Objectivity is annoying, frankly.
If nothing else, I hope we can all objectively agree on that.
This film feels rushed, theres unrealised potential here, an uncertainty over how to tell this story.
This didnt have to be the case.
Ill talk more about the skewed focus inThe Desolation of Smaug.
Theres no lingering early on.
Then Thranduil steps in.
Thranduil is amazing, if you have a fondness for camp.
Lee Pace chewing the green screen and contorting himself into strange serpentine shapes is entirely memorable.
The balance is curiously chosen and flawed.
It becomes clear that we arent when the Dwarves start singing.
The time of the orc may have come, but it sure as hell wont be big on oratory.
Nonetheless, this is a film with brilliant moments.
Pippins curiosity and Sams childlike blubbing above Cirith Ungol are perfect character moments, contrasting with their later heroism.
The World War One imagery is a powerful reminder of Tolkiens experience in the trenches.
Theodens arc, rising above the Elves insistence that men will fail, is an interesting counterpoint to Denethor.
The perfect amount of kill.
Alright, you’re free to, but I wont read it.
Dream sequence (just imagineThe Hobbitis Radagast hallucinating).
Also its a handy reminder that the situation is awful.
As Gimli becomes an out-and-out comedy character, Aragorns tracking skills improve to almostTime Teamlevels of extrapolation.
Gollum is stunningly unremarkable.
Hes just another character, albeit an important one who looks unusual.
The melding of performance, motion-capture, CGI, practical effects and foley work sells it perfectly.
Hes basically just there, and thats exactly as it should be.
The middle of the film is long but is doing a lot of work.
The wait is agonising.
The battle itself is a more successful version of the action/adventure blend ofThe Hobbits set pieces.
What he did do, however, was support the flair players, making them look better.
Neil Lennon isThe Hobbittrilogy, enhancingThe Fellowship of the Ring.
The Shire sequence at the start has extra pathos and melancholy, a return, not a beginning.
Static, solid camerawork and a greater care for characterisation mean each cast member makes their mark.
Then you see what the rings done to Bilbo.
Not only is it one of the best jump scares ever, but now theres more history to it.
Fellowshipis theEmpire Strikes Backof the franchise.
The heroes lose heavily, but not totally.
Merry and Pippin are taken, and the Elves have made lofty pronounciations about the strength of men.
The cameras know when to swoop and suck you in.
The music instantly ingrains itself.
You find yourself forgiving lines like Lets hunt some orc.
The fact that theres another film to watch is a temptation, not a hassle.
This is the start of something big.
Then again, if you start withThe Hobbitthen consider how the established tone of the stories could change.
Never underestimate luck as a mitigating factor in the quality of movies.
