Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:29 am
OK..... lots to mention. In no particular order:
- DID NOT like the Azog subplot that was added. If memory serves, an orc by that name did exist in the appendices but he actually did die at Moria... having the company hunted from the moment they leave the Shire bugs me. Nothing like that remotely existed in the book, and to me, who has read the book to his son twice in the last year, the change is jarring.
- Riddles in the Dark: in the book, Bilbo says, "Time... give me time!" and answers the riddle by accident. I don't see why they needed to change that.
- I was amused by how Gandalf is made aware of Saruman's presence when his back is turned, and Galdalf makes a face that screams, "Oh no, not THIS douche..." before he turns around and smiles at Saruman. Sort of changes my perception of their relationship in Fellowship, but this version of it seems a lot more like how I remembered, with Gandalf actually being the least important person in that room. Also, the mention of the Istari was sort of neat. Nothing in the LOTR movies touches on the fact that the wizards are pretty much angels.
- Should have beheaded the Goblin King.
- Didn't like how the dwarves straight-up assaulted the troll camp, instead of blundering in and getting captured one by one.
- They had Thorin be a bit more of a dick toward Bilbo than in the book, but I think I can accept this as sort of a character-arc thing. I do think they missed an opportunity after the eagle escape for Thorin to put himself in Bilbo's service, since that would have been a callback to the beginning of the film when every dwarf except Thorin did so. And he did in the book, so JRRT knew what was up.
- Speaking of the eagles, I was hoping we would get their conversation with Galdalf in the eyrie, but I guess not. Their motivations and reasons remain a mystery.
- Also not thrilled with the moth always being the messenger for calling the eagles.
- I liked how they fleshed out the "the mercy of Bilbo may change the world" scene from Fellowhip. I thought that sequence was well done, especially since in the book Bilbo made no such act of "mercy," he was just trying to escape the mountain 100%.
- Didn't really care for the sprawling orc city with the MASSIVE caverns and square miles of forest-worth of timber making bridges everywhere. I kept wondering where all the wood came from.
- Radagast.... Radagast. On the one hand, his hair and face was caked with actual, literal shit. On the other, I think I can live with that... for both his natural eccentricities, and his "love of the forest mushrooms." Saruman always putting people down for their love of mind-altering substances... I liked how Radagast was half LSD-trippy, but when he needed to be, in Gol Dolgur, his was still a badass wizard. So ok. Plus, he is a Timelord, and that goes a long way.
- Did not like the way they got to the "hidden valley," it didn't seem that strange in the book, but I guess, thinking about the actual wording, it could have been something as magically weird as a rock crevice with a chameleon circuit. If I recall, there was some mention somewhere in the books that Galadriel and Elrond laid down some magic that made Lorien and Rivendell hidden from Sauron's view, so ok.
- Did not like how the orc hunters were chasing Radagast, and he kept leading them near the hiding company, and theorcs and wargs were all around them... then in the next moment, the orcs realize where the dwarves are and they start the chase from a mile away over the ridge of hills. What? A moment ago they were 40 feet away.
- Did not like their stay in Rivendell... in the book they are sung into the valley by the elves and stayed for weeks, and got refreshed, and general had a much-needed respite. Here, it is anger and suspicion and sneaking out when no one is looking. I guess they are really playing up elf/dwarf animosity for a big payoff at the Battle of the Five Armies, but... I don't know. I think it takes something away from Thorin to make him seem so bitter and petty.
- Liked how they showed how Thorin got the name Oakenshield.
- From the blurry glimpses and hints we got of the dragon, I think I will be happy with the final reveal. I remember there were some wacky design ideas from when Del Toro was running the project that I didn't like.
- If they skip Bilbo's conversation with the dragon the way they skipped dialogue with the eagles, I will be fucking pissed. They already gave some of Bilbo's spouting of titles for the dragon to one of the dwarves, so they better not be doing that.
- DID like the look on the Derek Smalls dwarf when Bilbo was trying to duck out and says, "You guys don't have a home, so you don't know what it is like to be homesick."
- Did not like the fact they had Bilbo trying to duck out.
++++++
So, I guess this means the next film will be Mirkwood, and I am guessing the White Council assault on the Necromancer... up to... if I had my guess... the reveal of Laketown. Galdalf needs to be done with that business to pop up with the elf/human army besieging the Mountain. So, if half the movie is their tribulations in Mirkwood, that means that half way through Bilbo has to fight the spiders and starts to realize his self worth, so.... I SUPPOSE him trying to duck out of the cave and go home will show his change over 3 different movies, with his "turning point" happening in the middle of movie 2. This leaves him in movie 3 with enough bravery to go down the tunnel all alone, twice, to confront Smaug. ok. SO THEY BETTER FUCKING DO IT THAT WAY SO THIS SHIT MAKES SENSE.
Also, do you suppose the big Azog/Thorin fight will happen in the Bot5A? Will Azog take command of the now leaderless Misty Mountain orcs, leading them to Erebor? Do you suppose they will kill each other, which is what leaves Thorin mortally wounded?
