A good start to a new middle earth trilogy

Rating: 9/10 (18 April 2013)

"I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure."
Back to middle earth we go, and in the safe assured hands of the great Peter Jackson. The prequel to the legendary Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit, gets a bit dragged down in exposition. But manages to turn it around and builds up it's momentum to the conclusion of this film, that has left me looking forward to the next chapter in the series.
The story is similar to the LotR in that Gandalf (the impeccable Sir Ian McKellen) Recruits Bilbo Baggins, played my Martin Freeman. To join a quest. This time accompanying a company of 13 dwarfs as they travel to take back their home, which was long a go taken from them. Martin Freeman really was the best choice to play Bilbo, showing the characters innate hidden courage, and adding an every man quality to the character. Two of the best characters returned from the original trilogy, as already mentioned one is Sir Ian McKellen, and the other is Andy Serkis as Gollum. With Gollum and Bilbo supplying my favourite scene from the movie, and the famous game of riddles played between the two characters. Which had real terror and tension built up over the course of the scene.
Unfortunately it is not all positive, as said previously it does take a while to get going, and requires some patience from the audience. Which may be asking to much from some. Also Peter Jackson who is a very good user of special effects. which are generally good through out this movie. But the scenes inside the Goblin cave with the Goblin King were pretty awful in a visual and scripting stand point.
Not the classic, that many were expecting, But a very good start to what should be a very entertaining second trilogy from middle earth.