My obsession…is that the right word?…with J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth and Peter Jackson’s film adaptations is certainly no secret. I was brought to Tolkien’s work by the films, having not ready any of them in my youth. Because of the release of The Fellowship of the Ring I did choose to read The Hobbit back in the year 2001 so that I would have that background going in (unlike the Lord of the Rings books and The Silmarillion, I haven’t read it other than that one time). For the past 12 years I have had Tolkien’s creations and the interpretations of Peter Jackson (et. al) close at hand. I wear a One Ring on my right hand. I own multiple copies of Tolkien’s work and read something Tolkien related several times a year. I watch each extended edition film at least once annually and watch the extras on those films even more often. I get an inspiration from the passion and creative energy of Tolkien and all those who worked on the film versions of The Lord of the Rings that could be the subject of many, many posts.
So what was I expecting going in to what will forever be considered the prequel trilogy to The Lord of the Rings? Unlike some critics, I was not expecting it to be better than, or entirely equal to, The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit is a book written for children whereas The Lord of the Rings is a more mature work. I had hoped for the sake of Tolkien’s creation that Peter Jackson and company would manage to bring the more lighthearted nature of the book into the films while at the same time making some effort to give these films the feel that they belonged to the same universe of The Lord of the Rings. I had hope, but I also had some pretty strong doubts about whether they would even attempt to pull that off.
Well, they did. And what’s more The Hobbit defied my expectations and left me wondering how long I might have to wait before I can sneak out to the theater and see it again. As I did last year when I went to see all three extended editions in their theatrical debuts, I am not even going to make an effort to structure a reviewing masterpiece. I am going to ramble. I may gush a little. I am most certain to come off as a Tolkien/Peter Jackson fanboy and that is just fine by me.
I spent several moments during the day scanning snippets of reviews on places like Rotten Tomatoes and seemed to consistently find the words “too long” and “boring” on the negative reviews and even on some of the reviews of critics who overall praised the film. Is it long? Well yes. At nearly three hours of course it is long. Did it feel long? It certainly didn’t to me. I could tell when the film was getting ready to wrap up and it was hard to fight down a feeling of melancholy that this was it, now I have to wait another year before I can see more.
The film takes its time in the beginning, lovingly reintroducing the reviewer to Middle-earth with a few moments with Ian Holm and Elijah Wood reprising their roles as Bilbo and Frodo with scenes that took place just before the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring. The dwarves are introduced and Bilbo’s reluctance to go on an adventure is established and we stay with that theme for some time: dwarves acting like dwarves and Bilbo being a Hobbit. I imagine this is where it got slow for some people and I don’t fault anyone for feeling that way. Perhaps on my second or seventeenth viewing I’ll feel the same way. But for my first viewing? I preferred spending the time and so that I could get comfortable with the characters.
Boring? I suppose you could say that it took a while to get an emotional handle on the dwarves. There are so many of them and they are (remember, The Hobbit is a kid’s book) a bit one-dimensional. But lovers of the Lord of the Rings stories should be bringing their affection for Bilbo and Gandalf right into the theater with them. And even if you forgot it in the car it doesn’t take long for Martin Freeman to win you over. He is fantastic! It was worth the price of admission and the time spent just to witness Freeman make Bilbo come alive. It is easy to forget in the written and film versions of The Lord of the Rings that Bilbo was once an unlikely hero too. But even if you have a hard time engaging emotionally with the film during the first half, by the time the second half rolls around there are several moments tailor made to tug on your emotions are remind you just how wonderful Tolkien’s stories are in the first place.
I went to see the film on the IMAX screen in 3D. Not because I’m a fan of 3D but because I wanted to see it on the biggest screen in our theater with the best sound. Mercifully there are few ‘gimmicky’ 3D shots. But the sound? Oh my word, the sound coming from the IMAX speakers was incredible. I obviously did not then see it in the 48fps version which many reviewers are complaining about, and possibly legitimately so. I want to see a film that looks like a high definition film, not like a hyper-real soap opera. So I didn’t chance it. And I was most pleased. New Zealand remains gorgeous in the extreme. Middle-earth crops up as a character several times in the film courtesy of sweeping aerial shots couple with a swelling score by Howard Shore. The special effects were understandably better than the trilogy of a decade ago given the improvement in equipment and technique. The Bigatures (and I suspect there were many) are every bit as wonderful as they were in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the cinematography was a treat.
