The Hobbit: An Unexpected JourneyMovie Reviews

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Written January 11, 2013
And We're Walking...

by

Yes, there is a lot of walking in this just like in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. The journey is just begining as this is the first movie. I liked the movie over all. There are a few more tangents of explanation than I expected, but it is the first movie so there's going to be exposition.
This movie seems good for any age, although some scenes might make little ones a bit nervous.
The acting was well done. I especially like how Bilbo is portrayed; it seems very close to the character in the book. I also like the continuity with LOTR that is created by the sets, using the same actors, and a scene or two. I wasn't sure about the singing at first(although it is in the book) but it grew on me.
Watching this made me want to read the book again, and I'm excited to see the next movie.
- 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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Written December 19, 2012
I enjoyed the movie

by capt_ken

What else is there to say?

I am not going to compare it to the books or anything, but rather just look at it as it is, a prelude of sorts to the LOTR and how the ring was found.

I can say that I enjoyed it. The visuals are great. The CGI is great. I will note that I did not watch it in 3D and generally do not watch anything in 3D. I do not see where it adds anything to the movie.

My only complaint is I wish all three parts came out at the same time....
- 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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Written December 19, 2012
Great movie, but was expecting a little more.

by broadwaybud87

The cinematography was gorgeous. The special effects were superb. The music was enchanting. The acting was great. It was refreshing to see familiar characters from LotR especially Elrond and Galadriel.
I would have to say that Gollum was the best part of the movie. Out of all the characters in this movie, he had the most depth. I truly sympathized with Gollum. I cannot say the same for any of the other characters. On a whole this movie was very weak with character development. I don't really feel like I got to know the characters like I did in Lord of the Rings. I think this was not the mistake of the actors, but rather the screenwriters and director. Hopefully, this won't be a weakness in the next two movies.
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Written December 16, 2012
Does not need to be a trilogy!

by anbarber7

Of course the quality of this film is impeccable, as we would all expect from Peter Jackson. However I felt the story is too drawn out. The Hobbit is a simple, straightforward book, and this movie seems to relish every detail, every story, and bring in history from other sources. I found the movie darker than expected, honestly a little boring at times, but still an amazingly-well told story and worth seeing, just a little disappointing. The Hobbit is not the epic that Lord of the RIngs is, but it sure seems like they're trying to make it as grand with this movie.
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Written December 14, 2012
Good movie....not great.

by Boogeyman_kid

I liked the movie. It was entertaining for the duration. However, if I was not a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I don't know that I wouldn't have liked it less. Special affects were outstanding! Acting was great! Script was very good! There were a couple of scenes in which the BS flag was a distraction though (wont go into what scenes so I dont ruin it for anyone else). I was also not a big fan of the end, but each movie of the trilogy left you wanting at the end as well. Good strategy to set up the next chapter.
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Written December 17, 2012
Better than Expected

by cina-ma

I was not especially interested in seeing this film. However, I was really pleasantly surprised. Yes, we whiz through dozens of exciting adventure, one after another; excellent graphics and creativity, but a tendency to get tedious after almost 3 hours.
What saves this movie, however, is that the story revolves around wonderful characters who are lovingly portrayed, and their growing connection to each other. And yes, the battles whiz by, you get the impression, but do not suffer through excessive graphic violence.
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 14, 2012
Most Amazing Ever!!

by lsemusic1

I was highly impressed with the film rendition of The Hobbit. It began a little slow and cheesy for me, but then immediately picked up and became amazing!! Loved Shmegal, even more than before. I have no qualms with recommending it to everyone as a must see. I plan and seeing it many more times and purchasing it asap!
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Written December 14, 2012
The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey

by

I grew up with the Rankin-Bass animated movies, and the Hobbit was a book I re-read a few times. So I am a bit biased. I'm not a hard-core fan the way some are, but the Hobbit at least was something I grew up with as a story that influenced me life. So Yes, I am partial.

That said, I was pleased by the cinematography. It was classic to the previous movies. Beautiful scenes, well angled shots, amazing blending of live action and 3d as well. The characters were given a life, and lived/breathed/were more then what I remember from the books (in a good way).

