The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

I saw The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in cinemas on Wednesday 18th December.

I'm not sure what my expectations were going into this film. I mean, I loved the first Hobbit film "An Unexpected Journey", and all the LOTR films, but so-called "middle" films of a trilogy are notoriously difficult, and with hearing that much of the content of this movie wasn't in the book of The Hobbit made me a little apprehensive. (I haven't read the book, I only know this from reading about the film before it's release.) So with the pre-amble over, let's get on, shall we?

THTDOS (as I have decided to call it - catchy as the title is, and fun as it is to say "Smaug", it's a little lengthy to type out constantly) picks up pretty much where the first one left off - all the gang are in view of Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, but there's still a looooooong way to go before they get there. And I mean a really really long way. But don't lose heart *adopts chipper tour-guide voice* there's lots of adventures to be had along the way! 

Fans of LOTR will like this one I think. Although, yes, it's not faithful to the Hoobit book, it's got the caves and the spiders - eugh - and the elves! One of my favourite moments of the film was the time spent with the elves. Not only do we have the return of the beautiful Orlando Bloom (swoons) but also the character of Tauriel, flying the flag for all the action-loving ladies, and the fabulous Lee Pace! Truly, some of his lines, and his cloak-swishing, it's all brilliant! And a little elf-related love interest thrown in there too, cheeky...

Honestly there's so much to talk about with this film, where to go next with talking about it I do not know. Ummm oh yes, Luke Evan's Bard. I really liked the story here with this character and the little town and Stephen Fry being Stephen Fry. But in all seriousness. I felt this added a human element to the film, among all the dwarves and elves and wizards, and meant that we as an audience were able to connect more with the peril the ordinary people faced. You can sympathise with the hardship of the Company as well of course, but some of what happened in that little town on the water may have brought a tear to my eye. 

Righty, obviously, OBVIOUSLY, I've not mentioned the elephant in the room yet. Or should I say the dragon in the title? (See what I did there, eh, eh? Oh never mind.) Smaug. Mhmm oh yes, the Big Bad, with a name that is just so satisfying to say. Smaug. Smaaaaaaug. Okay now it sounds weird. 

But yes, Benedict Cumberbatch and his wonderful voice - and a little of his motion-capture - brought this dragon to life and in all his glory, he is magnificent. The first shot we get of the full Smaug kinda takes your breath away, not gonna lie. 

The whole scenery inside Erebor is amazing, but more so are the scenes between Smaug and Bilbo. You really feel the fear of Martin Freeman's Bilbo through the screen, and the tension is palpable I tell you, palpable. The interaction here is amazing, it's hard to imagine what it was like for Freeman to act opposite his Sherlock co-star while Cumberbatch was mo-capping a giant red gold-hoarding dragon... 

Other than Smaug we've got some big contenders in the baddie corner. The Great White Orc, enemy of Thorin Oakenshield, is back, but apparently being governed by a greater force of evil (I don't want to give too much away here.) Gandalf is on tippity-top form battling said baddies - can we give a big shout out to Sir Ian McKellen, for the amount of very physical action scenes he performs so splendidly at the grand age of 74!

The ending is quite emotional as the climatic scene is thrilling and exhausting, but in a good way. And there's the added "bonus" of getting to the end and knowing there's a WHOLE YEAR until the final installment *sobs*. 

For me the only things that were vaguely negative are the length as mentioned (I mean it can drag just the slightest in the middle), and the deviation from the book, also mentioned. 

Verdict

I really enjoyed the film, in case you couldn't tell, but perhaps would appreciate someone asking Peter Jackson if he's ever heard that "good things come in small packages", or maybe even mention to him the phrase "short and sweet". 

The book, should you wish to read it. I've got my copy - just yet to start reading. How awesome is that illustration of Smaug?

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

I saw The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on Wednesday 27th November.

Now, first things first, I have read the books of THG so I may make comparisons between the book and film, just a heads-up for anyone who maybe hasn't read them. ( You should, they're AMAZING.)  I will try not give away any spoilers when comparing to the book, but if I think I really really need to mention anything that is potentially spoiler-y I will be all like SPOILER ALERT and write in a different font really small so you know, when the writing goes back to normal, the spoiler situation is over. Formalities over, let's begin! 

Picking up during the so-called 'Victory Tour' of Katniss and Peeta after they won the Games, Catching Fire starts quite uneasily I guess you would say. They still have Effie orchestrating their lives, they still have Haymitch being, well, Haymitch... And they're still faking their relationship for the sake of the survival. This is presented really well in the film, particularly Peeta's heartbreaking real feelings for Katniss being recognised but not reciprocated *sob* 
The scenes in District 12 capture the whole essence of The Hunger Games for me: people rebelling against a repressive system, despite it's controlling levels of fear and intimidation. Katniss' stolen moments of relative peace with Gale and her family are achingly precious, especially considering her supposedly divided heart between the boys. 

I don't think the books or films are really about the "love triangle" though. I think they're more about Katniss' struggle to survive, and her trying to balance self-preservation with making sacrifices for those she loves. Because in her own way she loves Peeta and Gale, just differently. Gale, he represents home, and it's this that keep drawing Katniss back to him.

