The Hobbit

Olorin

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What was for me the most anticipated movie since the LOTR trilogy has last year shown to be a massive let down. I have since figured it out what bothered me so much: Peter Jackson filmed the LoTR movies as a huge Tolkien fan and with only that in mind, LoTR brought out the best of everyone working on it and nothing was good enough until it was perfect. Back then, PJ made a trilogy that would make professor Tolkien proud.

With the Hobbit PJ is still a fan of Tolkien but either he or the ones higher up are still bigger fans of money. Instead of amazing storytelling, epic scenes and battles, sensational acting and tear-jerking speeches the new PJ movies are deeply corrupted by todays movie formulas. With the first movie there were a few good things but it did't feel as an adventure it was just one "dangerous situation" after another and almost no story at all. The second movie was even worse, instead of what is supposed to be a story based adventure it became a clusterf??? of whirling and twisting battles that were supposed to "look good" (by todays hollywood standards) but just end up making only half a sense. Only a very small percentage of the movie is actually based on the books and the stories added from the appendices are spinned out of control. With the LOTR movies PJ stayed true to Tolkiens story but in the new Hobbit he butchered his work to implement the, today already, cliche aspects of hollywood movies, most notable of which is a romance story between an original character elf and a dwarf (those who know Tolkiens works know that that is enough to make the professor roll around in his grave). The amount of filler that contradicts Tolkien is, frankly, sad.

If you look the LOTR and Hobbit movies and compare them you can see how thw statement "just because you can use CG it does not mean you should use it" is true, Laketown looks completely fake and unrealistic as opposed to Edoras who was built and shot on location (and that was now a13 years ago). The orcs look like they were painted on paper and had oils spilled over them. Dol Guldur looks like it had been done by a child and, once again, Gandalf was made to look like a weakling he is not. The battles made no sense and were way to exaggerated and whirly, not to mention they took way too much of the time and ended up shoving out the story completely. I would list the comedy as a plus as it was actually funnier than most mainstream comedies at times (although that amounts to the abysmal quality of todays comedy standards rather than quality of the Hobbit) but it has no place in a movie based on a Tolkien work. Another positive could have been the brilliant acting of the cast but they simply have not enough screen time to shine, which is because of the overlong battles. The only redeeming qualities were the references to previous films and the brilliant acting of sir Ian McKellen and Martin Freeman.

Lord Of The Rings looks like it was filmed in the real world, The Hobbit looks like it was filmed in a small box with the set drawn onto the walls.

I feel sorry that PJ sold out. The Hobbit is definitely an enjoyable movie but in no way, shape or form is it worthy to be called the prequel tot he Lord Of The Rings. In that aspect it is the most disappointing movie I have ever seen.

I had expected The Hobbit movies to be to the LoTR movies what the Hobbit book is to the LoTR book. But it failed. Qnd please do not come at me with the "you cant make a film completely after a book" because its useless, a movie can be different than the book and yet stay true to the spirit of the story. PJ proved that with LoTR but than destroyed it and turned it to a mess equivalent of an icecream truck being hit with a bullet train (compared to LOTR).

This are thoughts of a true Tolkien fan. Weather you criticize the movie or my review I would love to hear some replies.

At least this week was not ruined by this disappointment because Oda saved it with this weeks iconic chapter of OP.
 
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Gyakusetsu

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Thank you for the review. It is upsetting to hear but just as I had expected. If Peter Jackson wanted to take liberty with Tolkien's story he should have done so with the Silmarillion. The tales of Feanor, Beren, Luthien, Hurin all leave more up to interpretation than Bilbo's tale. Who am I kidding? I'll still watch it but you can forget about me buying the Triple platinum deluxe blue ray diamond version (unless those clever bastards call it the Mithril Edition).
 

Olorin

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Thank you for the review. It is upsetting to hear but just as I had expected. If Peter Jackson wanted to take liberty with Tolkien's story he should have done so with the Silmarillion. The tales of Feanor, Beren, Luthien, Hurin all leave more up to interpretation than Bilbo's tale. Who am I kidding? I'll still watch it but you can forget about me buying the Triple platinum deluxe blue ray diamond version (unless those clever bastards call it the Mithril Edition).
It is enjoyable ina way that the Avengers or Transformers are enjoyable to watch but it so not a great movie and it would make Tolkien very dissatisfied and qny true Tolkien fan a tad mad

I have read a few reviews and they mostly said it was better than the first one but I think it is even less true to Tolkien and completely out of touch with how PJ used to do movies, in q pair of sandals in a tin shed because it was raining on location. That love for the movies had been replaced by studios, bad CG and greed for money.

