A TV series atmosphere

Rating: 6/10 (26 December 2013)

Jackson, fortunately and unfortunately, set the bar high with his sequel trilogy of "Lord of the Rings".
Here, we have a story that probably 95% of this present day generation know about, and about a third know almost every detail, so we're actually dealing with a "rendition" of a "fairy tale" in ways.
First of all, many characters, notably Gandalf, Bilbo, and Legolas, are household words, and are known to appear in the sequel.
There may come a day, fifty years from now, when half the people will not know this, and may see these "prequels" first, but even then, it will be very well known. We know these certain characters will survive, just as TV regular characters survive.
So, it appears that Jackson is giving these certain characters an "observer" effect, much like Eastwood in HANG EM HIGH and Burr's added in character in GOZILLA.
These characters are like the "stable" personalities of TV series title characters, who observe what guest stars do. One could say that Gandalf is Columbo, Bilbo is Sugarfoot, Legolas is Bronco, and so forth.
This story is the second of a trilogy, which is usually the action packed one with less direction. However, here, we have direction with less accomplishments.
I don't think it's a spoiler to let people know that the resolution with the dragon comes first, and then the huge war. I was disappointed that this film didn't end with the resolution with the dragon, and save the war for last.
That is the way Jackson deviates from the usual pattern. He is using this entire film to "lead up" to further events. Almost nothing is resolved here, and many subplots are laid in store for the final.
It is a very good film, but the bar is high on these films, and I wanted more. I have no problem with the added bits, like the she elf romance. At first, I thought it was a mistake to make Legolas so important, because we know he's in no danger, but it appears to be Jackson's way of saying that he doesn't want his "fate" to interfere with the story, and that he wants us to observe with him.
Radagast makes a brief appearance, but he is purposely made into a cameo character here, as if to downplay him. For those who missed the "Unexpected Journey", there was a definite symbolism accorded to Gandalf and Radagast as members of a bygone generation, with Gandalf representing the sixties and early seventies hippie movement, the pot smoking activists, and Radagast symbolic of the younger brother of Gandalf, the child of the late seventies, lost as a rebel without a cause.
The ineffectiveness of Radagast here, or at least his appearance seeming to be without meaning, is an obvious symbolic gesture by Jackson, who accords the proper praise to the activist generation. It doesn't mean Radagast is useless. It only means that he appears to be during this phase. Hopefully, he will get his chance in the end.
This entire film is a "set up", but doesn't live on its own. It really needs more. I think "trilogies" are a bit dishonest. It's trying to make us buy 3 books instead of one, to further one's own sales, but it is common in the modern world.
I watched this in 3D, and was happy that Jackson didn't abuse the 3D the way a horror movie geek would. He uses it for a purpose, not just to play games with people. I'm happy about that. It's effective this way, and artistic.
I disagree with the use of a film to simply set up the next film, but it is entertaining, and does give us the characters we realize will make war inevitable. The elf king and river town king are both greedy and selfish on a believable scale. Of the two, the elf king appears the worse of the two, and the one you could never deal with. We see this with the way he honors (or dishonors) a promise to a prisoner.
Obviously, since the film is a "set up" film, it really shouldn't be as lengthy as it is. However, Jackson isn't making this for us today. He's making this for "prosperity", to be appreciated 50 years from now, 300 years from now.