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While I enjoyed the first Hobbit film, it did feel like it left a bit to be desired. This was no surprise, as everything that I loved about the book was in the second half. I knew that I would be waiting for all the good stuff with the second and third films. And sure enough, the second film delivers where the first film didn’t quite excite as much as I had wanted. While it isn’t perfect and does unnecessarily deviate a bit, this is easily better than the first film, giving us a bigger, bolder adventure and a more interesting Bilbo Baggins this time around.
Before I get to the good stuff, let me get my complaints out of the way. My biggest complaint are the unnecessary plot threads. There seems to be a big need for this series of films to tie into LotR, and I really don’t understand why. A great deal of time is taken in this film to introduce us to things we already know the outcome of. We’re, at points, taken away from the dwarfs and Bilbo to follow Gandalf as he goes off on his own adventure to uncover the growing evil of Sauron and his armies. Like the first film, it’s completely unnecessary, but unlike that film, it’s jarring. We’re ripped from a fantastic adventure to a story that we don’t really need to know and has no real relation to the dwarfs and their adventure. In fact, any time we’re taken out of the company of the dwarfs, it almost feels cheap. The almost romance between Evangeline Lily’s elf and the dwarf Kili feels something of the same, the whole lot of these stories coming off as filler in an effort to make time for three movies instead of just two. It feels like a stretch and brings a screeching halt to the momentum of the main story.
That said, the rest of the film is an excellent and expertly crafted adaptation. There is a definite sense of character growth, especially from Bilbo, who seems to struggle with the power of the ring and it’s greed. We already know where this goes, but it is none the less fascinating considering who he was when we first met him. The dwarfs seem to almost take a back seat here. They are less prominent, with the exception of Thorin and Balin, who take front and center. That isn’t to say they aren’t entertaining, as they usually are every time they are on screen. Thorin is the real standout though, as he goes through similar changes as Bilbo, which lends them an interesting comparison in their mutual struggles. The actors are all excellent once again in their respective roles, with Freeman once again being the standout. Evangeline Lily is also a pleasant surprise in an original role as an elf created for the film. She adds a much needed feminine touch to an otherwise predominantly male cast. She proves herself to be a fine silver screen presence and hopefully this will net her some further film roles.
While the film does an excellent job of not simply being the middle film, something The Two Towers struggled with in the LotR trilogy, it is the action, set pieces, and effects which are the true stars. This may not be a LotR movie, but it’s close. We almost immediately start out with a bang and it rarely lets up. Of course, much of what happens early on, as exciting as it may be, pales in comparison to it’s explosive and lengthy climax. Smaug is quite possibly the best creation of any of the film, Hobbit or LotR. He is as awesome as you could have hoped for and Benedict Cumberbatch is excellent in the role. While effects have been applied to his voice to give it more boom, he does a fantastic job as the sneering, wise, and boastful dragon. Watching and listening to him face off against Bilbo is a delightful treat, and that is before we get to any fire breathing and chasing. What follows is a lengthy conclusion to the film that will excite and delight all. I have no qualms in saying that Smaug makes the entire film worth the admission of price. But don’t go in expecting a solid conclusion. This is, after all, the second of a trilogy, so you can surely expect the film to leave you salivating for the next one.
While this new Hobbit film still doesn’t reach LotR heights, it is superior to the previous film, especially when it comes to being an enjoyable adventure. It feels like it matters to the trilogy and delivers on being an epic. And I simply can’t rave enough about Smaug. If you didn’t enjoy the first film, you may find yourself feeling about the same here. But at least this one has a cool dragon.
I was bored to tears by the LOTR films (I know I’m in the minority) so I hate to say it but I was pleased when the obvious-cash-grab Hobbit franchise failed to impact the Oscars.
I think this film will be nominted for best picture. It will be the most superb of the hobbit trilogy. And I am not just saying that because I’m a die hard lotr fan.
Best picture?????
Best actor martin freeman
Best art direction
Best make up
best sound editing
Best original score?????
Best visual effects
I was one of those people who really liked An Unexpected Journey. I thought it was one of the best movies of 2012. Even with all of those other strong movies as well.
I thought An Unexpected Journey was MUCH better than the critics thought of it. The ending of An Unexpected Journey really got me excited for The Desolation of Smaug, and I know this one will be really great too. As of course, so will There and Back Again.
I enjoy redlettermedia’s reviews but I actually think the first Hobbit film was pretty great. First impression with the 48fps was bad but when I saw it in normal 3D the next day it was a horse of a different color.
I did not read the Hobbit books but the first LOTR movie is my all-time favorite film. I look forward to these. I’m totally into stretching things out. 🙂
Best Animated Feature.
Deja vu. The Hobbit movies are to The Lord of the Rings, as _______???_______ is to the Original Trilogy.
Is it just me, or does anyone else want to see RedLetterMedia make 1.5 hour reviews for these movies too??
