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The Hobbit - Discussion thread and first thoughts ironclad Send a noteboard - 13/12/2012 12:21:52 AM


I suppose enough people will go see this film to warrant a bigger discussion thread to collect all thoughts, opinions and reviews you may want to share. We didn't do that in a while. Enjoy :)

As for my own thoughts...
Middle Earth is in good hands with Jackson. Yes, the purists will find plenty of things to complain about. We've known since the announcement of no less than three parts that they'd blow up those films quite a bit with content. And sometimes it shows, especially in the first half. Some sequences are much longer than they'd have to be. That doesn't mean the movie is ever boring, but you can already tell that the whole story would have fit into two films and changes from the book have been made.

That being said, it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling to return to this world. Jackson, or Howard Shore to be precise, knows exactly at which moments he has to repeat the right well-known soundtrack melodies and what that does with the audience. It's like visiting an old friend.

An old friend you haven't seen for a while and who has changed, despite of the well known face. It takes a bit to get back into it, but once the dwarves keep pouring through the door things get highly amusing and interesting. Some of the dwarves get much more of a character (and lines) than others, so the favorites are easily picked but that may even out with the later films.

The acting is great. Freeman is the perfect choice as young Bilbo, McKellen repeats his Gandalf as if ten years never passed, every recurring character is spot-on again. The winner has to be Serkis' Gollum once again, though. Special effects have upgraded since the last film and it shows, but once again it is his acting that shines through and makes his scenes some of the most enjoyable of the film.

People who are allergic to over the top, batshit crazy action scenes will probably get a rash during the last half an hour, but personally, it drove the film home for me. They built movie theaters for fun, larger than life and unrealistic candy like that. The hardcore fans of the book may wonder why we are witnessing stone giants reenacting the Beastie Boys' "Intergalactic" video, the rest of the audience will have a blast.

This is by no means a flawless film, what with a couple of continuity and even editing errors, but you can tell how much love went into it and the result is just massive fun. The final scene can't make you more eager for next Christmas to come.

9 out of 10 stone giant headbutts.
*MySmiley*

You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.
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The Hobbit - Discussion thread and first thoughts - 13/12/2012 12:21:52 AM 2344 Views
As for the 3D... - 13/12/2012 04:18:43 PM 1147 Views
Please get everyone to stop watching movies in 3D in Europe. - 15/12/2012 02:02:40 AM 1020 Views
You overestimate my influence on the people of Europe - 17/12/2012 11:08:06 AM 1038 Views
Re: As for the 3D... - 08/01/2013 09:25:43 PM 1114 Views
Re: As for the 3D... - 09/01/2013 09:13:27 AM 1051 Views
I wouldn't call it a rash - more like chafing. - 14/12/2012 04:36:42 PM 1033 Views
Ouch - comparing it to Crystal Skull? *NM* - 15/12/2012 02:02:00 AM 475 Views
Well, the trolls were Moe, Larry and Curly, so... *NM* - 15/12/2012 02:15:19 AM 477 Views
I liked it. There are some nitpicks, but overall it is enjoyable - 14/12/2012 04:50:28 PM 945 Views
A bit too silly and special effects driven. - 14/12/2012 11:10:48 PM 1019 Views
Agreed. - 23/12/2012 12:32:23 AM 1015 Views
I think two words have killed this movie for me: "orc nemesis" - 15/12/2012 02:00:33 AM 1016 Views
To be fair, it's an orc nemesis from the books. - 15/12/2012 07:23:16 PM 1031 Views
Wait are we talking about Azog here? - 16/12/2012 01:08:11 AM 982 Views
Looks like it. - 16/12/2012 12:19:19 PM 900 Views
There was not an orc nemesis in the books - 16/12/2012 01:55:59 PM 872 Views
Actually, they might have already screwed up the Thrain thing. - 19/12/2012 01:47:38 AM 1060 Views
I feel robed from my dreams. - 21/12/2012 07:57:30 PM 883 Views
If you haven't seen it, you really can't judge. It's not a big deal - 09/01/2013 04:13:48 AM 889 Views
Or it would if he weren't a useless whining moron, anyway. - 09/01/2013 05:33:16 PM 908 Views
Should have been edited down to 2 hours - 15/12/2012 11:05:29 AM 947 Views
Commercial, forgettable but enjoyable - 15/12/2012 11:42:53 AM 910 Views
It was fun, but it was also weird. - 16/12/2012 08:50:54 AM 895 Views
Better Nate than lever *NM* *NM* - 23/12/2012 11:23:40 PM 422 Views
+1 - Saw it on opening night and loved it! - 19/12/2012 01:22:33 AM 884 Views
I hated it, but I know I will be in the minority. - 28/12/2012 02:45:26 PM 949 Views
i mostly agree with you - 08/01/2013 09:34:04 PM 1051 Views
I was dissapointed. - 29/12/2012 01:59:29 PM 1001 Views
I liked it. - 30/12/2012 03:56:15 AM 1042 Views
In a word...meh. - 03/01/2013 09:13:33 PM 842 Views
Came across an excellent review with some interesting analysis - 27/01/2013 10:17:06 PM 1006 Views
It was pretty good. - 11/02/2013 06:57:52 AM 958 Views

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