Comments on: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

By: Dazzaman

Dazzaman — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 22:39:14 +0000

@seanmaitland….you’ll never make the AB’s by just running fast. Finesse & skill boy, finesse & skill…

By: kiwi in america

kiwi in america — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 07:30:19 +0000

Saw it tonight – was fantastic and made my Kiwi heart swell with pride – what a stunning showcase of Godzone!

By: seanmaitland

seanmaitland — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 05:36:31 +0000

@Dazzaman – re fusion-nz website – 1995 called, and they want their look and feel back.

By: chiz

chiz — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 03:03:09 +0000

Tom B:I really like the HFR too and I can’t fathom how some people seem to hate it so much – it’s as if they are seeing a different movie entirely.

Its possible that they don’t see things – literally – as you do. The human visual system is complex. Besides major differences like colour-blindness there is a lot of more subtle variation too.

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 01:41:26 +0000

Saw it today, not in 3d or 48fps, so just the actual movie to go on. It was ok. I though Jackson was making a movies of the book called the Hobbit but it turns out it is an adaptation of some parts of several books with some of the characters from each. A competent film but nothing great.

By: ben

ben — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 01:33:38 +0000

Just saw it this morning. Loved it. Beautifully crafted, links back to LOTR were fun and fit well, possibly dragged a bit at times, but only a bit. Eye candy everywhere. A great experience. Martin Freeman is brilliant.

By: Mike Wilkinson

Mike Wilkinson — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 22:58:53 +0000

Tom B. and RF, I agree that it’s surprising reviewers are generally negative about the show. Even the venerable Economist magazine gave it a review that was not at all favourable, calling the film an Unexpected Disappointment: http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2012/12/new-film-hobbit

I don’t recall reviews of the three Lord of the Rings films being reviewed so. But does any one have a better memory about them?

Cheers,
Mike

By: RF

RF — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 21:45:16 +0000

Tom B. 10.08am

In answer to your question how some people seem to hate it so much. easy.. They would be Hobbit Haters !!!

Looking forward to seeing it.

By: justinian

justinian — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:13:25 +0000

The back stories were well portrayed – the Kingdom of Eerebor was one, and the reference to Smaug as the greatest of catastrophes is a perfect description and Tolkien cannot be excelled in such a description. The Battle of Azanulbizar (LOTR Appendix A Part III) is brilliant although Azog ended up after that with his head on a spike – rather than limping off with one arm. But hey, we need a really serious villain, so why not.
For me the arrival at Rivendell was a lump in the throat moment – the mixture of sound and vision is perfect. And Galadriel is clearly a High Elf, dwelling between the physical and spiritual realms – wonderfully realised by Cate Blanchett and Peter Jackson. Liv Tyler was good as Arwen, but Blanchett is truly majestic.
Roll on the next one.

By: Dazzaman

Dazzaman — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:12:26 +0000

Childs movie I suspect, like the LOTR’s….Jackson’s overrated.

Till he makes something truly epic like Zulu, you know it had real awesome battle scenes, then he might be worth the hype.

By: RRM

RRM — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:01:37 +0000

So looking forward to this.

I have no objection whatsoever to movies on a massive canvas that go for 3 + hours. The whole reason I go see one is escapism!

By: Tom B

Tom B — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 09:08:10 +0000

I really like the HFR too and I can’t fathom how some people seem to hate it so much – it’s as if they are seeing a different movie entirely. The only parts which looked a bit fake to me were when the camera would pan around with the near ground scenery pulled out in 3d – the backdrops often looked really flat and artificial. But I’m not sure if that’s 3d of HFR.

Not up there with any of the three LOTR movies but a great time nonetheless.

By: Warren Murray

Warren Murray — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 09:06:41 +0000

Loved it. Screen play well written in fleshing out the story in the book, expanding on the role of Radagast, how Thorin got the Oakenshield tag. Quite liked how the Company were captured by the goblins.

Loved it, didn’t find it overlong at all.