FILM PREVIEW ::: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Peter Jackson’s much anticipated follow up to the Lord Of The Rings trilogy is nearing release with almost as much hype about the technology used as the actual story itself.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was previewed earlier in the year to a mixture of acclaim, derision and hysterical protestations. The film has been shot at 48 frames per second, twice the frames of most movies at 24 FPS. This has caused a variety of reactions from fans, critics and movie goers around the globe.

Director, Peter Jackson hinted that this film could change the way films are watched in the future, he said: “The movement feels more real. It’s much more gentle on the eyes.” Some journalists reported that it was like watching a soap opera, or that the real actors were over lit and jarred against the CGI characters.

Most of us will not get a chance to see the glorious 48 FPS as only a few cinemas have sufficient projectors to show it at the higher frame rate.

What will concern the average punter will be the level of plot detail and loyalty to the original JRR Tolkein story. Given Jackson’s faithfulness to the overall spirit and general aesthetic of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, it is likely to hold true to The Hobbit.

Indeed as there is due to be three Hobbit films from just the one book there will be hardly any need to leave out even the smallest detail (as it was necessary to do in the LOTR). They may even need to have a bit of filler and back-story where Bilbo just does some gardening or fixes a squeaky gate for his elderly neighbour.

Either way with Martin Freeman as Bilbo it is likely to be a more light-hearted series than LOTR, he’s more of Dominic Monaghan type of hobbit than an angst ridden Elijah Wood.

A few familiar faces return as Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving all reprise their roles. There’s also some glimpses of Elijah Wood and Ian Holm with the ever popular Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Armitage and Evangeline Lilly joining the cast.

Dwarf fans will also be pleased as there’s a 13 strong gang of them accompanying Bilbo on a quest to recapture stolen treasure from the dragon Smaug.

This film is basically all about the little people. The Hobbit: An Unexpected  Journey is out December 13 2012.

Website ::: www.hobbitmovies.co.uk
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Twitter ::: @HobbitMoviesUK

Written by ::: Chris Dyer
Twitter ::: @JChrisDyer