THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Grade: A
Directed by Peter Jackson
Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian Holm, Sylvester McCoy, Hugo Weaving, and Elijah Wood, with Andy Serkis as Gollum
Premise: Respectable hobbit Bilbo Baggins finds himself drawn into a quest in which a company of dwarves looks to reclaim their long lost homeland.

Rated PG-13 for thematic material including violence and gore, scary moments and some grotesque bodily images

Yes, I would call J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' my favorite book. I was a child (probably seven or eight years old) when my mom first read it to me, and it's the first story outside of Disney movies I can remember really embracing. I read it over and over again (and still read it at least once every two years or so). I've memorized whole passages and know chunks of dialogue verbatim. Of course I've pictured how it would all look and sound if I could see it, movie style. Well, obviously, that dream became more of a reality when Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings films became monumental successes from 2001-2003, and then whispers about a big-screen film adaptation of The Hobbit immediately began, considering Hobbit is LOTR's predecessor. Well, for a few years, momentum has been building as a rumored trilogy based on The Hobbit and events from the same time period--but featured in other Tolkien works like The Silmarillion--has been in the works.

Well, last night I saw the first film in that trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and let me tell you, the experience was sweet. Unlike the recent Silver Linings Playbook--another movie adaptation of a book I adore--there wasn't a lot of wiggle room with the plot, so the makers didn't try to give it any. Sure, they've put a few things in there that aren't in The Hobbit's text (first published in 1937), but it mostly feels right (most of what they've added was meant for the unitiated, to help them mentally connect the dots between The Hobbit and the beginning of the Lord of the Rings, which take place 60 years apart). All the best scenes have been created in loving detail, the characters have been brought to vivid life (enriched by a fleshed-out backstory), and the genial entertainment of the originally for-children story has been recreated. I could tell people in my row at the theater were looking at me as I chuckled in glee throughout most of the first hour, which consists mostly of one wild and very unexpected party. While there were a few moments when my movie critic senses started tingling, for the most part, the movie was on point. And considering it was telling the primary beloved story from my childhood, that made me happy.

Plot: "In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole, with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat. It was a hobbit hole, and that means comfort." -first lines from "The Hobbit", by J.R.R. Tolkien

The hobbit in question is, of course, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman, with Ian Holm in a few scenes of Bilbo as an older hobbit). As a respectable, middle-aged hobbit, Mr. Baggins lives a quiet life in the Shire, a peaceful country where people never have any adventures or do anything unexpected. All that changes one day when old Baggins family friend Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellen) comes by and hints that he's looking for someone "to share in an adventure". Bilbo quickly rejects the offer, yet finds himself hosting an entire party of adventure-ready dwarves that very evening. Led by regal lord Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), the dwarves' intention is to travel to the east, to The Lonely Mountain, where a thriving city called Erebor once stood--a fine city by dwarf or any other standards, it was ruled by Thorin's grandfather King Thror. But the dwarves were forced to flee (those who survived, anyway) when a dragon named Smaug plundered and all but destroyed Erebor, but Thorin and his fellows swore they would return to retake the ancient city and its caverns full of treasure.

Though petrified at the idea of danger, Bilbo decides to accompany the dwarves (his mother's side of the family, the Tooks, have long been famous for their knack for adventure, after all). Though the adventure is often grim--the 15-person party faces heavy rains, murderous orcs, terrifying trolls and rumors of ancient evils regaining strength--they nonetheless find treasure, make an ally of sorts in the elf lord Elrond (Hugo Weaving), and learn of a secret passageway into Erebor that might allow them to avoid direct contact with the dragon. But then they're ambushed and ransacked by orcs, and Bilbo himself gets lost in the dark underground catacombs of the orc fortress. There he encounters a strange, murderous creature and accidentally runs off with something that creature holds dear...something called its Precious.

What Works?
Nobody does spectacle like Peter Jackson. From stunning landscapes to huge battles, pulse-pounding chases and epic panoramic shots that span miles in seconds, Jackson has put his epic touch all over this depiction of The Hobbit, just as he did so famously on his Oscar-winning LOTR trilogy a decade ago. Being a movie that needs to give people who haven't read the book (but may have seen the LOTR movies) some important info, Hobbit gets to open with an epic prologue that will teach even dedicated readers like me a lesson or two, but then it gets down to business. As a lifelong fan, I am pleased to report that all the most important scenes--"An Unexpected Party", "Roast Mutton", "Riddles in the Dark"--have been done great justice. Two songs from Tolkien's text (which is surprisingly full of songs) have been included, many jokes and nuances have been incorporated, and then one scene that is touched on, but quickly passed over, in the book gets my pick for the holy-cow-am-I-really-seeing-this, this-is-AMAZING movie moment of the year (two words: stone. giants.).

The visual effects are great, giving life and detail to three enormous, nasty trolls, all manner of hideously deformed goblins and orcs, and snarling, drooling wild wolves, and even a pack of giant eagles. The elf fortress of Rivendell remains a gorgeous sight, as does the quaint, rural countryside of the Shire. The Hobbit might lack the more adult LOTR's emotional complexity on the page, but it fills in the gaps with action, humor, some extra mythology, and some pleasing little nods to LOTR (Elijah Wood pops in and out of a few scenes, series vets McKellen, Weaving, Cate Blanchett and Christopher Lee have a lengthy discussion in another, and, of course, the nefarious Gollum's key scene is given its due).

Even more than the Lord of the Rings movies, The Hobbit has a lot of ground to cover and a lot of people to introduce, so the acting isn't of utmost importance, but a few positive impressions are made. Ian McKellen is as good as ever as Gandalf, wise but weary, old but battle-ready. Andy Serkis (who provides the voice and movements for the motion-capture-animated Gollum) proves, again, that he may be the most invaluable person working in movies today. As Bilbo, Martin Freeman gets a little lost in the shuffle during group scenes with the dwarves, but the actor not only shows Bilbo's growth as an adventurer and a warrior but nails a few key emotional moments. Of special note is Richard Armitage in the meaty role of Thorin, proud warrior and heir to the lost dwarf throne. Other than a late misstep that involves a little too much sentiment, the actor brings this complex character brilliantly to life, showing all the nobility, courage, stubborness, pugnaciousness and pride that makes him such a daunting figure. It's a great portrayal, and I'm looking forward to seeing the character further develop in future installments.

What Doesn't Work?
The Hobbit isn't perfect, alas, but my complaints are small. The major detour Jackson and company take in including a character not in 'The Hobbit' text is a little distracting, taking away from the main action when the main action is plenty interesting. I wasn't surprised by the movie's length (in fact, I'd gladly watch the depiction of the entire story if it was all one movie, however long), but it did start to drag just a little bit in its last few scenes, when I knew it was ending. It took its time getting there, and it does so with a few over-the-top touches that, to me, felt fake (Thorin might come to respect and care for Bilbo as an ally and friend, but he would never hug him, as he does here).

Content:
As with LOTR, the real issue isn't language or graphic violence (though you do see a few decapitations), the issue is just intimidating content, like deformed and gruesome goblins and trolls, unexpected ambushes and creepy shadowy creatures (like the crazy-schizophrenic Gollum and the dark spirit Necromancer). But this is not (yet) as dark as The Lord of the Rings was at times.

Bottom Line (I Promise): What can I say? My favorite childhood story was made into a faithful and often delightful movie, with all the most important scenes given affectionate detail, plus some awesome battle scenes and breathtaking images. I'm happy.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson and Guillermo Del Toro; based on the novel 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien
Rated PG-13
Length: 169 minutes