Hall of Fire Reviews - Post Them Here! [SPOILERS!]

Post by **Maria** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:19 pm

It'll never happen. I've been waiting all my life to see an adequate Tarzan movie and the people involved in making them just can't seem to keep from tweaking the story.

It will be the same with any classic. And if the classics needed to be adjusted, they wouldn't be classics, would they?

I'll take what I can get: a not too badly mutated story with glorious visuals and sound.

Post by **Pearly Di** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:55 pm

Anthy ... if all the Dwarves had been prettified, then I do think that, yes, probably, that would have been 'dumbing down'.

. I will easily forgive one pretty Dwarf! He could just be a 'genetic one-off'.

.

I guess it became clear enough that Thorin was indeed a Dwarf.

Tolkien film fandom combines for me the best of all possible worlds ... it's a happy marriage of my deep love for Tolkien's imaginary world and a film-maker having glorious fun with that world. These books mean so much to me - the films allow me to squee and swoon and chuckle at PJ's cheek in casting a 'hot' Dwarf.

I just had a call from a friend who just saw the film - she rang me to tell me exactly that. She's never read LotR and only ever made it to page 20 of The Hobbit. She was on cloud nine. Wasn't it beautiful? Wasn't it amazing? Wasn't it epic?

Reactions like that from non-fan friends blow away any trace of cynicism in me, or the desire to over-analyse. It's lovely to listen to, because, ultimately, the credit goes to Tolkien.

. It's his world PJ has had the privilege of playing in.

Frodo was eye-candy.

. Like a beautiful Renaissance youth.

Post by **tinwë** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 12:11 am

I have read these reviews and I appear to hold the singular distinction of being the only one here who actually fell asleep during the movie. Twice.

:abducted:

Post by **Pearly Di** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 12:18 am

I got slightly restive during some parts of Goblintown.

Post by **axordil** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:03 am

Imagine how wonderful it would have been if they shot on location, by an actual bay, with the sound of seagulls and crashing (or lapping) waves, and the wind in their hair.

As I understand it, shooting on or near water can be hard. The shifting light issue is multiplied by the reflection/refraction off the water, which makes balancing footage from multiple takes hard to edit together without extra processing, or some such.

Where did I hear that? Maybe from an article on the making of Waterworld? Odd bit of flotsam.

And they'd have to redo the sound anyway.

Post by **JewelSong** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:07 am

halplm wrote:Wouldn't it be great if whoever was in charge of making the films managed to avoid all teh *wrong* bits and actually made a film that was JUST The Hobbit?

Yes, it would. Except what was "wrong" to one person would be "right" to someone else. Just look at the difference of opinion on something as simple as the prologue with Older Bilbo and Frodo. Many of us thought it was brilliant. Just as many thought it was not.

Same with Radagast...from his characterization to his inclusion in the story at all.

PJ wanted/needed to tie this movie to LOTR...and so he made some decisions to include stuff that wasn't "technically" part of the book. That could be "right" or "wrong" depending on the person.

Post by **yovargas** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:11 am

It's simple - if you need to know if it's right or wrong, just ask me. Problem solved.

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:16 am

yov, life has been so delightfully simple since I've known you.

Post by **axordil** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:04 am

If Yov is in charge of the right or wrong questions, can I have the good or bad questions?

Post by **Inanna** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:23 am

Yes, you can, Ax.

Post by **Inanna** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:29 am

anthriel wrote:
Pearly Di wrote:My dear Anthy! Of course the hot Dwarves are to give us girls eye-candy!

And as someone who is a lifelong Tolkien fan and loves the gravity and sanctity of his work, I say: and the problem with that is ...???!!!

Seriously. Frodo got beautified. So did Aragorn, actually. I have no problem with it.
My dear Di, I like eye-candy! Of course!

The problem... ah, this isn't a huge deal for me. Just was expressing my dismay at how the elves had two completely different looks, and how that might be problematic for the average moviegoer. Did you catch the part where my hubby didn't know Thorin was a dwarf? Doesn't that seem problematic, at least slightly, to you?

Not just Mr. Anthy, I remember being taken aback in a scene where Thorin was with... Elrond maybe... and I was like woah, he's short, he's a dwarf. Forgot that bit.

Post by **yovargas** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:39 am

Inanna wrote:Yes, you can, Ax.

I don't know if that's the right decision.....

Post by **anthriel** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:56 am

yovargas wrote:
Inanna wrote:Yes, you can, Ax.
I don't know if that's the right decision.....

Hmmm. Maybe in this case, for right or wrong, you need to ask ME.

And I say: Run!! Run, you fools!!

Post by **anthriel** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:01 am

Inanna wrote:
anthriel wrote:
Pearly Di wrote:My dear Anthy! Of course the hot Dwarves are to give us girls eye-candy!

And as someone who is a lifelong Tolkien fan and loves the gravity and sanctity of his work, I say: and the problem with that is ...???!!!

Seriously. Frodo got beautified. So did Aragorn, actually. I have no problem with it.
My dear Di, I like eye-candy! Of course!

The problem... ah, this isn't a huge deal for me. Just was expressing my dismay at how the elves had two completely different looks, and how that might be problematic for the average moviegoer. Did you catch the part where my hubby didn't know Thorin was a dwarf? Doesn't that seem problematic, at least slightly, to you?
Not just Mr. Anthy, I remember being taken aback in a scene where Thorin was with... Elrond maybe... and I was like woah, he's short, he's a dwarf. Forgot that bit.

