The Hobbit

My first : Quest on the Screen for Once Upon a Time.

My copy of the movie: the Hobbit arrived last week and I just got around to watching it.

Everyone I know has read the Hobbit (me too) and most have seen the movie.. this is my 4th viewing. I saw it 3 times in the theater. 

Unfortunately I didn’t think until well into the movie to take some photo’s from my television….

I so love Ian as Gandalf!

It’s pretty useless to review 1/3 of a movie.. with the usual exceptions of saying how utterly fantastic the settings are, or how outstanding the special effects are.  The story itself is Tolkien at his best. (this includes Lord of the Rings)

The movie introduces you to Bilbo Baggins.. and the beginning of the power of The Ring.  I will let Amazon give a review and just add :  don’t miss it if you haven’t seen it! (and if you have… watch it again!)

Product Description per Amazon

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of ingenuity and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

The Tolkien movies that Peter Jackson has made are the finest you will ever see.  They are Fantasy at their Finest! And if they don’t make you want to go to New Zealand I don’t know what will!

Oddly enough I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and totally enjoyed the character of Radagast the Brown played by Sylvester McCoy. He was minor in the movie but I love that Peter Jackson brought him and his animals to life.

Of course, I am in love with Gandalf . He was perfectly cast!  And Richard Armitage as Thorin is simply gorgeous!  Hello?! He’d make anyone want to be Queen of the Dwarf’s!  And what can I say about Martin Freeman as Bilbo?  Just that, once again , the casting for  this movie was outstanding!   For heaven’s sake, don’t miss this movie if you haven’t seen it !

The ending of part one of the movie is superb and gives you a slight glimpse of what Part II will be like…

Smaug!

Give yourself a treat and rent/buy this movie and watch it over and over again!