Following the success and critically acclaimed triology adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson has once again tackled another fantasy epic of Tolkien's. Filmed in high frame resolution, the movie is a spectacle for the eyes. At 48 frames per second (the human eyes see at a rate of 60 fps), it seems so real that you feel like you are part of the action.
The story follows Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and the Company of Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) who embark on a journey to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, which has been taken over by the dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch). In typically Lord of the Rings fashion, they run into a million and four orcs and goblins, which result in some epic battle scenes.
Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins. Source: Cineplex
Along the way, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and Co. find refuge with the Elves. Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, and Christopher Lee reprise their roles as Lord Elrond, Galadriel, and Saruman the White, respectively. Gandalf explains what Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy) has told him about a dark magic in the forest, the necromancer, to the the trio. Against the wishes of the Council, and with the possibility of the Dark Lord Sauron still alive looming over their heads, Gandalf, Bilbo, and the Dwarves continue on to Misty Mountains where everyone but Bilbo is captured by Goblins. It is here where Gollum (Andy Serkis) makes his appearance, and where Bilbo eventually gets hold of the One Ring.
A bit slow in the beginning, this film really picks up speed as you continue to watch it. It is so exhilarating and visually captivating that I was upset when it ended. I just wanted to sit through the rest of the trilogy right then and there. It seems outrageous, and some may argue just a marketing ploy, to turn one book into a triology. But with the amount of action that needs to be depicted and in order to churn out and create characters with true emotion, three films seems measly.
While the bulk of the film is heavy on the action, we do get comedic relief from the Dwarves, similar to the original triology, in which Gimli provided such moments. Serious moments delivered by Freeman, McKellen, and Armitage round out the diversity of the types of characters that we have in this film. Martin Freeman kills his performance as Bilbo and has definitely proven to the world that he can dominate any role you throw at him.
Asides from the cast, the one thing that makes this film stand out from the pack are the visuals. Extremely detailed and just a wonder to look at, the visuals make The Unexpected Journey complete. Bringing words on a page to life is much harder than it seems (case in point: On the Road) and Jackson has really showcased the talent of everyone involved in this film.
I can't quite put my finger on it, but there was something missing from this film. Perhaps is it the fact that this is going to be a triology and it takes time for the plot to build, but this first film was just lacking a spark. Excessive back-story, including bringing back Elijah Wood as the beloved Frodo, and not enough actual story. I'm hoping the second and third films will wrap things up nicely, but similar to The Fellowship of the Rings, this first movie is not the epic story that I had hoped for. This in no way does it mean that it's not worth watching. It totally is. You might find the high frame res too much at the beginning, but soon enough you will forget all about how weird it might be to see things in such clarity and become absorbed into the journey of Bilbo and friends. Also, did I mention some pretty bad ass fight scenes?
Rating: 7.5/10
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