No. 5: Chatlog of #TheHallofFire breaking down the Five Armies main trailer
A couple of days after the main trailer debuted, our weekly internet relay chat group for all things Middle-earth, Hall of Fire, did a three-hour-long breakdown of the key scenes.
[Demosthenes] you gave a promise. yes.
[jenniearcheo] What promise? To the Lakemen?
[gundabad] the orcs dont march on the mountain for gold but rather because sauron doesnt want the dwarves to re-establish their kingdom. hes fearful that without the help of smaug the dwarves will become a mighty force once more’ thats from movie guide as well
[Demosthenes]: What is going on here? what’s the purpose? What’s driving it?
[smaugth3drag0n] This goes to the new scene in DOS EE at Laketown.
[elentari3018] promise to the dwarves.
[elentari3018] promise of gold?
[Celedreor] I think it’s about Thorin not honouring his promise to Lake-town
[smaugth3drag0n] Bilbo vouches for Thorin in front of the Master
[Barry_barrowwight] Thorin promised much to laketown
No. 4: Five Armies line parties!
The fellowship is strong, the company unbroken. Fans love to see films with other fans.
Members of the Los Angeles Tolkien Forever groupLot of folks gathered for Marathon Monday screenings of the Hobbit Trilogy today, but there are still a ton of Line Party events happening tomorrow (or later, in some locations). So find your Fellowship, because an epic journey is always better in good company.
No. 3: Our #HobbitFanContest entry page
This unprecedented studio effort to connect with fans was everything Ringers wanted. TORn staffer MrCere followed the adventure for our readers.
The winners of last month’s Hobbit Fan Contest that got to go to New Zealand and watch an in-progress cut of “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” and experience the beautiful scenes of the north and south islands and the hospitality of Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand, won their spots by producing short films.
As reports from the experience suggest, there was a great bonding of the 75 winners and their guests during the week-long tour of Middle-earth. These bonds are on display in a “thank you” video that the group organized to give to Peter Jackson and all the many folks who helped make the trip amazing. There is even a nod to TheOneRing.net which honestly touches us.
No. 2: Scene guide to The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition
As we did last year, TOR.n compiled detailed descriptions and screencaps from the 25 minutes of extended footage in The Desolation of Smaug. Big props to staffer deej for the massive effort.
16:00 – After Beorn shifts from bear to man, the scene cuts him entering the house and Bilbo seeing him. It’s morning, and we see a quick shot of wood being chopped. Bilbo wakes up, sees the bees, then joins the dwarves standing near the front door. They are arguing about how to get away from Beorn without being seen.
Nori: I say we should leg it and slip out the back way!
Dwalin: I’m not running from anyone, beast or no.
Gandalf tells them there is no point in arguing, as they will be unable to make it to Mirkwood without Beorn’s help. Gandalf decides to go outside and speak with Beorn. He brings Bilbo with him.
Gandalf: This will require some delicate handling; we must tread carefully. The last person to have startled him was torn to shreds.
No. 1: TORn’s final frame-by-frame analysis of the final Five Armies trailer
It’s been a long journey since our very first TORn staff frame-by-frame trailer analysis — all the way back in 2001 when The Fellowship of the Ring was about to debut on the silver screen. Now it’s the very last one — the frame-by-frame for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
It’s been a lot of fun for us all, and we hope you’ve enjoyed the reading as much as we’ve enjoyed the analysing and speculating.
Image 17: Thranduil and Bard surrounded by the Elven army
J.W. Braun: The Elves are so prepared for battle they even have a coat-rack.
grammaboodawg: There’s the mighty Elk… Thranduil’s ride. Bard is at even status with Thranduil as the Elves approach Erebor.
Garfeimao: It’s fascinating watching the Elves part for the arrival of Thranduil on the War Moose. Not sure how they do it, their backs are turned, but they peel off one by one on both sides. Actually, they are doing similar to Bard on his horse.
greendragon: I don’t think anyone told the moose that you should never look directly into camera during filming… Also, every armoured elf in this picture seems to have the same face; Attack of the Clones?!
Elessar: You can’t cause this much trouble and not expect folks to be upset.
MrCere: I will leave it to others to gush about the elk, I know they will, but I sure do love seeing legions of elves standing together in uniform armor. Now, if Legolas has taught us anything, it is that these superheroes of Middle-earth should be made to stand together in formation where they can easily be mowed down, but these armies make one think that something about Legolas and Thranduil and Tauriel makes them the Avengers while everybody else in Elf-land is much less gifted. This isn’t a complaint at all, but they are just not like everybody else.
Aragorn the Elfstone: Lots of identical twins in that Elven Army of yours, Thranduil.
Ainu Laire: I’ll be honest- I was hoping we had seen the last of that moose. I am not terribly pleased to see it again. I think it looks ridiculous. This may be made up only if he uses it as a war-steed and it gets orcs caught in its antlers. Possibly.
Quickbeam: Total geekgasm here watching that immense WARMOOSE make its way through the ranks without seeming to squish any Elven troops along the way… Impressively light on his hooves, eh?
Demosthenes: The Hobbit: Warmoose versus Warpig is totally on. Soundtrack brought to you by Black Sabbath. Very excited for this. Probably will be the highlight of the film apart from purist-trolling Galadalf shipper shenannigans at Dol Guldur.
Sarumann: It’s hard to see a giant moose as an intimidating steed, but Thranduil somehow pulls it off.
And that, folks, is our top stories of 2014. Thank-you from all TORn staff for being a part of it — whether reading, commenting, sharing or sending in spy reports! Next year promises even more Hobbit news and information with Extended Edition releases (featuring many significant new scenes) and more Tolkien geekery at conventions worldwide.
Join us in Los Angeles in February at The One Last Party
We’re hosting a Party of Special Magnificence next February — a toast to all SIX movies, both LOTR trilogy and The Hobbit. We’ve hit almost 50% of our funding goal and there’s 20 days to go. Even if you can’t make it to Hollywood, there are still ways to help out if you’re keen, and some neat perks you can pick up too!
