Before I start I would just like thank theonering.net for providing me with the information and inspiration I have used and needed. If you want to read their original article that provided me with such here is the link: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/01/04/68002-death-of-hobbit-at-boxoffice-greatly-exaggerated/
As I'm sure you can gather, I wanted to try to discuss all of this bad press The Hobbit has been getting recently... I'll try my best not to show bias, but knowing me it's likely my opinions will fly from my finger tips without barely a thought placed to them. I might as well get them out there, seems everyone else is.
Now, don't know if this makes any sense at all but it made sense in my head.
First of all I would like to lay down what I know.
One: The 48fps (which, as some of you may know, means that the camera's shot double the usual amount of frames - i.e. still images - per second, supposedly making the film look more realistic) didn't seem to go down so well with a lot of critics. Out of a whole google page I only saw one review that actually rated the higher frame rate.
Two: The Hobbit sales decreased by almost half in the first week of showing and has been described as 'underwhelming'.
Three: The Hobbit is not as 'dead' as critics and others would have you believe.
I think certain critic's are talking a load of ****. I'm sorry, I won't say it again, but I had to get it out.
Okay, first thing's first because it is most recently in my mind, the 48fps issue. I have been to see this film in both 2D and 3D, both, I believe, were in the higher frame rate category. I have seen this film four times which is why I am even allowing myself to even broach this topic, one which is worming its way closer to my heart each time I read a bad review.
Let me give you some background info. I haven't always been a Tolkien fan and if I'm completely honest haven't even finished reading that Return of the King yet (please don't judge me, I've been busy) and though I wouldn't call myself an expert I do know my way around the stories. I have been waiting for this film, I do believe, since the third video blog came out, so for over a year. I forget how long exactly, but it feels like a while. So yes, I got caught up in the hype and I waited outside of the cinema to make sure I could get good seats, I was desperate to see it and like LOTR (Lord of the Rings) every time I see it I spot something else that makes it that little bit more special. And frankly, I think that it is special. Very special.
So many people have been complaining about the increase in fps that even I have noticed, and I'm not particularly in the habit of doing that. One critic I read even said that it made the film look fake and unrealistic. My reply to that is this; it really didn't. The first time I saw it, I barely noticed, and maybe that's no better, but having seen it again, I can only comment that if anything it seems more realistic, and in doing that Peter Jackson has only realised Tolkien's dream further. To create a believable myth or legend for the British. Peter J has immersed us even deeper into this fantastic world where people live for hundreds of years and fly on giant eagles and go on adventures. This higher frame rate has allowed (well if I'm the only one so be it) me to feel for a moment that (I know it sound's cheesy) I'm there too. Ugh, a little disgusted in myself for getting all mushy, but thats not the point. The 48fps has created this kind of gloss that allows you to capture every detail and moment and I really don't see what's wrong with that. I really don't.
Second, now this is where theonering.net come in (thank you, please, thank you, so to you.) The sales. So, The Hobbit viewings dropped 56% in the first weekend. Oh my god the world's going to end. (Strangely enough it was actually the weekend that we were all supposed to die... Moving on.) I'm not going to get into the whole money thing because frankly it goes over my head, but what I can tell you is, every other film that has been financially big this year also 'suffered' similar 'plummets' Skyfall decreased by 53% and The Hunger Games by 61% both of which are considered top films of 2012. So it isn't so bad is it. Not only that but it was the weekend before Christmas, everybody was out shopping for last minute Christmas presents, because that's what people do... *cough cough* (Moriarty every time.) Anyway, the plummet is constantly being compared to that of the Return of the King but you can't compare them. That was over ten years ago, times have changed and as much as I don't want to admit it, it can be a pain to get out to the cinema's sometimes. Not only that but lots of people just don't go to the cinema anymore, I can't tell you how many almost empty screening's I've been to recently, and it is sad, but people get to a stage where they don't see the point, films come out on DVD so quickly nowadays that they might as well wait for it to be released, then they can watch it in their own home, pause it when they need to and sit on a big sofa and be in a carefree environment. No the experience isn't the same but it's starting to get pretty damn close. It doesn't help either that critic's are shelling out bad reviews just because (making a generalised statement) they don't like change.
As a fan it genuinely hurts to see these crappy reviews, so I can't imagine how the cast and crew, that put so much time and effort and love into this film must feel. Critic's don't bother to find anything good about it. I have to wonder if they get kicks out of being cruel, or whether they like to be controversial and go against what many were expecting of them. On the other hand, I suppose it doesn't really matter what the critic's think. Because if all they talk about is the fps and ignore the content then they aren't really reviewing what people like me are most interested in:
- Is it a good story?
- Do I want to know more?
Of course in my case it's a define yes on both accounts. It's you that has to decide whether or not you think it's worth your time and if you've read this I hope you believe that it is. But enough of me, I'll leave you to make you're own judgements.
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