Howard Shores’ score was brilliant. I couldn’t imagine anyone else doing it. He managed to create some new and memorable theme music while also weaving in minor pieces of music from the other films. Wow! The costumes are great (I so want Bilbo’s jacket) and the inspiration of art design by Alan Lee and John Howe were evident as well.
I entered The Hobbit with precious little recollection of the events of the novel. It has been more than a decade since I’ve read it. And I did not want to re-familiarize myself with the story. The reason I appreciate the film adaptations and Tolkien’s books so much is that I embraced the films first and then went to the books as canon. I wanted to do that with The Hobbit as well. Other than a few major scenes that I could recall from the book, I have no idea what came from the novel, or from the appendices, or was made up by the writers to tie story elements together. I remembered there being some silly stuff in the book and the film has many silly, slapstick moments that I originally felt would cloud the experience for me while delighting the kiddies in the audience. Instead I found myself enjoying those moments for what they were because interwoven with the joviality were the clouds that portended of the coming darkness. The Hobbit wasn’t really a kid’s movie. And I suspect Jackson will take criticism for that. He certainly could have played it that way, and either way it was probably a no-win situation, but I am glad that he made the choice to film this in a way that tied it in thematically and cinematically with the other films.
This is getting long, isn’t it, and I don’t feel like I have written much of substance at all. I’m sorry. I enjoyed the “slow” build up of the film, it built a foundation upon which moments like Bilbo and Gollum in the cave were established and that scene especially was brilliant. What followed were the moments of the film meant to make your heart swell and I loved those very much. More than once I had a smile on my face so big I could swear I must have looked like the Cheshire Cat. When the lights came up and the credits rolled Mary and I both had the same impressions: we didn’t know what all the fuss was about, it was not disappointing at all and was well worth the wait. It doesn’t break new ground and if you are bored with The Lord of the Rings films you probably won’t like these. But if you are a fan then I suspect you will come out of the theater with the feeling that Peter Jackson and company are doing it again, throwing themselves wholeheartedly into a world they care about deeply.
To close I want to reprint the following, which is a comment from me over on a rather negative review of The Hobbit, one in which the review compared this film with The Phantom Menace. The reviewer’s points were valid for his experience. It just wasn’t my experience of the film. I think this comment does a good job of wrapping up this incoherent babble.
My response:
“We obviously didn’t see the same film…or I guess we saw the same film through different eyes.
I liked all the ‘slow’ parts. The songs, the meals, the shots of characters running through gorgeous Middle-earth, er, New Zealand landscapes with Howard Shore’s score swelling majestically from the IMAX speakers. I guess if a person didn’t like the extended editions of the LOTR films then it would make sense from a consistency point of view that they would not like this one.
Me? I wasn’t bored once. Did it start slow? There were probably some slow parts, but I was enjoying the spectacle of it all.
Sentimentality and saccharine sweetness? Well, first off its based on a book written for children so doesn’t that sort of go with the territory? On a more personal level, I want the sentimentality and the sweetness. These are dark films. Even this one with its many more lighthearted, goofy and improbable scenes still had a great deal of dark, foreboding moments and to balance them with moments that tug the heartstrings is the reason I still watch the LOTR films regularly and I would have been wildly disappointed had they not been present here.
I was worried long ago, worried that the more kiddy nature of The Hobbit would clash too much with the serious nature of the LOTR stories. My worry lessened when I read that they were stretching out the story by working parts of the appendices in.
Is it a perfect film…well no, but none of them are (although the theatrical version of Fellowship comes damn close). Is it Phantom Menace? Come on now, that’s just silly. Phantom Menace was filled with poor performances, CGI that dwarfed (pardon the pun) any and all “acting”, and was filled with embarrassing racial stereotypes and unlikeable characters. The Hobbit was worth seeing merely to watch Martin Freeman act. He was fantastic. The scenes with Gollum in the cave were worth the price of admission.
I don’t disrespect your opinion. I learned long ago that we all have different experiences with the things we read and watch.
My two cents worth: The Hobbit exceeded my expectations and I look forward to seeing it again. Better yet, get me the extended edition DVD with extras so I can delve into a proper geek out over it.”
It is now past the witching hour. I am tired. I don’t want to review this for typos or grammatical issues or just plain sleep-induced stupidity. Please forgive me. I will do so when I awake. Goodnight dear friends, I’m off to dream of heroic things.
Soooo happy you loved the movie!!!
I was going to write some things (all? lol) that I agree with here but instead I did a small post of my own linking it here.
