The Dwarf who stole the show

Rating: 8/10 (19 January 2013)

Firstly I have to say that I actually think the hobbit is not a well written book. In my opinion too much is left unsaid both in regards to characters and plot. It is very episodic which is why it lent itself so well to Jackanory where I first heard it. I loved The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the film reintroduced me to the books many years after I first read them.
Anyway to the film which I treated my family to on Boxing day. We watched it in 3D 48fps. It was just awesome (I hate that word but it seems to fit) the detail and clarity like nothing I've seen before. I have always hated 3D but not here I felt immersed in the action.
I I loved the opening scenes telling us the Dwarfs history and setting up the reason for Thorin's quest something that I don't think the book explains. It was also a nice nod to LOTHR to have Bilbo and Frodo talking about the past.
I enjoyed how Gandalf and the Dwarfs are introduced in keeping with book but with some tweaks so we see all the different dwarfs arrive before the focus switches to Thorin. I liked the way they delayed his entrance making his arrival dramatic – immense almost.
One of the things that the film does by having the Azog storyline is provide a link between all the individual episodes in the novel which for me at least is no bad thing.
I loved seeing Rivendel it was my favourite set in the original film, however I felt the white council scenes dragged the film down.
I must be the only person underwhelmed by riddles in the dark. I think because I knew it was coming and that it would play out as it does in the book it just didn't excite me. If this had been filmed before LOTR it would have been different because Golem would have blown me away. Having said all of that I did love Bilbo deciding not to kill Golem.
The Goblin scene was very fast and thrilling and I can see the video game comparisons but I still liked it. I especially liked the way the Goblin King taunts Thorin. I wasn't bothered by his last line either. Barry Humphries did a great job.
The final scene cinematically was amazing. Thorin coming out of the tree was just amazing. The audience around me seemed really caught up in the moment.
Performance wise I enjoyed Martin Freeman he played his usually everyday character and that is right for Bilbo. Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis were as good as they were originally. I loved Ken Stott as Balin his narration of the attack by the orcs is just brilliant as is his conversation with Thorin.
But this film was stolen by Richard Armitage. Peter Jackson and co gave him the character's bare bones on paper and boy how he ran with it. I was just amazed at how good he was; making Thorin a very much more complex character than his book counterpart. It was a master class in how to portray a conflicted flawed man (dwarf). Every word and gesture showed something of Thorin's character. He just dominated the screen even when he wasn't speaking.
Sadly I have only been able to see this once but I will certainly be getting the DVD and I am guessing there will be a lot of repeat viewings