Re: The Desolation of Smaug pre-release thread [3] [SPOILERS]

by Bluebottle Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:03 pm

Shame to hear that, Petty.

We kind of had the same thing here, being so long under Danish and Swedish rule. Which is a bit of a shame as the Norwegian/Fjordlandian culture was probably the strongest in Viking and early Medieval Scandinavia. It just never really recovered after the Black Plaugue. So a bit like you with gaelic, we have lost our original language norrønt. Which they only speak in places like Iceland now.

It must be said though. Fry does some great scottish accents.

Ever tried the deep fried donner kebab? Only 4000 of your best calories. Laughing

by Eldorion Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:27 pm

bungobaggins wrote:90 second preview tracks.

I don't understand this marketing strategy.

https://soundcloud.com/watertowermusic/the-hobbit-the-desolation-of

30 new seconds per track each week?

I still haven't listened to any of the previews, but at this rate I can just hold out for another few weeks and then listen to the entire album streaming from the official Soundcloud page. Razz

by Radaghast Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:29 pm

Pettytyrant101 wrote:Thing is funny as that is, and QI always is, it belies a sad fact about Scotland for a long time- we actively tried to get rid of our own accents, to get rid of Scots as a language for a very long time.

That IS sad. That accent is awesome!

by David H Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:31 pm

I decided on a new strategy for watching DoS. I'm not watching or listening to ANY of the pre-release stuff, but I AM reading everything you folks have to say about it. It's much more entertaining and insightful than the actual previews I'm sure. Very Happy

When I actually go to the theater, I'm going to pretend I'm watching a generic fantasy dragon film that has no real connection to Tolkien. (Not that much of a stretch really. Rolling Eyes

) If they do a good dragon, I'll tell myself I got my money's worth.

If that still doesn't work, I'll have a whole year to devise a new strategy for watching TaBA.

by bungobaggins Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:02 pm

By the sound of the second track, Wilderland, it appears that the company will be pursued by the wargs and will probably stumble across Beorn in this way.

by Eldorion Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:03 pm

David H wrote:When I actually go to the theater, I'm going to pretend I'm watching a generic fantasy dragon film that has no real connection to Tolkien. (Not that much of a stretch really. ) If they do a good dragon, I'll tell myself I got my money's worth.

I'm hoping for this, but I also worry that this is still too high of an expectation to set. Razz

by bungobaggins Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:04 pm

I wonder if we'll even get a good look at the dragon. It looks like it's going to be pretty dark inside Erebor.

by Pettytyrant101 Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:05 pm

it appears that the company will be pursued by the wargs and will probably stumble across Beorn in this way.- Bungo

What a surprise. Mad

by Eldorion Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:05 pm

I think we got a pretty good look at his head in the trailer already (which still strikes me as a really weird marketing decision). I'm sure PJ wants to show off the dragon in all his glory eventually. He's never been good at keeping monsters hidden in shadows even when he probably should have for horror/suspense reasons (thinking Shelob and the Watcher in the Water here).

by bungobaggins Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:06 pm

If I get a less loveliness inducing musical score, then I'll have felt like I got my money's worth.

Also, if I get a few good hearty laughs out of some really bad dialogue, I'll also feel like I got my money's worth.

by bungobaggins Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:06 pm

Eldorion wrote:I think we got a pretty good look at his head in the trailer already (which still strikes me as a really weird marketing decision). I'm sure PJ wants to show off the dragon in all his glory eventually. He's never been good at keeping monsters hidden in shadows even when he probably should have for horror/suspense reasons (thinking Shelob and the Watcher in the Water here).

I thought that shot was too dark, and I remember people enhancing the contrast for gifs and what not.

by Pettytyrant101 Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:07 pm

Doesnt matter what was in the trailer- they've probably changed the design another half dozen times since then.

by bungobaggins Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:10 pm

Like, I want to see Smaug in broad daylight. That's the only way I'll be able to know if the dragon was successful. If he is believable in broad daylight. But we're probably not going to get that.

by RA Wed Nov 27, 2013 6:22 am

Pettytyrant101 wrote:Doesnt matter what was in the trailer- they've probably changed the design another half dozen times since then.

True, he's probably not even a dragon anymore. Laughing

Tolkien really wanted a chimera, or something, that looks super cool Cool

by RA Wed Nov 27, 2013 6:23 am

And Jackson will deliver as is his job.

by Eldorion Wed Nov 27, 2013 3:42 pm

bungobaggins wrote:Like, I want to see Smaug in broad daylight. That's the only way I'll be able to know if the dragon was successful. If he is believable in broad daylight. But we're probably not going to get that.

Did the attack on Lake-town occur in broad daylight? I can't check right now because my books are still packed away from having repainted my room recently. Razz

That said, so far all the flashbacks in the films and trailers have been in daylight, and they might stop trying to hide Smaug in them now that it's the second film. Shrugging

by bungobaggins Wed Nov 27, 2013 3:53 pm

I thought it happened at night. And at least, that's when it's going to happen in the movie.

by Sinister71 Wed Nov 27, 2013 10:56 pm

At night cinematically would make sense though. Darkness and flame would work well together. Now whether the story is worth a damn is something else entirely

by Radaghast Wed Nov 27, 2013 10:57 pm

Sinister71 wrote:At night cinematically would make sense though. Darkness and flame would work well together. Now whether the story is worth a damn is something else entirely

Three words: Ninja Elf Chick.

by bungobaggins Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:04 pm

Radaghast wrote:
Sinister71 wrote:At night cinematically would make sense though. Darkness and flame would work well together. Now whether the story is worth a damn is something else entirely
Three words: Ninja Elf Chick.

The Desolation of Smaug pre-release thread [3] [SPOILERS] - Page 17 980

If you'd have told me 10 years ago, I wouldn't have believed you.

by Pettytyrant101 Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:04 pm

In AUJ the original attack is in full daylight- scene starts with the dragon kite in the sky- despite the fact in the song they sing at Bag End they rightly sing that its at night- same as the book Mad

by Radaghast Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:12 pm

Pettytyrant101 wrote:In AUJ the original attack is in full daylight- scene starts with the dragon kite in the sky- despite the fact in the song they sing at Bag End they rightly sing that its at night- same as the book

I don't think the Warlock and the Coven even double-check their own scripts :facepalm:

by RA Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:15 pm

Sinister71 wrote:At night cinematically would make sense though. Darkness and flame would work well together. Now whether the story is worth a damn is something else entirely

They've always shied away from using dark environments where the audience can't see everything. I'm willing to give leeway for that though because the ambient lighting used is usually for the betterment of the scene. Still I'd have preferred a truly dark Gollum's cave or Mirkwood. That's just personal preference on my part though.

by Radaghast Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:18 pm

And a dark Moria too.

by Pettytyrant101 Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:20 pm

Agreed- I darkened a lot in my edits, including Moria and Mordor, and Gollums cave in AUJ.
Pj is afraid of filming darkness- which is a shame as it can be used very effectively- David Lynch for an example is an expert at shooting properly dark night scenes that effectively convey the mood he wants.