I was happy to be able to report enjoying the film. You might enjoy this very glowing review of the movie, Pat:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2012/12/12/the-hobbit-review-peter-jacksons-return-to-middle-earth-is-a-triumph/
He is a bit too enamored of it…I don’t think it is better than Fellowship…but it does have a lot of points that I agree with.
very interesting review!! of course I liked it lol.. too much NOT to like! lol.. I will really try to go see it again! and the dvd is a “shoe in” that I will buy it!…
really bummed to have to wait until next december though!
just read an interview with Andy Serkis and thought this quote by him says sooooo much!
FOX 411: Where is your directing career going to go from here?
Serkis: Working with and collaborating with and for Peter Jackson was an incredible experience because he is such a phenomenal filmmaker. And one of the things I learned most from him–well two things really– the first one being, that no matter how big the canvas, no matter how grand the fantasy, it’s all going to be based very much in real, emotional truth. So all of these characters, they’ve got to have hearts. There’s no point in creating these incredible worlds if you don’t care about the characters. And that’s really, really, important. And secondly, witnessing him as a director and what he loves is lots of choice from his actors. So when he’s working on a scene, and this is what he encouraged me to do while I was directing, was to… instead of pushing in one direction and sort of just honing that direction is to get the actors to experiment with lots and lots of ways of doing things. So when you get to the edit you’ve got so much choice.
REAl EMOTIONAL TRUTH.. excellent choice of words!
Great stuff, thanks for sharing that. One of the many things I’m looking forward to on the (presumed) extended edition extras for these films is listening to Andy Serkis talk about his experiences behind the camera.
I should have left the link to that interview because he says some interesting stuff about how the technology of today (vs LoTR) allowed him to do his part ONCE instead of twice (once for voice and once for all the movements)
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/12/14/hobbit-andy-serkis-has-full-size-gollum-sculpture-in-his-house/
Awesome, thank you!
just got back from seeing the Hobbit for a second time!…can’t wait for the dvd!!!!!!!
Wow, that didn’t take long! So excited for you. I take it that means you found it every bit as enjoyable as the first time. 🙂
Absolutely!!!!!
Radagast the Brown seemed to be even better and Thorin gets better looking ! LOL.
I must tell you (only because I’d love to go to NZ myself) That DeForest & Carolyn visited NZ and said that of all the country and states they had seen NZ was the one place they had wanted to go back again to see because it was so beautiful… I think Jackson finds places we’d never get to see even if we got to go there!
Such a wonderful review, I can’t wait to see it! After reading your impression I am sure it is a great movie. I look forward to seeing Ian McKellan again, he is such a brilliant actor!
Ian was so great as Gandalf again. A little more humorous in this one as the character can be a bit more lighthearted. The darkness is coming but is not closing in as rapidly as it is many years later when the events of LOTR happen. I hope you enjoy it.
Great review Carl. I really enjoyed the film. I did have a few issues with it personally, for example, I did think it was a little prolonged at the beginning but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment. I’m definitely going back to see it again (and probably again!) I didn’t see it in 3D though – it makes me headachey!
Lynn 😀
I plan on getting back over to your site later tonight and commenting. I read your review before seeing the film but didn’t have much to share until after I saw it.
I don’t see it as perfect and can understand exactly why you and others felt it might have drug itself out a bit at the start. That didn’t bother me because I wanted that extra time, expected it really after the EE’s of the other films, and so while I can see it isn’t the best way to make a film from a craft standpoint, I love it from a fan standpoint.
To be honest I had a few niggles but I still love it. Going with different friends next week for another two viewings and can’t wait. Will be able to really relax and watch it properly instead of being on the edge of my seat. I don’t really understand the bashing the film is getting from some people. Even with my niggles its still an excellent film and really well done and I don’t see how anybody can really dispute that. But, there you go.
Lynn 😀
Everyone has their tastes, of course, but I think a majority of critics have been looking to bash Jackson for a long time. As Jeff pointed out in another comment, the Hollywood press seems to love a downfall as much as a success, even if they are the ones trying to create it. I’m sure in subsequent viewings I’ll find more things I wish had been done differently, I do with all the films I like, but I also hope that my affection grows for it each time like it has with the LOTR films.
I agree, and it’s a bit of a shame. The power of the press! Hopefully more people will be overwhelmed than underwhelmed.
Lynn 😀
Yes. I still think of John Carter every time I think of what press and poor marketing can do to a film. I may not be an apt comparison, but that film was exactly what it should have been and had it been taken and critiqued that way I think audiences would have taken to it.
