Official 'The Hobbit' Thread - - - - Part 13

[DarknessOfDeath]

I went into this film thinking I would love it but no I came out liking it, thinking it was good. I definitely noticed how much of the story strayed from the book. Tauriel was fine in the end. She was a nice addition but the whole Kili and her romance scene probably shouldn't have been played out the way it played out. But we'll see how it unfolds in There and Back again.

I missed Gandalf - even though he was in it but not by much. Same can be said about Galadriel. We saw a glimpse of her but that was it.

I give this movie a 7.5/10 but that may change if the EE fixes things in this movie.

Oh and Smaug was the best thing about the movie. Oh Splendid Smaug, chiefs of all Calamities.

 

[jonathancrane]

While I admit the romance plot needed some polishing and the dwarves' attempt to whack Smaug was bad, I found the film to be superior to the actual book. When one reads the Hobbit and then the Lord of the Rings, they notice a considerable disparity between the texts. Between their publication, Tolkien either took a college writing course or acquired a better editor, as the style is more polished in Lord of the Rings.

Make no mistake: I understand Tolkien was experimenting with Medieval literary forms. Re-reading the Hobbit, I was surprised to see how much of it reminds me of Sir Thopas, having taken a Medieval Literature course. However, in Tolkien's attempt to emulate the Medieval greats, the prose becomes grating. The narrator Tolkien either forcefully shoves exposition down one's throat, or the whimsy dial is cranked up to unbearable levels.

When one talks about a faithful adaptation, it would probably be something along this line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGF5ROpjRAU

Again, the plot of the novel is terrific - a fine synthesis of Medieval and Norse texts-but, the execution is not the best. I could never be emotionally invested in the text as it was either too grating or over the top in some sequences. By the time the Fellowship rolled around, Tolkien was master of the form. Even though there are some parts I do not like, such as Tom Bombadil's scenes, I've come to appreciate them even more following Regwec's post detailing the element of paganism they bring to the texts (which are decidedly pagan, considering Tolkien's love of the older cultures.)

Make no mistake: I am not saying Jackson is without fault. The execution of Sauron's emissary sends my blood pressure skyrocketing every time I watch it, and I do wish the had retained the reclaiming of the Shire. Deleting it took away the potency from Galadriel's prophecy and left many smaller plots unanswered (such as how Saruman had a stash of Old Toby in Isengard.)

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Better then the book....

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Between their publication, Tolkien either took a college writing course or acquired a better editor, as the style is more polished in Lord of the Rings.

Some would say he lost an editor. Considering how much of a breezier and tighter read Hobbit is compared to its often tediously sluggish sequels.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Some would say he lost an editor. Considering how much of a breezier and tighter read Hobbit is compared to its often tediously sluggish sequels.

Oh snap!!!!

 

[Tacit Ronin]

What? i personally don't hold that opinion. But you talk to many folk about how they love the Hobbit but cannot finish LOTR because "it keeps droning on and on...".

 

[Schlosser85]

LOTR are like my favorite movies of all time but I can't read the books.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

What? i personally don't hold that opinion. But you talk to many folk about how they love the Hobbit but cannot finish LOTR because "it keeps droning on and on...".

I agree, just playing a bit.

Personally find Fellowship and Towers far more watchable then readable.

 

[vinsanity]

I was one of those who actually liked seeing Haldir again in TTT. He was a rather handsome elf, and had an awesome voice.

"the dwarf breath so loud, we could shot him in the dark" is still one of my favourite lines of those movies t:

 

[regwec]

I find FOTR very readable, probably because of all its unfilmable weirdness. From talking foxes to dinner with Farmer Maggot to extended bath scenes repleat with songs, there really isn't much like it.

 

[TheVileOne]

Legolas was actually a lot nicer and more mellow in Lord of the Rings than he was in the Hobbit.

 

[LostSon88]

This is a Legolas that still truly holds contempt for Dwarves much like his father so I didn't mind it.

A lot can change in the 60 years between TH and FOTR.

 

[Ajendo]

Legolas was a beast. Just give the elf his own movie already!

 

[Marvolo]

One of my favorite moments was when Thranduil beheads the orc. The look on legolas's face and him asking "Why'd you do that?" Like "seriously da fuq man!?". With Thranduil responding "I set him free. I freed his head from his body."

 

[Boom]

Am i the only one who kinda liked the idea of Beorn being a former slave to Azog?

I hated it. Considering Beorn is practically invincible in his bear form, yeah, good luck with that Azog .

Speaking of that, how did Beorn still have a shackle on his arm? Wouldn't turning into a giant bear rip that **** off?

 

[Ajendo]

One of my favorite moments was when Thranduil beheads the orc. The look on legolas's face and him asking "Why'd you do that?" Like "seriously da fuq man!?". With Thranduil responding "I set him free. I freed his head from his body."

Agreed. Great scene.

 

[Victarion]

I find FOTR very readable, probably because of all its unfilmable weirdness. From talking foxes to dinner with Farmer Maggot to extended bath scenes repleat with songs, there really isn't much like it.

Remind me about the dinner with Farmer Maggot. I remember enjoying sections of the Rings novels: the barrow-wights, those orcs questioning their orders at the end of The Two Towers, and the Scourging of the Shire.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I hated it. Considering Beorn is practically invincible in his bear form, yeah, good luck with that Azog .

Speaking of that, how did Beorn still have a shackle on his arm? Wouldn't turning into a giant Beorn rip that **** off?

Good question.

 

[The Lizard]

I hated it. Considering Beorn is practically invincible in his bear form, yeah, good luck with that Azog .
Speaking of that, how did Beorn still have a shackle on his arm? Wouldn't turning into a giant bear rip that **** off?

Agreed. Another PJ change/addition that has no tie-in to anything in the Tolkien work. I guess he figured giving Beorn a personal grudge against Azog was all the character development he needed, so then we can hurry past it and have more time to focus on that Tauriel/Kili flirtation.

 

[Marvolo]

I was in the bathroom when gandalf fought Azog and the necro revealed himself!!!

 

[The Lizard]

I was in the bathroom when gandalf fought Azog and the necro revealed himself!!!

Gandalf personally tussling with [blackout]Sauron[/blackout] was interesting, but I think it really deviates from how [blackout]Necromancer/Sauron[/blackout] was supposed to be operating more under the radar at that point.
But of course, every possible link between The Hobbit and LOTR has to be hammered home in these movies with all the subtlety of an anvil to the face.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

One thing it did seem to confirm was that Gandalf was not [BLACKOUT]in possession of his FotR staff[/BLACKOUT]. And damn was it awesome to see Gandalf using magic in that way. A real wizard's battle. IT is like they watched Harry Potter and realized that those pieces of wood these wizards and witches carry around can be used for something other then walking.

 

[green]

There are way too many spoilers floating around in this thread now for people who haven't seen it yet.
Thanks to those that have used tags.

 

[Marvolo]

One thing it did seem to confirm was that Gandalf was not [BLACKOUT]in possession of his FotR staff[/BLACKOUT]. And damn was it awesome to see Gandalf using magic in that way. A real wizard's battle. IT is like they watched Harry Potter and realized that those pieces of wood these wizards and witches carry around can be used for something other then walking.

Gah that sounds awesome!

 

[jonathancrane]

I find FOTR very readable, probably because of all its unfilmable weirdness. From talking foxes to dinner with Farmer Maggot to extended bath scenes repleat with songs, there really isn't much like it.

Agreed! Plus the suspense was executed beautifully: I love the one Council scene where one of the dwarves' recounts the visit from Sauron's emissary. It gives me the chills every time I read it.