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Went to see the HFR 3D.

Actually thought it was pretty good. A few of the side stories seemed a bit OTT, but actually were quite nice.

That said I did quite like it, HFR was pretty good as well. Very very vivid. In an odd sense though it looked almost more CGI than non 3d....

kd
 
Lol, you didn't like it then?

To me LOTR and The Hobbit are fan films.

I think the problem is almost the opposite. In some ways Jackson doesn't seem quite sure who to aim the films at.

I thought it was a really bloated film with some really good bits in it. There was just far too much filler (3 hours to get to the end of chapter 6 in the book).

The opening Dragon attack was fantastic and I loved the section in the Shire
with the exception of some of the comedic Dwarf stuff. Aidan Turner looks completely ridiculous as a Dwarf.

After that it seemed to lurch from set-piece to filler to set-piece to filler. I can't for the life of me think why Azog was included other than to add a baddie. It seems you can't have a film without a baddie to boo and hiss at.

The Radaghast sections were pretty ridiculous and the less said about the goblin section the better. 10 mins of running along knocking goblins off of platforms does not make for good cinema. It's almost as though he was trying to recreate Moria. Hated it.

Not suprisingly the best bits were when the Hobbit was being the Hobbit. The introduction of the Dwarves, the trolls and riddle game were all good fun.

Opinions and ********* and all that but I think a 3 hour Hobbit film, where the elements in the actual Hobbit were expanded upon, would have made a grand film. As it is it just feels as though they all sat around a table and thought we can make a ton of cash out of 3 films.
 
Just got back from the cinema watching this in 2D, me and missus are not big fans of the 3D so decided just to see it in 2D.

Visually everything looked amazing and we both really enjoyed it. We both agreed that the start did seem to drag a little bit but soon picked up in pace.

Neither of us have read the books either bit may just do so now after watching this.

Certainly warrants at least 8.5-9/10 imo.
 
Viewed HFR 3D version in London last week & standard 2D yesterday, scores a generous 7/10. The long running times no bother, but they could have easily shaved 20 minutes off. Some of the humour seemed to step way beyond been subtle; to the point where it became cringe worthy slap stick. Yes the films geared towards a younger audience much like the book, but even so it seemed way too forced and over the top.

HFR 3D experience is bit hit and miss for me, some grander set pieces looked incredible and as expected the whole 3D experience was far more comfortable viewing in 48fps. However it just seemed to over enhance large sections of the movie and some of the immersion drained away, almost all interior shots looked TV production quality. Afterwards in discussion with the dozen of us who viewed HFR version together; near on half shared similar opinions, get the feeling HFR 3D is probably going to be marmite experience for most audiences.

On reflection now that I’ve seen both 2D & 3D, really wish I'd insisted on viewing 2D version first.
 
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I think the problem is almost the opposite. In some ways Jackson doesn't seem quite sure who to aim the films at.

I thought it was a really bloated film with some really good bits in it. There was just far too much filler (3 hours to get to the end of chapter 6 in the book).

The opening Dragon attack was fantastic and I loved the section in the Shire
with the exception of some of the comedic Dwarf stuff. Aidan Turner looks completely ridiculous as a Dwarf.

After that it seemed to lurch from set-piece to filler to set-piece to filler. I can't for the life of me think why Azog was included other than to add a baddie. It seems you can't have a film without a baddie to boo and hiss at.

The Radaghast sections were pretty ridiculous and the less said about the goblin section the better. 10 mins of running along knocking goblins off of platforms does not make for good cinema. It's almost as though he was trying to recreate Moria. Hated it.


Not suprisingly the best bits were when the Hobbit was being the Hobbit. The introduction of the Dwarves, the trolls and riddle game were all good fun.


Opinions and ********* and all that but I think a 3 hour Hobbit film, where the elements in the actual Hobbit were expanded upon, would have made a grand film. As it is it just feels as though they all sat around a table and thought we can make a ton of cash out of 3 films.

Completely agree with all of this.
 
Not read the book but just saw it in regular 3D, really enjoyed it. Didn't look at my watch once during it and to me that is a mark of a good movie. It kept my attention to the screen throughout every second of the way.

It felt good to be back in middle earth, it feels like picking up a comfort blanket, seeing an old friend and catching up, it was just nice to see more and learn more of this vast world.

True that the goblin bit felt like moria, the whole sequence looked liked it, it had everything except the bows and arrows but it was good cinema.

If I had to give it a score, 8/10. After the initial euphoria die down, it will probably be 7/10.
 
Saw the 2D version earlier tonight - mixed feelings really.

Seemed overly long and way too much felt recycled from LOTR. The Goblin section was just painful as were the rock giants. I actually liked the film less as time went on - really enjoyed the beginning and the way the dwarves were introduced but as it became a SFX set piece rollercoaster I started to lose interest somewhat.
That being said, Freeman was incredible and the Golum part was excellent.


