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    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey


     "Where did you go, if I may ask?"
    "To look ahead."
    "And what brought you back?"
    "Looking behind."

    Bilbo Baggins (Freeman) lives comfortably in his family hobbit hole in the Shire.  His peace is interrupted by the appearance of Gandalf (McKellen), a wizard, who is planning an adventure.  Despite Bilbo's reluctance, he ends up with a home full of dwarves.  The Dwarves are planning a dangerous mission to return to reclaim their home and sizable treasure in the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug.  The 13 Dwarves: Thorin (Armitage), Balin (Stott), Dwalin (McTavish), Bifur (Kircher), Bofur (Nesbitt), Bombur (Hunter), Fili (O'Gorman), Kili (Turner), Oin (Callen), Gloin (Hambleton), Nori (Brophy), Dori (Hadlow), and Ori (Brown); are superstition and need an additional member to their team.  Bilbo reluctantly agrees to be their burglar and the journey begins.

    Bilbo is not accustomed to adventures and the dwarves question his abilities and are not sure if he will survive the trip.  They are pursued by an old enemy: Azog (Bennett), the Orc leader who killed Thorin's grandfather.  With trolls and goblins in hot pursuit, and the emergence of a new evil, can the dwarves reach their home.


    In 1937, author J.R.R. Tolkien published "The Hobbit" a fantasy novel for children.  The novel was widely revered and led to demand for more stories about Middle Earth.  Tolkien obliged with "The Lord of the Rings" series.  In the 2000s, director Peter Jackson began filming the Lord of the Rings series.  Over a decade later, he turned to Middle Earth to bring "The Hobbit" to life.  To tell as much of the story as possible, the novel was cut into thirds, with plans to release the films over a three year period (much like the LOTR films).  After the success of LOTR, expectations were high for this series.

    I am currently rereading "The Hobbit" in preparation to watch the film (I wanted to be one of those people that could point out what changed from the novel).  Jackson wisely chose to open the film with familiar faces: Ian Holm, as old Bilbo, and Elijah Wood, reprising his role as Frodo.  The story opens moments before the action of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.  It is familiar and helps to establish Bilbo as the lead role.  The film is a sweeping epic, that sticks near the source material... while making changes for the lay audience (and to help tie everything to the LOTR films).

    It was well-done, and I look forward to the sequel, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) 169 minutes
    Rating: PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images
    Director: Peter Jackson
    Starring: Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins
    Ian McKellen as Gandalf
    Richard Armitage as Thorin
    Ken Stott as Balin
    Graham McTavish as Dwalin
    William Kircher as Bifur
    James Nesbitt as Bofur
    Stephen Hunter as Bombur
    Dean O'Gorman as Fili
    Aidan Turner as Kili
    John Callen as Oin
    Peter Hambleton as Gloin
    Jed Brophy as Nori
    Mark Hadlow as Dori
    Adam Brown as Ori
    Manu Bennett as Azog

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