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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected(ly Bad) Journey
I don't have time for a full review, now - I'll try to add more later if I can, but I was majorly disappointed. My wife and I just finished re watching the full 12 hours of LotR to get back into Middle Earth, and enjoyed it immensely. After watching the Hobbit last night, I'm infinitely glad that it didn't get made first, because otherwise I may not have had interest in seeing LotR.
The plot of the Hobbit is plodding, wandering, with a stated purpose that is never really explored, and motivation that is upheld by the weakest of threads. The special effects are no better - and maybe worse - than from 10 years ago, and the scenes that are meant to be light-hearted are just silly without being funny, while the scenes that are meant to be epic are so over-wrought as to stretch beyond the reasonable borders of suspension of disbelief. I can't count the number of times I thought (and by the end of the movie, said aloud) "yeah, right, whatever" when some other implausible battle scene occurs in which they escape from inescapable places just because the movie feels like they should. Gandolf seems to have no power, but then, at the moment where the script decides that maybe he should do something helpful, he can suddenly do whatever is required, only to be powerless 10 seconds later except to yell "run!" Or "this way!" How many times in one movie can one character strike a hero pose? I didn't count, because my fingers and toes don't go up that high, but maybe you can let me know when you watch Thorin throughout the movie. I get that he is supposed to be this film's Aragorn, but all he does is strike a ponderous pose with his hand on his hip. Also, Martin Freeman is supposed to be Bilbo, but all he does is take Arthur Dent to Middle Earth. Over and over again, you are expected to care for this fellowship of the poorly motivated random folk, and fear for them in increasingly implausible scenarios. In reality, each subsequent action scene made me care less and less: "oh, here's another scene of inescapable death in which the bad guys will lose hundreds and one of the Dwarfs will walk away with a slightly bruised left patella that will heal by nightfall. Yawn." I could go on.
It isn't all bad - the music is spectacular, and fortunately is nearly omnipresent for the entire 600 hour running time of the film, and some of the panoramas and other sweeping cinematography is brilliant. Also, I genuinely belly-laughed a few times at some pretty good lines (hint: none of them came from the Dwarfs, whose lines were written by a six year old). Also, at one point Galadrial and Gandolf are talking by themselves. When you watch the film, imagine Galadrial giving Gandolf a shove. Given the nature of what they are saying this made me laugh out loud. The scene between Bilbo and Gollum is the best scene in the film, but unfortunately the sound is a little off, making it hard to hear and enjoy Gollum's riddles. I could have used more of that interaction and about an hour and a half less of the rest of the movie
I have much more I could say, but I just don't have the time, so this will have to suffice. Any true fan of Middle Earth needs to see this film, but not because its a marvelous piece of filmmaking; rather, you should see it simply to feel immersed in Middle Earth once again: in other words to get your high. Lord of the Rings was the gateway drug, but as usually happens with drug dealers, they get you hooked, and then give you the watered- down junk.
A barely passable and overlong movie that progresses at a plodding pace and repeatedly fails to deliver. Ultimately, it can't decide if it wants to be a children's book or a sweeping epic, and thus fails on both counts. It breaks my Middle Earth-loving heart, but this film only merits 5/10, and most of that for the fantastic score and the joy of being back in Middle Earth once more.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
Random Movie
I can't remember the last time I commented on a movie. This one needs a comment.
This is one of the most random movies I have ever seen. I was a fan of the first two Pirates movies, but this one is a miserable failure. It is far too long, fails to hold your interest, fails to make any sense, fails to keep characters in character, and fails to have any sort of cohesiveness. It is not the worst movie I have ever seen, but it is near the bottom of the list.
The best moment came when my wife and I looked at each other about 2 hours in and wondered if it would ever be over. Just then Keira Knightley looked right at the camera and said, "it's not over."
Only two things help save this film: Hans Zimmer is a tremendous composer, and Keira Knightley is beautiful (and my wife thinks Orlando Bloom is hot).
Bottom line: Save yourself the money. Buy the soundtrack on CD, and if you must watch the movie, wait until your friend rents it on DVD.
The Singles Ward (2002)
The characters felt real
Yeah, the jokes are clichés; yeah, the voice-over is absolutely aweful; yeah, it is kinda annoying to see people slow-dancing to "Teach Me To Walk In The Light;" but dangitall if this was not one of the most pleasant movie-going experiences I have had in a long time.
The comedy would probably have been worth seeing the movie for by itself, perhaps just for the pleasure of seeing Mormon jokes on the big screen, but I got much more out of the movie. Being a Mormon and having gone through tough times and crises of faith before, I really felt that the character development was real. Too many church movies have that "everything is perfect" kind of growth for the characters where they are searching, they find, and bingo all is well, all is well. In this movie, I thought that the vascillation of the main character (as well as the real reason that he started going back to church) was close to my own experiences and those of many people that I know. He did a lot of things for the wrong reasons and it got him in trouble. He blamed the church for it and thus started his problems. I was very touched by the scene where it all came together for him and he realized that the whole time he wasn't powerless as a church member, but rather he was empowered to make his own choices, and that is what he did.
I think that many movie-goers might have missed this development because it is very cleverly hidden behind the comedy and light-heartedness of it.
Overall, I think that the movie was well-acted by the leads, with some very funny moments, and dare-I-say-it, some very spiritual moments. In the end (and this is the part that matters for me), I walked out of the theater having had a great time and having even grown a little bit.
PS - If you like this movie, you will probably also enjoy "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," which is along a similar vein in many ways.
-bje-
The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd (2000)
Wonderful and moving film
I had heard a lot of things said about the movie before I saw it nearly two years after it opened, and so was wary of whether or not it would live up to its billing. The first 45 minutes of this hour-or-so long film are good, but nothing amazing. Then the action scene and then the scene where Christ comes takes you on an emotional roller-coaster and gets you thinking of what it would be like to be in that situation. It is very touching. Nobody moved for nearly 5 minutes after the film was over, many crying. As one who loves the Book of Mormon, I truly enjoyed how this movie brought to life the most important aspect of it.