CLIPS MOVIE REVIEWS

by Roger Tennis

On CLIPS In January, 2013

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

A reluctant younger Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) joins a dangerous quest in this prequel to "The Lord of the Rings".

TRIVIA: Who portrayed the older Bilbo Baggins in "The Lord of the Rings"?

ROG'S VIEWPOINT
(4 CAMS)        RATED PG-13

A young and reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), sets out on a journey with a group of dwarves to reclaim their stolen mountain home from a dragon named Smaug. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is a magical, wondrous prequel to the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy. Producer/director/co-writer Peter Jackson moves the story along at a leisurely pace to fill out the super-sized 169 min. length. This is also the first of three movies in the tale of the Hobbit. Martin Freeman makes an endearing Bilbo as he leads an amazing ensemble cast that includes Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Wizard, Andy Serkis as Gollum and Ian Holm as the elder Bilbo. Elijah Wood appears briefly as Frodo Baggins, although the character isn't in this novel. Without giving anything away, there is much for fans to revel in. Spectacular scenery and special effects fill the screen in great detail, since Jackson filmed the epic in 3D at the high frame rate of 48 fps (frames per second) in 5K resolution instead of the standard 24 fps. The downside: a live TV soap opera look replaces the feel of a movie - similar to the 1970s videotaped television series "Land of the Lost". Film purists may be happier attending a 24 fps screening of Bilbo's grand odyssey. Once again, Howard Shore has composed a memorable score with new music combined with pieces from the first trilogy. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" expectedly rings true as an entertaining Tolkien adventure.