The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (reactions part 2)

(Part 1 here)

*** BOOK SPOILERS AHEAD ***

There is no doubt one of the most memorable scenes in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is Barrels Out of Bond.

The film is breathlessly action-packed all the way through, but this scene may be the capstone of fight sequences.  If you love choreographed martial arts in a whitewater river  rafting (barreling?) setting, this will be a highlight for sure.  I got a kick out of seeing elves racing/flying/dancing through the trees like it's nothing.  And, for all that, Bombur gets the award for most win fighting skills.  A great scene from the book, taken to a greater level.

I've gone on quite a bit already about the monsters and action - by no means does this take away from the cinematography and scenery, the Middle Earth we all know so well.  Every landscape was a work of art.



Mirkwood, and in particular Thranduil's fortress, was woodsy yet elegant and elven at the same time.  Erebor, Thorin's kingdom under the mountain, was reminiscent of Moria, yet more elaborate.  Emiko said it resembled a forest, over a floor of gold, and I can definitely see that!  Lake-town looked properly cosy and cold, with canals instead of roads, and just like a fairytale town (Baroque?  Elizabethan English?  Something like that...I don't have my history cap on today...)  Dol Goldur was hideous and depressing, as you might expect.

As an aside - one bit of imagery I want to point out.  It seems to me that Thranduil's crown, Smaug's head, and Sauron's helmet all have the same sort of shape and design.  Intentional, or coincidence??  (I feel a photo of Smaug would be too spoilery, so just take a good look at him when the time comes.)

Thorin's meeting with Thranduil was a really excellent scene.  Thorin is certainly too stubborn, and he's obviously shooting himself in the foot, but I can't help rooting for him in his confrontations with Thranduil.  It will only get more interesting if/when this comes back to haunt him in the last film.

On the subject of conversations, Bilbo meeting Smaug is #1 on my list of scenes to rewatch.  As a kid, I loved reading about mythical monsters, so finally seeing a convincing dragon and hearing him talk and watching him fly - well, it was nostalgic.  Bilbo is scared speechless, then starts talking nonsense.  Funny and scary at the same time, just like the book!

I should mention I didn't grow up reading The Hobbit.  It simply has all the right elements from fairytales you knew about before.  It takes you back to some of the best parts of your childhood, because we've all been Bilbo Baggins, at some point or other.  You just have to want to go on an adventure.