Massively excited for this.
Then again, I'm in something of a very small minority. I actually thought An Unexpected Journey was more entertaining than any one of the original LOTR movies. Heresy, I know.
Just bear with me. Nothing will ever surpass LOTR as a trilogy, as piece of cinema experience. It came out when I was just the right age to love it, it did something utterly unlike anything that had come before and (with the extended editions) one can watch it as a single, 12 hour piece doing nothing more than marveling at the exquisite attention to detail, lavish scenery and a couple of stunning acting performances.
Over ten years on, however, and I feel I'm so jaded I've come out right the other side. I'm sick and tired with grim, dark stories; of antiheroes, moral ambiguity and oppressive atmospheres. To go and see a movie that was simply three hours of fun, colour, energy and simple pleasures, highlighted with some wonderfully engaging perforamances, was utterly refreshing. I like seeing a protagonist setting out with no motivation other than the desire to have a little adventure, and maybe score a little treasure. I like getting to see a Gandalf from happier times, the Gandalf we glimpsed at the start of Fellowship, mischievously launching fireworks from the back of his wagon for the kids.
The nods to LOTR are, I will admit, almost pure fanservice. But it worked on me. After ten years, Rivendell lost none of its awe. And like the rest of the film, it was probably better for feeling like meeting up with an old friend.
I'm well aware that the CGI, the framing, the colour saturation and even the script all give it a very different tone from LOTR, and that at times the CGI can be a little glaring. But I've also never before had that much fun in a cinema. At least, not solely from watching a film.
This teaser promises more of the same, plus a little awesome dragon action. And hopefully some glorious pointing out of the obvious from Legolas (nostalgia's a powerful thing). Once again, I can't wait.