 Peeta is the only person who can understand the particular horrors of The 74th Hunger Games, and so he is comforting to her - she needs him (as we see during one Capitol scene, painstakingly recreated from the book). 

Their time in the Capitol is so beautifully shot and lovingly recreated from Suzanne Collins' descriptions. There's a BEAUT moment from Effie (that Elizabeth Banks actually ad-libbed because she knew fans would love it) as well as the introduction of Philip Seymour Hoffman's new Gamesmaker. He was so well cast, I can't even. 

(By the way, has anyone ever noticed how in the credits the casting people have letters after their name? Do you have to have a special qualification to cast people in movies?)

Um, another thing, Jena Malone as Johanna Mason?! How amazing was she?! I've never seen anything with her in before but I think she is brilliant. Thank you, specially-qualified casting people. 

Argh there is so so so so much to talk about, but I don't want to give a blow-by-blow account of the film whilst at the same time being really vague and cagey. 

I think obviously the next big thing to talk about/fan-girl over is the ARENA TIME, OH MY GOODNESS. It's so tense. All the time. I genuinely screamed in the cinema at one point (my best friend like died of laughter). It feels so much like you're there with them, going through all of these tortures the Capitol and President Snow can throw at them, due to the acting and the shooting and just, ugh, it's so good. And when things do get a bit too scary, there's always Sam Claflin's beautiful face to make you feel better!

Now, the ending. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOKS - I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH YOU WILL NOT EXPECT THE ENDING. That is all.

On the downside... I think there were a couple of points where it felt like the end, and then it carried on, and it was like how is there more film?! It's quite long basically. And it takes forever to get to the arena, though it is necessary.

Verdict
Overall, I completely and utterly loved The Hunger Games:Catching Fire, as a fan of the book series as well as the first film. You'll be totally compelled, intrigued, and sometimes terrified by it - go see it!

Look, here are the books, read them if you can!

RK.

Thor: The Dark World

I saw Thor: The Dark World on Thursday 31st October 2013.


I love Thor, I love it love it love it. I love the Marvel Universe, so sue me if I haven't read the comic books, I LOVE IT. Okay, glad we got that out the way!

Now, I loved the first Thor, it's probably the Avengers film I watch most (my mother and I regularly have Chris-Hemsworth-Appreciation Evenings - Thor, Snow White and the Huntsman, Star Trek...) so I was pretty psyched for the sequel. Yes I just said psyched.

This film was exquisite. Funny, dramatic, astonishing, brilliant SFX, the lot. Even had me reaching for the tissues at not only one but several points - and let me tell you I do not cry easily at films. (I think that's more to do with my glasses squishing my tear ducts into oblivion, rather than a sign of a cold and stony heart).
I say funny first of all because the amount of wisecracks they squeezed into this film that supposedly a new, "darker" Thor was unbelievable! As always it is Darcy, played by the brilliant Kat Dennings, who brings the giggles, especially in the side-romance with (the imaginatively nicknamed by me) Ian the Intern - he's called Ian, and he's an intern... Look out for the car keys. 

I do agree with other, much better qualified film critics that this a "darker" Thor movie, but it wasn't in the way I expected it to be. From reading write-ups I expected Thor to be kind of, moping around, Heathcliff-esque, thinking about Jane, Jane to be doing the same... Chris O'Dowd trying to cheer her up... And yes I know, there was a bit of that at the start (sympathy for Sif though - you know which bit I mean, right?) but I was surprised at how into the action Jane got! Compared to the first film, she's a lot more grounded, less in awe of Thor himself - and let's not forget she's royally p-d off that he didn't visit when he had to deal with the whole Chutari-in-New-York situation. 

Thor gets a pretty decent character arc, torn between his love and his world, turning to good old Idris Elba in his hours of need, while managing banter - yes, banter! - with his most hated brother Loki!

Which brings me to Tom Hiddleston. That man. Can act. Instead of God of Mischief, Loki should be called God of Sass, because literally he just steals every scene; even if he's not on screen, you're wondering what the cheeky wotsit is up to, which I think demonstrates the power of the writing and directing as much as Tom's acting. Look out for the gasp-inducing Loki moment...

If I had to criticise something... Not a lot of baddie development. For some reason, Christopher Eccleston (virtually unrecognisable) and his ape-like cronies want everything to be dark and gloomy and terrifying, and to take over all nine realms! Why, I do not know, and I wish I did, but maybe it's a comic book thing. Maybe they want it to be dark all the time and everywhere so no-one can look at their weird creepy faces. They reminded me of the baddies in Man Of Steel - appear, attempt to destroy, speak in an outdated way, fail. 

Verdict

For me, Thor: The Dark World is a wonderful dorkish delight, I left the cinema in awe and shock and waiting  for the next one, with a huuuuuge grin on my face, a very happy fan. 

PS. Both, both credit scenes, so worth waiting for. 

Thor says go see the film, and keep checking Parker and Longabaugh for more movie news!

RK.