The Hobbit Review
OMG long post is long. I have a lot to say about The Hobbit. I know not everyone loved it, but I honestly think the great outweighted the issues. I really want to see it again and am very much looking forward to the next movie (where some of my favorite scenes take place!!!!). Okay, my heart is bursting with feelings. This movie beat my expectations on some levels.
Cast:
Martin Freeman- All the kudos to Freeman. I was beyond pleased with Bilbo's portrayal. In fact, I have to say they did a better job at capturing Bilbo then they did Frodo. Now don't get me wrong, I love Frodo and Elijah Wood, but I always took some issue at how weak they made Frodo in the movies. I got that they did it for dramatic reasons, but Frodo was a little kickass Hobbit too!
I feel with Bilbo they captured his nature perfectly. They caught the spark and bravery behind the typical Hobbitness.
Richard Armitage- Once again, all the kudos. It says so much about this cast that I was focused on the characters and not who was playing them. No example was more great then Armitage. He WAS Thorin. You felt the weight of history upon him and his longing for the Lonely Mountain.
Sylvester McCoy- Okay I'm not a Radagast fan, but this is Sylvester McCoy so seeing him made me happy. It's more Doctor Who feels then Hobbit feels when it comes to him, but yeah.
The Movie Itself:
-One of the movies greatest strengths was also one of it's greatest weaknesses. They were very determined to include set up for the Lord of the Rings movies. They wanted you to feel the oncoming danger and to make connections to the original trilogy. I did love that they did this, but in doing so they also threw the pacing off quite a bit.
Many have said that the time at Bilbo's dragged. I agree. Even though it was in the book I think they should have cut the song about Bibbo Baggins plates. ;) But that is it. I disagree that Bilbo's inner debate on whether to go went on to long though. I think this was needed for Bilbo's character. He was fighting what was expected of him versus his secret desires for adventure.
The scene with the trolls went on too long. Though I've never been a fan of that scene so I suppose I should be impressed that parts of it entertained me and endeared some of the characters to me.
While the meeting at Rivendell did an amazing job at setting up the Lord of the Rings movies, it also took from Bilbo's time at Rivendell. Still, there were some nice moments here. The reading of the map was as it should have been (moon letters!... I always loved that) and I thought the meal was funny.
Radagast was the most obvious addition that threw the pacing off. I do get why he is there. I really do. Still, it broke the pacing up.
The scene where the mountains fight should have been cut all together. It was the only scene in full that did not work for me.
An addition that worked and I loved to bits? The intro with old Bilbo and Frodo. I loved the connection and it felt right for the beginning of the tale. I was basically a flailing smiling fangirl during that scene. :D
Including the history of Moria is likely confusing, but is also a great example of how Tolkien built complex histories for these places and it's people. This showed how the Dwarves have lost not one homeland but two.
The last hour was near perfect in my opinion. Not one scene should have been cut. It should be also noted this was were the movie stayed the most faithful to the book.
Some of my favorite things:
-Bilbo
-Thorin
-Bofur: you won me over, good sir. Yes, you did.
-Fili and Kili: They are more then the 'hot' dwarves. I was completely endeared to these two.
-Bilbo's relationship to all the above. This was one of the highlights of the movie for me.
-The scene where Bilbo saves Thorin.
-The Gollum scene. It was rather faithful to the book and this I liked. It also managed to tie Frodo's letting Gollum live to Bilbo doing the same. That I LOVED. That theme worked for me in spades.
-It's not shocking, but the sets, clothing and scenery where stunning. The sets did not feel like sets but real places and things. I can not think of world building done better then the Lord of the Rings movies.
Soundtrack:
Howard Shore does it again!! This was one of my favorite things about the movie. They did a beautiful job at merging the music we know with new music. It gave me all the feels! The only thing I think that didn't work was 'What Bilbo Baggins' hates. Yes, it was in the book, but would have been better off cut as it did not fit the feel they were going for overall.
-Misty Mountain: perfect moment was perfect. I love the mood of this moment. Well done Richard, well done.
