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Death of a Dragon
It was to be expected but I was surprised to find out how fast it was...12 minutes - is all it takes for Smaug to meet his end. All before the title appears. The death may have been more majestic had it been after a long, struggling encounter in the previous film. But since it's two different heroes (Thorin & Bard) in two different places, I guess Peter Jackson made the right choice. Plus, it means that fans will have to watch this one, too, to see the dragon's end. I am simply in awe every time I hear the dragon's voice, as I have stated before. But also, in here, it's great to see the sheer power & scale of the dragon in the open world, instead of in a confined kingdom.
Deaths of some Dwarves
Some of these deaths come as a shock to me. The first death, Fili, is already very expected, and is not quite emotional - if not for it being done in front of Thorin's eyes. Kili's death is similarly less emotional if not for Tauriel. Meanwhile, Thorin's death is both a terrible shock and a powerful drama of a dark hero trying to redeem himself. It's only fitting that Bilbo is by his side in his final moments. It's a shame he has to go, but at least he goes as Thorin Oakenshield, not the King Under the Mountain.
Erebor
Tingling in my mind is the question of Erebor. I don't read the books, but I had hoped the film would have answered this (extended edition...maybe?). With the line of Durin gone, including his blood (nephews: Kili & Fili), who then would take over as King? Or maybe care for Erebor? Balin is the perfect leader of the remaining dwarves, but I knew he is to be in Moria someday (The Fellowship of the Ring). Maybe the whole company left, is a possible option, but then what happens to the strategically, resourceful, Erebor? Couldn't leave it for the bad guys to take, unless Sauron is indeed unable to make a move yet.
Note: For those who knows, given that the movie series has ended, I welcome your answers for it, in the comments, if you'd like.
The Loose Threads
Along the film, loose threads are either properly tied, or just lead on for the imagination to work. One exciting moment is when Thorin gives Bilbo the mithril armor (referenced in The Fellowship of the Ring). The scene in Dol Guldur kind of explains how Sauron is driven far east to Mordor, while also allowing the potentiality of Saruman meeting him & turning bad instead - though this is not exactly shown. Thranduil's orders for Legolas to see a dunedain ranger called Strider (we know him as Aragorn, the rightful King of Gondor and of Men) is again a very exciting scene. Meanwhile, the idea of the bigger picture: why Sauron sends Azog to stop Thorin's quest, and then retakes the mountain when Smaug had gone, is properly explained by Gandalf, and that becomes the biggest knot that explains why this story arc exists, and how it become the start of the war of Middle-Earth, which ends in The Return of the King.
The line of Durin is continued by Dain Ironfoot who is a cousin of Thorin's. Dain's grandfather is Gror, the youngest brother of Thror, who is Thorin's grandfather. Dain Ironfoot continues the line through his son, Thorin III Stonehelm. Eventually the line comes to an end with Durin VII, last king of Durin's folk.
ReplyDeleteAt the time of this battle, Aragorn is still around 10 and living in Imladris with Elrond. It is unlikely that Thranduil would know this. Morever, he is not yet known as Strider as he is not even a ranger yet. Also, at the time of this battle, Azog is long dead, killed by Dain Ironfoot at the end of the War of Dwarves and Orcs, Azanulbizar, when Dain was just a young dwarf of 32.
Hope this gets you reading the books soon, Ed. They're a treasure trove of geekdom.
haha wow did the books tell all this??
Deleteand so supposedly the film did have important deviations from the book?
then again, why didn't PJ just add in a younger Aragorn they can meet when they visit Rivendell?
anw thanks a lot for the info, Marc!! Hehe :)
Tolkien has this thing where he reveals bits of info across different stories and/or books so that as you read them realize the connections and you repeatedly have that OMG moment. All of PJs Tolkien movies deviate somewhat from the books to some degree, sometimes in minor ways, sometimes in major ways.
DeleteUm, why didn't PJ just add in a younger Aragorn they can meet when they visit Rivendell? Who's "they" and when did they visit Rivendell?
ah I see that's awesome!!
Deletethey referring to Thorin's company when they arrive in Rivendell in An Unexpected Journey....
Ah, because the fact that Aragorn was living in Rivendell with Elrond was not to be made public knowledge. When Arathorn, Aragorn's father, left Aragorn in Elrond's care, it was to hide him from enemies. They did not want anyone to know at the time that an heir to Gondor and Arnor existed.
DeleteOh, I see. Interesting...very interesting!! Thanks for sharing!! :)
DeleteOh, I forgot. Dol Guldur isn't actually destroyed until much later around the time of the War of the Ring.
ReplyDelete