Critics review 'Desolation of Smaug' | POSSIBLE SPOILERS

OITNB spoilers:

In An Unexpected Journey, criticisms of Jackson's choice to vastly extend Tolkien's lean Lord of the Rings precursor were largely dispelled, as the narrative filling-out didn't feel labored, as many feared, but naturalistic. In The Desolation of Smaug (or in its first half, at least), Jackson serves up something else entirely: a lightning-paced, nuance-deprived succession of busy set pieces, many of them exasperating in their breathless insistence on pandering to the blockbuster crowd.

Eldorion wrote:Crazy Eyes definitely had the best theme/end credits song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRvpGGc9Jv8

OITNB spoilers:

In An Unexpected Journey, criticisms of Jackson's choice to vastly extend Tolkien's lean Lord of the Rings precursor were largely dispelled, as the narrative filling-out didn't feel labored, as many feared, but naturalistic.

But he abandons so much restraint in this film that Legolas slaying a giant elephant in The Return of the King, and then playfully surfing down its trunk to triumphant safety, feels like a quaint and distant memory.

Jackson serves up something else entirely: a lightning-paced, nuance-deprived succession of busy set pieces, many of them exasperating in their breathless insistence on pandering to the blockbuster crowd.

Eldorion wrote:

In An Unexpected Journey, criticisms of Jackson's choice to vastly extend Tolkien's lean Lord of the Rings precursor were largely dispelled, as the narrative filling-out didn't feel labored, as many feared, but naturalistic.

bungobaggins wrote:http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/the-hobbit-the-desolation-of-smaug

In An Unexpected Journey, criticisms of Jackson's choice to vastly extend Tolkien's lean Lord of the Rings precursor were largely dispelled, as the narrative filling-out didn't feel labored, as many feared, but naturalistic. In The Desolation of Smaug (or in its first half, at least), Jackson serves up something else entirely: a lightning-paced, nuance-deprived succession of busy set pieces, many of them exasperating in their breathless insistence on pandering to the blockbuster crowd.

wha...?

Bluebottle wrote:Well, he did say the narrative filling out felt naturalistic.  

I should perhaps have kept that part in the quote as well.

Radaghast wrote:Exactly. I hate when reviewers take this haughty, subjective tone.

Bluebottle wrote:Well, he did say the narrative filling out felt naturalistic.  

I should perhaps have kept that part in the quote as well.

Bluebottle wrote:Worse than AUJ?   

Spoiler:

Eldorion wrote:

Radaghast wrote:Exactly. I hate when reviewers take this haughty, subjective tone.

They're paid to offer their opinion about movies, so of course it's going to be subjective.  And I didn't think the review was haughty.

bungobaggins wrote:The one review I'm really looking forward to.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Radaghast wrote:Perhaps not, and, sure, they can express their opinion of the movie, but such a statement basically seems highly presumptive to me, at the least. "You people who feared the invented parts wouldn't fit, don't worry about it, it's cool. It's naturalistic"

Eldorion wrote:
Definitely. :DI enjoyed their AUJ review too.

Spoiler:

Tinuviel wrote:There's a theorist named Adrienne Rich who says that compulsory heterosexuality is an oppressive apparatus that keeps women under the thumb of men. She argues that lesbians are able to escape that apparatus because they don't depend on men at all but each other, much like in Orange. It was so refreshing watching that show because it was women interacting with women against men and the penitentiary that is oppressing them.

Tinuviel wrote:THIS MAKES ME SO CRABBIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bungobaggins wrote:I am officially back on the Crabbit Wagon!