The Hunt for Gollum & (NEW) Born of Hope movies

[Hun200kmh]

I don't usually visit this section of the forums, but since I'm what you might consider a "Tolkien fan" (books read and re-read more times than I can count, PJ's movies watched many times also), I came here to see if there was a thread and some discussion about this absolutely amazing fan-made movie.

It has been released last sunday, online only and free. I'm still puzzled by how these guys pulled it off, considering the many issues about intellectual property that surround Tolkien's work. I guess no one took them seriously and the idea of a free litle movie made by fans didn't raise any eyebrows from New LIne, Peter Jackson, Weta Digital, Tolkien family, Saul Zaentz, whatever.

This movie portrays a series of events that isn't exactly (as many say) a "prequel" to Fellowship of the Ring, because it shows us something Gandalf did after sending Bilbo away from the Shire (and from the Ring) and while it still wanted to establish that the Ring was Sauron's ONE Ring. To do it, he went to Minas Tirith (as PJ's movies show), but he also sent Aragorn to hunt the previous ring owner - Gollum - because he wanted to know, before the "enemy", how, when and where Gollum became the ring-bearer.

Anyway, let the movie do the talking. It's a +/- 40 minutes movie, and its quality is stunning considering that nobody got paid to work for it.

The trailers:

TRAILER 1




TRAILER 2



The movie is only available online, as a stream (although I bet interested people will find a way to store it in their computers ), and I'm not sure if it will remain available for long, I think many lawyers in both sides of the Atlantic are now studying what can be done to shut it down and prevent other "fan movies" like this from being made.

Movie here. In HD, no less. I saw it last night with my laptop connected to my big LCD TV screen, and HD is really HD (not the best out there, but I think my graphics card is to blame for that. Still ... very good).

www.thehuntforgollum.com

 

[bergauk]

I just finished watching it. While I'm not a huge LOTR fan, that was very watchable and I enjoyed it. I think the disclaimer at the beginning and end make sure that the video stays up. Also. Check out the view count on it! Thats nothing but good publicity for LOTR.

 

[Danoff]

Watched it last night with my wife - who is a LOTR fan and an intellectual property attorney (that covers copyright). Rest assured this is copyright infringement and will most certainly be removed by any of the large number of individuals and companies that could claim infringement. Certainly New Line Cinema, the Tolkien heirs, possibly Peter Jackson (if he retains any rights), probably Howard Shore, whoever wrote the soundtrack for Requiem for a Dream, and most likely many others. There is no way to argue fair use in this case. If you want to understand fair use of a copyrighted material, check this video out.



As for the film - well, I can't really say it was good. I mean, it was suprisigly good at looking and feeling like the original trilogy. But the plot didn't line up well with the movies/books (at all), and it seemed more like an excuse to dress up like Aragorn and kill some orcs than anything else.

That being said, I didn't hate it, I wasn't laughing at it, and I certainly didn't want my 40 minutes back. I was fascinated by how good a job they were able to do, and how much money (resources, whatever) was put into something that is so clearly illegal (unless of course they already have permission/license from the necessary parties). I'm glad I watched it, and I would suggest that others do the same - but not because it's good in and of itself. More because it's interesting.

 

[Hun200kmh]

About copyright infringement, the director says that Tolkien Enterprises agreed to the movie if it was kept at a strict non-profit one:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8022623.stm

About you saying that the plot didn't line up well with the movies/books, I don't completely agree.

In the books, indeed Gandalf sends Aragorn out to capture Gollum, and when he does Gandalf interrogates him. Gollum is then kept captive of the Mirkwood elves (legola's father elven kingdom) and it's only in the night before the assembly of the council of Elrond that they both (Gandalf and Aragorn) are told that Gollum has escaped.

There's one flaw, however. In the beggining of the movie (Bree's conversation between Gandalf and Aragorn, at the Prancing Pony) Gandalf clearly states that the ring is Sauron's ring. However, in the books, when he sends Aragorn to capture Gollum he is still uncertain about that.


EDIT - Soundtrack available for free also, you can download it here: http://thehuntforgollum.s3.amazonaws.com/soundtrack.htm

 

[Hun200kmh]

I don't think this second "amateur" movie based on the LOTR trilogy (and Tolkien's work about Middle Earth) was ever mentioned in this forum, and I don't think a new thread to talk about it is needed.

http://www.bornofhope.com/

Here we have another tiny segment of the centuries-lasting tale told by Tolkien (not exactly "told", we just get glimpses of it). The tale of Arathorn and Gilraen, father and mother of Aragorn.

TRAILER
[YOUTUBEHD]4e5zCGyru6c[/YOUTUBEHD]


AND ... MOVIE HERE

http://www.bornofhope.com/