note: I intentionally left out pictures of him in sunglasses. Of course anyone would find those pictures hot. It takes someone special to love the glasses. ;-)
I’m Here for the Bad Guy
edit: this post has quickly earned the ripple tag thanks to bccmee. Check out kadamanja’s and Calexora’s posts. :D
The teasing about ‘Captain America’ and specifically Heinz Kruger has begun at my house. My son will go see the movie with his friends because quite simply there is not much else to see, but when I mentioned seeing it, there were some guffaws from the family. SO asked, “and what will you do once Armbruster’s part is done? Will you actually stay for the rest of the movie?” Our daughter, who is also an RA fan, chimed in, “It’s Armitage, Dad. His name is Armitage, and I’m sure Mom and I will gut it up and stay for the rest of the movie. You know how she loves Tommy Lee Jones, and of course I’ll make the sacrifice of watching Chris Evans with his shirt off. :D” SO chuckled, “No, Tommy Lee may not do it this time. She’s there for the bad guy. And who’s Chris Evans?”
Yeah, who’s Chris Evans? :D
If that’s not a picture to fangirl over, I don’t know what is. LOL!
I also like Stanley Tucci, who’s playing Dr. Erskine but not a bad guy in this.
I understand he gets torched by Heinz Kruger.
Then there are other badasses to consider. Truman Capote?
Oh well, maybe Tommy Lee will make it worthwhile just because he looks like such a badass.
Some screencaps are from my stash, the top one I got from bccmee and the rest I’m not sure about.
And if you’re confused about RA’s part as Heinz Kruger, check out Musa’s post.
Can’t Win for Losing
For those who aren’t familiar with that saying, it simply means that someone just can’t get anywhere with something or someone no matter what they may try. The more I read from some of the Tolkien fans (key word is some), the more I realize Richard Armitage would not get very far with them simply because he doesn’t look exactly like Thorin from the book. Perhaps the views of some will change after the movies come out, but really, does it matter? That’s not rhetorical. I’m asking you if it matters what a small group of people think by comparison to the legion of fans these movies will amass? And of course I’m going to give my opinion as well. :D
I say this with all due respect to the Tolkien fans. They make up a very small number of people who will watch The Hobbit movies, and when you consider the ones who are negative, the number gets much smaller. So it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that these people have little influence, and certainly don’t have lots to do with the cash flowing into the pockets of everyone involved with the production. Mercenary as that sounds, it’s true. Therefore I’m not concerned about the negative comments from some of them wanting to see Richard Armitage removed as Thorin. It’s immaterial what they think with respect to the big picture (pardon the pun).
Also, Peter Jackson is just a nice guy who accords them respect as fellow Tolkien fans, and certainly most of them are just fine and even great. I’ve enjoyed reading what they have to say. It’s fascinating, and I’ve learned a lot. I’m happy to give them their due. More than happy to do it! But the ones who are territorial have got to hang onto something. They’re Tolkien experts b’god and we need to bow to that! ;-) Candidly, I don’t mind deferring to someone who really does know more than I do about something, but I happen to have studied Richard Armitage, the actor, so I’m not going to rollover on their assessment of his abilities. I guess we’ll be at an impasse on this, but I hope it’s a friendly impasse. I know it is from my quarter.
By the way, I hope as Richard Armitage fans that we’re not guilty of the same territorial attitudes about RA. I’ll admit feeling that way at times as I realize there is an elephant in the room — his imminent rise in popularity. Did I just admit that on an open blog? Yeah, I guess I did. Armitage Protection Mode is alive and well here. LOL!
Note: I should go back and read what these Tolkien fans said about alterations in the other Tolkien movies Jackson has directed just to see how they were before and after. Might be interesting reading.
I did contact one of the Tolkien sites (who shall remain nameless) to see if the admins there would talk on blog about any advice for the deluge of RA fans entering their world. I got nothin’, but then I think I committed an unpardonable sin — misspelling Tolkien’s name as Tolkein. Yeah, I know, I should be beaten for such a sacrilege. :D
I really need a picture after that. Maybe RA with a beard and long hair?
Yes, that’s a beard! It is in my book.
Okay, I’m going to get serious, and seriously, I hope some of you don’t sweat the criticism. Arrogant as it sounds, it’s going to be like I said here.
