The Adventure Begins...

So it has finally begun… The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey –The first instalment of Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien’s original fantasy book. Almost ten years after Return of the King (yes, it has been that long), and years of development nightmares, it does feel good to be brought back to the beloved world of Middle Earth.

The story centers on hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), whom we remember from The Lord of the Rings is Frodo’s uncle.



And instead of a ‘Fellowship of the Ring’, joining him we have Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen, brilliantly reprising his role) and a band of 13 dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), who wish to reclaim their homeland, taken from them by the mighty dragon Smaug, who has a peculiar love for gold and treasure.

Being based on the earlier book gives the movie a different feel than The Lord of the Rings, but every bit as interesting. The shorter story spread over three films allows Jackson to flesh out plenty of detail, many of which fans will have a ball of a time spotting. However some may find this slower pace slightly sluggish with a lack of urgency. It may also take some time warming up to new characters (the dwarves mostly look the same at first, but you'll be able to distinguish some as the story goes) but there are plenty of familiar faces making appearances.



Andy Serkis is excellent playing Smeagol once more, and with technology much improved now, he is chillingly hyper-realistic.



The film may lack some of the grandeur of the Rings Trilogy but it amazes in many other ways – flashy battles, gorgeous scenery and more of the humor the saga has been known for.



And if you enjoyed the manner in which characters spoke in the Rings Trilogy (Thorin Oakenshield, Son of Thrain, Son of Thror…), you’ll be delighted to know that plenty of it has been lifted word-for-word from the book itself.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey warrants repeated viewing and most definitely a watch in spell bounding 3D. Bring on The Desolation Of Smaug!

4 Stars out of 5