Including the link for the story above: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/08/31/61326-warner-bros-drops-new-hobbit-film-titles-and-dates/ There's some additional commentary on the third movie and what it will focus on.

I like the three titles. The last one just had to be "There and Back Again". It just had to be.

Desolation of Smaug...where have I heard of that before? Oh yeah, when their movie distributor was taking out domain names awhile ago. People were scratching their heads trying to figure out what it was for, and there ya go.

Regarding movie splits, I don't know if this has been discussed already, but I'm 99.999% sure that AUJ (hehe, worst acronym ever) is ending with the Dwarfs escaping Mirkwood and arriving at Laketown. That's the last bit of chronological shooting we've seen in production videos and such, and PJ has taken great pains not to show anything from future movies. So barrel riding it is!

I know PJ could easily do 2 hours of 5 armies warring away. But what I meant was, that's ALL it would be... that and the aftermath. The lack of story would turn it into a summer smash fest.

Hollywood Reporter and various other outlets are reporting that July 18, 2014 will be the release date for the third Hobbit film.

Well... Summer smash fest it is.
Also would have liked the second movie to be a chapter title but the one they picked out isn't bad.
I AM glad that movie two and three are only 6 months apart instead of a full year.

Ooooh, I like the three titles! The Desolation of Smaug is very cool, but think The Desolation of the Dragon is even better—more mysterious and elusive, therefore appealing. I wonder if they considered that ...

The last one just had to be "There and Back Again". It just had to be.

Definitely.

I AM glad that movie two and three are only 6 months apart instead of a full year.

Likewise! Which always brings to mind that I've always been quite glad I wasn't first reading The Lord of the Rings when the volumes were initially released in the UK, slightly later in North America:
FotR 29 July 1954;
TTT: 11 November 1954;
RotK 20 October 1955.
Can you imagine having to wait that long in between each without having a clue what was going to transpire?! I do wish the publisher had called the third volume The War of the Ring, as Tolkien preferred, rather thanThe Return of the King, which gives too much away.

The Hobbit music: I meant to post this nearly a couple of weeks ago, but on August 20th, the The Hobbit recording sessions in London officially begun under Howard Shore, of course. And Doug Adams, Shore's 'shadow', and author of the thoroughly fantastic The Music of the Lord of the Rings, has been contracted to write The Music of The Hobbit films! <- link

I do wish the publisher had called the third volume The War of the Ring, as Tolkien preferred, rather thanThe Return of the King, which gives too much away.

Oh I never knew that of the third book. I'm with you. I love that title better,
for the very reason that the current title does give to much away.

And Doug Adams, Shore's 'shadow', and author of the thoroughly fantastic The Music of the Lord of the Rings, has been contracted to write The Music of The Hobbit films! <- link

I think I've missed out on that book!
I followed your link and read his blog now, and I really should look out for the new one when it comes (and perhaps even look for the first one).

Perhaps they didn't get to the Norwegian bookshops, and that's why I never noticed. Amazon might be the way to go ...

I heard Shore's LotR symphony at an open-air concert in a park in Oslo a few years back (with Norwegian Sissel singing). There must have been a few thousand people present, and there were large screens to show us what was happening on stage. It was a lovely, sunny day in August - until the last ten minutes, when it started to rain. Good thing it didn't start earlier!

New images! http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/09/08/61652-sixteeen-all-new-hobbit-stills/ Most of these look like stills taken while filming, while the second gallery looks like studio shots: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/09/08/61675-thirteen-new-portrait-photos-from-the-hobbit/

And it looks like where the first movie ends has been revealed: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/09/08/61654-ending-of-first-hobbit-film-revealed-spoilers-after-the-break/#more-61654

That could work, although the break point seems a bit early. What is being added to make it necessary to stretch the plot material over the first film this much?

I can't believe I may have actually guessed correctly on where the the first movie is going to end

. I thought for sure I was wrong after the title of the second movie came out.
That second movie is gonna be packed, but I'm wondering if they'll cut a lot of the parts where they have to figure out how to get into the Lonely Mountain to make room.
I'm especially curious if Varna is right with moving most of Gandalf's plot to the third movie. I figured it'd be in the second movie since Gandalf turns up shortly after Smaug's death, but maybe they'll do it as a flashback or something.

It does say on the last page of that chapter: "So ended the adventures of the Misty Mountains".

My college is doing a 'Hobbit Day' next week.

I forgot to comment on those character pictures that Dot linked. I love them. I love that they're not terribly spoilerish and the one of Bilbo looking rather startled is perfect.

@Glimmie, good point.

@Lady Haleth, what's Hobbit Day?

Yes, do try and get a copy of Adams' book, Varna! It is excellent in every way. Of course, this has nothing to do with me being a fanatic for analyzing music. But seriously, it's very accessible.

I heard Shore's LotR symphony at an open-air concert in a park

Was that the symphony for all three films, or the symphony for one of the three? I presume the former, from what you said. Isn't it fantastic? And to hear it outdoors would enhance that very pleasurable experience all the more.

Dot, thanks for those links! I especially like the 'flummoxed' one of Bilbo in the hallway. Perfect expression! And Bombur always cracks me up! The runes tattoed on Dwalin's head are very cool, indeed! Thorin still looks too handsome for me. He should be rougher and grittier, methinks. Really like Oin and Gloin. Not fond of Fili and Kili, who seem far too Elvish. Ori is way too adorable, lol. Balin comes across as a venerable old dwarf. It always makes me sad thinking of his fate, especially remembering Balin's kindness to Bilbo as The Hobbit story progressed.

As for the ending of the first film, it does seem early, but with all they're adding, who knows what they have up their sleeves. Careful, PJ, careful!

*nods also at Glim's point*

I'm thinking Hobbit Day is typically a celebration of Bilbo's and Frodo's birthday (which is officially on September 22nd). Or is it something different, Lady Haleth?

So Peter Jackson uploaded a Character Gallery today. If you're on FB it's here....

... 557&type=1
If you're not on FB, hopefully TORn or some other website will get it uploaded soon.

In regards to the pictures themselves....

Oin and Gloin, Dwalin and Balin, Bombur, and of course Bilbo, are my tops! But wait, are those not the same photos that Dot linked to (her 2nd link ^)? In any case, it's good to see them again.

Oh wait! So they are. Somehow I missed those. I saw all of the others in her post, must have accidentally clicked the same link twice.

Ah well, they're cool and worth linking a second time.