what is the hobbit unexpected journey about

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first film of The Hobbit film trilogy , lasting 3 hours and 2 minutes. It was directed by Peter Jackson , who previously had directed The Lord of the Rings film trilogy . It was a major box office success, grossing over $1.017 billion worldwide. The film is the fourth Middle-earth film adaptation to be released, and the first chronologically.

Martin Freeman portrays a young Bilbo Baggins and Ian Holm reprises his role as an older Bilbo Baggins. Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis reprise their roles as Gandalf and Gollum , respectively, as do Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett , as Elrond and Galadriel .

The character of Radagast the Brown appears in the movie and is portrayed by Sylvester McCoy , who had been known mostly for his portrayal as the seventh incarnation of The Doctor on Doctor Who .

• 2 Memorable quotes
• 3 Development
• 4.3 Extended Edition only
• 4.4.1 Men of Dale
• 4.4.2 Dwarves of the Lonely Mountains
• 4.4.3 Mirkwood Elves
• 4.4.4 Hobbits of the Shire
• 4.4.5 Hunter Orcs
• 4.4.6 Elves of Rivendell
• 4.4.7 Goblins
• 5 Appearances and mentions
• 7 Extended Edition
• 10 Translations
• 11 References
• 12 External links

A reluctant Hobbit , Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of Dwarves to reclaim their mountain home, and the gold within it from the dragon Smaug . [1]

Memorable quotes [ ]

Gandalf: Agreed. "

Development [ ]

Credits [ ].

• Ian McKellen as Gandalf
• Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins
• Richard Armitage as Thorin II Oakenshield
• Ken Stott as Balin
• Graham McTavish as Dwalin
• William Kircher as Bifur
• James Nesbitt as Bofur
• Stephen Hunter as Bombur
• Dean O'Gorman as Fíli
• Aidan Turner as Kíli
• John Callen as Óin
• Peter Hambleton as Glóin
• Jed Brophy as Nori
• Mark Hadlow as Dori
• Adam Brown as Ori
• Ian Holm as Old Bilbo
• Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
• Hugo Weaving as Elrond
• Cate Blanchett as Galadriel
• Christopher Lee as Saruman
• Andy Serkis as Gollum
• Sylvester McCoy as Radagast
• Barry Humphries as Great Goblin
• Jeffrey Thomas as Thrór
• Michael Mizrahi as Thráin
• Lee Pace as Thranduil
• John Rawls as Yazneg
• Stephen Ure as Fimbul
• Timothy Bartlett as Master Worrywort
• William Kircher as Tom
• Peter Hambleton as Bert
• Mark Hadlow as William
• Bret McKenzie as Lindir
• Stephen Ure as Grinnah
• Kiran Shah as Goblin Scribe
• Manu Bennett as Azog
• Conan Stevens as Gundabad Orc Chieftain
• Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug and Necromancer
• Glenn Boswell as Dwarf Miner
• Thomas Robins as Young Thráin

Extended Edition only [ ]

• Luke Evans as Girion
• Dan Hennah as The Old Took
• Stephen Gledhill as Old Gammidge
• Tim Gordon as Old Hob
• Oscar Strik as Little Bilbo
• Sonia Forbes-Adam as Belladonna (Took) Baggins
• Erin Banks as Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
• Brian Hotter as Otho Sackville-Baggins
• Eric Vespe as Fredegar Chubb
• Mervyn Smith as Tosser Grubb
• Ruby Acevedo as "Cute Young Hobbit"
• Katie Jackson
• Honor McTavish
• Louis Serkis
• Ruby Serkis
• Sonny Serkis

Uncredited [ ]

Men of dale [ ].

• Mary Nesbitt
• Peggy Nesbitt
• Many unknowns

Dwarves of the Lonely Mountains [ ]

• Peter Jackson
• Jabez Olssen
• James Wells
• Richard Whiteside

Mirkwood Elves [ ]

• Brendan Casey
• Cameron Jones
• Carl Van Room
• Few unknowns

Hobbits of the Shire [ ]

• Joan Z. Dawe
• Melissa Kern
• Aaron Morgan
• Kaela Morgan
• Ravi Narayan

Hunter Orcs [ ]

• Frazer Anderson
• George Harach
• Christian Hipolito
• Ane Kirkeng Jørgensen
• Joseph Mika-Hunt
• Elliot Travers

Elves of Rivendell [ ]

• Jared Blakiston
• Shane Boulton
• Melanie Carrington
• Andrew Fitzsimons
• Luke Hawker
• Dean Knowsley
• Luke Wilson

Goblins [ ]

• Renee Cataldo
• Ben Fransham
• Tim McLahlan
• Nathan Meister
• Terry Notary
• Thomas Rimmer
• James Trevena-Brown
• Mark Trotter

Appearances and mentions [ ]

Species and creatures

Factions, groups and titles

Objects and artifacts

Miscellanea

Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey, in a photo from the set of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Deviations from the book [ ]

• [1] Elijah Wood appears briefly as Frodo Baggins , while this character does not appear in the book. However, his appearance is purely a cameo as the set-up for the movie, as the Red Book of Westmarch is being written and read by Bilbo, shortly before the start of The Fellowship of the Ring .
• The Dwarves do not arrive in order (first Dwalin, then Balin, then Kíli and Fíli, then Óin, Glóin, Dori, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur all at once, and then Thorin arrives significantly later) and they do not have their multi-colored hoods or beards as they did in the book.
• Bilbo was shown to be allergic to Horses .
• The Dwarves surrender when the Trolls threaten to rip Bilbo in two instead of being overpowered and popped into bags.
• Bilbo goes to the Trolls because they steal the Dwarves' ponies.
• In the book, it was Gandalf that stalled the trolls until they turned into stone. This was done by Bilbo in the film.
• The trolls' cave is wide open, and there is no locked door blocking it.
• In the book, Bilbo finds Sting and takes it. In the film, Gandalf comes upon it and gives it to Bilbo.
• The group is attacked by Orcs on the way to Rivendell , just after the Trolls sequence in the movie. This did not happen in the book.
• Radagast the Brown aids the Dwarves in escaping the Orc Warg-riders near Rivendell. In contrast, Radagast did not appear in the book at all, and there is only one mention of him.
• Radagast investigates the darkness of Mirkwood, and at Dol Guldur encounters the Necromancer and the Witch-king of Angmar , with whom he briefly duels and from whom he takes a Morgul Blade. In contrast, Tolkien never wrote of any such incident.
• Azog has survived the War of the Dwarves and Orcs in which he was wounded by Thorin, who cut off his arm, and hunts Thorin Oakenshield and his followers. In contrast, in the Tolkien literature Azog was beheaded by Thorin's cousin Dáin Ironfoot in the Battle of Azanulbizar , well before the events of The Hobbit . The events of leading to and included in the battle are also altered: Thrór leads an army to Moria to reclaim it as opposed to investigating it with a single companion, and he is beheaded during the battle while in the books this occurred several years beforehand. The origin of Thorin's name of Oakenshield is taken from the appendices of The Return of the King , but here takes place during battle with Azog and involves him picking up an oaken branch rather than cutting it off a tree.
• While at Rivendell with Thorin's party, Gandalf meets with Elrond , Galadriel , and Saruman (the film's version of the White Council ) and relates Radagast's news about Mirkwood, but Saruman discounts Radagast's news about the Necromancer, who he says must be no more than a human pretending to be a wizard. This conflicts with Tolkien's version, in which the White Council already knew that the Necromancer was Sauron and was at Dol Guldur , since Gandalf had already confirmed this 89 years earlier, and Saruman had discovered two years earlier (although he did not inform the Council of this) that Sauron had learned of Isildur 's loss of the One Ring at the Gladden Fields by the river Anduin and his servants were searching the area. Accordingly, in Tolkien's original version, in the year of the events of The Hobbit , Saruman finally agreed to an attack on Dol Guldur because he wanted to prevent Sauron from finding the Ring. [2]
• There is no mention of Galadriel in the book, although she is part of the White Council.
• At the White Council meeting, Galadriel relates how the Witch-king of Angmar, after his defeat near Fornost , had been killed and sealed in a tomb in that could not be opened in the High Fells . This is a serious departure from canon (Tolkien's writings), in which the Witch-king had not died, but fled. In fact, Glorfindel had stopped pursuit of the Witch-king and prophesied, "Do not pursue him! He will not return to these lands. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall." [3] This prophecy, of course, was the basis for the later dramatic moment in The Lord of the Rings in which Éowyn was able to kill the Witch-king because she was not a man. This prophecy no longer makes sense if the Witch-king had already been killed and is now (as Saruman implies) just a spirit raised by a necromancer who could "summon the dead." Furthermore, per Tolkien the White Council knew the Witch-king had not been killed because he and the rest of the Nazgûl had previously been fighting with Gondor and had captured (and presumably killed) the last King of Gondor at Minas Morgul in TA 2050, long after he had fled Fornost [2] . It is possible, however, that the Ringwraiths could not die due to their Wraith nature and were imprisoned in the tombs, and only Sauron had the power to call them forth. As for how they presumably killed the last King of Gondor , Galadriel never specifically says if the other Ringwraiths were sealed in the High Fells along with the Witch-king when Angmar fell. So it is possible that the other Ringwraiths challenged and killed Eärnur , and were defeated and sealed with their leader centuries later.
• When traveling along the mountain pass, Bilbo observes the stone-giants hurling rocks at a distance, "across the valley." Bilbo and his companions take refuge under a hanging rock during the thunderstorm (thunder-battle), but are never involved in the stone-giants' game.
• In the book, it was Bilbo that alerted the party when the trapdoors in the Front Porch open. In the film, the Dwarves realize this just as they fall into the hole.
• In the book, the Goblins only had tunnels, not rope bridges.
• In the book, Bilbo is with the Dwarves when they are taken to the Great Goblin and later rescued by Gandalf. In the film, Bilbo is separated from the group and falls to Gollum's cave before the Dwarves are taken to the Great Goblin.
• In the book The Hobbit , as in the prologue to The Fellowship of the Ring film , Bilbo Baggins finds the One Ring by chance when his hand happens to fall upon it as he is crawling through one of the dark Goblin-town tunnels, well before he comes across Gollum. In this film, Bilbo sees Gollum fighting with a Goblin and we see Gollum drop the Ring during the fight.
• Gollum has six teeth in the book, not nine.
• In the book, when Gollum and Bilbo were playing the game of riddles, the cave was pitch black and Bilbo could only see Gollum's glowing eyes and hear his voice echoing through the walls of the cave. In the film, the cave was partly lit up and Bilbo could see Gollum entirely.
• In the book, Gandalf saves the Dwarves in the goblin cave with a storm of burning smoke and instantly slays the Goblin King with his blade. In the film, the Goblin King is merely knocked aside in this scene (though many of his minions die in the telekinetic blast), and slain later on.
• In the film, Gandalf does not use multi-colored fire when lighting the pine cones.

Extended Edition [ ]

The extended edition of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was released on October 22 , 2013 for digital downloads and November 5 2013 for hard copies. It includes these scenes:

• The introduction. The Elvenking Thranduil is given more screen time. He approaches the throne while Thráin gestures for a Dwarf to show Thranduil a chest of gems. As Thranduil looks entranced and reaches for it, the Dwarf closes the lid. Bard's ancestor Girion is given screen time. He is seen behind his Wind lance attempting to shoot down Smaug during the dragon's attack on Dale .
• Bilbo's introduction to himself. A flashback wherein a young hobbit boy comes running up to Gandalf and plays with him. His mother Belladonna runs after him and acknowledges Gandalf as an old friend.
• After Bilbo meets Gandalf on the front bench, he buys supper from Hobbiton while suspiciously looking around everywhere to make sure Gandalf is not around.
• Kíli glances over to a female Elf in Rivendell and winks at her. Dwalin sees him and Kíli begins making excuses. In one of his excuses, he mistakenly calls another male Elf a female and Dwalin corrects him. The rest of the Dwarves laugh much to Kíli's embarrassment.
• While eating, Nori and Óin complain about the song played by the Elf musicians. Bofur climbs up a platform and begins singing. The other Dwarves join in and start throwing food around. Elrond and Lindir look surprised and angry about Dwarves activities because they start throwing fruit to Elrond, Lindir and Bofur but they say nothing about it.
• Bilbo is wandering around Rivendell during the daytime. He approaches the statue holding the shards of Narsil before a particular painting catches his eye. The painting depicts Isildur about to cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand. Bilbo is particularly interested in the One Ring on Sauron's hand.
• A conversation between Bilbo and Elrond in Rivendell. Elrond also welcomes Bilbo to stay in Rivendell if he wishes.
• Lindir complains to Elrond about the Dwarves' behavior. They find them swimming in a large fountain.
• Gandalf and Elrond further discuss Thorin and Company's quest. Elrond voices his concern of Thorin himself, since both his grandfather and father succumbed to madness. Bilbo and Thorin overhear this conversation.
• At the White Council, Gandalf brings up the fact that the Ring of Power once owned by Thorin's father mysteriously vanished. Saruman dismisses this as it would be of no use since all believe the One Ring was lost long ago.
• A new song from the goblin king and longer interrogation.

