The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey (2012) 2D/3D - March 19, 2013 Reviews

[Cook]

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

I'm not really arguing about the merits of the books being released in edited form - but rather just that we wouldn't even be talking about The Silmarillion being adapted or not being adapted if not for Christopher. If he'd opted not to put them out, then that would be the end of that. We wouldn't even know what we weren't getting, so to speak, on film.

Yeah, that is very true. Uggh it sucks Tolkien isn't around. I would have liked to meet that man.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Well, what d'ya know? Turns out this previously posted teal colored screencap of the title shot, that caused some panic around here, was a bit - let's say - "dishonest".

Originally Posted by kingkong650

[Show spoiler]

Here's the real color scheme from the actual BD release, courtesy of the site's review:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...29&position=39

[Cook]

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

Well, what d'ya know? Turns out this previously posted teal colored screencap of the title shot, that caused some panic around here, was a bit - let's say - "dishonest".



Here's the real color scheme from the actual BD release, courtesy of the site's review:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...29&position=39

I was hoping someone would do a comparison. To the dishonest people.

[joenostalgia23]

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

Well, what d'ya know? Turns out this previously posted teal colored screencap of the title shot, that caused some panic around here, was a bit - let's say - "dishonest".



Here's the real color scheme from the actual BD release, courtesy of the site's review:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...29&position=39

Looks like someone's got some 'splainin' to do.

While the text isn't a perfect shade of white, something tells me that's how it looked theatrically since most movies I see nowadays, maybe apart from some documentaries, rarely exhibit perfect digital whites.

[Bukax42]

But the title is still not white!!!!!!!! OMG the apocalypse is coming!!!!!!!!!11111111

[Show spoiler]

Just joking. I don't care, and I love new color timing of Fellowship of the Ring. Questions?

[frogmort]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

I agree with this to a certain extent, but I would disagree that Christopher would totally object the stories portrayed as movies. His father stated that he hoped that "other hands and minds" would continue the saga of Middle-earth, and J.R.R.T. himself was not against a movie version of his story. Concerning the attempt of Morton Grady Zimmerman to film The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien said:

[Show spoiler]"If Z and/or others do so, they may be irritated or aggrieved by the tone of many of my criticisms. If so, I am sorry (though not surprised). But I would ask them to make an effort of imagination sufficient to understand the irritation (and on occasion resentment) of an author, who finds, increasingly as he proceeds, his work treated as it would seem carelessly in general, in places recklessly, and with no evident signs of any appreciation of what it is all about..... The canons of narrative art in any medium cannot be wholly different; and the failure of poor films is often precisely in exaggeration, and in the intrusion of unwarranted matter owing to not perceiving where the core of the original lies."

So it is not the film that is the problem, but what is in the film. Jackson's version of Lord of the Rings succeeded largely on the basis of action and pure spectacle, with situations and cinematography previously unseen on film. But the crux of his effort was to please the masses and the action junkies. With just a little more care and understanding of the source material, he could also have addressed the intention and basis of the story as well. What the movies do not address are specific character traits and philosophical threads running through the book, some of them intentionally subtle that become obvious, intriguing, and increase with value upon repeated readings.

For example, in the chapter The Window on the West, Faramir makes a sign to Frodo and Sam that they should face West to "look towards Numenor that was, Elvenhome that is, and to that which is beyond Elvenhome and will ever be."

What is beyond Elvenhome? Valinor? True, but is there something else? Jackson touches on this occasionally, as in Moria where Gandalf tells Frodo:

"There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it."

Besides the will of Evil? Meant to have it? By whom?

THAT is the intention of the story.

Unfortunately, spectacle predominates and all of this is lost. Similarly, when adding scenes in the EE, what determines the choice of the scenes? In Return of the King, on the Paths of the Dead the extra time would have allowed Aragorn and party to encounter the remains of Baldor, destined to be the future King of Rohan, lying before a door. From the book:

"Aragorn did not touch him, but after gazing silently for awhile he rose and sighed: 'Hither shall the flowers of simbelmyne come never unto world's end,' he murmured. 'Nine mounds and seven there are now green with grass, and through all the long years he has lain at the door that he could not unlock. Whither does it lead? Why would he pass? None shall ever know!'

Jackson's version:

[Insert avalanche of skulls]

These are just brief examples. Should a director with a comprehensive understanding of the material decide to film the story, I don't think Christopher would object.

I just spoilered it because of the length, but that is one of the best posts I've read in quite a while Grand Bob.

Well said!

Originally Posted by Ken Brown

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blu-ray Review

BTW, the book vs. film discussion many of you have been having has been fantastic. Thanks as always for posting!

Great review Ken! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on the film in the movie section of your review and I liked the Samwise line nod at the end. I'm also really glad the A/V is so spectacular(I assumed it would be). I can't wait to pick this up on release day!

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

Well, what d'ya know? Turns out this previously posted teal colored screencap of the title shot, that caused some panic around here, was a bit - let's say - "dishonest".

Here's the real color scheme from the actual BD release, courtesy of the site's review:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...29&position=39

kingkong650's screenshot looks exactly the same as the one on this site to me only slightly smaller. I had them both in seperate tabs and switched back and forth several times.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

On the subject of the bonus features, I have to take exception with Ken's comments on the Production Video Blogs. I really love them. While they may be on the secretive side due to being out before the film's release, they really do showcase the process of filming a major film production from several points of view that rarely get attention in behind-the-scenes documentaries. We get interviews from grips, assistant directors, caterers, etc. It really gives you insight into the normally unsung areas of the making of a movie. I'm excited to have these in full HD on disc.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by frogmort

kingkong650's screenshot looks exactly the same as the one on this site to me only slightly smaller. I had them both in seperate tabs and switched back and forth several times.

