Desolation of Smaug

[beautywickedlover]

^ When they talk about holdovers they mean box office grosses from 2014 films that were released in December. Those movies might help January 2015 be a successful month at the box office.

[romantico]

Ah. That makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up.

[beautywickedlover]

The third film has a new title, 'The The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies'.




The New Title for the Third Hobbit Film is The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

[BroadwayBenny]

I think they need another "The" in the title somwehere. Love your typo btw.

[romantico]

I would assume we will see a new trailer within a month or so (at least I hope) Guess it's too early to ask what the running time will be.

[tazber]

Another cool tidbit:

The extended edition of Desolation will include 25 extra minutes.

So excited!


Link

[themysteriousgrowl]

taz, iirc, you and I enjoyed "An Unexpected Journey" more than most, but I can't remember if we talked about "Smaug." What did you think? Once again, I felt opposite to popular opinion, that it had the pacing problems and feeling of being padded that people felt AUJ had. Of the five movies released so far, "Smaug" sits pretty easily at the bottom for me.

Of course I'll still buy the extended edition...

[tazber]

Once again we're on the same page growl. I enjoyed DOS but it definitely had some pacing issues particularly the Lake Town scenes.

I loved Tauriel (what a badass!) but the love triangle seems 100% extraneous. I don't know why Jackson decided to split the group up at the end. I'm assuming it will become more cogent once we see the final film. He's most likely setting it up so some of our heroes are in Lake Town when Smaug attacks.

The Good:

I thought Lee Pace was excellent and is exactly how I always pictured that character from the novel.

The barrel chase is, to me, the best action sequence (barring the major battle scenes) in the series.

And Smaug was brilliantly realized.

The Not-So-Good:

The aforementioned love triangle.

The spiders, which was my favorite scene as a kid, disappointed. And for the first time there was a huge continuity issue. I thought it was clever the way Jackson had them speak i.e. that Bilbo could only hear them when he wore the ring. But the most significant line spoken (and really the only reason they needed to speak at all) is "It stings! It stings!"
If you go back and watch it, Bilbo hears the spider say this as soon as he takes OFF the ring.

Pacing and padding. Why send Gandalf to the Witch King's tomb? We already established he was released in the previous film. It felt like just wanted to give Radagast some screen time. Gandalf should have just gone to Dol Goldur to begin with.




All in all though I love this world and delight in getting lost in it. I think once the entire saga is completed all these quibbles will be gone as they get woven into the complete extended tapestry.

Also, and this is STRICTLY RUMOR, I heard that Gollum will indeed be back in the final film.

[ErikJ972]

I can't even imagine another 25 minutes of Desolation of Smaug. It already felt like it was 10 hours long.

[Roscoe]

"Why send Gandalf to the Witch King's tomb? We already established he was released in the previous film."

I don't remember this being established in the first film -- there was certainly the Dark Force in that ruined fortress, but I thought it was the Necromancer. Where was it established that it was the Witch King? Or wait, I'm getting confused -- I should watch them again. Not that I've got a problem with doing that.

[tazber]

Roscoe,

In AUJ when Radagast goes to Dol Goldur he is attacked by the Witch King and takes the sword, which he gives to Gandalf.

Later at the White Council at Rivendell, Gandalf shows the sword as proof that the Witch King has been released from his tomb. And of course only Sauron has the power to release him.

[Roscoe]

Thanks -- I'll check it out again.

[tazber]

[Mister Matt]

I enjoyed the first film. I fell asleep during the second. I doubt I'll watch the third. I always think I'll enjoy LOTR films and somehow, they just don't do anything for me. I should just learn from past experience and not worry about trying to watch them any more.

[eatlasagna]

PEter Jackson will be at Comic con on Saturday to promote it! I hope I get into the panel!!! WOOO COMIC CON!!!

[Broadway Joe]

I actually hated all 3 of the lord of the Rings movies but I love the hobbit ones. So excited for the finale. That poster is awesome.

[beautywickedlover]

The end of the Middle Earth saga is near. Here is the teaser trailer for 'The Battle of the Five Armies'.


Prepare for the end with the first 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' teaser

[beautywickedlover]

Warner Bros. has added 25 minutes to 'Desolation of Smaug' on an extended cut. The Blu-ray/DVD will be released November 4 and it will also be available digitally in late October.


Warner Bros. Adds 25 Minutes to ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’