The Desolation - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Blindlyleaping · 01-10-2014, 03:13 AM

I have a whole bunch of reasons why I hated DOS, but everyone else pretty much summed up my thoughts so I'll just say something else I haven't seen-

While the LOTR movie trilogy wasn't perfect, by far, I felt it captured a more 'real' feel to it. The antagonistic characters felt like they were an actual threat and not just movie magic, and I personally think its because of the practical effects used in the original trilogy vs The Hobbit soon to be Trilogy.

The monsters seem so much more.. heavy and actually there. It makes the combat feel harrowing, because its real people interacting with one another instead of painted over actors with Cgi.

The Hobbit's choreography may seem more flashy, but to me, its fluffy garbage. Adversaries are dispatched with such ease that the real weight of it is lost, it feels like a hack and slash videogame cutscene. The heroes never look to be in any danger and that kills it for me. Battle should be heavy and gruesome and terrible, not whimsical and fun!

And just a minor gripe, if I'm remembering correctly- Do all the other river-guarding elves just straight up die in Bolg's attack during the barrel scene? It seems really crap to me to have these ancient warriors die in like 2 seconds of screentime, and I would have liked to see an interpretation of what soldiers would have done in that situation. Would they have grouped together and tried to form a wall? A wedge? Retreated? I dunno about you others, but ancient battle tactics really tickle my fancy and it upsets me that PJ, a majority of the time, seems to think that amounts to running around solo and swinging wildly.

Also, if Tauriel is Captain of the Guard you'd think she'd have a lot more compassion for ElfGuard1 and ElfGuard2 who she maybe has known for a few hundred years and definitely has known longer than Hunk!Dwarf.

Captain of the Guard, indeed! Elfguard3 just got his nose bitten off by an orc but our responsible captain is too busy chasing tail and getting the prince into mortal danger to manage her own guard.

Also, I started playing a game called "spot the LOTR moment". An example in DOS is when Kili is shot with a "morgul shaft". The same exact effects happen in this scene and the Boromir death scene from FOTR, it actually made me laugh because its so spot on it almost feels like a parody.

And my concluding thing- even the design feels radically different and unimpressive compared to LOTR (and again I think that is in part to the lack of practical effects) Could you imagine like, Boromir standing next to The Goblin King from AUJ? Or Aragorn next to just a human character like Alfred from DOS? I can't. Its like LOTR and TH are separated by a thick line of Cartoony-ness and CGI overuse that pervade choreography and art direction and it just ruins it utterly- For me.

(Ps. Long time Lurker, first time poster!)

Kuruharan · 01-10-2014, 08:30 AM

Welcome to the posting side of the Downs!

Kuruharan · 01-15-2014, 08:51 PM

How the Desolation of Smaug Should Have Ended.

Faramir Jones · 01-17-2014, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

How the Desolation of Smaug Should Have Ended.

Thanks for posting the link, Kuruharan!

I have to say that it makes more sense than the original.

0.34-0.57: So Tauriel fell passionately in love with Kili once he talked about what was down his trousers?

That makes sense, particularly as she didn't then forget her duties and release him.

1.18: 'YOU HAVE BIRD POO!' I wish someone had told Radagast that...

1.44: So Thorin was sensible and asked for a lot of black arrows, just in case? Good for him.

Kuruharan · 01-17-2014, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faramir Jones

I have to say that it makes more sense than the original.

How It Should Have Ended almost always makes more sense than the original.

Michael Murry · 01-30-2014, 03:44 PM

If someone else has already posted this link, then I apologize for the redundancy. Still, for something like this to appear on The One Ring fan site does merit notice, I think.

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2014...tion-of-smaug/

alatar · 01-30-2014, 06:20 PM

Michael Murry, thanks for posting the link!

I found it well-written, as it puts into words what I've felt.

More interesting is the comments, which, I guess, are necessary to balance out all of the anti-PJ feelings here.

01-10-2014, 08:30 AM	#2
Kuruharan Regal Dwarven Shade Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold Posts: 3,593	Welcome to the posting side of the Downs! __________________ ...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...

01-15-2014, 08:51 PM	#3
Kuruharan Regal Dwarven Shade Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold Posts: 3,593	And now to brighten your day... How the Desolation of Smaug Should Have Ended. __________________ ...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...

01-30-2014, 03:44 PM	#6
Michael Murry Haunting Spirit Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 85	A Necessary Balance If someone else has already posted this link, then I apologize for the redundancy. Still, for something like this to appear on The One Ring fan site does merit notice, I think. http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2014...tion-of-smaug/ __________________ "If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Tweedledee

01-30-2014, 06:20 PM	#7
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	Michael Murry, thanks for posting the link! I found it well-written, as it puts into words what I've felt. More interesting is the comments, which, I guess, are necessary to balance out all of the anti-PJ feelings here. __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.

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01-10-2014, 03:13 AM	#1
Blindlyleaping Newly Deceased Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Nalâ-dûm in Khazad-dûm Posts: 1	I have a whole bunch of reasons why I hated DOS, but everyone else pretty much summed up my thoughts so I'll just say something else I haven't seen- While the LOTR movie trilogy wasn't perfect, by far, I felt it captured a more 'real' feel to it. The antagonistic characters felt like they were an actual threat and not just movie magic, and I personally think its because of the practical effects used in the original trilogy vs The Hobbit soon to be Trilogy. The monsters seem so much more.. heavy and actually there. It makes the combat feel harrowing, because its real people interacting with one another instead of painted over actors with Cgi. The Hobbit's choreography may seem more flashy, but to me, its fluffy garbage. Adversaries are dispatched with such ease that the real weight of it is lost, it feels like a hack and slash videogame cutscene. The heroes never look to be in any danger and that kills it for me. Battle should be heavy and gruesome and terrible, not whimsical and fun! And just a minor gripe, if I'm remembering correctly- Do all the other river-guarding elves just straight up die in Bolg's attack during the barrel scene? It seems really crap to me to have these ancient warriors die in like 2 seconds of screentime, and I would have liked to see an interpretation of what soldiers would have done in that situation. Would they have grouped together and tried to form a wall? A wedge? Retreated? I dunno about you others, but ancient battle tactics really tickle my fancy and it upsets me that PJ, a majority of the time, seems to think that amounts to running around solo and swinging wildly. Also, if Tauriel is Captain of the Guard you'd think she'd have a lot more compassion for ElfGuard1 and ElfGuard2 who she maybe has known for a few hundred years and definitely has known longer than Hunk!Dwarf. Captain of the Guard, indeed! Elfguard3 just got his nose bitten off by an orc but our responsible captain is too busy chasing tail and getting the prince into mortal danger to manage her own guard. Also, I started playing a game called "spot the LOTR moment". An example in DOS is when Kili is shot with a "morgul shaft". The same exact effects happen in this scene and the Boromir death scene from FOTR, it actually made me laugh because its so spot on it almost feels like a parody. And my concluding thing- even the design feels radically different and unimpressive compared to LOTR (and again I think that is in part to the lack of practical effects) Could you imagine like, Boromir standing next to The Goblin King from AUJ? Or Aragorn next to just a human character like Alfred from DOS? I can't. Its like LOTR and TH are separated by a thick line of Cartoony-ness and CGI overuse that pervade choreography and art direction and it just ruins it utterly- For me. (Ps. Long time Lurker, first time poster!)