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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Full Cast & Crew

  • 58   Metascore
  • 2 hr 50 mins
  • Travel, Horror, Fantasy, Action & Adventure
  • Watchlist Where to Watch

Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the wizard and a group of dwarves seek a dragon's treasure, and encounter a series of incredible obstacles over the course of their epic journey.

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Executive producer, co-producer, assoc. producer, cinematographer, production company, extra casting, art director, supervising art director, set decorator, sound/sound designer, sound mixer, supervising sound editor, sound effects, visual effects supervisor, visual effects, visual effects editor, production designer, first assistant director, unit production manager, post production supervisor, production coordinator, production supervisor, second assistant director, supervising animator, hair styles, consultant/advisor, camera operator, choreographer, second unit director, re-recording mixer, script supervisor, first assistant editor, prosthetic makeup effects, senior visual eff. supervisor, makeup supervisor.

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

2012, Fantasy/Adventure, 2h 49m

What to know

Critics Consensus

Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth is an earnest, visually resplendent trip, but the film's deliberate pace robs the material of some of its majesty. Read critic reviews

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Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) lives a simple life with his fellow hobbits in the shire, until the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) arrives and convinces him to join a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim the kingdom of Erebor. The journey takes Bilbo on a path through treacherous lands swarming with orcs, goblins and other dangers, not the least of which is an encounter with Gollum (Andy Serkis) and a simple gold ring that is tied to the fate of Middle Earth in ways Bilbo cannot even fathom.

Rating: PG-13 (Intense Action Violence|Frightening Images|Intense Fantasy Violence)

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Original Language: English

Director: Peter Jackson

Producer: Carolynne Cunningham , Zane Weiner , Fran Walsh , Peter Jackson

Writer: Fran Walsh , Philippa Boyens , Peter Jackson , Guillermo del Toro

Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 2012  wide

Release Date (Streaming): Dec 11, 2015

Box Office (Gross USA): $303.0M

Runtime: 2h 49m

Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Co: WingNut Films

Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, SDDS, Datasat

View the collection: Lord of The Rings

Cast & Crew

Ian McKellen

Martin Freeman

Bilbo Baggins

Richard Armitage

Thorin Oakenshield

Graham McTavish

William Kircher

James Nesbitt

Stephen Hunter

Dean O'Gorman

Aidan Turner

John Callen

Peter Hambleton

Mark Hadlow

Elijah Wood

Hugo Weaving

Cate Blanchett

Christopher Lee

Peter Jackson

Screenwriter

Philippa Boyens

Guillermo del Toro

Carolynne Cunningham

Zane Weiner

Executive Producer

Toby Emmerich

Carolyn Blackwood

Andrew Lesnie

Cinematographer

Jabez Olssen

Film Editing

Howard Shore

Original Music

Production Design

Andy McLaren

Art Director

Brian Massey

News & Interviews for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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Critic Reviews for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Audience reviews for the hobbit: an unexpected journey.

having read the books a long time ago in a galaxy far away (inc. the silmarilion or whatever the F) and having seen the LOTR's films when they came out too but not really paying any attention to it all since then, this was a reminder of the imagination and creativity of J.R.R. Tolkien expertly put to screen once again by peter jackson. now fervently waiting to devour the desolation of smaug whenever it plays on TV.

hobbit an unexpected journey cast

Precious Gollumses!!

It's definitely no LOTR...But it's still a pretty cool movie. Sure, it took it's time to try to tell the story and dragged on for a little too long, but other than that, the special effects were great, and it was entertaining as hell. It's a good introduction to The Hobbit franchise.

The decision to split up The Hobbit, has in turn split audiences. Many decry it as a simple money making scheme (which in essence it is), others struggle to see how on book only a quarter the size of any LotR book is expected to stretch the same amount of cinema time as the whole Rings trilogy combined. I however, see it as a positive. I don't mind in the least paying an extra $15 out of my own pocket for an extra 6 hours of quality film like this. It's only when they expects people to pay actual money for shite like the Twilight franchise or the Death at a Funeral U.S. remake that I have a problem with Hollywood's greed. The Hobbit, on the other hand, is perfectly capable of backing up its ticket price. And then... Lots. And lots extra. Which is nice. It differs greatly from the book in many aspects, though it has been so damn long since I've read it that I'm not sure what's actually been changed, what's new, what's gone, and what I just don't have right in my head. Martin Freeman (Sherlock, Hot Fuzz, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Shaun of the Dead, Love, Actually, Ali G Indahouse) is a fantastic Bilbo, he manages to sort of create this halfway point between Frodo and the Bilbo of the LotR trilogy. Which is really kind of perfect when you think about it. Gandalf's the same as ever, really nothing to recap (which is a solid move in my mind). Frodo's also back for some flashback/forward scenes (depending on how you look at it). Which totally makes sense, flaunt 'em if you got 'em. This isn't a line by line adaptation of The Hobbit, it's the first film of the Peter Jackson prequel to the Peter Jackson trilogy of the Rings, both of which are somewhat based on the books. So in his version of the world (which is still very loveable, just different) it makes perfect sense to have these great cameos. The Dwarves are where it all gets a bit confusing. Remembering names and faces, all that jazz. Before I continue though, let me get myself decapitated by all of Tumblr. Why the fuck is everyone going so goddamn schizoid over Kili (Played by Aidan Turner [Being Human, The Tudors]) when he's the one Dwarf without a motherhuggin' beard!? I may not be as beard-savy as L'alice (whose Tumblr is MainliningBeards) but I do appreciate the shit out of them (on that, how amazing is Thror's beard? All armoured and junk, goddamn). He's this skinny fucker with no beard, and does archery all over the place. I mean, yes it does seem like they somehow managed to fuse together Legolas and Aragon to create this dude, which is a nice touch, but he's not that babin' and he sure as shit isn't a Dwarf. Now the other two "sexy" members of the party (is sexy not heterosexual enough, should that be "eye-candy"... Nah, fuck it. Sexy) I can totally get behind. Thorin Oakenshield (Played by Richard Armitage [Captain America, Robin Hood, Strike Back, Spooks]) and Fili (Played by Dean O'Gorman[Xena, Young Hercules, Toy Love]) are not only very, very attractive, but I also totally buy them as fantasy creatures from Middle Earth. The actors playing Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori and Ori weren't overly familiar to me. Though Graham McTavish (Green Street Hooligans 2, Rambo, The Bill, Rome, King Arthur, Erik the Viking, Dante's Inferno, Call of Duty franchise, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Dawn of War II) as Dwalin is clearly a fuckin' badass. I do have some qualms with changes made, not from novel to screen, but from LotR to The Hobbit. Given that both are Peter Jackson's work, and they're meant to be in his world, why was it necessary to change the appearance of firmly grounded canonical things? The Goblins of The Hobbit (above) are great, but look nothing like the original ones. The Wargs seem to have actually taken a backwards step in my eyes, and are also unfamiliar in this screen world. It's difficult to back up my statements about "It's okay to not be the same as the book, it's Jackson's world" if Jackson keeps changing his mind about what his world even looks like. Azog not looking like any other orc was fine by me though. He was an incredible looking bad guy, with a back story, a great actor behind him (Australian Manau Bennett [Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms, Spartacus series, Sinbad and the Minotaur, 30 Days of Night, The Condemned]). Ultimately, the only killer for me about The Hobbit, is knowing that despite the fact that it's completely finished, it's still only being released at a rate of one film a year, and that hurts, because honestly, The Hobbit's great. Watch it as an adaptation of the book, watch it as a fantasy epic, watch it as the LotR prequel, watch it as a heart-warming tale of adventure from mediocrity, watch it as a cinematic marvel, or just plain watch it as Beard-Porn, whatever, it's maybe not life changing, but it's enjoyable as Hell. 79% -Gimly

