another superb quest

Rating: 8/10 (4 February 2013)

Another showing of the quest, but this one precedes the restoration journeys of The Ring. Here, a much younger Bilbo, played brilliantly by Martin Freeman (so mild, yet so able to evoke emotion), is more or less coerced into undertaking a treacherous mission across mountainous territory in the company of dwarfs, to help restore their kingdom. Some reviewers thought the film overlong, and it does seem so at the beginning, particularly the somewhat protracted night when the dwarfs are encamped in Bilbo's cramped hovel. But as they cross epic landscapes and fall prey to ghastly creatures (the oily Gollum gets an outing too), one cannot help being drawn in to their adventure. The technological and graphic detail is amazing: how do they get unreality to look so really real? Of those of us watching the film, ages 13,19,30,36,66,68 we mostly gave it a thumbs up.