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

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Must Go! Based on 10,578 reviews
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Written December 17, 2012
Return to Middle Earth

by mjbare

I know some people are compairing this movie with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy but that's the worst thing anyone can do. Each story should be taken and judged on its own merrit. You'll love this movie and the way Peter Jackson tied everything to the Fellowship of the Rings with the begging of this film. Rich scenes as well as sets. It'll take a little bit to get used to Bilbo but it was the same way with Frodo too. Of course, it was only just and right to see Ian McKellan back as Gandalf!
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 16, 2013
The Hobbit

by DeeEslick

The Hobbit was much more playful than the Lord of the Rings movies. I loved the way the previous movies were shot that gave them that mystical quality, however the less serious nature of this movie lent itself to the more clear 3D cameras that were used.

Still and epic tale. You must go. Don't miss it.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 15, 2012
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - An IMAX 3D Experience

by

Great movie, better for the kids than the Lord of the Rings Cycle.

Movie was great, but I wasn't into the IMAX 3D. The IMAX 3D was good, but not worth the extra money. The screen at the Lloyd Cinemas was average size, so there was not a wow factor and the clarity didn't seem better than normal and the 3D didn't pop.

Would have rather gone to the Cinetopia GXL or GXL 3D showing with the 80 foot screen.

Didn't like standing outside for 1/2 hour in the cold waiting to get in.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 26, 2012
J. R. R. Tolkien Fans will love this

by JesseBee

If you saw the trilogy, The Lord of the Rings or are a J. R. R. Tolkien fan, having read his books, you'll love this movie. I haven't read J. R. R. Tolkien's book "The Hobbit" so I can't speak to any relationship that may or may not exist between the book "The Hobbit" and this movie. In general the book is always better and movies can't offer as much detail as the book and some times take liberty with the book version. Having put that caveat aside the 3D version in an IMAX theater that I saw was spectacular.

The visuals were beautiful and contrary to some 3D movies I've seen they didn't include a bunch of gratuitous 3D effects in an attempt to "wow" the viewer. The 3D effects added depth to the film and only had things being flung at your head in appropriate scenes.

To sum it up, it was money well spent to see this movie and I think that anyone that is into J. R. R. Tolkien stories will appreciate this latest release of the J. R. R. Tolkien franchise.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 14, 2012
Sorry for Doubting

by PostPWNED

I was cautiosly optimistic for months. My concerns included stretching one book and appendices into three films, trailers with footage that I knew would not be in the first film, and the fact that the film was not rated until recently, among many others. However, 'An Unexpected Journey' lives up to every high expectation set by the LotR trilogy and has raised the bar quite high for the next two films. I give this first instalment 4.5 out of 5 rabbit sled teams.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Written December 30, 2012
Kinda Long

by cjkrist

I'm not especially fond of the "to be continued" style of movie making. In my humble opinion each of the "sequence" movies should carry a story line of their own, not rely on a subsequent movie to complete the story.

With that said the special effects were phenomenal, the acting superb and the costuming out-of -this-world. We saw the IMAX 3D version which made the special effects even better.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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So-so
Written January 7, 2013
Don't Go If You Want A Movie With An Ending!

by Lcmazzit

So, maybe it was my fault that I did not know that this was Part 1 of a 3-part series but even so, I would have expected that after almost 3 hours of sitting in a movie that was pretty much capture, fight, escape, capture fight escape I was getting pretty bored by the last third of the movie. Then, when there was literally no conclusion, I was pretty well annoyed with the whole thing. 3D effects, cinematography and acting were all great but keep in mind that you pay $18.00 for each ticket with a $2.00 'Convenience Fee' when you buy from Fandango on the web and it all adds up to a pretty pricy date night. My husband did enjoy it so I would say use your judgement. If you like these types of movies, then give it a go, otherwise I would say skip it and wait for Netflix.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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So-so
Written December 16, 2012
Wait for the DVD

