Critics review 'An Unexpected Journey'

Movie doesn't open until 26/12/2012 down here, and I'll wait at least afew days after that until the crowds dwindle a bit. I'm trying for stoicism while I wait. The only thing I wish to say is that Eldo's comment about how the first one and half hours draaaaags gives me hope. Story development? Yes, I hope so!

Mrs Figg wrote: cumon Petty! spill the beans.

He's probably sitting back and letting the experience wash over him. You know, reflecting deeply before coming out with a lot of hot headed un-thought out comments, sensible Scotshobbit that he is... He may even be jotting down ideas for the edit already...

Not trying to get you down Orwell but I would not describe the first one and a half hours of the movie as anything resembling "story development". More like "bloated". I'm curious to hear what you make of it once you're able to see the film, though.

well it was good entertainment. solid and in parts very good. But it didnt grab my soul by the short and curlies like LOTR did.

That, uh, an interesting mental image there, Mrs Figg.

Eldorion wrote:Not trying to get you down Orwell but I would not describe the first one and a half hours of the movie as anything resembling "story development". More like "bloated". I'm curious to hear what you make of it once you're able to see the film, though.

I plan to love that part of the movie if only to spite you, Eldo, and even if I hate it.

Mrs Figg wrote:well it was good entertainment. solid and in parts very good. But it didnt grab my soul by the short and curlies like LOTR did.

Your soul has short and curlies?

well you know if something grabs your short and curlies, you aint going to escape without extreme pain. and LOTR grabbed me good and proper in the existentials. I was powerless in its grip.

Orwell wrote:I plan to love that part of the movie if only to spite you, Eldo, and even if I hate it.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

all I can say is roll on GOT season 3. I am looking forward to it more than I did the Hobbit.

Only 8 days till the Who xmas ep too - I'm looking forward to that more than the rest of TH.

and Sherlock

haha.. Sherlock.... like.. in three years..

the amount of people disliking the Hobbit movie..

Not our fault Norc- blame PJ for making a poor film.

Don't worry Norc, I spoke with GB and he should be coming to wage war on behalf of PJ and Hobbit movie lovers everywhere soon.

my way of knowing whether a film got to me or not is by how keen I am to see it again. when LOTR came out, I went to see the films many many times, and I loved watching them every time. with this one I am in no particular hurry to see it a second time. which makes me sad.

Eldorion wrote:Don't worry Norc, I spoke with GB and he should be coming to wage war on behalf of PJ and Hobbit movie lovers everywhere soon.

That'll spice things up

I cant wait.

Mrs Figg wrote:my way of knowing whether a film got to me or not is by how keen I am to see it again. when LOTR came out, I went to see the films many many times, and I loved watching them every time. with this one I am in no particular hurry to see it a second time. which makes me sad.

I'm still planning on seeing The Hobbit again, but I see where you're coming from. I went out of my way to try to de-hype myself but I still came away from the film feeling rather disappointed. Having had a few days to reflect on it I'm actually feeling kind of down about that. I did want to enjoy The Hobbit, even though I was worried and trying to force my expectations down. Maybe I'll see it differently next time now that I know what to expect but I can't just make myself ignore what I see as problems.

Still, it might be more fun the next time. Maybe. :/ Oh well, at least we still have the LOTR trilogy. I think I'm going to rewatch all three of those over my winter break. It's been too long since I've seen them.

Ahem, purist edits this time Eldo- go on you must be curious...

Eldo I feel exactly the same way. But I also will try to see it again, maybe in 3D. did you see it in the full monty? 3D 48? and you are right we still have LOTR, and those films will always remain beautiful and allow to to go back to Middle Earth when we want to.

I saw it in regular 2D/24fps the first time. Fortunately though there are at least two theatres within reasonable driving distance of me that have the full HFR 3D shebang. Once my finals are completely over on Wednesday I'm going to go see the film again as PJ intended. I'll be sure to let you guys know what I think of it.

And yeah, it's important to treasure the original movies if you love them. This year has had a lot of disappointing sequels and prequels for me but that doesn't diminish how much I liked the prior films. It's good to be reminded of that sometimes.

LOTR remain my favourite films, I doubt I could love any films more, maybe thats why the Hobbit feels a bit of a let down, all that year of waiting and expectation, well nothing could be as good as I expected, it was doomed to not live up to my imagination. Maybe in time I will grow to appreciate it more. It (the film not the book) also suffers from not being the epic sweeping story of LOTR in a way, not because I dont appreciate the story of the Hobbit, because I do, a lot. Its just because at the moment the film seems like a LOTR lite, a B series Quest, it cant ever reach the heights of LOTR and it cant reach the lows of LOTR, it could never echo the sublime Charge of the Rohirrim or Sam and Frodo remembering home while the lava flows around them, it could never move me like LOTR. its stuck in the middle neither fish nor fowl.