Finally the wait is almost over! The movie opens here next Friday but I don’t have to wait much longer as I’ll be seeing it tomorrow night! 😀
I quite enjoyed the first movie [read my top 10 list why I think it was a worthwhile journey] and I’m one of the few people who actually don’t mind seeing The Hobbit extended in three films as I just love the Middle Earth universe, especially filled with my favorite actors! Richard Armitage, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, oh my!
Well, just for fun, here are some interesting trivia and fun marketing campaign:
BY THE NUMBERS
1 Hobbit – Bilbo Baggins
1 Dragon – Smaug
1 Crew member whose sole job on set was to look after prosthetic hands
1 Elvenking – Thranduil
2.5 Number of years the textures department at Weta Digital worked on Smaug’s skin
2 Wizards – Gandalf and Radagast
3 Number of children belonging to Bard
3 Films in the Trilogy
4 Inches that 15-year-old actor John Bell (Bain) grew over the length of production
4 Tons of silicon used to generate the facial prosthetics
5 Hours to complete hair, make-up, prosthetics and wardrobe for each of the 13 Dwarves
5 Average number of doubles used for each main character, including scale, stunt and riding doubles
6 Number of weeks it took to build Beorn’s house
7 km Length of toupe tape used to attach beards to faces
8 Legs on the giant Spiders infesting Mirkwood Forest
9 Weeks of location filming on the Trilogy
10kg Human hair for wigmaking
104 Average days it took to renew a studio with a new set
13 Dwarves – Thorin, Balin, Dwalin, Fili, Kili, Bofur, Bombur, Bifur, Oin, Gloin, Dori, Nori and Ori
13 Empty wine barrels in which the Dwarves escape Thranduil’s Realm
14 Tons of silicone used to mold all of the armor and weapons for all cultures
26 Average days shooting on a single set
32 Polystyrene trees, used in various configurations, to make the Mirkwood set
40 Buildings on casters that make up the Lake-town set
48fps Higher frame rate used for the Trilogy
60 2nd unit studio crew
65 Number of people it took—including actors, doubles and stunt men—to portray 13 Dwarves
80 The age of the oldest vintage microphone used to record the score for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
88 Microphones used in the film’s scoring session
91 Wigs created for the Dwarves
94 Set models created for the Trilogy
95 Number of musicians in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra recording the film’s score
99 Number of studio sets built for the Trilogy
100+ Hobbit feet for Bilbo
Check out this hilarious Yahoo! video Guess the Feet, too bad I can’t embed it directly to this post, but trust me, it’s a hoot!
100 Total 2nd unit location crew
100 Total costume department crew
115 Number of drivers needed to transport the cast and crew to New Zealand locations
250+ Approximate population of the Trilogy’s art department
263 Beards made for the production
300 Bottles of spirit gum used in the production
350 Off-set crew
400 Costumes created for Lake-town
450 Main unit studio crew
547 Traveling weapons for the 13 Dwarves
800 Crew traveling on location between two units
860 Bottles of isopropyl alcohol used to remove prosthetics
752 Wigs. Nearly everyone in the film is wigged
1200 ‘Extras’ that needed to be cast for the Trilogy
2000 Hand-spun goblets created for Smaug’s Lair
3000 Props recorded in the furniture catalogue for Lake-town
5000+ Approximate population of Lake-town
8900 Approximate number of continuous hours the art department worked to build, decorate, and tear down sets. This involved different crews working 24/7
11,862 Prosthetics made for the Trilogy
140,000+ Cups of coffee made by craft services throughout production
170,000 Punched aluminum gold plated coins trickled over Smaug’s Lair
…
Air New Zealand
This was released in mid November along with a contest to win a 5 night trip for two to Middle-earth itself! Oh man, that would’ve been sweet! That’s one of the dream places I’d love to visit, hopefully someday I could make it there as well as visit my dear aunt in Sydney, Australia!
