A beautiful sunny day in the Shire would mean sitting at home and enjoying the safety of a sedentary lifestyle for the average hobbit but Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) prepares to leave the comfort of his hobbit hole and enter a world of mystery and adventure in the “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”. Peter Jackson once again directs an astonishing rendition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy series. A prequel to the events in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, “The Hobbit” traces Bilbo’s journey across the strange lands of Middle Earth to the former stronghold of the Dwarves, which has now become a dragon’s lair. Bilbo is reluctantly recruited into a company of vengeful dwarves by the powerful and enigmatic Gandalf (Ian McKellen). Bilbo finds new strength and courage as he battles orcs, monsters and other dangers, while the dwarves learn to accept him. Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), the leader of the company of dwarves, is another dynamic central character who is by far the most emotionally invested in the quest, as he yearns for redemption. The storyline runs accordingly with the events of the book for the most part, but includes some new story elements including another wizard and an ominous new foe. “An Unexpected Journey” is the first of three movies that will cover this story.
Lord of the Rings fans will rejoice at the return of familiar landscapes and the introduction of many new ones. The CGI is top notch and breathtakingly realistic. Every creature is animated beautifully, their textures and movements so natural and breathtaking. All the environments are magnificent and much more cheerful than the decayed, dilapidated feel of those in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The costumes are created with painstaking attention to detail and adorned with the familiar Middle Earth touch. The musical score consists of an orchestral arrangement by the brilliant Howard Shore, the same composer of the soundtrack in the LOTR trilogy. The most innovative feature in the movie and the topic of most discussion has undoubtedly been it’s high-frame rate projection. For over a century, 24 frames per seconds has been the standard frame rate but Peter Jackson’s 48 FPS 3D filming produces a sharper image with virtually no motion blur. Some viewers have complained of dizziness and disorientation so fans who may be sensitive to this factor might want to pass on the 3D HFR viewings and watch the movie in it’s 2D format. The Hobbit also boasts 3 Oscar nominations including Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Although it has a lengthy runtime of two hours and 49 minutes, The Hobbit is filled with magic, camaraderie, chivalry and intensity in every moment. This is a great movie for most older children and adults of all ages, due to its PG-13 rating for some intense fantasy violence. If you are yearning for an epic movie experience, “The Hobbit” will effectively sweep you off your feet and take you on a thrilling adventure only to leave you breathless with its gorgeous imagery.
by ADITYA NIRGUN
