Thrain vs. Gandalf, in Dol Guldur?
Demosthenes: We believe this to be a confrontation between Thrain and Gandalf. Gandalf discovers Thrain in Dol Guldur’s prisons, crazed and in possession of the map and key destined for Thorin. We do not believe this is Radagast the Brown — look to the Dwarvish pattern in Thrain’s clothing. Additionally, there’s little resemblance to actor Sylvester McCoy, the Scottish actor in the role of Radagast.
maegwen: I hate making LOTR comparisons but use of color here — the dark and sickly green-blue — is identical to Weathertop. And Moria. Osgiliath was close, but a bit icier-blue. This seems to be the Middle Earth indicator of “bad mojo going on.”
Ostadan: All the craftsmanship we’ve come to expect from Peter Jackson. Perhaps too much; it almost feels like the trailer is to convince the viewer of how _much_ this film will look and feel like LotR, rather than evoking the book itself the way the first teaser trailer did for LotR.
More Thrain vs. Gandalf action
More Thrain vs. Gandalf action
Demosthenes: A bundle of rags attacks Gandalf as he enters what looks to be some sort of prison or dungeon in Dol Guldur. Note especially the hanging cages that we saw in one of those early production videos. The bundle of rags in question is most likely to be a maddened Thrain II, deranged by long imprisonment by Sauron.
maegwen: I’m reminded of the Wizard-Smackdown-Matrix-Fight between Gandalf and Saruman.
Closeup
It’s Troll Time
Demosthenes: Dwarves charge in to save Bilbo from the three trolls — Bert, Tom and William. The trolls seem to be roaring, and that seems to forbode a bad fate for all that lovely dialogue Tolkien created around the Roast Mutton chapter.
maegwen: We get a good idea of a dwarf’s true height in this scene.
Closeup
Troll legs?
Troll legs?
maegwen: OK, doesn’t it look as if the dwarf on the right is trying to take a cell phone picture of the trolls?
Bilbo hitches a ride
Demosthenes: Bilbo finally catches up with the company somewhere on the road in the Shire, and Fili and Kili deposit him onto his pony. We now know this because it correlates with the scene described by Quint in his #6 set report. This is different to the book where they meet at the Green Dragon Inn.