Here in Middle-earth, everyday tasks can reveal out of this world surprises and before you know it everything can turn a bit Hobbit-shaped.
And one of my favorites about Peter Jackson‘s films are the plethora of video blogs and behind-the-scenes footage he readily share to his fans. Here’s the latest Production Diary which focuses on filming with Smaug the Dragon. Now I could watch an entire video just on Benedict Cumberbatch on set:
…
And here’s a 13-minute video of filming, I wish there are more specifically on the Barrel escape scene!
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Well, the reviews I’ve been reading so far has been positive, so I’m even more excited about it than ever. I LOVE the world of Middle Earth so I really can’t wait to go back and be immersed in that universe once again!
Hope you’ve enjoyed this post. Thoughts on The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug?
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
LOL, Ruth. You are the best at fostering anticipation! I was looking forward to this mildly the other day, but now I feel compelled to see it. They should hire you for PR. Very interesting details regarding the film, too!
He..he.. well I feel that the studios should pay me for promoting a lot of their movies 😀 I got the details from a press release, it’s too fun not to share, glad you enjoyed ’em Cindy!
I’ve only seen bits of the first Hobbit film though I’m not sure if I plan on seeing it though I heard the new one is better than the first. I think I’ll watch both films when the third one comes out as I want to revisit the entire LOTR trilogy.
I wish I had your patience to wait until all three are released! I’ve been wanting to revisit the LOTR trilogy myself as I have all the extended-cut Blu-rays 😀
My hope is that it will get better in the second half of the story like it was in the novel. It took me awhile to get into the story for the book but I thought everything was great once they escaped the goblins cave. I enjoyed the first movie but it’s way too long, but I hope the last two films will be great. I don’t know about adding a love story between Langolas and Tauriel though, both of them weren’t even in the novel. But I trust Jackson can make it work somehow.
Hi Ted, from some of the reviews I’ve read, seems that this one is a huge improvement. I think because it’s more action-oriented and the pace naturally is faster. I can’t wait for that barrel scene!!
Yeah, I hope the love story isn’t cheesy as I’m not fond of Legolas.
The scene I most looking forward to is when the giant spiders attack, it was very exiting read in the book. I assume the movie will be even better.
Yeah I don’t care for Legolas either. Seems like they just want to add a female character into the movie since the book has none. Hopefully the love story isn’t too cheesy.
Interesting post. Many of them are facts I wouldn’t have known.
I got those facts from the PR company, they’re a lot of fun aren’t they?
They certainly are.
Looking forward to this one Ruth. While the first film didn’t really work as well as the three LotR flicks I still really liked it. I can’t wait to see where this one goes. Any time I can go back to Jackson’s Middle Earth I’m happy.
Hello Keith! I love your last sentence, I’m happy when I’m back to Middle Earth too, it’s my dream to visit New Zealand one day! 😀
Hi, Ruth:
Am I the only one who firmly believes that this film will have one of the longest running closing credits for their work in cinematic history. No matter how large or how small, during this offering?
Ahahaha! No you’re not the only one! I never stayed for the closing credits for LOTR or The Hobbit but you’re so right it’s gotta be the longest of the bunch! Well it takes a whole army to make something like this, namely the Peter Jackson army! 😀
I’m a bit pissed off at the moment, Ruth. This film doesn’t open here until Boxing Day.
Which means, I have to avoid spoilers and reviews of it until after that, when I get to see it.
But can I just say: man, I am so pumped for this film. My EE of AUJ is coming my way as a Christmas present, which should provide some anticipatory lubrication for Smaug’s magnificent reveal in Desolation!!! PUMPED!!!
When is Boxing Day? Is that in January? That’s a bummer Rodney! Well my reviews are always spoiler-free man 🙂
Glad you’re as pumped as I am for this though. Magnificent reveal is right, esp w/ Benedict’s voice! 😀
I will start playing tomorrow night over here and I’ll probably will watch it soon. Although a lot of people weren’t fans I’m planning to see the 3D HFR version.
