The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (an unofficial review)

The Battle of the Five Armies (an unoffical review)

I went to see "BotFA" with my niece and one of my brothers on December 16. 10:00PM showing. The closest we could get find to a midnight premiere. :) We found ourselves the only 3 people in the theater. While it was a tad bit disappointing since we went with "premier" expectations, it allowed me personal outbursts without fear of annoying anyone.

Later I went to see it with some family and a friend. This time there were more people in the theater and I forgot that we weren't alone. My friend and I were asked to be quiet. My embarrassment was deeply felt. Still, I was able to view the movie with a far less emotional mindset and found that I enjoyed it even more than the first time I watched it.

Overall: BotFA was a mixture of gorgeous visual splendor, too much CGI (computer generated imagery), corny moments, epic moments, and scenes that forced you to applaud.

The soundtrack is lovely. Howard Shore never fails to bring forth new and beautiful things. Notable tracks include: The Last Goodbye, Ironfoot, Courage and Wisdom.

*WARNING: Here there be spoilers!

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Pros:

One of the most intriguing scenes involved The White Council (Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond, Radagast, and Saruman) battling Sauron at Dol Goldur. I loved seeing them all display their power. In "Lord of the Rings" we see them as the wise and reserved guardians they are. It was exciting to see a different side to their characters. One word though to keep in mind when watching: Galadriel. I will never see that elven queen the same way ever again.

Smaug was a visual treat. Vivid and well handled by the film crew. The costumes, particularly the armor, were rich and culturally fascinating. There's a sense of detail and depth applied to all of the landscapes, cities, and dwarven halls.

Richard Armitage and Martin Freeman. Their characters stood out to me the most.

Richard Armitage portrays the madness of Thorin painfully well. His death scene made me cry for the first time in a theater. I can count on one hand the number of movies I've cried for.

The change in our protagonist, Bilbo Baggins (Freeman), is moving and thoughtful. Towards the end you can see Bilbo Baggins: Elf-Friend; of the Company of Thorin Oakenshield; praised amongst men and dwarves; pondering the hobbit he used to be. Is he really the same quaint hobbit who cared more about his handkerchief and mother's doilies? No, no he's not. He's seen some of his very closest friends die, he's seen monsters, elves, and a shape shifting bear man. How can he possibly continue on with his life that used to be the only thing he cared for or knew of?

The end of BotFA gave a strong nod to the ending of the "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." How do you pick up the threads of an old life? I won't say exactly how the movie ends. It was perfect and made me want to go watch the entire "Lord of the Rings" trilogy all over again.

It's fitting that they had Billy Boyd sing the ending credits song. "The Last Goodbye" is similar to "Into the West" but stands out by itself with no trouble. *whisper* I'm actually listening to it on repeat right now as I type this post.

source: Pinterest

Cons:

-Tauriel
-Legolas

I would end the cons list there but that's not fair.

Most every scene I disagreed with involved those two in some way.

The almost love triangle we had going on with TaurielxLegolasxKili was disappointing to see. This is Middle-Earth. It's a world that I had hoped to see untainted by romantic sub plots. Of course we have Aragorn and Arwen in the Lord of the Rings. But that was far subtler love story, it worked as a main plot support, but it wasn't a romance.

I'm one of the strange peoples (considering I'm a hard core book fan) who actually likes Kili and Tauriel's might-have-been relationship. What I dislike about it is how they handled it. More could have been conveyed in a glance than in a sappy dialogue exchange.

There are similar feelings surrounding Legolas. There's a bridge scene that is downright NOT possible. I understand he's an elven warrior, but I couldn't take that scene seriously. In some of the scenes where he interacted with Tauriel or his father it felt a little too much like watching a teenager rebelling. I understand this is a younger Legolas than we see in "Lord of the Rings," but it doesn't reflect the spirit of Tolkien's writing and younger Legolas is still old by the standards of men.

I'm less upset about the inclusion of the characters of Legolas and Tauriel than I am about how they handled them.

Alfrid. Also known as Grima Wormtongue Jr. Why did we have yet another irksome character when we could've shared more screen time with the dwarves?

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End Spoilers

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"The Battle of the Five Armies" was difficult to watch as a book fan. But I still loved it and look forward to seeing it again as soon as it comes out on DVD.

It may have been disappointing in some places, but it made me cry. Whatever Peter Jackson puts his mind to, will undeniably come out amazing. What he does well isn't just good, it's perfect.

Thank you Peter Jackson for the memories you have given us. I wish you well in your future endeavors.

source: tumblr

*I do not own the extended edition of the soundtrack. As a result any extra tracks can not be taken into account in my selections.

