The Hobbit: How Did It Get So Bad?
Need to know who is who in Middle Earth? Check out the LOTR Family Tree Project and their handy-dandy Hobbit Dwarves Cheat Sheet. This cheat sheat is a thousand times more delightful than The Hobbit, sadly. They should've kept it at two movies, at the least. But beyond that, the attempt to make it EPIC (and the resulting changes in plot and characters) was lame and so misguided. I could tell it had been changed even though I'd forgotten most of the book while watching, but I reread the book afterwards and am shocked at just how much has been changed. Most of it was for the worse. The book was a children's book in tone, and the characters are much more silly. Now that they are going for epic heroes (especially Thorin, who is really NOT a great tragic leader in the book) they will have to do so much to the plot to make things work. (Like how would they do the captured by spiders sequence? It's all rather ridiculous. I hope they allow the comedic feel come through, but I don't have enough faith in the filmmakers to not mess things up.)
Putting aside the changes from the book, as a movie this totally failed. So much was boring! I hated the opening sequence (along with most of the world, apparently) and the other historical flashback sequences. What was up with the albino orc? Besides the fact that he's supposed to be DEAD (and probably not an albino?) the personal enmity with Thorin made me roll my eyes. I know, I know, DRAMA. Too bad I just wanted them to go on a jolly adventure. I didn't mind the addition of Radagast (who is mentioned briefly in the book), but I think his sequence was too long. Like many, many sequences in this movie.
I watched it in 2D and felt like it was too bright and artificial. I heard people who saw it in HFR thought it looked *really* artificial, so I'm glad I didn't go that route. Also, Galadriel on the turntable was breathtakingly stupid. GAH.
I was already wary of the movie when I heard they'd gone from two to three movies. It feels like Peter Jackson fell into the George Lucas trap of doing something he liked with only yes-men around him telling him it was all GENIUS. What a pity.
This entry was originally posted at http://insaneneko.dreamwidth.org/489400.html. Please comment here or there.
Putting aside the changes from the book, as a movie this totally failed. So much was boring! I hated the opening sequence (along with most of the world, apparently) and the other historical flashback sequences. What was up with the albino orc? Besides the fact that he's supposed to be DEAD (and probably not an albino?) the personal enmity with Thorin made me roll my eyes. I know, I know, DRAMA. Too bad I just wanted them to go on a jolly adventure. I didn't mind the addition of Radagast (who is mentioned briefly in the book), but I think his sequence was too long. Like many, many sequences in this movie.
I watched it in 2D and felt like it was too bright and artificial. I heard people who saw it in HFR thought it looked *really* artificial, so I'm glad I didn't go that route. Also, Galadriel on the turntable was breathtakingly stupid. GAH.
I was already wary of the movie when I heard they'd gone from two to three movies. It feels like Peter Jackson fell into the George Lucas trap of doing something he liked with only yes-men around him telling him it was all GENIUS. What a pity.
This entry was originally posted at http://insaneneko.dreamwidth.org/489400.html. Please comment here or there.