The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Rating: 6/10 (20 January 2013)

It had been nine years since The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, based on the famous J.R.R. Tolkien books, had come to an end, and naturally the prequel book had to be made as well, this was the first of three (originally two) parts from returning director Peter Jackson (originally Guillermo del Toro, who dropped out and became writer instead). Basically the film opens in the Shire with hobbit Old Bilbo (Sir Ian Holm) on his 111th birthday beginning his book about his adventures, and his nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood) is keen to read it, and this is when the film flashbacks to sixty years to the beginning to this story, where a precious treasure is to lost to the arrival of Smaug the Dragon, and when Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) got no help from the elves in the battle he gained a lasting hatred for them. Young Bilbo (Martin Freeman) is tricked by wizard Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellen) to hosting a party for a company of dwarfs, Balin (Ken Stott), Dwalin (Graham McTavish), Fíli (Dean O'Gorman), Kíli (Being Human's Aidan Turner), Dori (Mark Hadlow), Nori (Jed Brophy), Ori (Adam Brown), Óin (John Callen), Glóin (Peter Hambleton), Bifur (William Kircher), Bofur (James Nesbitt) and Bombur (Stephen Hunter), of course the real point of this is recruit Bilbo for a quest. They plan to steal the treasure back from the dragon, with Bilbo as the "burglar", and for a while he refuses to have any part of it, but he changes his mind knowing he needs to see the world, in the group the leader Thorin is the only one who is doubtful he will be any help to them. On their journey the company get captured by trolls until they are stopped being turned to stone when the sun rises, finding a cave they come across some small treasure and lost Elven blades that prove useful, including the one that glows when Orcs are close, wizard Radagast the Brown (Doctor Who's Sylvester McCoy) tells that the forest is being taken over by dark magic, and they enter the Elven city of Rivendell and tell the situation to Lord Elrond (Hugo Weaving), Lady Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) and wizard Saruman the White (Sir Christopher Lee). The Morgul-blade they found means the Witch-king of Angmar is returning to Middle Earth and may use Smaug the dragon for some evil intent, after this Gandalf stays behind while Bilbo and the Dwarfs continue toward the Misty Mountains, where they end up in the middle of a battle between Stone Giants, and get captured by Goblins. While the Dwarfs encounter the leader of the goblins, the Great Goblin (Barry Humphries), Bilbo is separated from them and falls into the deeps of the caves, and he encounters Gollum (Andy Serkis), who drops a mysterious ring, which is of course the One Ring forged by the dark lord Sauron. Defending himself with his newfound glowing sword, Bilbo and Gollum play a game of riddles, where if Bilbo wins he will be allowed to find a way out, and if Gollum wins he can eat Bilbo, the hobbit wins by asking what is in his pocket, and that is when the creature turns realising it is his ring. Running from the furious Gollum he unintentionally finds that the ring causes him to become invisible, and before escaping he considers killing the creature, but changes his mind in pity, while Gandalf arrives to save the others, and they are all reunited to escape the evil army, including the return of Thorin's great enemy, Azog the Orc war-chief (Manu Bennett) who is still alive. The group get away from the enemy climbing the trees, but fire breaks out and there is nowhere else to go, but Gandalf summoned the Eagles to save them, and they fly away to the safety of Carrock, Thorin accepts Bilbo as part of the group for saving his life, and they all see their destination, the Lonely Mountain, in the distance, and there Smaug beneath the lost treasure has awakened. Freeman is likable as the nervous but reliable hero, McKellen still proves a wonderful choice for the good wizard, and many of the supporting cast members as dwarfs prove great fun, it is admittedly not as sweeping as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was, but the special effects are still amazing, the scene between Bilbo and Gollum is the most engaging part, and there are the action packed sequences to keep you happy, a most worthwhile fantasy adventure. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Design and Best Visual Effects, and it was nominated the BAFTAs for Make Up & Hair, Sound and Special Visual Effects. Good!