PJ filmed the LOTR as a movie depicting Tolkiens story, with the Hobbit he is telling a mixture pf his and hollywoods take on Tolkien rather than Tolkien himself.

Honestly, aside from the love triangle, what pissed me off most is that they named the places at the beginning on the bottom of the screen, something PJ specially renounced as too cheesy for LOTR in the extended edition
 
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Gyakusetsu

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It is enjoyable ina way that the Avengers or Transformers are enjoyable to watch but it so not a great movie and it would make Tolkien very dissatisfied and qny true Tolkien fan a tad mad

I have read a few reviews and they mostly said it was better than the first one but I think it is even less true to Tolkien and completely out of touch with how PJ used to do movies, in q pair of sandals in a tin shed because it was raining on location. That love for the movies had been replaced by studios and greed for money.

PJ filmed the LOTR as a movie depicting Tolkiens story, with the Hobbit he is telling a mixture pf his and hollywoods take on Tolkien rather than Tolkien himself.
I agree, I raged a bit at the exclusion of Tom Bombadil and the way they handled the Palantir but all in all it was a good effort. I agreed with Ian McKellen's assessment which was for a true Tolkien fan a series of movies is not sufficient. The story lends itself more to a TV series than a movie if you want to cover everything that needs to be told.
 

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Wow, that's extremely disappointing. I'm a huge huge Tolkien fan and I did notice the slag in the first hobbit movie compared to how epic the LOTR movies were, but also the LOTR's was a may more epic story in general. I liked reading the hobbit but it was never as good as the LOTR's books in my opinion.

I'm still gonna go watch this movie tomorrow with an open mind even after reading this but a lot of this I agree with just from seeing the first Hobbit movie. A lot less work went into that movie compared to the Fellowship of the Ring, most of it is obvious green screen which kills the timeless vibe that the LOTR's movies have which actually had set pieces in real locals.

I do love reading a Tolkien fan review on a Tolkien based series, thank you for this. Maybe if I'm disappointed after seeing it tomorrow the blow won't be as bad since I was able to brace myself with this.
 

Olorin

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Wow, that's extremely disappointing. I'm a huge huge Tolkien fan and I did notice the slag in the first hobbit movie compared to how epic the LOTR movies were, but also the LOTR's was a may more epic story in general. I liked reading the hobbit but it was never as good as the LOTR's books in my opinion.

I'm still gonna go watch this movie tomorrow with an open mind even after reading this but a lot of this I agree with just from seeing the first Hobbit movie. A lot less work went into that movie compared to the Fellowship of the Ring, most of it is obvious green screen which kills the timeless vibe that the LOTR's movies have which actually had set pieces in real locals.

I do love reading a Tolkien fan review on a Tolkien based series, thank you for this. Maybe if I'm disappointed after seeing it tomorrow the blow won't be as bad since I was able to brace myself with this.
Hope you post your thoughts after you see it :)

PS don't get me wrong the movie is not horrible but for what it should be (lotr prequel, pj movie, tolkien adaption) it disappoints

The best btief review gor it would be ... just another Hollywood movie
 
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Cam

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I agree with most of what you said, your review is pretty good. However we should STOP comparing the Hobbit with Lotr, Lotr is pretty much unbeatable, the level of those movies are extremely hard to compete against. Also if you go watch the Hobbit with a "Lotr expectation" then of course you will be letting yourself down.

I didn't think The first hobbit movie was all that, I thought it was pretty average, but this second one I really enjoyed, the darker tone and feel I liked more than the cheery light hearted singing the first one offered. The Smaug scenes gave me goosebumps, it was AWESOME seeing him. It was also great to see Human and Elf characters in the mix as well. There's also a lot more to take in, in the Desolation of Smaug, I feel I need to watch it for a second time. This one was way better IMO, seeing Lake Town, Mirkwood and Dale was spectacular, the sceneries of the movie are amazing. It also gets you really hyped up for the Last one.

The look of the movie I'm still getting used to, I have noticed in ALL modern day high CGI quality movies they have this kind of "fake" look, I think this is because the HD display of movies that look so sharp and crisp that it's becoming hard to blend CGI with what is real. Notice most new high CGI movies have that "Animated fake" look. Oz, Man of steel, After Earth, Jack the Giant Slayer... Just to name a few.
 

