The Hobbit - ONE RING (One Direction 'One Thing' Parody)

Brandon wrote a great review of The Hobbit earlier this week, and since one of his favorite bands is One Direction it seemed like a match made in heaven when someone made a Lord of the Rings and One Direction parody! It's pretty hilarious. Check it out:

A Hobbit's Review: Way Better Than Expected

(Want to get the Lord of the Rings? Buy the Blu Ray Here)

Having read a few reviews before going to see "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" I didn't have the highest of expectations for the movie. Many critics say it was long, drawn out and cast in the exact same dye as the original Lord of the Rings trilogy (which, I really see no problem with.). I did avoid the 3D 48fps version and went with the old-fashioned regular frame rate 2D version because some people said it spoiled the fantasy feeling of the movie by feeling to realistic.

I was also a bit skeptical about splitting The Hobbit into three movies, since it was a 300-page book.

However, about halfway through the movie I decided "this is better than the book." And I think that's the first time in the history of movies that you can say that. Since it's a three-movie series, Peter Jackson is allowed to fill in the blanks on some events in the book that are basically written out in just one or two pages. For the most part, he hits every single nuance that the first 100 pages of the Hobbit offers in this first movie. If you just read the book (which I have, again), you'll be shocked just how faithful he is to the source material and how impressed you'll be with the changes he makes.

Some people criticized Jackson for taking too long in the movie to get out of the Shire, but the initial dwarf scenes are highly entertaining and if you didn't like them you probably didn't like the original three LOTR movies.

One of the qualms I had with the first three films was just how wimpy Frodo was for the majority of the time. It became the least favorite of the storylines that split out, despite a great performance by Sean Austin as Sam. The hobbit in this flick, the affable Bilbo Baggins, played by Martin Freeman, is the highlight of this movie. He played the reluctant traveler, bewildered by his circumstances absolutely wonderfully. He also comes across much more capable and clever than Frodo appeared in the first three films. Freeman is a highlight of the film for sure.

I also must say I'm happy the dwarves weren't played as completely comical but still entertaining. Gimli was used as too much as comic relief in the first three flicks, so it feels good they get their due. It also must be noted that had it not been for the first three LOTR movies, these flicks would never be made because what Hollywood studio would okay a flick about 13 short people and an old wizard? None. Jackson isn't afraid to take risks and portray the most unique parts of the book.

The whole dwarves showing up at Bilbo's place? Done. The riddle game with Gollum (Who's just fantastic this time around, really a great, wonderful piece of cinema right there)? Yep. Escaping from the Trolls by distracting them till sunrise? Yeah, it's in there. All things and devices that aren't normally used in Hollywood films and Jackson pulls them off wonderfully.

He also adds some very wonderful human scenes where some emotions and feelings are fleshed out. Bilbo's tenuous relationship with the dwarves, and their loss of home that I don't feel was really put front and center in the original book. It's a nice layer that makes me feel the movie is deeper than the book.

The only times I felt slightly distracted during the film was the addition of some things obviously meant to make sure audiences remember this is connected with the Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit really starts out as a plundering adventure for gold, but Jackson tries his hardest to make sure everything is connected to the originally trilogy (including an impromptu meeting between Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel and Saruman the White that just feels very tacked on in order to make the audience feel like this is a more important adventure than it is. There is a nice monologue by Gandalf about Hobbits in there, however.

There pursuing orc band added into the film, obviously meant to give an active bad guy force to root against is slightly annoying just because it feels like it's needed for us "dumb" audiences. Unless we have some overlying bad guy force, we can't enjoy the movie? Come on.

Thorin is pretty bad ass, and flawed as a hero, which makes him almost more likeable that Strider in the first flick. The dwarves are most fleshed out as characters than the dwarves in the book. The action scenes are clever and playful. It really does feel like Jackson was the right person to move J.R. Tolkien's material along.

It's nice we're back in Middle Earth. It's definitely familiar but that's okay.

FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS

Wizard Gandalf Style

The world has pretty much been taken over by "Gangnam Style " by Psy.

