Better brush up on your Elvish, dust off those furry feet, and maybe even have a second breakfast, because after years of waiting, it’s time to finally head back to Middle Earth.
Peter Jackson’s eagerly-anticipated first chapter to the Lord of the Rings prequel, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” hits theaters Friday December 14th to what should be a HUGE opening weekend if LOTR fans of past and present have anything to say about it. But there is one nagging question: Will it (or can it) live up to its predecessors?
Well, the first reviews have hit the web, and while they may not be as glowing and impassioned as some would like, they shouldn’t deter any rabid fan from hitting the multiplex opening night (in a full-on Gandalf get-up should you please). The two major criticisms amongst reviewers seems to be the length of the film (running time is listed as a whopping 166 minutes) and Jackson’s use of 48 frames-per-second technology as opposed to the traditional 24 frames-per-second.
As Jen Yamato from Movieline rather harshly put it: “It felt like watching daytime soaps in HD, terrible BBC broadcasts, or ‘Faerie Tale Theater’ circa 1985, only in amazingly sharp clarity and with hobbits.”
Jackson’s decision to shoot the film using the new technology has been met with much controversy, but the director has steadfastly stuck to his guns that it was the right choice, saying “…it’s something that becomes a real joy to watch, but it takes you awhile.”
No word yet on whether the public will agree, but I’m sure the news that audience members at the New Zealand premiere felt dizzy and sick to their stomachs after viewing the film won’t be music to his ears.
It also remains to be seen whether the purported slow pace and lengthy running time will have an effect on audiences. Anyone who has seen the previous films should be familiar with sitting in the theater for well over 2 hours, but one has to consider whether it’s necessary seeing as how there are still two more Hobbit films scheduled to come out based off one book.
But that’s enough negative thinking! Who am I kidding? I’ll be first in line, and most critics confirm that ardent fans will be happy.
As Rodrigo Perez for the Playlist states in his review: “The last two acts of ‘The Hobbit’ are simply a non-stop action-adventure roller coaster that is just as engaging and winning as anything in the director’s previous trilogy.” Really, the only question that needs asking is, with Peter Jackson back at the helm of one of the most beloved franchises of all time, how could it NOT be good??