Bilbo in Rivendell with the Dwarves

• Guillermo del Toro was originally on board to direct, but bowed out due to "ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming."
• When it appeared Martin Freeman would not be available to play Bilbo in The Hobbit films due to scheduling conflicts with the BBC television series Sherlock , other actors such as James McAvoy and Tobey Maguire were considered. A false rumour was spread online that David Tennant was considered, but both Tennant and Jackson denied this. Tennant was actually considered for (and offered) the role of Thranduil but had to turn it down when his girlfriend discovered she was pregnant.
• Ryan Gage was originally cast to play Drogo Baggins , father of Frodo Baggins . According to Peter Jackson , "Ryan is a great young actor who we originally cast in a small role, but we liked him so much, we promoted him to the much larger Alfrid part."
• This is the only film in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies in which Legolas makes no appearance.
• The scene when Bilbo first puts on the Ring is very similar to the scene in The Fellowship of the Ring where Frodo puts on the Ring in The Prancing Pony .
• The filmmakers titled the project Little Rivers to aid in hiding the film's identity.
• When a Giant Eagle grabs Thorin's unconscious body, his oak-log shield falls off his arm and is permanently left behind.
• This was both the last film not distributed by Disney, Universal or Paramount and the last film distributed by Warner Bros . to gross $1 billion until the release of Aquaman in 2018.

Gallery [ ]

Translations [ ]

References [ ].

• ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903624/
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Lord of the Rings , Appendix B
• ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings , Appendix A (I, iv).

External links [ ]

• Official site of The Hobbit films
• Trailer for the movie
• Differences between the book and the film Art
• Lord of the Rings
• 3 Aragorn II

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

2012, Fantasy/Adventure, 2h 49m

What to know

Critics Consensus

Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth is an earnest, visually resplendent trip, but the film's deliberate pace robs the material of some of its majesty. Read critic reviews

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The hobbit: an unexpected journey videos, the hobbit: an unexpected journey   photos.

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) lives a simple life with his fellow hobbits in the shire, until the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) arrives and convinces him to join a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim the kingdom of Erebor. The journey takes Bilbo on a path through treacherous lands swarming with orcs, goblins and other dangers, not the least of which is an encounter with Gollum (Andy Serkis) and a simple gold ring that is tied to the fate of Middle Earth in ways Bilbo cannot even fathom.

Rating: PG-13 (Intense Action Violence|Frightening Images|Intense Fantasy Violence)

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Original Language: English

Director: Peter Jackson

Producer: Carolynne Cunningham , Zane Weiner , Fran Walsh , Peter Jackson

Writer: Fran Walsh , Philippa Boyens , Peter Jackson , Guillermo del Toro

Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 2012  wide

Release Date (Streaming): Dec 11, 2015

Box Office (Gross USA): $303.0M

Runtime: 2h 49m

Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Co: WingNut Films

Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, SDDS, Datasat

View the collection: Lord of The Rings

Cast & Crew

Ian McKellen

Martin Freeman

Bilbo Baggins

Richard Armitage

Thorin Oakenshield

Graham McTavish

William Kircher

James Nesbitt

Stephen Hunter

Dean O'Gorman

Aidan Turner

John Callen

Peter Hambleton

Mark Hadlow

Elijah Wood

Hugo Weaving

Cate Blanchett

Christopher Lee

Peter Jackson

Screenwriter

Philippa Boyens

Guillermo del Toro

Carolynne Cunningham

Zane Weiner

Executive Producer

Toby Emmerich

Carolyn Blackwood

Andrew Lesnie

Cinematographer

Jabez Olssen

Film Editing

Howard Shore

Original Music

Production Design

Andy McLaren

Art Director

Brian Massey

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Critic Reviews for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Audience reviews for the hobbit: an unexpected journey.

having read the books a long time ago in a galaxy far away (inc. the silmarilion or whatever the F) and having seen the LOTR's films when they came out too but not really paying any attention to it all since then, this was a reminder of the imagination and creativity of J.R.R. Tolkien expertly put to screen once again by peter jackson. now fervently waiting to devour the desolation of smaug whenever it plays on TV.

Precious Gollumses!!

It's definitely no LOTR...But it's still a pretty cool movie. Sure, it took it's time to try to tell the story and dragged on for a little too long, but other than that, the special effects were great, and it was entertaining as hell. It's a good introduction to The Hobbit franchise.

The decision to split up The Hobbit, has in turn split audiences. Many decry it as a simple money making scheme (which in essence it is), others struggle to see how on book only a quarter the size of any LotR book is expected to stretch the same amount of cinema time as the whole Rings trilogy combined. I however, see it as a positive. I don't mind in the least paying an extra $15 out of my own pocket for an extra 6 hours of quality film like this. It's only when they expects people to pay actual money for shite like the Twilight franchise or the Death at a Funeral U.S. remake that I have a problem with Hollywood's greed. The Hobbit, on the other hand, is perfectly capable of backing up its ticket price. And then... Lots. And lots extra. Which is nice. It differs greatly from the book in many aspects, though it has been so damn long since I've read it that I'm not sure what's actually been changed, what's new, what's gone, and what I just don't have right in my head. Martin Freeman (Sherlock, Hot Fuzz, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Shaun of the Dead, Love, Actually, Ali G Indahouse) is a fantastic Bilbo, he manages to sort of create this halfway point between Frodo and the Bilbo of the LotR trilogy. Which is really kind of perfect when you think about it. Gandalf's the same as ever, really nothing to recap (which is a solid move in my mind). Frodo's also back for some flashback/forward scenes (depending on how you look at it). Which totally makes sense, flaunt 'em if you got 'em. This isn't a line by line adaptation of The Hobbit, it's the first film of the Peter Jackson prequel to the Peter Jackson trilogy of the Rings, both of which are somewhat based on the books. So in his version of the world (which is still very loveable, just different) it makes perfect sense to have these great cameos. The Dwarves are where it all gets a bit confusing. Remembering names and faces, all that jazz. Before I continue though, let me get myself decapitated by all of Tumblr. Why the fuck is everyone going so goddamn schizoid over Kili (Played by Aidan Turner [Being Human, The Tudors]) when he's the one Dwarf without a motherhuggin' beard!? I may not be as beard-savy as L'alice (whose Tumblr is MainliningBeards) but I do appreciate the shit out of them (on that, how amazing is Thror's beard? All armoured and junk, goddamn). He's this skinny fucker with no beard, and does archery all over the place. I mean, yes it does seem like they somehow managed to fuse together Legolas and Aragon to create this dude, which is a nice touch, but he's not that babin' and he sure as shit isn't a Dwarf. Now the other two "sexy" members of the party (is sexy not heterosexual enough, should that be "eye-candy"... Nah, fuck it. Sexy) I can totally get behind. Thorin Oakenshield (Played by Richard Armitage [Captain America, Robin Hood, Strike Back, Spooks]) and Fili (Played by Dean O'Gorman[Xena, Young Hercules, Toy Love]) are not only very, very attractive, but I also totally buy them as fantasy creatures from Middle Earth. The actors playing Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori and Ori weren't overly familiar to me. Though Graham McTavish (Green Street Hooligans 2, Rambo, The Bill, Rome, King Arthur, Erik the Viking, Dante's Inferno, Call of Duty franchise, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Dawn of War II) as Dwalin is clearly a fuckin' badass. I do have some qualms with changes made, not from novel to screen, but from LotR to The Hobbit. Given that both are Peter Jackson's work, and they're meant to be in his world, why was it necessary to change the appearance of firmly grounded canonical things? The Goblins of The Hobbit (above) are great, but look nothing like the original ones. The Wargs seem to have actually taken a backwards step in my eyes, and are also unfamiliar in this screen world. It's difficult to back up my statements about "It's okay to not be the same as the book, it's Jackson's world" if Jackson keeps changing his mind about what his world even looks like. Azog not looking like any other orc was fine by me though. He was an incredible looking bad guy, with a back story, a great actor behind him (Australian Manau Bennett [Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms, Spartacus series, Sinbad and the Minotaur, 30 Days of Night, The Condemned]). Ultimately, the only killer for me about The Hobbit, is knowing that despite the fact that it's completely finished, it's still only being released at a rate of one film a year, and that hurts, because honestly, The Hobbit's great. Watch it as an adaptation of the book, watch it as a fantasy epic, watch it as the LotR prequel, watch it as a heart-warming tale of adventure from mediocrity, watch it as a cinematic marvel, or just plain watch it as Beard-Porn, whatever, it's maybe not life changing, but it's enjoyable as Hell. 79% -Gimly

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – review

I n last Sunday's Film of the Week , the protagonist, a Hollywood screenwriter played by Colin Farrell, had a title for his drama, "Seven Psychopaths", but no plot. This week's principal film, The Hobbit , began life in a not dissimilar fashion. Back in the early 1930s, when he was an Oxford don, JRR Tolkien was marking exam papers for the now defunct School Certificate when he came across a blank sheet. For some reason he wrote on it: "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." The line isn't exactly "Call me Ishmael" or "Happy families are all alike", but this first line of what was published in 1937 as a children's book began what has proved to be a literary phenomenon, an alternative religion, an endless invitation to exegesis and a major industry that has led to an immensely successful trilogy of books and films about life in Middle-earth. Now the New Zealand screenwriter Peter Jackson, who followed up the Lord of the Rings trilogy with King Kong and The Lovely Bones , has returned to his old hobbits, and in collaboration with Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro, has turned the initially modest The Hobbit into a full-scale trilogy of its own.

Given three films, each presumably close to three hours long, Jackson and co have plenty of time on their hands, and 20 minutes of the film has passed before the immortal "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit" is spoken. What we get at first is a back story from a posthumously published Tolkien work explaining how a blight fell on the underground city of Erebor when fire-breathing dragons, hungry for gold, attacked it, driving its dwarf inhabitants into exile. This extremely violent event, involving much death and destruction, warns the audience that it's a film for extremely hardy kids. It sets up an invitation to Bilbo Baggins to take part in an adventurous quest proposed by the wizard Gandalf (the splendidly authoritative Ian McKellen). It involves him in joining a party of dwarves as the team's "burglar" on a mission to regain their ancestral lands and wealth from Smaug, the dragon guarding them beneath the Lonely Mountain. A quiet, peace-loving hobbit, Bilbo is happily installed in his cosy subterranean home in the Shires, an idyllic corner of Merrie England inhabited by contented peasants who look like people in the background of paintings by Fragonard or Constable. Bilbo (Ian Holm, reprising his role from The Lord of the Rings ) is seemingly writing his memoirs, puffing on his churchwarden pipe and blowing out smoke rings as big as haloes and eating regular meals. As he contemplates the past he's replaced by his equally pacifist younger self, to which part Martin Freeman brings the same decent, commonsensical, very English qualities that informed his excellent Dr Watson on TV.

His first challenge is provided by the bald, bearded, beaky-nosed, unkempt dwarves, six pairs of them with rhyming names and all constantly brawling, eating and singing. They resemble tramps auditioning for the role of Magwitch in a musical of Great Expectations . The 13th dwarf is altogether more serious. He's their leader, the handsome, tragedy-tinged Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). These knockabout scenes go on far too long, but eventually the quest begins and the dwarves, Gandalf and an initially reluctant Bilbo embark on their epic journey to the Lonely Mountain, encountering orcs, trolls, elves and goblins along the way and facing endless perils. There are echoes of the Old and New Testament, of similar journeys from Homer's Odyssey through Morte d'Arthur to Gulliver's Travels , and there are all the essential mythic elements: all-conquering swords, magical rings, mysterious maps, giant eagles and dangerous riddling contests such as the one engaged in by Bilbo and Gollum (Andy Serkis).

It's an exciting story, easy to follow and lacking both the solemnity and the portentous symbolism of The Lord of the Rings . You don't need to be a Tolkien devotee who knows their orcs from their elvish to enjoy the movie, and it's generally less irritating than the book, with none of the archness Tolkien adopts when addressing children. Thankfully there's also an absence of knowing references to other movies and TV shows, and there isn't an American accent to be heard. The dwarves have various British regional brogues, mainly Celtic; the trolls speak comic cockney; the elves, largely played by Australian actors, stick to standard English.

The mountainous terrain, increasingly dark and menacing as the story progresses, at times resembles paintings by John Martin and Caspar David Friedrich , and is beautifully photographed by Jackson's regular cinematographer, Andrew Lesnie, who has that feeling for landscape that's such a feature of antipodean cinema. At the centre of the film, and sensitively handled by Jackson, are the relationships between Bilbo, his gruff mentor Gandalf and his antagonist Thorin, and it's something children will respond to. In his book Anatomy of Criticism , the Canadian literary theorist Herman Northrop Frye makes a distinction between "high mimetic" and "low mimetic" figures, ie heroes who are mythically and socially superior to ordinary people or at the same human level as the rest of us. Gandalf, who teaches Bilbo what heroism is, and Thorin, who exhibits the necessary qualities in his actions, are high mimetic figures, while Bilbo is low mimetic. Bilbo can become a hero and then return to his former world, as indeed is suggested at the beginning of The Hobbit . What we see in Martin Freeman's moving and endearing performance is Bilbo doing just that. I liked the film and its measured pace and, except when I found myself looking over the top of my glasses, was largely unaware of the 3D.