-Song of the Lonely Mountain- Can I marry this song? We did not stay through the credits to hear it (much regret), but once I heard it I was in love. I love this as much as May It Be, Gollum's Song or Into the West. it completely fits the vibe of the movie and the Dwarves. Both sad, yet hopeful. Here is a link to it on youtube if you have not heard it.
Cast:
Martin Freeman- All the kudos to Freeman. I was beyond pleased with Bilbo's portrayal. In fact, I have to say they did a better job at capturing Bilbo then they did Frodo. Now don't get me wrong, I love Frodo and Elijah Wood, but I always took some issue at how weak they made Frodo in the movies. I got that they did it for dramatic reasons, but Frodo was a little kickass Hobbit too!
I feel with Bilbo they captured his nature perfectly. They caught the spark and bravery behind the typical Hobbitness.
Richard Armitage- Once again, all the kudos. It says so much about this cast that I was focused on the characters and not who was playing them. No example was more great then Armitage. He WAS Thorin. You felt the weight of history upon him and his longing for the Lonely Mountain.
Sylvester McCoy- Okay I'm not a Radagast fan, but this is Sylvester McCoy so seeing him made me happy. It's more Doctor Who feels then Hobbit feels when it comes to him, but yeah.
The Movie Itself:
-One of the movies greatest strengths was also one of it's greatest weaknesses. They were very determined to include set up for the Lord of the Rings movies. They wanted you to feel the oncoming danger and to make connections to the original trilogy. I did love that they did this, but in doing so they also threw the pacing off quite a bit.
Many have said that the time at Bilbo's dragged. I agree. Even though it was in the book I think they should have cut the song about Bibbo Baggins plates. ;) But that is it. I disagree that Bilbo's inner debate on whether to go went on to long though. I think this was needed for Bilbo's character. He was fighting what was expected of him versus his secret desires for adventure.
The scene with the trolls went on too long. Though I've never been a fan of that scene so I suppose I should be impressed that parts of it entertained me and endeared some of the characters to me.
While the meeting at Rivendell did an amazing job at setting up the Lord of the Rings movies, it also took from Bilbo's time at Rivendell. Still, there were some nice moments here. The reading of the map was as it should have been (moon letters!... I always loved that) and I thought the meal was funny.
Radagast was the most obvious addition that threw the pacing off. I do get why he is there. I really do. Still, it broke the pacing up.
The scene where the mountains fight should have been cut all together. It was the only scene in full that did not work for me.
An addition that worked and I loved to bits? The intro with old Bilbo and Frodo. I loved the connection and it felt right for the beginning of the tale. I was basically a flailing smiling fangirl during that scene. :D
Including the history of Moria is likely confusing, but is also a great example of how Tolkien built complex histories for these places and it's people. This showed how the Dwarves have lost not one homeland but two.
The last hour was near perfect in my opinion. Not one scene should have been cut. It should be also noted this was were the movie stayed the most faithful to the book.
Some of my favorite things:
-Bilbo
-Thorin
-Bofur: you won me over, good sir. Yes, you did.
-Fili and Kili: They are more then the 'hot' dwarves. I was completely endeared to these two.
-Bilbo's relationship to all the above. This was one of the highlights of the movie for me.
-The scene where Bilbo saves Thorin.
-The Gollum scene. It was rather faithful to the book and this I liked. It also managed to tie Frodo's letting Gollum live to Bilbo doing the same. That I LOVED. That theme worked for me in spades.
-It's not shocking, but the sets, clothing and scenery where stunning. The sets did not feel like sets but real places and things. I can not think of world building done better then the Lord of the Rings movies.
Soundtrack:
Howard Shore does it again!! This was one of my favorite things about the movie. They did a beautiful job at merging the music we know with new music. It gave me all the feels! The only thing I think that didn't work was 'What Bilbo Baggins' hates. Yes, it was in the book, but would have been better off cut as it did not fit the feel they were going for overall.
-Misty Mountain: perfect moment was perfect. I love the mood of this moment. Well done Richard, well done.
-Song of the Lonely Mountain- Can I marry this song? We did not stay through the credits to hear it (much regret), but once I heard it I was in love. I love this as much as May It Be, Gollum's Song or Into the West. it completely fits the vibe of the movie and the Dwarves. Both sad, yet hopeful. Here is a link to it on youtube if you have not heard it.