The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) - Movie Review

Coming into this film, many expect it to be the same as Lord of the Rings, but it isn't. It is its own film in a way, rather than an exact prequel – where it is set before the Ring trilogy, but it isn't exactly the same feel as the trilogy.

The film begins with a prologue showing how the dwarves were forced out of Eribor (or the Lonely Mountain) by Smaug, narrated by Ian Holm in the character of Bilbo Baggins, who appears on-screen shortly afterwards. It introduces you to Thror, Thrain and Thorin, and you find out what happened to the first two later in the movie. This prologue is great, and you don’t see that much of the dragon, which when he will appear in The Desolation of Smaug, will have much more of an affect and give some more tension.

We then cut to see Frodo and Bilbo talking on Bilbo’s 111^th birthday, and it seems to be a little forced to make it an exact prequel to Fellowship of the Ring. Frodo and Bilbo do look very old and the scene is a little pointless, and could easily be cut-down and put into the extended edition, but it is nice to see Elijah Wood and Ian Holm again.

Finally, we see Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, and how he meets and remembers Gandalf (because of his awesome fireworks!). Then the dwarves come, we have songs, the basic plot of the movie is explained and it all keeps faithful to the book. Then, the night after, Bilbo decides he wants to go with them to Eribor. It feels a little bit edited down but it’s cool.

He eventually catches up with the dwarves and we are introduced to the pale Orc, one who killed Thrain and Thror, of whom Thorin thought he had killed. We see them journey (well, riding horses) for a really long time. They even have to slot in the introduction of Radagast to stop the entire 10 minutes of the Dwarves and co. just walking just seeming pointless. Radagast is described as the Jar Jar Binks of this film, yet I can’t see why. He isn't funny, stupid and pointless, and he adds some more of the various wizards on Middle Earth. Sure, Saruman makes a cameo in Rivendell, but you know what I mean. It’s nice to see an even wider variety of characters that didn't appear in Lord of the Rings, but to be fair, it is long enough already without introducing Radagast and the pale Orc! I suspect he will return later in the trilogy, probably for the final battle.

Then, it is revealed that the pale Orc survived, after Radagast leads the 14 of them to safety (and the introduction of a very special sword happens as well). They eventually reach Rivendell, and Thorin has a sort of vendetta against the Elves. He [sort of] overcomes this and Lord Elrond helps them. Gandalf then reunites with Saruman and Galadriel, and there is quite a bit of foreshadowing to Lord of the Rings.

Meanwhile, Bilbo and co. have left Rivendell and entered some very dangerous  (and living) mountains. For some reason, they add more tension then it needs, making half the company seem dead and Bilbo and Thorin nearly falling to their deaths.

They eventually find their way to the lair of the Goblins, and this is where Bilbo loses the dwarves – who are then captured by the Great Goblin and threatened, although nothing happens in apparently a whole 20 minutes – and then meets Gollum! Yes, the pale, small, conniving creature is back – and 60 years younger. Not that it does anything for him. The CGI is great on Gollum, and on all of the other CG sets and creatures. Andy Serkis is great as Gollum (or Smeagol) and there is some great humour, especially in the riddle scene. However, Bilbo comes out with a very peculiar Ring. The shot where he finds the Ring is, however, completely different to Fellowship and the book, and is a disappointment to avid fans of Middle-Earth. It’s not too bad, but what really is interesting is the different effect for the Ring-world. It is different, but with Sauron not yet at full strength it seems logical.

For some reason, everyone keeps putting Bilbo off this adventure. They need him, but seem to want to insult him at every available opportunity. There is, however, a scene at the end that has hopefully ended this for the rest of the trilogy, but I’ll get to that later.

Oh, and Martin Freeman is brilliant as Bilbo Baggins. He is Bilbo Baggins, from humble beginnings to adventurous but somewhat stupid Bilbo, he does brilliantly. And it is the same for Ian McKellen (Gandalf), and Richard Armitage (Thorin) and the rest of the cast. Sylvetser McCoy is great as Radagast, and works, unlike he did for The Seventh Doctor.

We the  have the chase scene as our heroes are forced up the trees by (not wolves, but) Orcs and Wargs, as well as the pale Orc. Thorin has an epic moment, helped by the great music from Howard Shore. Some complain it’s mostly bits from the Ring trilogy, but I like it that way. That’s how Middle-Earth music should be. Anyway, Thorin’s epic moment of epicness is ruined when the pale Orc beats the smeg out of him. Oh well. Bilbo thankfully saves his leader and the Orcs are beaten up by the rest. Gandalf talks to a moth, and you know what comes next. That awesome (eagles) music plays and the eagles come, beat the smeg out of the Orcs (and somehow miss the pale Orc for no reason whatsoever) and fly Bilbo and the gang to safety.

Then, at long last, Bilbo and Thorin become friends. For now.

Finally, there is a shot of a thrush knocking on the wall of the Lonely Mountain, and Smaug awakens...

This film’s extra bits feel a little, stuck in there because it’s Middle-Earth, and just add an extra plot line. The Necramenta is cool, but why? Well, they have got two more films to span out of the story, and the awesome battle at the end has got to fill up at least an hour out of the third film, so it is interesting. Apparently, the Necramenta is Sauron according to the internet. Not too sure whether it is true, mind. The internet is the internet after all.

Overall, amidst fantastic effects, great directing, and brilliant cast and an exciting story, The Hobbit is a great film. It isn’t complete perfection, shown by my many nitpicks, but is anything really? And besides, I’m a critic, I can be. Definitely recommended to Ring fans, and average movie-goers everywhere! (10/10)