Jazzy Stardust

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Hope you post your thoughts after you see it :)

PS don't get me wrong the movie is not horrible but for what it should be (lotr prequel, pj movie, tolkien adaption) it disappoints

The best btief review gor it would be ... just another Hollywood movie
Okay I just finished watching it and I enjoyed it a lot. It was a lot better than the first one. I loved just about every scene. ^.^

I agree with most of what you said, your review is pretty good. However we should STOP comparing the Hobbit with Lotr, Lotr is pretty much unbeatable, the level of those movies are extremely hard to compete against. Also if you go watch the Hobbit with a "Lotr expectation" then of course you will be letting yourself down.

I didn't think The first hobbit movie was all that, I thought it was pretty average, but this second one I really enjoyed, the darker tone and feel I liked more than the cheery light hearted singing the first one offered. The Smaug scenes gave me goosebumps, it was AWESOME seeing him. It was also great to see Human and Elf characters in the mix as well. There's also a lot more to take in, in the Desolation of Smaug, I feel I need to watch it for a second time. This one was way better IMO, seeing Lake Town, Mirkwood and Dale was spectacular, the sceneries of the movie are amazing. It also gets you really hyped up for the Last one.

The look of the movie I'm still getting used to, I have noticed in ALL modern day high CGI quality movies they have this kind of "fake" look, I think this is because the HD display of movies that look so sharp and crisp that it's becoming hard to blend CGI with what is real. Notice most new high CGI movies have that "Animated fake" look. Oz, Man of steel, After Earth, Jack the Giant Slayer... Just to name a few.
I agree with this completely. Except I don't think going in with the standard set by LOTR's is a bad thing necessarily, it should be the standard infact because they are pj''s greatest works, there's no way you could go watch this without that expectation. With that in mind I still actually enjoyed this movie a lot, almost as much as the LOTR's movies actually. It was way better than the first hobbit movie, blew it out of the water.

I'll also have to get use to the CGI affects as well, and the lighting at parts is a little much. Overall I think it's something I can get use to. Once smaug entered the fray I was sold on the CGI effects, he was done really well.
 
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First of, I have probably watched the LOTR movies more than any one else. I can recite the entire first movie from start to finish. Fuckin fantastic movies! When I watched the Hobbit I was blown away. I found it to be the best movie I had seen in the theater to date (I had not seen any of the LOTR's movies in theaters.)

I can not understand why people said it was slow... If you want to see a slow move watch The Pursuit of Happiness. Honestly it had just as much action as LOTR the Fellowship. Nevertheless, if you think that it was slow that's fine, but what people need to remember is that slow shows or movies are most often set ups for he next film or episode. For example the most recent Walking Dead episode was amazing, but the one before it was slow as sin.

Final thing is that people are saying that the Hobbit is more childish than LOTR. This is true, but what people need to remember is that this was the way that the book was written. It was suppose to be more "childish" than the LOTR.

I am going to see the Desolation of Smaug today, so I will post my review of it later on.
 
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Olorin

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First of, I have probably watched the LOTR movies more than any one else. I can recite the entire first movie from start to finish. Fuckin fantastic movies! When I watched the Hobbit I was blown away. I found it to be the best movie I had seen in the theater to date (I had not seen any of the LOTR's movies in theaters.)

I can not understand why people said it was slow... If you want to see a slow move watch The Pursuit of Happiness. Honestly it had just as much action as LOTR the Fellowship. Nevertheless, if you think that it was slow that's fine, but what people need to remember is that slow shows or movies are most often set ups for he next film or episode. For example the most recent Walking Dead episode was amazing, but the one before it was slow as sin.

Final thing is that people are saying that the Hobbit is more childish than LOTR. This is true, but what people need to remember is that this was the way that the book was written. It was suppose to be more "childish" than the LOTR.

I am going to see the Desolation of Smaug today, so I will post my review of it later on.
How many times have you watched LoTR? Or better yet read the book? Also the hobbit?
 

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How many times have you watched LoTR? Or better yet read the book? Also the hobbit?
Honestly I can not even begin to count how many times I have watched the movie's. To be truthful I have read the Hobbit several times, but not the LOTR's books, but I am starting tonight.

I have literally just came back from the Desolation of Smaug. The only problem I had with it was the barrel scene. I mean wtf was with the GoPro shots? I have no idea how that made it in. It was totally out of place and looked like shit! Other than that it was a great movie.

Oh, and Gandalf did not look weak! I do not know what movie you were watching, but he was far from weak. If you want to talk about weak I will refer you to he scene in LOTR Return of the King where the Witch King knocks Gandalf on his ass (that scene was bull shit though.)
 
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Jazzy Stardust

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Honestly I can not even begin to count how many times I have watched the movie's. To be truthful I have read the Hobbit several times, but not the LOTR's books, but I am starting tonight.

