Like most fans of Peter Jackson's masterful Lord of the Rings trilogy, I've wanted to see The Hobbit adapted for the big screen since the end credits rolled on Fellowship. And for a long time, it seemed like that was never going to happen. Jackson was understandably hesitant to take on the mammoth undertaking, and can anyone blame him? After the immense (and deserved) success enjoyed by the LOTR trilogy, could one really expect lightning to strike twice? Luckily, Jackson eventually came around and decided to find out. He dove head first back into the world he helped create - the world of Middle Earth.
The always excellent Martin Freeman (the Dr. Watson to Benedict Cumberbatch's "Sherlock") stars as the titular Hobbit, a young Bilbo Baggins living a peaceful albeit uneventful existence in The Shire. However, when an old wandering wizard decides that Bilbo is precisely the right man to accompany a band of Dwarves on a unique and dangerous quest, Bilbo must decide if his love of routine and the finer things outweighs his long-stifled thirst for adventure. (Hint: The name of of the film is not The Hobbit: Who Stayed Home.)
In case you missed the news, Peter Jackson (and/or the studio bean counters?) decided we need not one, not two, but three films to properly tell the complete story of Bilbo's journey. So, much like Fellowship, know up front that this is only the beginning. And for the most part, Jackson starts things off on the right foot. The opening scenes do a wonderful job of bridging that which has come before with the new story that's about to unfold. And just seeing the mischievous Sir Ian McKellen and the crazy-talented Andy Serkis back in action is reason enough to grin. (Interesting side note: In addition to reprising his role of Gollum, Serkis also makes his Second Unit Directorial debut on the film. Very cool.)
The Picture
I took my family to see The Hobbit in 2D at our local theater when it opened, and I was relatively pleased with the look of the film. There was much talk surrounding the film's 48fps High Frame Rate (HFR) 3D exhibition, but I wasn't about to go that route on my initial viewing for fear of distraction. I missed my opportunity to see it a second time in the HFR format, though I quickly got over it - I can't imagine I'll be a fan if and when I finally get the chance, but we shall see.
Thankfully, the film's unique frame rate appears to have posed no problems for this Blu-ray release, as it's easily one of the best-looking titles I've seen yet on the format. The colors - particularly in The Shire - are lush and vibrant, while the murky cave interior during the all-important "Riddles in the Dark" scenes display remarkable depth and shadow detail. Overall, this is simply a gorgeous title to behold on Blu-ray. Unfortunately, we were only able to get a 2D copy for review, but 3D fans might prefer the Blu-ray 3D combo pack, which is also now available.
The Sound
Every bit as good as the film's visual presentation is its robust 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Dialogue is crystal clear throughout and the surround channels are actively engaged at all times. There's a great moment early on, when old Bilbo is telling the story of the Dwarf kingdom of Erebor, and the camera drops down a mining shaft as Dwarves are busy digging on all its walls - this brief but impressive visual is made completely immersive thanks to the sound of chipping stone from every corner of the room. Bass during the dragon's attack is gleefully thunderous and a true tease of what is sure to come in the next installment, The Desolation of Smaug.
The Extras
After marveling at this set's remarkable picture and sound quality, the dearth of new bonus material feels rather disappointing, though hardly surprising. With the exception of a new, 6-minute featurette on the beauty of New Zealand, the rest of the extras are just video blogs which Peter Jackson has previously shared online in the lead-up to the film's opening. That's not to say there isn't some great stuff in these short, targeted segments - there most definitely is - but they have a very different feel from the soup-to-nuts documentary fans were surely hoping for. Extended Edition, anyone?
Final Thoughts
Although An Unexpected Journey was not the slam dunk, perfect ten that The Felowship of the Ring was, it's still a great start to a wonderful story. And just being back in this world again is reason enough to celebrate. As for the disc, we all know an extras-filled Extended Edition is sure to follow but if you truly can't wait for the inevitable double dip, this initial offering is a true delight for the eyes and ears.
Product Details
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