The best movie of the year!

Rating: 10/10 (13 December 2012)

This is a review, written right after having seen the movie, the Hobbit.
First, I want to start by saying that after first hearing that the movie will come out in two lengthy episodes, I was somewhat skeptical whether there is 'enough meat' in the book Hobbit, to justify two movies. But nothing prepared me for the final blow, that was when Peter Jackson announced that there will be three, around 3 hours long movies. Needless to say, that was the last thing I wanted to hear. I mean had the 'maestro' gone mad? Was he going to drag this little Hobbit fairytale endlessly, prolonging every little chapter into a exhaustion and mind- numbing boredom? This was the fear I had, entering the cinema.
I read a couple of magazine-reviews about it first, and they all seemed to convey a similar message. The story was dragging, the new High Frame Rate technology made the image look too realistic, similar to TV- production or something. The HFR took away the 'magic' from the movie, making even the sets look fake. Jackson had become a megalomaniac, making the Hobbit some kind of tour of Middle-Earth, maximizing the cash-flow and filling his pockets with gold, more gold that was laying under Smaug's scaly belly. These and other similar reviews seemed to confirm my own fears for the movie, and I had almost no expectations for it to be any good. But, unfortunately, I've never been so happy of being so wrong. The movie was absolutely fantastic, definitely the best I've seen this year!
First, the movie had enough gore and serious situations going on, enough so that it really couldn't be called a children movie only. Albeit being a tad lighter in tone compared to the LOTR, it had enough darkness to be taken seriously. The thing was really entertaining and beautiful to watch, every second of it was filled with something interesting to see and feel. And I don't know what these so called 'professional critics' been watching, but I just didn't see the same movie that they were describing, no matter how hard I looked. First of all, the HFR was and is glorious. Nothing looked fake, in fact the effects were much better everywhere, than those seen in LOTR. This was the easiest 3D movie to watch so far, even though it was almost 3 hours long. My eyes did not get tired, nor did I feel even light nausea or anything like that. And in action scenes, no more jerking of the images in fast movements. The 48 frames works brilliantly with 3D. Go to see it and get used to it, because it is going to be a new norm.
One realization that I made after the movie, is that the movie is not too long at all, but actually to book Hobbit is too short. When you read the Hobbit the book, you are left with a nagging feeling that too much of the story, too big events, such as major battles, were depicted in a way too few pages, leaving the reader wanting more. Perhaps it was another struck of genius from Jackson to make this a trilogy, because having just seen the first part, the damn thing seems to be working as a trilogy, and quite beautifully so too. So, in another word, this was an improvement from the book. It has actually been recently said, that Tolkien wanted to re-write the Hobbit, to reflect the new standard and feel he later set in the LOTR, but gave up. But guess what, Peter Jackson re-wrote the Hobbit with his masterful cinematic brush, in a way that I believe even Tolkien would be proud of. Jackson gives the character enough screen-time, he lashes out enough action, he lets everything breathe and flow free in magically beautiful scenery. His actors are doing their best work, Howard Shore brings forward new grand and hauntingly beautiful theme. And one more thing about Tolkien himself, he really liked writing action and battle scenes. He meticulously depicted the battles and made the whole affair not a small and quick issue, but really gorged himself in them, just like PJ likes to do in his movie adaptations of the books.
I don't waste time for acting reviews, other than saying that they were supreme. No-one will disappoint, Martin Freeman is a perfect choice for Bilbo Baggings. Perfect...period! And how can one explain sir Christopher Lee? I mean the man is 90 years old, and just went on and gave another brilliant and strong performance as a Saruman the White. Mackellen is as brilliant as ever. And Gollum? You're going to love seeing the wretched thing again, like a long-lost friend. In my honest opinion Peter Jackson has crafted a masterpiece of cinema, from a book that is maybe just above average. See this movie with heart and child- like curiosity and wonder. Be not concerned of it's length, there is going to be enough story to tell, because Jackson is telling the Hobbit like it should be told. My faith in his adaptation of Tolkien's works is fully restored. I give this full 10 stars. While the story is not on par with LOTR's epic majesty, mystery and end of the world drama, the Hobbit is one helluva entertaining 'road-movie' in a high fantasy setting. Not to be missed, except if you are one of those boring types, with a fixed opinion of what is realistic and possible in this world of hours, and does not want to see anything that goes against the 'rules set in stone of reality'. And if you happen to be the type, I just want to say that even you fantasize about something sometimes. We all do...