...how did I like The Hobbit movie? I keep asking this question to myself these days. I have no clear answer yet. My opinions on movies tend to change a lot over the course of time, so I should probably wait a bit more. Right now I can say I enjoyed very much half of it the first time I saw it (I was hoping it could become some sort of a musical with all the songs!) and was a bit bored during the entire second viewing a couple of weeks later. But I know I need to see it again, this time in regular 2D to avoid any distraction and possibly enhance immersion (the first two views were in HFR 3D, not something I really look forward to experience again soon - not that it was bad per se, but the second time around it felt... unnecessary).
But, but... let's see if I can clear my mind a bit. This can get ranty...
I am becoming more and more convinced of one thing: I fear the movie didn't really have something in it that could really capture me. The Hobbit book has been with me for more than thirty years now; my itch to see Tolkien in theaters has been scratched thoroughly by the Lotr trilogy; at 45 years of age there are some things I appreciate in a movie, like intelligent dialogue (the movie had some, mainly Bilbo, but...), a script that is well balanced (the movie seemed handled by different directors in its first and second part), I like action scenes that drive the narrative (not self-contained 'action chapters'), I like deep and direct cultural references in my fantasy (yes, I missed some Nordic-style dwarves, especially for their weapons and gear, to me it seemed out of a D&D live action game)... I like a soundtrack that helps to create a mood (not one that seems only to reinforce a 'musical brand')...
Oh well, I warned you it could become a rant! I really need to see The Hobbit once again soon. For the moment, I think that to raise my old man spirits I'll turn on the DVD reader and go see the scene when young Arthur gets knighted by Uriens, knee-deep in the water, before the walls of Cameliard - it still brings a tear to my eyes every time...
