Desolation of Smaug Questions/Spoilers

[johnmiic]

If you haven't seen the film turn back. I have specific questions and am looking for answers.

_______________

What was going on with Thiranduil in this film? He yells at Thorin and his face starts melting away in his anger. Is he turning to an Orc? Is he in possession of a Palantir? Is under Sauron's influence as Sauraman was in Lord o the Rings? Or is all this over his greed for the riches the Dwarves never gave him? When he cut off the Orc's head I had a feeling he was trying to prevent it from revealing something to Legolas about Sauron's plan to comeback that he knew but didn't want anyone else to know.

[TomStrong]

I had no idea about that, I thought it was weird and not based in the book at all. He was quite menacing and nefarious, I hadn't pondered it much since I saw the film but maybe P. Jackson has something linked to it later. I've really had a problem separating my love of The Hobbit and Professor Tolkien with this film specifically. It was so much of a departure from the literature. I never had the idea that Thranduil was such a bad guy, he imprisons the dwarves for their trespassing and their unwillingness to divulge their purpose in traveling through Mirkwood. He is certainly an unfeeling and cold character in the movie. After saying all that it may have just been a gratuitous use of special effects.

[Nostalgiabuff]

he was showing what his true face looks like. magic is used to hide it from everyone else. Thranduil is a bit unhinged in the film versions. he really was a 1 dimensional character in the novel. I don't remember whether the appendices in LOTR ever told more about him. it's been a long time since I read the appendices.

[drquest]

he was showing what his true face looks like. magic is used to hide it from everyone else.

This is how I took it. It was in response to the discussion about Dragons, and obviously he has faced them before and was injured seriously, and is using Elf magic to cover it up. I wouldn't discount the Palantir influence either...

[TomStrong]

he was showing what his true face looks like. magic is used to hide it from everyone else. Thranduil is a bit unhinged in the film versions. he really was a 1 dimensional character in the novel. I don't remember whether the appendices in LOTR ever told more about him. it's been a long time since I read the appendices.

That makes a lot of sense.

[Klosterheim]

Yeah, he had been fighting dragons in the North.

An illusion spell, I guess.

[Gorn Captain]

The movie was so long, his face started falling apart from the sheer agony of it...
"This trilogy will never end...my face is melting!!!!"