The Hobbit: An Unexpected JourneyMovie Reviews

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Must Go!
Written December 23, 2012
The Hobbit

by edtdps

It was an influential read for me 40 years ago, igniting my imagination for a lifetime.

The Hobbit came closer then any movie I have ever seen to what my young imagination conjured up so long ago.

Thank you for such a fine effort and magnificently entertaining movie

Dan
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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So-so
Written January 26, 2013
Sorry but didn't love it.

by MDub723

Really expected a little more. The beginning was slow to the point that I almost fell asleep. The middle was okay, but it didn't seem to flow very smoothly. If I had it on DVR, I would have rewound it several times during the movie to figure out what really happened. Couldn't link the story very well with the Lord of the Rings series, except how he found the ring. And the ending was sorta lame. Didn't leave me in suspense, as to what will happen next. And it was WAAAAYYYY too long. Sorry but it doesn't make me want to watch the next one or two. My only favorite part was when the eagles swarmed in for the rescue. I thought that was done well.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 7, 2013
Long but good!

by michelle7794

If you're a fan of the Lord of the Ring trilogy then you'll love this first movie in the The Hobbit trilogy as well. It was slow getting started but they had to introduce you to the characters and give you a bit of history. It was really really good!!! I can't wait until next December for the next movie to come out.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Go
Written January 1, 2013
Here we go again-Hobbit Review

by lindyrussell

I didn't think I could take a return trip to Middle Earth, but I enjoyed The Hobbit, just wish it wasn't so long and since I read the book, three movies is extreme. With trilogies, the first movie is what I call the 'set up'. They need to introduce us to the new characters and the basic storyline. I really enjoyed the second half of the movie once we got through all of the introductions.

Once again Peter Jackson, and his creative team, have created a whole new world complete with fantastic characters, scenic beautify and wonderful storytelling. If you like the Lord of the Rings books/movies you will truly enjoy this too.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 7, 2013
JRR Tolkein fans...

by

This movie was AWESOME! I haven't actually read the books but just thinking about it as a movie. It was really good. My husband, who has read the books, thought it was really well done. The Dwarf halls were magnificent, and I don't know what it was, but Thorin is one sexy Dwarf! :)
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 25, 2012
Purists May Cry, but it's a great experience

by

I came to this film with a lifelong love for Tolkein's written majesty. I first read The Hobbit in 5th grade and I've returned to it more times than most any book. Thus, I immediately spotted where Jackson had gone astray from the text. The interesting thing is, I wouldn't really prefer it otherwise.

There is a magic in creating films. No matter what is written on the page, the job of a director is to make it come to life. And that is what Jackson has done. He did not remain wholly faithful to the text of The Hobbit alone, but he remained faithful to the text of Tolkein. The Hobbit includes information that does not appear in The Hobbit, but which does appear in other Tolkein writings. Jackson has looked at the bigger picture of what's going on in Middle Earth at that time and shown it to us. While it's true that Radagast never appeared in The Hobbit exactly, other texts tell us that he was there and so in film, we get to meet him. I applaud Jackson's vision. He's made a good film.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 15, 2012
Fellow Hobbits

by claude9229

Excellent movie for teens and big kids who have read and re read the book many times - it follows Bilbo's account from Shire through Misty Mountain [where the ring is found]. However do not need to read the book to enjoy the movie.

Not a good movie for younger age people because of the graphic violence

Does it follow the book - if it didn't I could not tell

there is a part of the movie where Bilbo tells Gandalf that he has never killed anyone, and Gandalf replies he hopes he never will... if only people in the world would practice that advice - killing produces more killing until there are none left - as the poet said, "The world will not end in a bag but a whimper."

