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

[ook.livejournal.com]

Next two? I thought The Hobbit was just going to be two films?

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I believe the current plan is a trilogy of films. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

B-but - Martin Freeman.

Really: Martin Freeman.

Where is the Martin Freeman love? ;_;

[the_con_cept.livejournal.com]

Yeah, at best I'm hearing pretty lukewarm stuff about it. Very disappointing. On the other hand, Tolkien had a big problem with that himself, so at least it's true to its creator? *sigh* I will definitely wait. I can't afford it right now anyway. But yeah, I've heard terrible things about the 48 fps.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

It's there! It's just one-fifth there, omigod.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Jackson fell into the "more is more" trap on this one. Edit it down, it'd be delightful.

I'm scared because the 48 fps is not universally loathed. I NEED it to be universally loathed so it dies off. It's so ugly.

[rexluscus.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was telling someone that this was going to be the only film where the special extended edition was actually shorter.

[timberwolfoz.livejournal.com]

I feel a little better about us not getting it until the 26th. A little. *mutters*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yes. I kept saying, "Theatrical release! Theatrical release, this was supposed to be, not the Director's Cut!"

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

No, that's never fair! We should always have the option of not going because we CHOOSE not to. :D

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

Please do not let this be a trend that lasts, ugh.

*sighs* I'm still hoping that the larger 3D trend dies. I don't have sufficiently binocular vision to watch 3D, and of course my local theatre never runs the 2D version of these things.

[percygranger]

Yep, three films. Freeman was talking about having to shoot some new stuff for it in an interview between the red carpet premiere and yesterday...

[percygranger]

Have you heard of 2D glasses? http://www.2d-glasses.com/

I'm fine with 3D myself, but I know plenty of people who get headaches and such...these seem to be a good solution.

[the_con_cept.livejournal.com]

Oh, jeez. Maybe the director's cut will be shorter and better, lol?

Speaking of bad movies though, I decided to 'cheer myself up' by watching Voyage of the Dawn Treader tonight (and you are speaking to someone who has no 'taste' and actually loves The Chronicles of Narnia, barring, of course, that book that never happened) and I have never seen an adaptation less true to its source. Oh, god, it was painful. And I recognize that Lewis is not actually Shakespeare, but he WAS Shakespeare compared to this. Oh, goodness, it's so terribly terrible. It's laughably bad. And I'm so sad, because it was my favorite of the books. This is the corniest, CGI-est, most illogical thing. It was like the writers put their heads together and said, "Dawn Treader. Everyone knows that story. Obviously, this calls for an AU!"

Well, if it's any consolation, I haven't heard a single person say anything positive about 48 fps. So at least in my circles, it's universally loathed. :) We can always loathe it a little harder and with more panache, though, if it helps!

[florahart]

This is how I feel about 3D in general, and yet, people seem to like it, damn it.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

stay home, wait for someone to cobble together a heavily edited-down version.

That is my current strategy. Though it does mean waiting three years for the whole movie.

[jamoche]

Likewise. As soon as I heard the running time and the rumors of a 20 minute intro, I decided to wait for the Phantom Edit.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I'm one of those who actually loves 3D, so now I'm getting a taste of what it's like for the people who hate it and have to put up with their friends wanting to see it in 3D.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Well, as soon as the DVD's out, you know some eager fan will do it. Heck, I would volunteer to compile the list of scenes, though I wouldn't have the tech ability to make it.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Thought of that instantly. :) Happily, this film isn't embarrassing or awful like TPM; its problem is just that there's too much of it, and editing down each scene and throwing a few scenes away altogether would save it significantly. Even The Phantom Edit still had to work with a crud script, crud acting, and Jar-Jar.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I now can empathize with those who hate 3D! I'm one of those who loves 3D. Now I'm getting a taste of what it's like for those who've been hating it.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I didn't have such a strong memory of Dawn Treader that I noticed the significant changes. I didn't, really!

[pervert-bitch.livejournal.com]

LOL, I love The Hobbit, and I have already watched it twice... curiously I loved it only after the second time I saw it, the first time I just liked it a lot :P
And both times I watched it in 3P HFR :P

[ellid.livejournal.com]

A bunch of my friends were less than pleased when I declined the chance to go and cited all the mediocre reviews. "You know the mainstream press doesn't like genre! Why are you listening to them?"

That's when I pointed out that reviewer for Aintitcoolnews, a site that has supported Peter Jackson's Tolkien films for something like fifteen years, gave it a lousy review, and so did a film critic near Boston whose work as an SF reviewer got him nominated for a Hugo. It is NOT just the mainstream press that is pointing out that this movie is way too long.

