A Long Expected Movie

Rating: 7/10 (7 January 2013)

Tolkien fans will know the story well. Many years before Frodo travels to Mordor in Lord of the Rings, Bilbo Baggins embarks on an adventure of his own. Hired as a "burglar" by a company of dwarfs, Bilbo travels through the Misty Mountains to reclaim the dwarfs' long lost home, and all its treasures, from the fearsome dragon Smaug. An Unexpected Journey tells of the beginning of their adventure.
As the first of its kind to be filmed in 48 frames per second, rather than the usual 24, it gives the movie a different cinematic feel that of its Lord of the Rings counterpart. Reportedly, this gives the 3D audience a greatly improved viewing. However, the increased detail creates a somewhat dizzying viewing in 2D, especially in the trademark, long-sweeping scenery shots.
Peter Jackson has once again caught the essence of Tolkien's work. Amongst the dangers that always follow adventure, there are also lighthearted moments to cheer you along. With many a merry song and the riddles in the dark, the movie keeps true to the heart of the book.
However, in spanning the story across three long movies, Jackson has also expanded on minor story-lines, even going so far as to add more. While An Unexpected Journey will most certainly delight Tolkien fans, it does not stand strongly as a movie on its own. It raises questions as to whether The Hobbit should have stayed as one, single (yet epic!) movie, and if it will keep its momentum over three lengthy years. Looking forward to the next instalments, one can only hope that the worst is behind us.