No Higher Praise

While trying to make sense out of my million and one bookmarks, I came across a Tumblr post from mezzmerized by richard from The Hobbit press conference in Tokyo. Martin says some nice words about Richard, as an actor and as a person:

“What Pete said about what he brings to Thorin, is partly what he brings just as a person, which is: he has a quiet determination. He respects himself and others, respects other’s way of working, but he holds on to that very strong core of himself.

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He’s about the least arrogant person you could wish to meet. He’s very self-depreciating, and he’s always up for what you’re going to bring to the scene.

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I went to the gym with him once and there were a few of us there. We had to do these circuits around the gym with this insane psychopath of a gym trainer. I was busy dying about halfway around, and I nearly did pass out, I genuinely nearly–it was only a sports drink that stopped me falling to the floor. I looked up, and Richard had sort of quietly completed the entire circuit, slightly breaking a sweat. He sort of admitted that he was–you know, he found it hard and he was tired. but what I really admired about that, was that he wasn’t being macho or butch, he just quietly got on with it.

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And that’s kind of how he treated the 18 months of the job, really. All the trials and tribulations that inevitably come with just the day to day making of the film–it’s tiring, you miss home, etc. He was very stoical about it.

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I think there was a good marriage of Richard and Thorin there; I enjoyed working with him very much. What I always think about Richard is that, essentially, he is a decent person and I can have no higher praises. I think he’s a good human being; I like being around him.”

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(I condensed the run on sentences and tweaked the punctuation to suit me)

Still Into You

Alphabet Movie challenge: day 6

Favorite Richard Armitage Franchise

Answer:

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(The Hobbit 😆 )

Even now, when I watch An Unexpected Journey, that door opens to reveal Thorin and it’s:

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even after all this time. after all the fangirling and all the behind-the-scenes secrets, and all of the endless discussions about book versus movie….

the ride is still just as thrilling

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I should be over all the butterflies

but I’m into you (into you)

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and baby even on our worst nights

I’m into you (into you)

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Let ’em wonder

how we got this far

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’cause I don’t really need

to wonder at all

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Yeah, after all this time

I’m still into you.

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lyrics from

Still into You by Paramore

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**this post is dedicated to a special someone who talked me down from a ledge today.

“if it stops being fun, then it must stop altogether”

it all comes back to Richard 😎

(non-Armitage answer: Harry Potter)

Quiet Determination

With the Extended Edition extras from The Hobbit flying about, getting us all in a tizzy over Richard’s Thorin audition, I was reminded of these quotes about Richard and his acting style:

It was very easy, working with Richard, what he brings as a person is that he has quiet determination. He respects himself and others, when working but he holds onto this strong core of himself, actually. He’s about the least arrogant person you can wish to meet, very self-deprecating and he’s always up for what you’re going to bring to the scene.~ Martin Freeman

checked shirt, tie, and vest during press panel

Richard is one of those very rare actors in which he uses stillness and he uses quiet to draw your eye. There can be a lot of things happening on the screen, there can be many characters on the screen, and yet Thorin in his stillness draws your attention. It’s a very, very rare skill and he’s somebody when he’s on screen your eyes go to, you want to watch.~Peter Jackson

Thorin urges Kili to shoot arrow, Fili looks on

okay, I’m going back to the tizzy now…

That Was Wicked: a poem

MAX 60 seconds with Richard Armitage,

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

Ms. Browning, I apologize in advance for what is about to happen

 

(I won’t be using Metric Richard, so try and keep up )

half a cow = 300lbs., not 20

 

I love thee to the depth, and breadth, and height

of the fattest, tallest troll. which is a lot, since they’re such crackin’ good cooks!

how high are we talking here, Keira? I’m Natalie!

 

by sun and candlelight

more candlelight than sun though.

pale is “in”

 

I love thee freely

to lift those pints of wine and weights with abandon.

’nuff said

 

I love thee purely

as the sound of your sincere laughter.

I love thee with a passion

that hearing you say horse invokes.

 

and with my childhood’s faith

like the innocent memories of those lovable Muppets.

how ya like being green now, Kermit?

 

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

along with the contents of my stomach, thanks to Martin

 

I love thee with the breath,

which is in short supply when you have a bow in your hands.

 

smiles,

that appear when you tell the only joke that I know as well, with a slight variation.

a duck walks into a bar…and says Ouch

 

tears

that fall when you call that particular outfit shit.

perfection

 

and I shall but love thee better after death

and no, death does not equal Twitter

@TheRealRA

 

In closing, I really like these interviews

 

An Unexpected Visitor

My first Richard Armitage film experience was The Hobbit: an unexpected journey. I was sitting in a darkened theater, happily immersing myself once again in the world of Middle Earth. Hearing the familiar music and seeing the gorgeous scenery felt like a reunion between old friends…except this time, they brought someone with them to the party.

I don’t believe we’ve met?

Things were going along nicely. I was inside Bag End, coveting that massive round door with all of it’s lovely iron work. Gandalf was there, Frodo stopped in for a bit, and Bilbo was there too. Ah, Bilbo! He infused that dark hole in the ground with warmth, light, and laughter, with seemingly little effort. Martin Freeman met and exceeded my expectations as Bilbo; such an excellent choice for such a beloved hero.

As the dwarves started to show up, I was amazed at how each of them appeared entirely realistic, yet endearingly whimsical at the same time. This made me insanely curious about their leader. We caught a glimpse of him in the opening back-story, but what would he be like? The knock came, the door opened and

HELLO, Mr. Smolder!

Thorin Oakenshield commanded attention immediately. His regalness and bravery filled up that small space completely, while it was clear that a heavy responsibility weighed on those seasoned shoulders (even after he removed that massive cloak!) From that point forward, my eyes were drawn to Thorin. The story moved along and I got caught up in it: becoming familiar with each of the dwarves, questioning Gandalf’s motives, rooting for my favorite little hobbit; but always those haunting eyes kept stealing my attention.

these eyes?

This Thorin was wholly unfamiliar to me. This dwarf had depth! The pride of book Thorin was still there, but now in a completely understandable context. Grumpy Dwarf still reared his head from time to time, but those expressive eyes never left me guessing as to why he did and said the things that he did.

say that to my face!

Time flew by, as it sadly always does with a great storyteller, and soon we were in the pines facing down the menacing foe.

hold me!

This was Thorin’s moment of truth! What reckless need for revenge was his pride about to unleash? The eyes were about to take center stage again…

WHOOPS!!

*scrambles to find correct slide*

FOUND IT!

The King would let nothing stand in his way! But wait! There seems to be a slight complication…He’s not invincible.

what trickery is this?

Luckily Bilbo Baggins, secret gamer extraordinaire, attacks with the viciousness and blood-lust that only the greatest of virtual warriors can!

and my Xrocker Pro Series gaming chair, complete with surround sound

 

and my Xbox 360

 

…theater system, complete with HDTV!

 

with my Razer Ona TE game controller…or a sword. whatever works.

Then Thorin’s a jerk. they hug,

I love you, man!

and Presto! The slapstick stylings of Martin & Armitage are born!

move over Martin & Lewis!

 

 In what ways did Richard’s Thorin surprise you?

oh ye of little faith!