 Tintallë Gondor  Jan 31 2013, 3:57am Views: 1396 |
Pardon me if these things have been said before, but a few observations leaped out at me: Atop the Carrock, at the moment Thorin lifts his eyes from Bilbo and spots the Lonely Mountain all the others have their backs turned as they watch the eagles fly off - all except Bilbo, who looked at Thorin as they broke their embrace, saw Thorin's face change, and turned to see what had caught his eye. The white warg has the same ritual scarring as Azog - two slashes above each eye and slashes on the shoulders and flanks, all evenly spaced and even lengths - in other words, not battle scars. Is the yellowish seat cushion on the bench outside Bag End - the one Bilbo sits on to smoke at the beginning of the movie -the same one as the orange cushion the younger Bilbo is sitting on, only faded with the years? I guess it would be too much of a stretch to think it had lasted 60 years, though. Never mind! I love the attention to detail, like the way the hedge/shrub has grown tall and thick behind that same bench. As Bilbo opens the door to his first two visitors I love the contrast between Dwalin, whose intimidating appearance, fierce look and gruff voice belie his "at your service," and his brother Balin who gives Bilbo a big smile and a grand bow and then remarks on the night and the possiblity of rain later rather than Bilbo's lapse of manners in not replying "at yours." I also love Dwalin asking Balin if he has eaten and Balin replying "I could eat again" - or is it the other way around? Dori always says "Mr. Gandalf," even when he's about to plunge to his death from the pine tree. The music! The way it changes to horns when Dwalin says of Thorin "He will come - "he is late, is all." The way the music swells as Gandalf hands the key to Thorin - which, by the way, reminds me very strongly of the music that crescendos when the fellowship first sees the great halls of Moria. The dwarf mischief music - what I think of as the plate music! - when Fili and Kili hoist Bilbo up on Myrtle, when Bofur tosses Bilbo his substitute for the missing pocket handkerchief. The single, sudden violin note as Gandalf catches his purse of winnings from his bet on Bilbo. The music when the eagles are soaring over the land (is it the same music as when Frodo and Sam are similarly rescued from Mt. Doom?), the familiar theme (Nazgul music?) when Thorin strides down from the pine to challenge Azog. . . such a mix of wonderful new music and some favorites from the LOTR trilogy that just make the movie so much more. . . ! And one of my favorite moments is when there is NO music - not any sound at all, in fact - as Bilbo stands in his empty, quiet home and realizes that it is TOO empty, TOO quiet, and suddenly decides to run out his front door to whatever adventure awaits - with the accompaniment of suddenly very loud, very lively music! Bifur toasting with a tankard of salad greens. Bofur grabbing the sausages around Nori's neck and using them to play tug o'war with him. Bofur has the most playful spirit of all of them - he's the jokester/prankster. The first time we see Ori drinking from his tankard he is using two hands to hold it, which makes him look very young. When Balin comments that they are not the brightest, someone calls out "Who are you calling dim?" That moment when Bilbo realizes that Gandalf holds him in high regard - "He's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know - including himself!" Bilbo's almost giddy smile when Balin formally welcomes him to the company of Thorin Oakenshield. Thorin's scornful "No you didn't. You know nothing of the world" to Kili's "didn't mean anything by it." His voice cuts Kili just like a knife. Balin's face and voice when he says of Azog "He began by beheading the king." Azog is HUGE, immensely strong and vicious. He would be perfect in a Quentin Tarantino film. And every time I see him kneel after Thorin cuts off his forearm I wish Thorin would get up and cut off his other arm as well. Or perhaps his leg. Legs. And then my mind goes all Monty Python on me and I think of the black knight. . . *sigh* Dori's "Here now, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" and Gandalf's voice/delivery when replying "It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is DONE!" That big bright blue crystal in Radagast's staff. The huge webs in the woods visible in the first shot of Dol Goldur. Kili's put-on innocence as he assures Bilbo "It's perfectly safe. We'll be right behind you!" Tom the troll cleans his fingernails with a huge knife. Bert the cook is wearing an apron! And just as William says "Make him (Bilbo) squeal" Kili stabs him in the back of his leg and makes HIM squeal instead. One of the best lines in the movie is Bilbo's "You're going to need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up!" Another: "we're making a long term deposit" as they bury the chest of gold in the troll cave. The way the first two warg scouts leap straight for Thorin. Bombur getting wedged in the narrow passage leading to the hidden valley and Bifur dislodging him with a push from behind. As the elves ride in to Rivendell on their horses the dwarves push Bilbo behind them, and Dwalin pulls Ori back a bit as well. I love Elrond's criss-cross purple armor. Gandalf freezes when he first hears Saruman's voice behind him, then closes his eyes, takes a breath and fixes a false smile on his face as he turns around, all with Elrond looking on with a bemused, sympathetic smile as if he knew precisely how Gandalf would react to find Saruman there. And the very next shot is of a very weary Gandalf at sunrise, looking as though he'd been questioned and called to defend his actions all night long. Saruman has a lot of nerve criticizing Radagast for yellowing teeth, since his own are not exactly models of good dental hygiene. The Great Goblin has a ram's skull scepter - or is it? It has tusks in addition to the curly horns. There's a pile of skeletons on a little cart next to his throne - remains of a meal or snacks? Ick. The little messenger goblin perched on the zip line looks as though he has arms for legs. Bilbo hears Gollum with the orc he has dragged away, and as he advances toward the sound he suddenly sees his sword glowing bright blue and immediately points it as far down as he can without sheathing it, realizing that it will give him away. Bilbo's courduroy coat has some threadbare spots after his tumble into Gollum's cavern. Bilbo's face and his raised sword as he goes on high alert while watching Gollum figure out what Bilbo has in his pocket. Balin fights the goblins with such smooth grace and style, almost like a dancer. Oin just flings his staff around in a circle. Bombur becomes a whirling dervish. And Thorin seems to like his new sword! I love the eagle fanning the flames with his great wings, immolating several wargs and goblins in the ensuing firestorm. Bombur is dangling from an eagle's talons in the background as Bilbo lands and looks at Thorin. The dwarves cheer when Thorin hugs Bilbo - before that they are completely silent and watchful. And Dwalin leans on his axe, apparently relieved to find that Thorin was not ungrateful to Bilbo after all. As the thrush flies toward Erebor all the vegetation is dried and dead, and the trees that are left are scorched sticks. And from gramma I knew that as the thrush bashed one snail against the rock wall the other retreated into its shell, but this time I noticed a much bigger snail on the side of the rock retreating inward as well. I don't know how many times I've seen this movie now - something between 8 and 12 - but I wish it were going to be around longer because I still find it completely mesmerizing from start to finish. Thank you for bearing with me. I love this movie. Love it, love it, love it. |
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Wishes you a Happy Groundhog Day! 
