Strangers and Aliens: Science Fiction & Fantasy from a Christian Perspective

THE HOBBIT: DESOLATION OF SMAUG trailer!!!

the_hobbit_smaug

I’m trying to decide if I’m excited about this movie.

Watch the trailer here, then join the discussion below. I had some surprising feelings after watching it.

The truth is, before seeing this trailer, I was! But now? As a trailer, it is lifeless. It is meant to get you excited about seeing Legolas. It tries to make the case for why Legolas and the woman elf are in the movie at all. It tries to impress by showing the dragon’s face. It gives dramatic lines with dramatic pauses. And it shows off some action.

Part of me hopes the effects are not complete, and that is why the action feels flat. The dragon and the hopping elves just don’t have much life. But this could be unfinished. I hope.

Then there’s Legolas. It is cool to see that familiar face. I like him. But the trailer oversells him. People joked that the last movie should not have been called The Hobbit, but The Dwarf Prince instead, since Bilbo was lost in the multiple story and character arcs that Thorin had. This trailer makes it look like it is The Elf Warrior. My prediction: Legolas will only be in a small portion of the movie, and that he will figure in far more heavily in the third movie. But they are using him as a selling point. Which worries me. This trailer has no focus. Will the movie?

Finally, the barrel escape. Will this be the video game segment of this movie? As perfectly timed Super Mario World platform escape from the goblins in the first one was?

And should I be embarrassed that having the tops on the barrels bothers me? Since this is going to be a big action sequence, the change seems to be required. And I defended changes in the first one. This rubs me the wrong way.

Final thought: I’m glad this trailer hit me the wrong way. I’ll have six months now where I will be expecting lifeless graphics and line readings, change for the sake of change, and Legolas. Seriously, this movie probably cannot be worse than this trailer.

I hope.

What do you think? Let us know below!

~ Ben

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3 responses to “THE HOBBIT: DESOLATION OF SMAUG trailer!!!”

  1. Nathan James Norman Avatar
    Nathan James Norman

    Woof! the CG looks unbelievably terrible. If certainly hope the effects are unfinished.

    I went into the first film with such low expectations that I actually came out liking it. This will probably be the same.

    Reply
  2. Jeff Schaefer Avatar
    Jeff Schaefer

    Hey, Ben!

    My opinion is:

    AWESOME!!!

    I was already stoked to see this movie, but now…
    There are definitely concerns, but it looks like he’s NOT going into the wilderness territory of straying so far from the books on the second movie like The Two Towers. (That was horrible)…
    I love seeing Legolas in this movie. It makes perfect sense for him and a companion to be dealing with the dwarves in Mirkwood at that time since Thranduil is his father. The barrels being open is a bit silly, but I’m sure that’s just for dramatic tension while they’re being attacked by goblins on the way (another addition)…

    Another thing you’ve got to remember is that THIS IS A TEASER. They are going to be teasing the elements that are added or new to pique our interest… Nothing to get too worked up over… YET… 😉

    Reply
    1. Ben Avatar
      Ben

      I know, right? That’s why I’m wondering what’s wrong with me! I watched this trailer and it just feels so flat and lifeless.

      Honestly, I’m reminded of the JOHN CARTER trailers — they did not make the movie look very good at all. I really ended up enjoying them.

      But as much as I liked the first Hobbit — and I did! — this teaser fails to do its job for me: make me more interested in seeing it. It had the opposite effect. I was really looking forward to seeing it! Now, my enthusiasm has been tempered.

      Don’t get me wrong — I’m there opening night. But not because of this teaser!

      Reply

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