One Film Trilogy To Bind Them: Part II

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is my favorite film in The Hobbit trilogy.  I find it endlessly entertaining, and extremely emotional to watch.  I personally feel that everything from An Unexpected Journey is ramped up, and kicked into high gear with The Desolation of Smaug.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is the second film in The Hobbit trilogy, and continues the adventures of the dwarves, Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf seeking to reclaim Erebor.  There is so much to love about this film.   I love all the different characters that we are introduced to, and the different worlds that they inhabit.  The scope of the film is truly epic in nature, and the entire film slowly builds to the final act that takes place in Erebor.  There is also a love story between Kili (Aidan Turner) and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) that is quite beautiful to witness.  There is romance, but there is also nothing physical that happens between the two of them.  Seeing this play out is lovely to watch.  It is also great to see Orlando Bloom return as Legolas.  As much as I love this film, I do have some minor qualms about it.  At one point in the film, it is said that Gandalf (Ian McKellen) called Radagast (Sylvester McCoy) to the High Fells of Rhudaur.  When did Gandalf actually do this??  At another point in the film, Bilbo (Martin Freeman) says that he knows Bards' (Luke Evans) name because he asked him.  When did this happen??  Finally, when Gandalf is rescuing Thrain (Antony Sher) in Dol Guldur, it seems like Thrain is leading him into a trap with the orcs, but then the two of them are escaping together after Gandalf blinds Azog (Manu Bennett).  It just seems to me that Thrains' motives are never quite clear.  Other than these extremely minor flaws, I find this film to be visually breathtaking and ripe with emotions that will tug at your heartstrings.

Evangeline Lilly plays Tauriel.  Personally, I do not mind that Tauriel is a character that was created specifically for this film and Battle of the Five Armies because I think she adds something special to the film, and her motives are quite clear.  I love the way Lilly portrays the character because she is just as lethal as Legolas, and yet she has a softer side to her.  What makes this so important is that she does not let her emotions get the better of her.  In fact, her emotions make her stronger.  The scene where she is healing Kili with athelas is quite moving.  Tauriel is a great example of a strong female character that never loses her femininity.  Evangeline Lilly gives an excellent performance as the "Daughter of the Forest".

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Smaug.  What I do not think many people realize is that Cumberbatch did not just do the voice of Smaug.  He also donned a motion-capture suit, and crawled around on the ground so the camera could pick up his movements.  Doing this adds to the portrayal of the character, and you can also see the wide range of emotions on Smaugs' face.  Cumberbatchs' voice is menacing, and it is breathtaking to hear it echo throughout the walls of Erebor.  Cumberbatchs' performance gives me goosebumps every single time I watch this film.

Peter Jackson returns as director of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.  I love that Jackson added in a scene with Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) at the beginning of the film.  This scene shows how they initially met, and how Gandalf was the one who urged the dwarves to reclaim their homeland.  This scene, while small, adds more weight to the relationship between these characters.  I also love the way Jackson uses the camera during the scene with the spiders in Mirkwood Forest.  This scene is so tense, and keeps you on the edge of your seat because you are genuinely frightened.  The spiders looks incredibly realistic, so much so that it almost makes you physically uncomfortable to look at them.  I also love the look of Lake-town, and the way it is designed.  Lake-town is one of my favorite parts of the book, and I loved seeing it come to life on film.  Also, from an editing standpoint, I love the fact that the joy and happiness of the dwarves climbing the stair to the door into Erebor is mirrored by the dark events that happen in Dol Guldur.  We are shown that even in Middle Earths' darkest hour, there are people in the world who experience great joy and happiness.  Of course, I am always in complete awe of the sequences that occur in Erebor.  Again, the way Jackson uses the camera, he truly conveys the size of the dwarf kingdom.  When the dwarves split up, and Smaug is chasing all of them, your heart beats with excitement.  I also love that the film cuts to black right after Bilbo says, "What have we done?".  It chills me to the core every time.  From a directorial standpoint, I personally think this film is on par with Return of the King.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is one of those films for me that I could watch over and over again.  It is a film that delivers in every way.  If you enjoyed An Unexpected Journey, you will LOVE The Desolation of Smaug!!!

