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

[bungobaggins]

The best of both worlds!

Oh, youtube.  

[bungobaggins]

In regards to the prologue of the movie, and the fact that the track for it is titled "The Quest for Erebor," I'm thinking it will be a flashback to possibly Moria. In the most recent Empire article (I think) it was mentioned that Christian Rivers was filming the prologue and there was mention of Thror. Boyens admitted that how Gandalf acquires the key is different from the book (who woulda thunk!). So I'm thinking Aznaulbizar perhaps? Maybe this is where Gandalf meets Thrain? But, wtf is Gandalf doing there? Did he place a bet on the battle with Radagast and was watching from afar? Or maybe it's something completely different.

Personally I'm getting sick of prologues and flashbacks. They're just poor story telling devices in my opinion (especially in film, because they can come across as very cliched , particularly when people start screaming "NO!" in slow motion).

[Eldorion]

That's a little disheartening if they're doing another Thror-related flashback.  They covered all of the backstory related to him pretty thoroughly in AUJ already. I'm hoping DOS has a little more momentum and feels less obligated to constantly stop and explain things.

[Mrs Figg]

I agree about too many flashbacks its confusing and you get some rambling voiceover nobody listens to because you are concentrating on the slo-mo NOing.
I must say I loved the flashforward in LOTR of Arwens future kid, and her mourning of Aragorn, that was gorgeous.

[Tinuviel]

I felt AUJ was made strictly for backstory. Now that we have it, lets just GO!!! Especially if they're cramming as much into this film as I think they are!!
On the flip side, the prologue in TT was actually really cool, and we got to see something described in the book as a flashback (kind of). So hopefully it's something like that!

[Eldorion]

Major, MAJOR spoilers in the summary of the 20 minute preview from the fan event that was not streamed online.

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/11/05/81726-all-the-spoilery-details-from-the-20-minutes-of-previously-unseen-footage-screened-at-the-desolation-of-smaug-fan-event/

[bungobaggins]

I felt AUJ was made strictly for backstory. Now that we have it, lets just GO!!! Especially if they're cramming as much into this film as I think they are!!
On the flip side, the prologue in TT was actually really cool, and we got to see something described in the book as a flashback (kind of). So hopefully it's something like that!

I agree that the opening of TT was exciting and fun to watch, but it had the biggest cliche of all. The one that I HATE!    

IT WAS ALL A DREAM! fuuuuuuu

[bungobaggins]

Major, MAJOR spoilers in the summary of the 20 minute preview from the fan event that was not streamed online.

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/11/05/81726-all-the-spoilery-details-from-the-20-minutes-of-previously-unseen-footage-screened-at-the-desolation-of-smaug-fan-event/

I read this earlier.

This is the part that enraged me the most.

As Bilbo stands over the dead spider, he looks at his Elven blade and says “Sting. That’s a good name for you.”

Wtf was wrong with: "I will give you a name...and I shall call you Sting." ???



If they can't even give me that one line, then fuck it.

I removed the spoiler tags. hehehehehe

[Norc]

CAN WE SPOILER TAG?!

[bungobaggins]

I don't know. Can we?  

[Eldorion]

CAN WE SPOILER TAG?!

We've been over this a hundred times.  The spoiler threads are for open discussion of spoilers. There's a bunch of other threads here without spoiler warnings in the title, including the main spoiler-free one.  We're well into the marketing campaign for DOS so there's going to be more and more stuff like this coming, especially after the world premiere and once the reviews hit.

[Norc]

ok.. sorrry... then....

[Forest Shepherd]

DOS Special Edition Soundtrack List

5. A Spell of Concealment Perhaps this is where they see the ruins of Dale. They must have to hide from someone as well, possibly orcs or a Nazgul
]

Your idea sounds like Jackson, but I am much mistaken if this is not in reference to the magic by which the dwarves have hidden the secret door into the mountain.
Perhaps a searching montage?

[bungobaggins]

Music Video for "I See Fire"

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=200046586849043

We have a tradition in our Tolkien films of having a song over the closing credits. It's very important that the song feels right for the world of the movie - and also carries the emotional resonance of the end of that particular film.

The Desolation of Smaug is no different. The ending of this film requires a voice and sensibility that will allow an viewer to process what they have just experienced.

