Re: The Desolation of Smaug pre-release thread [2] [SPOILERS]

[malickfan]

Incidently Bilbo clinging onto a barrel dosen't bother me that much, as I doubt we will be getting his famous 'thag you very buch' line in (otherwise all the dwarves would have to have colds as well).

There are a few photos from set, and a rather nifty early concept for Dol Guldor but I'd imagine screengrabs will be up soon on Heirs of Durin etc.

I can't wait to see what Petty thinks...

[bungobaggins]

Here's a link to the images in the article.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JoshWildingNewsAndReviews/news/?a=89191

When I see this one of Lake-town the first thing that comes to mind is Harry Potter. I don't know why. I just think it would be a good design for something in the Harry Potter universe, but not Middle-earth.  

[bungobaggins]

‘The dwarves break into two halves after Lake-town’ reveals Armitage ‘Kili gets injured and has to remain behind so the dwarves break.

I guess that's so he'll get more flirting time with five-head Tauriel.

[malickfan]

Hmm...I don't know about that one, I like that it looks kinda Victorian Weird and some of the roofs echo Bree in shape deisgn, and in a way looks like a grander version of Tolkien's own illustration.

That said does this mean we will be getting a BOFA/Smuag attack in winter? That could certainly bring some interesting visuals to the film.

But wasn't Dale a very medieval set? located scarely more than a couple of Day's travel away? Hmm.

Regarding Kili...that seems to be Inspired from The History of The Hobbit in a way, at one point (if I am remembering correctly) Kili was considered to be shot and captured oustide the gates of Erebor by the Wood Elves and used as a bargaining chip of sorts to avoid the BOFA.

Perhaps his capture will actually give Fili something to do!

[bungobaggins]

I think having Smaug's attack (and the BOFA) set during the winter is actually not a bad idea, and it could also offer a nice visual contrast to the battles in ROTK.

I'm not sure if Dale was medieval, but it seemed to have an Italian influence to me.

I don't own History of the Hobbit so I can't check on that.

[malickfan]

You really really should at least borrow a copy of The History of The Hobbit, not only are the drafts/aborted 1960 rewrite of the hobbit fascinating (and drastically different to the finished project), it's pretty much a guidebook to every single aspect of the story-Radagast has a 13 page essay about him (despite being mentioned in one line), Dragon sickness, the Arkenstone as a Silmaril, the links to the father christmas letters and Beowwulf etc. It's probably the best book about tolkien in the last ten years (it's also easier to read then the H.O.M.E).

Did I write mediieval for Dale, I meant Mediterean looked Italian to me.

I seem to recall seeing some Snow Flakes fall in the DOS trailer so winter for BOFA is certainly a possibility (and ties in with the timeframe in the book, if not necessarily the geography of Middle Earth)

[Eldorion]

Lengthier summary of the AUJ-EE commentary from Joe20 on TORn.  It also corroborates the shorter list I posted earlier.

http://newboards.theonering.net/forum/gforum/perl/gforum.cgi?post=657819#657819

The gems shown to Thranduil will feature more in the 2nd and 3rd films.

We will find out why Gandalf has a different staff in FOTR at the end of the second/start of the third Hobbit film. Indicating Dol Guldur's placement in the story. (Click here for more)

The claw Frodo picks up in Bag End is supposed to be one of Smaug's claws. Though it was shot before they knew how big Smaug would be. PJ suspects it will look a little small compared to Smaug's actual claws.

The Sackville-Baggins' (Lobelia and Otho will feature later on in the trilogy. (Obviously the auction scene)

PJ and Co tried hard to explain the reasons why the Dwarves need a burglar in the Desolation Of Smaug.

Battle Of Moria flashback was originally going to happen in Beorn's house.

As the filming went on PJ started using less prosthetic orcs and more CG orcs. And he is happy about it. He thinks the orcs coming in the next two films will be very scary and formidable when compared to those in the original trilogy.

Spiders that attacked Radagast same as those in DOS.

How Gandalf gets the map and the key is changed from the book.

As the films go on they get darker. Very little comedy by the third.

The dagger found by Radagast is the same one that stabs Frodo on Weathertop and it will come in to play a lot more. It will "return to the darker powers later on in the trilogy"

Philippa mentions the Battle Of Dol Guldur by name. So it certainly will happen...

Something about the "who did you tell about your quest" line plays into the beginning of film 2. Also Personal and geopolitical reasoning for Azog seeking Thorin. (I think thats what they were getting at. Difficult to understand exactly what is in reference to what.)

The reason Kili is the only archer in the group is because he has a "certain affinity with another archer" (hmmm I wonder who.... Wink)

We will see Saruman again in the Hobbit movies.

Thrain's ring will come into play later on in the Desolation Of Smaug.

Galadriel will fulfil her promise to Gandalf that "if ever he should need her help. She will come".

The Thrush will return.

