The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

[The Josh]

Then why does he have to go fish through all of those scrolls like he needs to find out what's going on?

He's just confirming his suspicion about the ring.

 

[The Josh]

Well that make him the dumbest Wizard in Middle Earth... Here you know that Sauron is trying to come back and that Bilbo found a Ring of Power.... Yet....... He does not become suspicious until he sees how Bilbo acts...... Calling it his Precious... Which he already knows that Gollum called it.. (It has been called that before).

Again I Love LOTR and very much enjoyed the first Hobbit film and thought the 2nd was still good.... So I am not trying to pick the films apart... But I am worried that PJ is walking into some.. "How come Ben did not know who R2 and 3PO were" territory.

He doesn't know Bilbo has a ring right now and he's never thought it was more than a magic ring. It's not until the events you see in FOTR that it's confirmed that The One Ring has been found and not lost in the Anduin. Then the pieces start to come together. So it's not about being dumb as you said.

 

[The Josh]

Like I said in the post above.... This would make him the dumbest Wizard in Middle earth.... He should have more of a suspicion then just Bilbo getting angry and calling it Precious.... Gandalf acts like that is a clue that tips him off.... yet he knows how Bilbo got the ring and the story of Bilbo and Gollum..

Bilbo doesn't tell the true story of how he got his ring right away.

 

[JAWS]

He doesn't know Bilbo has a ring right now and he's never thought it was more than a magic ring. It's not until the events you see in FOTR that it's confirmed that The One Ring has been found and not lost in the Anduin. Then the pieces start to come together. So it's not about being dumb as you said.

But he knows by FOTR.... and probably at some point during the third film... Don't you think that after knowing and fighting Sauron that he might be a bit suspicious after Bilbo tells him?

Because PJ went away from the books it really makes no sense. Fighting Sauron and knowing that he is here ruins much of the mood of LOTR. The fear and realization that Sauron is back and growing stronger.... except.. well... we already knew that... We just chose to ignore it.

Bilbo doesn't tell the true story of how he got his ring right away.

Like I said above... When he does it should be a GIANT red flag.

In the books there is no Gandalf vs Sauron. Thus I can except the sort of "meh.. so Bilbo has a ring" reaction that Gandalf has. This new PJ way is silly and makes Gandalf dumb.

But like I said, all can be fixed in the third film... or made worse (I hope not)

 

[JAWS]

I haven't seen the movie yet, but isn't it obvious that haggard figure Gandalf's fighting against is simply crazed Thrain?

There's even official merchendise about that guy.

Well in the movie not only

Spoiler:

do we see sauron and the Red eye but Gandalf immediately calls him by name when we do

 

[Khev]

Slight spoilers:

I really like this new "chip on his shoulder" Legolas. That fire and the constant threat of enemies help explain his over the top badassery.

I thought his reaction to Gloin's family was hysterical.

The whole movie ended so badly for almost everyone, to me that totally counterbalances the crazy superheroism that everyone seemed to have in the first movie and most of this one.

The fact that the dwarves could practically take out an entire goblin CIVILIZATION lol) and then gave it their all against Smaug and all they could accomplish was to simply piss him off gives this film an "oh crap" shared by none of the previous four.

I also *loved* that after all the familiar locations in AUJ almost every place they visited in DOS was brand new. Really brought back the magic of discovering Middle-Earth for the first time.

Epic, inspiring, funny, and disheartening. Just the way I like my fantasy stories. Like ESB I feel like everyone really earned their victories, limited that they might have been.

 

[slynger]

Just saw this last night: Wow! Fantastic movie and a huge leap of improvement of AUJ.

Smaug and Bilbo interacting was easily the high point of the film and was incredibly well done.

Good to see Legolas again and as Khev said above, his reaction to Gloin was great.

Good to see the Prancing Pony again and I loved the atmosphere of Laketown.

Gandalf in Dol Goldur was also very well done.

Only thing I did not like was

Spoiler:

when the spiders talk when Bilbo has the ring on. Kind of took me out of the story for a bit. I don't recall that being in the book.

The ending was perfect. Bring on the finale!

 

[Khev]

Slynger the spiders actually

Spoiler:

talked a lot MORE in the book. In fact Bilbo spent a good deal of time interacting and verbally taunting them. I feared that they'd be silent after Shelob so was thrilled to hear them speak when he had the ring on.

I forgot to mention how much I loved the argument between Thorin and Thranduil. One of the best parts of the movie, IMO. Fascinating to see two kings angrily getting in each other's faces.

 

[jye4ever]

Ok, back home from the hospital, son doing much better.

Wife taking over care so that I can go watch Hobbits, The Desolation of Ultron.

Hobbits, Assemble!

 

[slynger]

Slynger the spiders actually

Spoiler:

talked a lot MORE in the book. In fact Bilbo spent a good deal of time interacting and verbally taunting them. I feared that they'd be silent after Shelob so was thrilled to hear them speak when he had the ring on.

I haven't read the book in a couple of years and forgot if that actually took place. I didn't have time to check last night when I got home, but knowing it's in the book now makes that part of the movie that much better. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

 

[Khev]

Come on Sideshow, get on the bag and release some Premium Formats!

I haven't read the book in a couple of years and forgot if that actually took place. I didn't have time to check last night when I got home, but knowing it's in the book now makes that part of the movie that much better. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

No problem!

I couldn't help but notice how strong the "sickness/curse" theme ran though this film in particular. Bilbo and the ring, Kili, Mirkwood, Thorin. It was very prominent and gave a very somber tone to all the dashing derring dos.

 

[TURINS~BANE]

wow brilliant film, probably on par with fellowship of the ring maybe. the best looking dragon ever. just loved it..

 

[TURINS~BANE]

Spoiler:

I'm not the only one right?? was so expecting a young Strider to show up at the prancing pony would have worked too

 

[slynger]

Spoiler:

I'm not the only one right?? was so expecting a young Strider to show up at the prancing pony would have worked too

Spoiler:

Being that he is one of the Dunedain, he wouldn't have been that young though, right?

Not gonna lie though, I was looking for him.

 

[Khev]

Can't wait to see who makes the definitive Smaug collectible. I'm sure SSC, Weta, and GG will all give it their best.

 

[TURINS~BANE]

Spoiler:

Being that he is one of the Dunedain, he wouldn't have been that young though, right?

no still 27 though.

 

[SixthScaleEdward]

Loved Gdalf's forcefield battle and Legolas as usual.

 

[TURINS~BANE]

i loved all of it.

 

[Khev]

Fifth movie in a "series," yet second film of a prequel trilogy. So, how do you guys think DOS measures up to the gold standard set by AOTC?

 

[Irvy]

I'm still pissed we hardly got any Beorn. Plenty of pointless stuff that should have been cut to make room.