We will be going to see it the week of Christmas. You are certainly welcome to go with us.
I was looking forward to your review. I knew I would get a better feel for how good the movie really was.
Our plan is to leave Anjelia at a friend’s house. Would you still recommend this?
It is a bit intense at points, not a kid’s movie in my opinion.
Anjelia didn’t make it through the shark scene in “Soul Surfer” and won’t come down the hall if we are watching LotR so we will let her play at someone’s house.
Yes, leave her home then. 🙂
We are hoping that Keri will be well enough for us to see it the week of Christmas as well or if not the first week of the New Year. I have no desire to see it in 3D though. I’m 3D’d out. I’m not sure how I feel about the whole new 48 fps. Since Jackson shot that way I’m guessing he must be behind it. I’m not going to pay extra for it. I already feel I’m getting gouged enough at the theatre.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I’m imagining I will as well. I know the story of The Hobbit well enough but what I don’t know as well is the appedix material they pulled in from the Return of the King book. I read that once thirty years ago now where I reread The Hobbit to my kids just about five years ago now. I have a seventh grade english teacher for introducing me to The Hobbit and from their I because I life long fantasy reader.
I for one look forward to the DVD’s as well. A year paces pretty fast. I’ve been waiting almost nine months so far for Game of Thrones season two to come out on DVD. I just have three more months to ago. Easy Peasy. 🙂
After reading the Forbes review I linked to above in the response to Deslily I’d actually be curious now to see it that way. But I wouldn’t want that to be my first viewing of it. Didn’t want to be distracted from the story. I don’t mind 3D just for the sake of image clarity. It was beautiful. But I don’t need it for most films and wouldn’t have paid for it even for this one if it wasn’t for the desire to see Middle-earth on the biggest screen possible. And given the sound I’ve already decided that Star Trek: Into Darkness will be an IMAX viewing too. Great seeing the first 9 minutes.
Great to have those memories of teachers that influence our reading. Mine memories like that are from much later, although I do remember having a second grade teacher who would read stories to us at lunch time. I distinctly remember Mr. Popper’s Penguins.
I loved your review, Carl. My brother and I went to see The Hobbit yesterday also (nice and early @ 9:00 a.m.!) and we both really enjoyed it. I was a little wary going in over the whole 3 movies thing–would it be too bloated–but although there were a couple scenes I probably would have cut, I didn’t think it was bloated or too long or boring at all. Unlike you, I recently reread the book, and while reading it I knew that Freeman would be the perfect Bilbo–just based on other things I’ve seen him, I could picture him as Bilbo perfectly.
Thanks! I originally planned on going to an early Sat. morning showing but then realized it would be killing me sitting at home on Friday night knowing it was playing and I could be watching it.
Freeman was outstanding. Coupled with the very neat opening with Ian Holm I thought Freeman brought this character to life so well. I cannot wait to see it again just to concentrate more on the nuances of his performance.
Enjoyed and agreed with your review Carl.
I read The hobbit for the first time when I was in middle school (appropriate for Middle Earth I guess..) and fell in love with it. Following up by reading LOTR was a natural next step that I enjoyed greatly. But The Hobbit was always my favorite.
Knowing that, I was a bit apprehensive about seeing it on screen. Would the movie do justice to the book and Tolkien’s brilliance? I believe the movie did as well as a movie could and Jackson did better than most – if not all – others could have. Once I saw that he had included at least some of the dwarf’s songs (“Bend the forks, break the plates, that’s what Bilbo Baggins hates…”), I knew it would be alright.
My “concerns” – for lack of a better word – have not so much to do with how the movie has interpreted the book, but rather what forces outside of the movie have forced it to become. I believe that those who are being exposed to the two works (The Hobbit and LOTR) for the first time through the movies are missing out. Seeing the two out of order robs the viewer of some of the magic that Tolkien created. The two most noticeable examples of this are Gollum and Gandalf.
Gollum – when reading the book for the first time, I remember the impact that this strange creature had on me. The mystery of who/what he is, where did he come from? what is that ring? why is it so important? – had a big affect on me. The mystery of Gollum was part of my excitement and eager anticipation for reading LOTR.
In contrast, when Gollum first appeared in The Hobbit (movie), my thoughts were of seeing a familiar character of whom I already knew his origin, history, and demise from having seen LOTR first. It was more a feeling of “Been there, done that. Let’s move on.”
