Given both the critical and
financial success of The Lord of the
Rings film trilogy, it was only a matter of time before Warner Bros.
decided to adapt J.R.R. Tolkien’s prequel tale, and fans of Middle-earth were
ecstatic when it was announced that Peter Jackson would be tackling the
project. Having read The Hobbit over a decade ago, I knew
that I wouldn’t have as much of an emotional investment in this literary
adaption (as compared to Harry Potter
or The Hunger Games), but I was
nevertheless excited for An Unexpected
Journey. And while it was clear that
this newest blockbuster would offer a far subtler fantasy epic than the
action-packed trilogy we all loved back at the turn of the century, it was a
nice touch that several actors would be returning to their original roles to
maintain the continuity of the shared universe…I’m sure there would have been riots
had Ian McKellan not decided to return as Gandalf. Another interesting production development
involved the fact that Peter Jackson had decided to film using a 48 fps 3D
format, a high frame-rate that would give the image a distinct high-definition
treatment and potentially signal a new norm for Hollywood. With all these factors combined, it was clear
that the first chapter in The Hobbit
saga was going to represent a true holiday juggernaut, one that no other studio
dare challenge and one that was sure to set some coveted records.
As a reintroduction to Middle-earth
and the realization of a beloved tale, An
Unexpected Journey is yet another in Peter Jackson’s long list of cinematic
achievements, but a number of factors prevents this release from achieving the
status of runaway hit that was earned by its predecessors. On the plus side, Martin Freeman and Richard
Armitage are both engaging and thoroughly enjoyable as Bilbo Baggins and Thorin
Oakenshield, respectively, and once again, Andy Serkis absolutely steals the
show as the tortured soul, Gollum.
Invariably though, fans will compare The
Hobbit to the original LOTR
trilogy, and beyond the returning familiar faces, that is where problems
develop, whether that involves the slower pacing that can make the
near-three-hour epic boring from time to time, or the noticeable lack of
character development in some of the supporting cast. Now, I probably have a lower opinion of the
film because I saw it in IMAX 3D and ended-up absolutely detested the 48 fps
format, which I found not only nauseating and distracting, but also instrumental
in shattering the sense of immersion that I usually find at the theater…I can
only pray that this format does not take-off.
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy An
Unexpected Journey, found the last hour of the film brilliant, and will
gladly see the next two chapters, but I was still expecting more and therefore
cannot award my highest recommendation.
Overall Recommendation: Medium