Related blog post:

-Desolation of Smaug - Midnight Premiere

CHRISTMAS (a noun)

We're almost there.

Can you feel the pull?

The nonstop anticipation. You frantically check off your to-do list. You panic over the final touches.

All the while various body parts, particularly your eye lids (when did they get so heavy?) seem determined to turn you into a bobble head.

In just a couple of hours it will be Christmas Day.

If you look at the word *Christmas*; what comes to mind?

- Santa Claus? Presents? Maybe that one weird gift you never talk about...

I decided to look up the official definition of Christmas.

Christ • Mas

noun

1. 1. the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25 in the Western Church.

Now say what now?

It doesn't say anything about waiting up all night (insert yawn here) for a jolly man in a red suit.

It doesn't make mention of presents.

It doesn't even mention being a nice person.

All it says is that it's a Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth on December 25th. The day we know as Christmas.

Wow.

Some might view that as anticlimactic.

What we often miss, is that the real reason for the season (and yes I will be that cliché) is the most exciting climax in the world's history book that we will ever encounter.

There is a God. In fact He is the Lord of All Creation.

And He created everything from the single celled organisms, to the human brain, to the thousands of galaxies we can only dream about, and beyond.

I won't turn this into a mini Bible lesson. I won't go on for much longer (sleep is only 1 hour 12 minutes 25 seconds away!).

However I think everyone deserves to know something. Even if they don't want to remember it as soon as they leave church.

That something, is that God became man. God sent his only Son to save mankind from a world of hurt. A world of their own making. That's what we created.

Humans have this tendency to look at only the worst possible side of the story. Or ignore the problems that don't affect us and move through life in an ignorant, deliberate, kind of bliss.

What we should look at is both. We need to be aware of what's going on outside our personal bubble of space.

I always avoid the news because it makes me sad. But what I don't remember is that there will and already has been a rescue mission successfully conducted.

God's Son, Jesus (remember that guy from the Christmas definition?), saved us from having to pay the price for the misery we dole out day to day.

So I guess I should take back what I said earlier.

The definition of Christmas does mention at least one present.

The birth of Christ Jesus. The person, who was both God and man, who stooped low in the dust of the earth to grant us Salvation.

We have the choice to accept His gift.

I believe that that is a far more worthy reason to say "Merry Christmas!" to everyone you meet; than waiting for Santa Claus to come down your chimney.

Merry Christmas!!!

Art Curriculum- Week 14- Snowman Handprints

Week 14- Snowman Hands

Last week's project was creating a 3D Snowflake. To view it click here.

This is a very simple project. :)

Category: Winter

What you will need:

-blue construction paper
-white/black/orange paint (acrylic/tempera/craft)
-smaller brushes (for the detailed little buttons and noses)
-1 larger brush (for applying the paint to their hands)
-"Snowmen at Night" by Mark Buehner and Caralyn Buehner (optional)

Time: 30-45 minutes

• Use the large brush to apply white paint to each child's hand. Be liberal with the paint, you will probably need more than you think.

• Press the hand into the paper. The paint will dry quickly so you need to press the hand quickly. Don't let them wiggle their fingers! :) I had to press down their fingers and hands to make sure they made contact with the paper all over.

• Slowly lift the hand and send them to wash up!

• While the handprints dry, you can read them a story. The story that goes with this project is called "Snowmen at Night" by Mark Buehner and Caralyn Buehner.

• You can read it online for free. --> "Snowmen at Night."

• After you finish reading break out the brushes and paint. I worked each part step by step with them. (Hat, buttons, carrot nose).

And that's all there is to it! I hope you enjoy making these happy little fellows!

Overall: A very quick and easy winter project! Good for younger ones and the story is more engaging for the older ones.

Related Posts:

-Watercolor Winter Scene
Make a Snowman Out of Socks!

(logging 1 hour for prep and execution)

Art Curriculum- Week 13- Zentangle Snowflake

Week 13- Zentangle Snowflake

Last week's project was creating a winter scene with watercolors. To view it click here.

This project was fantastic practice on following directions, cutting skills, and drawing patterns.

My niece, Keirstyn, co-taught with me today! Together we instructed and helped with drawing zentangle and assembling the snowflake.

What you will need:

-colored paper (construction paper is fine)
-scissors
-markers
-staples/tape/glue (staples work best)

Time: 45+ minutes. Most of the kids needed guidance on each new pattern, some of the patterns I selected required step by step guidance.

-look up zentangle patterns and zentangle art for extra inspiration and references

Preperation:

• Cut all papers into squares. You will need 6 pieces of paper to create the star shape. If you have more than 6 kids you can still use this project for a fun art piece. Or you can create a Zentangle Landscape which requires the same set of skills.

