The Hobbit

[HarpofLorien]

Dec 14, 2012 20:45:20 GMT -4 @kungfuwaynewho said:

God, it was perfect. I've seen it twice (midnight show last night, matinee today), and if I didn't have to work tomorrow I'd go see it again. I mean, I got teary-eyed at the Wingnut Films chyron, so maybe I'm not the most unbiased source, but it was everything I've been hoping for since they first announced the film however many (five?) years ago. And more.

I had zero problems with the pace; I actually felt it moved along at a better clip than FOTR. In that one, you are literally halfway through the movie before the fellowship is formed.

Galadriel is the most perfectly beautiful creature to ever exist. There were audible gasps in my theater when we first see her. But Cate isn't just gorgeous - the way she embodies Galadriel is just mesmerizing. She is so still. There's a long shot where Gandalf is speaking and she is in the background behind him, and Cate doesn't seem to move a single muscle, and there's something so unearthly and uncanny in that, the tension she adds to the frame simply by standing there...it's a remarkable piece of physical acting, very subtle, that I think is so easy to overlook when people think "acting = histrionics."

Speaking of acting, though. Andy Serkis. Dear God. He was simply brilliant. The Game of Riddles was so expertly done, on every single level, and then Serkis's performance just took it to a completely different plane. The way he can make Gollum this despicable creature and then a second later instill him with such a pathos that you want to weep, it's extraordinary. It kills me that he's never been really formally recognized for the work he has done in these films.

I could just keep going. Someone stop me. (The music! The introduction with the callbacks! The dwarves! That shot of Thranduil just going "nope" and peacing out!)

Glad to know I wasn't the only one who got teary-eyed at the Wingnut Films chyron. It was like coming home.

[kateln]

Dec 14, 2012 23:01:47 GMT -4 HarpofLorien said:

Dec 14, 2012 20:45:20 GMT -4 @kungfuwaynewho said:

God, it was perfect. I've seen it twice (midnight show last night, matinee today), and if I didn't have to work tomorrow I'd go see it again. I mean, I got teary-eyed at the Wingnut Films chyron, so maybe I'm not the most unbiased source, but it was everything I've been hoping for since they first announced the film however many (five?) years ago. And more.

I had zero problems with the pace; I actually felt it moved along at a better clip than FOTR. In that one, you are literally halfway through the movie before the fellowship is formed.

Galadriel is the most perfectly beautiful creature to ever exist. There were audible gasps in my theater when we first see her. But Cate isn't just gorgeous - the way she embodies Galadriel is just mesmerizing. She is so still. There's a long shot where Gandalf is speaking and she is in the background behind him, and Cate doesn't seem to move a single muscle, and there's something so unearthly and uncanny in that, the tension she adds to the frame simply by standing there...it's a remarkable piece of physical acting, very subtle, that I think is so easy to overlook when people think "acting = histrionics."

Speaking of acting, though. Andy Serkis. Dear God. He was simply brilliant. The Game of Riddles was so expertly done, on every single level, and then Serkis's performance just took it to a completely different plane. The way he can make Gollum this despicable creature and then a second later instill him with such a pathos that you want to weep, it's extraordinary. It kills me that he's never been really formally recognized for the work he has done in these films.

I could just keep going. Someone stop me. (The music! The introduction with the callbacks! The dwarves! That shot of Thranduil just going "nope" and peacing out!)

Glad to know I wasn't the only one who got teary-eyed at the Wingnut Films chyron. It was like coming home.

Me three. I just finished it, and while overly tired from a long night last night, I loved it. Visually beautiful, just stunning. I saw it in Real 3D. Want to go back when I'm not so exhausted and watch it all again.

[Atreides]

I saw it in IMAX 3D earlier today. I liked it a lot. It was fantastic and to return to Middle Earth again after all these years and seeing lots of familiar faces. That being said, I have a few criticisms:

- I got the impression that Peter Jackson was really padding things out. Random flashbacks from characters that could have been explained with a few lines of dialogue became full-on battle scenes with thousands of characters. The movie is almost three hours but could have easily have been two.

- There are too many deus ex machina resolutions. Everytime the main group is in peril, they always get rescued at the last minute by fill in the blank hero who arrives at the last minute. I counted at least 5 of these in the movie.

On a positive note, Richard Armitage (whom I've never seen in anything) absolutely nails the role of Thorin. Noble, proud, stubborn, and a born leader. And Kili was downright hot! He is going to be the Orlando Bloom of this trilogy. Humina humina!

[DaisyNukem]

I was definitely underwhelmed. I found none of the characters likable, which meant I didn't care if the dwarves ever got their kingdom back. And everything was so long...battle scenes went on forever. And the little band of 13 managed to defeat legions of goblins and countless wargs. I thought it could easily have been about an hour less.

[huntergrayson]

Saw it in Real-D 3D with the high frame rate and I hated it with every fiber of my being.

Someone needed to tell Peter Jackson 'no.' Because it was a fucking debacle.

I don't care if it is 'the wave of the future' or 'makes 3D smoother' or whatever techno-bullshit he wants to sell me - and no, I did NOT get used to it after 10 minutes, Mr. Jackson, thank you very much - I am not going to be able to 'undo' or unprogram how my brain and eyes have watched and accepted hundreds of movies over my 31 year lifetime in just three hours.

I would not be surprised if the studios scale back the HFR for the future films into even fewer theaters, based on the blowback he's getting. It was awful...just awful.

Hilariously, I think at least one critic from a NY awards group voted for it as 'best animated feature.'

Which...yeah.

[SluttyMary]

I loved it. I didn't feel like it was too long and I did get used to the 3D and noticed how much smoother it was in the high frame rate. I don't understand the criticism for that, the film was made for 3D. My eyes must take 3D well. I guess anything new will have people objecting. I didn't know what to expect, because the reviews have been mixed, but for me it was a great experience.

[Deleted]

I saw it in 3D HFR and I liked it just fine. I've never had a problem with 3D, and I did notice the difference with HFR but it didn't bother me (my eyes adjusted to it after a few minutes.) Some people I saw it with absolutely hated it in HFR and saw it in regular format, and they found that to be much better.

[MrsCatHead]

It felt like an expensive made-for-TV movie.

[Ninja Bunny]

I saw the 3D Imax and I loved it.

Some complaints though:

1) Views of Rivendell were obviously matte paintings and looked cheap
2) The opening scenes with the dwarves arriving at Bilbo's and Gollum and Bilbo quizzing each other went on too long.
3) Galadriel was weird. I thought she was shoehorned in unnecessarily and she came off stiff and strange.

On a positive note, Richard Armitage (whom I've never seen in anything) absolutely nails the role of Thorin.

I loved him. He did a great job and I found the dwarf king to be regal and bitter, which was understandable and made him a real character to me.

Martin Freeman was wonderful as Bilbo and Ian McKellen can do no wrong.

[Mugsy]

I saw it in plain old podunk theatre 2D and I loved it. I knew it was long, but it didn't feel long at all. I never checked my watch and I was surprised when it was over already. I haven't read the book, so I don't know what's original story and what's padding, and I don't care. It was entertaining and engrossing, and that's all I ask from my movies.