Richard Armitage was born and raised in Leicester, England. He attended Pattison College in Binley Road, Coventry, and studied at LAMDA (the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art). His first appearance on the screen was in a small role in This Year's Love, but it was Sparkhouse that gave him...See full bio »
'The Hobbit' Clobbering Tom Cruise, Comedies at Holiday Box Office
Published: December 22, 2012
By Todd Cunningham
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” was heading for an easy second week victory at the box office, on pace for a $32 million weekend after rolling up an estiimated $10 million Friday.
That’s way ahead of the Tom Cruise thriller “Jack Reacher,” which debuted with $5 million Friday and is looking at around $15 million for the weekend. Audiences liked it, giving it an “A-“ CinemaScore, but it's not going to be "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol." That opened to $12 million in a limited debut last year but made nearly $30 million in its second-week wide rollout.
Though it's behind their opening pace, “Jack Reacher” could wind up playing more like Cruise's “Knight and Day,” which opened to $20 million and went on to make $76 million for Fox in 2010, or “Valkyrie,” which did $83 million in 2008 after opening to $21 million.
“The Hobbit” dropped nearly 70 percent from last week's opening, but those numbers were swelled by midnight screenings. Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth epic now has a domestic total of $129 million and is approaching $350 million worldwide for Warner Bros.
RA mentioned childhood memory of being the donkey in a Nativity scene:D
5.0 out of 5 starswhere to begin...August 8, 2000 By"wmw77"Format:Paperback I suppose that I can start by saying that "The Master and Margarita" has been my favorite book for over 7 years now (that says a lot since I read quite a bit!). I don't think it is necessary to discuss the plot of the book, since you can read what the book is about by looking at the editorial reviews. However, I will comment on the various translations.
Without a doubt, the book in the original Russian is incomparable, but if you don't read Russian I would recommend the Burgin/Tiernan O'Connor translation. The first translation I ever read was Mirra Ginsburg's - although it is very charming and enjoyable, certain bits of conversation as well as almost an entire chapter are omitted from this translation. I have also read parts of Michael Glenny's translation, and I don't feel that his translation accurately relays the depth, rhythm and richness of Bulgakov's style. Burgin/Tiernan O'Connor has given the most complete and accurate translation of this work. Another superb feature of this translation is the commentary section at the end of the text, which is very helpful in understanding what influenced Bulgakov, and is especially helpful if the reader is not familiar with certain aspects of Soviet culture while the book was written (during the 1930's).
Lastly, I have to comment on the thing that I love most about "The Master and Margarita" - it is impossible to classify this book as one certain genre. This book is a philosophical and religious novel, an historical novel, a satire, a love story, an action/adventure, and a fantasy all rolled into one. Simply put, it is timeless - an original, brilliant and beautiful novel. 5.0 out of 5 stars There Are Not Enough Stars to Do It JusticeAugust 10, 2000 ByBruce KendallFormat:Paperback This novel belongs in its own category, for there has never been another like it. A really great novel is like a best friend. We love to see them praised and are hurt when they are attacked. I am elated to see that so many Amazon readers share my love for this great work. I have been reticent to write a critique, as I really can't do it justice. Words are too meager a medium to convey my true response to this masterpiece. Suffice it to say that this has long been my first recommendation whenever anyone approached me about books I most enjoyed. Now with the appearance of Diana Burgin's and Katherine O'Connor's superb translation, I can recommend it even more unreservedly. I've read the Ginsburg and Glenny translations, as well, and have to agree with the other reviewers here who take exception to them. I haven't read the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation, but haven't been too excited by their work with Dostoevsky, so will probably skip it. I envy those who can read Bulgakov and other Russian masters in the original language, but I make do with finding the best translation I can and pay heed to what native speakers have to say about the various translations. I haven't heard any negatives about Burgin's and O'Connor's efforts. The volume also contains some useful annotation, particularly helpful if you are unfamiliar with the era and with the layout of Moscow...
www.failingagenda.com
BILBO BAGGINS V. THORIN OAKENSHIELD, ET. AL.: IS THE HOBBIT’S CONTRACT ENFORCEABLE?
