How about some Hobbit reviews? (1 Viewer)

We saw it on Friday and I was surprised the theater wasn't all that full. The reviews seemed a bit lukewarm. I liked it but it doesn't have the same magic as the Lord of the Rings movies. My wife thought it was ok but nothing special. Also, it seems Peter Jackson is milking it. He's making three movies out the Hobbit book.
 
General comment, i am really looking forward to this one, but I am not going to the theater to see it. Reason is that by waiting last time, my little man and I obtained the trilogy on Blu Ray in extended edition format. Those were excellent to the point that we never noticed having to change blu rays at the mid point and they were 4 hours long. I would hate to go see the theatrical version and then have an extended edition out a year later, they were tremendously different and I really enjoyed the elongated versions.

TD
 
I saw it...the 3-D version...and it was pretty good...

but it seemed a bit of a let down from "The Trilogy"...maybe because this is actually only the first 1/3 of the book...

the audience attendance was pretty good at the feature I saw...but a much older crowd at my particular viewing...

Ian McKellan was surprisingly lively for his age...hahaha...but that may be due some special effects or a "body double"...the role of "Gandalf" seems a lot more physically pressing than the role of "Magneto"...

Martin Freeman...cast a "young Bilbo Baggins"...nailed his role...he was really good...

still...it was a bit of a let down to me...especially since "The Hobbit"...was my favorite book in this series...

I did enjoy it...but I don't think Peter Jackson will add much to his previous 17 Academy Award's total...

one standout was the musical score...it was really nice...

I recommend it...but get the large bag of popcorn...it's 170 minutes long...
 
I wouldn't say it's 'classic,' but it was definitely a fun way to spend an afternoon. I'd recommend it!

As a BIG Sherlock fan, I had a hard time NOT seeing Martin as anything but Watson. The mannerisms were exactly the same. Now I hear that 'Sherlock' will show up in the next movie (as the dragon). I guess they like each other a wee bit!
 
I anticipated the movie eagerly, was disappointed while watching it, and became even more disappointed after re-reading the book. Jackson has added a lot of expository material found not in "The Hobbit" but in the chapter "Shadows of the Past", I think it is, from "The Fellowship of the Ring". He has also created a backstory for Thorin from a footnote in the book, as well as a battle/chase scene created from whole cloth. The "prologue" explaining the history of the Lonely Mountain was also embellished in a way that it was not in the book.

The additional material means that Bilbo disappears from the action for a couple of long stretches. I think the scenes were added to try to help people not familiar with Tolkien fit "The Hobbit" in with TLOR. But all it really does is to take a story that should have been told in a single film of less than 2 hours 46 minutes, and stretch it into another trilogy.

I also found the way the Dwarves are portrayed as silly, piggish and oafish, which they are not in the books. And Thorin looks too much like a rock star and not enough like a Dwarf.

Having said all that, I did enjoy Freeman as Bilbo, and Ian McKellen is Gandalf.

I've summed it up elsewhere like this: If you're a Tolkien fan and have read the book, you're likely to be disappointed. If you haven't read the book but are a fan of fantasy adventure stories, you'll probably enjoy it. I'm planning on seeing the second and third installments, but I don't plan on adding any of them to my DVD library.

Prost!
Brad
 
We just got back from the 3 D version. Some scenes looked a little video-ish but all in all pretty good. Action is really good and could bear a second or 3rd watching! Is Radogast the Brown the new Jar Jar Binks?^&confuse
 
Scott said:
...Is Radogast the Brown the new Jar Jar Binks?
Click to expand...

That's part of the additional content that I disliked the most. Completely out of character with Tolkien's actual work, and completely unnecessary to tell the story of "The Hobbit". Along with the completely made-up Ahab-White whale storyline about Azog and Thorin, it made the movie disappointing for me. I think Jackson has achieved such a status that he thinks he can put out anything, and people will eat it up.

Prost!
Brad
 
Dáin Ironfoot killed Azog at Battle of Azanulbizar. Geeeezz! Everyone knows that!
 
Scott said:
Dáin Ironfoot killed Azog at Battle of Azanulbizar. Geeeezz! Everyone knows that!
Click to expand...

Peter Jackson apparently didn't, so he took a footnote from the book, lifted a character from a video game and has him pursue a vendetta against the rock star cast as Thorin.

Look, a lot of people obviously enjoy the movie, I didn't as much, for reasons I gave above. My opinion is that the story itself was good enough as Tolkien wrote it, and certainly didn't need to be dragged out into three installments of nearly 3 hours each.

Prost!
Brad
 
I appreciate the reviews you guys have posted so far. I have really been waiting to see this film, but the more I hear from people who have, I am becoming worried. What you guys are talking about is just what Toklien fans feared, ie, Jackson taking too many liberties with the source material in order to make as many movies (and money) as possible. That really kills it for many fans, even the casual ones like myself. You would think that Jackson would want to preserve as much continuity with Tolkien as possible, in order to not alienate any fans. Guess that was too small a consideration in the face of so much potential profit.....

Noah
 
Fusilier said:
I appreciate the reviews you guys have posted so far. I have really been waiting to see this film, but the more I hear from people who have, I am becoming worried. What you guys are talking about is just what Toklien fans feared, ie, Jackson taking too many liberties with the source material in order to make as many movies (and money) as possible. That really kills it for many fans, even the casual ones like myself. You would think that Jackson would want to preserve as much continuity with Tolkien as possible, in order to not alienate any fans. Guess that was too small a consideration in the face of so much potential profit.....

Noah
Click to expand...

The audience where I was applauded at the end. I'm glad Jackson kept the Rivendel Elves dignified rather than the Falalala cutsie singing from the book.
 
Remember Jackson is a fan too and certainly is not in need of of a 'quid', the studio's can never get enough of course. I've not seen it yet but I'm looking forward to it. I enjoyed the first movies so much. There were enhancements there too - and bits left out as well. Based on the decisions there, I'm prepared to put my faith in Jackson. Also, I'm keen to watch three films rather than one or two - sometimes more is more!
 
I hope I didn't give a slighted view...the truth is...I will watch it again...but at home next time...I thought the visuals were great...honestly...in the theater...a lot of the dialog was not that clear to me either...I'm a "closed caption" guy...don't laugh...you will be too one day...
 
Finally got a chance to see the movie with my wife. I really enjoyed it. I know there are some changes that have been discussed here, but I will give PJ the benefit of the doubt until I see all three films.

Darrell
 
Peter Reuss said:
You have to be a LOTR geek to enjoy this review, but it is a reminder that the Hobbit is really part of a much larger story (sure, it may not have started that way, but it ended up there).

It's worth a read.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/seth-abramson/dislike-peter-jacksons-em_b_2342591.html
Click to expand...

I saw that review earlier this evening Pete. Having read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings several times each and The Silmarillion twice, there is so much backstory that isn’t covered in The Hobbit or the trilogy that provides a greater understanding of the entire story. I am glad to see Peter Jackson touching on it. I am curious to see how Sauron is removed from Dol Guldur in the third movie. Will it be an all out assault or something else?
 
Just saw it in 3D with my younger son (he is 15) and we loved it. I didn't read the book but saw the LOR trilogy and it felt right on the mark as a prequel. I believe there are 2 other parts coming. Looking forward to these!
 
I saw it in 2D since there were some mixed reviews on the 3D version with the higher frame rate. I am just not a fan of 3D in general.
 
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