Jackson does it again!

Rating: 8/10 (14 December 2012)

If given the option of describing this movie in one word, in all modesty, I would call it "Spectacular". Then again, after the multi-award winning THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, how can you expect any less? THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY is a fantasy adventure of such epic proportions, it takes an accomplished and acclaimed filmmaker to lead us on a grand adventure the likes of which we are yet to experience. Even so, as the first of three installments, this film lets us experience just one-third of the proverbial iceberg. And that's a good thing.
Once again, adapting from J.R.R Tolkien's spellbinding tales of Middle-Earth, director Peter Jackson returns along with writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens in cinematically narrating an incredible adventure that is truly out of this world. Set as a prequel to THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, The Hobbit is adapted into a new trilogy of its own where chapter one, AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, begins with the decimation of the once prosperous land of Erebor by the dragon Smaug, followed by the savage and brutal Orcs. We are then introduced to young Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) a hobbit who lives alone but content with his eventless lifestyle. Bilbo's simple life changes the day he meets Gandalf the wizard (Ian McKellen reprising his role) and thirteen dwarfs led by Thorin (Richard Armitage), whose father was the slain king of Erebor. Together, they begin a perilous quest to reclaim Erebor and all its treasures from Smaug.
As the first of three instalments, there were a lot of high expectations riding on this one and I'm happy to say that the director, the grand storyteller that he is, has gone and done it again. Whether you are a Tolkien fan or not, Jackson takes everything we loved about TLOTR trilogy and breathes new life into it. Not only is there tweaking, sanding, and upgrading of various hallmarks from the original trilogy, there are lots of cliff-hangers, frequent skirmishes, and dollops of humour throughout. There is so much happening at any given time that you just don't feel the film is almost three hours long. From the fast paced story to the humorous predicaments of our little on-screen friends, to the captivating score by Howard Shore, there is little chance of a viewer's attention drifting away. To begin with, the 3D effect is immersive when required, rather than having the audience bob and weave at the swing of every axe. After the mixed reception of THE LOVELY BONES, Jackson has probably learned a valuable lesson in limiting only the best moments in visual splendour; an aspect he nails in this movie.
Just In case you were wondering, the best part of this prequel is just that it is one – it is a prequel in the most rewarding manner possible for fans of the original. Bilbo and his new found friends traverse various locations that are brought back from the original, but grander in scale and visual aesthetics thanks to returning cinematographer Andre Lesnie. This says a lot about the quality of art design that has gone into this film, from green carpeted landscapes to snow-capped peaks, and various mythical beasts in between. There are also a plethora of familiar characters from the previous films, some who even aide in giving this story a new spin. My favourite, and perhaps the highlight of the film, is the attention given to reintroducing Gollum the goblin and his dark kinship with the One Ring. If performance capture technology is the next best thing in films of such calibre, it is no surprise that Andy Serkis is the best in the industry. Having previously worked with Jackson as Gollum and in 2011's unbelievable RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, it's a matter of time before Serkis is duly recognised for his ground-breaking efforts in CGI. But without doubt, the film's greatest strengths are Freeman as Bilbo and McKellen as Gandalf. Freeman crackles with charisma in almost every scene, yet the transformation from a meek and insignificant hobbit to becoming the group's hero is remarkably seamless. Together with Gandalf, Freeman's Bilbo becomes the catalyst in establishing a brotherly bond with every other character – everyone just seemed to be having fun no matter what the situation.
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTEED JOURNEY does not appear to break new ground, but trust Peter Jackson to show the world how a prequel should be made. Although he has caught our attention again, I suspect the best is yet to come. Watch this space.