But this is the best parody that I have seen. It's called "Gandalf Style" and sings about Hobbits and the Lord of the Rings. And with the Hobbit and theaters, you can buy the The Lord of the Rings on blu ray. A perfect gift!

Enjoy Wizard Gandalf Style!

The Hobbit Movie Spoilers

The Hobbit just opened and apparently its making buttloads of money. If you can't make it to the movie, at least buy the book, and enjoy J.R.R. Tolkien's first foray into Middle Earth. We're here to ruin it for you, however, with some Hobbit Movie Spoilers.

1. Bilbo and the Dwarves will be short - Sadly, they will not be able to get on any carnival rides, or reach the top shelf. That's the problem with being a halfling and a dwarf, the only place you can find clothes is the kids section of Walmart.

2. Some sort of epic battle will happen - A lot of people will probably die in said battle. There will be some do-good force vs. a rather nasty detachment of evil people. Think of it like the Patriots vs. the Bills.

3. A ring will be involved - I don't know how Kay Jewelers somehow got their winter line in this movie, but alas, Bilbo will probably be feeling around for some dull ring.

4. Gandalf will have magic - Despite being almost all-knowing and almost all-powerful, he always seems to get himself into a pinch. A rather lazy wizard if you ask me. The better wizard? James Franco in his upcoming movie.

5. There will be some quest to fulfill - Want to combat obesity in America, have people set out and complete quests. We'd do away with our dragon and goblin problem as well. Now if only we could find dragons and goblins in America.

6. Somebody will smoke a pipe - After all, weed is legal in the Shire now.

7. The movie will be two hours longer than any other movie - Peter Jackson, a wonderful director but terrible editor.

Also you'll probably see someone dressed up as a hobbit at the movie theater, or you can go dressed as a hobbit yourself. We won't blame you.

Unicycle Gandalf and Lord of the Rings

Like most of the country, the Northwest is getting pretty excited for the release of The Hobbit! Check out this guy in Portland, Oregon. He's really, really excited! (And pretty amazingly talented AND dressed like Gandalf)

"One does not simply unicycle into Mordor."



While we wait for the movie to come out why not buy The Hobbit to read while you wait. Or maybe pick up The Lord of the Rings: The Trilogy on blu-ray. Awesome!

Video Bites: Ringtone

The January 15th edition of the JustSON Video Bites. That's right, bite sized videos!!!

EPIC movies you need to watch to survive in college

If you haven't seen these movies because (a) your parents don't let you watch PG movies, (b) you came from an Amish community, (c) you didn't have electricity because you lived in Romania until age 14 or (d) you're a communist, than I would suggest going down to your local movie store and renting them.

If you didn't meet the following criteria than you have no excuse and you've lived a very sad childhood. You're so pop culturally inept that you think that McLovin' is a new fast food burger.

Please get the independent movie rod out of your butt and watch some of these fine examples of American cinema.

The Original Star Wars Trilogy

Otherwise, the Family Guy episode of "Star Wars" is completely not funny. Although it is interesting to see how Chris makes a way better Luke Skywalker than Mark Hamill.

Indiana Jones Trilogy

Since the fourth one of Harrison Ford in a nursing home isn't out yet, I can't yet add the wheelchair races to the collection of Indiana Jones movies, but we'll see (Put old people in front of giant rolling rock and we might have an interesting movie). Who didn't pretend to be Indiana Jones when they were a kid? And how many people ended up cutting themselves trying to use a bullwhip.

And where the hell did they get the bullwhip?

I personally hate Nazis, they're a bunch of bloody jerks, so to see Indiana Jones kick their butts is really all you need for an evening of entertainment. That, and Sean Connery.

GoldenEye

I'm going to piss a lot of people off here who have a lot of macho-ism problems but Bond movies suck. They're generally long-drawn out affairs with a lot of pointless dialogue and lame acting. Luckily, that means you only have to watch one very good James Bond movie to feel like you've felt the whole secret agent part of our movie culture.