One Film Trilogy To Bind Them: Part I

For many film fans, the journey to Middle Earth ended in 2003.  Of course, there was always hope that The Hobbit would be adapted into a film, but nobody ever thought it would actually happen.  It goes without saying that we were all pleasantly surprised when Peter Jackson decided to make not one, but THREE films out of what is generally considered a childrens' book.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first chapter in The Hobbit film trilogy, and is the story of a dwarf named Bilbo Baggins who sets out with the dwarves of Erebor to help them reclaim their homeland.  I have heard complaints from many film fans that this film does not feel like The Lord of the Rings.  My response is that it is not supposed to.  This film takes place sixty years prior, and it is before the darkness of Mordor begins to sweep through Middle Earth.  This entire trilogy is about Bilbos' adventures as a young man, and because of that, this film and the other two have a completely different feel to them.  I actually love the fact that, as far as this film trilogy goes, Bilbo (Martin Freeman) is recalling his adventures as he is writing them in his book.  The film starts out with him getting ready for his 111th birthday, and Frodo (Elijah Wood) going off to surprise Gandalf (Ian McKellen), and it is quite wonderful to see these Lord of the Rings alumni back in this small scene.  For all intents and purposes, Bilbo is not the main character of this story.  That part falls to Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage).  Doing this actually works for these movies because we are essentially seeing the story unfold through Bilbos' eyes.  I also love that the songs from the book are incorporated into the film.  I am a big fan of Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold, and it is delightful to hear it in the film.  Seeing Rivendell appear again is a sight that will bring tears to your eyes, as will the appearance of the eagles at the end of the film.  My only complaint about the film would be that it feels like Bilbo decides to go with Gandalf and the dwarves too quickly.  A solid portion of the film shows that Bilbo is dedicated to staying at home, and then out of nowhere he decides to go along.  I would have perhaps liked to have seen a sequence where Gandalf persuades Bilbo to go.  Other than that, this is a magical film that will take your breath away with every shot, and remind you why you love Middle Earth so much.

Martin Freeman plays a young Bilbo Baggins.  What Freeman does in the film, and the entire trilogy, is quite incredible because he completely disappears into the character.  I do not see Martin Freeman.  I see Martin Freeman playing a young Ian Holm as Bilbo Baggins, right down to the body language and the way he delivers the dialogue.  At times, I personally am brought to tears because of how moving his performance is.  When he yells, "I'm going on an adventure!" you cannot help but smile and get excited.  Freeman brilliantly captures the essence of Bilbo throughout the entire trilogy.

Peter Jackson is the director of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.  Jackson does a magnificent job bringing you back to the world of Middle Earth.  There are epic shots of the landscapes, and the attention to detail in the costumes, makeup and sets are exquisite.  He also does an annoyingly good job at giving us glimpses of Smaug without actually letting us see what he looks like.  There are a number of sequences in the film that are quite memorable.  I love everything that takes place in Goblintown.  The attention to detail and the visual effects are breathtaking.  Goblintown feels very much like an underground part of Middle Earth that no one dares to enter.  There is a grittiness that feels unpleasant.  Also, the pivotal scene between Bilbo and Gollum (Andy Serkis) feels like it is ripped from the pages of the book.  It is humorous and tense at the same time, and it feels like you are watching theatre.  This is also probably Serkis' best performance as Gollum.  For me personally, though, the best scene in the film is when Gandalf, Saruman (Christopher Lee) and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) are discussing the darkness that is beginning to spread through Middle Earth.  Each character has a different point of view on the subject, and they all have opinions about the graveness of the situation.  The characters argue, but are never angry.  The dialog is crisp and the acting is superb.  You also get just a hint of the kind of character Saruman will become.  Peter Jackson has not lost one step since he last brought us to Middle Earth.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey gives you a wonderful return to Middle Earth.  However, because of the story, some things feel similar while others feel quite different.  If you enjoyed The Lord of the Rings movies, you will absolutely fall in love with this film.

One Fantasy Tale To Rule Them All: Part Three

In my personal opinion, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is one of the greatest motion pictures ever made.  Every single element of this film is absolutely flawless.  This movie was also the first, and to date the only, fantasy film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is the third part in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and tells the story of Gandalf and Aragorn making a stand against Saurons' army while Frodo and Sam edge ever closer to Mount Doom.  I love the fact that this film is book-ended by the character of Gollum (Andy Serkis).  Gollums' fate is tied to the Ring of Power, and the movie emphasizes that in an incredibly dramatic way.  I also like the fact that, even though he is dead, Boromir (Sean Bean) is still an important character in the story.  Faramir (David Wenham) is always living in the shadow of Boromir, no thanks to his father Denethor (John Noble), and his character arc in the movie is quite remarkable.  Faramir also starts a romantic relationship with Eowyn (Miranda Otto) that is handled quite delicately, just as an actual relationship would be.  This film also finally brings the fellowship back together in a way that feels seamless, and the reactions by the characters when they are reunited are genuine.  I would have liked to see a scene between Faramir and Gandalf where Faramir tells Gandalf about his encounter with Frodo, Sam and Gollum, but that is my only complaint about this astounding cinematic achievement.  To this day, I cannot watch this film without at least welling up, and that is because the story is overwhelmingly emotional.  To put it simply, this is a film for the ages.

