7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.4 |
A curious Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, journeys to the Lonely Mountain with a vigorous group of Dwarves to reclaim a treasure stolen from them by the dragon Smaug.
Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavishAdventure | 100% |
Action | 85% |
Fantasy | 67% |
Epic | 37% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (2 BDs, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
It was bound to disappoint. With expectations at an enormous high, a 48fps experiment in tow, and fandom, both literary and cinematic, frothing at the mouth, poised to strike the moment the first film in The Hobbit trilogy showed the slightest sign of weakness, it was bound to disappoint. And yet it shouldn't have. Criticism continues to run the gamut. Too long! Too slow! Too expansive! Like butter scraped over too much bread! Was anyone really that surprised to see Jackson and company indulge a little? Did the decision to stretch two films into three fail to clue anyone into the fact that An Unexpected Journey would be more akin to a Lord of the Rings extended version than a lean, mean theatrical cut? For that matter, are the same people who swear by The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions actually upset with the end result? By some strange, blinding magic: yes, yes and yes.
Fortunately, it was only bound to disappoint some fans. There are those among us who chose a different path. Those who were familiar with the quaint, charming tale of "The Hobbit," enough so to avoid setting Rings-slaying expectations. Who didn't squander our first viewing of An Unexpected Journey by leaping headlong into an entirely new (and arguably distracting) way of watching a film. Who were overjoyed to immerse ourselves in Peter Jackson's Middle-Earth once again, for whatever length of time he saw fit. No, The Hobbit isn't perfect. It isn't a sacred adaptation of Tolkien's text, or even one that rivals any of The Lord of the Rings films. It's a gorgeous, gripping, at-times enthralling return to Middle-Earth, though, with far more to offer the Peter Jackson and J.R.R. Tolkien folds than many are willing or perhaps able to admit.
An unexpected journey indeed...
The Blu-ray edition of The Hobbit wows, dazzles and thoroughly impresses with a stunning 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer true to Jackson and cinematographer Andrew Lesnie's every intention. Lush, lovely Shire greens, summer-kissed browns and oranges, moonlit blues pierced by blazing flame, relatively lifelike fleshtones and cavernous blacks grant the image soul and spirit, while impeccable contrast leveling and exceedingly natural shadow delineation give it depth and strength. The filmmakers' at-times stylized color grading is presented without apparent flaw, and detail is nothing short of extraordinary. Edge definition is crisp and clean, without any significant ringing or aliasing. Fine textures are refined and exceptionally well-resolved. And there isn't a shot or scene marked by anything less than the utmost care. Better still, macroblocking, banding and other issues are absent, and only the slightest hint of noise and negligible crush will give eagle-eyed videophiles pause. An Unexpected Journey delivers the first of what promises to be a trio of top tier transfers and doesn't disappoint in the least.
As impressive as Warner's video transfer may be, it's The Hobbit's bellowing beast of a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track that leaves the most lasting mark. The LFE channel is forceful yet discerning, producing deep, resonant thooms and weighty low-end support. (Albeit not ideal support, as some filtering has been reported and confirmed. For my part, it isn't a bother. Others will no doubt disagree.) All the while, the rear speakers bristle with engaging, wonderfully effective activity seasoned with convincing directional effects and transparent cross-channel pans. The resulting soundfield is wholly immersive too, dropping the listener into the heart of Erebor, the cozy hobbit holes of Hobbiton, the vast expanse of the wild, the midst of a thunderous rock giant battle, the chaos of an underground Goblin city and the center of a cave where a certain magic ring slips from its master's pocket and bounces along the ground. Dialogue remains crystal clear and intelligible throughout (without a lost or muffled line to be found), Howard Shore's score is sweeping and full, and prioritization is flawless.
Still awaiting an official confirmation of an Extended Edition release? Look no further than the standard Blu-ray release of An Unexpected Journey and its two and a half hours of extras, the overwhelming majority of which have been available online for some time. Hardly the twenty-plus hours of original or exclusive content Peter Jackson and company are known for. That said, the special features on tap at least earn their own Blu-ray disc, not because they're so significant, mind you, but so they can be presented in HD without crowding the feature film, presented in its entirety on the set's first BD-50 disc.
Debate will continue to rage as to whether The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a worthy precursor and rightful successor to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Whether it's a faithful adaptation or goes one step too far. Imbues the spirit of Tolkien or tramples on his grave. Could use serious trimming or stands soundly as is. Deserves to pass $1 billion in worldwide box office returns or shows how out of touch with literary classics modern audiences have become. Some will continue to criticize, some will continue to praise. But few can deny Jackson's passion for the material, his team's mastery of their craft, the strength of the ensemble's performances or the various strides the film makes in its own unexpected journey toward becoming a full-fledged trilogy. I, for one, am more than happy to return to Jackson's Middle-Earth and stay there as long as he allows. The film's flaws are minimal in the grand scheme of things and its future installments are ripe with promise. Here's hoping the next two Hobbit films will go one step further and take their place at The Lord of the Rings' side. Thankfully, Warner's Blu-ray release is an excellent one. It doesn't boast the supplemental breadth of its inevitable Extended Edition counterpart, but its stunning video transfer and fantastic DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track more than make up for it. Some fans will no doubt wait for the Extended Edition release. I get it. Me? I'll be enjoying my copy of the theatrical cut and the Desolation of Smaug exclusive sneak peek in the coming months, biding my time and waiting to see what Jackson has up his sleeve next.
2012
2012
with Exclusive Lego Bilbo Baggins Minifigure
2012
Movie-Only Edition
2012
2012
2012
w. Panoramic Poster / Item # HOBBDBUNDLE
2012
2012
Extended Edition
2012
Extended Edition
2012
Extended Edition with Bilbo/Gollum Statue
2012
Extended Edition with Bilbo/Gollum Statue
2012
Extended Edition
2012
Extended Edition
2012
Extended Edition
2012
2012
w/The Battle of the Five Armies Movie Money
2012
Extended
2012
Theatrical
2012
Extended Edition
2013
2001
2014
Extended Edition
2002
Extended Edition
2003
2011
2019
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2019
2016
Extended Edition
2012
2012
2017
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2009
1999
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2014
1980
2013
2011
2013