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Ethan Gilsdorf

Hobbit Week: A Review of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is perhaps the most expected journey audiences will go on this year.

We've all been madly waiting to venture back to Middle-earth – back to Peter Jackson's cinematic version of Tolkien's world. The anticipation, and the hype machine that has been driving that anticipation, has been nearly unbearable.

So here we are, nine years after our last glimpse of the Shire, Rivendell, and the Misty Mountains, all last seen in 2003's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. That film brought home a dragon's horde of golden statuettes – perhaps for no better reason than the Academy being impressed by Mr. Jackson's hubris, getting non-geek audiences to embrace an old-fashioned high fantasy epic, and making gads of money. Or, perhaps, Oscar Inc. was astonished at how a small nation of Kiwis churned out a multi-billion dollar franchise with only gum, wire, pluck and resourcefulness, plus a few swordsmiths and chain mail makers and about 7,000 latex hobbit feet.

So what does this return trip to Middle-earth feel and look like? How does Jackson's plan for not one, not two, but three Hobbit movies, stretching and morphing Tolkien's slim and slight 1937 kid's book into a trilogy, sit with fans, as well as audiences not familiar with the book? Or might we all be a little jaded and/or spoiled for this next trilogy?

Ultimately, these issues may not affect the box office. Even a series of mediocre reviews won't damage The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Anyone who saw the Rings cycle will want to go on this journey there and back again, no matter how awful it is. With his trademark indulgence in details, and his camera-swooping visual crack, Jackson has hooked us.

Reminder: The Hobbit the book was written before The Lord of the Rings. But in Movieland, this film feels like its prequel. The plot recounts how Bilbo Baggins joined up with 13 dwarves and our favorite irascible wizard, Gandalf, to journey halfway across Middle-earth to face down Smaug the Dragon and help the dwarves reclaim their ancestral homeland. Along the way, Bilbo finds his Tookish mojo, displays his burglar ways and stumbles across a certain ring that, 60 years later, half of Mordor wants for its own.

With that as the prelude, on to the movie review.

[Note: Here be spoilers. Just a few.]

First of all, it's not awful. But some unexpected twists, and padding, tarnish The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, making it less exuberant and astonishing as The Fellowship of the Ring was for me.

Jackson smartly begins his tale in the Shire, in Bag End, just as in Tolkien's book, and Hobbiton could not look greener. It almost pains the eyes, so green are the hills and fields. Audiences will let out a collective sigh of relief at how little has changed there. And familiar faces are back, too, including Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, and Andy Serkis reprising his now landmark performance as Gollum.

Charlie Wood

Eric Ravenscraft

Caitlin Kelly

Newcomers to the franchise include a 60-years-younger Bilbo, played by Martin Freeman, and the 13 dwarves, who arrive mysteriously on Bilbo's doorstep, led by Thorin Oakenshield (hunky Viggo-in-waiting Richard Armitage). They tumble through the round green door. After some consternation, Bilbo signs the contract. And the quest is launched.

Some reviewers have complained about the pace – that it takes half an hour just to get out of Bilbo's door. To me, I was happy to get to know more of Bilbo's digs, and his character. Rather, the trouble is making each dwarf distinguishable from the next. The designers at Weta Workshop have done a fine job making them each look different. But despite the enormous running time of this first episode — coming in at a whopping 2 hours and 50 minutes – we don't get to know each dwarf very well. As dwarf-in-chief, Thorin is given a revenge-infused backstory, pulling us back to a sepia-toned flashback sequence about the fall of Erebor and the kingdom of the Lonely Mountain; his pain and motivation to get revenge makes his character meaty. With more lines to speak than the others, the white-bearded Balin (Ken Stott) also feels fully fleshed-out. Otherwise, aside from fat Bombur (Stephen Hunter), a source of comic relief, the other ten seem more or less interchangeable. Perhaps we'll get to know Dwalin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur and Bofur in subsequent films. I missed the days of the Fellowship, where each race was represented and each character had its flaws as well as its destiny to fulfill.

That's not the director's fault, but it does point to the difficulty of adapting this book. Does the story's heart lie with Bilbo, or the dwarves, particularly Thorin's unresolved past, here made more dark and troubled than perhaps Tolkien had intended? His character arc nearly overshadows Bilbo's. What about Gandalf and his side-plot to learn more about what is going on at Dol Guldur, the ruined fortress in Mirkwood? The screenwriters have made a bold move here, infusing An Unexpected Journey (and one imagines, the next two installments) with epic-scale Sturm und Drang , rather than keeping it a quaint journey tale of a hobbit finding his courage.

Clearly, by adding more complex and weighty undertones and backstories, the filmmakers intend this to be a bridge to The Lord of the Rings, hence the prologue, or you might say flash-forward sequence, with old Bilbo (Ian Holm) and Frodo (Elijah Wood) at the start. It's been widely reported how, to extend this short book into trilogy-worthy material, and to make The Hobbit feel part of the same Rings world, tone- and theme-wise, the screenwriters mined notes and appendices from elsewhere in Tolkien's legendarium.

The risks? The story gets stretched like, as Bilbo says later in life, "like butter scraped over too much bread." And the film loses some of its hobbity charm.

I found An Unexpected Journey bloated, but in the wrong places. Take Radagast, another of Gandalf's wizardly compatriots, barely mentioned in the book. Here, he's his own character, given his own tree house, and his own 15 minutes of fame, including a pointless scene resuscitating a hedgehog and traipsing about in a bunny-driven sleigh (not whimsical, just silly). Likewise, Azog, the orc chief who figures in dwarven flashback of yore, returns as Thorin's foe. He's even given cut-away scenes and dialogue of his own. I suppose it's a move to up the tension, much like the intercutting plots Jackson employed to such good effect in the prior trilogy.

But where as in Rings the cross-cutting made the trilogy's plot sweep feel more world-girdling, in The Hobbit, the choice felt like a distraction. I wanted to spend more time with Bilbo and Gandalf and the dwarves. Instead, Jackson serves up so many endless cliffhangers, action scene and battle sequences – with trolls, with orcs, with stone giants, with goblins in the recesses of the Misty Mountains – that Bilbo and other characters, as characters, get the short shrift. (I also did not buy some creature's incarnations as wholly CG beings. Azog seemed more World of Warcraft than World of Tolkien. Same with the wargs, goblins, and Goblin kind. Rubbery, not real. Oddly, still pure pixel, Gollum looks more believable than ever.)

Freeman makes a fine fuss-budget Bilbo – and he looks much like a young Ian Holm (who plays old Bilbo) – but I wanted to know him more. He becomes an action hero more quickly than in the novel, which might upset some readers. As an actor, Freeman seem almost a bit too witty and smart for Bilbo's own good. He seems one step ahead of his character.

Another plot detour arrives when the Company comes to the Elves' Hidden Valley Ranch of Rivendell. Here, Jackson and Co. drop the bomb that the Necromancer (aka Sauron) might be lurking in Mirkwood, necessitating a pow-wow of that triumvirate of Middle-earth superheroes. Elrond is joined by Saruman (Christopher Lee, doing his creepy conniving routine) and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett, doing her creepy telepathic thing). I understand how the Sauron-talk will connect all six films as a complete story, but I wanted to stay with Bilbo, Thorin and Company. Let's care about them more.

My final complaint: As much as I love well-staged chase and fight scenes, I think here, sometimes Jackson goes too far. In The Fellowship, that cave troll/Balin's Tomb and Balrog sequence works so well because the scale felt more intimate, and therefore the danger real. A few dozen orcs vs. nine heroes. Here, Weta has designed a rat's nest of a Goblin Town, literally hundreds of yards deep and across, with endless catwalks and shanties, and full of hundreds of foes. The scale is too vast. When Bilbo and the dwarves land in Goblin Town, they don't just slip through a crack in the cave floor. They tumble down an endless chute worthy of a theme park roller coaster. Their battle against the goblins is amped up with unrealistic falls, collapsing scaffolding and perfectly-timed saves too coincidental to be believable. It's the Bridge of Khazad-dûm on steroids. Jackson tries to out-do himself, but the effect is overdone, over the top.

As for the new format, 48 frames-per-second, I was distracted by the hyper-real "video" look for the first reel or so, and then I no longer noticed any difference. The jury is still out this. To me, in close up and medium shots I thought the effect was fine, but in wider landscapes and helicopter shots, the footage seemed chintzy. To my mind, 48FPS is less distracting than 3-D (which I do not like). If you're skeptical of the high frame rate, find a theater where it's playing in the standard 24 frames format. Or see it first in 24, then try in 48.

On the plus side: The Hobbit is much more about bigger themes: loyalty, heroism, sacrifice, fighting for home and heart. Gandalf gets to deliver some great words of wisdom to Bilbo on the nature of courage. We have always turned to Tolkien for lessons on how to live, and if you can recover from the relentless barrage of action, you will be uplifted. "The world is not in your books and maps – it's out there," Gandalf scolds Bilbo early on. Indeed.

The movie rightly slows down to show the Gollum and Bilbo's riddle game in its entirety – and the audience catches its breath. It's probably the best sequence of the film. The prologue recounting the dwarves' backstory is also moving, as is the clever but-not-spoiling evocation of Smaug and his destruction of Dale.

Also hitting the right notes is Howard Shore's score, such a crucial part to delivering the power in Rings. Astute listeners will recognize many of the same melodies and musical threads, which tie us emotionally to the characters. The dwarf song "Far over the Misty Mountains cold / To dungeons deep and caverns old / We must away, ere break of day / To seek our pale enchanted gold," where Thorin and Co. begin to sing of their quest to take back the dragon's gold, is haunting. As they sing, Jackson's trademark crane shot takes us from the fire, then up inside Bilbo's chimney and outside to follow the embers floating into the night sky. A beautiful and poetic way to tell the dwarves' story and infuse the narrative with that sense of urgency and mystery.

Perhaps my overall disappointment with Peter Jackson's effort here is unavoidable. Like a high school reunion or trip home over the holidays, this return voyage to Middle-earth feels bittersweet. Yes, it's lovey to see old friends – be they human, elf, hobbit, dwarf, orc or goblin. But there's something different. The old charms don't entirely work, the dysfunctions aren't tempered by time. The wonder is diminished. Something's changed. Or perhaps it's that we've changed.

Brian Barrett

Andy Greenberg

William Turton

Julian Chokkattu

Common Sense Media

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The hobbit: an unexpected journey, common sense media reviewers.

Tolkien tale isn't as great as LOTR, but better for tweens.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

As in The Lord of the Rings, the message of The Ho

No one except Gandalf thinks that Bilbo can be of

Less violent than The Lord of the Rings, but there

Slang use of "jaxie" (meaning "ass").

Although there are no product placements in Middle

The dwarves are a voracious lot -- even more than

Parents need to know that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, director Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's stand-alone quest through Middle-earth, is less violent than the scarier Lord of the Rings trilogy. But there are definitely some frightening sequences, like the battle between the…

Positive Messages

As in The Lord of the Rings , the message of The Hobbit is that even the smallest person can make a huge difference. Gandalf even says "it's the small things that keep the darkness at bay" in reference to Bilbo's involvement in the dangerous mission. Gandalf advises Bilbo that it's not knowing how to take a life that takes courage but knowing when to spare one. The dwarves' quest reminds viewers of the importance of home, kinship, and belonging somewhere. Curiosity, perseverance, and teamwork are major themes.

Positive Role Models

No one except Gandalf thinks that Bilbo can be of much help, but Bilbo rises to the occasion by summoning his courage when the time calls for it -- except for the fact that he fulfills his destiny as a "burglar" by stealing Gollum's precious ring. Thorin is dedicated to his fellow dwarves, and they in return revere him as their faithful leader.

Violence & Scariness

Less violent than The Lord of the Rings , but there's still some carnage: a battle between the dwarves and the dragon leads to the dwarf king being decapitated, an orc leader's arm amputated, and a multitude of dwarves and their property destroyed. There are several close calls when Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves are pursued or nearly die on their journey across Middle-earth, usually by orcs and their beasts. The orc leader is a frightening sight -- particularly with his claw-like prosthesis, and he's bloodthirsty. A group of goblins/orcs tries to kill the group as well.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Although there are no product placements in Middle-earth, the Tolkien books and Peter Jackson film adaptations have spawned a ton of merchandise: apparel, video games, LEGO toys and board games, role-playing games, special movie tie-in editions of the books, and more.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

The dwarves are a voracious lot -- even more than hobbits. They ransack Bilbo's pantry and consume large quantities of drink (and food). Gandalf and Bilbo smoke the mellowing pipeweed.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, director Peter Jackson 's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's stand-alone quest through Middle-earth, is less violent than the scarier Lord of the Rings trilogy. But there are definitely some frightening sequences, like the battle between the dragon and the dwarves of Erebor, during which one character is decapitated, another has an arm amputated, and there's mass destruction. The group of Bilbo, Gandalf, and 13 dwarves is often tracked and pursued and nearly killed several times, but they manage to avoid death -- at least in this installment. Bilbo (like Frodo and his friends in the LOTR movies) again shows that size doesn't matter when it comes to making a difference. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Based on 52 parent reviews

Suitable for kids IMO.

