Milked, Uncreative, Disappointing

Rating: 1/10 (18 December 2012)

I must preface this by saying that I think the film is more like a 6, but I am giving it a 1 because I think that its current 8.6 rating is exaggerated.
This film is obviously done for the sake of milking a franchise. Which is surprising since the previous films were done so well and Jackson doesn't seem that type.
While the film is relatively entertaining, the visuals are very impressive (48fps gives a feel of almost seeing things with your own eyes which is something to adjust to), the sound was great but there are many facets to this film that make it a disappointment.
Artificial/Forced dramatic tension: the film lacks dramatic tension and a high stakes feel besides some really cool actions sequences. Despite this lack of real, high stakes, the music score and directing often attempts to coerce the viewer to identify a relatively insignificant moment as being a great dramatic moment. This happens throughout the film, and overall there is really no arc to any of the characters or to the story as a whole. The whole film is one action sequence to overcome after another. The character Bilbo is the closest one to have an arc and, while the Freeman did a fine job, the script really just lacks any genuine sense of there being such an arc.
Furthermore, the musical score continually and unnecessarily embellishes scene after scene in order to compensate for the obvious lack of tension and grandeur. Or perhaps such an embellishment was necessary since the filmmakers were aware of the weakness of the character's relationships and dialogue.
Its comparable to listening to AC/DC while watching a motionless gold fish in a bowl, the two just don't go together, but the rock n roll is trying to absorb you into the anti-climatic fish experience.
That is kind of an exaggerated example, but you get my point.
Also, some scenes and bits are taken straight from LOTR, which, while attempting to create a oneness of feel with the other films, instead comes off as almost forcing about recall and evinces a lack of originality and creativity.
That is the general feel of the film, they are trying to cast it as being a story that is as epic as the LOTR, as high stakes as the LOTR, while it is obvious that the story just lacks that punch. Instead of embracing the Hobbit for what it is, a children's story, they are trying to make it into something that it isn't, an epic.
In this process, they drag the film on WAY TOO LONG and even make the little story into 3 films. I almost want to watch the other two just as a lesson on how soullessly Hollywood milks a story that is already practically empty.
But the film must be presented as an epic to justify making three of them.
The fact is that the story obviously falls short of that status despite great attempts via technology, sound, and stunning visuals to force about a contrary reception.
For all these reasons I was continually disappointed by this film.
The last complaint was that I saw the film with the Dolby Atmos and I literally had to cover my ears throughout sequences because they were being shattered by the high volume. That has never happened in a movie and the staff told me that it was Dolby who set the volumes and they are still, obviously, finding the right levels.
On a positive note: the acting was great, despite many of the Dwarfs and villains coming off as caricatures. Armitage was fantastic as Thorin, and McKellan was top notch. Freeman and Serkis as well.
New Zealand was as beautiful as ever too.
But after scene after scene of forced, false stakes, the absence of a really engaging, conflict laded story (besides action sequences), the obvious nods to the LOTR films, the unfitting, forced score, and sometimes searing sound of Dolby Atmos, I was anxious to leave the theatre. And I rarely so poorly receive films, which is why I am writing this.
And I'm not some sap saying, "Oh it didn't do the book justice." I don't even remember the book, its been so long.
The movie simply lacks soul. It seems obvious that it was made for money and not to tell a good story.
I wish they would have taken the film in a totally different direction than LOTR. They should have done so since the Hobbit, despite being in the same world, is NOT the epic tale that LOTR is.
Those who clapped after the film and gave this film a 10 were duped by sound and visuals into believing that this film was something that it was not. To those who see clearly, the film is simply false.