[48 FPS]

Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit': Review and Reaction Roundup

Finally, the last films of the year are being screened, just in time for early critics voting. While early Twitter reactions to this weekend's "Django Unchained" were upbeat, the Twittersphere was less kind to Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Reactions came in from both the New Zealand premiere, held on Wednesday, and a slew of Los Angeles screenings. Complaints from the premiere took the form of dizziness and even motion sickness from watching the controversial 48 fps, while L.A. critics found the film padded, overlong and shockingly lacking in women.
I was entertained but underwhelmed by "The Hobbit," which is an extraordinary VFX achievement and should land its only Oscar nomination in that category. Not surprisingly, the grand narrative of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" is missing from "The Hobbit," which even as a book feels like a ramp-up to a more ambitious effort. Nonetheless, "The Hobbit" will play for holiday audiences, not on the scale of "TLOR," but enough. Jackson is clearly happy to return to Middle Earth, whether or not he can top his Oscar-wiinning trilogy, which would be tough to do. Legions of The One Ring fans will be happy to go back too.

For the first time around I wanted to see the film in the 24 frames per second format, so I could compare and contrast with its intended format, 48 fps, which remains controversial. Some submit to while others fight against its crystal clarity. Even at 24 frames, this gorgeous film marks an enormous breakthrough in VFX production. It has astonishing digital scale and scope, but often falls victim to the-more-pixels-the-better syndrome.

You can see Guillermo del Toro's contribution in the character creation--vast numbers of gruesome trolls, goblins, and orcs. Suddenly you're back underground with Bilbo and Gollum and it's the best sequence in the movie. That said, Ian McKellan as Gandalf, Martin Freeman as Bilbo and Richard Armitage as dwarf king Thorin all carry the movie.


Slate Twitter:

"The Hobbit's biggest sin is being simply pretty good. Entertaining but rarely enthralling."

"First half is kind of a disaster. Pleasant, but shaggy and meandering. Second half is action-packed and saves the movie."

James Rocchi's Twitter:

"Also, are there any female characters in the book? Because right now, THE HOBBIT makes THE AVENGERS look like THE WOMEN. #1939thankyou"

Brian Duffield's Twitter:

"HOBBIT is also way less emotional than LOTR. No real tear-filled moments. A lighter time all around."

"If the Hobbit didn't add Galadriel, there would have been NO speaking roles for women."

Забавная претензия к нехватке женских образов "Голливудщина" в чистом виде.
В сущности, проблема всего современного мейнстрима в излишней универсальности.