Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

[Hammock Parties]

New movie, new thread.

First reports from a footage leak.

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2013/03/...of-the-dragon/

The first footage of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug has been revealed at yesterday’s live internet broadcast, although few firm conclusions can be drawn. The subject is certainly sensitive to Warner Bros. with several videos around the web having been withdrawn by Monday morning due to breaches of the Terms & Conditions attached to the production.

It’s OK to tell what happened though and we can report that the footage ends thus, with Thorin declaring:

“We are the dwarves of Erebor. We have come to reclaim our homeland.”

No surprise there then. The trailer finishes on some sound effects that are unmistakably like a dragon, but of course there was no sign of Smaug himself anywhere. I do not think anyone actually expected that, so what did become clearer?

Alongside some moody shots of Gandalf and Radagast in a mausoleum of a cavern, we begin to learn more about Benedict Cumberbatch’s other character in the movie, at least by implication we do anyway, with Gandalf asking why the sword Glamdring, “got out into the world,” only to discover that there’s much more to it than meets the eye, all of which is meant to tie into the Necromancer storyline.

Peter Jackson appeared very aware of the potential problems with the middle film of any trilogy, responding to one fan’s question with:

“It is complicated to do a middle film, but the advantage is … we have multiple story lines … and we can start following multiple characters.”

Sounds enticing, as making a middle film into anything but a filler with untied endings and ragged beginnings can be a problem. Perhaps we will see a few complete stories within the overall arc; who knows? It is now almost legendary that enough footage has been shot to complete several movies.

More will undoubtedly be drip fed us over the coming months and as Jackson revealed this video release ought to be considered first in a series of blogs about the film. First mystery up, doubtless awaiting further examination later is Gandalf saying:

“These tombs were opened from the inside.”

That’s a little mystery that Gandalf is exploring in The Desolation of Smaug, according to Peter Jackson at the event. He also said that Mirkwood is the scariest land they’ll explore in the movie and described Thranduil’s kingdom using concept art. Cinemablend reported that:

“This looked like that same creepy forest but with some castle-like structure in there. The realm itself is underground, but there’s light filtering in– We want it to be grand, like a cathedral. But this is not Rivendell. This is not the friendly land of elves that we’re used to in these movies. Jed recalls his time spent as a dwarf, held prisoner in Thranduil’s kingdom.”

The approach used in this teaser follows the pattern of previous production video blogs, so you will have recognised the strategy by now no doubt. It looks like we can anticipate a steady ramping up of the pressure from now onwards until the finished trailer is put on general release.

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

These people just don't get it. Peter Jackson mined the appendices to add more story content to the Hobbit.

The first one was awesome, this will be even better.

This is by the fan, for the fans.

This.

Half the scenes in The Hobbit movie where just mentioned in passing. They fleshed it out so they could make three movies out of it, and explain passing references in full detail.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Devin from Bad Ass just destroyed this film.

I don't think there's a reviewer I'm more apt to ignore than devin faraci. He's basically just a smarmy film snob who can't get enough of the sound of his own voice.

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

These people just don't get it. Peter Jackson mined the appendices to add more story content to the Hobbit.

The first one was awesome, this will be even better.

This is by the fan, for the fans.

Having Azog in both of these movies is not 'mining the appendices'.. its changing the lore.

[Zebedee DuBois]

They must send pronunciation guides to all the sportscasters and annoucers who have to promote this movie during their telecasts - they have all been very consistent in how they say "Smaug" rhyming with "ow".

When I read it as a kid, I thought 'Smaug' sounded like "smog", with the 'au' sounding like it does in "augment".

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Aspengc8

Having Azog in both of these movies is not 'mining the appendices'.. its changing the lore.

Azog is a good addition. Get ****ed.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Pointless visit to Beorn's house?? Beorn isn't Bombadil. He's kinda important to the overall story. He probably COULD be cut out, but why would you? You're not helping anything by doing that.

Yeha, getting to see Beorn was one of the first things I thought about when I heard they were making this to begin with.