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) Cast and Crew

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The Hobbit Collection

The Hobbit collection is a three-part epic fantasy-adventure film directed and produced by Peter Jackson and based on J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel of the same name. The trilogy of films are set in Middle-earth 60 years before "The Lord of the Rings", and will act as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

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The full cast of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Here you will find an overview of the cast of the movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from the year 2012, including all the actors, actresses and the director. When you click on the name of an actor, actress or director from the movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey-cast you can watch more movies and/or series by him or her. Click here for more infomation about the movie.

We have made an overview that includes: actors , directors , the production team , the camera team , writers and other crew members .

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson

Victoria Sullivan

Victoria Sullivan

Carolynne Cunningham

Carolynne Cunningham

Guy Campbell

Guy Campbell

Carolina Jiménez

Carolina Jiménez

Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis

J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien

Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro

Fran Walsh

Philippa Boyens

Actors & actresses.

Martin Freeman

Martin Freeman

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen

Richard Armitage

Richard Armitage

Graham McTavish

Graham McTavish

Aidan Turner

Aidan Turner

Ken Stott

Dean O'Gorman

James Nesbitt

James Nesbitt

Mark Hadlow

Mark Hadlow

Stephen Hunter

Stephen Hunter

William Kircher

William Kircher

John Callen

John Callen

Peter Hambleton

Peter Hambleton

Jed Brophy

Elijah Wood

Hugo Weaving

Hugo Weaving

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett

Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee

Sylvester McCoy

Sylvester McCoy

Barry Humphries

Barry Humphries

Jeffrey Thomas

Jeffrey Thomas

Michael Mizrahi

Michael Mizrahi

Lee Pace

Manu Bennett

Conan Stevens

Conan Stevens

John Rawls

Stephen Ure

Timothy Bartlett

Timothy Bartlett

Bret McKenzie

Bret McKenzie

Kiran Shah

Benedict Cumberbatch

Glenn Boswell

Glenn Boswell

Thomas Robins

Thomas Robins

Luke Evans

Stephen Gledhill

Tim Gordon

Sonia Forbes Adam

Oscar Strik

Oscar Strik

Erin Banks

Brian Hotter

Eric Vespe

Mervyn Smith

Ruby Acevedo

Ruby Acevedo

Katie Jackson

Katie Jackson

Isaac Miller

Isaac Miller

Ella Olssen

Ella Olssen

Louis Ashbourne Serkis

Louis Ashbourne Serkis

Sonny Ashbourne Serkis

Sonny Ashbourne Serkis

Ruby Ashbourne Serkis

Ruby Ashbourne Serkis

Terry Notary

Terry Notary

Artistic design.

Andy McLaren

Andy McLaren

John Howe

Mike Mignola

Ronan Binding

Ronan Binding

Steven Saunders

Steven Saunders

Daniel Falconer

Daniel Falconer

Ra Vincent

Simon Bright

Isadore William Crooks

Isadore William Crooks

Richard Wiles

Richard Wiles

Warren Mahy

Warren Mahy

Andrew Lesnie

Andrew Lesnie

James H. Fisher

James H. Fisher

Mark Pokorny

Mark Pokorny

Todd Eyre

Nels Isrealson

Costume & makeup.

Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor

Ann Maskrey

Ann Maskrey

Bob Buck

Charlotte Hayes

Paula Ryan

Angela Mooar

Flora Moody

Flora Moody

Michele Barber

Michele Barber

Catherine Maguire

Catherine Maguire

Rick Findlater

Rick Findlater

Natalie Crane

Natalie Crane

Tami Lane

Leith MacPherson

Steven Boyle

Steven Boyle

Michael Homick

Michael Homick

Min Windle

Mana Hira Davis

Rosalie Button

Rosalie Button

Sean Button

Sean Button

Genevieve Aitken

Genevieve Aitken

Mark Trotter

Mark Trotter

Tim McLachlan

Tim McLachlan

Steven A. Davis

Steven A. Davis

Morgan Evans

Morgan Evans

Gemma Weston

Gemma Weston

Tom Cotton

Laura Matthews

Ingrid Kleinig

Ingrid Kleinig

Bernadette Van Gyen

Bernadette Van Gyen

Movie editing.

