Entry posted by xccj
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Wow, Hobbit II AKA Desolation of Smaug was amazing. Like, really good. Sure, it wasn't exactly like the book... but it was better.
One thing I can say that's spoiler free was that the IMAX 3D showing was good and almost worth the money. (Almost... it was very pricy!) Since they filmed at a higher rate than normal, the movements were supposed to be more "natural" but last year I found them rather jerky and bothersome, and at points in detracted from the movie in general. But maybe that's just me, because most 3D has never impressed me much either when I can thoroughly enjoy the same movie in 2D. But last year I watched Hobbit I in SD, and so this year I can say that the quality improved with the IMAX 3D.
No, seriously, major spoilers, read at your own risk.
But oh man was the movie good. There was a lot more action, and the barrel escape was definitely a highlight, and IMO better than the goblin chase scene from the previous movie. The spiders were also well done, and dare I say it, almost better animated than Shelob. I know the kids in the seats behind me got kinda freaked out by that scene. (I won't laugh at them too much... Jurassic Park legitly scared me as a kid.) And as far as animation goes, Smaug was well done. And yes, you do see his full face and body, and not just random flashes and silhouettes like in all the trailers.
Although I'm sure lots of people were worried about them, I thought Legolas and Tauriel's stories were pretty good. Remember how Legolas had like two or three really awesome moves in each of the LoTR movies? Yeah, he has like three times as much lime light here, but that's okay, cause Legolas is undoubtedly one of the cooler characters of the Fellowship. And the thing between Tauriel and Kili is done well... it's just kind of sad cause I can already guess at the inevitable ending.
Bard also seemed to get more attention and back story too, and I appreciate that. (Plus, his kids are doing more than just background characters... not much more but still.) Also... I can't be the only one who things Bard looks like Will Turner from PotC. I mean, do we ever see Legolas and Bard in the same scene? Do we know if Orlando's playing both roles? Or is there a look-a-like actor who occasionally switches with Orlando between the man and elf? The Lake Town leadership also confuses me, like why the heck are they that dim witted? But I guess Tolkien didn't think highly of leadership of men, cause Theoden / Wormtongue and Denothor were also pretty bad rulers. Why do I have the feeling that the Lake Town master is not in for a happy ending?
And then there was the final scene of the dwarves vs Smaug. It. Was. EPIC! I mean, if you go by the book, it was just boring. The dwarves hid in the mountain as Smaug flew around and blasted it, until he finally decided to go to Lake Town cause he hadn’t got all the killing out of his system. But here the dwarves didn’t like take this lying down, and their little plot was excellent and a great way to show us more of the epic dwarven mines and such. And the gold statue that fell of Smaug was so well done visually and symbolically and everything. I wish the book would’ve included a little more of that. 
Overall, I felt that the flow of the movie was good, and it kept going naturally from one point to the next. The only really bad scene I think was Gandalf vs Sauron, which was like WHA? The split up of the dwarves group was also different, but I think it worked, and I’m excited to see where it leads to next. However, I did kind of feel that the movie ended too abruptly. The first one had a real natural and inspiring ending, with the mountain in sight and Smaug opening his eye. You felt the character growth in Bilbo and Thorin and it reached somewhat of a conclusion. But the second one… it felt far more cliff-hangery. What’s gonna happen to Legolas, who went riding off after the orcs? What the heck did Gandalf get himself into, and does he have a spare moth to send off for help? What’s going to happen to Bard and Lake Town? Too many things unresolved, and it doesn’t have the same kind of decent ending as the first movie or any of the LotR movies. (Granted, RotK had, what, five decent endings, to the point where you were wondering which one was the actual one? They should’ve included just one more after the credits to really screw with people.) This one isn’t as smooth, since there’s a lack of any real resolution. (Well, the dwarves plan finished, but it turned out that it didn’t really work at all, so that doesn’t work.) I mean, I am very eager for the next movie, but it’s looking like there won’t be a lull at all between em.
And, of course, a major consideration is to how well the Lego sets fit the movie. The Spider and Barrel sets from last year did an adequate job. (I’m wanting the Mirkwood Spiders set all the more just for the figures now.) The Lake Town set is also a decent depiction of the movie. The elf army wall is kind of relevant, but it would’ve been better if it included part of the drain with a dwarf or two in a barrel. But the Dol Guldur sets… complete rubbish. That story was a minor side plot, really, and even though it followed Gandalf, it wasn’t that exciting either. Plus, Radagast’s role was very minor (especially when I was expecting him to team up with Galdalf and go duel wizards on the orcs) and Beorn wasn’t there at all! Talk about Lego putting characters in scenes they were never in! (I thought Gandalf was going to secretly recruit Beorn to help him… guess not.) Beyond being lackluster sets, the Dol Guldur stuff is just not very relevant at all. I would’ve preferred some of the stuff from the finale scenes, with the dwarf forges and everything. Some of those would’ve been really cool in Lego. And also, WHEN ARE WE GETTING OUR LEGO SMAUG? Since he’s still alive, I’m holding out hope that he appears in a set next year. It’ll probably be the most expensive one, but that dragon deserves to be in ABS. (And also, his full body won’t be as much a mystery anymore, which is probably one reason a set wasn’t made for him yet.)
Anyway, those are some of my views, and it’s late at night and all, so I’m just gonna post this and check for errors later. In short, you should see this movie. I’m sure if you’re a strict Tolkien fan, you’ll be disappointed that it doesn’t follow the book exactly. But honestly, parts of the Hobbit were boring IMO, and I’m very impressed with how the second movie remained things.
You should go see it anyway. Right now. GIVE PETER JACKSON ALL YOUR MONEYS!
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