Genre: Fantasy
Starring: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage and lots more
Rated: PG-13
My Rating: Two Thumb Up
Wow, where to begin? I thought it was great of course! It dragged in a couple of parts, and was awesome in a couple of parts and was corny in a couple of parts.
As most of us have learned by now, they are planning to turn this small simple story (because the book The Hobbit really is quite simple) into a trilogy. How are they doing that? Well, they are adding a lot of back story! They are adding some scenes not found in the book. They are taking their time with certain adventures. I can see that they very easily will mange the three movie thing. I feel mixed about this, but oh well.
The scenes I loved.... flying with the birds, exchanging riddles with Gollum, the dwarves singing, the stone giants fighting, an cameo appearance by Frodo, dealing with trolls and.... anytime Kili was called on to shoot arrows!
Scenes that dragged... the opening narration, the talk with the elves in Rivendell, and then the goblin fight went on for quite awhile too.
Scenes that were a bit corny... the whole goblin fight seemed pretty crazy. It was good (all that running on broken brides!) ... and bad (easily killing goblins?) at the same time.
So, we saw it in 3D and also the new 48 frames per second. You've heard about this I suppose? It's never been done before, and I was very geekily curious about it. And let's just say, yes, we noticed it! Yes, it was strange. Yes, it takes some getting used to. But I think I did get used it by the end, and I think I liked it. I think. I don't know for sure! It's like... so REAL that it seems FAKE! It's like you are watching a play. It's like you are RIGHT there with them. It's like you forgot it was 3D and just became immersed in the movie. It was very strange. Did any of you, my readers, see the movie in this new format? Please, let me know what you thought! It's very hard to explain.
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| I am amazed that he could fight in this big coat! |
Anyway, the dwarves. I have a new love for them. Before, I loved the elves Elves aren't thought of very highly in this movie (and book... in my review I said I had never thought of them as so mean before!) But here, we love the dwarves. Richard Armitage was AWESOME as Thorin, as expected. Perfect. Wonderful. And he even smiled a couple of times. Watch for it! And then there was Kili (see poster above) who was quite a standout too. Yummy! And he's an archer dude, which I'm guessing is not too common among the dwarves. So that's cool, way cool.
Martin Freeman was perfect as Bilbo too. And Gollum? So good! The struggle between his good side and his bad was both funny and painful to watch. Poor Gollum.
The music was great and we all came home humming the dwarf song:
Bottom line: I loved it. Do go see it. Try the 48 fps thing and let me know what you think!
I heard that because of the terrible events this week, that people were avoiding the television and it boosted sales for this movie. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteAnn
Ann: Interesting! I know our theater was totally full.
DeleteActually, it's Martin Freeman, not Martin Short. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat review!!
Ugh...I totally fixed that goof! And before this posted I thought!
Deleteha ha ha ha!!
DeleteOh,okay. I found what's going on! Gah, I'm such a doofus.
DeleteWell, he IS short... Haha ;)
DeleteI'm excited to see this!!
ReplyDeleteSee? After you and Jenni reviewed it so well I don't think I'll bother....especially because I think we all felt exactly the same.
ReplyDeleteHa! So funny!
DeleteYes, it was great! So fun to return to Middle-earth. I had a great deal of worry going in to it and was so pleased to come out the other end with a warm feeling in my heart and a huge smile on my face.
ReplyDeleteThe corny parts didn't bother me because I expected some of that from the more lighthearted nature of the book itself. I was impressed that they managed to have that kind of fun with it and yet also produce a movie with a serious tone that ties in well with the LOTR films. I wanted that to happen but wasn't sure they could pull it off. So glad to be proven wrong.
I doubt I'll see in with new technology, but we'll see. I'd rather not be distracted even on a second viewing, trying to decide how I feel about the look. I do hope to see it again sometime soon.
Carl: Ah, I'd love to know what you think of this 48 fps thing! Yes, I loved coming back to the LOTR world too. So awesome.