Jabez Olssen

Jabez Olssen

Matt Dravitzki

Matt Dravitzki

Amanda Walker

Amanda Walker

John Hubbard

John Hubbard

Miranda Rivers

Miranda Rivers

Victoria Burrows

Victoria Burrows

Scot Boland

Scot Boland

Amy Hubbard

Amy Hubbard

Liz Mullane

Liz Mullane

Ann Robinson

Ann Robinson

Eileen Moran

Eileen Moran

Toby Emmerich

Toby Emmerich

Carolyn Blackwood

Carolyn Blackwood

Ken Kamins

Zane Weiner

Helene Takacs

Helene Takacs

Brigitte Yorke

Brigitte Yorke

Howard Shore

Howard Shore

Michael Pärt

Michael Pärt

Karen Elliott

Karen Elliott

David Farmer

David Farmer

Dave Whitehead

Dave Whitehead

Melanie Graham

Melanie Graham

Justin Webster

Justin Webster

Hayden Collow

Hayden Collow

Tony Johnson

Tony Johnson

Michael Semanick

Michael Semanick

Christopher Boyes

Christopher Boyes

Michael Hedges

Michael Hedges

Jason Canovas

Jason Canovas

Brent Burge

Brent Burge

Chris Ward

Special effects

David Clayton

David Clayton

Graham Binding

Graham Binding

Jung Min Chang

Jung Min Chang

Matt Weaver

Matt Weaver

Christian Rivers

Christian Rivers

Anna-Louise Gordon

Anna-Louise Gordon

Joe Letteri

Joe Letteri

Eric Saindon

Eric Saindon

R. Christopher White

R. Christopher White

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'The Hobbit' Cast & Character Guide: Who's Who In the Middle Earth Prequel Trilogy

Your guide through the Company of Thorin Oakenshield.

The Hobbit was never meant to be part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. It was related, certainly; Elrond Half-elven was borrowed from the then-unpublished Silmarillion , and a few bits and bobs from the long history of Middle Earth were alluded to. Still, it was a children’s book that stood on its own until Tolkien fulfilled his publisher’s hopes for a sequel. The Lord of the Rings made The Hobbit into an integral part of Tolkien’s cycle of tales, and its writing necessitated changes to The Hobbit’s text to bring it more fully into the fold. Hollywood’s timing being what it is, Rings made it onto the silver screen first, and was such a runaway success that it meant more changes to The Hobbit when it took its turn in the movies. No longer was it a mostly self-contained children’s story; for film, it had to be a prequel to a great trilogy, ready to offer comparable thrills and set pieces to what came before.

The results were mixed, as was the reception, but the cast of The Hobbit films was as fantastic as the one for Rings . A mix of old and new faces traversed Middle Earth over Peter Jackson ’s prequel trilogy. So for any newcomer to the trilogy, here is a quick guide to the major players:

RELATED: From 'Lord of the Rings' to 'The Hobbit': Every Movie in Peter Jackson's Middle-Earth Saga, Ranked

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman and Ian Holm)

The hobbit of the title is Bilbo , the “uncle” (technically first and second cousin, once removed either way) of Frodo Baggins of The Lord of the Rings . Bilbo is a well-to-do resident of Hobbiton living a comfortable, homely routine in middle age when the wizard, Gandalf, disrupts everything by pushing him into the role of burglar in a dwarf-quest. Fussy, timid, and unlearned in the arts of war and survival, Bilbo, nevertheless, carries a deeply repressed desire for adventure, and he discovers wells of wit, cunning, and mercy within that make him vital to the mission’s success. For most of the trilogy, Martin Freeman brings his considerable comic charms to the part, as he did in the British version of The Office and as Watson in Sherlock . The late Ian Holm cameos as an elderly Bilbo at the beginning of the first film and the end of the third, tying the trilogy into the opening scenes of The Fellowship of the Ring .

Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellen)

Olórin was his name in his past in the West that is forgotten. Gandalf, he’s known as to the Men of the North; Mithrandir to the Elves; Tharkûn to the Dwarves; Incánus to the Men of the South; to the East he goes not. The grey pilgrim is the most prominent of the five wizards in stirring the races of Middle Earth to face the evil of Sauron, and his involvement in the dwarves’ quest is part of that larger design. Gandalf is also the most human of the wizards, irascible but full of love and kindness for all the peoples he works to protect. Sir Ian McKellen happily reprised the role of Gandalf from the Rings films, undertaking another epic shooting schedule at age 71 when filming began. Now in his 80s, McKellen has recently popped up in the big-screen version of Cats and as an aged Prince Hamlet at the Theatre Royal, Windsor.

Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage)

Gandalf may have the greater defense of Middle Earth in mind, but the thirteen dwarves who mount the quest are looking to reclaim their treasure and their homeland. Leading them is Thorin Oakenshield, by rights, King of Durin’s Folk in Erebor, displaced by the dragon Smaug. Though he led his people in exile into a sustainable life, Thorin burns with longing for the mountain that was theirs. Haughty, hasty, and somewhat comic in the book, Thorin was made into a far more brooding figure in the films, played with appropriate intensity by Richard Armitage . The Hobbit brought Armitage international attention, but he had already made a mark in British film and television through roles in Sparkhouse and the 2006 BBC series, Robin Hood .

Balin (Ken Stott)

It wasn’t just Thorin who lost his place as a figure of fun on the way to the screen. The whole company of dwarves is slightly ridiculous in the book, very much in need of Bilbo’s unexpected practicality and guidance. Balin, one of the few dwarves besides Thorin to get some characterization, has an earlier appreciation for the hobbit’s talent than most of the others, so it seems appropriate that he saw one of the larger expansions on his role for the films. As played by Ken Stott , Balin is the eldest of the dwarves, the right hand of Thorin, and a kind, grandfatherly presence in the company. The Hobbit wasn’t Stott’s first time facing fantasy or action in films; he put in appearances in the 2004 King Arthur and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian . But the actor is probably most well-known for his starring role as DI John Rebus in ITV's Rebus .

