Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

[Hammock Parties]

New movie, new thread.

First reports from a footage leak.

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/03/...of-the-dragon/

The first footage of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug has been revealed at yesterday’s live internet broadcast, although few firm conclusions can be drawn. The subject is certainly sensitive to Warner Bros. with several videos around the web having been withdrawn by Monday morning due to breaches of the Terms & Conditions attached to the production.

It’s OK to tell what happened though and we can report that the footage ends thus, with Thorin declaring:

“We are the dwarves of Erebor. We have come to reclaim our homeland.”

No surprise there then. The trailer finishes on some sound effects that are unmistakably like a dragon, but of course there was no sign of Smaug himself anywhere. I do not think anyone actually expected that, so what did become clearer?

Alongside some moody shots of Gandalf and Radagast in a mausoleum of a cavern, we begin to learn more about Benedict Cumberbatch’s other character in the movie, at least by implication we do anyway, with Gandalf asking why the sword Glamdring, “got out into the world,” only to discover that there’s much more to it than meets the eye, all of which is meant to tie into the Necromancer storyline.

Peter Jackson appeared very aware of the potential problems with the middle film of any trilogy, responding to one fan’s question with:

“It is complicated to do a middle film, but the advantage is … we have multiple story lines … and we can start following multiple characters.”

Sounds enticing, as making a middle film into anything but a filler with untied endings and ragged beginnings can be a problem. Perhaps we will see a few complete stories within the overall arc; who knows? It is now almost legendary that enough footage has been shot to complete several movies.

More will undoubtedly be drip fed us over the coming months and as Jackson revealed this video release ought to be considered first in a series of blogs about the film. First mystery up, doubtless awaiting further examination later is Gandalf saying:

“These tombs were opened from the inside.”

That’s a little mystery that Gandalf is exploring in The Desolation of Smaug, according to Peter Jackson at the event. He also said that Mirkwood is the scariest land they’ll explore in the movie and described Thranduil’s kingdom using concept art. Cinemablend reported that:

“This looked like that same creepy forest but with some castle-like structure in there. The realm itself is underground, but there’s light filtering in– We want it to be grand, like a cathedral. But this is not Rivendell. This is not the friendly land of elves that we’re used to in these movies. Jed recalls his time spent as a dwarf, held prisoner in Thranduil’s kingdom.”

The approach used in this teaser follows the pattern of previous production video blogs, so you will have recognised the strategy by now no doubt. It looks like we can anticipate a steady ramping up of the pressure from now onwards until the finished trailer is put on general release.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Yep, that's what I was referring to. It was in Unexpected Journey; I remember now.

It didn't do anything to further the plot but I'm assuming it was just a nod to the book. A little bit of fan service.

It's also what chased them into the caves, iirc, where Bilbo eventually finds the ring. Otherwise, they would have just gone through the pass and been on their way.

[The Franchise]

[Fish]

Orc-freakin-believable!!

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

perfect lmao

[Ragged Robin]

The elf lady romance subplot was incredibly reeruned and over the top. When you really think about it, she was a total BITCH that put the PRINCE of Mirkwood completely at risk. She literally tricks him into helping her under the guise of "hint hint, I MIGHT share the same feelings towards you but I'm actually completely using you so that I can play googly eyes with my Dwarf boyfriend" and "the world needs our help! except when it comes down to it, you can fight off the orcs ALL ALONE while I mix some herbs when, IN FACT, one of the dwarves was already about to do it.." Completely idiotic script device that, aside from the gaping holes in logic, was too much of a distraction/deterrent from the main plot.

[Setsuna]

Originally Posted by Ragged Robin

The elf lady romance subplot was incredibly reeruned and over the top. When you really think about it, she was a total BITCH that put the PRINCE of Mirkwood completely at risk. She literally tricks him into helping her under the guise of "hint hint, I MIGHT share the same feelings towards you but I'm actually completely using you so that I can play googly eyes with my Dwarf boyfriend" and "the world needs our help! except when it comes down to it, you can fight off the orcs ALL ALONE while I mix some herbs when, IN FACT, one of the dwarves was already about to do it.." Completely idiotic script device that, aside from the gaping holes in logic, was too much of a distraction/deterrent from the main plot.

This guy gets it. And a Prince over a chump? How droll.

[hometeam]

I totally missed that shit.

[Molitoth]

I turned this movie off after the River-Barrel scene and do not plan on finishing it.

This is coming from a long time lover of Fantasy world stuff, and a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Although, I'm not a fanboy of this stuff like some of you freaks. I have no read the books, but I'm sure they are a ton better.


This scene was so ****ing stupid.

[The Franchise]

So let me get this straight....you're a self-proclaimed "lover of fantasy world stuff" and have read the Lord of the Rings trilogy.....but you haven't read The Hobbit?

Opinion discarded.

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

So let me get this straight....you're a self-proclaimed "lover of fantasy world stuff" and have read the Lord of the Rings trilogy.....but you haven't read The Hobbit?

Opinion discarded.

Ok. I LIKE fantasy world stuff. Is that better?

I don't have time to read books. I have other hobbies and 2 small children that occupy all of my free time.

I don't care if you don't value my opinion. I still think the River-Barrel scene was pure garbage.
It reminded me of the car chase in the terrible movie "Wanted".



Did you think it was awesome to watch Legolas stand on 2 floating barrels while shooting arrows? Did you think it was awesome that one of the barrels magically just went off course and knocked through like 50 orcs? lol It was like they made this movie for 8 year olds.

[DaveNull]

The hobbit is generally understood to be targeted for a younger group.

[Setsuna]

I'm reading the Silmarillion now. So interesting!

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Molitoth

I turned this movie off after the River-Barrel scene and do not plan on finishing it.

This is coming from a long time lover of Fantasy world stuff, and a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Although, I'm not a fanboy of this stuff like some of you freaks. I have no read the books, but I'm sure they are a ton better.


This scene was so ****ing stupid.

Agreed. Waaay too much fake looking CGI in this trilogy. The LoTRs movies had a ton of CGI as well, but he still used alot of practical effects. Not sure why He decided to change to digital so much?

[TrickyNicky]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Agreed. Waaay too much fake looking CGI in this trilogy. The LoTRs movies had a ton of CGI as well, but he still used alot of practical effects. Not sure why He decided to change to digital so much?

The HFR 3D probably played a big part in that. Considering how mind-blowing the 3D was touted as being, it was pretty meh for the most part.

[Fishpicker]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Agreed. Waaay too much fake looking CGI in this trilogy. The LoTRs movies had a ton of CGI as well, but he still used alot of practical effects. Not sure why He decided to change to digital so much?

Smaug didn't impress me much. by the time I saw the movie, i was sick of hearing the name pronounced Smowg. Yech. where are Smaugs arms? and why does he look blue nosed? I thought LOTR had a really good blend of PR and CGI. The Hobbit was decent when i watched without 3D. HobbitoS dragged on and left with another cliff hanger. none of that melted gold looked convincing. And that made no sense that Smaug was able to fly while coated in it.