After nine years, the wait is finally over as Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth to tell the story of Bilbo Baggins and his epic adventure with thirteen dwarf acquaintances to reclaim their lost home of Erebor. Set a mere 60 years before the events that were showcased during The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey clearly bears some similarities, but with a much simpler plot and a unusual amount of creative freedom, this film proves to be much easier to follow than any of the other Middle-earth adventures that stem from the imagination of the cult-favorite author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Fans of the book will likely be disappointed with the vast differences that arise when comparing book and film, but with Jackson pulling snippets from many different sources"”all supposedly written by Tolkien"”he not only justified his decision for a full, blown-out trilogy but also his creative direction as well.
Much hype has arisen over the super high frame rate that Jackson used, and while it is noticeable, the end result is anything but stellar. At times, the visuals come across as gimmicky, appearing as either a video game with a glossy fakeness or a documentary with a bit too much up-close access. Either way, the film looks different thanks to the technology advancements. Whether it is for the better is something I'm still trying to figure out.
As for pace, Jackson's telling appeared to venture from one obstacle to the next, progressing the story and locations with a series of fantasy mutants that needed some form of prolonged trickery or deceit. The scenes moved along like a formula, representing a retelling of a story more than an authentic journey.
With the vast landscapes and stellar cinematography, everything else slowly fell into place as the gang met up with some unusual obstacles, including trolls, goblins, and orcs. But it is Bilbo's encounter with audience favorite Gollum that gives the film its much needed second wind as it works its way to the finish line...of this film at least.
With two more installments to this "epic" journey, room for improvement exists for Jackson and company as they must work hard to keep their audience enlightened and entertained. An Unexpected Journey did a decent job at providing some much needed background information, but the longing to connect it with the series of events nearly sixty years into the future handicapped it. The question now rests in whether Jackson can earn back the trust of the devoted fans who will more than likely be disappointed at this cinematic beauty that fails to ignite much interest beyond that of Gollum.
