I need to begin this review by stating that I saw The Hobbit in 24 frames per second in 2 Dimensions; not the way Peter Jackson intended. As Paul so brilliantly explained in a post a few weeks ago, 48 fps is not the way I wanted to see one of my most anticipated films of the year. I wanted Middle Earth to look how I remembered seeing it 10 years ago, not looking Ike a BBC production. I’m still curious to see what all the hype with 48 fps and will most likely see it again in that format in the coming weeks, but I wanted my first exposure being the “old-fashioned” way films look.

I also need to mention that I was disappointed after seeing it. It’s hard to put my finger on what bothered me about it, but I think the major difference between this and Lord of the Rings is the fact that not as much is at stake and the movie felt much more “light” than the other holy trilogy. Now I know the book is much more kid-oriented and playful and that definitely comes through in the film. The entire film seems much more goofy and comical. Peter Jackson tries to make the movie feel important and give the sense of dread and foreboding, but the stakes are not simply as high as having the whole world end and becoming a slave to Sauron. Parts of the film actually reminded me more of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves than any of the Rings films.

One thing I noticed throughout the entire film that bothered me to no end was Jackson’s over reliance on CGI characters and sets. What made Lord of the Rings feel so real and amazing was partly due to the wonderful sets, makeup and special effects used to make every scene believably. There are parts in the Hobbit where it was obviously filmed in front of a blue screen and gave the entire film a fake look. Sometimes it looked like a filmed play if that makes any sense. The thing that bothered me the most was that Jackson animates things that do not need to be computer generated. Trees and bushes are animated for no reason at all. Almost all of the orcs and goblins are now CGI even though it was proven that men in makeup looks perfectly fine and awesome. I can’t see it being cheaper making so many things animated so it kind of confuses me as to why they would do this. I’m sure it has something’s do with the 3D and 48 fps but it just felt lazy to me.

Now that I’ve gotten everything out that I didn’t Iike, now I can mention the things I did love which was basically everything else. When Hobbiton first makes its appearance, I instantly got goosebumps. Howard Shore brings back the Hobbit theme and it feels like we are seeing (and hearing) old friends again. Martin Freeman is FANTASTIC as Bilbo Baggins. He is simply the perfect Hobbit and probably the best casting next to Ian McKellen as Gandolf. There are some fantastic set pieces and some cool character designs that make one remember when Guillermo del Toro was attached (he still received a co-writer credit). I still wonder what a del Toro Hobbit would be or look like.

Overall, I enjoyed the Hobbit very much and can’t wait to see the next two, but there are things holding it back from being a classic that simply make me sad and disappointed. I still give it a 10/10 but just barely.