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So let’s get right down to it.

The Hobbit. Part 1 of 3. It’s long. But it’s damn good.

(I will preface this post by saying I saw the film in regular 2D and decided to forego watching it in 48 frames per second, which suited me just fine. I don’t think I could have enjoyed the film any more than I did.)

As a fan of the Lord of the Rings films, I am pleased to say that The Hobbit is more of the same. Is that a bad thing or a criticism? Not for me. Because it’s a continuation of the rich and complex characters, fantastic settings, and frame-turner of a story began with Lord of the Rings.

Fortunately, director Peter Jackson is the one that brings us back to this amazing world Tolkien created, to complete the story started with Fellowship of the Ring. I rewatched that film soon after returning from The Hobbit and found prequel references so much easier to pick out.

The Hobbit has the same look and feel and vibe as Lord of the Rings, and when all is said and done, it will be a great six-film set for my video collection down the road.

The humour is turned up a notch, but that’s a direct influence of the book. It works through. Is the 2 hour 50 minute running time extreme? Perhaps. But it’s a thrill to watch so I won’t complain about the length and leave that to real critics. For me, the combination of humour and adventure makes it a fun ride and I will be back for more and sorry when it’s all over.