The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - An IMAX 3D ExperienceMovie Reviews

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Must Go! Based on 10,580 reviews
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Must Go!
Written December 18, 2012
Finally Here!

by ChemE75

I must for any Tolkien fan. Been a gazillion yrs since I read the book, but it follows very closely as I recall, as did the LOTR. Everyone plays their part perfectly and the dialog is easy to understand with subtitles when necessary. The 3D experience is well done - not overly in your face - more subtle while adding depth to the scenes. The riddle contest with Gollum was perfect. Only disappointment is having to wait for the next installment - the almost 3 hrs went by incredibly fast so I was a bit in shock at the end since it seemed to come way too fast.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Written December 15, 2012
Really sweet Film!! Really long.

by orbeavers14

I had no idea how long this film would be! They covered so much information in it, and i come to find out later that this is part 1 of 3!! But overall, a really sweet film. Guy movie :)

There are times though that Super Hi-Def is flawed, like when it easier to tell when someone is wearing makeup, or contacts (Gandulf) but they did this pretty neat :)
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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So-so
Written December 29, 2012
Ehhhh

by swaymbsc

This movie was ok. 3D IMAX makes everything better in my opinion, but honestly this movie wasn't that great. I really don't like movies where their is no chance of the good guys getting killed. I know this is a trilogy, but so far not so good. Yes the effects were great, but no this movie was not. The first Lord of the rings was better than this part 1 movie..
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 14, 2012
Thumbs Up

by

When trying to bring to life epic books onto the silverscreen there are always things that get lost in translation because when the books are read they mean so much to the reader and the way they perceive it. With that being said The Hobbit did an amazing job putting imagery to one of my favorite stories. If you love the book and you go into it with the mindest of not being a film critic, you will be more than satisfied just like this fan!!!!
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 2, 2013
Wonderful, Engaging Addition to the Series

by daduwa

I wasn't the least bit disappointed in this movie ... visually stunning and wholly engaging. The 3-D was MOSTLY wonderful (some minor issues that could have more to do with my poor vision than the film) and it's definitley worth the extra money to see it on an IMAX screen. I never cease to be amazed by Ian McKellan's ability to become the character he's portraying.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 22, 2012
Peter Jackson's Done it Again!

by

Phenomenal, it absolutely kept in the tradition of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Can't wait for the follow on movies and the whole thing to be released on video to add to our collection!
- 7 out of 10 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 23, 2012
Simply Amazing

by davidweis93

For what the movie is based around, a children's tale, it is a amazing movie with great special effects, characters, action and plot. If you are looking to see another Lord of the Rings, stop now, you won't find it. This movie is what Middle Earth was before Tolkien ever penned Lord of the Rings, and Jackson has created Tolkien's image perfectly. It is a simple adventure film, not one to save the world and smite ultimate evil, but an adventure film of finding the heart of oneself and through the thick and thin, finding where oneself belongs. You will laugh, you will cry, you will sit on the edge of your seat, if Lord of the Rings is a 10, this certainly gets a 9.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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So-so
Written December 17, 2012
Wait until it comes out

by baloodh2000

This was supposed to be a really great adventure. 3 hours later in an IMAX 3D experience is brutal. The fight scenes were really repetitive. Despite the ending I was left completely satisfied with the genre and characters. My wife kept saying, "I though they had to get the ring to the mountain...what are they doing?" You may enjoy it, but I will wait for the sequel to be released on for home theatre.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 28, 2012
bug

by bug10

Great movie loved it in IMAX 3D. Very awesome special effects .great story line:). Will go c it again. I have all dvds now i get to add this one great movie u must go. told others they r all going. loved it :)
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Written December 15, 2012
A Bit long with Extra Material from LOTR

by kenhoffman

A typical Peter Jackson Epic. Drawing heavily from the previous LOTR trilogy. The Hobbit is a short children's book, so creating a trilogy of films takes some doing. You'd think that there must be added material, and there is! The first hour seems l-o-n-g with added background regarding Hobbiton. The journey doesn't start until you are one hour into the movie. BUT most of the added length is drawn from JRR Tolkien himself through the extensive appendices and the SILMARILLION. Jackson weaves a story line that is chronological in the LOTR universe though not actually a part of the Hobbit text. We find out in the LOTR about several events that occurred during the time of THE HOBBIT and that extra material is being used to fill out the Hobbit story. So, strictly speaking much is being added to the story line, but it is consistent with the totality of the original written series.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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So-so
Written December 19, 2012
I prefer the Lord of the Rings Trilogy!