6/10
 
ha yea, i forgot about the stupid fighting mountain people, that scene was pretty awful, at the end of it i was just like what just happened there and why did it just stop, are they still stood on one or are they on another mountain, some really strange perspectives going on.
 
Saw it in 2d last night, thought it was good, but not as good as lotr


This was the best bit for me. Gave me goose bumps:D

 
^^^Have to agree, thought the misty mountain song was well done and definitely gave me a few goosebumps as well.

Off to watch it again tonight in 2D with the missus to see if its as sharp as the HFR version.
 
Yeah, the Misty mountains song made me shiver too.
Even my 18yo step son came in saying the same when he went to watch it.

I remember little about the book, but can recite most of the versus to that song. My version was always more up tempo than theirs, but it was really well done i think.
 
^^^Have to agree, thought the misty mountain song was well done and definitely gave me a few goosebumps as well.

Off to watch it again tonight in 2D with the missus to see if its as sharp as the HFR version.

listen to it,

close your eyes

imagine that your in middle earth

NERDgasm:D
 
Well I enjoyed it! I don't really like having to wear glasses though as I'm just not used to it. I'm tempted to see it again :)
 
Went to see it today in 2D, Enjoyed the film and it never felt as long as it was.

Couple of dodgy bits, some of the CGI and some accents didn't realy go with certain evil characters but overall thought they did a good job. left me looking forward to seeing the 2nd part.

I read the book as a kid and have read it a few times since along with all the others including Silmarillion and unfinished tales. I'm watching it as I think he's tried telling it. Like a story rather than a quick fix film. The way he's filling you in on back storys and the lore and history of characters and events is great it realy draws you into the world. If your one of those people who just want action and want it now then your going to miss the depth thats there concerning Middle earth and it's races and places !

The relationship that he's building up between the company is working well, it's there to see but I think it maybe clicks in and you "get it" quicker if you've read the books.

bring on the next one, pity it's a year away though ?
 
So I went to see it in HFR this afternoon...and I must say that made a big difference to the standard 3D version. Like everyone it took a few minutes to get used to the speed of everything but it settled fine and I found it a lot more pleasurable to watch in all honesty.

It really came to life in any of the high action parts where everything was clear as day compared to the mess you usually have trying to focus when the camera is all over the place.

Certainly will ensure I watch the other two in HFR now from day one.
 
Enjoyed it, however IMAX 3D... it's just too blurry in a lot of places, I wish the BFI had HFR - I kind of want to see it again in 48fps just to see if I get less worn out by the fast pans.

Stuff

+'s
It felt like going back to the original films, same world, but all the high order characters are a little less world weary (e.g. Elrond)
Squee'd a bit when the Ring theme played again - I love the fact they can simply use a theme and it brings you straight back to the first three films, plus having the future knowledge of events as an audience means music/info can be dropped in subtly rather than having to be explained.
<3 Gollum
The fact Sauron's return to Middle Earth is obviously going to play a much bigger part in the three films - YES! I practically started fapping when we get the 'shadow' in Dol Guldur and I hope we see a lot more of him, because Sauron is a G and more than just a flaming eye.
Enjoyed how it starts very much Hobbit-esque in terms of the feel being all innocent, but then when things get dark you feel that shift into LoTR territory.
Mention of Ungoliant
History of the swords

-'s
I can't remember if the white orc is mentioned in The Hobbit but it felt like he was slapped in for the sake of having an antagonist
Got fatigue from some of the battle scenes being a little too repetitive - how many times can they behead orcs and slap wargs about?

Fact is this - Tolkien wrote The Hobbit first and retrospectively had to tie it into the world he fleshed out more in LoTR/Silmarillion etc. What Jackson is doing with these films is the opposite as he's done LoTR first. I can totally see how this can be 3 films now, because although the dwarves quest is the point of the original story, the ring, Sauron/Necromancer... there's all this stuff that ties into the greater story/history of Middle Earth and they have the chance to flesh it out and include it, which is cool because it ups the epic level considerably. Bring it on I say.
 
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I wish the BFI had HFR - I kind of want to see it again in 48fps just to see if I get less worn out by the fast pans.

Wow the BFI isn't showing HFR? They are at the Odeon IMAX in Manchester and I always think of that as the second best IMAX in the country after the BFI...

HFR really makes a difference to 3D films. My eyes get worn out by the blurring in 3D normally but the HFR counteracts it perfectly and the 3D looks so crisp. The only issue is that some scenes look like the actors are in "Fast forward" it's quite weird to describe, you have to see it for yourself.

I do think it could be the new standard for 3D films though to make them more watchable, especially with James Cameron getting on board too.
 
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Saw it in HFR 3D tonight and I can only say "wow!" - the smoothness is incredible! Took a few minutes to get used to at first as everything looked sped up and I felt a bit queasy after the initial panning shots but after that I loved it. The quality of the CGI and the imagery was superb. Film was good too, not quite LOTR but still very enjoyable.
 
i might go see it again somewhere in HFR just to see the difference. Hopefully next year the BFI won't dick about and show The Desolation of Smaug properly in HFR.
 
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