Review:The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

IMDb

Title: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Director: Peter Jackson
Writer(s): Fran Walsh (screenplay), Philippa Boyens (screenplay), Peter Jackson (screenplay), and Guillermo del Toro (screenplay)
Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, and many others Dwarves
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images.
Running Time: 169 min
Synopsis: A younger and more reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out on a "unexpected journey" to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of Dwarves to reclaim a their stolen mountain home from a dragon named Smaug.

What Others Are Saying?

Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 65% (Fresh), Top Critics: 42% (Rotten), Audience: 81% (Like It)
Metacritic: Critics: 58 out of 100, Users: 8.5 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 64 out of 100

My Review

Source Material: Adapted from the book titled "The Hobbit" written by J. R. R. Tolkien

Entertaining Value:

• Action Elements: This film was jammed packed with action. Sadly the critic didn't like the added action sequence, the majority of them seem to agree it slowed the film down, unsaid of making it more exciting like action suppose to do. There was only one add scene that I questioned only because it remind me of Rockem Sockem Robots, but even then it was still a fun an entertaining moment in the film.

• Comedy Elements: This film is an adventure, and a fun one. In any fantasy story who doesn't love a fun bunch of Dwarves. Personally I think Dwarves are funny

• Dramatic Elements: This movie didn't hit a large array of emotions like The Lord of the Rings but it showcased a good amount of them, enough to make it feel little more than a fun adventure.

• Sci-Fi / Fantasy Elements: This film takes place in Middle-Earth, so not having fantasy elements in the film is like not having sugar in ice cream.

Cinematic Value:

• Acting and Dialogue: 8: The actor they got to play the younger Bilbo was great. He not only matches the nuances of Ian Holm but Bilbo as a character himself. I saw Bilbo not an actor punting up his best efforts to play Bilbo. I enjoyed the cameos from the old cast from Lord of the Rings. I like it when film series keep their worlds tight buy casting the same actors.
• Art Direction: 9: Peter Jackson and his team at WETA make some awesome stuff that is equally beautiful while at the same time believable. i understand a good part of this was due to the beautiful landscape of New Zealand

• Cinematography: 7: I personally can't wait to see this film again but this time in 48fps. I know a lot of people say it weakens the VFX and at times it detracting but the film was made that way so I attend to see it in that format. I will make a judgment call then, so for now I will say it looked good.

• Direction: 8: I think the movies actually flowed well. Yes it’s a long movie but it didn't really feel that long, maybe it’s because I was have a great time. Compared to Lord of the Rings this film is more uplifting and fun. I hate to say this but The Lord of the Rings can become a bit boring sometimes. What I'm trying to say is you would have more luck getting a child to watch the entire movie without getting bored than you would with The Lord of the Rings.

• Editing: 7: I don't think my eyes are as a tuned to editing as everything else or there wasn't anything god awful wrong with the editing.

• Screenplay: 9: From the amount of "The Hobbit" I have "read" [I listen to a good chunk on audio books] I was impress with how closely the film and book were related. Some parts of the movie were even verbatim. Let's just say those parts warmed my heart. I also like the add parts to connect the cannon that Peter Jackson created with The Lord of the Rings. This aspect even bleeds into the filmmaking itself, including the music and camera work. Now I know a lot of critics are putting out negative feedback saying things among the line, "This film is draw out and should have been one, 2-2½ film and not three." Personally I can't play the "what if" game, so I won't. This whole time I have been saying this film was very fun and entertaining; the story didn't detract from that.

• Sound and Music: 7: The score was awesome. It was nice hearing melodies from Lord of the Rings. It was another element that grounds this movie in Middle Earth Peter Jackson has made.

• VFX: 8: It worked; there wasn't a time in the film I said that's fake and bad VFX. I believe Peter Jackson has improved since Lord of the Rings.

Overall: 8: I personally enjoyed the film and I can honestly recommend it to pretty much anyone, even a family of five. I believe the money spent at a movie theater on this film is very well spent. I think the critics are out of touch with the audience on this one. It might not be a critically acclaimed film like Lord of the Rings but it was a good movie and I'm bold enough to say great.