December 14, 2012
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Movie Review: The Hobbit
I like books. I like films that are based on books. So perhaps my best review of The Hobbit lies in this comparison: The Hobbit is a trilogy based on a single book. The Lord of The Rings, on the other hand, tantalized us with three books smashed into three movies, a sweeping story of epic proportions.
Therein lies the fundamental difference between these two trilogies. While the new Hobbit movie is excellent and fans of Middle Earth will revel in returning to the world once more in its splendor and detail, the truth is Peter Jackson is willing to sacrifice the truth of a children’s tale to get the epic feel of LOTR.
First the good: this Hobbit film is beautiful. The acting, of course, is great. Moments of humor are sprinkled throughout just as one would expect. We even get to see more of the flying helicopter scenes, the shots soaring above heroes running across an open plain.
But there in lies the rub: We’ve seen this before. We’ve heard this soundtrack before. We’ve seen these shots before. We feel like we’ve heard these jokes before.
In 2002 when LOTR:Fellowship opened, everyone was stunned by its complexity and beauty. Anticipation for the movie had risen to a fevered pitch. Fans were in love with this man who brought Tolkien’s story to life in truth and love (except for that stupid insertion about Aragorn falling off the cliff in Two Towers).
In 2012, the novelty is gone. We enjoy The Hobbit like we enjoy visiting a beloved cousin. It’s not like seeing a celebrity, but it’s still a great visit.
Again I’m not trying to be too negative. Tolkien fans will love the film. They’ll enjoy the songs and the scenery and the battle scenes and the jokes and just sitting in a theater again watching something from this world.
But at three hours, the film just runs….long. (To be fair, Tolkien feels “long” to a modern reader used to the cotton-candy pacing of young-adult literature.) Sometimes good filmmakers fall in love with the story so much that they can’t bear to cut anything. But the essence of good art lies in the editing. What isn’t present is as important as what is.
Now, on the upside, the Hobbit film delves into the nooks and crannies of Tolkien lore, expounding on moments which enrich the subsequent LOTR storyline. You’ll understand so much more of the Hobbit story from the film than you got from the book (unless you’ve memorized The Silmarillion or can go toe-to-toe with Stephen Colbert as a Tolkien nerd).
But I must warn you, make sure you’ve drunk some coffee before you go. (Don’t worry about having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the film, there are plenty of moments when you can get out without missing the action.) And you had better choose a theater with very comfortable seats because you will be in them for three hours.
Bottom line The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is lovely and interesting. I like being back in Tolkien’s world. But I hope Jackson exercises a little more editing-room self-control for the later films.
Best scene “Riddles in the Dark”–it’s absolutely incredible.
