Another super duper Trilogy, coming up!

Rating: 9/10 (16 December 2012)

The first thing that came in my mind when seeing the title at the opening credits is: WOO HOO! Finally a decade after RotK, I finally could experience another adaptation of Tolkien's Middle Earth, on the big screen. Been anticipating this since I saw the trailer like a year ago.
FYI, like LotR series, The Hobbit comes in three installments, with the first part being this one: "An Unexpected Journey". Peter Jackson still has his magnificent touch in directing the film. The opening scene tells us the tale of peaceful city of Dale and the ancient Dwarven Kingdom of Erebor. A real epic-opener! A few of the past characters reprise their roles such as Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel, Saruman, Frodo and even My Prrrrecious.
If Lotr Part 1 shows Aragorn's forefathers, well in Hobbit Part 1, we'll be seeing Legolas and Gimli's fathers. Moreover, we'll see again The Shire, Imladris (Rivendell), Misty Mountains, and many other extraordinary landscapes. Computer or no computer, the cinematography is just brilliant.
The Hobbit is a story about the beginning of young Bilbo Baggins' beautiful adventure to the outside world, filled with excitement, danger and mystery. He is persuaded by Gandalf to be the 14th companion of the pact of merry Dwarfs, led by Prince Thorin Oakenshield. My fa-vs are Kili and Fili. I dare you to try to remember all their names, loll. Their mission is to find a secret door into the Halls of Erebor within the Lonely Mountains; to reclaim back the city from the clutches of Smaug. Yeah, no more Sauron at least, not yet. New bad-guys are Smaug the Dragon, The Three "Stooges" Trolls, Azog the Orc Leader, and Witch-King of Angmar.
I'm very satisfied with this film. Some scenes really touch your inner lo-tr-sweet-moments, which kind of explain or elaborate the story in the original LotR series. You'll be like, "Oh, so that what happened!". The cast are superb. Hats off to Martin Freeman (Bilbo) and Richard Armitage (Thorin). The score also helps the mood throughout the film. Some critics say that the movie is too long. Heck, when I watch the movie, I never checked my watch because honestly, I do not want it to end
Bottom line, this is a must-watch for everyone, even if you're not a fan of LotR. If you have friends or family members who never known this saga, THIS is the right time to promote the franchise to them! Verdict: Two-thumbs up!