A masterpiece in its own right, not just for the so-called "fanboys"

Rating: 9/10 (19 December 2012)

Maybe as a movie this was just good. But as a Tolkien adaptation it was brave, marvelous and almost better than the Lord of the Rings.
It has the pace of the book, which I find truly epic. You can already feel that this is going to be a three-piece saga. Some may criticize that but I do not even want to start imagining an edited version of this in two movies.
Yes, as a movie (speaking about the crafting that is filmmaking) it may not be 10/10 when it comes to editing. But this - at the same time - makes this movie more than a Hollywood blockbuster. It takes its time. It has scenes purely for the fans. Which filmmakers have been this brave when it comes to adaptations and the mass taste? The HFR (which is amazing in the grand picture) reveals some of the CGI and make-up. But then again, only in minor moments. In others, it looks better than anything I have ever seen before. Most outstanding was the sequence of the flying eagles when it comes to the look. Just breath-taking.
The acting is superb - although I do understand why Freeman and McKellen will go without major nominations. As of yet, there were not the 100% Oscar-moments in their performances simply because the screen-time is split between so many characters. Although the scene between Gandalf and Galadriel "It is the small things that keeps the darkness at bay" should get some special award for "two masters of their art acting the sh*** out of this world". Blanchett and McKellen are beyond words here.
The highlight - and I can only repeat others here - the game of riddles. What can I say? Serkis is the only actor I would have hoped for some nominations... but I guess the fears of awarding CGI characters is still too big for that. But the scene is simply like a major scene in a staged play. Tony-worthy. The two actors connect so amazingly well that it is heart-breaking to see how Bilbo later looks at the crushed Gollum. Both Freeman and Serkis are the one-and-only actors for these two roles.
I can also live with the changes from the book (this book either NEEDED changes or should have been done as a kids-movie. Given the fact that Tolkien himself was thinking of adapting the Hobbit in LotR style, I think the changes are fine). Maybe the biggest change: Azog. I think Azog looked superb, I do not really get the love for the Gollum CGI and than the complete hate for the Azog CGI. I think most people simply do not like his story-line... but I do understand why they needed a villain who was a constant threat, as Smaug comes in so late in the story and also drops out of it again quite soon after. The story with Azog, and later Bolg, may pay off big-time in the next to films.
What I do not really get is why the Witch-King's story was changed as it was. Buried, really? I think here they were afraid of overdoing it for non-fans in sticking with Tolkien's version. But why not referring to the quote that no man will kill him and that the White Council does not know what happened to him? I do understand why PJ and Co did not want the Council to know about Sauron just yet, that is an okay-change. But the Witch-King feels so unnecessary as of yet.
So, only a fanboy's praise? Not entirely. The tune of the "Misty Mountains Song" is too often repeated. And although the recycling of LotR score is epic in some parts (first time we see the ring, Shire, Lorien-theme) it is a bit weird in others (Nazgul-theme in Thorin's final stand, Return of the King-theme when Thorin and Bilbo hug). I hope that it was the plan to underline the similarity between FotR and AUJ through the score and that more new music will hit our ears once we reach Mirkwood, Esgaroth and Erebor.
Also, the troll-scene - though a good adaption of the episode in the book - does not settle completely with the rest of the movie. While all the other comic moments go well with the characters this is the only truly childish-scene IMHO. Nice to finally see on screen - but that could have been shortened a bit, I guess.
All in all - I am back in Middle-Earth and cannot wait for my second time (again in HFR 3D, after Christmas I will see it a third time in LotR 2D style).
Thank you, PJ and company, for being brave enough to make a fan-film, by the hyper-nerd for the little nerds :)