The Hobbit

[maenad]

Over the course of Christmas day I drank one glass of champagne, two glasses of white wine and one glass of Bailey's. I don't think, in absolute terms, that that is a lot. But I'm not much given to drinking, which means that what might not be a 'lot' for a normal person will pretty thoroughly knock me out. And that means that, despite the fact that

Comments

[galwithglasses]

I just saw it yesterday and felt the same about a lot of this. Your comment about the goblin battle cracked me up because during the race over the bridges, I leaned over to my kid and said it was like I play Mario Kart. The Goblin King's personality was so out of place that I ended up being entertained, not frightened by him, unlike in the book. I really appreciated how well they did with the Bilbo and Gollum sequence. Andy Serkis really nailed it. Martin Freeman is a perfect Bilbo. I actually feel more sympathy for Thorin after reading your write up than I did watching the movie. Of all of Tolkien's tragically heroic characters, he's always been the one I had the hardest time liking. Richard Armitage did a good job with the part in that he created a Thorin very much in line with the book Thorin and how I've always pictured him. Balin is nothing like I pictured him and am liking him just them same anyhow. On the whole it was good, if a bit long. I loved Smaug's eye and can't wait to see more of him.

[maenad]

Your comment about the goblin battle cracked me up because during the race over the bridges, I leaned over to my kid and said it was like I play Mario Kart.

Ha, yes. It was exactly that. I felt like there should have been a high-score table at the end. I'm pretty sure that's not what I was supposed to get out of it.

I actually feel more sympathy for Thorin after reading your write up than I did watching the movie. Of all of Tolkien's tragically heroic characters, he's always been the one I had the hardest time liking. Richard Armitage did a good job with the part in that he created a Thorin very much in line with the book Thorin and how I've always pictured him.

I think the shift in tone worked for him. It is a fact in The Hobbit that the dwarves have been through hell, but the shape of the story didn't really give you the chance to dwell on it. Since it's being framed as a tragedy, it gives much greater weight to their decisions and their problems. It's tough to be Thorin, particularly since Thror and Thrain pretty much flaked out

[_grayswandir_]

You always write the best reviews.

I agree with almost everything you've said here (except about the Elves; they're kind of bastards, but I like them that way). I'm not sure I quite agree with your feelings on Thorin -- that is, I agree that Richard Armitage made Thorin more sympathetic and tragic, but I'm not sure I wanted Thorin to be more sympathetic and tragic. I guess the decision made sense, since I understand that a lot of people have trouble liking Thorin, but he was always one of my favorite characters, so I didn't feel like he needed to be made friendlier or warmer or sadder. (What he does need is more beard. Like, he really, really needs more beard.)

But: so much yes to your comments on the Goblin Town. Agh, why. And (on a more positive note) yes to your comments on Freeman's Bilbo, who is (predictably) amazing. And thank heavens the Dwarves aren't just comic relief this go round.

And also, yes, we definitely need more somber dwarven singing.

[maenad]

Pffffft. But thank you. :)

except about the Elves; they're kind of bastards, but I like them that way

Yeah, the elves are a pet peeve. I see an elf, I have a little rant, I get over it. I am going to have some trouble forgiving Thranduil for riding out (on his pet stag!) just to sneer at the refugees, though. But that is a problem Peter Jackson created, not Tolkien, so I suppose I can't really hold all elves ever accountable for it. I did actually think that Hugo Weaving did a nice job with Elrond - it was good to see him show off the more youthful side of immortality here.

I guess the decision made sense, since I understand that a lot of people have trouble liking Thorin, but he was always one of my favorite characters, so I didn't feel like he needed to be made friendlier or warmer or sadder.I can completely understand that this wouldn't work for you if you were looking for book-Thorin, and it always hurts more when they mess with your favourites. I guess I just went with it in the spirit of the way the story was being reshaped