Definitely not as good as the book..., what's the story.

Peter Jackson's first installment in his three-part adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien 's THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY starts off with an eleventy-one-year-old Bilbo Baggins (played once again by Ian Holm ) narrating the tale of how he, a mellow hobbit from the Shire, ended up enmeshed in a dangerous quest. Sixty years before The Fellowship of the Ring is formed, a considerably younger Bilbo ( Martin Freeman ) sets off an the titular Unexpected Journey with his friend Gandalf the Grey ( Ian McKellen ) to help 13 dwarves reclaim their homeland -- the kingdom of Erebor, which was taken over by a killer, gold-seeking dragon that forced the dwarves into exile. The motley crew, led by Gandalf and the smoldering heir to the Erebor throne, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), encounter two-and-a-half hours of conflict (most notably with the bloodthirsty orcs) with a brief respite found in the elven homeland of Rivendell, where Galadriel ( Cate Blanchett ) offers Gandalf her unconditional support.

Is It Any Good?

Despite issues with length and pacing, there's no denying this is a production worth seeing, especially with kids new to Tolkien's detailed universe. As a novel, The Hobbit skews younger than The Lord of the Rings , so it's only natural that the film is also more accessible for tweens -- just have them look the other way for a few of the darker battle sequences. The story is simple enough, and the visuals are dazzling (the 48 frames per second rate is neither as spectacular or headache-inducing as rumors would have you believe). The acting is admirable, including the return of our favorite wizard, Gandalf, Lady of Lorien Galadriel, and head elf Elrond ( Hugo Weaving ). Unfortunately, the dwarves all sort of blend together in a tangle of hair and mischief, with the notable exception of the broody Thorin and his swashbuckling nephews, Fili and Kili (Dean O'Gorman and Aidan Turner).

The main issue with Jackson's adaptation is that the run time is brutal, even for hardcore fans of Jackson's epic LOTR trilogy. Whereas that trilogy made sense as three separate movies -- considering it was the adaptation of three books -- The Hobbit isn't a substantive enough work to demand three movies, even with Jackson pulling extra material from Tolkien's indices. The fabulous visuals and impressive action sequences reminiscent of the trilogy are bogged down by an overlong and overly thorough first quarter that could have used a considerable edit job.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how The Hobbit compares to The Lord of the Rings . How are the stories similar (a hobbit joins a dangerous quest), and how are they different? Which adventure do you prefer?

For those familiar with the book , how does the movie adaptation differ? If you haven't read the book yet, does the movie make you want to delve into Tolkien's classic? Why do you think Tolkien's fantasy tale has withstood the test of time?

What does Bilbo learn about himself throughout the journey?

How do the characters in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey demonstrate curiosity and courage ? What about perseverance and teamwork ? Why are these important character strengths ?

Movie Details

• In theaters : December 14, 2012
• On DVD or streaming : March 19, 2013
• Cast : Ian McKellen , Martin Freeman , Richard Armitage
• Director : Peter Jackson
• Inclusion Information : Gay actors
• Studio : New Line
• Genre : Fantasy
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Book Characters
• Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 166 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images
• Last updated : October 26, 2023

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Screen Rant

'the hobbit: an unexpected journey' review, if the hobbit: an unexpected journey is any indication of what's to come, lord of the rings faithfuls have reason to be hopeful that the director will create another captivating round of adventures..

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first installment in Peter Jackson's new Middle-earth trilogy - once again based on the beloved fantasy world created by author J.R.R. Tolkien. After director Guillermo del Toro left the project, Jackson returned to the director's chair and expanded the would-be film series - originally conceived as a two-part adaptation of  The Hobbit storyline - into a full-on  Lord of the Rings  prequel trilogy.

While the plot of Part 1, An Unexpected Journey , and Part 2, The Desolation of Smaug , offer a relatively straightforward storyline, the mystery surrounding Part 3, There and Back Again , has left many fans wondering if Jackson and New Line Cinema sacrificed a quality Hobbit adaptation in favor of a third opportunity for box office earnings.

There and Back Again is set for release in summer 2014, so it'll be awhile before we can definitively weigh in on that trilogy decision; however, if The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is any indication of what's to come,  Lord of the Rings faithfuls have reason to be hopeful that the director will create another captivating round of adventures in Middle-earth.  An Unexpected Journey does not match the scale established in Lord of the Rings , but there are still plenty of eye-popping visuals, enchanting action set-pieces, and intriguing character cameos, to prevent the film from being the underwhelming (and cheesy) experience that some skeptics were anticipating. In fact, the more intimate storyline, centered around reluctant/adventure-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), his thirteen dwarf companions, and the renowned Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), often outshines similar plot beats from The Fellowship of the Ring .

In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , a pre- Lord of the Rings Bilbo Baggins has abandoned his thirst for adventure in favor of a safe and comfortable life in The Shire. For years, Bilbo has preferred the quiet of Bag End, his Hobbit-hole, a well-stocked pantry, and the warmth of his fireplace to the beauty and terrors of the lands beyond his home - until Gandalf the Grey knocks on his door.

The wizard invites the hobbit on a quest to help a band of dwarves retake their homeland, The Lonely Mountain, from a ruthless and dangerous dragon, Smaug. Unwilling to resist the chance for adventure, Bilbo agrees to accompany the group, which is led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), heir to the King Under the Mountain crown. The company faces challenge after challenge, and - unbeknownst to even the wise Gandalf - bears first witness to a dangerous sequence of events that will haunt the next generation of hobbits, dwarves, elves, and men.

Unsurprisingly, there are several similarities between An Unexpected Journey and The Fellowship of the Ring , most notably the core premise (a ragtag group of heroes on a life-or-death quest through the wilds of Middle-earth); however, Jackson's latest installment is differentiated by a number of smart filmmaking choices and solid character dynamics that were present in the Tolkien source material - especially the multifaceted Bilbo Baggins.

Freeman gives a sharp and charming performance as the brave hobbit - adding nuance to a role that draws stark contrast to Elijah Wood's turn as Frodo (who enjoys an especially light-hearted cameo return). Unlike the Lord of the Rings protagonist, Bilbo revels in his adventure - even when he's in over his head - with a solid balance of wit, humor, and bravery that translates into genuinely entertaining (as well as emotionally impactful) scenes. Even though the tone of The Hobbit novel is a bit lighter compared to  Lord of the Rings , the film version of Bilbo easily fits into Jackson's darker overarching movie universe - which should be a relief to viewers that were put-off by the rowdy dwarf antics that have dominated the movie adaptation's marketing.

In fact, the dwarves successfully walk a very fine line between jolly goofballs and downright tough-as-nails warriors. Many of their respective combat sequences aren't just exciting, they include unique action beats that are especially impressive when you take into consideration the blend of camera tricks, CGI, and practical prosthetics used to make onscreen interactions look believable when dwarf, goblin, hobbit, and wizard parts all collide in battle. A flashback sequence that establishes Thorin as the leader of the dwarf company is especially impressive, and could rival fan-favorite battles from Return of the King - cementing the character as one of the toughest brawlers in Middle-earth.

Several subtle (and some not-so subtle) changes lead to tense and exciting action sequences, complete with imaginative visual spectacle, helping to ratchet up the relatively modest Hobbit source material storyline - and produce a film experience that matches the thrill and breadth of the original film trilogy. That said, franchise fans will also appreciate many iconic character moments in An Unexpected Journey - notably the fateful game of riddles between Bilbo and Gollum (Andy Serkis). Jackson manages to provide even the quietest scenes with weight - as certain developments carry impact far beyond the short-term  Hobbit -centric storyline.

Unfortunately, not all of the Hobbit / Lord of the Rings bridging serves the story at hand - resulting in a lengthy film (169 minutes) that contains a few overlong or disjointed scenes. All of the Lord of the Rings  foreshadowing is interesting, but at times it undercuts the importance of the current objective (Smaug and the Lonely Mountain). It's clear that The Hobbit story could have likely been told in two films and, as a result, viewers will probably be mixed on the success of the bridging scenes in An Unexpected Journey , The Desolation of Smaug , as well as  There and Back Again ; however, the extra content hardly undermines the quality of Jackson's latest effort - even for especially cynical moviegoers.

Adding to the controversy is the director's choice to shoot in 48 frames-per-second - a format that results in hyper-realistic visuals but, as many filmmakers argue, is so true-to-life that it can actually be a distraction - depriving filmgoers of immersion. We've put together a separate editorial discussing the successes and shortcomings of The Hobbit  in 48fps but, with regard to a review recommendation, without question the format is worth experiencing - if for no other reason than to form your own opinion (assuming there's a HFR 3D-ready theater near you). 48fps can be disorienting at first, but An Unexpected Journey makes smart use of the presentation - delivering a number of jaw-dropping visual set pieces. There are plenty of movies that we would not want to see in 48fps and, much like 3D, filmmakers should be smart about when to use and avoid the format, but Jackson's Hobbit movie is a worthy (and encouraging) trial run.

In the long run,  The Hobbit prequels could be weakened by Jackson's expanded three film plan, but if Part 2 and Part 3 are as enjoyable as An Unexpected Journey , it'll be hard for moviegoers to complain. The film includes everything that made the original Lord of the Rings trilogy so memorable - action-adventure, charm, humor, and breath-taking fantasy battles. Sure, a few extemporaneous Lord of the Rings elements slow things down and distract from the core Hobbit storyline, but overall, the director has once again presented audiences with a captivating and exciting trip to Middle-earth.

If you’re still on the fence about  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , check out the trailer below:

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Let us know what you thought of the film in the comment section below. If you’ve seen the movie and want to discuss details about the film without worrying about spoiling it for those who haven’t seen it, please head over to our Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Spoilers Discussion .

For an in-depth discussion of the film by the Screen Rant editors check out our Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey  episode  of the  SR Underground podcast .

Follow me on Twitter @ benkendrick  for future reviews, as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey  is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images. Now playing in 2D, 3D, IMAX, and 48fps theaters.

History & Development of Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

The history, the drama, the blood, sweat, tears and joy of Peter Jackson's attempt to bring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings prequel to the big screen!

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39 facts about the movie the hobbit: an unexpected journey.

Written by Bertha Tutt

Modified & Updated: 04 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a fantasy adventure film that takes viewers on an incredible journey through the magical world of Middle-earth. Released in 2012, the movie serves as the prelude to the critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy and is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel, The Hobbit. Directed by the visionary filmmaker Peter Jackson, this epic cinematic experience transports audiences to a time of dwarves, wizards , elves, and, of course, hobbits. With stunning visuals, captivating storytelling, and a stellar cast, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey mesmerizes viewers from start to finish. In this article, we will delve into 39 fascinating facts about this cinematic masterpiece, revealing behind-the-scenes secrets, interesting tidbits, and the incredible efforts that went into bringing Tolkien’s iconic world to life on the big screen.

Key Takeaways:

• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was a visually stunning film released in 2012, with a captivating story that introduces new characters and explores the rich mythology of Middle-earth.
• The movie received mixed reviews but won an Academy Award for Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling. It set the stage for an epic adventure and showcased the art of swordplay and memorable dialogue.

The film was released in 2012

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, directed by Peter Jackson, was released in December 2012, captivating audiences worldwide.

It is the first installment of The Hobbit film trilogy

The movie serves as the beginning of an epic three-part film series based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel, The Hobbit.

The movie was shot in 3D

To enhance the cinematic experience, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was filmed and released in 3D, immersing viewers in the magical world of Middle-earth.

Martin Freeman plays the lead role of Bilbo Baggins

British actor Martin Freeman delivers a captivating performance as the hobbit protagonist, Bilbo Baggins.

The movie features an ensemble cast

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Ian McKellen , Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, and many more talented actors.

It grossed over $1 billion at the box office

The film’s success was undeniable, breaking records and earning over $1 billion worldwide during its theatrical run.

The movie received mixed reviews from critics

Critics had divided opinions about the film, with some praising its visuals and performances while others felt it dragged on unnecessarily.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey won an Academy Award

The film won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling at the 85th Academy Awards.

It introduces new characters and brings back familiar faces

The movie introduces new characters such as Thorin Oakenshield and features familiar faces like Gandalf the Grey, played by Ian McKellen.

The film stays true to Tolkien’s vision

Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Hobbit stays faithful to J.R.R. Tolkien’s original novel, delighting fans of the fantasy series.

The movie showcases stunning visual effects

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey boasts breathtaking visual effects, bringing the fantastical creatures and landscapes of Middle-earth to life.

It explores the origins of the One Ring

The film delves into the backstory of the iconic One Ring, offering insight into its significance in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey highlights the power of camaraderie

The movie emphasizes the importance of teamwork and friendship as Bilbo and his companions embark on their perilous quest.

