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Q-Sample Statements and Scores by Viewpoints–An Unexpected Journey

Statement / Viewpoint
Enchanted HobbitFans / Bored & Disillusioned HobbitCritics / Disappointed Tolkien Readers / Critics of Technological ‘Enhancements’ / Mildly- Entertained Casual Viewers
1 / More editing was needed. Not only was the fat not trimmed, but it was stretched out and expanded to fill the time. The film’s extraordinary length wasn’t justified. / -2 / +2 / +3 / 0 / +4
2 / The soundtrack, especially the Misty Mountain song, was very beautiful and powerful. / +2 / -2 / +2 / +2 / +1
3 / The scenic New Zealand landscapes were gorgeous – it seems like a beautiful fantasy land. / +1 / -1 / +3 / +3 / +4
4 / Overall, it lacked much of the energy, passion and epic scale of the LotRfilms, and wasn't particularly successful as a prequel to the earlier trilogy. / -2 / +2 / 0 / +1 / -1
5 / The story related in The Hobbit teaches people about the real values in life: honesty, loyalty, friendship, sacrifice, courage, faith and hope. Such stories are very uplifting, and can help us become better people. / +1 / -1 / 0 / 0 / +1
6 / The magic of the novel was missing, and the sense of charm and childlike delight was greatly diminished. The film doesn’t quite reflect the spirit of J.R.R. Tolkien’s original novel. / -2 / +2 / +3 / -2 / 0
7 / The clarity and detail were incredible; everything looked so real and lifelike, it was breath-taking! I felt as though I’d stepped into Middle-earth and was going along for the adventure. / +3 / -3 / +1 / -3 / +1
8 / The sheer amount of graphic violence in the movie is far beyond what is in the book. The level of violence is unsuitable for young children. / 0 / 0 / 0 / -3 / -4
9 / Watching The Hobbit was like seeing old friends again, after missing them for ten years. / +2 / -2 / -1 / +2 / 0
10 / I thought the film was a great balance between fun targeted at children, and linking it to the more adult content of LotR. / +1 / -1 / -4 / 0 / +2
11 / Time flew by so quickly, I barely noticed. I wished the film didn't have to end so soon; I could easily have kept watching for another hour or two. / +4 / -4 / -4 / -1 / -4
12 / The casting and acting were real strengths of this film. Particular performances were especially strong. / +4 / -4 / 0 / +3 / +2
13 / It took me back to the place I love the most – Middle-earth. You really get the sense that this is an old world rich in history, places, people, kingdoms, magic and wonders. / +2 / -2 / 0 / +2 / 0
14 / All the controversy prior to this film’s release made me feel a bit conflicted about seeing The Hobbit, and I think I enjoyed it less as a result. / -1 / +1 / -2 / -3 / +2
15 / The film is not about a reluctant hero drawing courage from some deep personal well. It is just a showcase for Jackson’s visual effects and has lost much of its deeper meaning. / -3 / +3 / +1 / -2 / -2
16 / The Hobbit fails to balance the demands of good cinema against catering to its hordes of fans; the film falls a long way short of cinematic excellence. / -3 / +3 / +2 / -1 / 0
17 / There was too much deviation from the book and too much emphasis on adding action scenes. I wish it had stuck more closely to J.R.R. Tolkien’s original story in tone and emphasis. / -1 / +1 / +4 / -1 / -2
18 / Within seconds I was transported back to Middle-earth, completely immersed, and upon leaving the theatre felt like I was having culture shock, back in the modern world. I just wanted to go back. / +3 / -3 / -3 / +1 / -1
19 / I felt proud of my country’s association with this film production. / 0 / 0 / -2 / -2 / 0
20 / The character scenes were too few and too brief in between the rushing plot points. They spent more time on battle scenes than making us actually care about the characters. / 0 / 0 / +2 / +1 / -1
21 / Watching this film I felt enchanted and had an overwhelming sense of joy. I laughed and smiled much of the time, and almost cried in some parts. / +3 / -3 / -3 / 0 / -2
22 / The film was too whimsical and too silly at times. While the book relied on Bilbo’s quirky nature and wit, the film took a more slapstick approach, with some rather immature humour. / -1 / +1 / +1 / +1 / -3
23 / Changes have to be made when a book is adapted for the big screen. Jackson did a great job of following the story line for the most part, and adding events from Middle-earth’s history in great spots for cinematic effect. / +2 / -2 / -3 / +1 / +3
24 / I really enjoyed seeing this film with others who are important to me. / +1 / -1 / -1 / +2 / +1
25 / The film was badly let down by one or two over-the-top and un-subtle characterisations. / -1 / +1 / -1 / 0 / -3
26 / I appreciate the message of The Hobbit, which is that no matter how small or insignificant you are, with courage and determination you have the power to influence the world. / +1 / -1 / +1 / +1 / +1
27 / The computer generated imagery was too obvious. I wanted to be able to immerse myself in the film and not be constantly reminded that actually this is a movie and all this stuff is just computer generated. / -2 / +2 / -1 / +4 / -3
28 / The Hobbit is a coming of age tale for me, of finding who you really are and breaking from social norms if need be to get there. It transcends gender, age or time, because there is a little bit of Bilbo in all of us. / 0 / 0 / 0 / -1 / 0
29 / The film was too similar to the LotR series. Greater originality would have allowed it to stand on its own merits. It felt like a cynical attempt to recreate the epic greatness and success of the earlier trilogy. / -1 / +1 / +1 / -2 / -1
30 / This movie really brought back old memories and invoked a strong sense of nostalgia in me. / 0 / 0 / -1 / +3 / -1
31 / The grain of film was replaced by the gloss of high definition video, giving everything and everyone a fake, artificial sheen. I could see the sets and makeup for what they were, which spoiled the romantic illusion of film. / -1 / +1 / -2 / +4 / -1
32 / I felt bored and uninterested at times. It was very long and drawn out, and lacked momentum. / -4 / +4 / +1 / -1 / +3
33 / This first film just didn’t give me enough to make me care. I probably won’t watch the next two films in theatres. / -4 / +4 / -2 / -4 / -2
34 / The commercial motivation is clear when such a short and well-crafted book is split into three films. The story was diluted to turn a single book into three billion dollar movies. It was a cash grab, aimed at making even bigger profits. / -3 / +3 / +4 / -1 / +3
35 / This film is a technological milestone, and a game-changer for the industry. I was amazed by how the spectacular visual effects blended almost seamlessly into the action on screen. / +1 / -1 / -1 / -4 / +2
36 / The themes in The Hobbit are very relevant to the real world today. Greed, war, betrayal, and alienation from one’s homeland are not unique to Middle-earth alone. / 0 / 0 / +2 / 0 / +1