Wow you get it early than in the US Nostra! I’d say go for the 3D, I thought the first one in that format was awesome!
Really fun piece Ruth, enjoyed that! I’m really excited for this, going to see this with my dad next week. Perfect escapism for a couple of hours.
Oh that’s cool to make this a family affair! Is your dad a big fan of LOTR as well I take it?
Yeah he loved those and loved the first Hobbit film. It’s almost a Christmas tradition now!
Very cool Chris! Methinks you both would enjoy this one as well. Can’t wait to see it tonight!
I wish I was more excited, but my disappointment with the last one hasn’t lost me yet!
Oh bummer! Well who knows you might enjoy this second one? Seems that some critics who didn’t like the first film actually like this one.
Stop building this up Ruth! Hard enough keeping expectations down 😀
Ahah well, I can’t help it! The trivia is too fun not to share 🙂
Got my tickets for IMAX 3D so I can’t really talk 😀
Ahah, good for you Tim! I’m seeing it tonight on IMAX 3D as well 😀
What! How?
Ahah, well it’s those Press Screening thing, and in a VIP theater too 😀
I don’t like you anymore 😦
Oh come on now!
Haha nah 😀
Atta boy! Now when you come and visit me in frigid Minnesota I’ll take you to one of those press screenings 😀
That’d a big trip for a screening haha Thanks for the offer though, take you up on it one day 😀
Well what else can I entice you to come here?? It’s like -20 windchill outside, ahah. But hey, there is also the big Mall of America if you like shopping 😀
Quite like the cold and the odd mall, its the trip across the pond that’d get me 😀
Oh it’s really not that far, only about 10 hours or so 😀 I mean, it usually takes about 24 hrs on a trip from here to my hometown Jakarta Indonesia, longest in flight was about 18 hrs straight!! If you like the cold AND malls then MN is the way to go, man!
One day Ruth, one day 😀
Ahahaha! This is awesome. Your Armitage wait is over! 😛
You knew me too well Zoe! 😀
I enjoyed The Hobbit but it had its flaws and wasn’t as good as any of the LOTR films, so I’m looking forward to seeing this in the hope that it’ll go that little bit better. I just hope it doesn’t feel too long.
Yeah well it’s not as good as LOTR I agree, but as a fan of that Middle Earth universe I still had fun with it. I do hope that the pace is faster than the first one and it seems that based on early reviews it’s far more exciting 🙂
Quite a enthusiastic post 🙂 while im sure Desolation of Smaug will be good,im not as excited for it as you are.
So excited! I’ve been hearing great things from those lucky enough to get an advance screening. Can’t wait to see those giant spiders and elves!
The giant spiders, the barrel scene and the elves are great, though it’s Smaug that’s the REAL scene stealer 😀
Totally awesome post, Ruth!!!
I love all those little details, where did you find them?
I am not sure when the movie will be played here…hopefully before holiday because I am planning a trip
I’m gearing up for this one myself Ruth. Many criticised the first one but I really enjoyed it. I hear that this is a vast improvement.
Hi there Mark, always thrilled when you stop by 😀
Yay, I’m glad you’re with me. I enjoyed the first one too and this one is an improvement though overall I think they’re just as enjoyable. I do think the presence of Smaug gives this an edge, the encounter between him and Bilbo is easily the highlight of the film.
Hey Ruth, yeah I’m really busy just now so blogging is only getting shoehorned in but still trying to keep my finger on the pulse.
Glad to hear that this works. Can’t wait to see Smaug. I was a fan of the first but I’m hoping this one irons out the slightly lethargic pace. That was really my only issue first time around.
Bummer! Busy w/ work or the cabin? Or both?
The pace is a bit faster in this one, though there are moments I wish it’d pick up more. I think not having read the book, I wasn’t sure about the relations between certain characters so the scenes didn’t mean much to me. I wish there are even more scenes of Smaug to be honest, he really lives up to the title!
