A Film A Day: Tolkien

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Cast

Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Stephen Fry, Orlando Bloom, Graham McTavish, Ken Stott, Aidan Turner, Dean O'Gorman, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Peter Hambleton, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Cate Blanchett, Mikael Persbrandt, Sylvester McCoy, Manu Bennett, Lawrence Makoare, Anthony Sher, Craig Hall, Ryan Gage, John Bell, Ben Mitchell, Robin Kerr, Dallas Barnett

Plot

After successfully crossing over the Misty Mountains, the thirteen dwarves commanded by Thorin (Richard Armitage), the hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) continue their quest to reclaim Erebor, the dwarves homeland, from the dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch).

Opinion

Out there is plenty of people saying that fans of Tolkien will be disappointed with the new trilogy, and there are way too much differences between the book and the films. That's pretty much normal since Jackson made three films out of a 300 pages book.

Having said that, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is a terrific middle chapter filled with tons of action, emotions and fun from the first frame to the last.

The film is exciting all the way through and more engaging than An Unexpected Journey, although I did enjoy its slow pacing.

I particularly loved the giant spiders sequence, and the way they talk to each other when Bildo puts the ring on, even though they sound like Gollum. The arachnids are visually stunning and scary. Legolas comes back and, although I'm pretty sure he wasn't in the book, he brings some fun. New creation Tauriel is enjoyable. Bilbo's encounter with Smaug is tense and brilliantly written. Gandalf's encounter with Sauron is visually stunning. Ed Sheeran's 'I See Fire' is perfect.

However, the film has a big issue: the script. They talk, talk and talk, but, at the end of the day, they don't really say much.

The acting is good. Martin Freeman keeps on doing a perfect job as Bildo Baggins. Ian McKellen is still perfect as Gandalf. Richard Armitage succeeds in showing Thorin's worse qualities. Orlando Bloom has some charm. And Ken Stott stands out among the dwarves.

Quotes

Thranduil: Such is the nature of evil. Out there in the vast ignorance of the world it festers and spreads. A shadow that grows in the dark. A sleepless malice as black as the oncoming wall of night. So it ever was. So will it always be. In time all foul things come forth.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

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Cast

Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Graham McTavish, Ken Scott, Aidan Turner, Dean O'Gorman, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Peter Hambleton, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee, Sylvester McCoy, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Manu Bennett, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Barry Humphries, John Rawls, Bret McKenzie, Kiran Shah, Jeffrey Thomas, Michael Mizrahi

Plot

Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Bilbo (Martin Freeman) finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever... Gollum (Andy Serkis).

Opinion

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is simply beautiful. The film is a spectacular and thrilling combination of adventure, drama and fantasy, and it managed to left me with the same 'wow' the original trilogy did.

Director Peter Jackson successfully managed to craft a good prequel to the best saga ever. The film has some great scenes; the run in with fighting stone giants and the escape from the goblins' mountain are definitely the highlights. I particularly loved the scene in which Bildo runs into Gollum, firstly because I wasn't expecting it at all, and secondly because I've always liked the character - which, by the way, is even more 'realistic'. The score by Howard Shore is spectacular and touching.

The actors give great performances. Ian McKellen is absolutely stunning as Gandalf, and seems to be born to play the character. Richard Armitage plays Thorin in a very fascinating way. British Martin Freeman is absolutely perfect to play Bildo. Andy Serkis still does an amazing job with Gollum.

Quotes

Bilbo Baggins: Good morning.

Gandalf: What do you mean? Do you mean to wish me a good morning or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning. Or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on?

Bilbo Baggins: All of them at once, I suppose.

Bilbo Baggins: I have... I have never used a sword in my life.

Gandalf: And I hope you never have to. But if you do, remember this: true courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

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Cast

Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Liv Tyler, Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Karl Urban, John Noble, Ian Holm, Sean Bean, Marton Csokas, Lawrence Makoare, Thomas Robins

Plot

While Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) continue to approach Mount Doom to destroy the Ring, unaware of the path Gollum (Andy Serkis) is leading them, Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), Pippin (Billy Boyd) and Merry (Dominic Monaghan) aid Rohan and Gondor in a great battle.

Opinion

The final film of the Lord of the Rings trilogy certainly doesn't disappoint like some other trilogies - Matrix, X-Men.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a glorious and thrilling final chapter. The film is full of emotions, ranging from astonishment to disgust, from funny moments to moving ones, and will keep the viewer on the edge of the seat for the whole time.

The film is stuffed with unforgettable landscapes - thank you, New Zealand -, memorable scenes - the battle at Minas Tirith was wonderfully made -, outstanding music, and stunning visual effects. However, the action is not all, and several factors steal the scene: the strong bond of friendship between Frodo and Sam, and Pippin and Merry, the improbable friendship between an elf and a dwarf, and love, for which Arwen gives up her immortality.

The performances are good, among which Viggo Mortensen's as Aragorn and Sean Astin's as Samwise stand out. Ian McKellen doesn't have much space, still he delivers. Orlando Bloom doesn't have a real chance to show off his acting skills. John Rhys-Davies keeps on doing great with Gimli. The only flaw is Elijah Wood's performance: he is stucked with the same facial expression for the whole film.

Quotes

Gimli: Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an Elf.
Legolas: What about side by side with a friend?
Gimli: Aye. I could do that.

Aragorn: Hold your ground, hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you *stand, Men of the West!*

Rating

9.0/10

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

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Cast

Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, Karl Urban, Sean Bean, Andy Serkis, Craig Parker, John Leigh, Bruce Hopkins, John Bach

Plot

While Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin), now accompanied by a new guide, Gollum (Andy Serkis), continue their hopeless journey towards the land of the shadow, each member of the broken fellowship makes a stand against Saruman (Christopher Lee) and his armies of Isengard.

Opinion

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is gloomier and darker than the previous film, still it is outstanding, and once again everyone can enjoy it, or at least appreciate its visual beauty: the scenography and the cinematography are still outstanding, and the special effects are very well used.

The film doesn't waste time with unnecessary prologues and it goes straight to the action, and it let us being part of epic battles. The three hours flies by, and there is so much going in the film that the time is barely enough.

The personalities of the characters are developed - a new side of Frodo, the dark one, is shown -, and the new characters are great, except for Gollum, which is spectacular and stunningly played by Andy Serkis - apparently he loves playing CGI characters. The acting is, as always, superb.

Quotes

Frodo: I can't do this, Sam.

Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

Rating

9.3/10

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

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