There's a little movie coming out this weekend you might have heard a thing or two about. It's called The Hobbert. No, that's not it. The Hob—something Hob ... Hobbin! Wait ... Hob ... Hob ...
PICK OF THE WEEK
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Directed by Peter JacksonWritten by Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Theater Count: 4,045
What's It About?
Return to Middle Earth for an adventure with Bilbo, Gandalf, and a host of comical dwarves. This film—the first in a trilogy—is set a few decades before the events of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Early Reaction: Solid, if a little unspectacular. Many critics have decried the film's long-windedness, and no one seems too keen on Jackson's decision to film using 48 frames per second. Still, The Hobbit has its fans (like our Steven Chaitman) and the film ultimately will be critic-proof.
Metacritic: 58
Rotten Tomatoes: 68%
Entertainment Fuse Rating: 8/10
What to Watch for: Make sure you know what format you're seeing the film in. This is a BIG film event, and you don't want it ruined with some wonky imagery or substandard 3-D. Still, Jackson is confident in his use of this technology, and if you're as excited as most people are after a nine-year absence from Middle Earth, nothing will ruin this experience.
LIMITED RELEASES
Stand Up Guys — A pair of aging con men (Christopher Walken and Al Pacino) try to get the old gang back together for one last hurrah before one of the guys takes his last assignment — to kill his comrade. (Metacritic: 45, Rotten Tomatoes: 50%) — Lionsgate
Yelling to the Sky — As her family falls apart, 17-year-old Sweetness O'Hara is left to fend for herself in a neighborhood where her survival is uncertain. (Metacritic: 46, Rotten Tomatoes: 33%) — Independent Pictures
Any Day Now — In the 1970s, a gay couple fights a biased legal system to keep custody of the abandoned mentally handicapped teenager that comes to live under their roof. (Metacritic: 60, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%) — Music Box Films
Save the Date — Sarah begins to confront her shortcomings after she rejects her boyfriend's hasty proposal and soon finds herself in a rebound romance. Meanwhile, her sister Beth is immersed in the details of her wedding. (Metacritic: 52, Rotten Tomatoes: 42%) — IFC Films
