Blunt the Knives, Bend the Forks

Rating: 9/10 (20 May 2013)

A lot of people were skeptically when it was announced that Peter Jackson was taking JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and turning it into a trilogy. Why take the shortest book out of the four book series and turn it into three movies is beyond me, but the first installment in the Hobbit trilogy is perhaps my second favorite out of the Jackson film adaptations, right behind The Fellowship of the Rings, which takes home the grand prize for it's upbeat nature and wholesome Middle Earthiness. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey received a mixed reception when it got released, some saying it was an entertaining blockbuster in the heart of good adventure stories, some saying it was as bad as Battlefield Earth. But I think it's good popcorn and nacho fun and if you want to kill a Saturday afternoon by watching a movie, then this might be your flick. I'm a big fan of LOTR films with good humor, action, character development and wonder (which is one of the many reasons why I hold Bakshi's LOTR at such high regards), so I thought this film was grand for what it was. After all, we have not seen a motion picture that takes place in Middle Earth for nearly ten years.
Some complained about the special effects and Jackson's controversial use of 48 fps, but this didn't bother me all that much while watching the film. I will say that the film has scenes of fast pace and scenes that leave you out of breath, but this factor is meant to intensify the whole movie experience. It is there to make you feel like you are right there with the characters and experiencing the adventures they are hurled into and although some things seem a bit out of place, the film does have a nice look to it and a great atmosphere to be engulfed in. I love the look of the Shire, for it has such a woodsy, fragrant and greenery appeal to it and makes me want to live there, eating vegetables and smoking the "finest weed in the Southfarthing" with the Hobbits. The look of Rivendell (the land of the elves) is also lovely to behold and something reminiscent of a ancient fairy tale land or a land straight out of a classic Disney film.
Now let's talk about the characters. Martin Freeman may not look exactly like Sir Ian Holm, but he has Bilbo Baggins' distinct personality and characteristics down to a tee. When he runs about the Shire shouting "I'm going on an adventure!", it sums up his outlook and trademarks flawlessly and reminds us of the timid, yet optimistic Bilbo in Tolkien's original novel. He also delivers funny lines during the troll scene, which is arguably the most hilarious sequence in all Lord of the Rings. Sir Ian McKellen pulls off Gandalf the Grey flawlessly, even if he hasn't played that version of Gandalf in almost 12 years. When the other characters are in turmoil, he always knows when to show up and work wonders with his wooden stick of might. All 13 of the dwarfs are reminiscent of the dwarfs in Disney's Snow White and know just how much butt to kick when vicious abominations and creatures show up to start trouble. They are liable to get a few chuckles out of the audience, for like Bilbo, they have quirky dialogue and perfectly timed one liners.
The other actors are also exemplary in their respected roles. Christopher Lee can still pull of Saruman at an impressive 90 years old and Hugo Weaving is still a triumphant Elrond with a deep, kingly voice. Perhaps the funniest characters out of the entire film are the corpulent Goblin King, the three hungry trolls who steal the gang's horses and the Gollum, who is admittedly a cutey pie this time around and not the scheming twerp he was in TTT and ROTK. When he and Bilbo play the game of riddles for the ring, he stares up at Bilbo with the eyes of a dog and the excitement of a three year old who just found out he is going to Toys R Us. I felt a little sorry for him when he found out that Bilbo stoled the ring and he went absolutely nuts as if he just lost a fortune on a failed Italian restaurant. Poor little dude. All he wanted was his "preccccioussss". I have to give credit to Andy Serkis, for he is able to make the Gollum realistic and lifelike with his spidery and agile movements. The animators also did a brilliant job and were able to capture Serkis' movements and animate overtop of them perfectly. Sometimes, it's as if he isn't even computer generated at all. That's how realistic and incredible the effects are.
An Unexpected Journey is far from being a boring film. This funfest has action at every turn and will keep you captivated until the end credits. One minute, the characters are put up against deadly wargs, the next minute, they are in the midst of a deadly rock giant fight. In one scene, they are picked up by giant birds. No fooling! I think some were expecting to see the films of the original trilogy all over again, right down to the gritty war battles with a choir shouting songs in elvish. But remember, this film is entering a different territory than the territory explored beforehand. You just got to except it for what it is and enjoy the fun despite the obvious goofs and mishaps. I certainly enjoyed this film, for it was stuffed with the very things we look forward to seeing in movies, exhilaration and excitement, stuff to get the adrenaline flowing. Hopefully the sequels can carry on in these shoes as we encounter giant spiders, flies and the dreaded dragon, Smaug who sleeps in a bed of gold coins. I wish I could!
Take care everybody.