Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Andy Serkis
Running Time: 169 Mins
Certificate: 12
Extras: Peter Jackson’s Production Videos.
Upon its initial release last December, Peter Jackson’s long awaited adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s OTHER classic book was met with a somewhat lukewarm response. Had ten years worth of heavy expectation ensured the movie would not reach the heights of it’s predecessors, no matter how good it was? Or is THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY merely an overlong exercise in fan-pleasing, money squeezing Hollywood exploitation to the nth degree?
Well, no. It’s actually not. Because THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY is terrific fantasy cinema at the very top of its game. Whilst it’s no FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (which still stands triumphantly as the best Jackson/Tolkien adaptation), THE HOBBIT is a perfectly paced adventure that is full to the brim with charm, warmth, and breathtaking action.
The long running time barely registers, even on third or fourth viewing. Yes, the opening forty minutes or so of pottering around the Shire may go on for a fair bit without much in the way of incident, but these telling forty minutes are both wonderful and funny, packed with some great gags, and most crucially, character development for Bilbo – played by easily the most likeable actor in the world, Martin Freeman, who delivers in abundance here as the titular Hobbit.
Watching THE HOBBIT, it’s easy to believe that it was always Peter Jackson’s intention to stretch the story out into a trilogy (which we know full well is completely untrue). There’s a clear beginning, middle and end. Characters have arcs that are set up and resolved – Thorin Oakenshield hasn’t got over the death of his father at the hands of the White Orc. Bilbo doesn’t think he’s brave or cut out for adventure. There are big hints as to what’s still to come in parts two and three. And as is the point of prequels, there are some big important moments that help connect the lighter tale of Bilbo and the treasure-hunting Dwarves to the altogether darker events of LORD OF THE RINGS.
The presence of Gandalf, played with aplomb by the ever-excellent Sir Ian McKellen, lends the film plenty of gravitas, whilst Richard Armitage as Thorin is an imposing yet watchable screen presence throughout. The most crucial casting element here though is Bilbo, and Martin Freeman is an inspired piece of casting, bringing plenty of humour and gusto to the role, whilst maintaining continuity with Ian Holm’s older, more cantankerous and world-weary Bilbo through mannerisms and gestures. The script serves the character well too – Bilbo gets more character development in this one film then Frodo got in the entire LOTR Trilogy. The Riddles in the Dark Sequence is easily the best part of the movie, thanks to the excellent interplay between Freeman and Andy Serkis, two actors at the top of their game, and the aftermath, with Bilbo taking pity on Gollum, is just beautiful to behold.
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY may be nearly three hours long, whilst only covering approximately six chapters of the Book. But regardless, it’s a rip-roaring adventure that at its best is on par with the Trilogy that preceded it! The fight scenes are breathtaking, the effects work is seamless, the direction top notch.
“I do believe the worst is behind us”. Bilbo says as the movie closes. If the last two and something hours are the worst this trilogy has to offer, then clearly THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG will be even more fantastic!
Extras: Plump for the DVD, and you get nothing. Shell out for the Blu-Ray and you get a selection of lengthy videos going behind the scenes of production (all of which are available online anyway). Best just to sit back and wait patiently for the extras packed Extended Edition, due out later this year.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is released on DVD & Blu-Ray in the UK 8th April, and is available from Warner Bros.
