Tolkien Talk

The Hobbit (Part 1) An Unexpected Journey (2012), Peter Jackson
3/5
Article Author: Elise Pahlow

***SPOILERS***

This film has been anticipated for years and finally we got to watch the first instalment this Boxing Day (released on 26/12/2012 in Australia). Tossing up between the many different formats to watch this film, the HFR (High Frame Rate, 48fps) 3D, 3D, and 2D (24fps) we finally settled on getting the 'full' Peter Jackson Hobbit experience watching it in HFR 3D at 48 frames per second. Strangely even the New Line Cinema logo was projected in 3D (I mean, why?).

The film opens of course with Bilbo on the day of the party (coinciding with the opening of The Fellowship of the Ring). Bilbo appears to be addressing a letter to Frodo and searches for his 'red book' and begins to write about his journey. Bilbo (Ian Holm) narrates the 'prologue' of An Unexpected Journey detailing the history of the Dwarf kingdom of Erebor. This sequence of the Erebor looked particularly disorienting with sweeping camera movements even giving me a bit of motion sickness, amplified due to the faster frame rate and the 3D. During the prologue there was only a glimpse of Smaug and unfortunately some sections of the city under the Mountain looked particularly fake, standing out due to the high sharpness and compounded by the 3D giving it a cut-out effect from background and foreground. The prologue established elements taken from the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings and established Thorin as a warrior who had lost his kingdom (referring to him often as a prince) and establishing his foe the 'pale Orc' Azog. And frankly I thought Azog looked less Orcish and more like a character from Avatar (2009).

Azog 'pale Orc'

Avatar (2009)

After the prologue we return to a lovely sequence with old Bilbo (Ian Holm) and Frodo (Elijah Wood) that chronologically precedes the scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). The film then dissolves into "60 years ago..." with Martin Freeman as Bilbo. The story then follows the familiar plot of The Hobbit. As far as I could tell the high frame rate (HFR) made everything look very sharp and clear, but this was countered by exaggerating the camera movements unfortunately. Although the HFR was less annoying than the 3D elements which supposedly "immerse" the audience in the experience, were quite irritating. There were a number of plot and character changes from the book. Of course this is necessary and inevitable in any adaptation, but plot changes and even character differences can be forgiven, but what is hard to forgive are the elements that do not fit with the 'spirit' of the text i.e. The Hobbit. For instance during the dwarf scene at Bag End near the beginning Ori (Adam Brown) says something quite outside of Tolkien's world and felt very out of place.

Ori (Adam Brown)

Overall most of the scenes with the Dwarves were quite humourous and fun, but at times the dialogue was quite cheesy and childlike. The music by Howard Shore was great throughout the film. Performances were ok, with the stand outs being minor roles of Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), Elrond (Hugo Weaving) as well as Ian McKellen reprising his role as Gandalf. Martin Freeman as the young Bilbo was really great as well. However the performances of the dwarves was overall rather disappointing, with the exception of Ken Stott as Balin, most of the dwarves appeared to act like and sound more like the actors themselves rather than a created character. Also, the dwarves as a group seemed rather immature and childish. That reflected the entire tone of the film, and rather than being a sort of nostalgic child-like tone, it smacked of cheesy slap-stick gags and jokes far too often. Also, it appears as if there may be slight differences in the look of the trolls seen in Fellowship of the Ring (2001) from the live trolls in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). Judge for yourselves.

Trolls in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Trolls in Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Overall Martin Freeman was great as young Bilbo. Most of the cast was good, and the film was fun and enjoyable. Aside from the issues of visual effects, which I argue, are related to the HFR (High Frame Rate) 48fps and the 3D, the film is visually stunning, with great costume and art design as always from the Weta and Jackson production team. This film is definitely more light hearted than The Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, 2003) films, as it should be, much closer to the lighter tone of the book The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote. Overall a good film, but perhaps it doesn't live up to the other films, I reserve final judgement until I've also seen it in 24fps with 2D.

For more reviewing and analysis check out the review episode of our podcast:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/an-unexpected-podcast/id484013822?mt=2

Posted By:

Elise Pahlow

AUP #30: My Dear Frodo - December 9th, 2012

We discuss the Hobbit An Unexpected Journey red carpet premiere in Wellington, the release of the AUJ soundtrack, more Hobbit Tv spots, a 13 minute Hobbit "Looking Back" behind the scenes tv special and lots more in this uber episode of the podcast before the Hobbit part 1 is finally released.

Links:

Watch the Hobbit An Unexpected Journey highlights of the red carpet premiere
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10101860400394516

Listen to An Unexpected Journey Soundtrack via Rolling Stone
http://www1.rollingstone.com/hearitnow/player/hobbit.html

Read the article discussing the Hobbit as a trilogy and inter-connecting it to the Lord of the Rings films by Eric M. Van
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/11/28/65835-imagining-peter-jacksons-the-hobbit-part-two/

Check out video with Peter Lyon sword maker on the hobbit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp6DaieWDDo&feature=player_embedded

Read the full article interview with the Hobbit costume designer
http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/12/02/hobbit-costume-designer-ann-maskreys-favorite-look-radagast/

Full interview with Ian McKellen
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2012/12/sir-ian-mckellan-hobbit-on-coming-out

Watch 6 Exclusive clips from The Hobbit AUJ
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/12/04/66592-official-six-incredible-video-clips-from-the-hobbit/

Watch full length 13 minute TV special
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/12/06/66732-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-13-minute-tv-special/

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An Unexpected Podcast #30: My Dear Frodo