It's always tricky to think of the right person to create and performance these songs. Someone who shares our passion for Tolkien, and somebody who is prepared to respect the film.

This year we are thrilled to have Ed Sheeran write and perform our closing song, "I See Fire".

My daughter Katie, deserves total credit for bringing Ed to our movie. He was touring New Zealand earlier this year, and Katie introduced me to his music. Beautiful haunting songs, full of passion and coming from a very genuine place in his heart.

We heard that Ed was a fan of our movies, so while he was playing in Wellington, we invited him around for a tour.

He then headed off to join Taylor Swift on a concert tour. But we had exchanged e-mail addresses.

A few weeks ago, we were puzzling about who to approach about the song that had to be written and recorded very quickly. We now had a strong feeling about the tone of the song, but we needed to find the right voice.

Katie reminded us about how great Ed's voice was, and how right it would be. Fran and I got it the second she mentioned it.

And I had his e-mail address.

I wrote to him on a Sunday morning, and asked if he was interested. He would need to fly down to NZ to see the movie, because it was critical he write from the perspective of the audience.

Within 48hrs he was in Wellington, having immediately jumped on a plane from London with his manager Stuart Camp, who was instantly supportive and helpful.

Ed watched the movie at Park Road Post, immediately went into a room, and started writing and singing. Much of what you will hear on this song was recorded that same day, with a few overdubs and tweaks the following day.

Despite having never played the violin in his life, Ed thought he might try overdubbing one himself, and Katie raced out to borrow a rather battered one from a school friend.

Pete Cobbin from Abbey Road was at Park Road mixing Howard's musical score, and was able to mix the song with Ed.

It was a great experience, and what you will see in this video are moments captured by our behind the scenes team during the creation of the song.

But the images are only supporting Ed's wonderful song. This is his direct emotional response to seeing The Desolation of Smaug, written and performed on the same day he saw the movie.

I am very proud to present "I See Fire”.

I don't know why, but this song makes me feel less crabbit.

[Forest Shepherd]

I found this to be particularly unsportsmanlike, I disapprove!
(from the 20 minutes Fan Event link)

Spoiler:

How about Jerk-face instead?

[Pettytyrant101]

I have been reading these spoilers                                          can you tell what I feel about them yet?

[Eldorion]

I really like the story behind "I See Fire". That's really sweet.

I only skim-read the spoilers but I'm not surprised you feel that way, Petty.

[Lancebloke]

I quite like the song.

[halfwise]

As Bilbo stands over the dead spider, he looks at his Elven blade and says “Sting. That’s a good name for you.”

Wtf was wrong with: "I will give you a name...and I shall call you Sting." ???

Umm...7 syllables versus 12?

They probably felt the original wasn't "modern" enough to fit in with the rest of the script they had written. Ie: nothing they had written sounded like Tolkien, so they couldn't risk having any real Tolkien stick out like a sore thumb.

[halfwise]

where can I find the song?

[Eldorion]

where can I find the song?  

Streaming here:

http://www.alterthepress.com/2013/11/ed-sheeran-releases-new-song-i-see-fire.html

[halfwise]

funny I just went back and found it and was on my way to delete my post.....

[halfwise]

Sounds too young and modern for my taste.

[Ringdrotten]

Don't know if someone has posted this already, but Vlog #12 is up on Jackson's facebook page (couldn't find it on youtube yet):

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151969256876558&set=vb.141884481557&type=2&theater

It looks like the dwarves will have a battle with the spiders, like they do in the book after Bilbo has freed them, but one thing puzzled me a little: Thorin seems to be there, and he is supposed to be captured by the elves by then. And still there is footage of him being interrogated by Thranduil, which suggests that Thorin is captured on his own in the film too

[Tinuviel]

The song confirms my suspicion that DOS revolves around Thorin, but man, it's a great song!!!!
The spoilers really didn't bug me that much. Sure, it's kind of stupid how Bilbo isn't wearing his ring... like at all, but everything else seemed ok to me in a cinematic sense. Although I'm confused what Thranduil is exactly doing holding the dwarves captive at this point, as in what's his motive? But I'm glad we still have the same clueless point out the obvious Legolas  
Otherwise, the spoilers kind of give me hope that they are trying to stick with the story more. Sure, they're forsaking the specific details, but I see more parts from the story in there than in AUJ, or at least, things are making more sense than they did in AUJ