I liked it!

Spoiler

+

I agree with Hupu in that the most enjoyable part for me wasn't the plot, the characters or even the effects. It was how lovingly crafted the world was. While overt cartoonish behaviour or illogical character motives will destroy immersion, I didn't get that here. It's because the world was so detailed and fully realised that it's easy to become lost in it. You don't feel like there are boundaries to each and every set. You feel like the entire world exists because it's portrayed as it is. WIth regards to the plot, it falls short of LOTR but that should come as no surprise. I never finished the book (LOTR or The Hobbit). I only ever read as far as the troll capture so I'm not overly familiar with the source material here. The action scenes were the only things that particularly dragged as, like Boc says, nothing felt at stake. I think if the first battle with the orcs before Rivendell was removed or shortened, as well as a good portion of the goblin segment that nothing of value would have been lost. Everything in Bag-end was thoroughly enjoyable. Smeagol was incredible, as somebody who doesn't share in the world's unanimous love affair with Serkis' adaptation. I actually felt genuinely sympathetic for him, particularly knowing his backstory and what lays ahead. I loved the stuff with the necromancer. Radagast was silly but when coupled with that dark plot, it worked fine. Rivendell and the council dragged though. Is that segment true to the original story because some of it just seemed like fanservice and an excuse to re-use the actors. I liked Azog. I didn't think too much was lost by him being CGI. The CGI WAS very noticeable and distracting though at times.

Oh and

Spoiler

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If Smaug is the most expensive creation on film to date, judging from the "cliffhanger" establishing shot of his nostril and eye, somebody really pissed that money away. It just looked like a generic CGI run of the mill dragon. Maybe more proof that we still aren't quite close to there when it comes to CGI. I still think the most impressively realised full on CGI character I've ever seen in a movie to date is Davy Jones from POTC. One of the only cases where I legitimately thought it was a costume before doing the research.

Frostmas @ 11/1/2013 20:33

Oh and Spoiler + If Smaug is the most expensive creation on film to date, judging from the "cliffhanger" establishing shot of his nostril and eye, somebody really pissed that money away. It just looked like a generic CGI run of the mill dragon. Maybe more proof that we still aren't quite close to there when it comes to CGI. I still think the most impressively realised full on CGI character I've ever seen in a movie to date is Davy Jones from POTC. One of the only cases where I legitimately thought it was a costume before doing the research.

Spoiler	+
To be fair, the brief shots of Gollum in FOTR looked pretty shitty compared to what was to come in TT/ROTK. So they might not have had Smaug fully figured out yet when they did that shot And I agree about Davy Jones.

Yeah

Spoiler	+
I think there's every indication they just hadn't completed it by the end of this one. Or it could be that they're just waiting till the sequel to get a MONEY SHOT

Oooh...

like I needed a reason to be excited!

December 13th is my birthday. This is no coincidence.

Ari @ 9/6/2013 17:22

December 13th is my birthday. This is no coincidence.

Well I'll be in line for the movie for my birthday just like last year. Although I think it's a day earlier than last years release.

Can't wait

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeGb5XGk2U0

TRAILER!

Lots of breathtaking shots. I love the long shots of the cities so much. Just so perfectly done

LEGOLAS! My boy. And Kate doesn't look too shitty tbh. Can't wait for Legolas action scenes

They showed SMAUG!! I was hoping they keep his look under wraps until the movie.

I am so fucking pumped now!
I hope we can get more minor dwarf action in this one! Half of them in the first movie had one line or less.

Meh! Okay trailer. Smaug didn't look that amazing really

He was shrouded in darkness what the fuck do you want?

Shouldn't being shrouded in darkness make him look less shitty?