Tag: Richard Armitage

Reblog: North & South (BBC)

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I updated and posted my review of the minseries! 

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Daniela Denby-Ashe as Margaret Hale and Richard Armitage as John Thornton

Introduction 

Cotton, tea pouring, and firm handshakes NEVER looked SO good!  A very unlikely romance, labor union struggles, friendship across social classes, and other very “modern” themes are found in this timeless story (not unlike the work of Jane Austen).  However, unlike JA, Mrs. Gaskell delves into the lives of the poor/working class in Milton (a city VERY similar to Manchester) where she moved after she married.  I’m reading the novel, and this adaptation stays close to it.  If you haven’t seen this 2004 show yet, check out You Tube (under MissJaneAustenfan, a young Spanish woman who is ALSO crazy over period dramas).   

http://www.youtube.com/user/MissJaneAustenfan

Or you can buy the DVD (set of 2 discs) online or at your B&N store.  It’s worth it!

UPDATE: It’s now also on Netflix! 

 

Background, Setting, & Costumes  

The time period is AFTER that of JA- N&S is set during the…

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The Hobbit (2012)

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Thorin: [singing] Far over the misty mountains cold / To dungeons deep and caverns old
Dwarves: [singing] The pines were roaring on the height / The winds were moaning in the night / The fire was red, it flame spread / The trees like torches blazed with light…

The Hobbit poster featuring Richard Armitage and Martin Freeman

Well, I can honestly say this was the most anticipated film for me in 2012.  I saw it with my mom and little brother on New Year’s day (in Fishers, IN).  We saw the 2D, since none of us are fans of 3D.  Mom and I were most excited to see one of our favorite (British) actors, Richard Armitage, on the big screen for the first time.  The eyes and the voice are the same! 

Thorin: Loyalty, honor, a willing heart, I can ask no more than that.

Poster featuring Martin Freeman as Bilbo

Bilbo Baggins: I have… I have never used a sword in my life.
Gandalf: And I hope you never have to. But if you do, remember this: true courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.

We had seen Martin Freeman in the Sherlock series (BBC) and earlier in Love Actually, and thought he was a very fine actor as well.  (That Brit rom com is one of my little sister’s favorites.) 

Illustration of ThranduilActor Lee Pace

Lee Pace plays Thranduil, Legolas’ father, in two brief (yet crucial) moments in the film.  Unlike most of the cast, he’s an American. 

Luke Evans as The Bard and Orlando Bloom as Legolas - Entertainment Weekly magazine

Legolas (Orlando Bloom) will appear in the later films (so no worries, teen gals)!  There will also be a new (human) character, played by Luke Evans. 

Bilbo smoking pipe

FYI: Martin’s co-star in Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch, will provide voices for two characters in the later movies.  I thought he’d be good as an elf.  Elijah Wood is back, as are Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis (Gollum; second unit director), and the much beloved Gandalf, Ian McKellan.

Dwarves overtake Bag End

In the introduction to the story, we see old Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) and his young nephew/heir Frodo (Wood), in their cozy home in Hobbiton.  (For this prequel to The Lord of the Rings, Elijah’s 30 year old face was de-aged using computer technology.)  Bilbo is planning his birthday party and also putting the finishing touches on his memoirs.  He thinks back (60 years), and we transition from Holm to Freeman smoking a pipe outside Bag End.  The wizard dressed all in gray, Gandalf, comes to his door and mentions an adventure.  “No!  We don’t want any adventures here!” Bilbo exclaims.

Bilbo riding a pony

Gandalf: Home is now behind you. The world is ahead.

In time, the reluctant hobbit meets 13 dwarves (some young/inexperienced, some battle-hardened), who are on a quest “to claim their long forgotten gold” and their homeland, which was taken over by the dragon Smaug.  The group are lead by a displaced king, Thorin Oakenshield (Armitage). 

Still from the official trailer

These dwarves are nothing like Snow White’s friends- they love to drink (like hobbits), fight (get better with age), have a lot of pride, and are secretive in nature.  We learn why dwarves distrust the elves.  In this film, they uncover some elvish weapons, which they quickly adapt to using.  Bilbo finds a little sword, too. 