[Eldorion]

So the Battle of Dol Guldur (a phrase Philippa Boyens has been throwing around for a while now and apparently uses again in the commentary) may be split between the end of the second movie and the beginning of the third. And we'll see Saruman and Galadriel again, and presumably the Witch-king as he retrieves his dagger. And Thrain's ring of power will be relevant somehow, though perhaps only in flashback. If I had to guess, though, I'd say its introduced in flashback and then crops up again in the main storyline, same as Azog.

Also, it's looking more and more likely that Legolas/Tauriel/Kili will be in a love triangle.

[Eldorion]

Did I write mediieval for Dale, I meant Mediterean looked Italian to me.

I seem to recall seeing some Snow Flakes fall in the DOS trailer so winter for BOFA is certainly a possibility (and ties in with the timeframe in the book, if not necessarily the geography of Middle Earth)

I don't recall the trailers precisely, but there have been some set pics showing the ruins of Dale covered in snow. It is supposed to be near the end of the year when they get to Erebor though and (not being a climatologist) I think it makes sense that the region would be snowy, being considerably far north and pretty far from any major bodies of water that would moderate temperatures.

The Dale sets have always looked Mediterranean to me too, though. I'm not sure why they made that stylistic choice. It fit quite well for Gondor but Dale was built by a different culture and in a very different environment.

[Sinister71]

How Gandalf gets the map and the key is changed from the book.

SURPRISE!!!! SURPRISE!!!! SURPRISE!!!!  


      Here's to you Peter Jackson

[RA]

I might have known.

[Sinister71]

I might have known.

well I hate to disappoint

Got to say I agree with whom ever said that Laketown looks like it belongs in a Harry Potter film. I mean I still think it looks good. But it does look like something that's been done before in other films though.

[Tinuviel]

Weren't the dwarves split up in the book when they went to laketown because some of them were waterlogged? Yes, I think so, because I remember Thorin Fili and Kili all went into Laketown with Bilbo... right?
And I have a feeling the bit in Rivendell with Kili checking out the elf maidens wasn't just for comic relief... that shit is coming back again with a vengence.

[Norc]

i think lake town looks good and i agree, a winter fight scene will actually be pretty cool  and this whole Kili business  we'll just have to wait and see  and as (malick?) said, maybe it'll leave fili to actually do stuff eheh..

[Norc]

also. i don't think dale looks meditieranian. i think it looks like a mix of those italian mountain villages and those houses on kite runner.. or well.. it reminds me of mountain houses and i don't think they are that far off the lake town design. lake town is all wood so it makes sense it is slightly different. and the regions don't have to be far off just for the style to have changed.

[Mrs Figg]

Thanks Malick   that was interesting reading to say the least.

This caught my eyes and made me very irritated.

''the dwarves famous escape from the woodland realm is hindered by an full on attack by Azog and his gang'

F**** Azog AGAIN?????!!!!!!

and this sugary sweet pile of crap!!

Foremost is the almost physic link he has developed with co-screenwriters Walsh and Boyesn, the brain trust who take the strain of staying faithful to Tolkien as their director let’s his imagination fly.

[Mrs Figg]

Here's a link to the images in the article.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JoshWildingNewsAndReviews/news/?a=89191

When I see this one of Lake-town the first thing that comes to mind is Harry Potter. I don't know why. I just think it would be a good design for something in the Harry Potter universe, but not Middle-earth.  

you are right, it looks more like Hogsmead village in the snow like In Prisoner of Azkaban.

[Norc]

i think it looks good, a bit loomy but cosy. definitely a different feel to it than dale, and i like that. think i am gonna like lake town a lot

[Mrs Figg]

I think Dale looks Northern Italian, like Grazzano Visconti village.

[Eldorion]

Yeah, Dale definitely looks Italian to me. It doesn't make a lot of sense though, because as far as drawing inspiration from real world architecture, they already used a Byzantine theme for Gondor. I'm not sure what connection Gondor and Dale have that would mirror the stylistic connection between Byzantium and Italy type architecture.

Lake-town does look a little bit like Hogsmeade, but I think it's largely just the snow. Without that, it also looks a lot like Bree, but both Bree and Hogsmeade look a lot like generic old timey English villages.

[bungobaggins]

Oh yes! Hogsmeade! That's what it reminded me of!

[Norc]

[bungobaggins]

Lengthier summary of the AUJ-EE commentary from Joe20 on TORn.  It also corroborates the shorter list I posted earlier.

http://newboards.theonering.net/forum/gforum/perl/gforum.cgi?post=657819#657819

The dagger found by Radagast is the same one that stabs Frodo on Weathertop and it will come in to play a lot more. It will "return to the darker powers later on in the trilogy"

This just sounds incredibly stupid. I just thought the Witch-king had an arsenal of daggers and weapons. Why does it have to be the exact same one? This just reminds me of the ending of Revenge of the Tshi with all it's connecting and trying to tie things up in a package with a stupid bow.

[Eldorion]

It's like poetry. They rhyme. Every stanza rhymes with the last one.

[bungobaggins]

Hopefully it'll work.