Gandalf – When I first read LOTR where Gandalf died, I was devastated. I had spent a whole adventure (The Hobbit) and a good few chapters of another getting to know, appreciate, and admire him. I am afraid that feeling is lost on those that saw LOTR first.
Also lost in this is Gandalf’s transformation and growth from Grey to White. In LOTR we hardly knew Gandalf the Grey. Whereas, in The Hobbit we get to know him more completely and can better appreciate Gandalf the White when he appears in LOTR.
Again these “concerns” have to do with the circumstances outside of the movies themselves and are unfortunate. After all the movies are released, I will certainly recommend those viewing them for the first time view The Hobbit first as originally intended.
Having rambled on for too long now, I will state that I am very happy with The Hobbit and recommend it highly. Thanks for your review, Carl and for creating a space where we Tolkienites can meet and discuss.
Eagerly awaiting next December’s release… John
I agree, it would have been pretty great had they decided to do them all and started with the beginning. Had they anticipated its success they might have decided to do just that.
I can definitely see your points about Gandalf and Gollum, although I LOVED the Gollum parts here. He is such a great and ultimately sympathetic (while still twisted) character in the LOTR films that more of him, as interpreted by Serkis, was a bonus to me. It does of course take away from some of the tension in the film to know without a doubt that Bilbo, Gandalf, Gollum, Galadriel, Elrond, etc. are not in any real danger…because hey, they’ll be back in 60 years!!! 🙂
So glad you rambled, I appreciate your insights. Part of me still wishes I had come to these books as a child, but I can’t complain really as the impact both books and films have had on me is pretty profound. I’d probably be wearing permanent elf ears and have giant hairy feet if I’d read these as a kid. ;p
The original plan was to shoot The Hobbit first and then LOTR. Unfortunately, there were legal problems with distribution rights and such.
I liked the Gollum scenes in this movie as well but had mixed feelings. I don’t know if it was just due to the impact that this part of the book had on me or if it’s true but in the book the Gollum appearance seemed a larger part of the story.
To me it was such a big part of the story that I found myself watching the movie divided. On one hand I was, as I mentioned above, thinking, “Let’s move on already” but on the other hand wishing the movie would go into more detail and extend the scenes by including more of the riddles and other dialogue/monologue. (Extended scene BluRay, please?)
I particularly missed the way Tolkien described Gollum’s misery upon learning of the loss of the ring. Maybe I was expecting too much and maybe this part of the book affected me more than it did others but that’s how I felt about it.
It is interesting to note that this is the biggest section of the book that Tolkien revised after writing LOTR. Makes me wonder that if I had been alive during that time if I would have been on the “Gollum wanted to give the ring away” side much like the “Hans shot first” fan that I am.
BTW: with plastic surgery what it is today and with the promises Bosley hair products make (I’m sure it would work on feet as well) – it’s never too late for the ears and feet!
I told Mary I was going to put Rogain on my feet for a few months before the show came out, just never got around to it. 🙂
Interestingly really the only part I remember with any clarity from reading The Hobbit the one time was the part with Gollum and Bilbo. And even then I can’t remember if it was a longer or shorter part of the book, just that it was an obviously important part of the story.
I totally get what you are saying, again more from the standpoint of having other novels I love that I cringe over the adaptations (Stardust comes to mind). I don’t have that experience with Tolkien’s novels and that is why I can give the films much more of a pass with the changes. Even then there are parts of the LOTR films that I don’t like after reading the books. For example I’m cool with Faramir being tempted by the ring. I’m not cool with Faramir being so cruel with Gollum. And yet that part is somewhat true to the books too, only it was only hinted at and the person being cruel was Aragorn “off screen” before he, as Strider, meets Frodo and the gang.
I do wonder what people thought after he made those bigger changes. I remember reading something once that I think was attributed to Christopher Tolkien’s histories but it indicated that had Tolkien lived longer he may have done even more rewriting as he came up with new and different ideas. Can you imagine LOTR being changed? And here we jump all over Lucas…he was just channeling his inner Tolkien! 🙂
And Han did shoot first…any contrary stories are just acid dreams or late night delusions.
Well Carl, we’ve been through this before, you and I, and we’ll have to agree to disagree about Tolkien intending this as a kiddies book. It’s an adult novel, maybe, if the term had even been invented yet, a YA novel. He invented languages, history races… things not yet done, or done this well, before. So don’t apologize for the book as a children’s book, unless you count college students as children.