James Nesbitt as BofurAs Leo on BallyK

Fans of the Irish TV series Ballykissangel may recognize one dwarf, Bofur (James Nesbitt).  From 1996-1998, the Belfast-based actor played Leo, the big city journalist.  Bofur likes to have fun! 

Dean O'Gorman as Fili and Aidan Turner as Kili

Fili (Dean O’Gorman) and Kili (Aidan Turner) have been termed the “hot dwarves,” which Turner said makes him “cringe a little.”  LOL!  Since they are young dwarves, they are eager to see some fighting and contribute as much as they can.   

Galadriel and Gandalf

Galadriel: Why the Hafling?
Gandalf: Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay… small acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? That’s because I am afraid and it gives me courage.

Cate Blanchett as Galadriel

Cate’s part is not big, but she looks more beautiful than ever as Galadriel (The Lady of Light)!  She has a different sort of crown and a cool dress (with a long train, of course). 

Hugo Weaving as Elrond examines map

The company go to Rivendell, where Elrond (Hugo Weaving) helps the company by reading ancient dwarvish on a very important map.

Company meet The Goblin King

Orcs and trolls are different in The Hobbit than in the trilogy.  They are more developed; they also look different. 

Jed Brophy as Nori

One of the toughest orcs is now a dwarf- Jed Brophy (a New Zealand actor and skilled stuntman) plays Nori.  Even his eyebrows are braided! 

Gollum in his cave

Bilbo Baggins: Why don’t we have a game of riddles and if I win, you show me the way out of here?
Gollum: And if he loses? What then? Well if he loses precious then we eats it! If Baggins loses we eats it whole!
Bilbo Baggins: Fair enough.

We find out how Bilbo got the ring.  He and Gollum have a battle of riddles in a cave.  Well, don’t want to give too much info… 

The music (composed again by Howard Shore) is even better than in the trilogy.  The Misty Mountains song is sung by Richard and the company of dwarves- very cool!  The (New Zealand) scenery, along with the special effects, are stunning.   The acting is quite fine, especially from McKellan, Armitage (creating a natural leader/heroic), and Freeman (who makes the perfect hobbit).   

Pretty fly… for a Dwarf

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If The Hobbit was the last piece of work I ever do, I would be happy.  I still feel that if I never work again, I have had the most fulfilling experience an actor could ever have with this role. I’ve never been challenged in the way this role challenged me. 

-Richard Armitage

He’s got real depth, genuinely, as an actor. He’s just going to keep getting better and better.

-Phillipa Boyens

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As Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

I got this idea of literally having an open shield so I drew it for him and they [Weta Workshop] came up with this design.  It’s the same piece of branch he used to defend himself years earlier and it’s hardened with age. 

On the TODAY Show (w/ Hoda & Kathie Lee)

Glamour (UK) mag’s bethind the scenes video

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Hobbit star Armitage finds a wee bit of fame

Fun & informative interview w/ Richard & co-star Martin Freeman

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 As John Thornton on North & South (2004)

An in-depth article on his Hobbit role

Peter Jackson (director) & actors on shooting in New Zealand

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As Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood (2006-2009) – one of my fave pics

I think I’ve just got a face that suits half shadow rather than full daylight.

The Marilyn Denis Show (Canada)

TV3 (Ireland) Interview

Vids for fellow Richard Armitage fans!

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Richard plays Thorin Oakenshield (king of the dwarves)

The Hobbit panel at Comic Con 2012 (26:11)

The Hobbit cast interviewed by Entertainment Weekly mag (8:42)

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A brief interview w/ Richard from Fandango.com (2:42)

Another short interview w/ Richard from TheOneRing.net (3:55)

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Drawf Star – profile of Richard by WSJ Digital Network (4:10)

Richard takes fan questions from Twitter fans (3:36)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey behind-the-scenes video (13:14)

Entertainment Trivia: UK Edition

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Richard Armitage: The face that launched a thousand fan sites
 
 
My father’s family were weavers and spinners. It was where I came from and it was exciting to think I could be a part of it.  The dichotomy between the powerful, almost monstrous, entrepreneur and this kind of vulnerable boy is exciting for me to look at.  – On his North & South character, John Thornton  
 