They look completely different. kingkong650's screenshot has a teal colored sky, and the site's screenshot is a natural, light blue.

[joenostalgia23]

Originally Posted by frogmort

I just spoilered it because of the length, but that is one of the best posts I've read in quite a while Grand Bob.

Well said!



Great review Ken! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on the film in the movie section of your review and I liked the Samwise line nod at the end. I'm also really glad the A/V is so spectacular(I assumed it would be). I can't wait to pick this up on release day!



kingkong650's screenshot looks exactly the same as the one on this site to me only slightly smaller. I had them both in seperate tabs and switched back and forth several times.

If I keep LOTR EE screenshots and LOTR TE screenshots in separate tabs with black backgrounds, they look exactly the same too.

But when I put them next to each other, one is clearly greener/oranger than the other.

I suggest placing the two screenshots next to each other, and see how much more ridiculously green the original screenshot was. I won't blame kingkong650, probably had an uncalibrated set-up or a bad source.

[armyjon99]

Originally Posted by i007spectre

3D will be $24.96 at walmart. Not sure if that's been posted yet.

Source?

[TitusTroy]

Originally Posted by TitusTroy

they need to cap the price on both the 2D and 3D versions at $19.99...no need to go higher as everyone know's the EE versions will be the definitive versions

the official blu-ray.com review makes my point:

"Still awaiting an official confirmation of an Extended Edition release? Look no further than the standard Blu-ray release of An Unexpected Journey and its two and a half hours of extras, the overwhelming majority of which have been available online for some time. Hardly the twenty-plus hours of original or exclusive content Peter Jackson and company are known for. That said, the special features on tap at least earn their own Blu-ray disc, not because they're so significant, mind you, but so they can be presented in HD without crowding the feature film, presented in its entirety on the set's first BD-50 disc"

[diman1982]

So, top - bluray, bottom - corrected
Green tint making image darker, just like on FOTR EE.
Burnt subs are green, but end credits are perfectly white, just like on FOTR EE.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Blu-Benny]

Can’t wait for this!!

I took the day off on the 19th so I can enjoy this in a quiet house!!

[Majin Blu]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

Can’t wait for this!!

I took the day off on the 19th so I can enjoy this in a quiet house!!

My dad did the same thing, only it'll be Friday since that's the day I'll get it in the mail.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by TitusTroy

the official blu-ray.com review makes my point:

"Still awaiting an official confirmation of an Extended Edition release? Look no further than the standard Blu-ray release of An Unexpected Journey and its two and a half hours of extras, the overwhelming majority of which have been available online for some time. Hardly the twenty-plus hours of original or exclusive content Peter Jackson and company are known for. That said, the special features on tap at least earn their own Blu-ray disc, not because they're so significant, mind you, but so they can be presented in HD without crowding the feature film, presented in its entirety on the set's first BD-50 disc"

What is your point, exactly, and how does that quote reinforce it?
Why would the studio lowball one the most anticipated BD releases of 2013? Heck with your logic, why no just cap them at $9.99....Lordy we should cap them at $4.99, that would be great.
Business 101, clearly, eludes you.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by frogmort

I just spoilered it because of the length, but that is one of the best posts I've read in quite a while Grand Bob.
Well said!

Thanks Joe. By the way, and for anyone interested, we are going to start our yearly Middle-earth reading adventure in the Lord of the Rings forum beginning with The Hobbit on the weekend of April 27 (the date that Bilbo left Bag End on his journey). All are welcome, and the more, the merrier!

[rammsteinfan]

Going to have to go back to Walmart in a few weeks and get my price adjusted. They charged $26 for the digibook pre-order and it will only be $22.xx hopefuly they will refund the $4 difference.

[Cook]

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

They look completely different. kingkong650's screenshot has a teal colored sky, and the site's screenshot is a natural, light blue.

Yeah those shots look nothing alike. It would seem people are purposefully trying to derail this thread with an issue that doesn't exist.

[Ken Brown]

I'll only leave one comment about the coloring grading of FOTR/HAUJ, then I leave it to all of you to discuss. When a tint was being debated in regards to FOTR, it wasn't entirely unreasonable to question whether it was an error or intention, particularly since (at the time) the studio and Peter Jackson hadn't issued a direct statement on the matter. However, and this is a critical however, if any tint is present in An Unexpected Journey, its presence only confirms the grading and Blu-ray encodes for both FOTR and HAUJ presentations as accurate and any coloring changes or choices as intentional.

The obvious conclusion here is that the new FOTR color grading was implemented to bring the film in line with the color grading in HAUJ. Moreover, as has been discussed before, the exact same color grading could have been (and most likely is) present in HAUJ's theatrical presentation. No one would or would have noticed. In a properly darkened viewing environment, the eye perceives relative whites such as these as crisp, clean whites, bright blues as perfectly bright blues, etc. As has also been stated, it's extremely rare to see pure whites in any film nowadays unless contrast has been cranked to the extreme.

Any further discussion of a tint (green, teal or otherwise) should only focus on one's subjective appreciation (or lack thereof) for Peter Jackson and Andrew Lesnie's specific color grading choices and filmmaking intentions in HAUJ. Images and screenshots can be tweaked all day long, but the same could be done to The Matrix, Underworld or any other film with stylized color grading. It doesn't highlight a problem, just an inherent element in the color grading.

Anyway, thanks as always for posting! I enjoy reading all your comments, whether I have the time to join in or not

[Snake2410]

Anybody know if the Best Buy 3D version will have the extra doc? Not sure if its been previously posted but I don't have time to scroll through 36 pages to see.