IIRC goblins are just orcs that live underground.

I think there's a HUGE difference between those two pictures you posted, Mal. The CGI one looks really dumb and not menacing at all.

And yes, I'm sure they mo-capped the orcs but: A. the point still remains that the actors aren't DIRECTLY interacting with the orcs like they were in LOTR and B. they can't go into nearly the same level of detail in the CGI for each character of a huge battle scene as opposed to a scene with just Gollum.

Besides, if Gollum WAS possible with just make-up, I think it would've been even more convincing if they did it that way in the original trilogy. But obviously it's impossible to make a human look like that. But it IS possible to make a human look like an orc, so replacing that with CGI is completely pointless and lazy.

It's not like I'm not gonna see it because of this, but it's just really disappointing. I'm not gonna go as far to say that it's like SW prequels vs. SW originals (effects-wise), because I realize he is at least still doing a lot of practical sets, but it's pretty much halfway there.

I agree that I think it probably should have been make-up... but I haven't seen it yet so I don't really want to throw Pete under the bus... And hey it's 3 movies so the goblin bit is likely just in the first movie (I think? Don't quote me on it I haven't read the book in a while...)

I'm much more interested in how they handle Smaug... and if he'll look like Benedict Cumberbatch somehow, lol.

Yeah Smaug's gonna be really tricky. It could easily come off as silly if they don't do it right

From what I've heard Smaug is the best part of the film, but he only appears

Spoiler	+
in a flashback for his conquering of Erebor, which doesn't leave him much time to show off his chatting skills.

Pa Hupu @ 7/12/2012 6:31

From what I've heard Smaug is the best part of the film, but he only appears Spoiler + in a flashback for his conquering of Erebor, which doesn't leave him much time to show off his chatting skills.

Spoiler	+
ya i read that he is in for a flash int he first one. look forward to his bits in the next movie.

@malion
im pretty sure it is just in the first movie, not sure how they are doing it exactly tho and how loyal it will be to the book.

Malion @ 7/12/2012 1:42

I'm much more interested in how they handle Smaug... and if he'll look like Benedict Cumberbatch somehow, lol.

Yeah I'm weary about this as well. I know he's the most expensive creature ever made in film so I'm hoping its paid off well and doesn't come off cheasy as hell especially with the dialogue. I think PJ knows what he's doing though.

Less than 70% on RT now. Ouch.

Quote

This is not about a reluctant hero drawing courage from some deep personal well. It's not about dread and danger. It's about visual effects.

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"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is not the worst film of the year, but it may be the most disappointing.

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I'm afraid that whoever it was in the New York Film Critics Circle who voted for "The Hobbit" as best animated film had a point. And so did the people who suspected that this whole thing was a bad idea.

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Tolkien's inventive, episodic tale of a modest homebody on a dangerous journey has been turned into an overscale and plodding spectacle.

:(

Has there ever been a good prequel to anything? I'm quite curious.

Godfather II of course! And I thought Rise of the Planet of the Apes was pretty good, though I guess that's more of a reboot. And despite everyone constantly shitting on it I thought Prometheus was pretty decent

I've never seen Godfather II but for some reason thought it was a sequel, with the third being the prequel.

Also Prometheus doesn't count TECHNICALLY.

is that technicality due to it being pretty friggin' shit? (:

thought it was god awful.

Dutchiee @ 13/12/2012 20:48

is that technicality due to it being pretty friggin' shit? (: thought it was god awful.

Ohmen really? Give us a review!

Frostius @ 13/12/2012 19:13

I've never seen Godfather II but for some reason thought it was a sequel, with the third being the prequel. Also Prometheus doesn't count TECHNICALLY.

To be fair I dunno if you can consider Godfather II a true prequel. About half of it is a prequel and half it is a sequel. Godfather III is all sequel

Leaffan20 @ 14/12/2012 1:00

Dutchiee @ 13/12/2012 20:48 is that technicality due to it being pretty friggin' shit? (: thought it was god awful. Ohmen really? Give us a review!

probably a hyperbole, but I didn't think it was good.

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/12/14/67222-watch-the-hobbit-production-video-10/