Cringeworthy scenes?

TheBladeGlowsBlue

TheBladeGlowsBlue

Rivendell
I posted a similar thread some months back concerning the LOTR trilogy, now I'd like to put forward another one concerning Hobbit (ahem...[sorry])...

Before I do though I'd like to point out (like previously with LOTR) that this isn't meant to run down the movie, just point out a couple of low points (for me)... so here goes.

the final scenes in Goblin town were quite awful; it really hit home on second viewing (I've watched the movie twice now), the weird ladder contraption sliding down the hill before falling between two cliffs and then resting at the bottom, before the Goblin King lands on top...not a titter from the audience, I suspect most in there had seen the movie before like me - it simply isn't funny!

And the end scene when Thorin is about to be beheaded... how the hell could a tiny hobbit knock over such a formidable orc, much less kill him?? I cringed watching that a second time... I don't mind a bit of licence but turning Bilbo into an heroic warrior is a stretch too far for me.

Ah that feels better getting that off my chest!

Any others that made you cringe?

[:)]
 
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And the end scene when Thorin is about to be beheaded... how the hell could a tiny hobbit knock over such a formidable orc, much less kill him?? I cringed watching that a second time... I don't mind a bit of licence but turning Bilbo into an heroic warrior is a stretch too far for me.
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I've seen the film twice now and I really didn't see that scene in the way you describe. Bilbo doesn't seem like a formidable warrior for a second. If he didn't take that orc on surprise he wouldn't have had a prayer.

Anyway, the Great Goblin's song is my biggest cringe moment. I didn't mind the shifts in mood that much, for the most part they were in the spirit of the book, but that was such a cartoony scene that it just made me roll my eyes. Not to even mention Dame Edna's voice for the Great Goblin, in general.

And Azog's facial expressions in his confrontation with Thorin became unintentionally comical at points. The motion capture of his face was clearly less detailed than on the other CG characters, and especially the smile (I assume that's what it was) simply looked goofy. I really hope that his subsequent appearances will have a more finished look to them.
 
I've seen the film twice now and I really didn't see that scene in the way you describe. Bilbo doesn't seem like a formidable warrior for a second. If he didn't take that orc on surprise he wouldn't have had a prayer.
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Fair point but it wasn't the execution of the scene that made me cringe, more the concept of it... surely the scene would have been better with Dwalin taking out the orc, thus cementing a line said earlier in the movie about the dwarves being prepared to die for Thorin?

To use Bilbo in this way when he had already 'proved his worth' on a couple of occasions seemed totally over the top. A low point in the movie for me sadly [:/]
 
Every species obviously has there so called "wimp of the liter." It's better that this particular Orc died due to the shame of getting its a_s kicked by Bilbo...... My kids and I found it hilarious.

I

And the end scene when Thorin is about to be beheaded... how the hell could a tiny hobbit knock over such a formidable orc, much less kill him?? I cringed watching that a second time... I don't mind a bit of licence but turning Bilbo into an heroic warrior is a stretch too far for me.

[:)]
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[sly]
 
The scene was clearly hilarious to you, cringeworthy to me... either way, hardly in keeping with the dramatic theme that PJ was trying to convey.

Imagine if they had used one of the hobbits to take on the Uruk Hai instead of Strider at the end of the FOTR as a comparison...

>

[crazy]
 
I've seen it 9 times now, and each time, the audience laugh at different parts. That's entirely down to different audiences (and the number of people in the audience).

When I've been to screenings with few people, there are very few laughs (perhaps people are more conscious of noise?). When there are a lot of people, there are more laughs (the same when there are more children).

The point is, not everyone is going to laugh at every "funny" scene at every screening of the film.

As for any cringeworthy scenes - I don't think there are any.
 
...takes away from the drama of the ringwraiths in FOTR.
However I was relived that there weren't talking animals or purses. So I'll take this cringe worthy moment over what could've been.
 
I've seen it 9 times now, and each time, the audience laugh at different parts. That's entirely down to different audiences (and the number of people in the audience).

When I've been to screenings with few people, there are very few laughs (perhaps people are more conscious of noise?). When there are a lot of people, there are more laughs (the same when there are more children).

The point is, not everyone is going to laugh at every "funny" scene at every screening of the film.

As for any cringeworthy scenes - I don't think there are any.
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I see you are spending your PhD funding wisely, lol [:P]

Both times i have seen it, the cinema was pretty darn packed and the audience had a typically mixed response to the different scenes - though both found the riddles scene funny.

Kids as you say definitely laugh at the more OTT/slapstick elements but thats great as it shows they are doing what they were put in for - for kids!

Cringeworthy scenes for me, the stone giants - as i think it is awful, the hug between thorin and bilbo along with thorin's lil speech just before the hug - massive cliche.

Lots of things with radagast - eyes going cross eyed, stick insect, fake looking warg and bunny sled chase.

Galadriel looking wooden - just felt cringy - they were trying too hard to make her galadriel.

Any time Ori spoke.

The trees all falling down onto each other and then hanging over the edge of a cliff, i mean come on!

OK thats about it, lol.
 
For me was the bridge falling into the chasm. It's a bit too much to believe that they all weren't flung in 14 directions. At least Pirates of the Caribbean had them in a woven ball when they tumbled to almost certain death.

I would have been better had a couple of the dwarves used some kind of mining skill to seal off a tunnel, or know how to make a ton of rock fall onto the bridge and pursuing goblins because they are used to geologic formations.
 
From watching it 3 times, no way did I get the "Bilbo's a warrior" vibe some people tend to complain about. Each time Bilbo fought, you can tell he's just barely holding on (his fight with the goblin), and the end where he tackles the orc and manages to stab him out of luck and surprise.

I really don't find the Great Goblin's "That'll do it" as bad as people make it out to be. It's not great writing, but it's not horrific either. Honestly, there wasn't any cringe-worthy scenes in The Hobbit for me. Not as cringe-worthy as Eowyn's awkward singing in TTT Extended Edition.
 
so while they may not be my favorite, I do like that other people are enjoying them. People may find the dwarf belching cringeworthy, but my mom LOVED it! And to see her laugh made me love it.

And I have to admit, as cliche as it was Thorin really had me going, so while the hug was cliched it was also unexpected.
 
You said what now!? Miranda did a fantastic job, IMO. Obviously, it's all subjective, but that scene is actually one of my favorite bits in the trilogy.
 
I give him a pass because he's a folk singer and songwriter. Miranda Otto was like those people at American Idol auditions...
 
Eowyn was a beautiful woman, with a good head on her shoulders, tough and resourceful, brave, good with a sword. However, it's entirely realistic that she's not a good singer, and she's called upon to sing, with all the stress and grief, it would be hard to stay on key...
 
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