The HOBBIT is a work of art! Ignore the nay-saying critics, its better than the book so far! (in 2D 24fps

Rating: 10/10 (18 December 2012)

Yep, I said it, better than the book so far! Some critics panned the Hobbit for taking too long to get going, too much unnecessary padding, and not all the Dwarfs get much to do.
Well, aside from the last point about the Dwarfs not all getting to do much I heartily disagree! I found the film breezed by, I actually wish it was longer (Thank-you PJ for the extended cuts which I will be buying) Hopefully some of that extra footage will be more Dwarf action from the ones that I don't remember speaking at all, or maybe they get their shot in the future films. Seeing this masterpiece of a beginning chapter, I'm already awestruck at what it will all look like as a whole when the trilogy is complete. Del Toro's signature is also still over this with those Goblin designs, and they look terrific. Better in the film than in still images and merchandise that I've seen.
I was daunted by seeing this as it had 65% RT score, and I had read some bad mouthing (mostly about the 3D 48fpr, so I saw it in standard 24fps 2D showing.) Which was great but now I'm curious as much of it was very aimed at 3D. I'll see it again next week i think to compare.
It was great how it felt more fun and brisk than the darker serious LOTR, but it blended very well. It never got boring or plodded like some of LOTR, and some characters added really did add a lot to the world, the book I found too brisk and hard to imagine some of what was going on, but the film really immersed the viewer into each scene. Gollum was a huge highlight, and he has never looked or acted better than in this. Freeman was also brilliant as Bilbo. Erebor was absolutely stunning as was the Dragons golden lair.
Overall, the Hobbit filled middle earth more than its book by this point in its journey, and welcome the padding is. (I have faith that in film 2 or 3 when Smaug does his thing, it will be a high voltage visual treat rather than the 2 pages of quick action described in the book, and the battle of the 5 armies, Beorn, spiders etc.. all still to come. PJ did right by splitting this over 3 films.
10/10 from me! (almost a 9/10 because some dwarfs didn't say much, but, there's no way this masterpiece deserved a 9 based on a few tiny gripes.
This film, and DREDD are my top 2 films of 2012.