The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Film Review)

Dec 22, 2012
I've been waiting for this film for years, and finally it's here.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is currently on its second week and the first part of a prequel to the coveted 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. It is once again directed by Peter Jackson and tells the story 60 years before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring, and shows young Bilbo Baggins (Played by Martin Freeman), a free-spirited, curious hobbit who once invited by Gandalf the Grey to join him on a journey to go with the 13 Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, and reclaim the homeland they once lost by the fire-breathed dragon known as Smaug.

I'm a big fan of the 'LOTR' trilogy, I once grew up with those movies and when I heard that Peter Jackson is adapting the book by J.R.R. Tolkien and supposedly made into 2 movies, I never been this excited. But months ago when the announcement for the Hobbit being a trilogy came, I felt curious about it. And that's one of my problem with the movie.

The movie felt very long due to the fact that most of the scenes in the movie doesn't make any sense. I'll agree if some of the 'needed-to-be' longer scenes should be included in the extended editions for all three movies. One of those scenes is the battle between these two stone giants throwing rocks at each other. I thought it again it wasn't that necessary and just adds nothing but to give thrills to the audiences. And same as to the character of Radagast the Brown. I have no other words about his character but to describe him as 'the Jar-Jar Binks of Middle-earth'. He's very annoying.

But that doesn't mean that I hate the movie, I love 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' in a lot of ways. First is the visuals, the visuals of the movie is enthralling. It gets you right at the mood of going again at Middle-earth. The first half of the movie, though a lot hated, is one of my favorite parts of the movie. The shire part gives that meditative and friendly feel to it.

For those who didn't see the film, there were somewhat a few cameos in this film. Including Sarumon, Galadriel, Elrond, Frodo and Gollum. Yes Gollum, that dangerous little bastard. The scene where Gollum and Bilbo playing riddles in the Troll's cave was so far my favorite part of the movie. It brings a lot of humor and Andy Serkis once again brings smile in my face.

The final act of the film was pretty epic. It was action-packed and it's what i'm expecting to the movie. The actors who played dwarves not to mention did a great job portraying they're corresponding characters. Thorin Oakenshield, also, brings badassness to the ending of the movie. In a short phrase, all characters and the actors who played them brings equally good performances in the movie.

So, what made me took so long to review this movie is that I want to compare this film in both 24 fps and 48fps format. Jackson shot this movie in HFR 3D, which is 48 frames-per-second. So not only the quality of the picture is very crisp, the frame rate is twice as fast compared to the normal 24 frames. And the so-called immersive experience with the format failed to do so. Instead, it doesn't put you right in the movie. It is also strange and distracting. It made the movie looked like a made-for-TV movie. It's disappointing. The 3D anyways looks great and gives so much depth in the movie.

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' is a great introduction for a potentially good trilogy. Some scenes might not be even unnecessary, but it's a goddamn enjoyable movie for all ages.

The geek rates it 8.2/10. I'll be back for my review of the 9-minute prologue of  'Star Trek Into Darkness' this weekend.

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' is rated G and is now on its second week.

Big thanks goes out to the guys of  Warner Bros. for inviting me to the press screening.

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