Desolation of Smaug reviews

Sat Dec 07, 2013 5:37 am

Not sure where you are seeing one star; the review I linked to is 4 stars out of five.

Post by **Passdagas the Brown** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:17 am

Okay, some of these are actually encouraging. Though the constant declaration of the barrels sequence as the best part of the film leaves me skeptical...

Post by **Passdagas the Brown** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:22 am

From IGN:

This film clips along at a fast rate, upping the action and the suspense in a way the walking-and-talking first film often failed to.

Why in the world do reviewers have a problem with people walking and talking in fantasy films?

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 8:26 am

We don't need no stinkin' exposition!

Post by **Passdagas the Brown** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 8:54 am

Well, exposition is one thing. You don't want characters simply explaining things all the time.

But "walking and talking" seems to encompass all forms of dialogue that are delivered while moving slowly on two feet!

Are these reviewers generally okay with running and talking, falling and talking, jumping and talking, or swimming and talking?

Post by **Passdagas the Brown** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 9:55 am

I haven't seen any mention of the butterfly scene so far...

Is it in?

Post by **Smaug's voice** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 10:17 am

Two reviews:

Screendaily: http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the- ... ntID=40296

Middle-earth News -

Spoiler free review: http://middleearthnews.com/2013/12/07/a ... -of-smaug/

a part-by-part spoiler-heavy review (didn't dare look into this!): http://middleearthnews.com/2013/12/07/a ... ler-alert/

Post by **Smaug's voice** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 10:21 am

Aaargh couldn't resist and took a little peek in there.

Hidden text.

Post by **Dave_LF** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 12:41 pm

Passdagas the Brown wrote:I haven't seen any mention of the butterfly scene so far...

It is beginning to feel like a suspicious omission. I just did a search on TORN for the word and it's only been typed once since I posted about Shore's music for the scene on Monday, and that was unrelated.

But it was included in the 20 minutes of footage that was screened a while back, so it would be really odd if it weren't there.

Post by **Smaug's voice** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 1:05 pm

And a 2-star review by Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film ... eview.html

The only negative review till now which seems to have been written properly, imo, even though I may not fully agree with him.

Post by **yovargas** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 1:27 pm

Though the constant declaration of the barrels sequence as the best part of the film leaves me skeptical...

To play devil's advocate - would you feel skeptical if I said the running escape from a cave was the coolest of of Indiana Jones?

Passdagas the Brown wrote:From IGN:

This film clips along at a fast rate, upping the action and the suspense in a way the walking-and-talking first film often failed to.
Why in the world do reviewers have a problem with people walking and talking in fantasy films?

Considering the amount of walking-and-talking in the much-loved LOTR, I don't think they have a problem with it in principle. The only have a problem with it when what they're talking about is boring. And I'm sorry to say it but in the very simple children's adventure story that is The Hobbit, there really isn't much of anything that interesting to talk about.

Post by **Dave_LF** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 2:28 pm

The only scene in all of AUJ that I would describe as "walking and talking" is the wager/handkerchief one. That lasted 2-3 minutes, maybe. Some people.

Sat Dec 07, 2013 2:45 pm

A really excellent review by Quickbeam at TORN (and by excellent I don't mean positive, I mean informative and well written):

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/12 ... ts-fandom/

The first part is spoiler free, and then after a blank space, he gets into spoilers. But it is mainly about how far the filmmakers deviate from the source material.

Sat Dec 07, 2013 2:48 pm

Dave_LF wrote:
Passdagas the Brown wrote:I haven't seen any mention of the butterfly scene so far...
It is beginning to feel like a suspicious omission. I just did a search on TORN for the word and it's only been typed once since I posted about Shore's music for the scene on Monday, and that was unrelated.

But it was included in the 20 minutes of footage that was screened a while back, so it would be really odd if it weren't there.

I have it on the best authority that it is in, but that it has now become a major action sequence in which the butterflies chase Bilbo across the treetops. Major kewlness!!!!!!111

More seriously, I am beginning to think that it, and Bilbo naming Sting, are both relegated to the EE.

Post by **sauronsfinger** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 2:54 pm

Thanks for all these reviews V. This sounds like everything I had hoped for ........ and maybe more.

Sat Dec 07, 2013 3:03 pm

Glad to be of assistance. I for one feel that I need to know as much as possible about this film going in to avoid the distraction of constantly looking at what is different from the book. Because it definitely appears that Jackson wasn't kidding when he said that he was enjoying deviating from the source material. That's not necessarily a bad thing from a filmmaking point of view, but for those of us so steeped in Tolkien, it is going to be a hard pill to swallow.

Still, I am prepared to enjoy the film on its own terms.

Sat Dec 07, 2013 3:33 pm

Long but spoiler-free video review:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdAk02s_ycg

Post by **Elentári** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 4:06 pm

Voronwë the Faithful wrote:A really excellent review by Quickbeam at TORN (and by excellent I don't mean positive, I mean informative and well written):

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/12 ... ts-fandom/

The first part is spoiler free, and then after a blank space, he gets into spoilers. But it is mainly about how far the filmmakers deviate from the source material.

Well, I'm glad that there is someone out there who feels that same way as me about Jackson's TH...

I shall take Quickbeam's advice and at least try to enjoy the aesthetic pleasures to be savoured.

But a lot of what he spoils just gives me the shivers - and not in a good way...

This comment in particular, regarding the number of echoes of scenes and ideas from LotR is worth repeating!

I am convinced that it might not be such a good idea to recreate exact repeats of the same memorable moments from the LOTR Triilogy. Why doesn’t P.J. just keep making new memorable moments that belong solely to ‘The Hobbit?’

Post by **Elentári** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 4:09 pm

Smaug's voice wrote:Aaargh couldn't resist and took a little peek in there.
Hidden text.
So there is no enchanted river in the film like the book. Just the spores.

if you read Quickbeam's review, you will see that he has it from a trustworthy source that the sequence was filmed but cut from the TE...so it may be reinstated for the EE.

Post by **Elentári** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 4:13 pm

Voronwë the Faithful wrote:Glad to be of assistance. I for one feel that I need to know as much as possible about this film going in to avoid the distraction of constantly looking at what is different from the book. Because it definitely appears that Jackson wasn't kidding when he said that he was enjoying deviating from the source material. That's not necessarily a bad thing from a filmmaking point of view, but for those of us so steeped in Tolkien, it is going to be a hard pill to swallow.

Still, I am prepared to enjoy the film on its own terms.

You know, I wouldn't have a problem with what Jackson is doing, if it was for a standalone, single HOBBIT movie...I could understand and accept it far better.

But for an over-stretched 3-film version the aim of which he professes is to form a seamless 6 movie series, the difference between the two approaches really beggars belief...