LEGO Hobbit 2014

[Dragonlego27]

Let's all remember that more movies does not necessarily mean more LEGO sets. A cartoon might, but if they adapted, say, Children of Hurin, (I have never read it, I only know from a summary of it I heard) LEGO wouldn't touch that. They only got The Hobbit because it was a book that is considered a kids book. They wouldn't do anything too dark. And further, if this business partnership between LEGO and the New Line didn't go so well, as we suspect, then they won't be eager to get one again.

We're getting a bit off topic though- this thread is to discuss the Hobbit sets from 2014. Which, having seen better pictures of, I can say are quite nice. I still haven't seen the movie, but we've gotten a lot of good stuff this wave, and I, frankly, cannot complain.

(one final word- someone asked if the rights that Tolkien sold allowed for remakes: Well, I don't know for sure, but I think so, since Ralph Bashki did a cartoon adaptation in the 70s, so technically the films we know today are remakes. It isn't out of the question that they could do that again. As for doing stories from the Appendices... They probably could, but they'd have to fight for it)

See, I've read Children of Hurin (twice) and really don't think it would make a suitable cartoon. I loved it, and it was one of my favourite of Tolkien's legends, but it's dark, defeatist, brutal and downright depressing. Not something you'd see next to Star Wars Rebels.

I've seen the argument that LOTR was dark, so I'll identify some of it's chief unsuitable parts:

(BOOK AND EXTRACT FROM SILMARILLION SPOILERS BELOW, AS WELL AS SOME QUITE UNPLEASANT STUFF)

The novel (and Silmarillion chapter, but in less detail) features: a battle, massive and epic, but with several graphic injuries such as a character getting shot in the face with an arrow, the capture and torture of a major character, enslavement themes, the massacre of a group of innocent elves by orcs, more torture, a major character killing his friend in a fit of rage, a dragon killing an entire nation (like Smaug, but worse) and incest! For anyone thinking a cartoon based on this particular material is a good idea, it is not.

To sum it all up, this story to the Middle Earth mythology is like ASOIAF/GOT to the rest of modern fantasy.

Spoilers end here.

Anyway, going back to topic, does anyone know where it is possible to get sales on the new Hobbit sets? The fact Amazon is sold out is particularly worrying, although I hope they'll restock in the January sales.

[Mazin]

It was "lazy" for TLG to use two rowboats for a longboat? I think that that usage was a genius way to do it when the technique was first used, and I'm glad they used it again. Why make a longboat piece when the alternative is so clever and looks as good as it does? And that way if one scraps the set for parts they get two rowboats, which are a lot more versatile than one huge longboat.

Yes, i think it was lazy. And like i said, usage of row boats would be genius for an amateur, but in this case, i feel that they could have made a new mold. We had canoes and lots of special molds made if needed, and same thing should be done with this set. They i see it it's kind of cheap and poorly camouflaged. I can see a use of rowboats to make a catamaran or a pontoon bridge, and a lot more. But in this case, when i saw that box first thing that attrackted me was that great newly molded long boat. And I would probably buy it if i had a chance without checking it. But now i kind of feel deceived.

Of course, they had a right to do it, no one can forbid them. It's only that i am not convinced to buy it any more.

[kevkipo]

Yes, i think it was lazy. And like i said, usage of row boats would be genius for an amateur, but in this case, i feel that they could have made a new mold. We had canoes and lots of special molds made if needed, and same thing should be done with this set. They i see it it's kind of cheap and poorly camouflaged. I can see a use of rowboats to make a catamaran or a pontoon bridge, and a lot more. But in this case, when i saw that box first thing that attrackted me was that great newly molded long boat. And I would probably buy it if i had a chance without checking it. But now i kind of feel deceived.

Of course, they had a right to do it, no one can forbid them. It's only that i am not convinced to buy it any more.

2 Boats is so creative, i could've never tought of that when i first saw it. When i looked at it for quite a while i noticed

I think it's a fantastic alternative

[The Legonater]

Yes, i think it was lazy. And like i said, usage of row boats would be genius for an amateur, but in this case, i feel that they could have made a new mold. We had canoes and lots of special molds made if needed, and same thing should be done with this set. They i see it it's kind of cheap and poorly camouflaged. I can see a use of rowboats to make a catamaran or a pontoon bridge, and a lot more. But in this case, when i saw that box first thing that attrackted me was that great newly molded long boat. And I would probably buy it if i had a chance without checking it. But now i kind of feel deceived.

