The Movie: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Martin Freeman as Bilbo, Richard Armitage as Thorin, Ken Stott as Balin, Graham McTavish as Dwalin, William Kircher as Bifur, James Nesbitt as Bofur, Stephen Hunter as Bombur, Dean O’Gorman as Fili, Aidan Turner as Kili, John Callen as Oin, Peter Hambleton as Gloin, Jed Brophy as Nori, Mark Hadlow as Dori, Adam Brown as Ori, Ian Holm as Old Bilbo, Elijah Wood as Frodo, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Christopher Lee as Saruman and Andy Serkis as Gollum
Screenwriters: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien
RottenTomatoes: 65% MetaCritic: 58/100
Snippet from My Review: (read my full review here)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first installment in a trilogy that is already overstuffed. This doesn’t make it a bad movie per se, but with the excess of scenes in a story that doesn’t call for “more”, by the time the third film ends it will be a matter of “finally” rather than breathless satisfaction and a desire to watch it all over again.
I’m sure a good film can be found in what will likely be close to nine hours of on screen material once all three films are finally finished. But by the time you get done with Part One you’d be right to be frustrated at the knowledge you have to wait another year for Part Two only to realize you’ll have to wait another seven months after that for it to finally come to an end. It may make the studio money, but it’s a terrible way to go about doing it. Not to mention, it damages a good story.
Starter Questions
Here are a few questions I’m interested in outside of just your general opinion of the film and what you thought of it that may help conversation.
1.) Are you a devoted fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and if so what was your anticipation level for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and did it live up to expectations? Why or why not?
2.) Did you find the movie to be too long and drawn out or could you spend time in Middle Earth for several more hours before even considering it too long?
3.) What are your expectations for the next two films — The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (12/13/13) and The Hobbit: There and Back Again (7/14/14)?
EXTRA: Did you see it in High Frame Rate (HFR) 3D and if so, what did you think?
Now share your thoughts on the film in the comments below.
