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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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Directed by Peter Jackson
Produced by Peter Jackson, Carolynne Cunningham, Fran Walsh, and Zane Weiner
Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro Based on the novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
With: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Bret McKenzie, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sylvester McCoy, and John Rawls
Cinematography: Andrew Lesnie
Editing: Jabez Olssen
Music: Howard Shore
Runtime: 169 min
Release Date: 14 December 2012
Aspect Ratio: 2.35 : 1
Color: Color

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is more of the same from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings series. Now shot in an uncinematic High Frame Rate 3D process, the spectacle aspects of the film overpower the storyline even more than in the original films--as we see shot after shot of the heroes getting crushed, trampled, pulverized and skewered by giants, armies, rocks, mountains and all other forms of digital foes that seem to do absolutely no harm to them whatsoever. There is some fun in the environments of this film and some of the quieter scenes are enjoyable--especially the famous scene where Bilbo and Gollum--but this film can be just as tiring and drawn out as the original films. I'm sure Tolkin fans will love it, but I found it only mildly interesting.