I'm waiting until Christmas, and using a couple of free passes I got for donating blood. No way am I spending actual money on this.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yay! Hooray for finding new things to love. Pay no attention to my grumblings one whit, then. ^_^

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I adored the LOTR films to no end. They are in my top ten films/film series of all time, but I know when pacing is working and when it isn't. Mainstream press can suck like mad when it comes to genre reviews, but when even the fans are saying, "Eh..."

Could you point me to the reviews you mean? I have the worst time navigating Ain't It Cool because there are so many reviewers/posters there.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Mr. Beaks was less than pleased at the first chunk of the film, which seems to be almost universal. (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/59869)

Daniel Kimmel was nominated for a Hugo for his book on SF films, Jar-Jark Binks Must Die. (http://www.scifimoviepage.com/hobbit.html)

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

Oh, interesting! It's not so much that I get a headache, but the vision in one eye has been significantly weaker than the other one for so many years that apparently my brain has stopped seeking equal feedback from it - which in the theatre means that I'm stuck with the odd feeling of looking through my eyes separately, negating the 3D effects.

I suppose if the fad continues (and if they ever stop charging an extra $3 for the "privilege" of 3D), I might have to try out something like this.

[bluestocking79.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's consistent from what I've heard from pretty much everybody I know who's seen it. That includes a large number of Tolkien enthusiasts, too, and from several of them, the most damning thing they had to say was that it made them sad/disappointed as fans, because they love the material and could see that it COULD have been good, with much more disciplined pacing and editing. I'm sure I will see it, but I have to admit that I'm not looking forward to it the way I'd hoped. Then again, having tempered expectations might mean I end up enjoying it more?

Also, I have yet to hear a person have anything but loathing for the 48 fps release. I've heard a lot of feedback about it being ugly, fake-looking, and having that sickly, slick video-tape feel.

[amorettea.livejournal.com]

My favorite review was there is a great two hour film hiding in the 2 hour 46 minute running time. I don't know if our local theater has 48fps capacity but I rather hope not. As for 3-D, I have a friend who writes the code for a lot of 3-D films. He can't watch them, though. They induce migraines.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

3D sucks. I have perfectly fine vision, but I would prefer the STORY and CHARACTERS to make the film for me, not the effects.

[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]

I usually eat up detail like this but, jeez, this was just too much. I was starting to get embarrassed how long scenes went on.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling this can be cut down to 90 minutes, easy. It would get rid of some things that would seem like a pity, but really don't belong in there.

[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.

[rina-riku.livejournal.com]

I am also one of those that enjoy the extended versions of the movies. I loved most of the Hobbit, except the intro. The intro was just too long, and it really should have started SPOILER!!!
SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!SPOILER!!!



"In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit" instead of the silly flashback scene that it started as with the birthday party and everything. I also have the feeling they are going to end the second film with a flashback to that scene.

[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.

[goseaward.livejournal.com]

So I've seen it in both 3d 48fps and 2d 24fps, and...yeah, I think I preferred the 2d version. I will say that there were lots of places in the 48fps where the detail was easier to catch, because overall it looks much brighter than the 2d 24fps, but that was as easily bad as good when it came to some of the special effects. (The arkenstone looked cool in the 24fps and like a My Little Pony toy in the 48fps.)

(and of course most vhs-type video is at 30fps, so it's not surprising the higher frame rate reminded you of that!)

I feel like each scene individually was something I enjoyed, but watching them all end to end like that was too long, yeah. Maybe for home video release they should section it into 4 movies? :D?

[idlerat.livejournal.com]

ITA

I'd add that I was really bothered by the retreads of stuff from LotR. I'm weirdly fixated on the moment with Gandalf and the moth. That was so brilliant *the first time*. I mean, why? to do it in 3D? BFD. Why the reunion, chubby Elrond and wrinkly Galadriel? I mean, ILU, *in fan fiction*.

And I always hate 3D. I thought this 48fps would somehow magically be different, but everything still looked double, with no significant payoff.

/rat

[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.)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I could have done without the epic Smaug intro, but I still thought that part worked. I liked nearly all of the Frodo-Bilbo framing sequence too. It didn't start getting "wait, this is TOO LONG" until we got to the dwarves arriving and the way that was so very drawn out. That's when I started itching for a pair of scissors.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

If I had it to do over again I'd have opted for the 3D 24 fps.

most vhs-type video is at 30fps Did not know! Ugh, do not like the 48fps thing. Lordy, I don't want my films to feel like the evening news!

When the DVD's out I'm gonna make a list of cuts, I totally am. And beg someone with better edit skills to make me that version.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I'm weirdly fixated on the moment with Gandalf and the moth. That was so brilliant *the first time*.

Oh, god, I said THE SAME THING. It was so beautiful in Fellowship. Now it was, "...look, we've seen this. You're cheapening it."