[Bubz]

Loved it, here's my review from the other thread. Figured I'd post it here too since this is the discussion thread for the actual film...

The Hobbit (2012)
Well, I loved it. Not getting the criticisms of it being overly long or dragging at all. To me there was very little down time. I enjoyed it immensely, although nowhere near the level of the LOTR trilogy (seriously, anyone who thought it was going to be as good as those wasn't thinking straight), it felt great to be back in that environment and to see characters you knew. I didn't see it in 48fps or 3D, so this is purely based on the film itself and NOT a take on those elements, which a ton of reviews seem to be focusing on, which really shouldn't be the main concern. The visuals were great, the CGI was stunning in places, especially on Gollum/Andy Serkis who provided the standout moments of the film with another amazing performance/visual effects job. Another criticism I'm not getting is the over-use of CGI, yeah, there was more than in the previous trilogy, but not so much more that it became offensive. There was a LOT in the other films anyway, and the main thing that was done here that wasn't in the others was the orks, everything else looked pretty much the same. The final scenes with Thorin and the 'Pale Orc' were pretty incredible. Freeman is so good in his role as Bilbo too I might add. There were a few things I really didn't like, such as the scenes with the 'Brown Wizard', they felt extremely unnecessary and out of a completely different film, something like Narnia. That was a scene where the overuse of CGI did bug me, but it was mostly because the entire scene didn't need to be in there. On the whole this was so much fun and so enjoyable. As a huge fan of the LOTR films, it felt great to be back in Middlearth, to hear that music, see the characters and to see the saga/story continue in prequel form. Peter Jackson's Phantom Menace this definitely is not. I was really concerned about this going in, but everything was put to rest once the 'over long, dragged out' first half turned out to be nothing of the sort for me. Loved it almost from start to finish. 8.5/10

[Borias]

Also, to me (maybe just me), but it felt like the shortest almost 3 hours I've ever spent in a theater. There wasn't a point where I went, "Oh God, is this close to done yet?"

[Vic Capri]

I'm just glad they got Riddles In The Dark right. It was my most anticipated scene!

- Vic

[MarkyMark88]

Great movie. My only (small) gripe is that it seemed a little Michael Bayish (for lack of a better tern) at times. Especially in the goblin cave gwen they were escaping. Lots of "craw" moments, as me and my friends like to call them.

I will say this though that this trilogy should not be compared to the LOTR films. Those were an epic where as this one is more of an episodic adventure. Even the book is basically done as one creature encounter after another. They are two completely different stories and styles.

[ratedR3:16]

did like it but was nothing special doesn't need to be though its just building up for the next two films, my only worry is that they have made 3 films for a smallish book so it might drag on in the next two films like it did at times in the first one, i would give the film a 7.5/10

[MarkyMark88]

I'm guessing they probably could have just kept it at two movies. But I guess we'll see where the next two movies go.

[TripleG]

I just re-watched the Rankin Bass animated film from the 70s. One of my favorite childhood classics.

Personally, I don't think this new string of movies will be terrible, but I just don't feel up to spending 10 more hours in middle earth. I got my fill and, I'm good, ha ha.

[AlexHumph]

Anybody else have the urge to Boo when Saruman came on screen?

[Samoon]

Didn't like the movie. Was expecting much more from it.

I give it a 5/10.

[TripleG]

Actually, I am thinking about it now. If the 2nd movie ends with Smaug, and the third movie ends with the Battle of Five Armies, how the hell are they going to pad out the third movie? I mean, literally almost nothing happens in between Smaug & the Battle. Are they just going to spend 2 hours talking about the battle?