Superb but not the best film ever (I think?!)

Rating: 9/10 (22 December 2001)

I know more people that have tried reading The Hobbit and didn't complete it that actually made it to the end of the book (myself included). The book can be quite hard going in places and I think the same is true of the movie. The fantasy genre is begging for the Star Wars treatment but this film doesn't attempt that - and rightly so many of you would say.
The film is technically awesome. Probably the most amazing epic spectacle I've ever seen. It's wonderfully directed by the man who brought us the hilarious Braindead (Peter Jackson) but it's not the thrilling, non stop adventure that some might be (perhaps foolishly) expecting.
The film takes pains to build ambience and I think in this aspect it's very successful. The problem is that in many places we're wading through an awful lot of dialogue that isn't really that theatrical or tension building. I didn't laugh or cry or feel a shiver down my spine as a result of any speeches, monologues or exchanges. Ultimately, despite great casting and acting, a few scenes are left slightly flat due to the nature of the script. I mean, they could have got Quentin Tarantino to write a few scenes of dialogue, say - but I guess they ought to keep faith to the original book of course. I don't know whether the language or tone of the books is quite so unimaginative or not.
Despite this, and the fact that some cinemas still have less than comfy seat cushions which aren't suitable for 2 hour movies (let alone 3 hours like this one), the film is superb.
I will need to watch it again (I'll take a cushion this time) to fully bed down my opinion.
One thing is certain. So well crafted is this movie, from the costumes, the photography, the acting, the sets, the music, the effects and the make-up that it will doubtlessly stand the test of time. It will now be a classic trilogy of movies as well as novels.
My only concern is that this film didn't quite hit the spot I was looking for. You won't get a Star Wars buzz out of this film (come to think of it - I didn't out of Episode I either). You'll get an all together more measured and scrupulous sense of entertainment, but, by the time the third film is released, there will be no room left in the genre for the more thrilling and epic action adventure that the world of elves, dwarfs and magic users deserves. Still, I can't complain too much. I'll give it 9 out of 10.