Kili (Aidan Turner)

Without wife or child, Thorin’s heirs are Fili and Kili, the sons of his sister. In the book, the two are very much a set, with the same blue cloaks, yellow beard, and keen eyesight. While they don’t look alike on film, they’re still played as a like-minded duo in An Unexpected Journey . But in the last two films, Kili falls in love with the elf, Tauriel, and she returns the attraction. This was among the reasons that actor Aidan Turner ’s dwarf make-up was minimal compared to the others; too extreme a transformation would mask Turner’s good looks, which might take away from the romance. Turner is known for playing Ross Poldark in BBC's Poldark giving one of TV's most swoon-worthy performances .

Thranduil (Lee Pace)

If the dwarves became nobler on film, the Wood-elves of Mirkwood were made much less likable. While they do hinder the quest in the book, they are still elves, and “that is Good People” according to Tolkien. Their king Thranduil, while mistrustful of dwarves from their long rivalry, holds them no particular grudge and comes off as a more reasonable ruler than Thorin. The Thranduil of the films is a far colder and morally ambiguous figure, the deserving subject of Thorin’s scorn for his failure to aid the dwarves when Smaug first came. Actor Lee Pace was a fan of The Hobbit since childhood and took care to try and give a respectful, coherent performance. This year, Pace jumped into sci-fi with Apple TV's Foundation .

Legolas (Orlando Bloom)

Thranduil is only ever called Elvenking in The Hobbit book; he doesn’t get a name until his son Legolas, never mentioned in The Hobbit , turns up to the Council of Elrond in The Fellowship of the Ring . Legolas’s spectacular martial feats as part of the fellowship became a fan favorite of the Rings films, and he was the only member of the fellowship besides Gandalf who could plausibly play a major role in the Hobbit movies. Orlando Bloom was back in the stunt harness and given more to play through his attraction to Tauriel and his strained relationship with Thranduil. Though I imagine it had to be a little awkward playing father-son scenes with a “father” two years Bloom’s junior. Bloom also starred in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and recently starred in the Amazon Prime Video series, Carnival Row .

Tauriel (Evangeline Lily)

Tauriel doesn’t exist in the book, or in any of Tolkien’s writing. She was created for The Hobbit films to provide a prominent female character. Captain of the border guard of Mirkwood, Tauriel is a brave and able warrior, young for an elf (only 600 years old), and reckless. The attraction she inspires in Legolas displeases his father, but Tauriel’s unconsummated romance with a dwarf doesn’t make him any happier. Alas, there’s no happiness for Tauriel herself by the trilogy’s end either. Her portrayer, Evangeline Lily , came to prominence through TV’s Lost . After being a part of an infamous love triangle in that show, Lily specifically requested no such complications for her part in The Hobbit . That wish was granted – until pick-up shooting following the move from two films to three.

Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy)

One of the five wizards, Radagast is only mentioned in the book, going on to make a brief appearance as Saruman’s unwitting dupe in The Fellowship of the Ring before vanishing from the story. On film, Radagast never turned up for Rings , but made a prominent showing in all three Hobbit films as a fidgety, bumbling, but prescient hero continually underestimated by Saruman. Comedian Sylvester McCoy , the seventh Doctor Who , brings a wonderful eccentricity to the part.

Bard (Luke Evans)

Some characters in The Hobbit were altered and expanded from the page to the screen, but the character of Bard was given a brand new sense of significance in the films; after all, he doesn’t do much more in the book than turn up to kill the dragon and sort out the ruined Lake-town. The film Bard is pivotal to the dwarves’ entry into Lake-town, and his persistent voice of reason makes him enemies with Thorin and some of his own people. He’s also made a family man, giving Lake-town some human characterization. After playing Bard, Luke Evans would make a similarly intense turn as Dracula in Dracula Untold , and later take over the part of Gaston for the Beauty and the Beast live-action remake.

Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch)

There would be no quest, no Hobbit , and no Rings had Smaug, greatest of dragons in his age, not descended on Erebor from the North and stolen the Dwarf-kingdom from Thorin’s kin. The fire-drake hoarded the vast wealth of the dwarves inside their mountain halls, snaking and sleeping through the gold as his nest. Bilbo’s success in penetrating his horde so vexes Smaug that he rushes off to take vengeance upon the Lake-town he guesses aided in the burglary, and there meets his doom. The confrontation between Bilbo and Smaug is a highlight of the second Hobbit film, and playing opposite Martin Freeman is none other than his Sherlock Holmes , Benedict Cumberbatch . Like Andy Serkis before him, Cumberbatch provided motion capture for his Middle Earth character, though not even the best actor can quite match the proportions of a dragon the size of two jumbo jets. You can see Cumberbatch this month as he reprises his role of Dr. Strange in Spider-Man: No Way Home .

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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The hobbit: an unexpected journey (2012), directed by peter jackson / fran walsh / carolynne cunningham / zane weiner.

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey — Cast & Crew

Peter jackson.

Peter Jackson — Director «The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey»

Martin Freeman

Martin Freeman — Bilbo

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen — Gandalf

Richard Armitage

Richard Armitage — Thorin

James Nesbitt

James Nesbitt — Bofur

Graham McTavish

Graham McTavish — Dwalin

Dean O'Gorman

Dean O'Gorman — Fili

Aidan Turner

Aidan Turner — Kili

Stephen Hunter

Stephen Hunter — Bombur

Sylvester McCoy

Sylvester McCoy — Radagast

Mark Hadlow

Mark Hadlow — Dori / Bert Troll

John Callen

John Callen — Oin

Peter Hambleton

Peter Hambleton — Gloin / William Troll

William Kircher

William Kircher — Bifur / Tom Troll

Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis — Gollum

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett — Galadriel

Hugo Weaving

Hugo Weaving — Elrond

Elijah Wood

Elijah Wood — Frodo

Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee — Saruman

Barry Humphries

Barry Humphries — Great Goblin

Jeffrey Thomas

Jeffrey Thomas — Thror

Michael Mizrahi

Lee Pace — Thranduil

Manu Bennett

Manu Bennett — Azog

Conan Stevens

Conan Stevens — Bolg

Stephen Ure

Stephen Ure — Fimbul / Grinnah

Timothy Bartlett

Bret mckenzie.