The film features thrilling action sequences

From intense battles to narrow escapes, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey delivers adrenaline-pumping action throughout the film.

It explores the rich mythology of Middle-earth

The movie expands on the intricate mythology of Middle-earth, providing deeper context to the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey showcases stunning locations

The film takes audiences on a visual journey through breathtaking landscapes, from lush forests to majestic mountains.

The movie features memorable musical compositions

Composer Howard Shore masterfully creates a captivating musical score that enhances the emotional impact of the film.

It pays homage to the original Lord of the Rings trilogy

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey references and connects to the events of The Lord of the Rings, creating a cohesive cinematic universe.

The film captures the essence of Tolkien’s storytelling

Peter Jackson successfully captures Tolkien’s enchanting storytelling style, transporting viewers into a world filled with wonder and adventure.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey received numerous visual effects nominations

The film was recognized for its outstanding visual effects, receiving nominations at various award ceremonies including the BAFTAs and the Academy Awards.

It was shot in Jackson’s native New Zealand

Peter Jackson, a proud New Zealander, chose to film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in his homeland, showcasing its stunning natural beauty.

The movie has a runtime of 169 minutes

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey provides audiences with an immersive experience, spanning nearly three hours of thrilling storytelling.

It was a highly anticipated film

Fans eagerly awaited the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, excited to revisit the world of Middle-earth on the big screen.

The film showcases the art of swordplay

From elaborate fight choreography to skilled swordsmanship, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey displays the artistry and skill involved in combat.

It features memorable and quotable dialogue

The movie is filled with memorable lines that have become iconic within the fantasy genre, further solidifying its place in cinematic history.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey explores themes of greed and redemption

The film delves into the consequences of greed and the possibility of redemption, giving depth to its characters and their motivations.

It features a thrilling encounter with trolls

The movie introduces audiences to the perilous trolls encountered by Bilbo and his companions, resulting in a suspenseful and exciting sequence.

The film showcases intricate costume designs

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey dazzles with its elaborate and detailed costume designs, bringing the characters to life in a visually stunning way.

It was a box office success

The film’s commercial success is a testament to its widespread appeal, attracting both devoted fans and newcomers to the world of Middle-earth.

The movie received accolades for its sound design

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was praised for its exceptional sound design, creating an immersive audio experience for audiences.

It introduces the iconic character Gollum

The movie showcases the memorable character Gollum, portrayed by Andy Serkis , known for his mesmerizing performance capture work.

The film features breathtaking aerial shots

Utilizing stunning aerial cinematography, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey offers breathtaking views of the vast landscapes of Middle-earth.

It explores the nature of heroism

The film delves into what it means to be a hero and the transformative journey that Bilbo Baggins undergoes throughout his adventure.

The movie has impressive set designs

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey showcases intricate set designs that transport viewers into the fantastical realm of Middle-earth.

It features heartwarming moments of friendship

The film highlights the bonds of friendship and the loyalty that develops between the characters as they face various challenges and dangers.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey had a massive budget

The movie had a reported budget of over $200 million, allowing for the creation of its visually stunning and elaborate world.

It was filmed using the latest technology

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey utilized cutting-edge technology, including high-speed cameras and advanced motion capture techniques.

The movie explores the concept of destiny

With themes of fate and destiny woven throughout its narrative, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey invites viewers to contemplate the role of destiny in their own lives.

It sets the stage for an epic adventure

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey lays the foundation for an epic and thrilling journey that continues throughout the remaining films in the trilogy.

In conclusion, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is a remarkable movie that captivated audiences with its stunning visuals, epic storytelling, and memorable characters. From Bilbo Baggins’ unexpected adventure to the mesmerizing landscapes of Middle-earth, the film takes viewers on a thrilling journey of courage, friendship, and self-discovery.

With an impeccable cast led by Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and directed by the talented Peter Jackson, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” successfully captures the essence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel. It serves as an excellent prequel to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, expanding the magical world of Middle-earth and providing fans with a true cinematic spectacle.

Whether you’re a dedicated fan of Tolkien’s works or simply enjoy epic fantasy films, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is a must-watch. Its combination of breathtaking visuals, compelling storytelling, and incredible performances will transport you to a world filled with adventure and wonder.

So grab your popcorn, immerse yourself in the world of Middle-earth, and prepare to be swept away by the magic of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey!”

1. Who directed “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”?

Peter Jackson directed “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

2. Is “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” a prequel to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy?

Yes, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” serves as a prequel to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

3. What is the storyline of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”?

The movie follows Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who is enlisted by the wizard Gandalf to join a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim their homeland from the dragon Smaug.

4. Who portrays the character of Bilbo Baggins in the film?

Martin Freeman portrays the character of Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

5. Are there any other movies in “The Hobbit” trilogy?

Yes, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is the first film in “The Hobbit” trilogy, followed by “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.”

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How to Watch The Hobbit Movies in Order

Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy breaks Tolkien's original novel into three separate films, so fans need to know which order to watch them.

Quick Links

The hobbit: an unexpected journey marks the start of the quest for erebor, the hobbit: the desolation of smaug prepares middle earth for war, the hobbit: the battle of the five armies brings an end to an era.

• Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy serves as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings , setting up the latter's War of the Ring.
• Each film in The Hobbit trilogy escalates the conflict between Middle Earth's races by introducing new groups and major antagonists.
• Although less well-received than The Lord of the Rings , The Hobbit Jtrilogy does justice to Tolkien's work, capturing the spirit of Middle Earth.

When it comes to the fantasy genre, no franchise is more well-known than J.R.R. Tolkien's flagship work, The Lord of the Rings . This iconic trilogy, originally published in 1954 & 1955, created many of the genre's most well-known tropes, and even 80 years after its initial release, the series continues to introduce new fans to the world of Middle Earth. That said, The Lord of the Rings and its various adaptations would never have been possible were it not for the success of Tolkien's previous novel: The Hobbit .

Released in 1937, The Hobbi t is the direct predecessor to The Lord of the Rings , so it's no surprise that the two works share plenty in common. Both stories feature a Hobbit as their main character, take place across Middle Earth, and see their protagonists gather allies for a dangerous quest. In addition to this, both narratives were adapted into a trilogy of feature-length films by acclaimed director Peter Jackson. However, whereas The Lord of the Rings novels were released by Tolkien in three volumes, The Hobbit has always been packaged as a single story, making the timeline of its film adaptations a bit trickier to follow.

Adapts The Hobbit Chapters 1 - 6

The hobbit: an unexpected journey.

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A reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home, and the gold within it from the dragon Smaug.

10 Best Scenes in The Hobbit Trilogy, Ranked

Although The Lord of the Rings films were released a decade before The Hobbit trilogy, the latter is actually set many years before Frodo Baggins initiates his quest to destroy the One Ring. Since The Hobbit movies are a prequel trilogy, the first chronological entry in Peter Jackson's Middle Earth films is The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , which debuted in 2012 to massive box office success. The film follows the beginning of Bilbo Baggins' journey, setting the stage for not only the events of The Hobbit trilogy but also the all-out war against evil that takes place in Jackson's previous film trilogy.

At the beginning of An Unexpected Journey , viewers are introduced to the Shire: a quaint, relatively safe location full of its easy-going inhabitants, the Hobbits. While these peaceful beings don't have a formal hierarchy like many of the races of Middle Earth, the Shire is home to Bilbo Baggins, a well-known Hobbit in the area who is particularly interested in the outside world. Because of Bilbo Baggins' adventurous streak, he attracts the attention of the powerful wizard Gandalf the Grey and the legendary dwarf Thorin Oakenshield; in the film's opening sequence, the duo recruits Bilbo to join them on their quest to reclaim the Dwarven treasure located in Erebor.

What Happened in Middle-earth Between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings?

After some convincing, Bilbo agrees to join Thorin Oakenshield on his journey East, and at first, their journey goes smoothly — at least for the most part. However, as they travel across Middle Earth, they start to encounter powerful artifacts (like the One Ring to Rule Them All) and increasingly powerful groups of enemies, making it more and more obvious that the Quest of Erebor will be more dangerous than An Unexpected Journey 's protagonists initially believed. The film concludes with a single scene that teases this danger by showing a glimpse of The Hobbit 's most iconic antagonist: Smaug.

Adapts The Hobbit Chapters 7-13

The hobbit: the desolation of smaug, 10 weirdest details about hobbits.

The first film in The Hobbit trilogy introduces viewers to the world of Middle Earth, but the second film — The Desolation of Smaug — significantly raises the stakes by putting its protagonists at the center of the realm's most important conflict in several decades. With Bilbo Baggins in possession of the One Ring, the Dwarves of Erebor nearing their ancestral home, and the powers of Sauron rapidly growing, The Desolation of Smaug is a powder keg waiting to explode from the moment that it begins.

To make matters worse for Bilbo Baggins and his allies — who are without Gandalf's assistance while he seeks out Sauron during most of the film — their journey in the second The Hobbit movie complicates things by introducing two new groups to the mix: the humans of Lake Town and the Wood Elves of Mirkwood. The involvement of these two parties means that the Quest for Erebor will feature all of Middle Earth's major races, including the titular villain of the film, the dragon known as Smaug.

Every Lord of the Rings Character in Both the Movies and The Hobbit, Ranked

As the last great dragon of Middle Earth, Smaug's mere presence has kept the Orcs, Humans, Elves, and Dwarves of Middle Earth at a political standstill for decades, so there are massive ramifications when Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield, and their adventuring party wake the ancient beast from its slumber. The final moments of The Desolation of Smaug see the iconic dragon escape Erebor, take to the skies, and head toward Lake Town, initiating a series of conflicts that change the world forever.

Adapts The Hobbit Chapters 13-19

The hobbit: the battle of the five armies, what if smaug had survived the hobbit.

Unlike the previous entries in The Hobbit film trilogy, its final entry — The Battle of the Five Armies — starts in a moment of pure intensity: Smaug's assault on Lake Town. This fiery rampage sets the tone for the entire film and clearly establishes that Peter Jackson's final adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's novels has no intention of shying away from conflict, even after Bard the Bowman cements himself as a legendary hero by felling Smaug with a single arrow. In actuality, the death of Smaug only intensifies the brewing conflict between races, as the dragon's disappearance guarantees that multiple parties will be vying for the treasure residing within Erebor.

With the Dwarves of Erebor, Elves of Mirkwood, and Men of Lake Town unable to see eye-to-eye, various armies under the control of Sauron are able to make their move and begin an attack on The Battle of the Five Armies ' protagonist. Orcs, goblins, and various other creatures band together under one banner, forcing the Free Peoples of Middle Earth to find common ground or fall victim to the ruthless forces at Sauron's disposal. Things are only intensified by Bilbo Baggins' possession of the One Ring, which could easily turn the tide of the battle in an instant.

As expected, The Battle of the Five Armies brings an end to almost all of the narratives previously introduced in The Hobbit films and plays a massive role in setting up the Fellowship of the Ring's iconic journey in The Lord of the Rings . While The Hobbit trilogy is generally regarded as a worse product than The Lord of the Rings , it more than does justice to Tolkien's work and legitimately brings Quest for Erebor to life on the silver screen, even if it falls short in some areas.

The fantasy genre is full of great films, but few are more well-written, well-structured, or well-liked than Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Hobbit . After the success of his The Lord of the Rings trilogy, it was only appropriate that Bilbo Baggins' story also be told, and as evidenced by the overwhelming commercial success of An Unexpected Journey , The Desolation of Smaug , and The Battle of the Five Armies , it's clear that the trio of films did a great job of capturing the spirit of Tolkien's world.

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is a series of epic fantasy adventure films and television series based on J. R. R. Tolkien's novels. The films follow the adventures of humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits and more in Middle-earth.

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The hobbit: an unexpected journey.

FILM REVIEW: More is less in Peter Jackson's gargantuan first installment of the new Tolkien trilogy.

By Todd McCarthy

Todd McCarthy

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Martin Freeman comes into his own as Bilbo Baggins.

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There has almost certainly never been an adaptation of a novel more studiously, scrupulously and strenuously faithful as Peter Jackson’s film of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey . Spending nearly three hours of screen time to visually represent every comma, period and semicolon in the first six chapters of the perennially popular 19-chapter book, Jackson and his colleagues have created a purist’s delight, something the millions of die-hard fans of his Lord of the Rings trilogy will gorge upon. In pure movie terms, however, it’s a bit of a slog, with an inordinate amount of exposition and lack of strong forward movement. Still, based on its maker, source and gigantic promotional campaign, this first section to the long-awaited prequel to Rings no doubt will mine equivalent amounts of box-office gold, as will its follow-ups.

If Hobbit had been filmed shortly after the book’s publication in 1937 (it’s a wonder that it wasn’t), one easily could imagine a lively affair full of great character actors and cleverly goofy special effects that would have moved the story along in smart style in less than two hours. In Jackson’s academically fastidious telling, however, it’s as if The Wizard of Oz had taken nearly an hour just to get out of Kansas. There are elements in this new film that are as spectacular as much of the Rings trilogy was, but there is much that is flat-footed and tedious as well. This might be one venture where, rather than DVDs offering an “Expanded Director’s Version,” there might be an appetite for a “Condensed Director’s Cut” in a single normal-length film.

