The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

A young Hobbit who would rather stay at home, is thrust into an adventure against his will. He joins a group of dwarfs, and a wizard named Gandalf, to help them reclaim their kingdom. Along the way, they are greeted by all manner of horrible creatures and situations. It does seem strange that Peter Jackson opted to adapt the three Lord of the Rings novel before The Hobbit. On the other hand, it's a good thing he did because we wouldn't have three of the greatest films of our time otherwise. Going back to the start, you can imagine the kind of challenges he and his team had to face.

Except for Star Wars Episodes I-III, there aren't a lot of prequels you could call successful. Sometimes it simply isn't necessary to go back and tell the origin story. Perhaps we learned all we need to know and it's better to go forward rather than back. In the case of Lord of the Rings, there was an earlier book about the adventures of a Hobbit. Initially, Peter Jackson wasn't going to direct, but the project was in development a while. After Guillermo del Toro stepped down, Jackson decided to return to the world of Middle-earth.

Much of the crew, plus the same writers, returned for this new trilogy. However, apart from a few actors like Ian McKellan, most of the cast is made up for newcomers. There's also the fact that The Hobbit is one book, making one wonder how it could be stretched into three films. This remains to be seen, but nearly a decade after the release of The Return of the King, we get to see how it begins. I imagine a lot of questions were going through fans minds: Does Jackson still have it? Can the magic be recaptured? Is it worth almost 3 hours of your precious time?

The cast is a mix of series veterans and many newcomers. A lot of the actors playing the dwarfs get little or nothing to say in this film. All the actors who have lines and actions do a phenomenal job, including Martin Freeman as young Bilbo Baggins. Having directed the three Rings films so well, Jackson had a lot riding on his shoulders this time. The good news is that he was more than up to the task and hasn't lost his touch. He still knows how to direct a battle sequence and nails the humor as well.

The writing was handled once again by Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Guillermo del Toro is also credited, but it's hard to say what he contributed. Anyway, the writing isn't as strong this time, but is still one of the film's highlights. Howard Shore is also brought back and once again he composes an amazing score. It's a bit different, but no less awesome and there are also a couple memorable songs. My favorite is "Misty Mountains (Cold)," which is sung hauntingly by the actors playing the dwarfs.

The effects on display here are impressive across the board. The make-up on the actors playing the dwarf brothers really makes them look like fantasy characters. As for all the digital effects, there are some of the best committed to film. Also attractive to the eyes are the various costumes and sets, some that we've seen before. The underground home of the trolls is a continuation of Jackson's use of models and larger scale sets. Add to that some gorgeous scenery, including snow-capped mountains and lush wilderness.

Like The Fellowship of the Ring, the first Hobbit film is less action oriented than the others are supposed to be. Still, there are a number of exciting battle scenes and set pieces that make one feel the characters are in real danger. To keep things from being deadly serious though, there are some dashes of humor. Like the other three films, this one clocks in at more than 2 and a half hours. Don't worry, because even though some parts go on too long, the film is certainly not slow or unevenly paced.  Once again, all the ingredients come together to create a fantastic film going experience.

10/10