Bret McKenzie — Lindir

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch — Necromancer

Glenn Boswell

Glenn Boswell — Dwarf Miner

Thomas Robins

Thomas Robins — Young Thrain

Ruby Acevedo

Katie jackson.

Katie Jackson — Cute Young Hobbit

Isaac Miller

Ella olssen, louis ashbourne serkis.

Louis Ashbourne Serkis — Cute Young Hobbit

Ruby Ashbourne Serkis

Ruby Ashbourne Serkis — Cute Young Hobbit

Sonny Ashbourne Serkis

Sonny Ashbourne Serkis — Cute Young Hobbit

Luc Campbell

Rose harnett, eloise masters, eva matthews, ollie matthews, culain mcghie, honor mctavish, findlay price, oscar strik, amelia taylor, samuel taylor, ruby vincent, tui vincent, orlando bloom.

Orlando Bloom — Cast «The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey»

Frazer Anderson

Mark Atkin — Dwarf Captain, uncredited

Danielle Blake

Jarred blakiston.

Jarred Blakiston — Musical Elf, uncredited

Shane Boulton

Jessica buckham, rosalie button.

Rosalie Button — Dale Citizen, uncredited

Melanie Carrington

Melanie Carrington — Musical Elf, uncredited

Brendan Casey

Brendan Casey — King Thranduil's Lieutenant, uncredited

Renee Cataldo

Renee Cataldo — Goblin, uncredited

Bruno Du Bois

Sonia forbes-adam.

Sonia Forbes-Adam — Belladonna Took, uncredited

Ben Fransham

Ben Fransham — Goblin, uncredited

Jed Gard'ner

Stephen gledhill.

Stephen Gledhill — Old Gammidge, uncredited

Stephen Grey

Stephen Grey — Orc, uncredited

George Harach

Jamie harrison.

Zo Hartley — Goblin, uncredited

Luke Hawker

Luke Hawker — Goblin, uncredited

Allan Henry

Allan Henry — Goblin, uncredited

Christian Hipolito

Christian Hipolito — Hunter Orc, uncredited

Brian Hotter

Peter Jackson — Running Dwarf in Erebor, uncredited

Cameron Jones

Cameron Jones — Thranduil's Lieutenant, uncredited

Robert Kazinsky

Robert Kazinsky — Fili, uncredited

Clare Olssen

Jono kenyon.

Jono Kenyon — Goblin, uncredited

Paul Kingdom

Dean knowsley.

Dean Knowsley — Elven Guard, uncredited

John Landreth

Lilli latham, tim mclachlan, nathan meister.

Nathan Meister — Goblin, uncredited

Joseph Mika-Hunt

Joseph Mika-Hunt — Hunter Orc, uncredited

Ravi Narayan

Ravi Narayan — Goblin, Moria Dwarf Soldier, uncredited

Mary Nesbitt

Mary Nesbitt — Dale Girl, uncredited

Peggy Nesbitt

Peggy Nesbitt — Dale Girl, uncredited

Terry Notary

Terry Notary — Great Goblin, Yazneg, uncredited

Jabez Olssen

Jabez Olssen — Running Dwarf in Erebor, uncredited

Shane Rangi

Shane Rangi — Goblin, Hunter Orc, uncredited

Thomas Rimmer

Thomas Rimmer — Goblin, uncredited

Miranda Rivers

Tania rodger, gabriela roque lópez, brett sheerin.

Brett Sheerin — Dwarf Warrior, uncredited

Andrew Simon

Andrew Simon — Elven Rider, uncredited

James R.W. Smith

Merv Smith — Tosser Grubb, uncredited

Dave Stringer

James trevena.

James Trevena — Goblin, uncredited

Mark Trotter

Mark Trotter — Goblin, uncredited

Simon Vincent

James waterhouse-brown, hayden j. weal.

Hayden J. Weal — Dwarf Gem Holder, uncredited

James Wells

James Wells — Dwarfsmith, uncredited

Richard Whiteside

Richard Whiteside — Erebor Dwarf Guard, uncredited

Philippa Boyens

Philippa Boyens — (screenplay)

Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro — (screenplay)

J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien — (novel)

Carolynne Cunningham

Peter Jackson — Producers «The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey»

Zane Weiner

Philippa Boyens — co-producer

Eileen Moran

Carolyn blackwood, toby emmerich.

Toby Emmerich — executive producer

Alan F. Horn

Alan F. Horn — executive producer

Matthew Dravitzki

Amanda walker, andrew lesnie.

Andrew Lesnie — Camera «The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey»

Howard Shore

Howard Shore — Composer «The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey»

Christopher Boyes

Brent burge, david farmer, matt gruber, michael hedges, chris hiles, tony johnson, michael semanick.

Michael Semanick — re-recording mixer

Dave Whitehead

Dave Whitehead — Sound «The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey»

Matthew Iadarola

Matthew Iadarola — re-recording mixer: international versions, Warner Bros., uncredited

Jules Woods

Jules Woods — re-recording mixer: foreign language versions, uncredited

Simon Bright

Simon Bright — supervising art director

Brian Massey

Andy mclaren.

Andy McLaren — Designers «The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey»

Ann Maskrey

Ann Maskrey — Designers «The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey»

Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor — Designers «The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey»

Sequels/Prequels Chronology: 7

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

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Screen Rant

'the hobbit: an unexpected journey': 10 things you need to know before seeing the film.