As for the film, I want to see it but don’t want to see it. I love Tolkien and have reads Hobbit several times, as I always read it before rereading LOTR. But I hate to wait for years for the story to finish. Three movies from one novel, when LOTR was three films for three novels bothers me. Yes I know Jackson wanted to give it it’s due, but this seems too much to me. I may just wait until they are all out and in extendd director’s cuts, buy the blu-ray set and watch the whole thing.
You may disagree with me all that you want. I can only respond by saying that there are indications from Tolkien himself that some of what he wrote was from stories he was telling his kids and from the very beginning the book was accepted as a children’s book whether or not that was Tolkien’s intention.
It was nominated for the Carnegie medal the year it was published and won another children’s book award for that year. In some of his letters, I believe (I’ve read several nonfiction Tolkien books and I don’t remember where I saw this) but there are statements from Tolkien being concerned about the darker more adult tone of the “sequel” that he was supposed to be writing for The Hobbit. And of course he went back and made changes to The Hobbit making it less lighthearted in places, the Gollum area being one example, to make it fit more in tone with his other work.
Now I don’t deny that Tolkien may not have set out to write a children’s story, his work was always more involved and sophisticated than that and had more to do with creating languages and later creating a mythology for England. Not kid’s stuff in the least. And I’m not disparaging The Hobbit. Many noted Tolkien scholars consider it a children’s book and by comparison with his other work (The Silmarillion is filled with references to torture and incest, etc) it is a slim, delightful romp and thus a much harder work to build a three film trilogy out of.
I will wait to pass judgement on the three films situation until they are all done. It has been well documented that Jackson is not making three films from The Hobbit. He is making three films from The Hobbit plus appendices which contain stories and story fragments about things that were going on in Middle-earth during The Hobbit and in the time period between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. There is more than enough material there to build three films out of. That doesn’t mean they will be three great films, we’ll have to wait and see. But film one makes me feel much better about the next two.
I do so hope they do the extended editions with these, as those are the ones I’ll want to buy!
I guess I’m an ignoramus about these things. I’m sure you’re right about this. I’m glad you liked the movie so much.
You crack me up Richard. I do think there is a bigger point to your comment that I agree with, which is that this too was a book filled with maturity and depth and world-building unlike anything that went before it. I agree even though I believe, intended or not, it was pretty lighthearted.
Less so after he did a bunch of rewrites years later, but still slight by comparison. I also think you were saying that it should be disparaged and I also agree with that. I LOVE children’s books and have found some to be much more profound than books I’ve read that are written for a more mature audience.
My comments would be better served saying that I believe it is a harder task to make a film of similar weight out of a book the size of The Hobbit and I’m impressed that Peter Jackson managed to do, in my opinion, the equivalent of what Tolkien did when we reworked The Hobbit to make it fit more with his LOTR novel while retaining some of the fun of it.
I hope you can check it out soon and don’t have to wait until it comes out on bluray.
I think of it as YA novel myself. I wish Richard l uck waiting until all three films are out on dvd.
I also agree with John R. I read The Hobbit first and then LO
RD. Im so glad I read it order before seeing films.
Any at the end of the credits.
I couldn’t wait. While I love having a big television and a blu ray player I still don’t have anything that compares with the scope and sound of the screen I sat in front of last night.
The sound in the Star Trek 9 minute “trailer” was…oh my gosh, Wow!!! Not to mention Shore’s music in The Hobbit. I’ve got invest in a killer surround sound system!
I just got back from seeing this today–and I think I agree with pretty much everything in here. I didn’t find the movie slow at all–it just takes its time, and invites the viewer to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.
I’m not a Tolkien geek by any means, but I still so enjoyed coming back to this world and to these characters, and that certainly carried me over any slow moments getting started, or delayed development for new characters.
There was such a nice blend of levity with the darker elements, and the sense of tie-in to the later events. The Gollum scene may be a great example of all of that. Gollum is creepy and terrifying and dark–AND sad and sympathetic–and Martin Freeman is funny–and meanwhile we’re setting up the entire plot arc of the next trilogy…and it all happens all at once and works. Brilliantly done.
I’ll stop with that observation before I ramble any further. Have to save some rambling for my own review, right? 🙂
I’m glad to hear other people are enjoying the film. I’m enough of a Tolkien geek that I felt the need to reiterate that up front so that readers could assess my review looking through that lens. I do try to be objective and don’t get too worried about pointing out film flaws, but the point I think I was trying to make is that, for this first viewing, none of those things mattered to me. I got lost in the story unfolding on screen and was very pleased with it when all was said and done.
Look forward to your rambling review!
