Adam, the redesign of the goblins is due to the use of CGI and motion Capture on the actors rather than the traditional makeup that was used in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. As of yet I haven't found out who was responsible for the overall design of these new goblins but personally they remind a lot of some of the creatures in Guillermo del Toro's previous works. The pale almost translucent skin on the goblins reminds me of the denizens of the Troll Market in HellBoy. Even Azog's scars almost take a symmetrical pattern that can be the heavenly lined creatures of his previous films like the faun in Pan's Labyrinth. I have no idea if he had a hand in their design but it just reminded me of it.
Matthew
"Shall we their fond pageant see? Lord, what fools these mortals be!"-Puck
posted @ Tue, Jun 18, 2013 9:52:17 pm EDT from 64.85.229.140

In the book, Thorin's original plan (so much as he had a plan; as Bilbo points out later, the dwarves never really came up with any ideas for handling Smaug) was apparently to steal the treasure (or have Bilbo steal it) and then leave in a hurry. (Bilbo brings up later, not only the obvious problem of Smaug as a guardian, but that expecting a single hobbit to carry off the entire dwarf-hoard in the Lonely Mountain was beyond belief.) The dwarves only begin seriously thinking of winning the Lonely Mountain itself back from Smaug after their reception at Lake-town.
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are great finders
posted @ Tue, Jun 18, 2013 6:28:46 pm EDT from 108.226.1.5

I read Greg B's review of the Hobbit. He seemed to really like it.

One of the best parts for me was seeing Erebor. I thought the begining part of the movie where they where at Bag End was good. And of course the Gollum/Bilbo scene was great. I didn't really care for the excape from Goblin Town. It seemed really chaotic (which is probably the point) and I didn't care for the design of the Goblins. I also didn't think when Radagast was being chased by wargs looked good. And I think having Azog as a primary villian was all right, but I think they should have used Bolg instead.

I also liked how all the Dwarves where different, but similar when it came to siblings. When they first released photos of the Dwarves, people complained that the Dwarves where too "heavily armed". They said they should only have long knives like it says in the book. But it only says that they have long knives when they are in Mirkwood. And if you intend to reclaim Erebor and slay a dragon, you will need more than knives and musical instrements.
Adam - [carl006_1999 at yahoo dot com]
posted @ Tue, Jun 18, 2013 11:54:23 am EDT from 170.112.1.251

TODD> Weirdly enough, I just started reading The Hobbit today. I have Unexpected Journey on DVD but have been putting off watching it until reading the book. Guess the Desolation of Smaug finally spurned me.
Algernon
posted @ Tue, Jun 18, 2013 11:19:59 am EDT from 109.76.27.168

Tolkien himself considered at one point rewriting "The Hobbit" to make it fit the epic atmosphere of "The Lord of the Rings" better, but didn't get past the first couple of chapters. (Apparently he showed the rewritten chapters to a friend, who said something like "These are nice, but they aren't 'The Hobbit'.")
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are great finders
posted @ Tue, Jun 18, 2013 7:00:13 am EDT from 108.226.1.5

I thought the first Hobbit movie was ok, but had a bit of an identity crisis. The Lord of the Rings trilogy were epic movies adapting epic books, but the Hobbit book was much more of a children's tale. The movie didn't seem to know whether it was trying to adapt a children's book or replicating the high epic of the earlier movies, and it kinda fell into a middle ground, not really succeeding at either.

That said, from the trailer I'd say if you liked the first movie chances are you'll like the second. They look much of a muchness to me.
Supermorff
posted @ Tue, Jun 18, 2013 5:06:54 am EDT from 62.25.109.195

So, did everyone see the Desolation of Smaug trailer? If you did, what did you think of it? Or the first Hobbit movie?
Adam - [carl006_1999 at yahoo dot com]
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 9:52:05 pm EDT from 76.113.172.81

0010 and away we go on with the show!
Vinnie - [tpeano29 at hotmail dot com]
Obama eat's Dog!
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 2:49:56 pm EDT from 99.145.124.251

gah, sorry for the double post.
i meant
"009"
SomeGeek
http://www.squidoo.com/thegeeklens-cartoons
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 2:21:02 pm EDT from 69.255.208.193

9th in the name of....something :)
SomeGeek
http://www.squidoo.com/thegeeklens-cartoons
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 2:20:10 pm EDT from 69.255.208.193

008 days to S2V2!

And since Adam made the obvious reference - 008 is Timothy, Bill Timothy.
Brainiac - [OSUBrainiac at gmail dot com]
There is balance in all things. Live in symmetry with the world around you. If you must blow things up and steal from those around you, THAT'S WHAT RPGS ARE FOR!
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 8:48:48 am EDT from 137.183.232.27

007- Bond, James Bond.
Adam - [carl006_1999 at yahoo dot com]
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 7:33:46 am EDT from 76.113.172.81

006
Supermorff
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 7:13:59 am EDT from 62.25.109.195

005!
Phoenician
"The suspense is terrible, I hope it lasts" -- Willy Wonka
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 3:02:57 am EDT from 70.176.170.14

004
Chip - [Sir_Griff723 at yahoo dot com]
If you are on the wrong road, progress means.. walking back to the right road; ..the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man~~C.S. Lewis
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 1:30:20 am EDT from 24.217.38.192

003!
Masterdramon - [kmc12009 at mymail dot pomona dot edu]
"Gonna hitch a ride, head for the other side..." - Boston
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 1:18:33 am EDT from 66.91.223.104

002!
Anthony Tini
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 1:05:44 am EDT from 50.29.205.45

001!
KingCobra582 - [KingCobra582 at gmail dot com]
posted @ Mon, Jun 17, 2013 12:32:04 am EDT from 99.177.172.109