Luke is mad about this one, folks, calling it "one of the worst adaptations" they have ever covered. Laura from the "Why the Book Wins" podcast and YouTube channel joins the show to talk about this movie she'd never seen in this final installment of Peter Jackson's overstuffed Hobbit trilogy adapting the book by J.R.R. Tolkien. In episode 245, Luke, James, and Laura wonder why Tauriel doesn't seem to care about anything but Kili, judge the value of more Lord of the Rings references, learn the tragic backstory of a CGI dwarf, explore the potentials of a rated-R extended edition, and finally cast their votes on which was better: the book or the movies!

Why the Book Wins

• Podcast https://whythebookwins.com/listen-to-podcast/
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WhytheBookWins
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whythebookwins/

Ink to Film

• Buy The Hobbit or any of the other source material books or guest novels at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/outro music: Lord of The Rings - Concerning Hobbits (Electronic Remix)

Luke Elliott

• Read "What Good is a Sad Backhoe?" by Luke Elliott
• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail

Author, folklorist, and the executive director of Willamette Writers Kate Ristau joins the show to talk all things dragons for this installment of The Hobbit! In episode 244 Luke, James, and Kate ride barrels together for far too long, spot a Peter Jackson cameo, wonder about elven physics, geek out about big scaley wyrms, and try to see things with childlike wonder, despite it all.

Join them next week for the finale, with "The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies!"

Kate Ristau

• Website http://kateristau.com/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/KateRistau
• Buy Wylde Wings by Kate Ristau

Ink to Film

• Buy The Hobbit or any of the other source material books or guest novels at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/outro music: Lord of The Rings - Concerning Hobbits (Electronic Remix)

Luke Elliott

• Read "What Good is a Sad Backhoe?" by Luke Elliott
• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail

The "Watch. Review. Repeat." podcast joins the show to see what gems might still be mined from Peter Jackson's first film in his Hobbit trilogy. In episode 243, Luke, James, Colton, and Andrew make the comparison to the Star Wars Prequels, admire the waterfalls of Rivendell, get sh*tty with Radagast the Brown, come face to horrible face with the Goblin King, question the glowing of elvish blades, and revel in the poetry of riddles traded in the dark with Andy Serkis. Join them next week for "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug!"

Watch. Review. Repeat.

• Website https://www.watchreviewrepeat.com/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/wrrpod

Twitter

• Buy The Hobbit or any of the other source materials at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/outro music: Lord of The Rings - Concerning Hobbits (Electronic Remix)

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail

Happy Hobbit Day! Let's explore what makes JRR Tolkien's original children's novel so iconic to this day. In episode 242, Luke & James return to Hobbiton and Middle Earth for one more journey that starts with the written word, but will cover all three of Peter Jackson's films. Topics include the greatest fantasy song of all time, what Father Christmas might have in common with Gandalf, a philology professor's single line, the changes made to the "Riddles in the Dark" chapter, a raven with an unfortunate lineage, and what we all can appreciate about Thorin Oakenshield's final words. Join them next week for "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey!"

• Buy The Hobbit or any of the other source materials at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/outro music: Lord of The Rings - Concerning Hobbits (Electronic Remix)

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail

Filmmaker Kogonada adapts a heady sci-fi story written by Alexander Weinstein into a thoughtful, melancholic piece about the nature of existence, artificial intelligence, and the ethics of personhood. In episode 241, Luke & James consider the "Chinese Room thought experiment," debate Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, the power of immigrants being able to name themselves, the opening credit dance, depression in a relative utopia, Colin Farrell's lack of emotion, the difference between written and video essays, and the value of historical preservation vs. violating privacy. They end by casting their votes on which was better: the short story or the movie! References

• Reckoning 6 (contains Luke Elliott's short story "What Good is a Sad Backhoe")
• Unnamed by Monte Lin

Ink to Film

• Buy Children of the New World or any of the other source materials at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/outro music: "No Winners" by Ross Bugden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qk-vZ1qicI

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail

David Lynch's 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel Dune didn't wow critics, but how does it stand up today? Join us to hear our thoughts on this wacky but ultimately enjoyable version of Arrakis, which also includes a cast of familiar faces for the pod in this former Patreon-exclusive! Ink to Film

• Buy Dune or any of the other source materials at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail

Filmmaker Tomas Alfredson delivered a smart, evocative, and faithful adaptation of the source novel by working closely with author John Ajvide Lindvist to skillfully shift mediums from the written to the visual. In episode 240, Luke & James pour themselves a tall glass of milk and sit in the corner to discuss a loss of innocence, an inescapable cold, and legacies of violence. They end by casting their votes on which version is better: the book or the movie!

Ink to Film

• Buy Let the Right One In or any of the other source materials at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/outro music: Something Wicked by Ross Bugden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuw_O5MU5CE

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail

Author John Ajvide Lindqvist takes vampire mythology and reinvents it by setting his tale in 1980s Stockholm, aging down the characters to inappropriate levels, and leaning heavily on a Stephen King influence. In episode 239, Luke & James discuss one of the darkest novels they've ever covered on the podcast, the role of extreme topics in horror, empathy for the devil, and just what kinds of horrors love can make a person justify.

Join them next week when they discuss Tomas Alfredson's 2008 adaptation of the same name!

Ink to Film

• Buy Let the Right One In or any of the other source materials at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/outro music: Something Wicked by Ross Bugden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuw_O5MU5CE

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail

Tear down the walls between your dreams and venture into a vortex of an episode combining ten comic book issues and the final episodes of the Netflix adaptation of Neil Gaiman's THE SANDMAN. In episode 238 Luke & James weigh the decisions made by Allen Heinberg and the tv writers on how to best end a season of television, the nudity of a dream vortex, a choice with Despair, what truly makes Death's performance so excellent, a perfectly cast Stephen Fry, and a real life surprise? They finish by casting their votes on which is ultimately the better version: the comic books or the show! Ink to Film

• Cast your vote on our next project: here
• Buy The Sandman or any of the other source materials at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/outro music: Heaven and Hell by Jeremy Blake

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail

One of Neil Gaiman's most iconic works has finally come to Netflix as a TV series, but the path it took to wind up there was long and bumpy. In episode 237, Luke & James react to the first five episodes of Allen Heinberg's adaptation, wonder what it means for something to be "unfilmable" these days, give props to Tom Sturridge's portrayal of an eternal godlike being, react to the amazing David Thewlis bringing an unassuming side to the demented Doctor Destiny, and raise some potential concerns about a comedic raven. They finish with some speculation (sure to be wrong) about what's coming next for them in both the comic and the show! Ink to Film

• Cast your vote on our next project by liking responses to this post: 2022 Suggestions
• Buy The Sandman or any of the other source materials at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm
• Ink to Film's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@inktofilm)
• Home Base: inktofilm.com
• Intro/outro music: Heaven and Hell by Jeremy Blake

Luke Elliott

• Website: www.lukeelliottauthor.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/luminousluke
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lpelliott/

James Bailey

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jame_Bail