Love for what it is, not what it isn't

Rating: 10/10 (15 December 2012)

First off, let me say that The Hobbit was a masterpiece. I have been following this film since I first heard that there was a possibility of it, back when there was rumors of casting Elijah Wood as Bilbo. I definitely had high expectations. Knowing and loving every detail of The Lord of the Rings, I knew that the Hobbit had to be just as good, and when Peter Jackson was announced as the director, what could be better? Admittedly, I knew it wouldn't be the same as Lord of the Rings, and that there would be things that maybe wouldn't suit me perfectly. But there was definitely nothing lacking. Now, don't write me off as one of those hopelessly gone fanatics who won't write a helpful review. Though I am slightly biased in that way, I will try my best to provide something helpful. When the New Line Cinema logo rolled in, I could not stop my restless excitement, but as the film began to play, I started feeling those pangs of disappointment. It wasn't just like Lord of the Rings, and I was sure that signified being 'not as good.' Elijah's voice wasn't exactly the same, and as a die-hard Frodo fan, I was ticked off;"whatisupwiththis? themusicisn'tlike...thecharactersaren'tlike...theeffectsaren'tas..." I was wondering if I had seriously blown twenty bucks on another money- maker. But then I began to notice the skillfully done "extra" things that Peter had so skillfully woven into the film, the adorableness and naiveness of Bilbo, the beauty of the poignant and hilarious lines, and I began to think,"OH! Here's Lord of the Rings!! YAY!" But then I was caught up in how awesome it was...without considering LOTR at all. It was then that I realized, that no, this is not Lord of the Rings. But it IS something just as good. Something that I can love as Middle Earth, as the Hobbit, another masterpiece that is definitely the Tolkien I love, but is the novelty I craved for. By the end, I was nearly in tears, because this was one of those films that made me realize that yes, there is still some good in the world.