Net: if this is losing for RA, phew! I’d like to lose this way.
Screencap courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.Com
This Makes Me Think I’m Insane
The new Captain America trailer is out, and no, there is nothing really new in it except Steve Rogers is in a taxi, and there’s a better picture of Heinz Kruger on the ground. Wooot! Did I just say woot? Someone please slap me. Oh never mind, I’m posting the picture ’cause it’s too good not to post, and I figure since we’re fangirling today, I need to really indulge myself in it, so I can be more sensible the rest of the time. Pardon my insanity. How many posts does this make today? No, don’t tell me, and yes, I know you’re not even reading this but looking at this wonderful picture:
Here’s another one (bccmee made into an avatar earlier) but I guess I haven’t seen one this clear:
If you don’t already know what’s in his hand, and you’re dying to know, here it is:
And if you’re so anal, you don’t want to miss any milliseconds, you can watch the trailer and make your own screencaps :D
Screencaps are mine and as always you can click on the picture for a larger version, which you can save.
edit: I think bccmee and I were screencapping our little hearts out, and it is a lot of fun. :D
Dear Mr. Jackson — Part 2
[edit: yes, yes, dear god, people, I know he’s a sir and not a mister. Do you need a job?]
The recent peek at Thorin’s look has many of us believing Peter Jackson “is onto us.” Yep, he knows. :D And I’ve always thought he was smart — well, at least in the last 12 years, and now I know he is. He has not created Thorin’s costume in a way that obliterates Richard Armitage, which frankly, compels a thank you note:
Dear Mr. Jackson,
You are one clever guy. Even though the picture is blurry, we can tell that Richard is still going to be Richard enough to smolder sufficiently for our fangirl hearts to be content. Of course if he had been under prosthetics and gray hair, I would have been fine with it. Yes, I’m serious. I trust your judgment completely — at least when it comes to making big budget movies of Tolkien’s works. You’re the bomb when it comes to that, and your latest revelation even outdid what I was anticipating, which was already greatness. No, I do not make a habit of this much fawning, but well, I’m tickled at what I saw and had to thank someone, and obviously, you’re the one.
I think there is also a crowd with me who wishes to thank you as well.
Sincerely,
One of Richard’s fans who is starting to have a great fondness for a certain Kiwi. :D
P.S. Why do I think you’re a Robin Hood BBC watcher? ;-)
If Peter Jackson keeps this up, my letters to him may become quite a series. First letter here.
edit:
Oh, my reminiscing heart can’t help but post this:
Thorin’s Face
So Entertainment Weekly has posted three new pictures from the set of ‘The Hobbit’ but certainly the one we’re most interested in is this one:
and here it is close up if a little blurry:
Entertainment Weekly article is here.
Me thinks Thorin was channeling a little Guy. And talk about rippling?! Yeah, I think we’re all rippling really well today. That was like a boulder. :D
I Have A Question for the German Fans
For those who may not know it, I was born and reared in the U.S., and for most of my life the Nazis have been a source of ridicule. The lion’s share of the ridicule has been serious with an occasional straying into the humorous ala “The Producers.”
I’ve gone right along with all of it, but now that I interact more regularly with German fans and especially now that Richard Armitage will be playing Heinz Kruger, a Nazi, I find myself being much more sensitive to what you all may find offensive. I was trying to figure this out on my own, but I know that many of you have no problem sharing, so I’m asking you to share your thoughts about this. How do you feel about the Nazis being continually held up as the bad guys? Do you dissociate yourself from them, or do you ever take any of the negative comments personally?
Another reason I ask is because I’m originally from the Southern part of the United States — the area formerly known as the Confederacy (aka Rebels) during our Civil War in the mid 1800s. Many derogatory comments are still made about the rebels and too often all Southerners are swabbed with the same brush that would lead others to believe we’re all racists and stupid. So I was wondering if sometimes you feel that all Germans are swabbed with having been Nazis. Oh, and just so you know, SO has a very strong German heritage. Momma and Papa are both of German descent and his grandparents spoke with a German accent.
Thanks for any input, and if this has already been adequately covered elsewhere, please let me know. I’m really interested in understanding your viewpoint.
Please feel free to send me an email if you would rather not comment. See “CONTACT ME” on the left sidebar.
RAFrenzy 
