Years ago, the dwarvish kingdom of Erebor was renowned for
its great prosperity. The kingdom accumulated so much gold, in fact, that it
attracted the attention of the dragon Smaug, who promptly took it over and
exiled all the dwarves. Sixty years later, thirteen dwarves under the command
of Thorin (Richard Armitage) join forces with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen)
and the hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Henderson) to retake Erebor. Along the
way, they will encounter trolls, goblins, the dreaded orcs, and a number of
other dangers.
It seems utterly insane to stretch J.R.R. Tolkien’s 300-page
novel into an epic three-film trilogy, but director Peter Jackson was never one
for restraint. The same formula that won him so much acclaim for the Lord of the Rings trilogy can be found
again here. Breathtaking visuals, rousing action, and a spirit of triumph are
tempered by loads of characters to keep track of and a somewhat oppressive
(nearly three hours) run time.
The extent to which The
Hobbit shares common DNA with LOTR is both a blessing and a curse. On the
one hand, the wealth of familiar faces (in addition to McKellen, Ian Holm,
Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, and Andy Serkis all
reprise their roles) helps establish continuity and eases in those unfamiliar
with the novel. On the other hand, a lengthy scene that introduces us to Gollum
feels like a misplaced distraction.
As a self-contained work, The
Hobbit features a fine performance from Henderson as the fastidious,
self-doubting younger Bilbo. McKellen could play Gandalf in his sleep, but the
septuagenarian continues to bring vigor and a commanding presence to the role.
On the other hand, Armitage doesn’t look very much like a dwarf, and his
Thorin, at times, feels like a second-rate stand-in for Aragorn.
From mass melee battles to death-defying journeys across
rocky chasms, the film is not lacking in excitement. The combat is balanced by
a good amount of humor, often at the expense of the easily perturbed Bilbo. In
spite of this, watching The Hobbit is
still an exhaustive experience. The film feels long, and reaching the end and
knowing that something resembling closure is still two movies away makes it
seem even longer.
The
Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a visual marvel with ample talent on both sides of the
camera, but watching it is as much a burden as it is a reward.
8/10
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