Jackson announced his interest in filming Hobbit as early as 1995, before Rings , but was prevented from moving ahead by knotty rights issues. Once the venture came to life again, there were even more hassles involving ownership, lawsuits, studios coming and going and the initial involvement of Guillermo del Toro as director. (He eventually stepped aside but retains co-screenplay credit along with Jackson and his Rings partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.) At first proposed as a two-part saga, it then became three, following the lead of the Harry Potter and Twilight series to split stories into the maximum number of installments.

Then there is Jackson’s decision to film not only in 3D but in 48 frames per second, double the standard number. The results are interesting and will be much-debated, but an initial comparison of the two formats weighs against the experiment; the print shown at the Warner Bros. review screening, while striking in some of the big spectacle scenes, predominantly looked like ultravivid television video, paradoxically lending the film an oddly theatrical look, especially in the cramped interior scenes in Bilbo Baggins’ home. For its part, the 24 fps 3D version had a softer, noticeably more textured image quality.

One of the reasons Hobbit is so bulked up is that Jackson has filled it out with an enormous amount of backstory relevant to the characters at hand. In doing so, he is able to provide a titanic opening battle sequence, one in which a wealthy ancient kingdom of dwarves alongside the Lonely Mountain is decimated by fearsome giant trolls. One of the only survivors is the heir to the throne, Thorin, whose effort to reclaim the kingdom will occupy the thrust of the story.

First, however, there is the hokey business of introducing the motley crew of knights who will undertake this daunting task, 13 dwarves, led by Thorin (Richard Armitage), whose facial hair looks more imposing than their musculature. They are guided by the towering wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen, back for another tour of Middle-earth), who approaches the mild-mannered Bilbo (Martin Freeman) to propose that he “share in an adventure,” the nature of which is unfamiliar to the pointy-eared stay-at-home.

The gaggle of uninvited guests makes themselves right at home in Bilbo’s cozy underground abode, making short work of his food and drink and in every way behaving presumptuously. A little of their dwarf talk goes a long way, and a filmmaker intent on getting his show on the road would have dispensed with this repast in half the time or less; it’s not as if there’s going to be a quiz on the identity of each dwarf before the journey can proceed. Some of Jackson’s blocking, setups and compositions in this long introduction are downright clumsy, in the service of notably lame japes and gags.

More backstory battle footage spikes things up again as the long journey begins in earnest. An initial glimpse of what the little guys are up against comes in the form of three giant trolls, who make off with a couple of ponies to eat and indulge in a Cockney-flavored Three Stooges routine as they prepare to roast the dwarves.

At length, the sojourners arrive at Rivendell, home of Gandalf’s friend Elf Lord Elrond (Hugo Weaving) and, in cameos, Queen Galadriel (a returning Cate Blanchett) and Saruman (Christopher Lee). Gandalf and the dwarves receive help with maps and a key at this stop in order to penetrate the cave full of gold guarded by the dragon Smaug.

But the way ahead becomes increasingly treacherous, what with mountains that abruptly come alive as heaps of rock that battle one another; the malignant Gollum (the again superb Andy Serkis, in eye-bulging Peter Lorre mode), who engages Bilbo in a winner-take-all riddle contest; and, quite scarily, repulsive trolls who give chase on ferocious, wolflike wargs.

It takes Jackson a long time to build up a head of steam, but he delivers the goods in the final stretch, which is paralleled by the hitherto ineffectual Bilbo beginning to come into his own as a character. One of Tolkien’s shrewdest strategies in writing Hobbit and designing it to appeal to both youngsters and adults was making Bilbo a childlike grown-up who matures and assumes responsibilities he initially perceives are beyond him. Freeman, who at first seems bland in the role, similarly grows into the part, giving hope that the character will continue to blossom in the two forthcoming installments.

The dwarves are pretty interchangeable, though Armitage has a strong bearing as the royal heir. There’s nothing McKellen can do to surprise anymore as Gandalf, but his presence is reassuring to the audience.

In terms of production values, Hobbit is comparable to what Jackson and his team accomplished on the Rings outings; he has reunited with such key trilogy collaborators as cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah (supervising art director and set decorator on the Rings films) and masses of effects artists and technicians from his Weta shop. Because of technological advances and 3D technology, in some ways the new film moves beyond into new territory, and there assuredly will be more spectacle in the next two installments, which will be subtitled The Desolation of Smaug and There and Back Again (the subtitle of Tolkien’s entire novel).

The score by Howard Shore, who wrote the music for the trilogy, effectively backs the action, nearly every second of it.

The end credits run 16 minutes, certainly a record or close to it, bringing the total running time to six minutes short of three hours.

Opens: Friday, Dec. 14 (Warner Bros.) Cast: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood Director: Peter Jackson Rated PG-13, 174 minutes

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The Ending Of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Explained

Although it made more than a billion dollars at the box office , "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is the least heralded and most forgotten of "The Hobbit" trilogy in many ways. Since J.R.R. Tolkien's much slimmer book was adapted into three epic movies, with some supplemental material pulled from "The Silmarillon" and other places, "An Unexpected Journey" was destined to have kind of a patchwork, odd pace to it. This is even before Guillermo del Toro pulled out of directing the trilogy not long before filming before, forcing Peter Jackson to step in and direct himself instead of just producing and co-writing.

Although even Jackson himself will admit that all three movies are kind of a mess , they're still impeccably made films that offer pleasures of their own. "An Unexpected Journey" returned us, nearly a decade after "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," to the lush, grandiose vision of Middle-earth that Jackson and his collaborators had established, and star Martin Freeman is perfectly cast as a younger Bilbo Baggins for the long-awaited chronicle of his adventure. If you're not a "Lord of the Rings" scholar, some of the developments in the nearly three-hour first installment might be hard to track, or perhaps you want to skip it and get straight to the more dynamic action in the second installment, "The Desolation of Smaug." Whatever your reason, here is the ending of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" explained.

No place amongst us

The only real story progression in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is regarding Bilbo's motivation for joining the quest. The movie seems to rely on us having seen the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy to understand that Hobbits generally don't prefer to sign up for outlandish adventures, and Bilbo spends the entire movie fighting an internal battle between the two sides of his heritage. As the latest in a long line of respectable Bagginses at Bag End, he knows he'll be the talk of Hobbiton if he joins the dwarves on their quest. But as Gandalf (Ian McKellan) points out, he's also "the son of Belladonna Took," and much more prone to wildness on her side. Ultimately, when the dwarves leave without him, this side wins and he rushes to join them.

Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) , the leader of the party, takes the entirety of the movie to accept that this obviously fake "burglar" belongs with the party in the first place. As Thorin rightfully points out, Bilbo often whimpers and wishes to be home in his comfortable bed, and at first serves little purpose to the company other than preventing them from having an unlucky 13 members. Even though Bilbo shows a little cunning in outsmarting the Trolls, Thorin isn't convinced that he belongs until Bilbo takes up arms and slays an Orc to save Thorin's life.

The White Council

When the party arrives at Rivendell around the halfway point of "An Unexpected Journey," Gandalf is somewhat surprised to find that Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), one of the rulers of the Elves of Lothlorien, is already there, apparently summoned on the authority of his fellow wizard Saruman the White (Christopher Lee). Once again, the movie assumes we already knows who these characters are, in addition to Elrond (Hugo Weaving), but doesn't explain how Saruman has the standing to summon lords of the Elves together. Just like "The Fellowship of the Ring," the meeting has an aura of official business about it.

It's because all of these characters are members of the White Council, a body convened thousands of years ago to deal with the evil lord Sauron the first time that he threatened Middle-earth. Saruman, at the time, was chosen to head the Council despite Galadriel's wish to have Gandalf in charge. Granted, this is all deep backstory from "The Silmarillion," but "An Unexpected Journey" asks viewers to listen to quite a bit of a White Council meeting without making the purpose of the group or the power structure all that clear. It's evident that Saruman is stuck in obstinate complacency, while Galadriel and Gandalf communicate in secret glances.

Radagast the Brown

He might not be as powerful as Gandalf or Saruman, but "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" sees the triumphant cinematic debut of the wizard Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy). He's generally off screen and mentioned in passing in the "Lord of the Rings" books, existing mostly to pass messages from other parties to the more central Gandalf, but Radagast is a powerful and ancient wizard in his own right. He plays a key role in this movie by tipping off the White Council to the growing power of the Necromancer in Mirkwood.

Saruman's attitude when Radagast's name comes up in the meeting is actually a key indicator of the white wizard's shifting values and (spoiler alert) eventually turn toward evil in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Since Saruman is beginning to lust for power and influence, he despises Radagast's communion with the natural world as fundamentally useless. He scoffs specifically that Radagast eats "too many mushrooms," as if Radagast is some sort of Middle-earth Timothy Leary who's lost his academic credibility by turning to psychedelics. Saruman's distaste for nature also subtly foreshadows his eventual undoing at the hands (or branches) of the Ents in "The Two Towers."

The Necromancer: serious threat or Scooby-Doo villain?

The subject of the White Council meeting is Radagast's terrifying glimpse of a new and powerful figure: the Necromancer. As the audience we're privy to his experience, in which what's definitely a ghost attempts to kill him with a (real?) sword. So it's pretty frustrating to hear Saruman's reaction. He seems to think that the Necromancer is just a mortal man that's dabbling in the dark arts — even if that's the case, it still seems like something that would be worth the White Council's time to investigate. An entity so dark and powerful that locals have started referring to the area as "Mirkwood" instead of "Greenwood" is cause for alarm no matter what its origin. As it is, Gandalf and Galadriel have to have their own meeting afterwards to get anything done.

"Lord of the Rings" fans that have done their reading are well aware that the Necromancer is of course Sauron in a semi-weakened form, although Saruman dismisses this possibility directly. Even though Sauron isn't generally known for raising the dead in the later books or movie trilogy, it seems he's dabbling in it during his time in Mirkwood to drum up fear and a general sense of foreboding over the land. Even though Saruman misses the point entirely, mission definitely accomplished on the foreboding front.

The map and the door

Though it's pretty clearly explained that Thorin's general quest is to reclaim his homeland, the kingdom under the Lonely Mountain known as Erebor, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" rushes the explanation of the map he's inherited from his grandfather that will help him accomplish this. They take the map to Elrond in Rivendell, who happens to discover "moon writing" runes on it. Written by Thorin's grandfather Thror under a "silver broad crescent" moon, they can only be read under the exact same conditions. Fortunately, there's just such a moon on that exact same night, in the mother of all coincidences.

With this astounding luck, the runes reveal that on "Durin's Day" (essentially the last day of fall on the Dwarvish calendar), the last light of sunset will illuminate the keyhole of a secret door, as long as you're also standing "by the grey stone when the thrush knocks." How Thorin's grandfather knew that the bearer of the map could tell one grey stone from another, or that a thrush would knock at just the right moment, is unclear. It's also a bit confusing why Elrond had to decode this information when the map came from Thorin's own family. To be fair, it's been a hectic couple of centuries of vagrancy for all the dwarves of Erebor, so this information may have been scattered to the wind.

The Witch-King of Angmar

What makes Saruman's very "Voldemort isn't back"-esque stubbornness about the Necromancer even more disturbing is the blade that Radagast produces, a "morgul blade" that fell from the ghost that attacked him at Dol Guldur. The blade and the ghost are another giant Easter Egg for "Lord of the Rings" fans: it's none other than the Witch-King of Angmar, the leader of Sauron's nine creepy undead wraiths known as Nazgul in the later trilogy, usually seen cloaked in black and riding black horses. In "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," the Witch-King is merely an apparition, as Sauron in his guise as the Necromancer isn't yet strong enough to give either himself or his most trusted servant physical form.

In any case, the blade is very real, and physical proof that the tomb of the Witch-King has been disturbed after 400 years. Even though the White Council discusses how unlikely it is, the blade combined with Radagast's eyewitness testimony seems more than compelling. Saruman nonetheless overrules it and Gandalf decides not to follow up on the entire Necromancer situation. If only the White Council held biannual elections for the top spot like a union delegation.

Is Galadriel a projection?

One of the more confusing moments in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is a quick scene between Gandalf and Galadriel. After the largely unproductive White Council meeting, the two share a few more words on the recent Middle-earth troubles before parting ways. Instead of saying goodbye, Galadriel abruptly vanishes when Gandalf looks back up at where she was standing. Was she a projection? Is that a power that Elves have that we just weren't aware of in any of the other movies? Has she taken to silently swinging away via grappling hook mid-conversation like Batman?

One possible explanation is that it's a power of Nenya, one of the three rings given to the Elf-lords back when the Ring of Power was forged. Nenya has powers of concealment, although invisibility, like that granted by the One Ring, is never specifically mentioned as one of its effects. Galadriel has also flashed telepathic powers throughout the extended "Lord of the Rings" story, so it's not out of the question that she was somehow attending the meeting without her physical form. But it would be a bit of a stretch, based on both what we know of elven powers in the films and in Tolkien's universe. As it is, it's a small and inscrutable moment in "An Unexpected Journey" that we just have to sit with. Maybe it's just that Gandalf has been smoking a little too much pipe-weed from the Shire after all.