Acting was true to the characters in the book book

Cinematography: breathe taking views and CGIs were as detailed and wonderful even in the org's lair

Claude of Denison
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 19, 2012
You've done it again Jackson.

by

Everything was good about this movie and I love what Peter Jackson is doing with 'The Hobbit'. I hope to see more practical effects vs cgi in the next 2 parts, but it worked out very well despite the high level of cgi employed. It was James Cameron level cg for sure. Goood stuff.
I want to see it again in 3D to be honest. lol.
Great film, love it, love it, love it. Peter Jackson is the man!
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 23, 2013
Amazing

by teddybklyn

Amazing movie, amazing experience. EVERYONE should see this movie. Some say it was too long. It was a little slow in the beginning, but after that it moves quickly with tons of action. A lot of people say: "Why make three movies from such a slim book? Probably for money" That would be the ABSOLUTE WRONG thing to say. In the book of The Hobbit. Gandalf just leaves at one point. Later, in the appendixes of the Lord of the Rings, Tolkien (The author) puts in what Gandalf did, and more. He tried to rewrite The Hobbit that way, but he never had the time to complete it. There are literally 100 pages of notes on additional stuff. So they can turn those notes into more script, but there is so much in the appendixes, that if the had done two movies (let alone one), they would not be able to show everything. That is why there are three movies. It's the first time in Hollywood that they made three movies for the fans, and not for money. But critics just don't understand that. See it!
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 20, 2012
AWESOME!

by bluedev14

The Hobbit is a must see in theaters for a LOTR fan. It is full of action and cool flashbacks. Personally, I found the background on the dwarves pretty exciting/cool. I'm not sure how they can make it a trilogy but I still think the others willl be just as good. This was completely different from the previous LOTR movies which give it a fresher feel while still giving off that classic LOTR vibe. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone, even if you aren't a traditional LOTR fan. This movie was also more comical than the traditional LOTR movies which gave it a fresher feel. GO SEE IT!
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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So-so
Written December 14, 2012
The Hobbit: The Unexpected Comedy

by Mkuppler5

First off, I want it known that I am a big fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and the books that he has written. I also think that Peter Jackson did a great job with the LOTR trilogy. It was because of these reasons that i was a little disappointed with The Hobbit. I understand what Jackson was trying to do with this movie, but i feel that he overshot the mark. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy aren't a lighthearted tale, there is a lot of heavy stuff in both stories. Jackson went too overboard trying to lessen the dark side of this film, and made it too much of a lighthearted comedy. While i do appreciate the occasional funny moment in a movie to lessen the dark side of it, there was simply too much comedic relief. With such an emphasis on the funny side of the story and characters it removed for the deep and inspirational stuff that the characters said and did because it was harder to take them seriously. While I did not like this movie, i still think it is a must see for Tolkien fans.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 26, 2013
Amazing!

by piccolopeg40

I really wish more had been said to explain that this isn't just The Hobbit, but includes a lot of Middle Earlh folklore from other books. The parts of the movie that are not in The Hobbit do come from Tolkien's wirtings so it was not just made up to make the movie longer or turn one book into 3 movies. It will fill in the blanks between The Hobbit and LOTR that will make you say, "Oh, I get it now!" Knowing that, watch it again and see how amazed you will be. Well done.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 15, 2012
Will definitely be seeing this one again!

by bookwrm89

Fantastic movie! I wasn't sure about splitting the story into three movies but it allowed Jackson to focus on following the book closer than he was able to in the LOTR movies.
Tolkein fans will still notice differences but they don't detract from the story. Bringing in characters from the LOTR movies that weren't in the Hobbit was done very well and ties the movies together without changing the basic story.
Martin Freeman is the perfect choice to play Bilbo Baggins. Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield brings a brooding intensity to the character that is wonderful to watch.
This movie was worth every penny of the admission price and I'll be paying to see it in the theatre again!!
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 15, 2012
Accelerates slowly all the way to frantic

by Chick Flicksterix

The end leaves you wanting more.

Go see this one in the theaters - it is definitely a big screen film. There are some things added.. all of them are good.

Some of the action scenes are truly amazing - swinging all over heck and back.

One criticism though: The scenes with Lothlorien were overwrought I think. Just a little too much wispy,ephemeral awesomeness. And I hate to criticize Kate Blanchet, because she is categorically awesome. But in this instance either the acting or directing... something is overdone and the Elf Queen comes off as a hard-to-believe and rather unlikable caricature. In LOTR she is wry and smirking,she never laughs, but you know she traffics in mischief and laughter. Not so here, that aspect is lost and the character suffers a lot and the film suffers a little for it.

Overwrought. But that's the only real flaw and it's pretty minor all things considered.

Do go see it. Well, well worth the price of admission
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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I'm In
Written January 1, 2013
Great story and music

by dashcase

We enjoyed all of it. The opening of explaining how everything was established in the beginning. We enjoyed the music. I think it is too much for little ones.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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