The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

[JAWS]

That's what Josh has been telling you all this time.

Yes but he was coming at it from the Books. I am looking strictly at the films. I should not have to go and read all the history in the books to help the film make more sense. So for the movies it does not work as well.... At least I don't think so. After reading all of that in Wiki, there is way more history and stuff to help it all make sense.

As standalone stories in the films it's being done poorly. Of course the films can not delve into all the history. But that is perhaps why PJ should have left some of the stuff for the appendices and not tried to translate it to film.

Now after reading the history I can perhaps give it a pass.... But I should not have to do that. The Films story should work well on it's own.

 

[Mr. Green]

good enough movie. feelin empty at the end, incomplete.

 

[Khev]

Here's the thingabout the LOTR.

I don't view them as separate movies.

All 3 make one perfect masterpiece.

Well they are separate movies.

Tell me this. You've got a free three hours with your home theater and only have time to watch one movie. Which do you pick: TTT, AUJ, or DOS?

 

[JAWS]

I'll have to see how I feel when this film digests over 2-3 viewings but right now my favorites would be ranked as follows:

1. ROTK EE
2. FOTR TE
3. DOS
4. AUJ EE
5. TTT TE

My wife likes DOS the best. She really got into the Tauriel triangle.

That is almost exactly how I would rank them (film wise anyways)

I would put fellowship on top.. I really think it's almost a perfect film. I love the pacing and our first introduction to middle earth. I like both the TE and EE

ROTK we differ a bit.... While I will always s watch the EE and never go back to the TE I thought that the EE had some very unneeded scenes.. The Army of the Dead attacking the Pirate ships for one... First it just looks awful when Aragorn, Gimli and Legolis are standing on the shore.. Awful green screen. It is also a bit corny. But it make the appearance of the Army of the Dead less climatic when they show up at the Gandor battle.

I also prefer the EE of TTT.. It gave Faramir much more to do and thus improved his character 100% for that reason alone it get a better rating the TE.

 

[JAWS]

I'm sure my wife will enjoy that same thing.

jye.... you have me soooo confused.

 

[Khev]

That is almost exactly how I would rank them (film wise anyways)

I would put fellowship on top.. I really think it's almost a perfect film. I love the pacing and our first introduction to middle earth. I like both the TE and EE

ROTK we differ a bit.... While I will always s watch the EE and never go back to the TE I thought that the EE had some very unneeded scenes.. The Army of the Dead attacking the Pirate ships for one... First it just looks awful when Aragorn, Gimli and Legolis are standing on the shore.. Awful green screen. It is also a bit corny. But it make the appearance of the Army of the Dead less climatic when they show up at the Gandor battle.

I also prefer the EE of TTT.. It gave Faramir much more to do and thus improved his character 100% for that reason alone it get a better rating the TE.

Actually if I ranked on quality alone I'd put FOTR TE over ROTK. I just love so many things in ROTK, its so spectacular that I consider it my favorite even if it isn't the best. And I absolutely agree about some of the scenes in ROTK EE. My biggest problem with the Army of the Dead attacking the pirate ships is that it totally spoils their arrival at Pelenor Fields!

That does bug me quite a bit but I love seeing Saruman's death and the Mouth of Sauron too much so I'll always choose the EE.

 

[wanderlai]

Anyone else chuckle when the one dwarf "took an arrow to the knee" ala Skyrim fame?

 

[marker2037]

Just got back a few hours ago from seeing this in IMAX 3D during this snowstorm here.

I thought the movie was incredible. Absolutely loved it including the additions that Jackson made ie Tauriel and especially the Dol Guldur and Sauron scenes. Great stuff.

There is no better fantasy world ever created than Middle Earth and I love being brought there through these movies.

 

[The Ween]

good enough movie. feelin empty at the end, incomplete.

That's because of the abrupt ending. I would've left it with the Dwarves looking on watching Smaug fly off and Thorin or someone saying something........what I don't know.

 

[The Ween]

Well they are separate movies.

Tell me this. You've got a free three hours with your home theater and only have time to watch one movie. Which do you pick: TTT, AUJ, or DOS?

I'd pick TT because of Helm's Deep and the Rohirrim.

 

[The Ween]

Anyone else chuckle when the one dwarf "took an arrow to the knee" ala Skyrim fame?

No

 

[chewblacca]

The ending was very abrupt, but it was supposed to be so you would want to see the conclusion even more. I thought it was great PJ is doing Tolkien's words some justice.

 

[Centurion]

Anyone else chuckle when the one dwarf "took an arrow to the knee" ala Skyrim fame?

Indeed! Skyrim players understand that reference.

 

[jye4ever]

Well they are separate movies.

Tell me this. You've got a free three hours with your home theater and only have time to watch one movie. Which do you pick: TTT, AUJ, or DOS?

My one movie would be all 3 LOTR.

Ok ok fine.

TTT.

At the end of the day, I am more invested in the LOTR journey of destroying the ring than I am with killing Smaug.

Not to say DOS wasn't entertaining, it was.

Smaug almost became.

 

[jye4ever]

I'd pick TT because of Helm's Deep and the Rohirrim.

 

[Mr. Green]

That's because of the abrupt ending. I would've left it with the Dwarves looking on watching Smaug fly off and Thorin or someone saying something........what I don't know.

I suppose there's another hobbit movie coming to conclude.

I read the hobbit and ring trilogy in high school, way back. not gonna remember everything but these movies are certainly enough cause the book are way long.

 

[Biojex]

There were so manu decapitations in this movie...i lost count

 

[Khev]

My one movie would be all 3 LOTR.

Ok ok fine.

TTT.

Cool. Thanks for pinpointing, I was curious.

 

[Anzik]

My son and I went tonight and thought it was great.

Spoiler

Why the hell was Bilbo knocking inside a dragons lair? Seriously?

As for the people who have the love story, think about poor Legolas. He's immortal, thats a long time to not get laid.
As for Gandalf and the quest for Sauron. If you read the books, Gandalf and the other wizards are there to oppose Sauron, each with a different area of expertise but Sauron, Gandalf, Saruman, Radagast and the other guys are all Maiar and all but Gandalf got off mission. The thing is, this stuff happens on a grand scale, an entire world and thousands of years, the fact Gandalf puts it together and rallies the forces is testament to his abilities. One of the themes is that the most powerful weapon in the world is in the possession of the most insignificant. Why would Gandalf assume it was the One ring and not just and invisibility ring? One doesn't expect to find a nuclear warhead in some small rural town. They knew the ring was lost but not exactly where, just in a river then it ends up in a cave in the misty mountains and picked up my the one hobbit who ventures from the Shire. Its only Gandalf following intuition that allows it to play out even down to how its Gollum who saves the world since no one was able to cast it into the lava.
Anyway, now I feel compelled to purchase the EE tomorrow.

 

[chewblacca]

The two towers seems the more cartoony of the three originals. Tossing dwarves, Legolas riding a shield down the steps. I never got a real feeling of dread during the whole helms deep battle.