What gold statue? I don't remember seeing any gold statues?
"Aargragaah. It mean lit’rally der time when you see dem little pebbles and you jus’ know dere’s gonna be a great big landslide on toppa you and it already too late to run. Dat moment, dat’s aagragaah.”
Terry Pratchett, Jingo
Most memorable
The Misty Mountain song, including Bilbo listening from his bedroom, and the scene ending with the camera climbing up into the sky above the chimney. Hauntingly beautiful, and captures the essence of that scene in the book.
Most moving
Bilbo's mix of relief and profound disappointment after the dwarves leave Bag End. Better than the book, and that's the only time I've said that about a PJ interpretation! A close second is Balin and Thorin's first entrance into the Mountain, tied with Bilbo's moments at the end of BOFA, in an empty Bag End.
Most missed (something from the book that you hoped to see and didn't)
A proper conversation with some old ravens!
Most appealing visually
This is a tough one. I'm going to have to go with the final moments of Smaug's death, when his head turns coal black, and you can see the lake and Erebor in the background, lit by moonlight. Gorgeous (and apparently, mostly CGI!)
Most puzzling
Oh, Lord. The decision to have the dwarves look like French cartoon characters, I suppose. Tied with Goblintown's awfulness.
Most amusing
Good morning!
Most like the book
Good morning!
Most unlike the book
Alfrid.
Most unexpected
The golden dwarf statue. But I loved it, and feel it is one of the best moments in DOS.
Most imaginative
Dain on a pig. I liked that a lot.
Last edited by Passdagas the Brown on Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks, PtB. I was hoping you would post more specific responses than you did earlier.
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
That and the wheelbarrow scene were the worst part of DoS, IMO!
When the night has been too lonely, and the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows,
Lies the seed, that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes The Rose.
Most memorable
Smaug's reveal.
Golden Smaug.
Misty mountains song.
Most moving
Bilbo's final farewell to the dwarves. ("tea is at 4... don't bother knocking")
I had tears in my eyes in that scene all the three times I watched it. The only scene that moved me that much in the film. I don't know why.
Most missed (something from the book that you hoped to see and missed)
Mirkwood.
Most appealing visually
Agreed with PtB. Most of the attack on Laketown and Smaug's death especially.
But I'll also place golden Smaug breaking through Erebor and flying off into the distance. That had a truly mythic (and Tolkienesque) grandeur.
Most puzzling
I'd say splitting it into three films. But if that becomes too general, then the decision to spend way more time on Tauriel Legolas and Kili (and creating the whole love triangle) than the quest.
Most amusing
The kitchen song and Bilbo inside Thranduil's tent.
Most like the book
Too tough to choose. There's the good morning scene. The dinner at Bag End. The Riddles. The exchange between Thorin and Bard at the gates of Erebor.
Most unlike the book
The Healing scene.
Most unexpected
in a bad way.
When the Kili Tauriel thing first came up.
otherwise, Sandworms.
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
And after going through more of replies, I was reminded that the most like the book moment was actually the Misty Mountain song. It was perfect.
"Aargragaah. It mean lit’rally der time when you see dem little pebbles and you jus’ know dere’s gonna be a great big landslide on toppa you and it already too late to run. Dat moment, dat’s aagragaah.”
Terry Pratchett, Jingo