The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (no spoilers)

Everything cultural, pop or otherwise. Books, movies, music, comics, poetry, random cultural geekery.
Aesop
Posts: 6149
Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2013 9:17 am

The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (no spoilers)

Post by Aesop »

Everything you would expect from the Middle Earth equivalent of The Empire Strikes Back.
It bridges the gap from Act I to Act III, has multiple pseudo-climaxes, nothing is resolved, new characters are introduced, and all the pieces are in place for the final installment.
If you like the series, go see it, you'll like it.

I like the series, and the movie, but was nonetheless predictably left feeling like I watched a great version of the 2d and 3rd quarters of the Superbowl, including a fantastic halftime extravaganza, and the score still tied at 7-7, when suddenly the signal cut off.

Oh, and I lied about the spoilers: Sauron reveals he's actually Bilbo's father. :P
"There are four types of homicide: felonious, accidental, justifiable, and praiseworthy." -Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"
Malthorn
Posts: 198
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:42 am

Re: The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (no spoilers)

Post by Malthorn »

Hated the way it ended.

At least you didn't reveal who Bilbo's real mother is!
staylor
Posts: 896
Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:19 am

Re: The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (no spoilers)

Post by staylor »

Gandalf?
"Tyranny like Hell is not easily conquered yet we have this consolation with us, the harder the conflict, the more glorius the triumph"
Thomas Paine
User avatar
Jericho941
Posts: 5190
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:30 am

Re: The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (no spoilers)

Post by Jericho941 »

staylor wrote:Gandalf?
Bilbo's status as a wizard ass baby remains in question.
User avatar
Steamforger
Posts: 2785
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:41 pm

Re: The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (no spoilers)

Post by Steamforger »

Without revealing much...

[spoiler]I have never believed a group so fucked as I did when I head the last 6 words of this movie.[/spoiler]
User avatar
Aglifter
Posts: 8212
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:15 am

Re: The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (no spoilers)

Post by Aglifter »

Just wait for it to come out on Blue-Ray/DVD, and watch it at home.

The "plot stretching" is a bit much...
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, & our sacred Honor

A gentleman unarmed is undressed.

Collects of 1903/08 Colt Pocket Auto
User avatar
308Mike
Posts: 16537
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:47 pm

Re: The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (no spoilers)

Post by 308Mike »

Aglifter wrote:Just wait for it to come out on Blue-Ray/DVD, and watch it at home.

The "plot stretching" is a bit much...
But you miss all the visual effects from watching it on a BIG screen and with a large sound system (which can make even mediocre films seem at least decent)!!!
POLITICIANS & DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON

A person properly schooled in right and wrong is safe with any weapon. A person with no idea of good and evil is unsafe with a knitting needle, or the cap from a ballpoint pen.

I remain pessimistic given the way BATF and the anti gun crowd have become tape worms in the guts of the Republic. - toad
User avatar
randy
Posts: 8354
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:33 pm
Location: EM79VQ

Re: The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (no spoilers)

Post by randy »

308Mike wrote:
Aglifter wrote:Just wait for it to come out on Blue-Ray/DVD, and watch it at home.

The "plot stretching" is a bit much...
But you miss all the visual effects from watching it on a BIG screen and with a large sound system (which can make even mediocre films seem at least decent)!!!
Meh. You also miss crowds, parking issues, over priced food and drinks, and jerks of all ages talking, texting, walking around and in general being annoying distractions. And the ability to pause the action without bothering anyone else when you need to make a pit stop. Oh, and most theaters around here are Criminal Protection Zones.

As HD TVs get bigger and cheaper, and my sound system gets better and cheaper, it's gotten to the point that the only time I go to a theater is as part of a family or group activity.
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
User avatar
Cybrludite
Posts: 5048
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:13 am

Re: The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (no spoilers)

Post by Cybrludite »

I only had one real complaint:

[spoiler]What in the name of He Who Must Not Be Named was the deal with the closing credits starting off with a Tracy Chapman impersonator doing a Blues number? The song itself wasn't bad, but it was utterly out of context with everything else.[/spoiler]
"If it ain't the Devil's Music, you ain't doin' it right." - Chris Thomas King

"When liberal democracies collapse, someone comes along who promises to make the trains run on time if we load the right people into them." - Tam K.
Malthorn
Posts: 198
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:42 am

Re: The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug (no spoilers)

Post by Malthorn »

Cybrludite a response to you complaint behind the spoiler tag.

[spoiler]Is it this song? IIRC Peter Jackson's daughter recommended it. I thought that is was a strange choice until I started paying attention to the lyrics.[/spoiler]
Post Reply