• Draw broad "stripes" on all of the squares for the kids to fill in. I made a patter of "thick/thin/thick/thin."

• Fold the squares in the snowflake pattern. --> Make a 3D Snowflake. After we folded we drew in the lines for where they would cut to. After that we unfolded the paper to full squares again.

• I made little guides. A different set of patterns for each child, then each child was assisted in copying the patterns. They all did very well.

• After they completed their zentangles we folded the squares up again. Then we cut and taped according to the snowflake step by step tutorial.
  
• We assembled each arm of the snowflake with staples.

Overall: This project will require a lot of guidance. However the result is beautiful and there are multiple projects and skills you can utilize in other projects.

Related Posts:

-Zentangle Art
-Sketchbook #4

(logging 1 1/2 hours for prep and execution)

Art Curriculum- Week 12- Watercolor Winter Scene

Week 12- Watercolor Winter Scene (+salt)

Our last project focused on making adorable little snowmen out of socks! To view it click here.

Category: Winter

What you will need:

-multi purpose paper (you want something with a little texture to soak up the watercolors)
-blue watercolors
-masking/painters tape
-salt
-brushes (we used the cheap foam brushes, easy to buy in bulk and various sizes)
-black marker

Time: 30 minutes. This is a very simple project. It took me 15 minutes to create an example. Time will depend on your group's level. I also taught this same lesson to a a group of over 20 kids (all around 9-11), and it took an hour.

Preparation:

• I drew 5 lines to mark for the kids where they would place the tape (1).
  
  
• I taped the papers to the newspapers. If you have a smooth surface it's helpful to tape directly to the table. However I didn't want to take the chances of our nice tablecloth getting stained with blue paint (2). ;) The tape around the edge will keep the paper from slipping and give the finished produce a clean, professional border.

• They got to put their own tape. I gave each kid one piece at a time.
  
  
• Lay down a quick coat of water.
  
  
• Brush on the blue. I gave some of them dark blue, other light blue for variety. This part you need to do quickly, you don't want it to dry out (3).
  
  
• Sprinkle the salt on!
  
  
• Rub off the salt when it's dry, then you can peel the tape forming the trees (you can use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process)
  
  
• Use a black marker to draw in the lines on the trees. Point out and demonstrate how you can make your lines go from side to side, thick and thin.
  
  
• Peel off the tape and you're done (4)!

In the fourth picture there are branches. This is if you want to be more detailed with the project. I cut smaller pieces of tape at an angle and taped them in.

The Finished Pieces!

Related Posts:

-Week 8- Van Gogh's Fields
-Week 7- Monet's Bridge

(logging 1 1/2 hour for prep and execution)

Art Curriculum- Week 11- Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

 

Week 11- Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

 

Our last craft was on Pointillism. To view it click here.

 

Category: Winter

 

 

What you will need:

 

 

-long white/grey socks, preferably larger sizes

-buttons/caps/something for eyes and buttons on the body

-rubber bands

-broad ribbon for scarfs

-stuffing/baking soda/something to stuff the sock (we used stuffing, but if you use baking soda these cute little guys can double as odor killers in your drawers!)

-hot glue

-scissors

 

Time: 30-45+ minutes (45 minutes for prep, depending on what you can find for materials. I had to scrounge so it took me longer). Each child had to be helped individually with their hats and buttons/eyes.

 

• Cut the foot and heel from the sock. Leave only the rectangle part (top left picture) This will be the body.

• Turn the body piece inside out, fasten a rubber band, then flip it back out again. (top right picture)

• Cut the "toes" off from the remaining sock. (bottom right picture) These will be the hats!

 

• Stuff the body of the sock. You'll probably need more than you think. Fill it to the top and make it has firm as you like. (far left picture)

• Tie the top shut. (middle picture)

• Make your snow man's body with a large rubber band in the center. I tried to make the head a bit smaller than the bottom part but that's up to you. (far right picture)



• Use hot glue to attach the eyes, buttons, and hat. You can arrange the hat in different styles.

 

• Use a piece of broad ribbon or long piece of fabric for the scarf.

• DONE!

Enjoy your cute little snowmen for yourself or give them as gifts. Or use them to decorate your home!

Overall: Easy prep, the younger kids needed help with tying their rubber bands. I had to go one on one with each child for hot gluing on the buttons. I would drop the glue on and they would get to push the button in place. It's a very rewarding project however and a lot of fun!



Related Posts:

-Maleficent Horns- DIY
-TARDIS- Step by Step