Official 'The Hobbit' Thread - - - - - Part 14

[jmc]

No, it has all of Ithilien, Osgiliath etc in between. The map shows dense forest and hilly uplands. In the movie, however, only a small bleak plain appears to separate Minas Tirith from the mountains of Mordor, and they are in clear view. It doesn't help that Osgiliath appears to be within range of a short cavalry charge. Gondor becomes this tiny, impoverished frontier garrison.

Dude, you're taking that way too literally. East of Minas Tirith is Osgiliath then Minas Morgal then Mordor. Jackson may have taken liberties in showing a clear view but it's kinda silly to say it isn't right on Mordors doorstep.

 

[regwec]

I said "lip", not "doorstep", and there are significant intervening lands. Ithilien became an independent principality ruled by Faramir and Eowyn after the war. Osgiliath was formerly the capital city.

I don't really understand what point you're trying to make.

 

[regwec]

With some of the comparisons that I've heard from fans regarding the similarities that Thorin and Aragorn share within Peter Jackson's films and their respective journeys towards ascending to the "throne", which portrayal would you guys say is your favorite?

Missed this.

I prefer Thorin. Though I thought Viggo did his best as Aragorn, the script treats the character as indulgent in his self doubt, and I hated that. Thorin appears to be aware that his destiny is fused to the hopes of his people. Aragorn should have been even more aware that there was no room for doubt: it all ends either with him as king or the world in ruins.

 

[jmc]

I said "lip", not "doorstep", and there are significant intervening lands. Ithilien became an independent principality ruled by Faramir and Eowyn after the war. Osgiliath was formerly the capital city.

I don't really understand what point you're trying to make.

Lip, doorstep, whatever, it's close to Mordor.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Saw this again last night, didnt enjoy it as much but I'm pretty certain that was because I couldnt stop needing to go pee for the 1st 90 mins, which would obviously ruin any movie experience. Still LOVED the last hour though, and the Smaug sequence is just cinema gold.

The movie certainly seemed to by quicker and flow better 2nd time around though.

 

[Ipodman]

^I think I'm the opposite of you - I loved the first portion of the movie with the Elves and shooting arrows and stuff. The middle portion dragged on too long, but the last portion was the longest ride ever (and not necessarily an interesting one). The dragon lumbered around and smashed into rocks and pillars waaay too much imo. I don't know how it was intended to be in the book, but in the movie he wasn't as terrifying as I hoped he would be...

 

[elsewhere]

Spoiler

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Screeners are out already?

 

[elsewhere]

Screeners are out already?

Yes

Spoiler

 

[regwec]

Gah. The T-1000 in 1991 looked better than that golden statue. And how can the Mighty Smaug repeatedly miss a dwarf pushing along a wheelbarrow?

 

[Quasimod0]

I don't think he was trying to hit him right? I thought he was just thrashing about from being hit with whatever at that moment.

 

[Thoix]

I don't think he was trying to hit him right? I thought he was just thrashing about from being hit with whatever at that moment.

That's right. He was being attacked from all sides and was thrashing around because of the minecart wires tangling around him.

 

[jacobed]

Once the dwarves show up, ugh the whole Smaug sequence really starts to suck. Is that really the best action scene they could come up with, horrible

 

[regwec]

Why doesn't PJ know that molten gold is..."molten"? It should glow white hot, not resemble Dulux gloss paint. It was a clumsy and unnecessary way to give Smaug his gold-encrusted belly, too.

 

[Victarion]

I saw this again today. Still an 8/10, though I wish they'd have resolved the Smaug business in this film. I would've cut the Dwarves' dinner at Bag Inn, the Stone Giants, and shortened Goblin Town to fit everything up to escaping Thranduil into the first film. Then wrap up Smaug's plot in this one.

 

[Drizzle]

I saw this again today. Still an 8/10, though I wish they'd have resolved the Smaug business in this film. I would've cut the Dwarves' dinner at Bag Inn, the Stone Giants, and shortened Goblin Town to fit everything up to escaping Thranduil into the first film. Then wrap up Smaug's plot in this one.

Ending it at the escape from Mirkwood was the original plan when it was only supposed to be two films. If they had still made it three films and started the second with Lake Town, there would be a hell of a lot of needless padding to films 2 and 3.

I think they could have taken an extra 15-20 minutes to wrap up Smaug's plot in this one without having to change anything about the first film. Why cut those scenes anyway? Those were some of the better scenes in An Unexpected Journey, and they were all from the book.

 

[SolarTiger]

I assume the Smaug stuff will be wrapped up in the first 30 minutes of the third film and the rest will be the giant battle at the end of the book+some epilogue stuff?

 

[craigdbfan]

That's what I'm assuming.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I assume the Smaug stuff will be wrapped up in the first 30 minutes of the third film and the rest will be the giant battle at the end of the book+some epilogue stuff?

Smaug stuff: 30 minutes

Giant battle: 30 minutes

Epilogue stuff: 2 hours, 23 minutes

 

[Victarion]

Dol Guldur rescue as well.

 

[Ipodman]

Smaug stuff: 30 minutes

Giant battle: 30 minutes

Epilogue stuff: 2 hours, 23 minutes

Extended Edition: 4 hours, 45 minutes

 

[Hunter Rider]

So I just got the desolation of smaug chronicles art book and I recommend it even to those who didn't like the movie. Its got lots of fantastic art some of which will make you cry and question why they went with other designs for the final film. for example there;s lots of concept drawings of beorn(although I don't think the final design is in there maybe they haven't even decided what it will be until TABA) most of them are fantastic however there's one design for his human form that will make some want to punch Jackson and pull their hairs off. The design looks like a cross between a muscled mountain man and a caveman and would have been perfect instead of what we got..

There's lots of designs for thranduil and the orcs(specially azog) for example this is what azog was going to look like at one point after it was decided he was going to be cgi

sure he looks a lot like the final version but the face looks more intimidating and the hair and armor specially adds a lot to him
also at this point he didn't have the symmetrical scars which look a bit to perfect IMO.

The armor is definitely a good addition t the design.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

^I think I'm the opposite of you - I loved the first portion of the movie with the Elves and shooting arrows and stuff. The middle portion dragged on too long, but the last portion was the longest ride ever (and not necessarily an interesting one). The dragon lumbered around and smashed into rocks and pillars waaay too much imo. I don't know how it was intended to be in the book, but in the movie he wasn't as terrifying as I hoped he would be...

Lake Town was the only slow moment in the movie for me, the 1st hour and last hour I loved, but the Smaug stuff is were the movie really excels for me.

 

[SPIDER-MAN-ROX]

Smaug stuff: 30 minutes

Giant battle: 30 minutes

Epilogue stuff: 2 hours, 23 minutes

They would still have to make room for a few funerals also,

Spoiler

like Tauriel's in the event that she does die.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

They can top the never ending epilogues of ROTK by having a separate subplot, heck, film, entirely laying in surprise after the climax: Balin's establishing of a colony in Moria! The extended edition repeats the format but this time: the adventures of Aragorn and his quest to find Gollum, capturing him, meeting Thranduil, leaving Gollum there.