I finally watched part two.

They have taken one of the greatest stories and have rendered it incredibly boring. I would rather watch the Rankin Bass cartoon (which I love).

The one happy surprise. Orlando Bloom isn't terrible in Smaug.

Well, my kids would agree with you on the second movie. Exactly what was Legolas doing there anyway? The river scene was rather enjoyable though.

I'm hoping, but not hopeful that the third movie gets back on track.

There's hope. Benedict Cumberpatch voiced the dragon well.

Desolation of Smaug was A LOT better than an Unexpected Journey (the 1st of the Hobbit movies). Still full of what I call squirrely moments of sure stupid humor (if you can call it humor) that I never care for. That was one of the big failing points for the Star Wars prequels. Stupid humor (burp and fart level crap) that was terrible. Sure, a lot of the acting sucked in that one too, but get rid of the dumb "aimed for 6 year olds" and they would have been better. Of course that also means no Jar Jar Stinks, which is fine by me. Why the studios, writers, and directors think that they need to add all of that garbage to movies today just to cater to a younger audience is beyond me. Make quality work and people will watch it because it is good. Throw junk in there, and you end up with junk coming out because you wanted per-adolescent kids to giggle.

But there have been some very good movies that managed to pull off the lowbrow humour and do it well.

Take a look at Despicable Me (the first one only) and that was a very good movie that could appeal to every level of audience and the lowbrow humour was so well written into the storyline that it added to the plot and story movement to make it integral. Not just stuck in there for giggles but added no story purpose.

On the side of the Hobbit. It should never have been a trilogy to begin with. They could have done it as a rather long single movie and it would have been entertaining. But GREED got in the way so they added scenes that were never in the book. Added story lines that were never in the book. Dragged it out to make it into 3 parts and all of them are rather long movies parts. It took the Lord Of The Rings idea and tried to copy it forgetting that LOTR was in itself a 3 book trilogy and tried to do the same with a single book. Failing quite badly at it. But it does have some merits and entertainment value. Much better at home with a good supply of beer and corn chips. I am told it's wonderful on illicit drugs but i am not into that sort of thing.

Difference is that Dispicable Me (the 1st one) was an animated movie geared towards kids with some "only adults will get this" humor thrown in. That is fine. That is what you expect. Take a big blockbuster movie that *needs* adults to watch it and, while based on what is considered a children's book, much more promoted as a movie that adults would like, and then sprinkle it with "stupid" and that is where I have issue with it. You don't see the "burp and fart" level humor in the previews for The Hobbit movies (at least that I remember), but they are all throughout the movie. In The Lord of the Rings, there was some childish humor, but it came across well as things like the competitive banter between Gimli and Legolas.

Then again, our brains tend to see what we want to and remember the good and bad in a similar manner. I could be completely off on my recollection of all of this and just need to go back to bed after 4 nights of barely any sleep. Although, since I am at work, I don't think that would be advisable right now.

Given all the extra crap they threw in that neither belongs nor fits, I thought the fart jokes were a small redeeming feature.

I guess I still haven't grown up (yay!).

LOL

When all three movies are released I think you could make an enjoyable edit portraying the story as we know and love.