Duck, it's the Film Curmudgeon! (Non-spoilery short overview of The Hobbit.)

[amanuensis1]

The Hobbit: Way, way, WAY too long. I was writhing. There's some genuinely charming stuff in there, but most scenes are five times as long as they should be, and every major scene is played out five times over. Pacing, Peter, PACING. The Hobbit is an entertaining, nicely-paced book. Why bog it down so badly with all that extra filler?

(Except The Riddle Game. The Riddle Game was fabulous. The movie should have been The Riddle Game plus one hour. And that's all it should have been.)

My suggestion: stay home, wait for someone to cobble together a heavily edited-down version. You won't, but if you did I think you'd be happier.

Peter, you've got a chance to correct this with the next two. Edit them down. Don't pull a Lucas on us.

(Nothing to do with the film content, but I absolutely hated the 48 fps release. It looked like videotape. Please do not let this be a trend that lasts, ugh.)

Comments

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

Haven't seen it yet (thanks for the non-spoilery overview!), but based on the fact that I loved the extended editions of LotR more than the theatrical releases, I probably won't mind the length of this one. I just enjoy having as much time as possible to spend in Middle-earth. :)

I'll be seeing it in 2D (it's easier to find a 2D screening here, and thank goodness for that cause I hate 3D) and since the 48 fps seems to be only in 3D, I won't get to see what that looks like. I'll be left with the curiosity. :)

Also, HIIIIII, Amy. :D Missed you. <3 *has been living under a rock*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

HIIIIIII!! *jumps on you*

I will be interested in what you have to say! I did indeed watch the extended editions of the LOTR films and thought, "Those...were nice scenes, but I agree the theatrical release was right to cut things down." And I do watch the theatrical release versions most.

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

So I just saw it and you were absolutely right, most scenes were way too long. The whole film was looooong - especially considering it was just one third of the total. And yet. And yet. When the end was nearing I found myself not wanting it to end. What can I say? I used to be so crazily in love with this world before I fell into HP and just seeing this world brought back to life it was just so awesome for me and it made me so nostalgic and... well, I'm just too biased not to LOVE it. :)

AND I WANT THAT SONG DURING THE END CREDITS.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you love it! It's great that a lot of fans can overlook the flaws and still adore it. (I have always been a huge, huge fan of LOTR and not as great a fan of The Hobbit, too, so, I wonder if that has something to do with it.)