I was one of many people watching The Hobbit at midnight in 3D. My good friend and I have been to opening nights for all the LotR movies so naturally we returned for the Hobbit, but this time with our daughters.
We loved it. Didn’t notice any slow places – I thought the pacing was great. I knew from the various blog entries from Peter Jackson what the ending would be… yet the end came and I couldn’t believe we had sat through the whole movie.
I’ve long been a fan of Martin Freeman and he was a perfect Bilbo. The Dwarves have great personality and Peter and Co. have done a great job of making them memorable and distinct. I am sure by the end of the trilogy we will know them by name and beard shape.
The staging of Kate Blanchett as Galadriel was so precise and detailed. Also amazingly beautiful. The scenery was amazing.
I also noticed lots and lots of details in the scenes, that I will enjoy studying once I have the DVD.
The only bad part of the experience… we have to wait a year for the next piece!! 🙂
[p.s. having travelled extensively in NZ I encourage anyone to visit – you will not be disappointed]
I watched several of the ‘making of’ documentaries but other than those tiny snippets I stayed away from all spoilers so it was great for me. I barely remember The Hobbit from my one read so the story itself surprised me and I had no idea where they would end it. I just remember being surprised that the time had passed so quickly. What a great way to end it though.
New Zealand is one of my dream destinations. Some day….
Cate Blanchett was great. She was such a good casting choice. She has a stately beauty that works perfect for the role of the Lady Galadriel. So great to see her in this film.
How cool that you guys got to take your daughters to this. I imagine there are a bunch of parents whose kids were too young to see LOTR in theaters but have seen them on DVD and got to actually go experience this with their parents this time around. That is part of the magic of movies, to me.
Fairly new to the blog, and enjoyed reading your review of The Hobbit. Helps me to look forward to seeing it even though it’s not gotten the critical acclaim the others did. It’s gonna be pretty awesome and grueling to watch extended versions of all 6 Middle-earth Jackson films back-to-back.
Thanks Neal, great to see you over here and I appreciate your comments. I do hope you enjoy it. I doubt any of these three films will garner the acclaim the others did. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were largely ignored by the Academy, for example, after the sweeping of the Oscars that Return of the King managed all those years ago. Hollywood isn’t big on honoring fantasy or science fiction.
Yes, watching all 6 films in the extended versions…oh, that would be a killer!
I went on Friday, was a bit worried about the running time because I was pushing it to get the last bus home, so I was a little conscious of the time so it felt the barest bit long to me. I still loved it. More than I thought because I had dampened my expectations just a little 🙂
It wasn’t perfect, but it was very close to it. And I will certainly be going to see it again. I loved Bilbo, and all the dwarves, even the ones that seemed to have only one line 🙂 And Gollum was fantastic.
I loved the hints of Smaug, he looks wonderful. I know, we only got a hint of a glimpse, but that was amazing. Can’t wait for the next film 🙂
Like you I saw it in IMAX 3D, I didn’t realise that meant we wouldn’t get the new frame rate yoke. One more excuse to go see it again, as if I needed one
So glad you mentioned Smaug, I had thought about mentioning him in my review and then forgot. I too thought it was a great choice that we just saw hints of his presence and that the big reveal is saved for a later film.
I’m not sure about the IMAX thing…I don’t know if because the film was shot in 48fps that we were still seeing it, but my theater had a regular 2D showing and one that specifically says “48 fps/HFR” which I assume stands for “high frame rate”. The IMAX version I saw looked no different than any other high definition show I’ve seen. Certainly didn’t have that fakey look that some bluray films have.
I’m looking forward to seeing it again myself. I think it helped me reading some of the criticism ahead of time because it reminded me that I was coming to this originally trying not to get my expectations out of control.
I avoided any reviews like the plague. I even objected to being told the headlines of reviews, as in “such and such enjoyed it” or thought it too long, or whatever. I just decided that it wasn’t going to be as good, although when I saw the first trailer ages ago I will admit I got a little “oooh, this is going to be good” but I hammered that feeling down relentlessly until it went away 🙂
Ha, I did that same hammering Fence. I went through a long period of wishing they hadn’t even bothered with these films because at first I didn’t want anyone other than Peter Jackson doing them and then when he took over I didn’t want his LOTR legacy tainted the way Lucas has done with Star Wars. And even after this I still have worries about the next two films! I hope to breath a sigh of great relief after the end of the final installment.
enjoyed reading your review. I am so glad it was such a good experience.