DeleteI saw the 48 FPS version yesterday and I liked it. I didn't think it was as wildly different as I was lead to believe it would be. It looked clear and it had a bluray look to it but I wasn't distracted by it at all.
DeleteI just don't think I can handle 3D. It always makes me feel sick after. But, the way people describe the 48 fps thing does make me curious...
ReplyDeleteMelissa: I think it's improving to the point that those who get sick from it, will notice it's not as bad as it used to be. You should try it again sometime!
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ReplyDeleteI've seen it today and I still can't find the words for it. I loved it, of course!
ReplyDeleteI saw the 'normal' version, not 3D, but it was magnificent. Some of the fighting/falling/and such was a bit overdone, but on the whole they everything comes together really well. I loved how they connected it with the LOTR and the broader world of Tolkien's writing. For example, the scene with the Elves in Rivendell you mention shows, while it took us away from Bilbo and the dwarves for too long, how Saruman was already corrupted then (and we know from LOTR it was Galadriel who convinced the council (against Saruman's advice) to drive the Necromancer from Mirkwood, which was a smart thing to do). Ooops, sorry for an outburst of a Tolkien geek in me.
Anyway, my point is that it is an awesome movie, and I agree with your review!
Pepca: Love the geek outburst! You bring out many lovely points that I totally agree with. :)
DeleteI want to see this movie too :)I want to swoon over Martin Freeman and company
ReplyDeleteJulie: There was much swooning, believe me. :)
DeleteGreat review! I'm glad we got to see it in the 48fps. It was really cool and weird and fakish, but realish too.
ReplyDeleteAnd, it's so funny, but I didn't feel like the movie dragged at all. I've heard that from others, but I didn't know why and now having reading your review I can see why people thought that. I was just enjoying it a lot and was okay with everything they wanted to throw at me. I kept trying to guess where they'd end it. It was really cool.
PS--Aidan Turner, Kili, is playing Luke Garrows in City of Bones. :D
Delete^Garroway
DeleteJenni: I saw that! Cool beans! I'm happy to see him in more stuff! :)
DeleteI saw the movie in 2D last night. It was so weird because it did look so different. I really like the 48fps now. I just wish it were available in 2D too.
DeleteGreat review! Gave me a good sense of what to expect … and I know Mr. Jenners would HATE it! : )
ReplyDeleteI am curious about this 48 frames thing. If I manage to get to see it, I'll report back to you.
Jenners: I hope you do get a chance to check it out, with or or without the Mr!
DeleteI loved it too! I didn't see it in 3D, but it was still great. I completely agree with you about a few bits being corny or dragging on, but I just love these movies. I will say I could have done with much less goblin fighting, especially that nasty king, but the rest of it was so great.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had the opportunity to see it yet, but am itching to. I didn't know about the 48 frames deal- is that only with the 3D? Usually I don't care for 3D films, actually prefer to watch them in normal format. I did notice that when I first watched HD television, thing seemed "too real"- you could see the blemishes on the actors' faces, the edges of the makeup, but I soon learned to ignore that and it no longer felt visually heightened. So I don't know if I'd notice.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they were making it into three films- I had wondered why previews didn't show anything of Smaug but all seem to focus on goblins and Gollum- makes sense now. So at what point of the story does the film end...?
Oh my goodness, Richard Armitage and Aidan Turner (Kili) are the two I was most looking forward to seeing in this movie...and they did NOT let me down! I've loved Richard Armitage since seeing him in North & South, and Aidan Turner since seeing him in Being Human. I'm so glad they both got parts in The Hobbit!
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot about the new 48 frames/sec. thing, but haven't seen it yet. I'm so interested to see what it's all about.
I really enjoyed the movie!! I was definitely impressed with the stone giants, and LOVED Kili! Definitely agree that Martin Freeman was perfect as Bilbo. I have mixed feelings about all the "extras" but I am definitely intrigued for what is to come!
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