Just busy getting ready for Xmas. I’m not actually working just now but that doesn’t do my blogging any good. I do a lot of writing when I’m at work LOL.
Yeah, I read the book and remember it quite well. I hope that doesn’t go against my experience with this but it didn’t so much the first time either, so here’s hoping.
Ahah, sometimes the daily busy-ness actually kept you from writing, I agree. I’m not as swamped at work these days either so I can do some of my writing then, too.
Let’s compare notes after you see it. Does it open this weekend for you in Glasgow?
Yeah, it opens this weekend here but I’ll probably not get to see it straight away. I’ll get to it as soon as I can though… and notes shall be compared 🙂
Ah I totally understand Mark. I always look forward to your reviews, mate 😀
Much appreciated Ruth. By the way, as I normally blog by phone, I don’t always get to see my site or others on a proper screen. However, I was on my laptop last night and noticed that some words in my (and others) reviews are highlighted in blue and are a link to some advertising deal. Is this a new thing that wordpress have introduced? I don’t remember seeing that before and, frankly, I’m not that keen on it. Have you noticed it on yours?
Hi Mark, yeah that’s not just a WordPress thing, I noticed that even on emails too, believe it or not. It’s terrible I know but not sure you can do anything about it though.
Aww man! I really don’t like that at all. I wasn’t happy with the advert on my site as it is, never mind even more. That’s actually scandalous. It detracts from people’s writing 😦
I totally agree it’s VERY distracting! Scandalous is right, seems that marketers are going overboard and more intrusive these days. As for the adverts on your site, I think you have the option to turn that off? The Word Ads I mean.
I can turn the advert at the bottom of my site off? I thought that was compulsory because I’m not paying for my site?
Yeah, if you go to Settings > WordAds, you can check the ‘Do not show any ads’ under the Configuration Options.
Aaah! After all this time. Excellent Ruth. Thanks. There are still plenty of little things I’ve yet to learn 🙂
Glad to help, my friend! They don’t make it easy for you to turn it off, but yeah it’s there.
I’ll have a look. I always thought those ads were unsightly and I’m not a fan of advertising. Certainly not without my permission anyway.
I hear ya man. Plus the payoff is so minuscule it’s hardly worth the distraction.
I didn’t realise I was supposed to get a payoff! They’ve been on my site since I started. Surely I’m owed something??
You can check it under the Earnings tab, it’s at the top next to Settings. You can see how much you’ve earned so far. It’s such a tiny amount though, as it’s calculated by how many people actually click on the ads.
More info? Brilliant! Thanks again Ruth. I’ll have a look at that just now. I’ll let you know what pennies I’ve earned… 😉
That’s ads option is telling me that in order to remove them I must purchase a no ads upgrade or a bundle. 😦
Oh really? Oh geez, that is a bummer! So did you check your earnings?? I mean you should at least be compensated for having to endure them.
Couldn’t find the earnings tab. That being said, I’m doing it through my phone a kill check again when I get to my computer.
Hmmm, you might have to access it through your desktop. I never do it from my phone, I only use it to answer comments.
I can’t wait to see Lee as the King and wet Richard in the barrel 🙂 Oh man that picture from the premiere – why did Lily get bangs? She looks awful with those.
Hi Sati, I saw it last Monday and those two beautiful boys didn’t disappoint! There are lots of gorgeous shots of Richard, wet and otherwise, esp. in the opening sequence, yowza!
Yeah, I don’t know what’s w/ the bangs on her, not a good look though she is gorgeous. Not to mention LUCKY being amongst all those cute boys!!
Cool post Ruth! I just saw this yesterday, and I liked it more than the previous film. I’m actually excited for the last one. 🙂
Yeah, I’ve got my post ready for tomorrow, just got sidelined by the Golden Globes 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it too, Josh!
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