STAR WARS Prequels? If so, yeah they’re inferior, but not that inferior. LOL
It’s not just that the films are interior to their previous trilogies, it’s that they have become too reliant on visual effects and lose what made the original films so powerful. Fellowship of the Ring had a perfect balance of real locations and miniatures and effects. It was a staggering achievement. These films do look like what Stephen Cross said below me: animated features. It’s not about story as much as it’s about the technology and effects. This isn’t Tolkien’s story, and much of the dialogue presented in the trailer is pretty bad. Now I’m not saying directors shouldn’t have the power to expand shorter works into films that work, but here it wasn’t primarily motivated by artistic reasons.
Neil Blomkamp said something really interesting in promoting Elysium. He said he didn’t want to be tied down to a specific local industry, which would affect his creative decisions for his films. Not saying Blomkamp is a great director or anything, but he did have pretty extensive contact with Jackson on District 9. Like Lucas before him, Jackson created an industry, in his case Weta. New Zealand filmmaking relies on Jackson, jobs of thousands of people created 10 years earlier from Lord of the Rings. I think part of his motivation for expanding a 250-page story into three huge blockbusters is to help support the business he built around him.
“The first time the news about WOWS’s possible delay beyond the awards season’s deadline, just like what you’ve mentioned,…”
The first time the news about WOWS’s possible delay beyond the awards season’s deadline came to light, just like what you’ve mentioned,….
OT:
Re the Stone-Wells poker session, it’s proved to be quite a joyride, Sasha. Kudos to you and Wells for a great gambling [F-o-Spch] bout held over there. Good chemistry between the two of you, too.
The first time the news about WOWS’s possible delay beyond the awards season’s deadline, just like what you’ve mentioned, those two main reasons other than more time really in need also naturally came right up […]; for kicks, I would bet for the latter point: it might possibly have something to do with the Oscars race and the potential threat as the no. 1 favorite TYAS could pose during the end season. Or the third choice: in fact he simply needs more time….
(Fingers crossed, I am hoping I’m wrong about the Oscars competition-related reason and that they’ll be able to make it in time for the competition and for the audiences….)
(Trifle as it might be, I heard the sounds of something like […] rubbing both hands as well — perhaps, those made when he was flipping through the sheets of paper, I guess.)
I loved the LOTR films as well as the books and actually quite enjoyed the 1st Hobbit films but I find that stretching the films to 3 is a bit much. Obviously they will be adding source materials from Tolkien’s earlier works such as The Silmarillion and the LOTR Appendices but still The Hobbit after all was meant to be simply a children’s adventure novel and it lacks the overall depth and back stories that made LOTR and The Silmarillion so absorbingly to the readers. Will be looking forward to the next 2 films, but I think people should not be expecting these films to equal its predecessors in terms of epic scope and storytelling as The Hobbit as a source material pales in comparison to the LOTR trilogy in terms of storytelling and its back story and rich characters
I don’t know. I think this is certainly good advice regarding the first Hobbit film, but the story does get pretty dark as it goes along. The final film should be epic as hell. Albeit slightly more fantastical than the original trilogy. I’m so excited to see Smaug and the battle of five armies.
Unfortunately this trailer looks dated already.
I am the only one who sighs every time I see another trailer for these movies. They just don’t do it for me.
As a rule of thumb, you’re never the only one to have any opinion on anything.
Well, unless you liked “Catwoman.” Then you’re the only one.
‘Well, unless you like “Catwoman [2004].” Then you’re the only one.’
[LOL] +1
Very true, sir. Let me re-phrase: I feel like I am the only one who sighs whenever these films come out. And you are very right about Catwoman.
Have to disagree with you there. “The Hobbit,” while not as good as any of the original trilogy, is leagues better than “Pacific Rim.” It also covered probably the weakest portion of the book, so I can’t wait for this movie.
While “Pacific Rim” is far from the usual del Toro level of quality, it’s still hands down a much more creative, entertaining blockbuster than “The Hobbit”, IMHO.
Main problem is, Peter Jackson SHOULD have shot The Hobbit for a 2005 or 2006 release, also in my opinion. The project would have had a sense of completion, rather than a sense of “milking the cow” that has now, with the insane overextension of the source material and the run away of who was the perfect director for the material…
As much as I loved the LotR films, the first Hobbit bored me to death, and actually gave me the sense I was fearing, that Guillermo del Toro ran away from this, because studio pressure to milk the cow beyond reason.
The repetition of the trick of having three theatrical versions and then, three delayed extended cuts, from a book that was shorter than any of the LotR triptic, was a artistical suicide in the making, born out of pure greed. I think I will pass of the next two entries. Flawed as Pacific Rim was, was 10 times better than the first entry of The Hobbit.
These Hobbit films will never get the noms/wins that LOTR got. And they wont be as magnificent.
But dammit, I get excited when I see these trailers. I love the Hobbit/LOTR world. This latest trailer looks promising. Im so in.
Classic case of trailers being much better than the films, a common disease in Hollywood blockbusters…
I know what you mean, though I remain excited and hopeful.