Elijah Wood returns as Frodo.  Woods' performance in these films is fantastic because it is a mixture of fear, doubt and determination.  At one point in the film, Frodo realizes that this journey will claim his life and he seems perfectly alright with that because he knew that was what was at risk from the beginning.  Also, the scene with him and Sean Astin on the hills of Mt. Doom is incredibly emotional to watch simply because of what they have both been through up to this point.  If Frodo Baggins is the role that Elijah Wood ends up being best known for, I do not think that would be a bad thing at all.

It is also my personal opinion that Sean Astin was robbed of an Oscar nomination for his role as Sam.  He plays Sam as someone who is extremely protective of Frodo, and is determined to see him to Mount Doom to destroy the Ring of Power.  It is because of his determination that you damn near burst into tears when Gollum frames him for eating the Elvish bread, and Frodo sends him away.  I want to make a note here because what Astin does as an actor in this scene is so precise. These are not tears of sadness that Sam sheds.  These are tears of anger and disappointment because Gollum has finally gotten into Frodos' head, and Sam realizes that there is nothing he can do now.  It is too far gone.  It is because of all this that you want to cheer and smile when Sam works his way back up the winding stair after he realizes what Gollum has done.  Again, the scene with Sam and Frodo on the hills of Mount Doom is probably one of the best scenes in the entire trilogy because of all the emotions that both actors are playing in the scene.  This is truly one of the best performances of Sean Astins' career.

Miranda Otto plays Eowyn.  I have said for a long time that we need more strong female characters in film, and Eowyn is a great example of that.  What is key about Ottos' performance is that Eowyn is so strong, but she never loses her femininity.  She can be sensitive and fall in love with Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) in one scene, and then shove her sword into the face of the Witch-King of Angmar in the next.  Ottos' scenes with Viggo Mortensen are quite well done because they are dramatic, but not emotional, which is hard to do.  Also, her scenes with Dominic Monaghan are humorous to watch, and add levity to the film.  Miranda Otto gives such a wonderful performance in the film.

Viggo Mortensen returns as Aragorn.  I like the way Aragorns' character arc is handled because even though he finally embraces his heritage in this film, he is hesitant about it beforehand.  So much so that when you see him wield Anduril for the first time, it feels like a breath of fresh air.  Mortensen, without question, is a badass in this movie.  To see him lead the attack on the Black Gate is to witness the definition of manliness, and when he turns and says "For Frodo", you shed manly tears.  Mortensen is a natural leader of the cast, just as Aragorn realizes his leadership of the fellowship.

Peter Jackson is the director of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.  Like the previous two films, the battle scenes are so awe-inspiring to watch.  The Battle of the Pelennor Fields is so breathtaking and just when you think it is over, a herd of mumakil come thundering in.  The way Jackson uses the camera in this scene blows my mind every time I see this film.  Jackson also knows that the relationships between the characters are what drive the story, and every single scene between Frodo and Sam, like the two scenes I mentioned before, bring so much emotion to the story.  Another note I want to make about this film is the issue of "multiple endings" that some people have.  I always felt as if these "endings" wrapped up the story in quite a beautiful way, and also stayed true to the source material right down to Sam having the last line in the film just as he does in the book.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is epic in scale while also has an emotional story.  There is something to be said about all different kinds of species putting aside their differences to battle a common enemy.  I think we all could learn something from J.R.R. Tolkien.  If you enjoyed the first two films in The Lord of the Rings series, you will absolutely love this film!!!

One Fantasy Tale To Rule Them All: Part Two

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was my least favorite film in The Lord of the Rings series for a few years.  I could not get past the fact that nothing good happens in the film.  However, as I started to understand the three-act structure of a play I began to understand why this film has such a dark tone.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the second chapter in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and is the story of Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee being led to Mordor by Gollum while the other members of the fellowship fight against Saruman and the Uruk-Hai of Isengard.  If you watch The Lord of the Rings films as one movie, which is the way I look at it, The Two Towers is the second act in the story.  Usually, the second act is where everything goes to hell, and we see the characters at their lowest points.  From the death of of Theodred, to the battle of Helm's Deep, to the conflicts between Frodo and Sam and their subsequent capture by Faramir and his men, this entire film is extremely grim.  Did the protagonists achieve victory at Helm's Deep?  Yes, but at an extreme cost.  The fortress was nearly taken, and if Gandalf had not shown up with backup in time all would have been lost.  The Two Towers also splits up the screen time between the three separate groups of the fellowship with perfect precision, and also manages to end on a cliffhanger for each group.  When I saw this movie in the theater I wondered how in the world this movie would not buckle under the pressure of having to tell three separate stories, but thanks to the director and screenwriters this movie flows perfectly.  We also get to see the forming of a friendship between Gimli and Legolas, which brings levity to the movie.  There is also see a flashback scene with Boromir, Faramir and Denethor which adds more evidence to Denethors' reasoning for his feelings towards Faramir.  Also, there is an incredibly moving sequence where we see what will happen if Aragorn and Arwen are together.  This is a sorrowful sequence that shows that, even if they end up together, Arwen will always be alone.  When you combine this sequence with Hugo Weavings' monologue and Howard Shores' music, this is one of the most powerful sequences in modern cinema.  Sams' speech at the climax of the film is also incredibly moving for a couple of reasons: First, if any other actor was delivering this monologue this sequence would have fallen completely apart.  Sean Astin lends such an emotional weight to this particular piece of dialogue that you cannot help but wipe a tear from your eye.  Secondly, during this sequence there are a couple of shots of Gollum with a sad expression on his face.  The takeaway from these shots is that even though Gollum will stop at nothing to get The Ring of Power back into his grasp, he still does not understand all the evil that is spreading in the world.  This film has the most emotional core of all the films, and you will find it hard not to weep before the end.

