OK, so I got to see The Hobbit pt. 1, was invited over at a friend's place to watch it on pay TV.
Should only really comment after rewatching it minus the chatter inbetween, I guess, but, overall well-done and entertaining, I suppose, and far from a disappointment. I'm really not so sure about stretching this what is after all really a children's novella to a full-blown movie trilogy, but... One does seriously have to wonder what do all those spurious additions really have to add. (And may I really recommend reading the book, or to reread it if you already have. Not for pointless comparison as to which is better, but it is just such fun, and an easy and catchy read.)
On a sidenote, those involved CGI mass action scenes do become a bit demanding & hence tedious in general, I feel, but oh well. Must be falling behind the times Don't you just love how (e.g.) the original Star Wars was actually made by hand, still? Not to mention the original Kong and the likes, even; Jason and the Argonauts and all such icons, they really do stand out still for what they accomplished in terms of techniques and within their given limitations. The modern Aardvark Animations, for that matter, etc.; oh, just the sheer artisanship of it.
