The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ☆☆☆☆

With all the fantastic and exciting new films out this year I must admit this one fell to the back of my brain. Not because I wasn't excited, no siree I squealed when it was first announced, commenced further squealing upon finding out some of the casting (Armitage, Cumberbatch & Turner caused the majority of pig-like noises) but then time passed and the Avengers happened...it slipped my mind somewhat.

It has also been a VERY long time since I have read The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, too long in fact. I was somewhat concerned that it was going to become three movies but after seeing this first one - hey, make it thirty so long as you don't kill off my very favourite characters that you will kill off because Tolkein did. Ahem.

For those unfamiliar with the story don't worry I'm not about to spoil plotlines or character deaths, but you should know that there is going to be a review of one of these films with me quite literally just typing "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO". In two years time if anyone still reads this blog/I still write it and this doesn't happen, I will give you my last Rolo.

So briefly then in case people have been living in a box of bad literature:

The Hobbit is the tale of one Bilbo Baggins, a quiet sort of Hobbit who lives alone and doesn't take with any kind of nonesense or shenanigans thank you very much. He loves food (as all good Hobbits do) and is partial to a good smoke. Then one day a wizard stops by his house in the Shire, name of Gandalf, and Bilbo's life is never the same again.
He is pushed into an adventure he didn't ask for with Dwarfs he never thought he would like, thirteen of them, on a quest to get back the Dwarfs' home and treasure which was taken by the Dragon, Smaug. The quest involves fighting with Orcs, talking with Elves and Wizards, battling with Goblins, and the unveiling of how Bilbo came upon the One Ring.

Thus begins Bilbo's story, more of which will be revealed in later films, but for now this is all that needs to be known.

I really enjoyed this film. It was spectacular in its scenery, extraordinary in its battle sequences, and really well cast and acted. It does not get a fifth star because sometimes I felt like I was watching LOTR again in the music or the scene that was being portrayed, especially those scenes with the characters we have already met before. Nevertheless the huge amount of Dwarf action means it is nothing less than 'Brilliant' to my eyes.

Another of my minor qualms is that the sweeping shots, especially at the beginning, made my eyes go fuzzy - and I was watching this in 2D because that extra dimension gives me a headache that makes me sick. So it was probably just my particularly screwy eyeballs that meant I didn't enjoy the cinematic moments as much as I should.

But aside from that, fantastic film. Especially the Dwarfs. Did I mention that already? LOVE the Dwarfs!

Still can't remember all their names...Bombur Bifor Oin Gloin Thorin Fili Kili...yep thats all I can do from memory. The Dwarfs were the characters who really stuck in my head after reading The Hobbit and I'm pleased to say they've had the same effect from the movie.

Richard Armitage (Spooks, Robin Hood) leads the warriors with quiet grace and authority, he really suited that beard! Fili and Kili are the young (and very good looking) Dwarfs who are a bit like Merry and Pippin from LOTR, a double act but brave and willing to fight. They are played by New Zealander Dean O'Gorman (The Almighty Johnsons) and Irishman Aidan Turner (Being Human). Another Irishman is James Nesbitt who has the best moustache of them all, yes even better than Fili's braided one. Nesbitt gets to keep his accent, as do some of the Scots, but most are English. I long for a New Zealand accent in these films, I can't imagine Tolkein would object.

Speaking of NZ accents Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords) gets more lines in this movie as an Elf in Rivendell, it took me a while to spot him actually but when I twigged it made me smile a LOT. I never did spot Peter Jackson though, mind you I still haven't noticed him in the second or third LOTR.

As for The Hobbit himself, Mr Bilbo Baggins, Martin Freeman does a fine job. Though I find Freeman does have a certain way of acting (I guess as all actors do, apart from chameleons like Meryl Streep) it really suits this portrayal of Bilbo, because he is this funny little man who doesn't like his world being upset but grows as the story does. Freeman showed moments of a steely glint and that was perfect for me.

There is a lot of humour in this film, the teasing of Bilbo, the general talk of the Dwarfs, the singing and the playing about in Bag End was a real joy to watch. The Hobbit wasn't designed for serious adults in the way that Lord of the Rings was, there wasn't much social commentary happening (except perhaps about the perils of greed) so humour really befits the tale and the actors involved.

This is a very long movie, running at almost three hours it is important to go to the toilet before hand and to not drink too much during the film. I actually didn't feel the length because the film did not drag, internally I was wondering where they were going to end it having heard it was a cliffhanger, but they chose an optimal point to leave off the story.

The benefit of the length of the film and the fact it is in three parts is that almost nothing is left out. You get more than The Hobbit because Jackson & co have been able to draw on the rich histories surrounding Middle Earth, but also I've heard that they have embellished some characters to build them up more for the audience, making them more important in the likelihood that their end will seem all the more tragic or deserved.

I am looking forward to part two enormously, but more so I look forward to getting the DVDs and having all the crazy extras to watch - Barry Humphries I'm sure will feature in these.