One ring to not even mention

The most fateful moment in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is when Bilbo happens upon a golden ring in the caverns under the Misty Mountains. He accidentally puts it on, only to discover that it makes him invisible to the nefarious Gollum (Andy Serkis). "Lord of the Rings" fans recognize this immediately as the One Ring to rule them all, the key to Sauron's power. With Sauron in his still-weakened state off in Mirkwood, Bilbo has a much more relaxed time using the ring than his nephew Frodo will have in the future, as he's not troubled by any visions of Sauron's fiery, unblinking eye. It's doubtful that Sauron is even aware of its discovery at this point in time.

It's also key that Bilbo chooses not to reveal the ring to the rest of Thorin's company. In the book version of "The Hobbit," this is because he's a little more interested in maintaining his fabricated reputation as a burglar capable of operating stealthily. But in "An Unexpected Journey," the moment is played differently: Martin Freeman expertly imitates a physical habit Ian Holm established as the older Bilbo and absentmindedly rubs the ring while it's in his pocket, indicating that the insidious power of the ring has already begun to work on him. 

The moth/eagle emergency hotline

One of the most frequently complained about and generally confusing moments in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy is the rescue at the end of "The Return of the King" by the Great Eagles. It won't help that "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" continues this tradition by also having the Eagles arrive just in the nick of time to save Thorin and company from Azog the Defiler at the end, nor that they're summoned almost in real time by Gandalf communicating with a moth, as he does in "The Fellowship of the Ring." 

Generally the issue in both movie trilogies is that no time is devoted to explaining that the eagles are sentient, proud beings that have a special relationship with wizards in the theology of Middle-earth, and in fact are very similar to Gandalf himself in that they were sent to Middle-earth from the quasi-mythical realm of Valinor across the sea. In other words the eagles and wizards are somewhat angelic figures that serve higher purposes of destiny and fate in a sort of cosmic sense. As a result, like Gandalf himself, they often arrive just in the nick of time in a kind of inexorable fashion that it's better to just accept as part of fantasy storytelling than think too hard about.

When not to take a life

As Gandalf explains to Bilbo, true courage is knowing when not to take a life, not just when to take one. Bilbo's decision to spare the life of the wretched but pitiable Gollum will prove to be the most fateful act in the entire "Hobbit" trilogy. Even more than the fate of Smaug or the outcome of the Battle of Five Armies, Gollum's path will lead him all across Middle-earth and back, and eventually to the edge of the fires of Mount Doom and the One Ring's accidental destruction.

This act of mercy drives home a theme about Hobbits and their modest, peaceful instincts that's central to both trilogies. Even with the ring already working on his moral compass, Bilbo can't bring himself to kill the vile creature that wants to take it back from him — eventually Bilbo will become the only ringbearer to willingly part with the dreaded artifact when he passes it on to Frodo. In turn, Gollum, who was once a very Hobbit-like riverfolk named Smeagol, is key in keeping the ring hidden from Sauron for centuries. Even though he's fully under the ring's spell, he's content to hide away with it in caverns instead of seeking power of any sort.

Smaug and his Scrooge McDuck bath

The last image of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," just after Bilbo foolishly says that the "worst is behind" the traveling company, is a glimpse of the terror that awaits them in the next movie as we get a glimpse of the immense dragon Smaug. Sleeping under a literal mountain of gold, Smaug is disturbed by the knocking of a thrush, a portent of what's to come when the company arrives on Durin's Day to really cause him trouble.

It's well-established in Tolkien's world that dragons all have an insatiable lust for gold, sometimes to the exclusion of even food, but it's never quite explained why. Dragons were created by the dark lord Morgoth (Sauron's even more powerful original master) and set loose upon the world, so their lust for gold may have been a way to destabilize the kingdoms of dwarves and men en masse in Morgoth's campaign of terror. Centuries and centuries after Morgoth's defeat, Smaug still roams the earth and sets off the events of "The Hobbit" by storming Erebor.

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Review

Well, the verdict is in and High-Frame Resolution (HFR) 48 FPS - not so good.

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Warner Brothers Pictures

174 mins. dir. by: peter jackson with,, martin freeman, richard armitage, and ian mckellen.

Peter Jackson and company brought a series of books to the big screen that many thought to be un-filmable when they struck gold with  The Lord of the Rings  trilogy. Returning to the world of J. R. R. Tolkien by tackling the precursor novel to  The Lord of the Rings  and its appendices, Jackson brings back all the charm and wonderment of Tolkien’s mystical world, and then crushes it under the obtrusive fist of the films HFR (High Frame resolution) 48 FPS presentation.

Bilbo Baggins (the always wonderful Martin Freeman) leads a simple life that he doesn’t care to see change. Unbeknownst to Bilbo, the great wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellan) has signed Bilbo up to take part in a perilous journey for which he is ill equipped. Gandalf has agreed to help a group of thirteen dwarves reclaim their home from the great dragon Smaug. To complete their plans of re-capturing their home, Gandalf has convinced the dwarves they need a Hobbit to fulfill the role of, burglar; someone who can sneak in and out of the dragon’s lair without being detected. Reluctant to join up at first, Bilbo has a change of heart and heads off on the adventure of a lifetime.

Much like a docudrama,  The Hobbit  loses heaps of dramatic tension as we all know certain characters will not meet their untimely doom when caught in a sticky situation. That dumbfounded awe and power of discovering the nooks and crannies of Middle-Earth and its colorful array of inhabitants has faded. The story has changed and the goal is different in specifics alone. Little people doing big things, the naive hero learning the world expands past his fence, the wise guide who doesn’t disclose what he really knows; it still holds a modicum of entertainment, but holds no surprises. A movie doesn’t need nail biting tension to make it a success, but  The Hobbit  certainly tries to sell the angle too many times to ignore.

Story is everything when it comes to a great film. I’ll never stopped saying it–a film can have a great story and succeed through spotty cinematography or poor sound, yet the newfangled 48FPS style of  The Hobbit  is the exception to the rule.  The Lord of the Rings  trilogy took digital effects to new heights making creatures we all know don’t exist, look real.  The Hobbit  on the other hand, takes real people and makes them appear fake. The sharp detail and fluid 3D aspects work well, but the entire film looks like a made for T.V. movie rendered into a video game cinematic instead of a stunning display of glorious eye candy. Characters often move at odd speeds, as if someone sat on a remote’s fast forward button or like a buffering video catching up after it stalls. The visual disruption of  The Hobbit  is so distracting it was hard to focus on the dialogue of the film’s two openings.

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The fear has set in that Peter Jackson may fall into the George Lucas trap.  Jackson is a far better director than Lucas ever was, but like the original  Star Wars  films (Lucas as a director or not),  The Lord of the Rings  trilogy was a milestone in cinematic history that marked an evolution in digital effects and created a marker for younger generations to adore as the defining moment in film for their childhood. Now, just like Lucas, tacky inconsequential visual styles and fancy technology have become more important to Jackson than telling a good story. It’s not so much that the HFR delivery affects his ability to tell the story, as it completely ends up deflating every aspect of the movie from that story to its stunted sense of whimsical joy.

As the film pressed along and my eyes adjusted, things did progress a little. The entire second half of the film has some great little vignettes as the team of small warriors fall into the hands of the Goblin King and Bilbo runs into our old friend Gollum, which leads to him obtaining a certain ring. Even through the unnatural character movements of the HFR process, Gollum is more impressive than ever. With even more of actor Andy Serkis’ real face bleeding through the twisted creature’s digital features, the battle of wits between Bilbo and Gollum is playfully silly while resting on a layer of terrifying uneasiness.

Ian McKellan isn’t the only familiar face returning to Middle-Earth, of course. Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis and Elijah Wood are all back in this installment. In another example of a prequel being affected by our knowledge of films/novels we’re familiar with, it’s hard not to set aside any ill feelings one might have for Christopher Lee as Saruman. When  The Hobbit  was written, he was still very much a highly respected “good guy.” Knowing that he becomes corrupted by Sauron’s re-emergence, changes the situations at hand when he is on screen. For the other recurring characters though, we do get to see a slightly different side of them at times. I’d say it’s almost awkward to see a happier, kinder Lord Elrond. Personally, I was also happy to see Flight of the Conchords’ Brett Mackenzie reprise his role as a nameless elf. He gets a bit more featured time here; go Brett.

It’s hard to tell if  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey  would be a different movie if it were presented in a format that simply looks better than this HFR garbage. A film’s presentation shouldn’t play such a contributing factor in its ability to satisfy an audience, but there’s just no escaping the misfire it causes to a film series that became an instant classic. Put  The Hobbit  next to any of the original three films and it looks like the direct-to-DVD knock-off with a slightly different name meant to trick you into a purchase.  The Hobbit  will still entertain its audience, but will never live down the stigma of its technological failure. When you buy your tickets for  The Hobbit , make sure you see the 24fps version and only pay for the HFR if you are still that curious about how bad it really looks.

Rating: 65/100

Matthew Schuchman | @stachereviews

As a young man growing up on the, not so mean streets of North Massapequa, Matthew Schuchman became a film buff at the age of 10. Encouraged by…

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Home > The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Ending Explained

• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Ending Explained
• UPDATED: September 19, 2023

Table of Contents

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is the first installment in Peter Jackson’s epic film trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel, “The Hobbit.” The movie takes viewers on a thrilling adventure filled with danger, magic, and unforgettable characters. However, the ending of the film may leave some viewers with questions. In this article, we will delve into the ending of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and provide some explanations.

At the end of the movie, Bilbo Baggins and the company of dwarves finally reach their destination – the Lonely Mountain. Their goal is to reclaim the dwarves’ homeland from the fearsome dragon Smaug. However, as they arrive at their destination, they are met with a cliffhanger ending that leaves audiences eager for more.

The ending scene shows Bilbo and the dwarves gazing upon the Lonely Mountain from afar. The camera then pans to reveal Smaug awakening from his slumber inside the mountain. The massive dragon opens his eyes, revealing his fiery gaze, and lets out a menacing roar. The screen fades to black, leaving viewers on edge and wondering what will happen next.

This ending serves as a perfect setup for the next installment in the trilogy, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” It leaves audiences with a sense of anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead. By introducing Smaug at the end of “An Unexpected Journey,” Peter Jackson effectively builds suspense and sets up a thrilling confrontation between Bilbo and the dragon in the next film.

Additionally, this ending also highlights Bilbo’s growth as a character throughout his journey. At the beginning of “An Unexpected Journey,” Bilbo is portrayed as a timid and reluctant adventurer. However, by facing various challenges and overcoming his fears, he becomes more courageous and resourceful. The sight of Smaug at the end of the film serves as a test of Bilbo’s newfound bravery and sets the stage for his ultimate confrontation with the dragon.

Furthermore, this ending also emphasizes the overarching theme of greed that runs throughout “The Hobbit” story. The Lonely Mountain is filled with vast treasures that have been hoarded by Smaug. The dwarves’ quest to reclaim their homeland is driven by their desire to regain their wealth and power. By showing Smaug awakening at the end, the film reminds viewers of the dangers that come with unchecked greed and sets up a conflict between the dwarves and the dragon over control of the mountain’s riches.

In conclusion, the ending of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” leaves audiences captivated and eager for more. By introducing Smaug and setting up a confrontation between him and Bilbo, Peter Jackson builds suspense and anticipation for the next installment in the trilogy. This ending also showcases Bilbo’s growth as a character and highlights the theme of greed that drives the story. Overall, “An Unexpected Journey” sets a strong foundation for an epic adventure that continues in “The Desolation of Smaug.”

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The Best Quote From Each Middle-earth Movie

"It's mine. My quote. My precious."

Juggernaut fantasy franchises are aplenty in the modern landscape of blockbuster-focused filmmaking, but Peter Jackson 's Middle-earth Saga will forever be incredibly hard to top. Taking place in the intricately complex and richly expansive world created by J.R.R. Tolkien , these six movies are full of fascinating world-building, compelling characters, beautifully written storylines, and, of course, highly memorable and quotable dialogue.

From The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King , the characters of Middle-earth have a very particular way of talking. Lines of dialogue in these films are often poetic and always full of rich meaning ; not a single word is wasted. Of course, though, there is always one quote in each film that stands out above the rest as the most impactful. And while each fan might have their favorite line, few can deny these quotes are the best in their respective movies .

Warning: There are spoilers ahead!

6 "All We Have to Decide Is What to Do With the Time That Is Given to Us."

'the lord of the rings: the fellowship of the ring' (2001).

The one that started it all, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is still considered one of the best-ever first films in movie franchises . It's about Frodo Baggins, a meek Hobbit from the Shire, who sets out with eight companions on a journey to destroy the One Ring to save Middle-earth from the rise of the evil tyrant Sauron. It's an incredible way to start a trilogy full of fascinating world-building but also riveting stories that perfectly stand on their own two feet.