HAH!! See? And you *knew* he was supposed to be a dwarf, because you know the story. Poor mr. anth, and all those viewers not previously familiar with the story, looking at 10 dwarf-like dwarves and 3 Totally OMG H0tt short dudes hanging out with them... confusion must have been common. Case closed.

Post by **halplm** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:22 am

JewelSong wrote:
halplm wrote:Wouldn't it be great if whoever was in charge of making the films managed to avoid all teh *wrong* bits and actually made a film that was JUST The Hobbit?
Yes, it would. Except what was "wrong" to one person would be "right" to someone else. Just look at the difference of opinion on something as simple as the prologue with Older Bilbo and Frodo. Many of us thought it was brilliant. Just as many thought it was not.

Same with Radagast...from his characterization to his inclusion in the story at all.

PJ wanted/needed to tie this movie to LOTR...and so he made some decisions to include stuff that wasn't "technically" part of the book. That could be "right" or "wrong" depending on the person.

nah, it's just wrong

Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:34 am

anthriel wrote:
Inanna wrote:
anthriel wrote: My dear Di, I like eye-candy! Of course!

The problem... ah, this isn't a huge deal for me. Just was expressing my dismay at how the elves had two completely different looks, and how that might be problematic for the average moviegoer. Did you catch the part where my hubby didn't know Thorin was a dwarf? Doesn't that seem problematic, at least slightly, to you?
Not just Mr. Anthy, I remember being taken aback in a scene where Thorin was with... Elrond maybe... and I was like woah, he's short, he's a dwarf. Forgot that bit.

HAH!! See? And you *knew* he was supposed to be a dwarf, because you know the story. Poor mr. anth, and all those viewers not previously familiar with the story, looking at 10 dwarf-like dwarves and 3 Totally OMG H0tt short dudes hanging out with them... confusion must have been common. Case closed.

My Mom, who has never read the book and is completely unfamiliar with the story, had no problem figuring out that they were all dwarves.

Post by **Stranger Wings** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:09 am

If you watched the film the first time, and didn't like it, try watching it again.

I did, and I liked it about twice as much. Perhaps because I knew what was coming, the warg and rabbit chase, the method of getting the dwarves to Rivendell, the Rivendell scenes, the Goblin King (who I find very funny), and Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire, and Azog in general, all seemed a lot smoother and more satisfying. I also somehow responded to Armitage a lot better this time - noticed some real nuances in his acting. The only bit that really should have never made it to the big screen was the post-escape from the Goblin King theme park ride, with swinging bridges and video game point-scoring. And where or where did the Goblin King come from when he busted through the bridge there at the end?

I can now say that I like it more than the first three films, even though it doesn't quite reach the visual heights of any of them. It is certainly more enjoyable.

That doesn't mean I think it's a great movie, or worthy of Tolkien, but I at least found it very watchable.

-SA
P.S. I saw it in 2D this time, and enjoyed the visuals far more. The darkened image, and glasses frames, primarily serve to "shrink" the screen for me, even on an IMAX. and that spoils the epicness. I will be seeing it again on Wednesday in 3D 48fps, however, and will report back.

P.P.S. I think Ken Stott is the best actor in the film, followed by McKellen, Freeman, Nesbitt (was heart-breaking in the "we are homeless" scene with Bilbo) and Armitage. I hope the EE has more Balin and Bofur.

Post by **Stranger Wings** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:12 am

axordil wrote:
Imagine how wonderful it would have been if they shot on location, by an actual bay, with the sound of seagulls and crashing (or lapping) waves, and the wind in their hair.
As I understand it, shooting on or near water can be hard. The shifting light issue is multiplied by the reflection/refraction off the water, which makes balancing footage from multiple takes hard to edit together without extra processing, or some such.

Where did I hear that? Maybe from an article on the making of Waterworld? Odd bit of flotsam.

And they'd have to redo the sound anyway.

Oh, come on! I can count hundreds of films that were shot on location, on beaches and near water, and they had few problems (incidentally, other parts of LOTR were shot on and near water, such as many of the Anduin scenes). Straw, meet grasping axordil.

Post by **Elentári** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:24 am

Shelob'sAppetite wrote:If you watched the film the first time, and didn't like it, try watching it again.

I can now say that I like it more than the first three films, even though it doesn't quite reach the visual heights of any of them. It is certainly more enjoyable.

I hope I will enjoy it better after viewing it again this evening...not that I found it unwatchable before, but it certainly doesn't reach the heights of LotR for me, and I struggled to maintain an emotional connection to the characters and what they were experiencing.

Shelob's Appetite wrote:P.S. I saw it in 2D this time, and enjoyed the visuals far more. The darkened image, and glasses frames, primarily serve to "shrink" the screen for me, even on an IMAX. and that spoils the epicness.

I'm seeing it again in 3D but this time at the 48fs...can't help wishing I was going to a 2D showing now - I find the same problem as you mention with having to wear the glasses to view the film. It's not natural, I always feel blinkered, like I'm missing so much on the peripheral vision.

Post by **WampusCat** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 10:35 am

tinwë wrote:I have read these reviews and I appear to hold the singular distinction of being the only one here who actually fell asleep during the movie. Twice.

In your defense (or possibly in the movie's defense), tinwē, you had been dragged to a midnight show and plied with wine on a night when you had probably been up since the crack of dawn. And there were no trebuchets.

I, on the other hand, was keeping my usual late hours and had hott dwarves to hold my interest.

SA, that's quite a turnaround in your opinion. I hope your enjoyment holds for the third viewing.