From 12.12.2012 to 11.12.2013 . My rather amazing movie year got its ending with movie prequel for movie that begun it. I’m talking about Peter Jackson’s second part of the Hobbit-trilogy, which has got a lot of attention last two years. Some say it should have been only one movie , but instead they make three with total length almost nine hours, like one over two and half hour movie isn’t enough. I must disagree as a lotr fan and agree as eager follower of films. The first part was and is way too long to maintain interest, but however the production crew learnt from their mistakes and the result is The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug.
HFR ( high frame rate) is completely new in movie business, which simply means that the movie uses 48 frames per second instead of normal 24. This makes Hobbit’s 3D and sceneries extremely smooth and high quality, that you can not miss on the first few minutes . Every view and CG made character is absolutely marvelous, all this simply pleases your eyes…most of the time.
Unfortunately the first movie didn’t serve that well the HFR as ” it felt too video game alike ” and the fact they only shot the movie in 48 and rendered it in 24 fps might have something to do with ” losing the cinematic touch ”,which almost all of us loved in The Lord of the Rings -trilogy .These are something that Peter Travers of Rolling Stone and Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian magazines were thinking. However the second seemed to have great improvement. Yet there are no correct words to describe the visuals and you must experience the film by yourself, but perhaps there are something to share.
Is it good ? Are there major problems ? Yes, the movie is fine if you don’t care about little things. Sadly there are some more or less important issues. Cutting between three different happenings at the same time, stupid turn-offs in otherwise great scenes and time.
Least important problem: How to slow down: Almost for the whole movie the time seems to fly at the exactly same speed. There are shots and scenes that needs some slow-motion or events that divert your attention elsewhere just for while.
Modern time structure in movies seems to be a problem for Peter as he tries to tell of three different events at the same time at totally different places. Clearly he isn’t Christopher Nolan ( Inception , Dark Knight -trilogy ) and Peter’s result is bit awkward as you wait for the best. Every clumsy or less-working scene, idea or animation slowly destroys you from within as you realize it isn’t going to blow you away. Peter might just die to stress, as we others wait for top quality, which the LOTR was and Hobbit never will be.
What a turn-off! Incredible spider set-up, touch of tension, there you are desiring for more and all of the sudden these gigantic tarantulas, horribly voiced, speak as Bilbo uses the ring. This isn’t only turn-off element. Mostly soundtrack is totally epic , but there are just way too stupid sounds, which apparently should be funny. Too much attention for some sounds that shouldn’t even been heard such as some head dropping into water. Peter has still made excellent scenes and this time they feed your interest for the whole film. Ending is only part, which hits you like the good old stuff. Good thing Peter’s ending lasts almost an hour.
All the whining however do not change the fact that I respect Peter’s work and love his Lord of the Rings -trilogy and couldn’t be more happy for the Hobbit -trilogy production, which many of us had been waiting. In fact , personally I find his production diaries of Hobbit very interesting. I advice to spend two hours watching them over youtube. Those diaries include a lot of material about shooting, directing , sound capturing, special effects etc.
Despite some problems Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug is a enjoyable gift, filled with stunning action, smooth and high quality shots, best movie dragon yet and wrapped with pinch of Lord of the Rings.