The Hobbit

[Dark Horse]

Just got back. What a crock of sh*t that film was. f*cking annoying slob dwarfs f*cking about doing nothing for three hours. What a piss poor film. Literally no different from LotR only shittier.

My reasoning is the same with LotR. Why don't they just sent those giant eagles in in the first place? They seem to be the apex predators of Middle Earth. Just twaddle ripoff boring sh*t designed to milk the fans. Even the Gollum bits were pathetically drawn out and cringeworthy. Plus I saw it in 3D and it f*cking sucked fat hairy monkey bollocks. Anything that moved was blurred to sh*t. I couldn't even make out the character's faces. Grrr f*cking grrr. Hated it, and I really like LotR (even though the Hobbits were blatantly closet homosexuals).

[Chopper]

Still can't wait to see it. I much preferred the EE LOTR as it was closer to the book, I'm hoping the Hobbit is the same.

[The Baron]

There is a total lack of chickage in Middle Earth, it has to be said. Yep, I've long said they should have just gone to Mount Doom by Giant Eagle!

My biggest gripe is the dread lord Sauron is, well, a bit crap. What did he achieve? He captured Osgiliath, hypnotized Saruman and burned a few fields. Whoo.

[Chopper]

http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Sauron

[Thundershot]

http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Sauron

Now, now, Mark... there's absolutely no need to go 'all Sundance' on our ass

[action-figure-supplies]

For sword and sorcery I'd recommend

1) David Gemmell - Specifically the Drenai novels
2) Joe Abercrombie as the new up and coming king

As for Pratchett anything with Corporal Carrott or Rincewind is cry with laughter time

Adrian

For the record absolutely loved the Hobbitt

I agree about David Gemmel, the Drenai novels are great. Unfortunately he used the same basic premise for most of his series so they get a bit cookie-cutter after a while. I'll have to give Joe Abercrombie a try, it's been ages since I've read any new fantasy.

And Pratchett, the Watch novels are the best but you can't go wrong starting at the beginning with The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic as they set up most of the main elements of the Discworld and Rincewind the Wizzard is quality.

[The Baron]

True, after those two you can pretty much jump in anywhere. I have a soft spot for Granny Weatherwax as well. Rincewind has always been my least favourite character to be honest, but luckily all of his later books feature the Unseen University faculty who are priceless. Death is great too.

Sad to say he's lost his edge since getting Alzheimers though. Snuff was poor, it has all the right ingredients for an epic tale, but the execution is all wrong, nothing happens for at least 100 pages. I harbour hopes of an epic finale featuring every single Discworld character in one, but I doubt he has it in him.

I met him too when I was 12, Mort had just been published but he'd only then started to become popular. He did a talk at my school which my mum organised then later drove us both to the pub. I remember he had the sax piece form Blade Runner playing in his car. Lovely chap, very gentle and affable.

I'm currently halfway through the first Game of Thrones book. I love the show but the book knocks it for six, it's so rich. They did a fantastic job with the show but really it should have had a cast of thousands, immense armies and CGI cities galore, but the budget would have been immense. Has anybody read the comic published by Dynamite?

[The Baron]

the Hobbits were blatantly closet homosexuals.

[Chopper]

Another set of books I loved was the Tripods trilogy, by John Christopher. The serries was brilliant but the books were better. The only thing I've been reading of late is Ayn Rand.

[action-figure-supplies]

The Rincewind books do seem to have the best supporting cast imo, Death, Twoflower, and of course The Luggage. Going Postal is the latest book I've read and that was excellent but I've heard Snuff and Dodger aren't so good. There's a few books of his that have dipped in quality from time to time that start poorly but really drag you in about a third of the way in.

I've met Pratchett a few times, at signings and I was lucky enough to go to the first Discworld convention when it was held next to a pig farm near Wincanton. I won a prize in the art competition (a piece of dwarf battle bread) for my painting of Great A'tuin.

I'm also going to try the Game Of Thrones books, I'm usually put off by epic 7 or 8 book stories though which is why I never started the Wheel of Time series.