TheHutt, chief editor at Henneth-Annun.ru provides us a hands-on look at the digipak for the Special Extended Edition of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. We have to say, with a couple of quibbles that will make hardcore collectors twitch in frustration, it looks pretty awesome.
In fact, as a visual presentation, it’s nearly perfect.
A review of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Special Extended Edition DVD Digipak
by Ringer TheHutt
The UK DVD design of the Hobbit Extended Editions is somehow unique. In case one wonders, who would have a use for DVD in the age of Full HD, 3D and iTunes downloads, here’s the answer: collectors. Continue reading “Hands-on: a review of the Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition digipak”
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One of the best items from Comic-Con 2014 is coming up for Pre-Order next week.
Smaug the Terrible was so impressive and one of the most detailed statues I’ve ever seen. There has been so much packed into this statue to help recreate the amazing work by Weta Digital in bringing one of Tolkien’s coolest characters to life.
I know for myself, it has been one of the amazing pieces I’ve been eagerly awaiting to become available for order so I could get ready to add it to my collection. So the time has finally come to mark our calendars for next Tuesday, November 11th at 1pm PST. That is when our friends at Weta Workshop will put this superb collectible up for order. Make sure you get your order in so you can be one of the lucky 2000 collectors who will have a chance to have this in your collections.
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Calling all fans of Funko’s Pop figurines, the adorable Golden Smaug POP! Vinyl Figure is available for pre-order now.
From popvinyl.net:
Golden Smaug Incoming
Looks like Funko have got plans to release yet another addition to the new Hobbit POP Vinyl series. This time round Funko is shifting their focus on the Smaug POP Vinyl figurine, giving the dragon a golden metallic finish which is depicted from a scene in the new addition to the The Hobbit movie series, The Battle of Five Armies.
Pre-order your one here 🙂
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The final Lego sets for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies have been out for a little while now, so I thought it might be a good time to put them all in one place for folks to look over. Plus I wanted to indulge in a little speculation.
Lego Battle of the Five Armies set
Pieces: 472 | Minifigs: 7 | Packaging: Box | Instructions: Yes
Included minifigs: Dain II Ironfoot, Azog the Defiler, Thorin Oakenshield, 2 x Gundabad Orcs, Bard the Bowman, Gwaihir the Windlord, Legolas Greenleaf.
Order on Amazon.com
Spoiler analysis (highlight below to read)
Two stand-outs in this set, I think. The first is, of course, the Dain mini-fig, which TORn staffer MrCere discussed just the other week. The second is the actual location: it’s the titular battle, yet it’s sited firmly within Dale in this playset.
Yet, Peter Jackson’s draft battlemap depicts a much more widespread conflict that encompasses not just Dale, but the entire mountain of Erebor and its surrounds, with forces approaching from all directions. I continue to wonder whether the ruins of Dale will form some early, yet significant, skirmish, with a larger, climactic battle involving Beorn and Bolg on the plains in front of the front gate of Erebor itself. Also, despite the inclusion of the ballista, it doesn’t contain any of the large troll-like monsters we’ve seen in recent artwork.
Lego The Lonely Mountain set
Pieces: 866 | Minifigs 5 | Packaging: Box | Instructions: Yes
Included minifigs: Smaug the Dragon, Dwalin, Balin, Bilbo Baggins, Kili, Fili.
Order on Amazon.com
Spoiler analysis (highlight below to read)
This is a strange one: it really feels like a leftover from The Desolation of Smaug. I mean, Smaug is there and it features the mine/rail car set that was a big set-piece toward the climax of the film. Yet Fili and Kili — who stayed in Lake-town — are there. Maybe the Fili and Kili plotline came after Lego locked in this set? I dunno, it seems to defy logic that Smaug would re-enter Erebor in the final film: he’s off to a hot date with Bard and the Black Arrow (ballista bolt?)
Lego Witch-king Battle set
Pieces: 101 | Minifigs: 3 | Packaging: Box | Instructions: Yes
Included minifigs: Elrond, Galadriel, The Witch-king of Angmar.
Order on Amazon.com
Spoiler analysis (highlight below to read)
Official artwork has thus far paired Galadriel and Gandalf, and Elrond and Saruman. This set suggests something different.
I wonder whether this playset is an indication that there’s going to be a confrontation between Galadriel, Elrond and the Witch-king as a prelude to freeing Gandalf. Will the two elves arrive first, and take care of the Witch-king and free Gandalf before running into trouble against Sauron? Will Saruman then catch up with the trio and save the day?
The other thing to note is Galadriel’s possession of the Phial — also absent from the official artwork. Its light (that of the Silmaril the Earendil carries) could be potent in repelling the Witch-king.
Lego Attack on Lake-town set
Pieces: 313 | Minifigs: 5 | Packaging: Box | Instructions: Yes
Included minifigs: Bard the Bowman, Bain son of Bard, Tauriel, 2 x Gundabad Orcs.
Order on Amazon.com
Spoiler analysis (highlight below to read)
Finally, there’s the Attack on Lake-town playset. This features a couple of Gundabad Orcs as the antagonists. In the film, Bolg lead the previous attack on Lake-town, searching specifically for Thorin Oakenshield. He called the infiltration off when the orcs discovered he had gone. So, why would they attack it again? What, or whom, do they seek?
Does it have some relevance to Thrain’s revelation in the DOS: EE that “They are in league — the dragon and the one!”? If so, will Bolg’s underlings act at Smaug’s behest to attack Lake-town in tandem with his own assault? That could be why we see the Windlance in this set. Definitely raises lots of questions.
End spoiler analysis!
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Ringer Peter writes to tell us of a push on the website Lego Ideas to get the toymaker to develop and produce an LOTR Minas Tirith set.
Lego Ideas is an initiative by the Lego company that allows fans and collectors to propose ideas for sets, and if they gather sufficient support, have them evaluated by a review board for their commercial potential. Continue reading “Support for this Lego Minas Tirith proposal is snowballing”
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If you’re in the market for a physical (BluRay or DVD) copy of The Desolation of Smaug Special Extended Edition, we think you may appreciate this handy buyer’s guide that Ringer TheHutt has laboriously assembled. It covers a number of markets (not just the USA and Canada): United Kingdom, France, Spain and Germany.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Special Extended Edition buyer’s guide
By Ringer TheHutt
Like last year, there are a great many versions of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition out there. In the USA, there are exclusive releases (for certain chains only), whereas in Europe there are some interesting designs not released elsewhere. Continue reading “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Special Extended Edition buyer’s guide”
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