The Hobbit

[Feanor]

I saw it with the family on Sunday. It was really just OK, (I speak as a true Tolkien fan). Too long like Worf says, and with too many embellishments vs. the book.

Yes, some additions from the LoTR Appendices do provide useful context to the story. (It seems there are none from the Silmarilion since Jackson doesn't have rights to that book).

Among the gratuitous embellishments are scenes with the wizard, Radagast, who never appeared on person in either The Hobbit or the LoTR. In this first film there are a couple of battles with Orcs that didn't happen in the book; also, fights scenes with Orcs / Goblins are grossly hyperbolic but I suppose you have to expect this from Jackson and most film makers these days. The same for the vast and elaborate caverns of both the Dwarves and the Goblins that far exceed anything I saw in my mind's eye when I read the book.

Hardcore Tolkien fans might notice that of the Elfish swords found by Gandalf in the Troll hoard only Bilbo's "Sting" glowed blue in the presence of Orcs (or Goblins). In The Hobbit, neither "Glamdring", the sword that Gandalf took for himself, nor "Orcrist" that when to Thorin glowed blue: this is an oversight on Jackson's part since all three were made in Gondolin in the First Age.

Acting was adequate for all characters. Martin Freeman is a tad flat but otherwise makes a good, early middle-aged Bilbo; (far better than Elijah Wood as Frodo in the LoTR -- who was a travesty of the book's character). Andy Serkis was great as Gollum, especially under the improved CGI. Ian McKellen continues to make a great Gandalf.

The 3D high frame rate was pretty good, though it didn't add a whole lot IMHO. None of us experienced nausea or headaches has some apparently have. Also, I didn't notice the props and scenery looking more fake than usual which some critics complained about.

This flick comes up short of the original LoTR films (which weren't without their own issues). I give it 3/5*