by Carl_01

This movie is way to long for what they give you on the screen. Will not see the next one when it comes out till it hits Red Box....
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 25, 2012
it's not LOTR

by justsillyme

because it's called the Hobbit! People have to understand that it's a different story line and a different time in Middle Earth - it's much more light. I think the acting is fantastic and of course Howard Shore has written another masterpiece. The movie does drag in some spots but it's how I felt the book was too in those spots so I didn't mind. I'm not a fan of the 3D though (the scenes where the camera was moving quickly made the 3D all blurry until the camera focused in on something). But I love the movie just as much as I loved the book (and they are different and the book fans are just going to have to accept that!)
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Written January 24, 2013
Hobbit

by greenakers

Enjoyed seeing the shire. It was what I had imagined from reading the book. Thought movie was beautifully done. Especially enjoyed the 3-D. I-Max Theater made you feel more into the movie.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Written December 18, 2012
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

by ghill12523

Loved the movie! Although at time a little drugout. Loved it in 3D. I have so say was upset by all the preveiws and commericals. We sat for 45 mins watching them before movie started. We went to the 2:50pm showing and The Hobbit didn't actually start until 3:15pm. I didn't pay $17.50 for tickets to watch that many previews and commericials.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 3, 2013
A Great Start to a New Trilogy

by nclsta01

It's so great to have Peter Jackson at the helm agian.Jackson and his team have done a fantastic job.In the begining,I felt that the aestheic was a bit different,particulary with the Darwfs.They almost reminded me of Klingons a bit.But once I saw the film and got back into the feel,and spirit of the piece,I started to accept some of the new look and feel.The story was there from the moment film begins.I read the book about 7 years ago,so my knowledge of the plot was there.But to finaly see the book in live action after 10 years of hiatus and countless leagal battles to have it fully realized was phenominal and brought a chill to my neck to know that the material is still in the right hands of the person who helped make this project possible.The best part is that we get to see more of it in the next two years to come and I will be there to enjoy the excitment with the world as together we experience the joy of going back to this beloved saga of JRR Tolkien of his tales of Middle Earth.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 25, 2013
A must see adventure into the Imagination

by myparker81

A must see. As a lover of the books it's great to see movies that bring the book to life and the imagination to reality. The 3D effects of the country side were breathtaking. You fall in Love with the characters all over again. Can't wait to see the next one.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 21, 2013
Critics are too picky

by jtwinsw

The Hobbit is not The Lord of the Rings. It is a smaller, quieter story, and the movie remembers this...to some extent. The story framework from the book is enhanced with material from The Silmarillion, which tells the backstories and side stories. Yes, there are no gory battles on the scale of Return of the King, but there are fights and hightened conflicts. The richness of the characters, fleshing out 13 dwarves who are difficult to distinguish in the book.

The one sequence that left me rolling my eyes, was the chase through the goblins halls under the Misty Mountains. i would have preferred something less grand and more believeable!

But in the end I left the theater yearning for the next two flims. Bravo Peter Jackson. Pooh, pooh critics.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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So-so
Written December 18, 2012
None of the book's charming storytelling-- manic & overly long

by

Where do I begin? I am so disappointed! Jackson did such a good job bringing Tolkien's LoTR Trilogy to life, I really thought this would be just as majestic. Sadly, this has not been the case. Jackson chose NOT to remain faithful to the book's original storyline & opted to "flesh it out" with bits from Tolkien's other writings- sounds good in theory, but a major Fail in actual practice. This movie has forgone all the charm of the book & turned into CGI blurred never-ending pan-shots, long chase scenes, & orc battles. Sounds much more interesting than it is; trust me, please.
IF you must go, skip the 3-D IMAX; in fact, skip any 3-D. The action is too manic & blurry for this to be cinematically enjoyable. I have not seen the High-speed Frame version, so I cannot give an opinion on that, but maybe it would help solve the blurriness.
Also be warned- this movie can give you severe motion sickness. I sat through Cloverfield & never had a problem; the Hobbit made me feel slightly ill.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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