Hobbit 2: Middle-Earth Boogaloo

I've seen the trailer for The Hobbit 2: The Desolation of Smaug.  It looks pretty good.

Now keep in mind, I still haven't seen H1 yet, (grumble grumble), but when has not knowing what I'm talking about stopped me from having an opinion?

The first time I watched the trailer, I didn't see any signs of Beorn, which surprised me; I thought that Peter Jackson would certainly include him because his dramatic re-appearance during the Battle of Five Armies, (which happens off-stage in the book), would be too good a visual for Jackson to pass up.  But watching the trailer a second time, I think we get a glimpse of him.

I see that Jackson decided to make the dwarves' escape from the Elf-King's Halls more dramatic.  Ooo-kay.  I won't argue with that too much.

I'd heard that Legolas, who is the son of the Elf-King of Mirkwood and so does have a legitimate reason to be there, was going to be in the film.  It looks like he also has an elf-babe foil to argue with and provide plot exposition.  I have an uneasy suspicion that the elf-babe ends up helping the dwarves escape.  Not sure how I feel about that.  We'll see how it all plays out.

And Gandalf is going to raid Dol Gulder.  With Radagast the Wacky.  Hm.  Once again, we knew that the film was going to play up the Necromancer subplot to emphasize the links between the story and LOTR.  Am I showing my age when I admit that Radagast's line in that clip made me think of Admiral Ackbar?

Here is the trailer.  Any other thoughts, gang?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLgnkRxlKCg

I had heard the ratio of 'new' material versus what's in the Hobbit book would be a lot greater than in the first movie. I'm cool with that as long as the new stuff doesn't push things that actually are in the book completely out, like Beorn. Between the barrel ride, Mirkwood, the Dark Elves and Smaug though, the book should be well represented in this installment. I looked for Beorn or a large bear, but couldn't spot him, Kurt, your eyes are quicker than mine. Have to say the tone of this does look truly epic.

I saw the Hobbit trailer at the theater when we saw Man of Steel. The theater got perfectly quiet for the whole trailer until Smaug, and everyone ooooed and ahhhhed, but one kid blurted out "Train that one Hiccup."

Only a handful of laughs from anyone over 13 for that one, and i was proudly one.

Hah! I love that show and I think the CGI in the tv series is actually better than the original feature film which seems weird because you'd think the budget would be much smaller.

Unfortunately there isn't much else on. Nearly all the cartoon shows i followed are gone,

Thundercats. Clone Wars. I still can't believe Disney pulled Clone Wars, despite being nearly done with the next season. Or Green Lantern got cancelled because the movie sucked and stuck retailers with a bunch of crap, and who knows why Young Justice got cancelled.

I don't understand it either. I mean, I know it must be strictly a bottom line thing that they believe they can make more money from some yet-to-be determined show. But, all the shows you mentioned are incredibly merchandisable and could be cash cows at a Ben 10 level, especially Clone Wars. So, yeah, I guess I don't get it.

Speaking of merchandise, how about a Smaug or Giant Albino Orc plush toy? That could foster some childhood nightmares!