Once a classic, always a classic. True to form, renowned director Peter Jackson welcomes us back into the perils and pleasures of Middle Earth with a three-part adaptation of The Hobbit – the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tolkien’s brilliant writing, coupled with exhaustive cinematography, forges a mythical land of lore and loot in the persona of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. Featuring a mishmash of dwarves, dragons, goblins and orcs, Bilbo trots towards the Lonely Mountain in hopes of reclaiming the dwarves’ ancestral treasures from the dragon Smaug.
Familiarity and comfort is, perhaps, The Hobbit’s most beloved characteristic, as avid readers and spectators of the instalment are, once again, treated to a visual feast of characters they have grown to love from the previous films. Expect poignant punches in the gut every now and then, as the film progresses through a series of bittersweet snippets, which feature recurring characters from the original trilogy. Characters, such as Galadriel and Radagast also get more screen time. Moreover, the return of Gandalf the Grey – with all his wisdom and wit – will leave die-hard fans of the trilogy clamoring for more.
Moreover, Martin Freeman’s portrayal of Bilbo Baggins is endearing, if not whimsical. As the central character in the plot, Freeman characterized Baggins with a certain freshness. Richard Armitage, who played Thorin Oakenshield, also gave his character a more tragic and poignant aura – something which cannot be felt in the book.
All in all, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a refreshing adaptation of its book counterpart. Though not revelled as much as the trilogy, this film remains more than an adventure fraught with bloody battles and magical rings.
Part Two of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will premiere in December 2013 and the final instalment in July 2014.