Don't Let Some of the Critics Deter You, This Is Fantasy at Its Finest

Rating: 9/10 (15 December 2012)

I found myself reading a number of mixed reviews from a vast array of critics this morning, trying to make some sense of what they were saying. I ultimately came to the conclusion that their complaints were tinged with bias. Granted most of them weren't necessarily bad, but mixed. I will admit that the film does start out somewhat slow, but looking back after experiencing the entire movie, I wouldn't have it any other way. The beginning of the film makes you care about the group as a whole, but more importantly, it makes you care deeply about the key characters: Bilbo, Gandalf, and Thorin. This is not the LOTR, it is an entirely different animal. The Hobbit is more of an adventure than an epic like the LOTR. Once the adventure began, I found myself becoming engulfed in what was coming next, and what new story we would stumble upon. I have read the Hobbit, however I have not read the Silmarillion. Throughout various parts of the film, Jackson incorporates stories from the Silmarillion to expand the universe even more. These took me a little while to get used to, but once again I soon realized how much they added to the story, and how much more they made me care about Thorin, Gandalf, and the entire Dwarven cause. The 48 FPS was absolutely spectacular, it takes movie escapism to a whole new level. I felt as if I was a part of each and every scene, soaking in the beauty of the landscape. Not only was this movie well acted, and well produced, but it was extremely well written. The film delves into ideas, and goes deeper as the film progresses. What really happens in the fight between good and evil, and what truly makes a hero? These questions are asked in this film, and that is the most important part. If a movie simply looks good, and has no substance, it would be a mediocre action flick with no legacy. But, when a film both looks great, sounds great, and FEELS great, then it is art. The Hobbit is art, and I am positive that it will only get better, the Hobbit has not yet been fully realized, but it is on its way, and while it may have its flaws, it has a heart, a brain, and tons of ambition.