Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, and Richard Armitage
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Screenplay by: Fran Walsh and Philipa Boyens
Based on the novel The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Peter Jackson is back, directing another trilogy. This time, instead of three three-hour films based on three different books, it will be three three-hour films based on one single book. Talk about a detailed plot line.
Instead of our main character being Frodo Baggins (a very short appearance towards the beginning of the film), this film stars Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) when he was much younger. Now for the story:
A dragon has conquered the great Dwarf kingdom of Erebor, in the Lonely Mountain of Middle Earth. A number of years later, a small group of Dwarves from this kingdom set out to reclaim their old homeland. With the help of the great wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan), the group finds Bilbo Baggins. And so, he goes on this unexpected journey with them as they face terrible things and meet new people, like Gollum (Andy Serkis), on their way to the Lonely Mountain.
Like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Tolkien has created a truly wonderful story to base an epic movie like this on. And Peter Jackson is definitely the man who can make it come to life in such an amazing fashion. As the director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, I expected nothing short of amazing with this film, and I think it's safe to say that my expectations were met.
Martin Freeman is excellent as Bilbo Baggins. Give it some time, and I believe he will become the face that we all recognize when we think of Bilbo Baggins, similar to how we recognize immediately Elijah Wood when we think of Frodo Baggins or Ian McKellan as Gandalf. And speaking of Gandalf, is there anybody who could play Gandalf better than Ian McKellan? I certainly think not. Both Freeman and McKellan are stellar in this film and I hope they will at least be nominated for Oscars in their respective categories.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was nominated for and won all of its 11 Oscar nominations almost ten years ago, and there is definitely a good case for this film to do almost as well at this year's award ceremony. The set design is incredible, the screenplay is awesome, and the cinematography and special effects make this a truly beautiful movie. Honestly, I have no idea how to describe this film other than simply "WOW"!!!!
I do have one problem with the film however, and it is a problem with the frame rate at which it is shot. If you see this film in 3D IMAX, it is possible you will see it in 48 frames per second (fps). This is twice as fast as film is normally shot at (the usual being 24 fps). I understand why the film is like this, to make it seem more life like and more realistic than if it was shot in the normal 24 fps. In this way, I can see it as more of an art form and a new and refreshing way to see the film.
But here's my problem and why I chose not to see it in this way. It breaks the tradition of what film should be. Film is meant to be an escape from reality and not really a way to take you from one reality and put you into another. While it is fun to be immersed in the film, it's not for me. That's really the only place where I think Peter Jackson went wrong with the film, but I'm willing to not let this aspect hurt the grade of the film because of its unusualness. It's a matter of how you perceive the way the film is presented and I feel like it is a dumb idea if I factor this aspect into the grade I'm going to give the film.
In the end, this is definitely a must see film. If you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings, you'll definitely enjoy this because it's the prequel to the trilogy. Being one of the best films of the year, I give it an A.
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Screenplay by: Fran Walsh and Philipa Boyens
Based on the novel The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Peter Jackson is back, directing another trilogy. This time, instead of three three-hour films based on three different books, it will be three three-hour films based on one single book. Talk about a detailed plot line.
Instead of our main character being Frodo Baggins (a very short appearance towards the beginning of the film), this film stars Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) when he was much younger. Now for the story:
A dragon has conquered the great Dwarf kingdom of Erebor, in the Lonely Mountain of Middle Earth. A number of years later, a small group of Dwarves from this kingdom set out to reclaim their old homeland. With the help of the great wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan), the group finds Bilbo Baggins. And so, he goes on this unexpected journey with them as they face terrible things and meet new people, like Gollum (Andy Serkis), on their way to the Lonely Mountain.
Like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Tolkien has created a truly wonderful story to base an epic movie like this on. And Peter Jackson is definitely the man who can make it come to life in such an amazing fashion. As the director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, I expected nothing short of amazing with this film, and I think it's safe to say that my expectations were met.
Martin Freeman is excellent as Bilbo Baggins. Give it some time, and I believe he will become the face that we all recognize when we think of Bilbo Baggins, similar to how we recognize immediately Elijah Wood when we think of Frodo Baggins or Ian McKellan as Gandalf. And speaking of Gandalf, is there anybody who could play Gandalf better than Ian McKellan? I certainly think not. Both Freeman and McKellan are stellar in this film and I hope they will at least be nominated for Oscars in their respective categories.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was nominated for and won all of its 11 Oscar nominations almost ten years ago, and there is definitely a good case for this film to do almost as well at this year's award ceremony. The set design is incredible, the screenplay is awesome, and the cinematography and special effects make this a truly beautiful movie. Honestly, I have no idea how to describe this film other than simply "WOW"!!!!
I do have one problem with the film however, and it is a problem with the frame rate at which it is shot. If you see this film in 3D IMAX, it is possible you will see it in 48 frames per second (fps). This is twice as fast as film is normally shot at (the usual being 24 fps). I understand why the film is like this, to make it seem more life like and more realistic than if it was shot in the normal 24 fps. In this way, I can see it as more of an art form and a new and refreshing way to see the film.
But here's my problem and why I chose not to see it in this way. It breaks the tradition of what film should be. Film is meant to be an escape from reality and not really a way to take you from one reality and put you into another. While it is fun to be immersed in the film, it's not for me. That's really the only place where I think Peter Jackson went wrong with the film, but I'm willing to not let this aspect hurt the grade of the film because of its unusualness. It's a matter of how you perceive the way the film is presented and I feel like it is a dumb idea if I factor this aspect into the grade I'm going to give the film.
In the end, this is definitely a must see film. If you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings, you'll definitely enjoy this because it's the prequel to the trilogy. Being one of the best films of the year, I give it an A.
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