I try to be quite a detailed actor.  People were really picking up on that.  Even if it was just a flicker of the eye or something, they got it.  – On the tremendous fan response after N&S aired
 
– He can play the cello, flute, and guitar.
– Richard joined the circus one summer to get his equity card.  Though he started out in musical theater, he changed directions, and attended LAMDA.
– Richard has been chosen for a key role in The Hobbit.  He’ll also appear in the new Captain America movie in Summer 2011.
– As you can hear, he has a gorgeous voice!  Richard has done a good deal of voice work: radio plays, novels, poems, and commercials.
– He describes himself as a method actor. 
– His parents names are John and Margaret, just like the leads in N&S!
 
  
 
Sean Bean: A (magentic) Yorkshire lad
 

I think there was a time I was linked to it but I suppose I blew it playing 006 [Alex Trevelyan].  They made a good choice in Daniel Craig.  He’s a very good actor.  He was in one of the first Sharpes we ever did and I gave him a bit of a battering. So we can always say Sharpe battered Bond.  – On Casino Royale (2006)

– Though his family lived on a Sheffield council estate (government housing) to be near their relatives/friends, Sean’s dad ran a successful small business.

– He can play the piano (as you’ll see in Clarissa).

– Like many well-known UK actors, Sean is classically trained (from RADA).

– The scar over his eye was given to him by Harrison Ford during a fight scene in Patriot Games.  Ford hit him w/ a boat hook. 

– Sean loves football (soccer); he has a tattoo in honor of his team.

 
– Wolfgang Peterson (his Troy director) commented that Sean’s performance is “a beautiful thing.”
 
– You can see Sean in Game of Thrones, a HBO miniseries out in April.
 
 
Ioan Gruffudd: Proving that immigration is fantastic for Hollywood
 
 
Being attractive, it’s not something I do consciously.  It’s incredibly flattering that people think I appeal to women.  But that was a gift from my parents.  My acting, my personality – that’s what it’s about.
 
I was lucky because I didn’t have to spend hours in freezing water.  There weren’t many people my age on set, so Kate, Leo, and I hung out together.  We would pile into Leo’s dressing room, which was full of PlayStations, mini basketball hoops and the like.  – On his Titanic experience
 
– His name, which is Welsh, is pronounded “Yo-wahn Griffith.” 
 
– Ioan’s parents were teachers.  His grandparents ran an amateur drama society in Cardiff, Wales. 
 
– He can play the oboe and sing (as you can see in some of his work).
 
 
 
– Delia Fine, an A&E VP, told People that Ioan won the role of Horatio Hornblower b/c of his “decency and good-heartedness.”  He auditioned 3 times.
 
– Ioan, who moved to LA in 2002, likes the optimism of the US. 
  
 
James Purefoy: Were ancient Romans anything like this?
 
 
The age of chivalry isn’t dead, is it?  It doesn’t even have to be a man or a woman that you could be chivalrous to.  If somebody’s in trouble you give them a hand.
 
– Purefoy is originally Norman French and means “good faith” or “my word or bond is in good faith.”
 
– James left school at 16, traveled, and did a few odd jobs.  But he returned to school at 18 to complete his A-Levels (equivalent of college).
 
– The year before he was going to graduate college, James was noticed by a casting agent from RSC, who asked him to come to Stratford right away. 
 
 
 
– He also screentested for the role of Bond.
 
– James was cast as the lead in V for Vendetta, but left after creative differences w/ the filmmakers.
 
 
David Tennant: You’ll actually be glad that this doctor is in!
 
 
I was very small, about 3 or 4 I think, and just wanted to be the people on telly telling these wonderful stories.  Obviously the idea grew and matured with me but I can’t ever remember wanting to do anything else.  I’ve just sort of taken it for granted all my life that that was what I would do.
 
– David (whose real last name is McDonald) wanted to be an actor from age 3.  His dad (a Presbyterian minister) submitted his pics to a talent agent for Scottish TV when he was 16.  David got an audition and a role soonafter!
– His maternal grandparents were Protestants from Derry, Ireland.
– David began studying theater full-time at age 17 at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
– He was nominated for the Olivier Award (London’s equivalent of the Tony) for his performance in the lead role in Hamlet.