I have literally just came back from the Desolation of Smaug. The only problem I had with it was the barrel scene. I mean wtf was with the GoPro shots? I have no idea how that made it in. It was totally out of place and looked like shit! Other than that it was a great movie.

Oh, and Gandalf did not look weak! I do not know what movie you were watching, but he was far from weak. If you want to talk about weak I will refer you to he scene in LOTR Return of the King where the Witch King knocks Gandalf on his ass (that scene was bull shit though.)
I thought that barrel scene was a bit forced as well. It was incredibly unrealistic and drawn out, everyone in the theater seemed to enjoy it though.

I also thought that new elf girl while attractive was a cheesy actress outside of the combat scenes.
 

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This is exactly what I expected. The first movie was terribly choppy and they added filler to a masterpiece. I mean who in their right mind would add filler to Tolkein's work? Still gonna see it but this is not surprising at all.
 

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Hope you post your thoughts after you see it :)

PS don't get me wrong the movie is not horrible but for what it should be (lotr prequel, pj movie, tolkien adaption) it disappoints

The best btief review gor it would be ... just another Hollywood movie

Yes it's just another Hollywood movie but I liked this one better than LOTR series. I hated how it undermined Frodo and Gandalf and totally destroyed Faramir among other things.

And I have read the ring triology and The Hobbit and have all movies in my collection. Doesn't change the fact that I liked some additions (Legolas <3 :p). I only get irritated when they corrupt the original character. Thranduil in this one.
 

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Haven't gone to see the movie yet, but from what I've heard, it doesn't seem to hold up to the original LOTR movies. Can't say I'm surprised though, Jackson obviously had to go out of his way and change a few things to make it more fit for a larger group of audience, seeing as, like people often seem to forget, the main point of the movie is to make money, which will be a far more viable goal if some aspects of the movies are changed, due to the fact that it will attract a larger amount of viewers. Personally, I feel that Jackson has done an excellent job on changing the story line a bit while at the same time keeping the readers of the books happy as well, although of course I can only speak for the LOTR trilogy and the first Hobbit movie when I say that. In any case, greatly looking forward to seeing the next one, will post an opinion on it once I do. xd
..................
 

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Yes it's just another Hollywood movie but I liked this one better than LOTR series. I hated how it undermined Frodo and Gandalf and totally destroyed Faramir among other things.

And I have read the ring triology and The Hobbit and have all movies in my collection. Doesn't change the fact that I liked some additions (Legolas <3 :p). I only get irritated when they corrupt the original character. Thranduil in this one.
Why did you think Frodo and Galdalf were underminded? I've never heard that one before.
 

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The Hobbit Desolation Of Smaug

Okay, who saw the movie?
I saw it and friken loved it

there is so much I want too talk about!
so fellow Hobbit fans come hither.
 

cptenn94

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Re: The Hobbit Desolation Of Smaug

I look forward to it. What ive seen so far, is the movies keep pretty close to the books.(yes books. The hobbit trilogy is based off 2 books. The hobbit(the main part) and the similarion(basically the complete and total history of middle earth. It begins with a creation story)

People who read the books, expect everything to be just perfect. If one character they like is messed with, then the whole thing is crap.

I personally just look at it, and think "does this movie do justice and feel like the same story"

My main complaint about the series, is just frodo. I felt they did a great job showing the temptations of the ring, but in all honesty, they made him much more emo, and less heroic than his book counterpart. (i know im talking about lotr here)


The first hobbit, i dont have any real complaints. I suppose they made radagast the brown just a bit to quirky(saveing the chimpmunk scene), but for the most part what they added/changed did not effect the feel of the movie.

So based on my experiance with the first movie, im sure this movie will be great(gonna try to go and watch it soon)
 

Olorin

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Why did you think Frodo and Galdalf were underminded? I've never heard that one before.
Frodo was a too young and a little less heroic overall, though he did get some other scenes to ''shine'' but unfortunatelly one of them made Gandalf look like an idiot, as for Gandalf I think she mainly means the (for me) worse part of the trilogy when the Witch King destroys Gandalfs staff, when by rank (or species or whatever you want to call it) Gandalf is equal to Sauron himself

I didn't really mind the additions of elves or the absence of Tom since I have no idea what they would do with him as it would only slow the movie down, what I did mind is the absence of the sons of Elrond, the rangers from the north and the altered storyline of anduril and a bit the army of the dead

but I learned to live with it because LoTR is a very high-quality movie (even the academy agrees with me fully) and is so obviously superior to the Hobbit movies it's sad to think PJ's quality dropped this much
 
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