[Gravedigger]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I don't think there's a reviewer I'm more apt to ignore than devin faraci. He's basically just a smarmy film snob who can't get enough of the sound of his own voice.

His review is just complaining how there isn't enough Bilbo and too much Legolas. Valid arguments I'll give him that, but reviewers tend to get too wrapped up in one or two minor things and turn them into huge things. It sounds like a butthurt fanboy who is still complaining about it not following the books 100%. Get over it or don't go see the movies, but you're the same person who would vote this as a 0 user score on Metacritic thus showing how much of a jackass you are and how flawed a site like Metacritic is for allowing users like you to control the ratings.

[Anyong Bluth]

Just saw it, and honestly, I think I liked this 1 the most of the 5 that have been released so far.

I didn't have any real expectations, and actually thought The Unexpected Journey was pretty weak.

This one is a lot of action, but I'm sure that there will be mixed reviews since it strays by far the most from the source material from what I've heard by those that are more of an authority on the subject than I am.

Also, I thought they did a great job with creating Smaug, and the 3D and higher frame rate on the Navy Pier *real* IMAX was beautifully done and used well I think!

[mnchiefsguy]

Just got home from seeing it in the HFR 3D...I actually liked the HFR better this time round. The picture was not overwhelmingly sharp like the last one, I think Peter Jackson may have dialed down the sharpness, and it worked beautifully. Smaug was awesome. Not going to say too much more, but it is certainly an excellent piece of work.

[Tribal Warfare]

Cumberbatch (Smaug) made this movie it gave me chills listening to him depict Smaug.

[hometeam]

I didn't really read the last few posts because im scared of spoilers, but Im going to 3d tonight with about 20 of my friends. I AM EXCITE~

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

These people just don't get it. Peter Jackson mined the appendices to add more story content to the Hobbit.

The first one was awesome, this will be even better.

This is by the fan, for the fans.

Yeah, I'm fine with expanding the movies to include not only the book but the stuff that we know happens, but is off-screen in the book, as well as the appendices.

I honestly thought the meeting of the White Council at Rivendell in the first movie was an excellent scene. None of that happens in the book, but you know it DOES happen (though it wouldn't likely have been when the Dwarves and Bilbo were also at Rivendell.

At this point, all that can really be said is that I **TRUST** Jackson. He knows the story, he is a fan, he understands what the hardcore fans want and don't want, and what is necessary to appeal to those new to the stories, and is doing a very good job, generally, of balancing it all.

But yeah, I'd prefer to avoid gravity defying trees that are 95% ripped up by their trunks and have hundreds of pounds of dead weight on the end of them hanging over a cliff but somehow, miraculously don't topple over.

The line I hated the most in the first three movies -- Aragorn: "lean forward!" to Frodo while they're atop a pile of rock that is swaying in the breeze. That would be like suggesting that the way a mosquito on the top of your head leans would remotely affect the direction in which you would fall. In fact, having the rocks sway at all was completely unnecessary and utterly stupid.

The Witch King blowing Gandalf off Shadowfax and breaking his staff, in the third movie, was the scene i hated most (extended edition only). I thought he truly didn't understand the material and deserted the fan base with that one. No idea WTF he was thinking on that.

But that crap is minor compared to the epic awesomeness of having the stories told in well-acted, well-directed and a visually spectacular way.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

His review is just complaining how there isn't enough Bilbo and too much Legolas. Valid arguments I'll give him that, but reviewers tend to get too wrapped up in one or two minor things and turn them into huge things. It sounds like a butthurt fanboy who is still complaining about it not following the books 100%. Get over it or don't go see the movies, but you're the same person who would vote this as a 0 user score on Metacritic thus showing how much of a jackass you are and how flawed a site like Metacritic is for allowing users like you to control the ratings.

Legolas is probably there in part to help attract chicks. I can tell you my wife won't be at all unhappy to have more Legolas...

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Legolas is probably there in part to help attract chicks. I can tell you my wife won't be at all unhappy to have more Legolas...

[/Mrs.Amnorix]

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

[/Mrs.Amnorix]

Thankfully she's far more attractive than that.