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' director Peter Jackson and other cast & crew members discuss high frame rate 3D, Gollum, how these prequel films compare to 'Lord of the Rings' and more.

It’s been nine years since the final  Lord of the Rings  film hit theaters, but the time has finally come to return to Middle-earth. Much will be the same, but there have also been some big changes happening during director Peter Jackson’s 266 days of filming on the Lord of the Rings  prequel,  The Hobbit .

For those of you who are unfamiliar with J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit , the novel puts the focus on the character of Bilbo Baggins, the uncle of Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) in LotR . In  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , the first part of Jackson's Hobbit  trilogy, a much younger Bilbo (played by Martin Freeman) is recruited by Gandalf the Grey (again portrayed by Ian McKellen) to join 13 dwarves - including the warrior Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) - for an adventure filled with Goblins, Orcs, Wargs and more.

In honor of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ’s December 14 th debut, Jackson, producer Philippa Boyens, visuals effects supervisor Joe Letteri, cast members Freeman, Armitage, McKellen, Wood and motion-capture actor/second unit director, Andy Serkis (Gollum), came out to discuss the thrill of revisiting the beloved world, changes Lord of the Rings fans can expect and more.

Get the need-to-know information from the New York City press conference, below:

1. THERE IS ENOUGH MATERIAL FOR 3 MOVIES

It’s one thing to adapt a three-volume piece of material into three separate films, but a roughly 300-paged (depending on the edition) tale divided up into three movies? Jackson admitted, “We were originally doing two films,” but pointed out, “It’s a misleading book. It’s written at a really breathless pace. Pretty major events of the story are covered in two or three pages.” He even goes as far to liken it to a child's bedtime story. While this might make it sound as though The Hobbit is even less suitable for a three-film adaptation, Jackson notes that making this film called for some serious character development and conflict.

Armitage used the dwarves as an example. “The dwarf characters, for instance, in Tolkien’s book, they’re very thinly sketched and actually they’re a bit of an amorphous group whereas [in the film] every single dwarf you will get to know throughout the course of this journey.” He continued, “As you’ve seen from the first film, the grand themes are feathered into the texture of it and in order to do that fully and allow each character to have their moment and to play their part in those themes, you will absolutely need three films to do it properly.”

McKellen was a bit more blunt about it, explaining, “Anyone who thinks Peter Jackson would fall for market forces rather than artistic imperative doesn’t know the guy and hasn’t examined the body of his work.” He joked, “If we just had made one movie of The Hobbit , the fact is that all the fans, and I’m thinking of the eight, nine, ten-year-old boys and girls, they would watch it 1,000 times. Well, they’ve now got three films they can watch 1,000 times.”

In all seriousness, Jackson pointed out, “We also adapt the appendices from The Return of the King ,” which tacks on about another 100 pages of material. The goal was to use that material to expand The Hobbit while also connecting it to The Lord of the Rings ."

2. IT HAS A MORE COMEDIC TONE

While there were some lighter moments in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Jackson stressed that the nature of The Hobbit is quite different, specifically highlighting, “There was a lot more comedy in The Hobbit than there was in The Lord of the Rings films, and it’s comedy of a fish out of water, actually." That fish, of course, being Bilbo on his big journey.

3. IT'S THE DEBUT OF HIGH FRAME RATE 3D

Not only did Jackson take on the monumental task of transporting us back to Middle-earth and shooting three massive productions at once - he also challenged the norm of shooting a film at 24 frames per second.  The Hobbit  is shot at 48 frames per second, and while non-film nerds may be thinking, “24? 48? What’s the big deal?” it  is  a big deal, and it has the power to completely alter the viewing experience.

Now the question is: was taking the 48 fps plunge worth the risk? Jackson pointed out that most moviegoers under the age of 20 don’t really care and “they often just say the 3D looks really cool.” As for Jackson himself, he said, “I think 3D at 24 frames is interesting,” but it’s the 48 fps that actually allows the 3D to look life-like.

The real benefit (for all you 3D haters out there) is that, according to Jackson, 48 fps 3D makes things “more comfortable to watch,” with Jackson specifically citing less eye strain and a sharper picture.

4. THERE'S A LACK OF LADIES

We’ve got Bilbo, Gandalf, and 13 dwarves, but where are The Hobbit ladies? Some are coming - just not in An Unexpected Journey .

Boyens fielded this question, admitting, “I love 13 dwarves and they’re all gorgeous, but you do feel the weight of that lack of femininity.” She also pointed out that, oddly enough, Tolkien wrote brilliantly for women. “He had a real respect for women, and the most powerful being in Middle-earth at this time as he wrote was Galadriel (Cate Blanchett). And so we have her story as it develops, as he wrote it, as it informs the whole.”

There’s also Evangeline Lilly’s Tauriel, but she’ll have to wait until the second movie, The Desolation of Smaug . However, Boyens did toss in, “It’s gonna get good for the girls, I think.”

NEXT PAGE: Gollum, Gandalf, and Production Details...

5. GOLLUM IS BACK & LOOKING BETTER

Yes, we were all rooting for our main man, Frodo, in the Lord of the Rings movies, but the one who made the greatest impression was certainly Andy Serkis as the ground-breaking motion-capture character, Gollum. If you've seen  The Hobbit  trailers you already know that Gollum makes a return in  An Unexpected Journey  (albeit briefly), in a very pivotal sequence which helps foreshadow the events depicted in  Lord of the Rings .

Way back when, while working on The Fellowship of the Ring , Letteri remembered thinking, “Gee, if we could just capture what Andy’s doing directly.” Serkis was originally brought on only as a voice actor. Letteri explained that at the time, they conceived of the role as a standard cartoon animation. “You record the voice and you go back and you key frame in, but we saw what Andy did as an actor and we just thought, how do we bring that energy to the screen?” In came motion-capture.