I really appreciate your reminders that The Hobbit as Tolkien told it was/is for younger audiences, and the light-hearted doesn’t preclude darker more ominous events/themes. And I appreciate your reminder that Jackson’s version is not a kid’s film.
Freeman’s performance is worth the while. He is so good.
Thank you L. Need to get back to yours now.
Freeman really is amazing. He’s done some equally emotion tugging work as Dr. Watson and I love him in that role too. Was happy when he was cast as Bilbo just because of that and now we see the casting choice was brilliant.
I wasn’t happy that they made it in 3D. I loathe 3D since it usually gives me a headache and makes me dizzy. Briefly I considered skipping it and waiting for the DVD. After reading your review, I think I must see it in the theater.
I could have lived without it as well, but you don’t have to see it in 3D. There is a standard version out in theaters that I’m sure is every bit as lovely to look at.
I can’t wait for the next two episodes of THE HOBBIT, either! I walked into THE HOBBIT without expectations (except I knew it was going to be looooong). But the nearly three hours sped by. And, of course, the last half hour of THE HOBBIT was completely gripping! Peter Jackson and his crew does it again!
I had certainly tempered by expectations for fear of extreme disappointment and felt such waves of relief as the movie started and I immediately felt right at home in Middle-earth.
Yes, they did it again!
I am right there with you on this one. It didn’t feel too long to me. I loved all the added bits. I re-read the book earlier this year and loved seeing all those characters come to life. I wish the Goblin king hadn’t been quite so cartoonish, but that was really the only thing that irked me. I loved the film and really want to see it in theatres again.
Yes, he was a bit cartoonish and it would have been nice for that to have been more serious, and yet I went in assuming there would be more of that kind of thing than there ended up being and so overall I can write that off. Will be interesting later on though to see if I find these as re-watchable as I do the LOTR films. I suspect not, but we’ll see. I thought this was great, but I adore the LOTR movies.
Can’t wait to go see it… I can’t decide which version to see! Your description of the IMAX is awfully tempting, though… thanks for such a great review!
I’d skip the HFR one for sure, either the IMAX or 2D would be lovely. Look forward to your thoughts.
I’ve been seeing so many mixed reviews of the movie that I was getting a little worried. Thanks for restoring my faith Carl! My husband and I have plans to go see it on Christmas Eve. We don’t see movies in the theater often but we decided we couldn’t miss this one.
If you like the others and go in with the idea that it is based off a more lighthearted book then you’ll be happy you went.
Just came back from seeing the 48 fps, 3D version. Noticed the difference immediately. It was like watching a Blu-Ray on a VERY large high def TV. I’m glad for the experience but prefer the normal frame rate version.
Now see I’m pretty sure I would not enjoy that, although my curiosity is still peaked. For the money and experience I think I would just rather see it again in regular mode.
My man and I enjoyed this movie a great deal. He has not read The Hobbit and I have read it more than once. I had heard the movie pulled in bits from Tolkien’s other works (bits that happen at the same time as The Hobbit, just captured in other works) and so I was not surprised at many of the additional scenes and characters.
I did have 1 WTF moment with the moose – that’s all I’ll say – but it did not spoil the movie for me. We laughed a great deal and thoroughly enjoyed the action and the singing.
I wouldn’t mind seeing it again in the theater either.
I’m so happy to hear that. The moose didn’t affect me one way or the other, though I can see it as a bit silly. There are some real fun moments that induce smiles and appropriate laughter. I enjoyed that. I hope to see it again soon.
I loved it, did not think it was too long (personally, I like long movies), and I will be seeing it again. I may not be quite as huge a fan of the films as you, Carl, but I think I rank up there pretty high. Wish we didn’t have to wait a whole year for the next one. 🙁
I’m happy to hear it, I like long movies myself if they are ones I can immerse myself in and just get lost, and Tolkien’s world is so perfect for that. I’m going to see it again this coming weekend and can’t wait. It is going to be a loooong wait (which is something I don’t enjoy) 🙂
I really enjoyed the movie, too. I actually waited until I was visiting my family to see it (to give my brothers an excuse to go again). I saw it in 48fps and 3D (not really my preference, but it’s hard to argue with giddy brothers), and the 48fps was sort of . . . meh. I was able to overlook it, though, because the movie itself was so good. Love Martin Freeman! I was a little worried he wouldn’t be able to wow me with his Bilbo as much as his Watson, but he did. And I loved Ian McKellen, of course 🙂
Definitely goes to prove that Freeman is more than a one-note actor. He is very, very good.