The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Review Thread (Spoilers)

[RaijinUT]

Originally Posted by JamesKurtovich

Geez... IMAX 3D is $17 per ticket...

Pricey. I got my IMAX 3D for $11.75 each.

[mrbrat_Boy]

Hi

I have just watched The Hobbit in HFR 3D. It was spectacular beyond words. Easily a 4.5 / 5.

The 3D:
Okay, so HFR is not really new to me, it is very similar to the tru motion i have on my TV. It took a while to get used to, but honestly i see the benefit. The action sequences were mind blowing in HFR. The 3D itself was well presented and had a good depth perspective. No real pop outs though.

The PQ:
HFR definitely takes the PQ to spectacular levels. Its is THE most picturesque movie i have ever seen. From the skin tones to the sky to the effects and CGI, it as as clear as if it were in front of you!!

The AQ:
Sound Presentation was great!!! Perfectly audible surround sound, boomy at times. Smaug's Voice vibrated the seats in the cinema.

The Movie:
I am glad Peter Jackson decided to make The Hobbit. He is perfectly capable. He has made another winner imho. The sets, the costumes, the sound design, the CGI and actors were remarkable. Peter has a talent for directing scenes that make you wonder, how the F*&^ did they film that???? The film is not presented like the book, but around nearly there. The movie is much darker than the book though.

Loved it, will definitely watch again!

4.5 / 5

[Puonti]

I've now seen the Hobbit in both HFR 3D and Regular 3D, and my god...

[Show spoiler]HFR is astonishing. At first it felt weird, but I quickly adapted and found it to be far superior 24 fps. Battles are incredibly detailed, immerse, and intense - looked and flowed much better in HFR. Every shot showing off the NZ landscape were breath taking, I just sat there in awe and couldn't believe how beautiful everything was. Also simpler scenes benefited from HFR, as they felt much more alive and real. But HFR aside, how about the film itself?

I really loved the story and the characters. Martin Freeman IS Bilbo, perfect casting. Richard Armitage does an incredible job as Thorin Oakenshield. Returning cast once again nail their respective characters. The dwarf company is great fun and nicely cast, although some of them are abit neglected (mainly looking at Bombur, whom didn't have a single line, but he had some cool fight moves!). The villains were good. The Goblin King looked really disgusting - good job there!

I liked the story too, I was involved and interested at all times. I don't understand the problem people have with the pacing, to me the movie felt like only 2 hours long and I thought it moved with a good strong pace. I could have sat there for another 2 hours for sure.

One of the great moments of this film:

The Hobbit- "Blunt the Knives" - YouTube

Overall I had the same feeling like I had when I was 11 years old and saw Fellowship of the Ring for the first time, wonder and awe. It was a joy from beginning to end, and I can't wait to watch it a third time - in HFR of course!

5/5

[L-Rouge]

anyone

[Show spoiler]dodge the flaming pinecone at the end, that one made my eye twitch haha

[Show spoiler]Benedict Cumberbatch is the voice of the necromancer, I don't recal any dialogue with this character so I can assume this magician will be more prominent in the eventual EE

[BluPayne4400]

What does high frame rate 3D means? Never seen a showing that says this

[L-Rouge]

Originally Posted by BluPayne4400

What does high frame rate 3D means? Never seen a showing that says this

That refers to this unique case of The Hobbit being filmed in 3d at the speed which doubles that standard 24 frames per second. Have you seen the numbers 48fps being bandied about?. Not all Cinemas can show it. It has had mixed reactions from "breath taking" to "looks like a soap opera". Our cinema can show it, but the auditorium encountered a few issues.

[Design Master]

Is Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) in The Hobbit at all?

[mrbrat_Boy]

Originally Posted by Design Master

Is Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) in The Hobbit at all?

Nope, He only appears in LOTR.

[Design Master]

Originally Posted by mrbrat_Boy

Nope, He only appears in LOTR.

Thanks for letting me know.

[Blu-Benny]

got home @ 3:30 last night, was up @ 6:30 this morning.

anyone that thinks this movie is boring, dumb, slow, or whatever is 1 thing....WRONG!!!

this movie was great.....it's in the same vein as the FOTR as far as pacing. i'd even say there's more action in this one than there is in FOTR.

the comdedy from the dwarves was great, the action was fantastic, and the 1 thing i really liked seeing in this was the singing from the book.....u didn't get that much in the LOTR movies.

there are some scenes where u can tell it's CGI....but that's the only complaint i had at all.

4.5/5 from benny!!

[tilallr1]

Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by the entire film. I love what Peter Jackson has done with the story and how he has chosen to tell it. Looking forward to the sequels. I think the only problem people are going to have (not me) is that this is a setup movie. The payoff will come by in the 3rd film, but most people don't have that sort of patience.

My favorite part, as well as the audience I was with, was the Gollum sequence. People were actually cheering when they saw Gollum. Andy Serkis and the animation team really outdid themselves too. Gollum, was freaky during this scene, especially the glowing eyes.

My only problem with the film was the 48fps. I’ll admit it took me at least an hour to get accustomed to the format. To me, it made most of the film look like I was watching a awesome 3D TV movie. Some parts looked like they were in fast forward, while other slow mo sequences were sped up by the framework. It didn't work. Also, didn't like the look at all, which did detract from the overall presentation of film. I am sure the 3D was better because of it, but it made the movie feel cheaper/lower budget at times. Looking forward to re-watching this on a normal 24fps 3D IMAX projector.