While Serkis was always on set to perform with Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, Jackson recalled, “On Lord of the Rings , Andy would form Gollum on a motion-capture stage - sometimes six months, sometimes a year after the live-action was shot.” He also pointed out, “He was all by himself having to recreate the energy of the first time around.”

However, so many years later, the technology has improved immensely - so much so, it permitted Jackson, Serkis and Freeman to film an entire scene in one shot with no need for Serkis to re-film his material solo in post. Jackson said, “When Andy and Martin were acting together, Martin was being filmed with the cameras, Andy was being captured by the motion capture cameras.”

6. RE-CREATING GOLLUM WASN'T EASY FOR ANDY SERKIS

For Serkis, it was this much more integrated method of filming that made becoming Gollum again quite easy... at least technically-speaking. “Returning to the character 12 years later, that wasn’t an issue because we were just able to play our scene out and performance capture happens at exactly the same time.” This came in handy during the aforementioned scene with Freeman because, “it was the first thing to be shot on the movie as an entire chamber theater piece, which lasted about 12 minutes, and Pete wanted to do that so that we could really investigate that scene and allow Martin to experiment with the character.”

However, there was one thing that made playing Gollum in The Hobbit a little more difficult than in Lord of the Rings . Serkis pointed out, “These characters have been absorbed into public culture to such a high degree and there really was a sense of wanting to do an impersonation of a character.” But that’s where Freeman made a big impression; Serkis notes how quickly and easily he began engaging with Martin as Gollum.

7. SERKIS ALSO DIRECTS 

With Gollum’s screen time far reduced in  The Hobbit , Serkis had a lot of time on his hands – that is, until Jackson asked him to pull double-duty. Serkis was ready for a two-week stint bringing Gollum back to life, but just four weeks before going to work, Jackson asked Serkis to be his 2 nd  unit director. Serkis recalled, “I was utterly thrilled.”

He continued, “Pete’s known I wanted to direct for quite some time. It goes back even as far as Lord of the Rings .” While Jackson’s proposition came with the guarantee of having fun, going bold and supporting the actors, Serkis knew the job would be quite the undertaking - whether he was a first time 2 nd unit director or not. “2 nd unit, on a project of this scale,” he explained. Forget aerial shots and pickup shots; Serkis was going to have to shoot material with high performance levels.

But he was ready, because he’d learned from the best. “I’ve always absolutely adored Peter’s way of shooting and keeping the camera moving, and the way that he intensifies moments. And so he was an amazing mentor, amazing teacher and was very generous. At the same time as directing The Hobbit , he’s teaching me and that really speaks to what an incredibly, hugely enabling person he is.”  

8. THE PRODUCTION TOOK AN EXTENDED BREAK  

First off, there aren’t many franchises that opt to shoot films back to back to back. And secondly, diving into a 266-day production schedule is just crazy. However, it turns out Jackson and co. weren’t working for 266 days straight, thanks to Martin Freeman.

Jackson knew he wanted Freeman for Bilbo, but because of “the MGM situation,”  The Hobbit  didn’t have a green light and, therefore, Jackson couldn’t have Freeman sign on the dotted line. During the 18-month waiting/development period, Freeman booked  Sherlock . Jackson explained, “[Martin] shot the first season, but the second season of  Sherlock  was gonna fall right in the middle of our shoot.” Rather than let Freeman slip through his fingers, Jackson, with the studio’s blessing, found a way to accommodate Freeman’s shooting schedule. “We did something very unusual, which was we started shooting  The Hobbit , we shot for about four or five months and then Martin had to go do the second season of  Sherlock  so we literally stopped the shoot for two months, eight weeks, and then when Martin came back, we carried on again.”

Turns out, this little scheduling blip was a blessing in disguise. Jackson continued, “I got time to edit the first four months of shooting, we got time to prepare for the next batch of shooting.” He added, “That little break was actually very welcomed.”

9. GANDALF GREY VS. GANDALF WHITE

For those of you who are Tolkien newcomers or aren’t on top of the universe rules, Gandalf isn’t just Gandalf; he’s either Gandalf the White or Gandalf the Grey. Lord of the Rings  fans remember those epic saves that Gandalf the White pulled off - but in The Hobbit , the younger (relatively speaking) version of our favorite wizard isn't necessarily so famous and powerful (yet).

McKellen explained, “Gandalf the White, who’s in the second of the Lord of the Rings movies, is on a mission and he has to save the world or help save the world, and so he’s cut his beard down to size, and he’s gone white in the process.” He continued, “But that’s the story of where the hero doesn’t make it back home. Bilbo gets back home because he’s on an adventure. It’s different.” McKellen also joked, “He doesn’t need Gandalf the White to look out for him. He needs the Grey, like he can have a smoke with him or a drink with him, and can tick him off, maybe.”

When one reporter questioned McKellen on his preference between the two, the actor replied, “There’s a bit more range for the actor in Gandalf the Grey and that’s selfishly why I prefer doing him.”

10. SOME OF THE ACTORS GOT DIGITAL BOTOX

Actor Elijah Wood talked about how they altered his appearance in the film for his brief scene as Frodo Baggins: “I was actually digitally de-aged in this film. They softened my face.” Presumably, this technique was used on several of the  Lord of the Rings  actors who appear in  The Hobbit  as younger versions of the respective characters.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey  will be in theaters on December 14, 2012.

Follow Perri on Twitter @ PNemiroff .

Join Ian McKellen (X-Men, The Lord of the Rings), Martin Freeman (Sherlock, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), Richard Armitage (Captain America, Spooks) and Andy Serkis (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Lord of the Rings) as they discuss their new film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Based on the J.R.R Tolkien classic, about a curious Hobbit called Bilbo Baggins (Freeman) who sets off on an adventure with a group of Dwarves to reclaim a stolen treasure.

