I have mixed feelings about the summer release. On one hand, we get to see it sooner. But on the other hand, these feel much more at home during the holiday season.

At least they can prepare the boxed set for Christmas 2014, because surely with all the extending they've done, we don't need even longer versions, right?

Crazy that when The Fellowship of the Ring hit theaters I was a punk 21 year old college senior without a care in the world who had never even heard of The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. My nerd friends dragged me to the theater to see it. When this whole thing is said and done I'll be a grizzled 34 year old geezer.

Which is probably the real reason for the summer release.

I would prefer that they put the second film out summer 2013.

What's another 4 or 5 months? Hasn't every one so far come out in November or December? Why break the pattern.

I'd prefer Christmas '12, Summer '13, and Christmas '13.

We ain't gettin' any younger.

I'd love to hear the conversation where they convince Hollywood execs that the title of a huge expensive blockbuster should be "The Desolation of Smaug". If it wasn't for the success of the LotR trilogy, that'd be box office death, right?

Still can't imagine anyone scanning movie listings, "Hey, don't know what this is, but it sounds good!"

Well, there was "Quantum of Solace."

I bet a lot of theaters will just display it as "Hobbit 2."

When you bought your ticket for the last Indy movie did you say "1 for Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" or "1 for Indiana Jones"?

I don't think the "second titles" of huge sequels really matter. They could have called it The Hobbit: Electric Boogaloo and people will still go see it. And anybody that paid to watch the first Hobbit movie should know who or what Smaug is.

They get good bladesmiths for these films. I love the authentic kopis/falcata feel in that sword.

Everyone and their grandmother will know who/what Smaug is by the time the film is released. Pretty much everyone already does, even those who've never cracked open a Tolkien book in their life. The title won't hinder the film in the least. They could have titled it after the chapter 'Queer Lodgings' and it would still be mammoth.

I dunno about that part. I only know who the hell Smaug is cuz of...I think of something I saw as a kid (I think I saw that animated film...I dunno..hrmm). Otherwise if it wasn't for that and maybe a mention in LoTR...I'd no idea.

I don't think most people know who the hell Smaug is. And until it's promoted in some fashion or you know...the end of Hobbit 1, people won't know who he is..for those that don't already know.

That's 4 knows in 2 sentences. Weird. 5 if you can't the first part.

You're smoking some serious crack if you truly believe most people already know who Smaug is.

Smaug is FAR FAR FAR from having the same mainstream popularity of something like Darth Vader or Batman.

Exactly.

While Thorin looks bad ass in that photo, it also reinforces another aspect I love about the PJ makes these movies. It's obvious that they shot that 100% in the real outdoors. No green screen or anything of that nature. This really helps it feel more authentic, as opposed to a computer program digitally rendered actors in it.

Maybe WeylandYutani has me on ignore but I posted ALMOST the same thing right before he did, but in my humble opinion, explained it better.

Anybody that paid to watch the first one will obviously know who Smaug is by the time the second movie is released. And by that time, he will be getting major promotion so people that didn't see the first one will at least be somewhat introduced to him by the time time second movie comes out.

yeah..but that doesn't compute to this:

again.. referencing the general knowing of Smaug.

The other poster was making it sound like everyone already knows who Smaug is right now even before the movie is released. Sure, I agree most people will know who Smaug is after the first movie, but to think everyone already knows who Smaug is right now is absolutely absurd.

Totally agree. I think he's either grossly overestimating how many average Joe's know who Smaug is now or he is talking about people that will know who he is after the first movie is released but just isn't explaining his reasoning well.

It's The Hobbit. It doesn't matter.

Lots of people are already familiar with Smaug. And they're sick of breathing it in.

new pics..and they're purdy.

http://geektyrant.com/news/2012/9/8/...d-journey.html

Wow. Nice.

The new app's pretty neat - has all the production videos, photos, character profiles, and the scroll looks awesome.