The embargo on social media first impressions has lifted. So, without further ado, here’s what various media folk are saying about the first two episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

For the previous Hobbit films TheOneRing.net attended press conferences and brought you coverage the best we could. For the last film “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” we delivered this transcript. Oh but now, here it all is on video!

Bard posterYou’ve seen many of the major news outlet’s reviews for the film and we’ve posted reviews from most of our staff, but now that ‘The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug’ has been out for over a week it is time for Ringer Reviews. This is the time when you get to have your say; good, bad or otherwise. We are open to all opinions but we will be scanning the reviews for foul language, adult content and rude behavior. Short of that, this is your time to be heard.

Australia, Japan, we know you don’t have the film yet, bookmark this section and come back to it when you have had a chance to watch the film, we’ll keep the light on for you.

ringer-reviews-bkgd-dos-titleTo get started, head over to Ringer Reviews. You will find the review section comes in two parts. One allows you to rank various aspects of the film, cast performance and production values, while the other portion allows you to write a review of up to 5000 characters. Once you hit ‘submit’ the review will be scanned by one of our staff for any of the above mentioned offenses, and once cleared it will appear. Do give us between a few hours to a full day to get to your review and have fun with it. We don’t want to decline a review, a good rule of thumb is “would you let your mother or grandmother read this?”, if so, then you can expect to see it published.

Desolation of Smaug Poster
They say “better late than never”. I hope that’s true – because my review is coming a bit late. I love discussing cinema, but I’m not always very fast at collecting my thoughts. Many times, as on this occasion, I don’t even have a complete handle on the film until a second viewing. Also, I tend to write
on impulse – which means that something as organized as a film review takes me a little while to put together. I’m never able to discuss as much
as I would like to – so you can expect a few elements of the film to go uncovered. Otherwise, I could go on forever about each of these movies.

I also didn’t know how to approach this review. I had two very different reaction to this film – one as a Tolkien loyalist, another as a cinema lover. To the chagrin of many, I’m sure, I’ve chosen to focus on the latter. I’ve always viewed the books and PJ’s cinematic offerings as two completely separate things – and I think I must remain true to that. This is a film review of The Desolation of Smaug – which I unabashedly loved – and not a checklist of book vs. film differences. I look forward to such a discussion in the future, and hope you, dear readers, will indulge me in a different conversation at the present moment. Continue reading “Aragorn the Elfstone reviews ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’”

THDOS_Main_smBefore I begin this review, I want to give a short blurb and let you all know from what perspective it comes from. I am an artist of sorts, so I definitely touch upon some of the visuals used in the films. I am also one of the younger members of TORn’s staff and did not pick up Tolkien’s books until after I saw the “really cool trailer” of ‘Fellowship of the Ring’ on TV back in my preteens. But despite Jackson’s films introducing me to Middle-earth, I have ultimately become a Tolkien fan with a good amount of appreciation for what the cast and crew behind Jackson’s Middle-earth adaptations have done for both the film industry and for the Tolkien legendarium, despite the many changes.

Continue reading “Ainu Laire’s Review of the Hobbit”

Bilbo with Sting

I know some people are not happy with The Desolation of Smaug.  I’ll start my review by saying that I have read The Hobbit yearly since 1973.  I’ve read The Lord of the Rings yearly since 1971.  I love the books and the stories.  I also love Peter Jackson’s telling of those tales.  So when I went to see a double-feature of The Hobbit to include AUJ and a midnight, first-time viewing of DOS, I went without the book as my expectation and eager for the adventure into Middle-earth as only Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh can serve.  I was not disappointed!

Continue reading “grammaboodawg’s Review of ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’”