One of the movie's most powerful and thematically important scenes is a moment of rest before the relentlessly suspenseful action that takes place in the Mines of Moria. Here, Frodo is sorrowful about how the Ring has impacted his life, wishing "none of this had happened." In one of his usual inspirational speeches, Gandalf gives him words of encouragement , delivering this insightful and poignant line. He invites him to find comfort in the prospect that, perhaps, it was fate that put him in the spot he's in and to think of how to make his struggles worth it. The line is profound and somewhat esoterical , very much in keeping with the trilogy's themes.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

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5 "There's Some Good in this World, Mr. Frodo, and It's Worth Fighting For."

Samwise gamgee (sean astin) - 'the lord of the rings: the two towers' (2002).

With some moments of exhilarating action and others of profound emotion, as well as one of the franchise's most underrated scenes , The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is one of the best middle films in any movie trilogy. The story sees Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum while the rest of the Fellowship takes a stand against Sauron and Saruman.

Some would argue (and deservedly so) that the single best moment of dialogue in the whole saga is Sam's stirring speech at the end of the movie. Here, in a beautifully written monologue, Sam lays out the themes of the narrative and the causes that make their struggle worth the pain , ending by telling Frodo why they must keep going: Because "there's some good in this world," "and it's worth fighting for." Flawlessly delivered by Sean Astin , one of the many actors robbed of an Oscar nomination for his performance in the trilogy, it's a terrific speech that works as the perfect transition to Return of the King .

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

4 "my friends, you bow to no one.", aragorn (viggo mortensen) - 'the lord of the rings: the return of the king' (2003).

One of the movies with the most Oscar nominations in history , tied as the one with the most wins, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is the trilogy's rousing conclusion. In it, Gandalf and Aragorn lead the armies of Men to fight Sauron so that Frodo and Sam may approach Mount Doom unnoticed and destroy the One Ring.

Of the movie's numerous moments of emotion and excitement, few are as touching as the scene in the third act where Aragorn is crowned in Minas Tirith after Sauron is finally defeated and Middle-earth is in peace. Here, seeing the four Hobbits bow to him, Strider tells them, "You bow to no one," and the entire congregation bows to them instead. It's a beautiful moment that makes it hard not to shed a few tears , watching the praise of these four brave men who proved that their size didn't determine their worth.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

3 "i've found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk, that keeps the darkness at bay. simple acts of kindness and love.", gandalf (ian mckellen) 'the hobbit: an unexpected journey' (2012).

Nine years after the Lord of the Rings trilogy, fans were eager to return to Middle-earth; The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey scratched that itch. Not many would call it one of the best prequels of all time , but it certainly brought lots of interesting things to the table, as well as offering the thrill of returning characters and familiar locations. Sixty years before the events of The Lord of the Rings , it's about a Hobbit who joins a wizard and a party of dwarves on a quest to reclaim the dwarves's home from the dragon Smaug.

When the White Council gathered in Rivendel to discuss how to handle the situation of Sauron's supposed return, one of the old familiar faces that viewers get to see is Lady Galadriel. Here, Galadriel asks Gandalf why he chose Bilbo to join their company. Unsure, Gandalf answers that he finds tremendous power in the "everyday deeds of ordinary folk" like Bilbo and that the Hobbit gives him courage in their dark times. It's a touching line, as well as a reminder of the core message at the heart of the whole saga : surprising amounts of courage lie in even the most unexpected of people.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

2 "if this is to end in fire, then we will all burn together", torin oakenshield ii (richard armitage) - 'the hobbit: the desolation of smaug' (2013).

The Hobbit trilogy is filled with memorable and iconic lines of dialogue , and The Desolation of Smaug is no exception. This sequel follows the dwarves, the hobbit Bilbo and the wizard Gandalf on the continuation of their quest to reclaim Erebor from Smaug the dragon. Meanwhile, Bilbo grows more familiar with his newly acquired mysterious ring.

In one of the film's most pivotal scenes, after narrowly escaping Smaug's deadly fire, the dwarves and Bilbo find themselves trapped in a room full of dead dwarves. "The last of our kin," Balin mutters. Though the team wants to play it safe and hide in the mines, Thorin refuses to die, "clawing for breath," instead ordering his friends to help him fight the dragon in the forges, delivering this rousing sentence that could bring chills to anyone. Despite its seemingly inspiring nature, this line speaks to the arrogance of this dwarf who shook the fate of Middle-earth and to the terrible effect that dragon sickness had on his heart.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

1 "if more people valued home above gold, this world would be a merrier place.", torin oakenshield ii (richard armitage) - 'the hobbit: the battle of the five armies' (2014).

Even if it's typically considered the weakest installment in the Middle-earth saga, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies still has an awful lot to offer those who love Tolkien's Legendarium. Marketed as the epic conclusion of the franchise, it's about Thorin's company being forced to take part in a war against an array of combatants to keep the Lonely Mountain from falling into the hands of the rising darkness.

The film is fun and action-packed, particularly if one watches the R-rated extended edition . It brings the arc of all major characters to a satisfying close—including those that are poignantly tragic. This includes Thorin Oakenshield, who dies in combat against Azog, the Orc-lord. The last person he sees is Bilbo, in whose arms he takes his last breath. His last conversation with the Hobbit is deeply moving , telling him to return to the comfort of the Shire and praising his valuing of "home above gold," which encapsulates one of the driving themes of the Hobbit trilogy .

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

NEXT: The Best Quotes from 'The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy, Ranked

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Inciting Event: The uninvited dwarves visit Bilbo.

First Plot Point: Bilbo’s heart changes and he decides to join the company.

First Pinch Point: The company is chased by orcs astride wargs.

Midpoint: Unwillingly, Thorin shows the map to Lord Elrond.

Second Pinch Point: It is revealed that Azog is still alive and is looking for Thorin.

Third Plot Point: The dwarves are captured by goblins.

Climax: Thorin fights Azog, but is overpowered and left unconscious on the ground.

Climactic Moment: Bilbo saves Thorin just as the company is rescued by eagles.

Resolution: Thorin and Bilbo become friends.

(Submitted by Riyan Riyaz.)

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What Is Smaug's Net Worth In The Hobbit?

• Smaug's wealth in the Lord of the Rings universe is subject to debate due to various factors not clearly defined by Tolkien.
• Forbes' attempt to estimate Smaug's net worth using real-world values places him as one of the richest fictional characters.
• Beyond the treasure horde, the true extent of Smaug's wealth remains uncertain, leaving room for fan speculation and debate.

In The Lord of the Rings , the Dwarves of Middle-earth are known to value wealth above all else, and the treasure trove of Erebor was no exception. The Dwarven kingdom held so much gold that it attracted the wrath of the dragon Smaug, who claimed it all for himself and held more wealth than any other living being in Middle-earth. However, one common point of contention among J. R. R. Tolkien fans is just how much Smaug was worth.

This idea is much more complicated than many realize, as there's little information on the most important points, such as the value of gold in Middle-earth, and the volume of Smaug's treasure hoard. While most Lord of the Rings fans simply take a rough estimate of Smaug's value, a Forbes' article from 2011 attempted to tackle this question using real-world values. The results are a fascinating exercise in fictional speculation, as well as hard numbers to calculate just how wealthy — and by extent, how greedy — Smaug really was.

Updated on April 9, 2024: Tolkien drew upon traditional myths and folklore when creating Middle-earth, including dragons, who carried potent symbolism even in their earliest days in traditional stories. Smaug's wealth — and the means he acquired it — were developed very carefully with that in mind. The article has been updated with new information about the development of the dragon as a character, and the format has been adjusted to meet current CBR guidelines.

Smaug Is Intended To Be An Archetypal Dragon

What happened in middle-earth between the hobbit and the lord of the rings.

Tolkien was famously a professor of English literature while he was developing Middle-earth, with an emphasis on Old English epics such as the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf and the Old Norse Volsung saga. Both stories included dragons and went a long way toward cementing the popular image of the creature that has endured for centuries. Beowulf held particular interest for him, and in his letters, he subsequently cited the poem as a major inspiration for the original version of The Hobbit . The poem culminates in an epic battle between the titular hero and the dragon. The beast lives in a barrow that it had stolen from its previous occupant and sleeps atop a giant pile of treasure. It stirs from its treasure horde after a slave takes a single cup, and promptly sets fire to many of the nearby towns and villages. Beowulf and his followers defeat the dragon by cutting a soft spot in its belly, but the hero is mortally wounded, and passes away as the story comes to an end.

It's not hard to see the similarities with Smaug, and indeed, Tolkien even slips a little reference to Beowulf in his text of The Hobbit when his dragon awakens from a bad dream about a pesky warrior with a sword. Like Beowulf's dragon, Smaug sits atop a captured horde — the wealth of the Dwarven kingdom of Erebor that used to exist beneath the Lonely Mountain — and guards it jealously. When Bilbo first breaches his lair, he absconds with a cup the same way the slave in Beowulf did, with a similar response. Tolkien describes Smaug's greed very pointedly in the text of The Hobbit:

Dragons may not have much real use for all their wealth, but they know it to an ounce as a rule, especially after long possession; and Smaug was no exception.

Then later, when Smaug discovers the theft, Tolkien stresses the same petty avarice.

His rage passes description — the sort of rage that is only seen when rich folk that have more than they can enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but never before used or wanted.

It's hardly a subtle passage, and it certainly paints a vivid picture of the creature's lust for treasure. It also helps make Smaug a relatable villain: terrifying, to be sure, but with identifiable human emotions that make him more than just a force of destruction. And it's hard to imagine him without his colossal horde, even before Peter Jackson's live-action movie adaptation The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug memorably brought the scene to life. As well as being a potent symbol of greed himself, he also acts as punishment for the Dwarves for their own greed — like the Balrog in the Mines of Moria — which tends to get them into a good deal of trouble in Middle-earth.

Smaug's Net Worth Marks Him As One Of The Richest Fictional Characters

Written descriptors are one thing, but properly calculating all of that wealth requires a little bit of creative math on Forbes' part. That starts with calculating the size of Smaug, which provides a basis for comparison to determine the size of his hoard. Right away, that runs into trouble. There is no single definitive image of Smaug, and Tolkien declined to provide specific dimensions in the book (though a reasonable estimate can be made by scanning through all his work). The Peter Jackson Hobbit trilogy has more concrete details, though it was released after the Forbes article and is still simply one interpretation rather than the final word.

The number Forbes settled on was 64 feet in length from head to tail, which was used to help calculate how far his room of treasure spanned. With the surface area calculated with the height of the gold (around 12 feet compared to Bilbo), the resulting number was 1477 cubic feet of gold and silver. The author then used the value of gold to equate Smaug's wealth in dollars. The final number he came to was $8.6 billion, placing him seventh on Forbes' list of wealthiest fictional characters.

However, many fans disagreed with this number, complaining that it was well under the true value and that Smaug was quite possibly the wealthiest character in all of fiction. Therein lies another big question mark of Smaug's wealth: the most common complaint from Tolkien fans is that the article failed to account for the price of Smaug's other gems. The Arkenstone, also known as the King's Jewel, was so rare and sought-after that it alone would hold a value higher than the estimated $8.6 billion. The top commenter for the article estimated Smaug's value to be closer to $900 billion. After seeing this, Forbes went back to the drawing board to recalculate.

Smaug's Wealth Can Only Be Estimated

Thorin's father thrin in the hobbit, explained.

There's a lot more guesswork when it comes to the rest of Smaug's hoard. The price of scattered diamonds totals around $10 billion, and the Dwarven armor is placed at $1.1 billion. As for the Arkenstone, the article notes that in The Hobbit , it was treated as a 1/14th share of the companies' treasure: perhaps the most accurate gauge of the horde in the text itself. This pins the gem at around $4.4 billion, which some Lord of the Rings fans still see as too low. Here, however, Forbes has some real-world cover. The real world's largest diamond — Cullinan's diamond — is valued at $2.2 billion. Doubling that price for the Arkenstone feels like a reasonable projection, and would bring the horde in at a whopping $61.6 billion.

The Forbes article calculates it a little lower, owing to inflation: the grand total of Smaug's worth ended at $54.1 billion, placing him just behind Scrooge McDuck for the wealthiest fictional character. While the calculations make for a convincing argument, there's still plenty of debate among fans, and key data will always be missing. This estimate mainly comes from the treasure pile, leaving out the vastness of Erebor itself, along with whatever resources and supplies remain intact after Smaug's reign. The worth of an entire kingdom could very well double his estimated wealth, and many of the smelteries were still left flowing with gold after they were abandoned. Either way, Smaug was undoubtedly one of the wealthiest characters to ever exist. And given that there are very few dragons left during the events of The Hobbit , it's a safe bet that he was the wealthiest being in all of Middle-earth.

The Hobbit movie trilogy is currently streaming on Max.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Director Peter Jackson

Release Date December 13, 2013

Cast Ian McKellen, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Richard Armitage, Martin Freeman, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Orlando Bloom, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt

Writers Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro

Rating PG-13

Main Genre Adventure

Genres Adventure, Fantasy

Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures

Sequel(s) The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Streaming The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey