I am also a hardcore Tolkien fan. I grew up on the books, love the BBC radio-drama and adore the LOTR movies, so really Peter can do no wrong for me with this franchise. Or so I supposed when I walked in.
First off, the 3D was great, I had no problem with that, I enjoyed it, the High-frame-rate was a challenge. I understand people saying that it looked like a BBC play on TV. It really did too. The first 5 minutes I was just sitting there tripping. I was like, 'oh man, what the heck'. I am a huge fan of old movies and films with grit and texture, I like the painterly quality of films and the lighting, for instance I love Michael Mann films, and when he moved to the digital with Collateral I wasn't that thrilled but I went with it. So with this I go with it. I MUST see this again, old-school 24 frames 2D. I think once I see it that way I can better assess it, but honestly, it was different, and I am so used to films having a different quality than TV that it was odd for me, but it might simply be something I have to re-program my brain.
The story is fine, but this was not my favorite of the bunch. I felt some of the film was played for laughs, but I understand from a story-telling you need to relieve the tension, but there were 2 modern jokes that I felt were off, the golf joke and the crochet joke. Also the chapter Riddles in the Dark, with Bilbo and Gollum I have always felt was creepy and sinister, but in the film it's played for laughs at times and that hit me wrong too.
I think the film rushes Bilbo into being a action-hero a little too early in this trilogy and if we have to deal with this albino-orc for 2 more movies it will be tiring. I still can't figure out how they are going to put in enough for 2 more movies, even with the Necromancer, will there be enough? I have no idea.
Go see it. The dwarves are great. Martin is great. I need to see this again and think more about it.
AJ
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