Of course, they had a right to do it, no one can forbid them. It's only that i am not convinced to buy it any more.

You act like this is the first time LEGO has done this. I can think of at least one other time LEGO has used this boat combination (there's a Viking set with a near-identical boat) and there's probably others. It looks completely fine. I'm not sure what the issue it?

[Mazin]

I am not a Lego historian I don't care how many times TLG has done. It's simply my opinion that it looked cheaply and confused me. I don't mind whether people like it or care about it. But i do personally believe that it would be wiser to make a new mold of a long boat. Period.

[legofreak86]

On another note for those wondering why the red axe and no cape on dain and the axes being colored, i think this video will be specially enlightening especially at 0:32

Edited December 30, 2014 by legofreak86

[Hypernova888]

You act like this is the first time LEGO has done this. I can think of at least one other time LEGO has used this boat combination (there's a Viking set with a near-identical boat) and there's probably others. It looks completely fine. I'm not sure what the issue it?

Yeah, LEGO has used it twice. And if the technique is so good that you've been decieved that it's one new mould, then how bad can it be?

[kevkipo]

On another note for those wondering why the red axe and no cape on dain and the axes being colored, i think this video will be specially enlightening especially at 0:32

Thanks LF that looks fantastic!

[Dragonlego27]

Yeah, LEGO has used it twice. And if the technique is so good that you've been decieved that it's one new mould, then how bad can it be?

Exactly the point. Its not lego deceiving or cheating you, it's a clever little design that looks great and is a perfect interpretation of a scaled down Bard's longboat. Besides, what would you prefer: a new, and possibly unnecessary, longboat peice or an inferior Smaug, with less unique peices and less character?

Edited December 30, 2014 by Dragonlego27

[Albus]

I love the use of the two boats. It looks fine, and you can pull it apart and have two boats if you need: multi-purpose!

[kevkipo]

Lego is all about creativity, and THAT my friend is creativity

[Mencot]

On another note for those wondering why the red axe and no cape on dain and the axes being colored, i think this video will be specially enlightening especially at 0:32

That was cool to see, better then the movie itself

[LegoFish]

Ive got the lake town longboat and that old viking set that uses a near identical method to connect the 2 rowboats. When i made that first one i was impressed with how they put the 2 into a long boat. It bugs me sometimes that the mast in both designs completely blocks off the 2 halves, but im sure using a similar method as the current longboats, 2 could be combined side by side to make a wider one, more to the scale of bard's actual one in DOS

[Mazin]

Exactly the point. Its not lego deceiving or cheating you, it's a clever little design that looks great and is a perfect interpretation of a scaled down Bard's longboat. Besides, what would you prefer: a new, and possibly unnecessary, longboat peice or an inferior Smaug, with less unique peices and less character?

Definitely i'd prefer a longboat, instead of that unncecessary Smaug Seriously a minifigure is a minifigure, an animal is an animal, a long boat - fine new mold, would be a pleasure to have... and than comes this huge expensive dragon. Whatever people like. If someone likes a huge one-brick toy and sees ways to use it and play with it, than it's ok we me. If someone is a fan of Hobbit and would like to have a Smaug just to have it, cause it's Hobbit's Smaug than it's ok as well. But personally, i would never release such huge things

I love the use of the two boats. It looks fine, and you can pull it apart and have two boats if you need: multi-purpose!

Of course you can make a use of two rowboats but does it mean that you wouldn't do the same with one new long boat? Every brick and every mold can serve in a lot of ways. And so could a long boat. And i'd really like to have one of them instead of a fleet of rowboat

Lego is all about creativity, and THAT my friend is creativity

But i've already said that... but this is the kind of creativity that amateurs should do.

What i mean is that we've seen a lot of people here makingg tons of great customs they felt that would be needed. Like animals etc. And so i think that some things should be molded. They've made an unnecessary new type of horse and a lot of others, so why not a long boat?

A lot of things shouldn't, but long boat is a thing i would definitely like to get.

And of course - Lego is about Creativity. But not necessarily TLG itself.

But does TLG know that?

It's samowhat an irony for me that they create a long boat out of two rowboats when at the same time we get ridicilous amounts of sets and constructions with bricks made just for these partucular sets. Like planes, trains, automobiles. It's not fun making to them anymore, since they get a lot of "easy" parts.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Mazin

[Blazej_Holen]

Hey guys check my latest creation :)

[kevkipo]

Hey guys check my latest creation :) https://www.flickr.c...07/16149478315/

Lovely

[Blazej_Holen]

No more Middle earth sets?

