The Hobbit : The Desolation of Smaug

[asamaic]

About half an hour ago I remembered that this was tomorrow. I've thought of nothing else since. MAKE TOMORROW COME FASTER!

I now have tickets thanks to a very kind FMUKer, so see you there.

Really looking forward to this one despite the lack of superscreen!

[caitlinmorton]

About half an hour ago I remembered that this was tomorrow. I've thought of nothing else since. MAKE TOMORROW COME FASTER!

I now have tickets thanks to a very kind FMUKer, so see you there.

Really looking forward to this one despite the lack of superscreen!

Yay see you there!

[Tinpar]

Just a matter of a few days... we are excited after a long wait!

[asamaic]

Well, this I liked.

I'm not one to jump at films, but I flinched in a couple of bits due to the 3D.

I also thought the 2 1/2 hours flew by, but I thought the same thing about the last one, and everyone else disagreed.

Think I saw pxc's OH on the escalators up to Cineworld, but I haven't seen him in a while, so I wasn't sure. It was impossible to see people in the dark once we were in - finally spotted caitlinmorton in identical seats further up, so we both did about the same. 3D was fine, even though off-centre. Did find the first 5 minutes hard adjusting to the 3D, but I had the same issue last time.

I'd forgotten how much I liked Orlando Bloom as Legolas.

OH complained there wasn't enough Sylvester McCoy in this one (classic Who fan) but also really enjoyed this. The woman next to us clearly didn't - she walked out about 20 minutes in.

8/10

[Beate]

Screen 7 of the O2 was full to the last seat with security shouting about making room and switching phones off or he would stop the film (which hadn't even started yet). Queued with LondonCityNights and TheOnes (thanks) and sat with prettyxcool, caitlinmorton and cinefila1 who we kept a seat.

OH seemed to have liked it - he sat rooted to the spot for the duration. For me, the last words summed it up for me: "What have we done?"

Yes, what have you done to my beloved Hobbit? The same gripes as with the first film, only ten-fold. Hundreds of invented storylines and added scenes. Gandalf's mission is dead-boring (what is it with this necromancer rubbish?) and should have been cut out altogether as should have that clap-trap between Kili and Tauriel (an invented character) plus his illness plus that ridiculous escape in the barrels that was overshadowed by an elf/ork fight that's not in the book. And bloody Legolas again? Ok, so it was nice to give Bard a bit more to do but The Hobbit is adventurous enough without having to add scenes left, right and centre.
"Bard, why are dwarves coming out of our toilet?" Yes indeedy, why?

The one thing I really liked was the dragon. He was magnificent. He interested me. But we had to wait a long long time for him to turn up. In the meantime my arse got numb, I started yawning due to lack of air and eyes overworked by 3D glasses for a film that is just very gloomy. If you want a riot of colours and landscapes, go see Walter Mitty. If you absolutely must know the middle of this story that has been elongated more than the action man's arms in Walter Mitty, then go and watch this.

I for one hope that the last part will finally bring this saga to a satisfactory end - because by Thorin, we will have been there and back again three times by then.

6/10

[cinefila1]

Many thanks to Beate for saving me a seat tonight! The O2 was packed.

Glad I made it because I enjoyed this instalment so much more than I did the first one. It did not drag and there was a better dose of light humor. I also welcomed the appearance of Legolas and Tauriel. Over all thorougly enjoyable and visually appealing, although I can see how you can get a bit lost if you have not seen the first one.

[asamaic]

OH seemed to have liked it - he sat rooted to the spot for the duration. For me, the last words summed it up for me: "What have we done?"

Yes, what have you done to my beloved Hobbit? The same gripes as with the first film, only ten-fold. Hundreds of invented storylines and added scenes. Gandalf's mission is dead-boring (what is it with this necromancer rubbish?) and should have been cut out altogether as should have that clap-trap between Kili and Tauriel (an invented character) plus his illness plus that ridiculous escape in the barrels that was overshadowed by an elf/ork fight that's not in the book. And bloody Legolas again? Ok, so it was nice to give Bard a bit more to do but The Hobbit is adventurous enough without having to add scenes left, right and centre.
"Bard, why are dwarves coming out of our toilet?" I mean, really?

Possibly I enjoyed this more as I haven't read the book. I do own a copy, I must get round to reading it one day.

[cinefila1]

I have not read the book either so I'm regarding it as just an adventure film loosely inspired by the world of The Hobbit. I can see how if you've read it, the film is probably a lot of nonsense.

[Beate]

It's not a very big book so give it a whirl!

[TheBoySeggy]

Preferred the first one. This is the first time any of these movies felt like it was dragging on & I absolutely loved the LotR trilogy, so when I checked my watch & found that only 1 hour had passed when it seemed like 3.

It's a few years since I read the book, but I said it when the films were first announced & I still think so - a trilogy of films? Why. Either my memory is bad (which is very possible), or you've basically made up stuff to stretch to 3 movies.

There were some fun action sequences, and I'm glad Smaug had more of a role - eventually.

My biggest highlight. Evangeline Lily. Where have you been all these years. In an instant, I remembered why I used to tolerate watching Lost. What a babe.

Thank you very much Valda for making me your +1.

5/10