by Fisherlady72

This film seemed as though it was created for a much younger audience than I thought. The characters and plot were much more childish than I expected. Watching it in IMAX 3D did not make any improvement on the film to me. It actually compromised the quality of the camera views that panned across the scenery because it went by too quickly to be able to appreciate the views. It took the eyes too long to adjust to appreciate much of the cinematography. I'm a die-hard LotR fan and expected a much higher caliber film than this. I was disappointed in this adaptation of the hobbit and am not anxious for the sequels as I was with LotR. I believe I'll wait for the sequels to hit the dollar theater or DVD/Blue Ray before wasting my money on going to see them on their opening day.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 17, 2012
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

by lawrencerevans

I loved it! It was all I hoped for from Mr. Peter Jackson.

Having read the book "The Hobbit", as well as the entire "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, this first installment of the Hobbit series has fulfilled my ultimate expectations. Peter Jackson has once again pulled off a masterpiece. I was most impressed wiht the way he told the story that not only satisfied our eyes and ears, but was done in a very respectful manner in honor of Sir. J. R. R. Tolkien original writings, as this was his most favorite bookhe wrote. He would have been very proud.

Great job Mr. Peter Jackson and crew on bringing us back to Middle Earth once again while still providing the fresh ride this great tale deserves. Can't wait for the next movie and we will once again see it in Imax/3D - the only way to see it!
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Written December 17, 2012
good!

by sixtiviris

It's funny that a lot of people are saying that the hobbit " falls short to the lord of the rings" or " it's not as good", since, it is NOT the lord of the rings, it's a completely different book, and although it is true, that it is part of the same universe, and i part of the same story, the source material is different in many ways. The Hobbit was written as children's book, and it therefore, has a softer tone to it, it is meant to be scary for a 10 year old, not a story about the world being destroyed by an evil force that is almost indestructible. comparing movies to their predecessors and having high expectations is a big mistake. yes they should match in a lot of ways ( and in the ways that it counts it mostly delivers) but it is it's own thing, and it should exist as such.
There are complaints, however. ti don't remember an albino ork following the pack, it felt a little forced, and gollum should have looked like in the prologue of the fellowship not like the end of return.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 15, 2012
Peter Jackson & Company Hit Another Home Run

by peterruth

Martin Freeman totally nails it as Bilbo! The CG work is excellent, the cinematography is beautiful, and the story is well adapted and well told. Anyone who loves LOTR or loves epic stories should not be disappointed by this movie. It is the best film I have seen this year.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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No
Written January 25, 2013
Needs a different Titlenot "The Hobbit"

by bwags

No, this is not LOTRnor is it "The Hobbit"
Tolkien was a great writer. Why take a great story (yes, a lighter adventure tale then the epic LOTR) bog it down, change the essential details, add a lot of extraneous, unnecessary (repetitive, visually boring, unbelievable) details?

The only way to improve a great story, is to bring the story to life, help the mind's imagination relive the experience visuallyas in LOTR or Harry Potter movies. This movie might have been an OK experience under a different title, maybe.

When I go to see a movie made from a book I love and admire, I want to see that book! It doesn't have to be verbatim, I realize the medium requires some adaptation, but it should at least let you watch without constantly bringing up the comparison between the two in your mind. The constant mental comparison distracts from the movie.

Should have been the "lighter" adventure as written. Many young people won't read the book, know the great storythey've been duped!
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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