I give the movie an easy 8/10, any Hobbit/LOTR fan will be happy with this film. I just recommend watching it in a normal 24fps IMAX 3D theater.

[Blu-Benny]

i can tell u all 1 thing....i def. want to go and read the appendicies now!!

had no idea there was a reason his name is "Oakenshield"!!

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

got home @ 3:30 last night, was up @ 6:30 this morning.

As did I (wife had to get up for work)! But...I decided to work from home today, so it's been a very leisurely morning with LOTS of coffee to keep me going. It may be nap time in a little while, once I finish a couple more things.

goodnight.gif

[J0NESI]

quick question for those who seen this in the new 48fps. is it worth it? my theater says they have it but its not working today. i could go see it in regular IMAX. should i wait?

[PaniqL]

Im watching this at the BFI IMAX in 3D.
I normally hate 3D, but am wondering if IMAX 3D is Worth it , as i have heard great reviews for previous IMAX 3D Screenings.

I Managed to get premiere seats , i normally love sitting close, but i feel that sitting further back for a 3D Performance should be better.

BFI IMAX is showing the film with IMAX's film format rather than digital, so it will not be HFR.

I know that HFR must be amazing , but will there be a noticeable difference compared with IMAX 3D, it must be alot beter than standart theaters, but will it be worth me seeing it a second time in HFR?

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by My_Two_Cents

As did I (wife had to get up for work)! But...I decided to work from home today, so it's been a very leisurely morning with LOTS of coffee to keep me going. It may be nap time in a little while, once I finish a couple more things.

Attachment 56280

i’ve been crashing for the past 30-45 min.

[benbess]

Just saw it in HFR 3D, and I thought it was very, very good. One of my top 10 films of the year. Best 3D I've ever seen, and it was funny, action packed, and at times emotional.

I've lived with the books since I was a kid, so I'm part of the prime audience. Anyone who is a fan of the books and earlier movies should ignore the mixed to bad reviews and just go in and have a good time.

[pagemaster]

Originally Posted by PaniqL

Im watching this at the BFI IMAX in 3D.
I normally hate 3D, but am wondering if IMAX 3D is Worth it , as i have heard great reviews for previous IMAX 3D Screenings.

I Managed to get premiere seats , i normally love sitting close, but i feel that sitting further back for a 3D Performance should be better.

BFI IMAX is showing the film with IMAX's film format rather than digital, so it will not be HFR.

I know that HFR must be amazing , but will there be a noticeable difference compared with IMAX 3D, it must be alot beter than standart theaters, but will it be worth me seeing it a second time in HFR?

A 2K high frame rate digital presentation will be superior to the 2K 15/70 blowing up for IMAX film venues.

[Duffy12]

.

I just got back from seeing this.

I was going to choose the 10:45 2D showing to avoid the crowds. However when I got there the place was pretty deserted so I wisely then choose the 3D HFR show at 11:00 instead. There were ONLY 15 people in the entire theater for mine. I then asked the teller how many people attended the midnight showing and he replied 400, while the Harry Potter one had over 1500!

I guess word of mouth is going to have to drive this movie. But that should be no problem as I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Show spoiler]I had a big ass smile on my face for quite a bit of it. I laughed at a lot of scenes. Some from ones that Jackson intended to be intentional and some from others were Jackson went overboard with some scenes. Such as Radagast's Bunny Sled Orc chase(now that one scene reminded me of a Benny Hill skit). The other that I can remember is the Stone Giant fight. Holy %^$&! That scene was so over the top ridiculous it was nuts. I laughed straight through that one. But.....you know what, I don't really mind it cause strangely enough those goofy scenes did sorta fit into the lighter tone of this children's story.

The only real angst that I remember from watching this were a few scenes were Jackson strayed so much from the story by making things up. Such as the Goblin/Wargs rally atop Weathertop. It was like some other fantasy movie strayed into this one for a few moments. Kinda weird.


Two of my favorite scenes are-

• Throin marching out of the fallen tree in slow mo to confront his enemy while fires were raging about him. (a beautifully filmed shot)

• The Giant Eagle swooping in to pick up the fallen Thorin in slo mo. (this is also a beautiful shot scene by Jackson. Seeing the eagle appear above his body in slow mo, then it's talons sloooowly wrapping him up and lifting him away)

Rating: 5/5

.

[Duffy12]

Originally Posted by tilallr1

My only problem with the film was the 48fps. I’ll admit it took me at least an hour to get accustomed to the format. To me, it made most of the film look like I was watching a awesome 3D TV movie. Some parts looked like they were in fast forward, while other slow mo sequences were sped up by the framework. It didn't work. Also, didn't like the look at all, which did detract from the overall presentation of film. I am sure the 3D was better because of it, but it made the movie feel cheaper/lower budget at times. Looking forward to re-watching this on a normal 24fps 3D IMAX projector.

For me I noticed none of that effect, except for about a few seconds at the start of the movie where a couple of people seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. But nothing else. Strange.

In fact it was so perfect that I considered asking the teller when I was leaving if maybe I had seen a regular 3D showing. However the 3D was soooo much better, and I being blown away by it there was no reason for me to question it.

I am beginning to wonder if maybe some theaters are not projecting it right. Very strange.

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