Obviously, the standout performance in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is Any Serkis as Gollum.  The fact that this was done as motion-capture, and not just as a visual effect, is why the entire film works so well.  Elijah Wood and Sean Astin were not acting against a bluescreen.  They were alongside a real actor that could convey emotion, and make us as the audience believe in the character.  Gollum looks incredibly realistic because of this, and Serkis' performance has been etched in stone as the man who revolutionized the motion-capture technique.

Peter Jackson is the director of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.  I love the way Jackson starts this film because we see what happens between Gandalf and the Balrog, and this adds more emotional weight to his reveal later on in the film.  The wide shots of all the different landscapes are breathtaking to see, and all the set pieces and costumes are designed with meticulous detail.  Also, the sequences in which the characters are preparing for battle at Helm's Deep are quite well done because we see all the characters individually getting ready, and then we see the wide shot of the orcs slowly marching on the fortress.  This builds tension for the battle sequence and feels like you are experiencing it in real life because the characters are feeling it right along with you.  In my opinion, this film feels more personal than the other two films in the series, which probably has to do with how hard Jackson and the screenwriters worked to craft this particular story, and Jackson once again does a masterful job of bring the world of Middle Earth to life.  

It feels to me as if The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the underappreciated chapter in this film series.  There is so much going on within the three separate groups of characters that it can be difficult to take it all in.  However, I can honestly say that if you enjoyed the books, and the first film, then you will at least like this particular chapter in one of the greatest film trilogies ever made.

One Fantasy Tale To Rule Them All

The first chapter in The Lord of the Rings tale, titled The Fellowship of the Ring, introduces you to nine characters in their quest to destroy the Ring of Power.  I myself have read the first two books, and I am in the process of finishing the third book right now.  Even though I have not finished all three books, I have talked to people that have.  My personal opinion, and the opinion of others that I have spoken too, is that The Lord of the Rings movies follow the books very well.  There are a few arguments that could be made about certain things that are/are not included, but other than that there are very few complaints.

Anyone who has read The Lord of the Rings knows that eventually the fellowship is broken and the other characters break off and start their own journeys.  When you take a book like The Lord of the Rings and turn it into a movie, you have to condense it down to the central story, while at the same time serving justice to the stories of the other characters. This is done extremely well, giving each character their due.

Before The Lord of the Rings movies, director Peter Jackson was known for doing horror movies.  This kind of background definitely shows during the battle scenes.   However, the intimate dialogue scenes are handled with extreme care as well.  As The Fellowship of the Ring is the start of the journey, naturally there are many shots of the group walking to different destinations.  These shots are very dynamic, and you really get a sense of how arduous their journey is, and will be.  

I thoroughly enjoy fantasy writing.  Obviously for these movies, they did not just take the book and turn it into a script verbatim.  However, you do get the sense that they wanted to do J.R.R. Tolkien justice in the script, and they do so immensely well.  My personal favorite exchange of dialogue is in The Fellowship of the Ring.  In the mines of Moria, Boromir inquires, "What is this new devilry?", and Gandalf replies, "A Balrog.  A demon of the ancient world."  That is fantasy writing at its finest.  

The entire cast does an excellent job of capturing their characters.  For me in particular, there are two performances that stick out.  First is Ian McKellen as Gandalf.  In my opinion, this performance is the greatest of his career and it certainly carries the movie.  Second is Elijah Wood as Frodo.  I was never a big Elijah Wood fan, however it never ceases to amaze me how good he is in this movie.

I absolutely love when movies combine practical and digital effects, and this movie does that superbly.  The Moria sequence is particularly breathtaking.  When you read the books, you wonder how they are going to bring this world to life.  Then, you see the movie and it is exactly how you imagined it.

Years ago, I personally do not think you would have associated a name like Peter Jackson with The Lord of the Rings.  However, he has proven to be one of the few directors who is able to do a sweeping epic film.  He cares about the story first and foremost, and that is what makes him special.