It’s fair to say that the last few years haven’t been kind to Hollywood. Since the financial crisis of 2008, box office revenue for films over $500,000 has dropped by 27%. Despite this, cinematic magic still happens, and the latest example is Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy, which has exceeded all expectations and become one of the most successful cinematic events of all time. When it was announced that the three-part fantasy adventure would be split into three films, the majority of the audience probably didn’t see this as a problem; after all, the films wouldn’t be in 3D, which normally provides a boost to ticket sales. This, however, is probably the last film Peter Jackson should have made. Despite the fact that he’s one of the most successful filmmakers in the business, he still hasn’t changed the way he makes movies, and The Hobbit trilogy is proof that his method isn’t as effective as he thinks it is. The first film in the series, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, opened to $80 million in December 2012. This blew away all previous records for a December release and became the fourth-highest-grossing film of the year. Its box office returns were excellent, and it currently has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, these figures don’t do the film justice. The Hobbit is an extremely talented cinematic achievement, and it’s fair to say that it’s one of the best films of the year. It also managed to buck the trend and became one of the few releases to actually improve on successive weekends. This, ultimately, is due to Jackson changing something about the way he films, and it’s a technique he used once again for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. While the first film mostly sticks to a predictable routine, The Desolation of Smaug is anything but. It kicks off with an opening scene that establishes our protagonist as a troubled individual, and it never lets up from there. Jackson’s previous films have never been as bleak as this one, and it’s one of the reasons it’s so effective. The final installment of The Hobbit, The Battle of the Five Armies, ups the ante yet again, and it’s evident that Jackson is having fun with the viewers like never before. This, ultimately, is why you should care about The Hobbit. It’s not just another movie; instead, it’s an extraordinary piece of cinema that you should experience at least once in your life.
The Pros And Cons Of A Longer Cut
If you’re a regular reader of Film Business Worldwide, you’ll know that I’ve been pretty vocal about my disdain for The Hobbit’s extended cut. I’m not saying that it’s a bad film, but I am saying that it’s an incredibly tedious watch. One of the reasons the theatrical cut of The Hobbit is so short is because of all the amazing material that got cut out of the longer version. Some of these scenes, however, are so integral to the story that they ended up on the cutting-room floor, and these scenes, ultimately, made the difference between the two versions. One of the greatest scenes in the entire movie is when Bilbo initially meets Gollum. In the longer version of the film, this meeting happens a little quicker, and it eventually leads to an incredible sequence where Bilbo defeats the Great Goblin in a game of riddles. This, ultimately, is why The Hobbit’s extended cut is a must-see for serious Tolkien fans. Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on one of the greatest sequences that the entire genre has ever seen. You don’t need me to tell you that this is a great scene; you can see it for yourself!
It’s More Than Meets The Eye
One of the most crucial aspects of any Jackson film is the artwork that goes into it. Since Peter’s Heavenly Creatures, the visual style of his films has been nothing short of breathtaking. Films like The Frightening Flight of the Earls, Brain Dead, and even The Battle of the Five Armies are some of the most innovative and creative films ever made. One of the reasons The Hobbit is such a great movie is because it sticks so closely to the visual style of Jackson’s other films – namely, Lord of the Rings. This, ultimately, isn’t a bad thing; after all, it would be disingenuous to say that The Hobbit is completely unrelated to the rest of Jackson’s filmography. It’s more than evident that he drew inspiration from A Journey Through The Twinkling Forest, and, ultimately, this is why it’s so effective. Despite the fact that it’s a standalone film, it doesn’t feel like it. It has the charm, creativity, and atmosphere of all his other films combined into one, and it’s easy to see why this is one of the most popular films of the year. This, ultimately, is why you should care about The Hobbit. It’s not just another chance to watch Peter Jackson’s films; instead, it’s an opportunity to see one of the greatest creative directors in film history at the top of his game.
Film criticism can be a tricky thing, and often it borders on being meaningless. Since the rise of the YouTube generation, people have become more and more hesitant to spend their money on tickets to see a movie, especially since they can often find the same content for free. This, however, is where we’re different. This, ultimately, is a movie column, and I want to talk about the things that made The Hobbit so great. The first is the aforementioned artwork. As I already mentioned, this isn’t just any artwork; it’s a culmination of everything that Peter Jackson has done, and it’s also the work of some of the most talented and innovative artists in the industry. One of the amazing things about all of this is that none of it feels forced; it all feels natural and, for the most part, completely unscripted. One of the other things that makes The Hobbit so great is that it’s more than just a movie. One of the central themes of the film is competition. It begins with Bilbo and the other dwarves challenging Gandalf to a game of riddles, and it continues through to the epilogue, where Bilbo once again stands against Gandalf in what will ultimately be a game of wits. This is something that Jackson wants the audience to experience, and it’s definitely something that makes The Hobbit worth seeing. The other films in the trilogy will also be available on DVD and Blu-ray soon, so it’s the perfect opportunity to re-live some of the most memorable scenes from the movie. It isn’t often that a movie manages to feel so integral to the story while still feeling like a complete film, and this is largely due to the fact that The Hobbit is more than just a film. It also functions as a work of art, and it continues to amaze fans and critics alike.