GoldenEye has it all: Tank chase scene, wonderful ending battle with the main villain and of course, one super awesome N64 game. Just ignore the whole computers from 1994 thing.

Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Set aside a weekend, take lots of bathroom breaks and digest Peter Jackson's masterpiece. While the running times are long, the story and characters will envelop you but I would highly recommend stopping for a few hours if you feel the urge to start a World of Warcraft account.

The Goonies

I think we all grew up with a Chunk in our childhood. And if you haven't seen Sloth on the big screen you're never going to understand why your buddies go "Hey you guuuuuyyyyysss!" when that lumpy kid walks by who's face got disfigured in a George Foreman grill accident.

Space Jam

Watching Bill Murray play basketball is worth the price of a nine dollar DVD from Walmart.

Rocky 4

Skip all the other Rocky movies because they're either too deep of flicks or just horrible (the series really swayed back and fourth). For a happy medium, watch Rocky 4. It's terribly hammy, cheesy, whatever, but that's Stallone at his best.

Tombstone

Actually watch this movie every week if you can. Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. Need I say more.

The Mighty Ducks Trilogy

I would suggest the second one "D2" when they square off against Team Iceland in the Junior Goodwill Games. You wouldn't think it, but apparently Junior Goodwill Hockey teams have to deal with endorsements, fame and TV cameras, because people really do care about how middle-schoolers do in international competition.

Back to the Future Trilogy

I want a hoverboard. I know they don't exist but I don't care. I want a hoverboard. And by the way, they travel to 2015 in this movie, which is seven years from now.

We have that amount of time to wait before we get hoverboards.

I'm counting down the days.

Facebook application invites need to go

The Internet has had its share of "those people" in its short history. First it was the people that would send multiple forwarded chain letters a day (if you don't send this email you will have bad luck for 10 years... and a life), then it was the person that used lol and rotfl every other statement during an IM session, MySpace brought upon the advent of the idiots that like to put glittery, sparkly things on their layouts that give most web surfers seizures and now there's the Facebook application people.

Kudos to Facebook for creating a streamlined social networking site. You don't have to deal with many 80 year old stalkers who like human skin lampshades, you don't have forty cam-girl friend requests when you log in and people can't upload annoying profile songs that just end up tipping your professor off to the fact that you're on the Internet during class.

However, they have to do something about people with applications.

It's nice that you can customize your profile, but some Internet junkies have taken it to a whole new level. They've warped past the minions of live journal nerds and pulled a commanding lead in front of those people that comment on their own uploaded photos on MySpace. They've made it their mission to send you every application invite possible.

It sure is a cold day in hell when I log into Facebook and see that I have 2 "Jedi Knight invites, come fight the dark side" and one "This is the application where you choose which one of your Facebook friends you want to sleep with, but they'll never find out about it!"

Thanks guys and gals, it's not like our society was pathetic enough with "Dances with the Stars: 80 year old stalker edition" and "A healthy McDonald's menu for our customers that can't fit in our booths."

We've got to go and rank out friends body types online... but they won't find out because it's TOTALLY confidential. But we will have a ranking list of the top ten.

The only people that get any sort of satisfaction are the ones that spend three hours with a digital camera trying to get that perfect upward angle photo for their profile so that it hides their neck fat.

And what's worse is along with the four "Hello Kitty Fan Club" application invites I get, there's also the occasional douche bag that loves sending a private message through Facebook that says...

"Can you really add this Lord of the Rings Knighthood application. You can delete it right away, but if you download it then I move up in the rankings and I really was to make the "serf" level in a couple of weeks, that means I'll be able to post forum topics on our Lord of the Rings Knighthood application Facebook group board."

It's not going to be an asteroid that destroys this world, it's going to be some moron that invents a Facebook application that sucks whatever remaining brain matter we have left in our heads towards answering "Friends" trivia questions.

You might be seeing an invite from me in the next coming weeks, keep your eyes out for "Please delete your profile from Facebook and spare all of us the pain of having known you" application.

Enjoy!