Edited December 30, 2014 by Blazej_Holen

[Darth Punk]

A mold for a long boat would be fairly large, making it very expensive even by TLG's standards and have limited use.

The whole point of Legos is to build, if you want large molded pieces playmobil is the product you are looking for.

And frankly making large molds is not very creative at all not to mention is rather limiting future use of that mold.

[MAB]

I don't get the point about using two boats to make a long boat either. The creative option is to design something using what you have. The lazy option is to make a one piece new part with only one use. It also seems a little odd to argue against a one piece Smaug (although he is more than that, although all pretty much one use parts) but want a one piece long boat.

[Cagast]

What's wrong with two boats to make one? If they made one piece for that boat, it would look same as two boats connected so there is no point.

[atreyu2112]

Hey guys check my latest creation :)

Looks great!!!

[Balbo]

On another note for those wondering why the red axe and no cape on dain and the axes being colored, i think this video will be specially enlightening especially at 0:32

Thanks for the video . That really explains much about the Lego Dain II minifigure....

[Mazin]

Seriously, are you guys even reading what i'm saying?

A mold for a long boat would be fairly large, making it very expensive even by TLG's standards and have limited use.

The whole point of Legos is to build, if you want large molded pieces playmobil is the product you are looking for.

And frankly making large molds is not very creative at all not to mention is rather limiting future use of that mold.

Playmobil?? I've been saying this since being a member of Eurobricks since 2007 - exactly that Lego has been turning into Playmobil!

Look at Chima, City, Ninjago, , Agents, Space, or City, and dolls from Friends or Elves - those are already Playmobil-like, or Transformers-like, or GIJoe-like creations, and that's what i absolutely hate aboout TLG.

As it's doing the exactly oposite thing to creativity and simplicity that Lego used to be all about!

And on the other hand, seriously, i don't see a reason why not to create a new long boat mold. And Uou're sayign that it's expensive?

They've made dozens or hundreds of needles expensive and large molds! Not mentioning dragons, trolls, goblin king and others. Those have a VERY VERY LIMITED USE.

So what's the problem with a long boat?

Someone could say this about every brick that Lego produced during last 20 years. Someone could say that even rowboats are not needed, or horses because they've used to be made out of different bricks You know!

I don't get the point about using two boats to make a long boat either. The creative option is to design something using what you have. The lazy option is to make a one piece new part with only one use. It also seems a little odd to argue against a one piece Smaug (although he is more than that, although all pretty much one use parts) but want a one piece long boat.

Yes, but creativity is more for users. And i've already said that in this topic like a doze of times!

Making a one piece part is a lazy option? Did You really write this? What's lazy about making some nice usable molds? I am trying to find a reason why You've come with this idea, but can't find it anywhere

And i do will argue about Smaug. I've already said that clearly that it's up to Lego, it's their property and they have a right to do whatever they want.

But this doesn't change the fact that todays Lego is turning into exactly what it should not be.

And finding that Lego was about simplicity and creativity i stronly believe that one piece longboat would fit that franchise much more than one piece monsters.

Those great creatures fit more into Playmobil than lego itself. Period.

What's wrong with two boats to make one? If they made one piece for that boat, it would look same as two boats connected so there is no point.

I've already explained that above more than once, what's wrong. That's my opinion and it's my right to give my opinion. Whenever it's negative or positive. And I gave arguments to support it.

Seriously guys, it seems that You're all defending TLG furiously, while i'm not attacking anyone here. I'm just saying about what I don't like, and why i don't like.

You can all agree or disagree, whatever.

But i want this discussion to go somewhere, while all i can see is that everyone is using same old same old arguments about one piece molds, about creativity, and even playmobil... arguments that stand in exact opposition to what I've been saying now and what i've been saing fot years while being a Eurobricks member.

Let's start behaving and respecting other people's believes and opinions. And let's start reading other peoples posts with understanding. Without looking for a way to strike against someone's words. This a place to have fun and a friendly conversation, that would build up something in all of us.

Maybe i'm am a bit of a dreamer, an idealist, but wanted to share that thought with You.

[Steph 104th]

Hey guys check my latest creation :)

Excellent, would much rather buy this.

[kevkipo]

No more Middle earth sets?

Hey that's me coming home everyday