The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 3D (2012) Hollywood | New Zealand

"The Return of the Epic to all the Epics"

Adventure | Fantasy

Tagline:
"From the smallest beginnings come the greatest legends."
"One journey started it all."


Review:
First I like to start with that I am one hell 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy fan freak, it is the EPIC to all the EPICS in human history of filmdom. I voted many movies for 10 outa 10 but by far 'The Lord of the Rings' stays in highest peak point on that list. I will never compare 'The Hobbit' with 'The Lord of the Rings' because the time and technology differentiate both the movie (trilogy) and I request you all not to do that as well. Another solid reason is that I saw 'The Lord of the Rings' as plain live action graphic movie (regular version, not in digital 3D) but saw 'The Hobbit' a decade later in 3D with advance CGI techniques in it.

Now lets talk about 'An Unexpected Journey', The first installment of 'The Hobbit' trilogy which tells the untold adventurous story of Bilbo Baggins, the ring holder, which take place 60 years earlier to the actual 'The Lord of the Rings'. It also tells how Bilbo Baggins ends with the precious Ring in his pocket that everyone in the Middle Earth was looking for it over the centuries. As usual stunning visuals, Peter Jackson did hell of a job by handing the massive characters (cast and roles) and also got what he wanted from CGI technicians, It was not gigantic cast like 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy though. In fact I have seen only 33.333...% of the movie so far I mean I yet to see other two parts (66.666...%) 'The Desolation of Smaug' and 'There and back again' which will make it a full fledged trilogy. So my rating for this movie is just temporary till next two years.

The movie begins with slow dramatic style, introducing all the characters one after one otherwise some could get mix up to identify all the dwarfs who look alike. And then little fun get pass through the middle of the movie with small-small adventures. Then begins the second half where most of the real adventures takes place which  kick starts with the mountain Trolls. An extraordinary 3D effects with few great pop-ups, some action sequences were simply breathtaking especially one in underground Goblin city was treat for eyes specially if you saw it in digital 3D, expected ultra slow motion images Like what we see in cricket, sadly I did not get chance to see the movie in 48fps, that really scuks as being 'The Lord of the Rings' fan. Great to see 500 years old freaky, an aggressive Gollum (Smeagol) in 3D, you gonna witness the best Gollum in technically, Andy Serkis did a wonderful job in his short phase.

There is a brief scene where this movie meets 'Fellowship of the Ring' when Gollum loose his Ring in a dark cave and that situation was bit stranger in this movie and different than what we have seen in 'The Lord of the Rings', may be because it was brief like i said before. The meet between them, Bilbo Baggins and Gollum was more like funny simultaneously frighting too, specially kids may feel the scare.

Background score was so great throughout the movie like previous trilogy, even some songs too. When movie ended I left cinema hall like everyone else but felt I still wanted another hour of it. I was forced to leave the place :( How many of you will agree with me? The movie started slowly but ended strongly, that's why all this drama of me.

In world cinema, there will be always some characters which will remain in people's mind forever, like the Joker, Jack Sparrow, Dark Vader etc, like that Gandalf is for  'The Lord of the Rings' (of course including Gollum as well), Ian McKellen was so awesome in all the four movies, without him or replace of him is like a bowl of curd rice without a piece of pickle.

Overall an excellent standard movie, must see in big screen with digital 3D specially if you are a film freak you should not miss it. Some people might have not get satisfied with movie but all I can say is still another two is yet to come so it will make difference at least then. Now all we can do is a wait...

Similar movies:

The lord of the rings, Harry potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Narnia

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Life of Pi (3D) (2012) Hollywood | Taiwan

227 days of Pi's life  drifting on the blue desert

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

"The journey of a lifetime."

Review:

Well, one of most expected movie of 2012 by me. It was not a colorful visual movie like 'Avatar' which was bluish Or 'Hugo' which was orangish except in few scenes that too come in night shot though IMO you should not compare it with above two. Many part of 3D sequences were just awesome, never ever looked better the water in 3D.

It could have been more violent and sentimental story that ever told on this theme but not, the director cleverly blended the humor with character emotions very nicely, that is why it was just rated PG where children are allowed with their parents approval, but it is common for them to see an animal to kill another in Animal Planet, so its not a big deal i think. The CGI animal(s) were looked so clean and good. Of course the Tiger dominants throughout the movie beside Pi.

I must say the movie don't offer what you expect from its trailer, in movie it was totally different than any movie in the world except Waterworld + Cast Away + Castle in the Sky (a little) = Life Of Pi, i am not comparing it to other 3 but saying got similarity in some parts.

I did not like the end much, I mean the way it ended was not proper, I thought it still had something to go far away then realized it happen only in commercial movies.

My question is can this movie do good business which got no big names and cast!? Indian cast, Taiwan's talent, American product and a great effort of various technicians from around the world is equal to LIFE OF PI in Pacific ocean over 227 days. Hoping it gonna grab couple of awards in Academy award. Worth watching it in 3D, Someday in future you can say that i was in there when it came out when it called epic like what we call some of classical movies today.

You could see better and beautiful India in beginning few Minutes than any Hollywood movie which deal on Indian subject. people from in and around Pondicherry can feel proud, why not whole Indians can. The images from the movie will remain in our eyes for some time even after you left the cinema hall specially may be you won't forget the name Richard Parker.

And now i go for 9 outa 10 saying must see specially we Indian because we cant make movie like this at least for right now in our own but we can watch this western piece of Indian art carved Ang Lee.

There is a chance that this movie could replace 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' as Ang Lee's best, I said may be so lets see. Might be I am little excited for seeing it in preview show lets see what happens later days and what others say.

Similar movies:

Cast Away, Kon-tiki, Castaway on the moon, Nims island

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: Great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece