The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers) - Page 21

The Mirrorball Man · December 22 2012, 04:40 PM

stj wrote:

And if it was intended to make me like Thorin, despite knowing his fate, it was grossly misconceived.

This may not be the time nor the place to debate this, but I'd rather have compelling characters than likable characters.

stj · December 22 2012, 05:01 PM

The Azog didn't bother me, it was just some wheel spinning. And it was at least more interesting wheel spinning than the characters repeatedly surviving certain death. But I must say that the discovery that Thorin put his personal feelings above everybody else, and above his supposed determination to recover the dwarf home, wasn't very compelling. As I say, I viewed it as rather obviously foreshadowing his fate. His disbelief in Bilbo wasn't compelling either, even if we viewers are supposed to dislike anyone who can't appreciate Our Hero.

JarodRussell · December 22 2012, 05:03 PM

Well, I thought he tried to kill Azog so they could get off that damn tree.

Set Harth · December 22 2012, 05:33 PM

AvBaur wrote:

Aeronef wrote:

Finally, for some reason, I really noticed what a sausage-fest these stories are, this time. Who knew that Arwen was such an important addition to LOTR?

I noticed that, too. If they hadn't added Galadriel, there wouldn't have been a single female speaking role in the movie!

Come on. They made the orcs and goblins white-colored. That wasn't politically correct enough?

Mr Light · December 22 2012, 06:52 PM

The reason to build up the Azog character is to have an actual leader of the Orcs in the Battle of Five Armies, rather than some random captain. Just like they built up that yellow deformed Orc captain in ROTK. In a book you can just fight a wave of enemies, but in a visual medium you need a recognizable leader to defeat to signify the victory.

davejames · December 22 2012, 06:58 PM

Finally watched it again, in good old-fashioned 24fps this time, and found it a dramatic improvement over the previous viewing. I still enjoyed the movie in 48, but this time it just seemed to flow a lot better and I found myself being MUCH more engaged by it.

It actually felt like I was watching characters in a movie again, and not just actors on a movie set.

Of course it still takes the movie a while to get going in the beginning, but once they finally leave the freakin Shire I think it moves along pretty damn well.

JarodRussell · December 22 2012, 06:59 PM

*whispers* That's because you're used to it.

Had this been a change from 15fps to 24fps, or from 48fps to 96fps, we'd hear the same debates.

davejames · December 22 2012, 07:10 PM

Mr Light wrote:

The reason to build up the Azog character is to have an actual leader of the Orcs in the Battle of Five Armies, rather than some random captain. Just like they built up that yellow deformed Orc captain in ROTK. In a book you can just fight a wave of enemies, but in a visual medium you need a recognizable leader to defeat to signify the victory.

I'm kinda surprised by all the Azog criticism. He may not be in the book, but he's still an absolutely badass villain with an awesome design, and something I think the movie really needed.

davejames · December 22 2012, 07:17 PM

JarodRussell wrote:

*whispers* That's because you're used to it.

Had this been a change from 15fps to 24fps, or from 48fps to 96fps, we'd hear the same debates.

I don't doubt it. But until the day we all decide that a "movie" is something that looks like a glossy, big-budget stage play, I'm going to stick with the style I like.

Aeronef · December 22 2012, 08:22 PM

Set Harth wrote:

AvBaur wrote:

Aeronef wrote:

Finally, for some reason, I really noticed what a sausage-fest these stories are, this time. Who knew that Arwen was such an important addition to LOTR?

I noticed that, too. If they hadn't added Galadriel, there wouldn't have been a single female speaking role in the movie!

Come on. They made the orcs and goblins white-colored. That wasn't politically correct enough?

Who said anything about political correctness?

Please don't put your words in my mouth. They have a nasty taste. Like feet.

Set Harth · December 22 2012, 08:26 PM

Aeronef wrote:

Set Harth wrote:

AvBaur wrote:

I noticed that, too. If they hadn't added Galadriel, there wouldn't have been a single female speaking role in the movie!

Come on. They made the orcs and goblins white-colored. That wasn't politically correct enough?

Who said anything about political correctness?

It was the whole "not enough women" thing. But you're right - political correctness doesn't happen unless the words "political correctness" are spoken.

