If you’ve seen the first movie (or The Lord
of the Rings), you’ve already got a good idea of
what to expect from the look and feel of The
Desolation of Smaug. Expect to visit a generous
helping of beautiful and terrifying new fantasy
environs, many shot on location in the aweinspiring landscape of New Zealand, with the
entire film aesthetically empowered by the
excellent visual effects and digital artistry of
Weta Workshop. Stunning detail is applied
to each and every aspect of these films, from
makeup and wardrobe to lighting and sound,
vividly bringing Tolkien’s written works to life
with all the meticulous attention that such a
spectacularly timeless and enormously influential
artistic work deserves. We also love that, judging
by the various production diaries that Jackson and
crew have steadily released leading up to launch,
everyone involved in its creation has ludicrous
amounts of fun putting it together, despite the
clear pressures in assembling a
production of this pedigree. And
as if we weren’t already tense with
anticipation, their relentless enthusiasm
drives our excitement levels ever upwards.
We’re already counting the days until There
and Back Again.
Dragon treasure
The Hobbit and The Lord of
the Rings have never been
out of print.
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