Re: Critics review 'Desolation of Smaug' | POSSIBLE SPOILERS

by Pettytyrant101 Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:23 pm

Yeah she seemed pretty spot on with everything she said from what we've heard about the film so far.

by Mrs Figg Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:34 pm

she didnt hate it. she said it was good fun for a night out with the kids.

by Pettytyrant101 Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:40 pm

That surprised me considering many of the reviews have commented on how many onscreen decapiotations and the like there are, the guy even listed a few examples.

I guess what parents think is ok for the kids has changed a bit.

by Mrs Figg Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:43 pm

it totally depends on the pg rating. if kids are allowed to watch it, then its fair enough that parents take their kids to see it.

by Pettytyrant101 Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:58 pm

I personally thought when Azog beheaded Thror then threw his head it was OTT for a film based on a childrens book aimed at roughly 8 year olds. I edited it out my version.

by Radaghast Thu Dec 12, 2013 12:06 am

And talk about another thing that doesn't make sense. Why should Thorin be shocked that the orcs would kill his father during combat?

by Mrs Figg Thu Dec 12, 2013 12:38 am

Pettytyrant101 wrote:I personally thought when Azog beheaded Thror then threw his head it was OTT for a film based on a childrens book aimed at roughly 8 year olds. I edited it out my version.

well seeing as 80% of the Hobbit book has violence it would make for a very short film. Beorn skins an orc and warg and leaves them on his door, spiders trying to kill everything that moves, Gollum trying to eat Bilbo, its not exactly sweetness and light is it

by Pettytyrant101 Thu Dec 12, 2013 12:44 am

Its all in how its told - it felt out of place to me to be so exlpicit and graphic in a young kids story.

I am not opposed to scaring kids, Who does that, its how you choose to do it and PJ aint to subtle about it.

by Radaghast Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:17 am

73% at RT; 41/15.

by Eldorion Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:46 am

I was expecting the RT score to decline, but it's fallen like 6% in the last day or two.

by Radaghast Thu Dec 12, 2013 4:05 am

This is my favorite review yet, because the author actually shows a more than cursory appreciation for the book:

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/sdg-reviews-the-hobbit-2

Spoiler:

It also gives me more reasons not to want to see this movie.

by Eldorion Thu Dec 12, 2013 4:44 am

I've read that critic before and I'm quite a fan of his work. I did not expect to think much of Catholic reviews on a site called Decent Films, but he's actually very knowledgeable and evenhanded. Smile

That’s not to say it isn’t still fitfully entertaining, as these things go. A battle of elves, orcs and dwarves — staged, with wanton disregard for Tolkien, amid the dwarves’ barrel ride down the Forest River of Mirkwood — contains such madly choreographed stunts and wuxia-style wire-fu acrobatics that I laughed and laughed, only hating myself a little for it.

I suspect my reaction will be somewhat similar. Smile

by bungobaggins Thu Dec 12, 2013 5:29 am

I think if the Rankin/Bass Hobbit cartoon proved anything, it's that Beorn is not necessary to the story. He could have easily been written off in a one film adaptation.

But then, of course, the fans would have thrown a fit à la Tom Bombadil.

by bungobaggins Thu Dec 12, 2013 5:33 am

So we can say Jackson has "Gilded the Dragon" instead of "Jumped the Shark"?

by Eldorion Thu Dec 12, 2013 5:37 am

I'm still waiting to see the film before passing judgement (ERu knows its hard), but it does sound like that. Very Happy

by bungobaggins Thu Dec 12, 2013 5:41 am

I kept saying to myself today, "Maybe I'll enjoy it."

We'll see, come Saturday evening, we'll see.

by Norc Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:55 am

Eldorion wrote:I've read that critic before and I'm quite a fan of his work. I did not expect to think much of Catholic reviews on a site called Decent Films, but he's actually very knowledgeable and evenhanded.

That’s not to say it isn’t still fitfully entertaining, as these things go. A battle of elves, orcs and dwarves — staged, with wanton disregard for Tolkien, amid the dwarves’ barrel ride down the Forest River of Mirkwood — contains such madly choreographed stunts and wuxia-style wire-fu acrobatics that I laughed and laughed, only hating myself a little for it.

I suspect my reaction will be somewhat similar.

that was my reaction.

by Norc Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:56 am

Radaghast wrote:This is my favorite review yet, because the author actually shows a more than cursory appreciation for the book:

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/sdg-reviews-the-hobbit-2

Spoiler:

It also gives me more reasons not to want to see this movie.

yes, that is perhaps the worst bit about DOS, it's definitely the weakest part. It starts of with this and Beorn never gets the right amount of fear from the audience (which PJ aims for) nor the right amount of respect, because there isn't enough screen time for hiim.

by Norc Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:58 am

bungo, u will enjoy it.. although.. u will also want to cover your face and ears at some points too.

by Radaghast Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:01 pm

Eldorion wrote:I've read that critic before and I'm quite a fan of his work. I did not expect to think much of Catholic reviews on a site called Decent Films, but he's actually very knowledgeable and evenhanded.

That’s not to say it isn’t still fitfully entertaining, as these things go. A battle of elves, orcs and dwarves — staged, with wanton disregard for Tolkien, amid the dwarves’ barrel ride down the Forest River of Mirkwood — contains such madly choreographed stunts and wuxia-style wire-fu acrobatics that I laughed and laughed, only hating myself a little for it.

I suspect my reaction will be somewhat similar.

Huh. Hadn't even noticed the title of the site. Interesting.

by Radaghast Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:02 pm

Norc wrote:
Radaghast wrote:This is my favorite review yet, because the author actually shows a more than cursory appreciation for the book:

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/sdg-reviews-the-hobbit-2

Spoiler:

It also gives me more reasons not to want to see this movie.

yes, that is perhaps the worst bit about DOS, it's definitely the weakest part. It starts of with this and Beorn never gets the right amount of fear from the audience (which PJ aims for) nor the right amount of respect, because there isn't enough screen time for hiim.

Missing stuff like that seems to miss the point of the book. Then again, I wouldn't trust Jackson to get it right.

by Radaghast Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:05 pm

bungobaggins wrote:I think if the Rankin/Bass Hobbit cartoon proved anything, it's that Beorn is not necessary to the story. He could have easily been written off in a one film adaptation.

Considering the party had just escaped the Misty Mountains and had no food or supplies, I'd have to think he was necessary. Of course, these movies give little consideration to the matter of food and supplies, so maybe in the context of DoS, Beorn does seem unnecessary.

But then, of course, the fans would have thrown a fit à la Tom Bombadil.

I got the impression that the omission of Bombadil was not a big deal, but I could be wrong.

by Radaghast Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:05 pm

bungobaggins wrote:So we can say Jackson has "Gilded the Dragon" instead of "Jumped the Shark"?

I like it!

by Pettytyrant101 Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:21 pm

Crabbit inducing interview with PJ discussing amongst other things deviations from the book, and going to three films-

by halfwise Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:36 pm

"The book was told in the style of a children't bed-time story, which would make it difficult to adapt."

Whatever was wrong with The Princess Bride, for instance? Banghead

He also seems to feel the Hobbit has no value in itself, except to set up the Lord of the Rings. And half the story arcs that he said necessitated a third movie were things that were not even in the books. Extremely Crabbit