An expected journey which took a long time to start!

Rating: 7/10 (17 December 2012)

I went into this Film with great expectations, after the LOTR trilogy which I have always loved. I had doubts when it was announced to be released in three parts. However my thoughts reconciled into that of curiosity when Peter Jackson announced that this was partly due to the input of many of the appendices. I wondered before the film if this would be a good thing or not. The introduction of the white Orc early in the film did spice up the film a bit giving it a slight taste of LOTR, considering the film has a relatively slow and dry start. However the new system of making all orcs, wargs...etc. With CGI proved to be a low point. This is because it makes the characters seem video game like, which puts them somewhat out of place. Also I found that the White Orc totally dominated the storyline so much that you almost felt underwhelmed by the Great Goblin, which is a huge scene and character in the book. The film was also very stop and start and perhaps a little to comical at times.
However I have been negative up to this point but there were several things that did impress me which is why I have given 7/10. Martin Freeman totally convinced me as a young Bilbo. He was a much better actor than all previous hobbits. The necromancer input into the storyline, injected excitement into a otherwise dull start. Andy Serkis completely stole the show as Gollum. He was hysterical as well as threatening and scary. Also the camera work showed off New Zealand (much more than in LOTR) to perfection and it yet again continued to be a superb middle earth. The film did get good by the end but then of course it ended leaving you feeling somewhat unfinished.
It would have been better split into two parts as you felt you were watching a rather long introduction rather than a segment of a story. However I hope the next one will impress me more as right now it is not on the same level as LOTR.