DECEMBER 9, 2012
by Scott Raymond Maucere
Now it’s time for a little holiday fun.The first installment of Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s literature classic The Hobbitcomes out this week. Confession: I’ve been imagining the release of this film since I first read the novel when I was 13. And in honor of this red-letter week, my blog post will be about The Hobbit.And in addition to being a fan, since I’m a lawyer who drafts and litigates contracts and transnational agreements for a living, it’s only natural that I would involuntarily analyze what is perhaps the most famous legal agreement in all of modern literature: Bilbo Baggins’ contract with Thorin Oakenshield and his Company of Dwarves. Specifically, is that contract legally enforceable?
What did you do to prepare for a role that is so well known and beloved by so many?
RA: “By always staying with the novel. Because I am one of those readers that read that book as a child and read that book as an adult, and I’m one of those fans that doesn’t want to see this character ruined by some idiot actor that thinks he knows better than Tolkien. I always went back to Tolkien. I always had the book with me throughout filming and if I ever got lost I was always back to the book. That’s the only way I could honour the character.”
Following excerpt from a recent interview in RA's *hometown* newspaper:
.. he was in the local area when the Richard III excavation was taking place:
"It was just as they were finding the Richard III bones in that car park. I'm excited to hear about the findings of this DNA, I've watched with interest...My father's a historical fanatic about his character and I've inherited that enthusiasm, but I know by the time I get the chance I'll be too old and too tall to play the role. I'd somehow like to realise that part of history."
Just returned after an early birthday celebration with my two fav men in the world and was thrilled to see headlines that 'The Hobbit:An unexpected Journey' is already setting boxoffice records for an opening weekend. We viewed it today in a cineplex where it was scheduled to air both in regular 24fps and the ground-breaking 48fps. There were at least half-dozen different starting times for the almost 3hr film. Actually, the first 20min were previews of upcoming movies for what seemed like all of 2013. They were mostly wall to wall sci-fi films.
Whenever Richard/Thorin wasn't onscreen, I was tuned into any detectable reaction from hubs on one side and our son on the other. In the middle of the dwarves food-throwing fest, J the younger leaned toward me and whispered "reminds me of your family's Christmas parties." hahaha He has his dad's wonderful sense of humor.
RA's entrance is very impressive - he commands attention as someone who doesn't suffer fools lightly. Won't go into anymore details on that score, as many fans have not yet had the opportunity to see the film.
After the camera panned Rivendell for the first time, it was hubs turn to lower his head and under his breath utter "that's really beautiful"(he's enjoyed photography as a hobby since teen years)
He's watched all RA's tv series with me beginning with North and South right up to John Porter. I'd already told him that RA would be playing Thorin. After the first scene, J the father said "so the dwarf leader was Lucas North in Spooks--would never have known him, if you didn't mention it."
Both clearly enjoyed Gollum and other humorous moments.
Movie ends and we adjourn to nearby restaurant for second breakfast;D They agreed that Richard gave a fine performance as a strong, courageous leader.
Then I asked them to rate the film with 1 as worst film they'd ever seen and 10 the best. One gave it 8, the other 8.5 while I give it a 9 (rationale: only a movie with heart-melting romance rates a 10 in my world:) although epic historic films have often garnered that high mark as well from me. Believe the fact I knew going in so much of the background of making the film served to make it more enjoyable than if I'd entered cold - which was pretty much my companions experience. J the younger said he had watched only the first LOTR movie and he found The Hobbit to be a far better film, "very well done" and "looking forward to the next one."
RA isn't interviewed until last 8min of the following vid. He mentions that as a child the movie Bambi was sold out so they went instead to see 'The Spy Who Loves Me' and he loved it..
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Though it's behind their opening pace, “Jack Reacher” could wind up playing more like Cruise's “Knight and Day,” which opened to $20 million and went on to make $76 million for Fox in 2010, or “Valkyrie,” which did $83 million in 2008 after opening to $21 million.
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