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Thoughts on Hobbitses
My building was doing testing on its fire alarms this afternoon, so I decided that made a good excuse to get out of the house and go see The Hobbit. I enjoyed the Lord of the Rings trilogy quite a bit, so I expected to like this one, too, and was not disappointed. I’m looking forward to the next installment, although I have a hard time seeing how Peter Jackson gets two more three-hour movies out of the remaining material, appendices or no appendices. The end of this film, with Bilbo making his very premature statement followed by the awakening of Smaug, just felt so much like a halfway point. I do appreciate all the bits and pieces of background that foreshadow Sauron’s rise to power, which, if I recall, wasn’t even hinted at in The Hobbit. It gives the story more weight, and connects it better to the first trilogy, but I think it could have been accomplished in two movies, and I can’t imagine what we get out of a third. But I guess we’ll see.
Seeing movies in 3D always reminds me of why I don’t usually watch movies in 3D.All the swooping and spiraling detracts from the experience, and busy action scenes are a lot harder to me to follow (I had the same problem with Avatar). There were a few places I found it effective, but for the most part I’d just as soon have watched the 2D version.
Martin Freeman was born to play Bilbo Baggins. Also, I now have a better understanding of Richard Armitage fandom, and may well be joining your ranks. I still prefer him without the beard and the bushy hair, though. ;) Balin is a great character, too. The rest of the dwarves kind of run together, except for the one in the swoopy hat who was kind to Bilbo when he tried to leave, and the cute scruffy archer one (Tumblr informs me that this was Kili). But given how many there are, and how they are mostly not separately developed, I think I can be forgiven. ;)
I think most of the criticisms I’ve seen of the movie are fair — character development sacrificed for action, too long (as mentioned above), a lack of diversity (a problem, to be fair, that’s inherent in the source, and at least Jackson made baby steps toward fixing it by bringing in a couple of female characters). I could also have done with fewer fat jokes. But most of these things didn’t bother me while I was actually watching it, just on reflection.
I'm glad we only have to wait a year for the next one. This thing Peter Jackson does, filming his movie series all at once to minimize waits and actor drift, is a good practice and more filmmakers should do it.
Seeing movies in 3D always reminds me of why I don’t usually watch movies in 3D.All the swooping and spiraling detracts from the experience, and busy action scenes are a lot harder to me to follow (I had the same problem with Avatar). There were a few places I found it effective, but for the most part I’d just as soon have watched the 2D version.
Martin Freeman was born to play Bilbo Baggins. Also, I now have a better understanding of Richard Armitage fandom, and may well be joining your ranks. I still prefer him without the beard and the bushy hair, though. ;) Balin is a great character, too. The rest of the dwarves kind of run together, except for the one in the swoopy hat who was kind to Bilbo when he tried to leave, and the cute scruffy archer one (Tumblr informs me that this was Kili). But given how many there are, and how they are mostly not separately developed, I think I can be forgiven. ;)
I think most of the criticisms I’ve seen of the movie are fair — character development sacrificed for action, too long (as mentioned above), a lack of diversity (a problem, to be fair, that’s inherent in the source, and at least Jackson made baby steps toward fixing it by bringing in a couple of female characters). I could also have done with fewer fat jokes. But most of these things didn’t bother me while I was actually watching it, just on reflection.
I'm glad we only have to wait a year for the next one. This thing Peter Jackson does, filming his movie series all at once to minimize waits and actor drift, is a good practice and more filmmakers should do it.
no subject
The theatre I most want to see the Hobbit at has only one big screen and they are only showing the 3D version, which has been my main reason for dragging my feet to go see it. Although, to be honest, I'm laughingly nervous that my childhood memories of bedtime family readings of the Hobbit will be... er... uh... ruined (?!) if I have *COUGH* adult feelings for Bilbo's actor. XD
Although, perhaps having Martin Freeman appearing extra diminutive and hobbitish, with big, hairy feet, will keep the childhood fantasy of the hobbit alive in my mind. (Rather than my normal state of affairs: "Hm! Martin Freeman = omnomnom, and far more interesting than Cumberbatch, imho.")
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I don't particularly want to see the Cumberbatch war on my blog, so I'll just say that I find him attractive and haven't seen enough on his work to comment on his acting and leave it at that. ;) I love Freeman as an actor -- his Watson is one of my favorite things about the BBC Sherlock -- and, unlike some folks on Tumblr I felt like he really inhabited this role; I never thought "oh look, it's John Watson (or Arthur Dent) as a hobbit". It helps, for me, that the costume and makeup enhanced his resemblance to Ian Holm, so it was very easy for me to see the two actors as the same character at different ages.
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(Gimme the costume porn and scenery porn.)
And, oh no, no. No desire to start a Cumberbatch war at all. I enjoy his acting, especially in a brilliant revisioning and revoicing as Holmes. (waves gigantic peace flag to all passersby)
Freeman's Watson grew on me slowly and then suddenly. Great updating of the character. (I sort of ignore Sherlock fandom much in the same way I ignore almost all popular fandoms due to the fact that my personal interests usually don't map to popular fannish interests.)
I suspect a Hobbit pilgrimage will occur this weekend or next. Yes, I did say pilgrimage. ;)
no subject
I think my biggest complaint is the lack of Fifteen Birds in Five Fir Trees. And the lack of lyrics for Over the Misty Mountains Cold. I would have preferred the past of Thorin and Co. placed in context with their visit and not tacked onto the very beginning - but that's me. I also don't understand why the closing credits version of Misty Mountains was all newly made-up lyrics, which I found rather disappointing.
However, I really liked the additions showing the Necromancer plot and Radagast, and I liked the way they developed Bilbo's character.
As for three movies - if they drag out the misery that was Mirkwood and embellish on Gandalf fighting the Necromancer, it can work. I personally hope they do a more epic battle than the Rankin & Bass cartoon's flea circus approach to the Battle of the Five Armies. At least the third movie will have that. ^__^