Aeronef · December 22 2012, 08:28 PM

Wrong again.

Steve Mollmann · December 22 2012, 11:01 PM

davejames wrote:

Mr Light wrote:

The reason to build up the Azog character is to have an actual leader of the Orcs in the Battle of Five Armies, rather than some random captain. Just like they built up that yellow deformed Orc captain in ROTK. In a book you can just fight a wave of enemies, but in a visual medium you need a recognizable leader to defeat to signify the victory.

I'm kinda surprised by all the Azog criticism. He may not be in the book, but he's still an absolutely badass villain with an awesome design, and something I think the movie really needed.

Was he badass, though? I liked the movie on the whole, but Azog was its weakest point. All he does is snarl and kill subordinates and let our heroes get away time after time, like every movie villain since 1977.

Gov Kodos · December 22 2012, 11:03 PM

Movie villains were doing that long before 1977, none pay any heed to the Evil Overlord's List.

Neroon · December 22 2012, 11:20 PM

davejames wrote:

I'm kinda surprised by all the Azog criticism. He may not be in the book, but he's still an absolutely badass villain with an awesome design, and something I think the movie really needed.

Technically, he doesn't really appear in the book, but he is mentioned in The Hobbit and in the appendices for The Lord of the Rings.

View Poll Results: How would you grade The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?
A+	32	16.75%
A	52	27.23%
A-	37	19.37%
B+	28	14.66%
B	15	7.85%
B-	8	4.19%
C+	1	0.52%
C	8	4.19%
C-	2	1.05%
D+	3	1.57%
D	1	0.52%
D-	3	1.57%
F	1	0.52%
Voters: 191. You may not vote on this poll

December 22 2012, 05:01 PM	#302
stj Rear Admiral Location: the real world	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers The Azog didn't bother me, it was just some wheel spinning. And it was at least more interesting wheel spinning than the characters repeatedly surviving certain death. But I must say that the discovery that Thorin put his personal feelings above everybody else, and above his supposed determination to recover the dwarf home, wasn't very compelling. As I say, I viewed it as rather obviously foreshadowing his fate. His disbelief in Bilbo wasn't compelling either, even if we viewers are supposed to dislike anyone who can't appreciate Our Hero. __________________ Morals are what you do to other people. Other people, what we call society, are essential to human happiness. Therefore, morals are the path to happiness. My morals, your happiness; your morals, my happiness: It's a fair trade.

December 22 2012, 05:03 PM	#303
JarodRussell Vice Admiral	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers Well, I thought he tried to kill Azog so they could get off that damn tree. __________________ lol l /\

December 22 2012, 06:52 PM	#305
Mr Light Admiral Location: Pennsylvania	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers The reason to build up the Azog character is to have an actual leader of the Orcs in the Battle of Five Armies, rather than some random captain. Just like they built up that yellow deformed Orc captain in ROTK. In a book you can just fight a wave of enemies, but in a visual medium you need a recognizable leader to defeat to signify the victory. __________________

December 22 2012, 06:58 PM	#306
davejames Vice Admiral Location: Sac, Ca	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers Finally watched it again, in good old-fashioned 24fps this time, and found it a dramatic improvement over the previous viewing. I still enjoyed the movie in 48, but this time it just seemed to flow a lot better and I found myself being MUCH more engaged by it. It actually felt like I was watching characters in a movie again, and not just actors on a movie set. Of course it still takes the movie a while to get going in the beginning, but once they finally leave the freakin Shire I think it moves along pretty damn well.

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December 22 2012, 06:59 PM	#307
JarodRussell Vice Admiral	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers whispers That's because you're used to it. Had this been a change from 15fps to 24fps, or from 48fps to 96fps, we'd hear the same debates. __________________ lol l /\

December 22 2012, 08:28 PM	#312
Aeronef Lieutenant Commander	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers Wrong again. __________________ Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

December 22 2012, 11:03 PM	#314
Gov Kodos Vice Admiral Location: Gov Kodos Regretably far from Boston	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers Movie villains were doing that long before 1977, none pay any heed to the Evil Overlord's List. __________________ “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” Rumi