I liked how he used elements from the appendices to flesh out more of the movie in the way we have come to expect from movies. This wasn't just us following along with Bilbo. Nor did we see things strictly from Bilbo's perspective. Instead we get to see the action how it plays out, parallel to other events.

The lead up to the end scene had me on the edge of my seat as well. Over all, aside from a few nit picks, I love d it.
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Written December 17, 2012
Not Kidding: the BEST of the 4 movies so far

by

Ok, I'm a FAN and perhaps thats why I loved this movie. The part that all the "critics" hated, the first 30 minutes, was PERFECT. It was obviously made for FANS and THANK YOU PJ, you did it right. From the first "Good Day" scene to the talking Trolls, the parts that stayed true to the books were AMAZING. The parts PJ added or borrowed were pretty good to, bravo! People who hate the first part of the movie dont get the book. The book has a quirky english humor to it that is very charming, and the movie pulled that off brilliantly. I died laughing that Ian Mckellan actually pulled off the GOLF joke. Its a pretty long winded JOKE, and he did it perfectly! The only sad part is how the critics are SO PREDICTABLE its sickening. They are bending over backwards to critisize this piece of work, dispite it being a far braver an adaptation then the LOTR. Come on, a scene with singing Goblins that actually works isn't creative, unique enough for you? Grow some courage!
- 11 out of 17 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 20, 2012
Great movie. Beautiful scenery

by _action_movie_buff

Be prepared for a long film. With previews it was three hours. This was an excellent film. There were a few slow moments and some that parts of the film that could have been shorter but the scenery and the characters made up for these areas. The cinematography was amazing and makes you realize how beautiful New Zealand is. If you are a fan of the books then this is a must see as it follows the book very closely.
- 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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Written December 15, 2012
Been There and Gone Back Again

by mattsenn

The style and aesthetic are very familiar to Jackson's first trilogy, which resonates like a worn pair of shoes: comfortable but not as exciting as when you first tried them on. With a run-time approximating that of any one of the extended cut DVD releases, I have to admit I wanted the film to wrap up halfway through the third act. Jackson might consider releasing a special "abbreviated cut" on DVD, next year. The decision to pad the films into a trilogy five months prior to release are obvious, with even more dry exposition. If I could change any single thing about the film, it would be the action scenes. The digital effects in the first film were appropriately subtle, but in The Hobbit action scenes are overlong and flamboyant, more worthy of Gore Verbinski than Peter Jackson. However, the performances and characterization are top notch. The costumes and scenery are nothing short of what we expect from these films. Compared to any other film than Fellowship, it was outstanding!
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Written January 13, 2013
An Unexpected Ending?

by galabadas

I had not read anything about the movie prior to seeing it, with the exception of IMDB ratings. I had expected Peter Jackson to go with the formula of one movie per book (The Hobbit, Fellowship, Two Towers and finally ROTK), so I was shocked when the movie ended prior to the storming of the castle and slaying of Smaug. I was a bit dumbfounded and disappointed until I whipped out my phone and learned of a second part.

Up until the end, the movie was everything I had come to expect from another entry into Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkien's epic fantasy. Much of the story was spot on with the book and there was lots of the action and comedy that made the previous films so great. It was great to revisit all of the familiar creatures and places after nearly 9 years since the release of ROTK. I anxiously await part two, and the completion of the best set of fantasy films of our time.

I recommend this film to any fan of the books or the movies, you will not be disappointed
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 17, 2012
pleasantlypleased

by overhome1

This movie was so much better than the critics opinions. The first hour of back story is a must for anyone who hasn't read the book or watched LOTR trilogy. Excellent movie!!! Would watch it again. Can't wait for the next one.
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Written December 14, 2012
Good, but Different

by jedigator

I personally really liked The Hobbit. It was exciting and there were so many little things that I picked up on that were references or even direct parallels to points in the LoTR trilogy. Technically, it was very tight and very clean. I thought that Peter Jackson's decision to use 24 frames per second payed off. It was funny when it needed to be and it was intense and emotional at the same time. While there were some minor things that could have been done slightly differently, I was still very very pleased. I plan to see it again.
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 17, 2012
The Hobbit

by thedance63

Excellent. I did find it a little slow at the beginning but I guess was expecting it to be like the other Rings movies. Could not belive it ended so soon. Plan on going back to see it again in 3D. Can't wait for the next one.
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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