Movie review - The Hobbit

Here it is, finally! I went to a movie screening of The Hobbit on Monday with a friend and I have been dying to talk about this movie. But the invitation asked viewers not to talk about the movie (on Facebook, blogs, etc.) until the release date of the movie... so fine. Blah. I'll play by the rules. I do want to still get invited to screenings and not get banned!

So here it is, 12:01 AM on 12/14/2012... at least according to East Coast time zones. The movie is starting in theaters, I can finally say my thoughts!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

 I'll focus on this in two parts -- the movie itself and the 3D aspect I saw it in, the new HFR 3D.

The movie is very good! A little long... 2 hours, 49 minutes... but it's Tolkien and Peter Jackson, what do you expect? I knew beforehand so I was able to plan accordingly. Go to the restroom before the movie and NO DRINKS in the movie! Yea that soda is delicious but having to leave midway through cos you gots ta pee? Not fun. It starts a little slow, the whole set up of the characters kind of being introduced, but then it moves along pretty well. It's pretty easy to tell when you're getting to the end of the movie.

Now... let's talk about the latest and greatest technology in 3D movies. The High Frame Rate format. For those not fully aware, High Frame Rate 3D (HFR 3D) is the "latest and greatest" technology for 3D movies. The usual frame rate I believe is 24 fps, this is 48 fps. It was designed I believe to improve 3D quality and reduce blurring, etc.

Whatever.

I. Hated. It. 

Maybe you do need to first keep in mind, I'm not a sucker for 3D movies. If a movie comes out in 3D, typically I'll just go for the 2D. I don't see that it really adds much. I know the rocks or birds or whatever are not really flying at my head, I don't need to think they are. I don't need to feeeel like I'm in the movie. I'm not. Sorry, my suspension of disbelief is cynical sometimes. I also don't like paying the extra money. I also think the 3D glasses fit weird. Also a lot of times there are the obligatory 3D scenes... you know the ones I mean. The camera's panning around, you're zooming through things, things are flying at you. Lame. So, I think you get my point. 3D doesn't add anything for me, and in this case, I felt it actually took away from the movie. At first I didn't notice it... then in the first action scene came up and everything seemed really jerky and sped up. You know how most DVD/Bluray players have multiple speeds for fast forward? I know the PS3 has what I"m talking about. Think of the first one, where you can still still the scenes and hear the dialogue, it's just all sped up. I thought something was wrong with the film... Once I noticed it, it's all I could see in every scene.

I've read some stuff about it online and critics say it just takes awhile to get used to... Lies!! The movie was nearly 3 hours long, I had plenty of time to "get used to it", I didn't. I at least didn't get sick from it... As I was leaving, I heard that some people in another theater did get motion sickness from it. I'm not sure how but I believe it.

Phew, that's enough ranting about the new stupid 3D technology.

So overall, I recommend the movie. It is very good, an interesting start to a new trilogy (next movies are in December 2013 and December 2014). I really should go read the book now. (Haha, maybe I will next year, it can count towards my 2013 reading challenge since it's on the BBC The Big Read list!) Clearly I can't say how true to the book the movie is... not yet! Maybe the next two I can? I just do not recommend the movie in 3D or at least the HFR 3D. I think it's also being presented in the Real 3D, which is pretty good, and IMAX 3D. And just plain ol' 2D! I like plain ol' 2D.