- DID NOT like the Azog subplot that was added. If memory serves, an orc by that name did exist in the appendices but he actually did die at Moria... having the company hunted from the moment they leave the Shire bugs me. Nothing like that remotely existed in the book, and to me, who has read the book to his son twice in the last year, the change is jarring.
- Riddles in the Dark: in the book, Bilbo says, "Time... give me time!" and answers the riddle by accident. I don't see why they needed to change that.
- I was amused by how Gandalf is made aware of Saruman's presence when his back is turned, and Galdalf makes a face that screams, "Oh no, not THIS douche..." before he turns around and smiles at Saruman. Sort of changes my perception of their relationship in Fellowship, but this version of it seems a lot more like how I remembered, with Gandalf actually being the least important person in that room. Also, the mention of the Istari was sort of neat. Nothing in the LOTR movies touches on the fact that the wizards are pretty much angels.
- Should have beheaded the Goblin King.
- Didn't like how the dwarves straight-up assaulted the troll camp, instead of blundering in and getting captured one by one.
- They had Thorin be a bit more of a dick toward Bilbo than in the book, but I think I can accept this as sort of a character-arc thing. I do think they missed an opportunity after the eagle escape for Thorin to put himself in Bilbo's service, since that would have been a callback to the beginning of the film when every dwarf except Thorin did so. And he did in the book, so JRRT knew what was up.
- Speaking of the eagles, I was hoping we would get their conversation with Galdalf in the eyrie, but I guess not. Their motivations and reasons remain a mystery.
- Also not thrilled with the moth always being the messenger for calling the eagles.
- I liked how they fleshed out the "the mercy of Bilbo may change the world" scene from Fellowhip. I thought that sequence was well done, especially since in the book Bilbo made no such act of "mercy," he was just trying to escape the mountain 100%.
- Didn't really care for the sprawling orc city with the MASSIVE caverns and square miles of forest-worth of timber making bridges everywhere. I kept wondering where all the wood came from.
- Radagast.... Radagast. On the one hand, his hair and face was caked with actual, literal shit. On the other, I think I can live with that... for both his natural eccentricities, and his "love of the forest mushrooms." Saruman always putting people down for their love of mind-altering substances... I liked how Radagast was half LSD-trippy, but when he needed to be, in Gol Dolgur, his was still a badass wizard. So ok. Plus, he is a Timelord, and that goes a long way.
- Did not like the way they got to the "hidden valley," it didn't seem that strange in the book, but I guess, thinking about the actual wording, it could have been something as magically weird as a rock crevice with a chameleon circuit. If I recall, there was some mention somewhere in the books that Galadriel and Elrond laid down some magic that made Lorien and Rivendell hidden from Sauron's view, so ok.
- Did not like how the orc hunters were chasing Radagast, and he kept leading them near the hiding company, and theorcs and wargs were all around them... then in the next moment, the orcs realize where the dwarves are and they start the chase from a mile away over the ridge of hills. What? A moment ago they were 40 feet away.
- Did not like their stay in Rivendell... in the book they are sung into the valley by the elves and stayed for weeks, and got refreshed, and general had a much-needed respite. Here, it is anger and suspicion and sneaking out when no one is looking. I guess they are really playing up elf/dwarf animosity for a big payoff at the Battle of the Five Armies, but... I don't know. I think it takes something away from Thorin to make him seem so bitter and petty.
- Liked how they showed how Thorin got the name Oakenshield.
- From the blurry glimpses and hints we got of the dragon, I think I will be happy with the final reveal. I remember there were some wacky design ideas from when Del Toro was running the project that I didn't like.
- If they skip Bilbo's conversation with the dragon the way they skipped dialogue with the eagles, I will be fucking pissed. They already gave some of Bilbo's spouting of titles for the dragon to one of the dwarves, so they better not be doing that.
- DID like the look on the Derek Smalls dwarf when Bilbo was trying to duck out and says, "You guys don't have a home, so you don't know what it is like to be homesick."
- Did not like the fact they had Bilbo trying to duck out.
++++++
So, I guess this means the next film will be Mirkwood, and I am guessing the White Council assault on the Necromancer... up to... if I had my guess... the reveal of Laketown. Galdalf needs to be done with that business to pop up with the elf/human army besieging the Mountain. So, if half the movie is their tribulations in Mirkwood, that means that half way through Bilbo has to fight the spiders and starts to realize his self worth, so.... I SUPPOSE him trying to duck out of the cave and go home will show his change over 3 different movies, with his "turning point" happening in the middle of movie 2. This leaves him in movie 3 with enough bravery to go down the tunnel all alone, twice, to confront Smaug. ok. SO THEY BETTER FUCKING DO IT THAT WAY SO THIS SHIT MAKES SENSE.
Also, do you suppose the big Azog/Thorin fight will happen in the Bot5A? Will Azog take command of the now leaderless Misty Mountain orcs, leading them to Erebor? Do you suppose they will kill each other, which is what leaves Thorin mortally wounded?
The Ironfoot dwarves are getting their asses kicked for want of 13 reinforcements?