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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hobbit an unexpected journey cast

In Theaters

  • December 14, 2012
  • Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins; Ian Holm as Old Bilbo; Ian McKellen as Gandalf; Richard Armitage as Thorin; Ken Stott as Balin; Graham McTavish as Dwalin; William Kircher as Bifur; James Nesbitt as Bofur; Stephen Hunter as Bombur; Dean O'Gorman as Fili; Aidan Turner as Kili; John Callen as Oin; Peter Hambleton as Gloin; Jed Brophy as Nori; Mark Hadlow as Dori; Adam Brown Ori; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Andy Serkis as Gollum; Sylvester McCoy as Radagast; Barry Humphries as the Great Goblin; Jeffrey Thomas as Thror; Michael Mizrahi as Thrain; Lee Pace as Thranduil; Manu Bennett as Azog; Elijah Wood as Frodo

Home Release Date

  • March 19, 2013
  • Peter Jackson

Distributor

  • Warner Bros.

Movie Review

“Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner.”

That’s how hobbit Bilbo Baggins responds when a certain gray-garbed wizard by the name of Gandalf shows up to “invite” Bilbo on an adventure. The hobbit has the temerity to think he can say no.

Then the dwarves show up.

First there’s Dwalin, a mighty warrior nearly as wide as he is tall. Then there’s the aging Balin, as old and frail as Dwalin is stout. And as those two begin rummaging through Bilbo’s well-stocked pantry, 11 more of their bearded kin tumble through his round front door, with Gandalf in tow: Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori and Ori. The last dwarf to arrive is the proud, would-be dwarf king Thorin.

Their purpose? Nothing less than launching a brazen assault on the dragon Smaug, who slumbers within a mountain the dwarven people once called home. Sixty years before, Smaug drove the dwarves from Erebor—now called Lonely Mountain—taking up residence and scattering the dwarves into exile throughout Middle-earth.

Now the dwarves believe the time has come to right that ignominious wrong.

There’s just one thing: They need a … burglar. Someone slight and quiet, someone capable of creeping into Smaug’s lair without the ol’ worm noticing. Someone, Gandalf has suggested, like Bilbo Baggins.

Hobbits, however, are hardly natural-born adventurers. They’re more like natural-born gardeners. Thus, Bilbo tries to say no. After all, there’s no guarantee he’d make it back alive. But the dwarves have barely taken their leave of homebody halfling when Bilbo has second thoughts … and races to join them.

It’s an epic, perilous quest, one that leads Bilbo and the dwarves from his cozy hobbit hole into lands that are anything but warm and inviting. Goblins, trolls, giants, orcs, wargs and all manner of other nasties await the short-and-stout company.

As does a certain precious ring … and the guardian who’s loathe to lose it to the reluctant hobbit who wasn’t sure he really wanted to go on this unexpected adventure in the first place.

As was true in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, heroism, loyalty and sacrifice permeate The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of three films from Rings director Peter Jackson bringing British author J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved tale to life on the big screen.

Positive Elements

Early on, a flashback depicts Smaug decimating Erebor and the city of Dale near the mountain. The dwarves are powerless to stop him, and many die trying to resist. This leads to their dispersion, a humiliating end for a proud race.

Thus Jackson’s take on Tolkien’s tale pushes the story to more epic proportions. It’s not just about marching off to reclaim loot from an interloping dragon; it’s about the dwarves reclaiming a kingdom and a sense of dignity and destiny. In this sense, there are parallels between Thorin, the rightful heir to the throne, and Aragorn, who stages a similar struggle in The Lord of the Rings .

More personally, the dwarves repeatedly rescue Bilbo from various dangers. The group eventually ends up at Rivendell, home of Elrond’s elves. And despite Thorin’s hatred from them (they did nothing to help his people battle Smaug when they could have), the elves treat the dwarves kindly, initiating a reconciliation of sorts.

Thorin initially doesn’t think much of Bilbo, either, repeatedly criticizing the hobbit. But when Bilbo risks his life to protect Thorin, the hobbit earns the dwarf leader’s respect.

Talking about his rationale for choosing Bilbo, Gandalf tells the elf queen Galadriel, “Saruman [another wizard] believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. That is not what I’ve found. I found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk, that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I’m afraid, and he gives me courage.”

Thorin says of his compatriots, “I would take each and every one of these dwarves over the mightiest army. Loyalty. Honor. A willing heart. I can ask no more than that.”

Spiritual Elements

The milieu of The Hobbit is a magical, fantastical one. Gandalf employs wizardly abilities in splitting a huge rock, speaking to a moth, turning pinecones into improvised incendiary devices and using his staff to battle orcs and goblins, among other things. Another wizard, Radagast, communes amongst animals and seems to speak to them. When a plague begins wiping out wildlife in Radagast’s forest, he restores a dead hedgehog to life and seems to (at least temporarily) keep the evil magic that is encroaching at bay.

Radagast is alarmed by the animals’ deaths, which leads him to investigate an abandoned castle where he encounters a malevolent force called the Necromancer. The Necromancer is, in fact, Sauron, and he’s begun to reassert his evil powers in Middle-earth. Radagast discovers that Sauron has begun reanimating (if not quite resurrecting) the deceased spirits of wicked kings (who will later become the Nazgûl). Saruman doesn’t believe such a thing is possible, but Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel are deeply troubled by Radagast’s report nonetheless.

Throughout the film, we hear references to chance and fate guiding the outcome of events. We also hear about the portents (such as birds returning to Lonely Mountain) that indicate the time has come for the dwarves to retake their home.

Sexual Content

Violent content.

After Bilbo is given a short sword, Gandalf tells him, “True courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.” It’s awesome advice. And Bilbo takes it when he has the chance to kill the wretched keeper of the One Ring of Power, that subterranean interloper known as Gollum.

But Bilbo’s grasp of the concept doesn’t do much to curtail the overall bloodshed shown here.

Those who’ve read The Hobbit might be surprised at the amount of violence presented. That’s due in part to the fact that Peter Jackson has included two major battle sequences not described in Tolkien’s original. As the film opens, we watch the devastation that Smaug wreaks on Dale. Explosions topple towers, unfortunate victims get hurled to and fro. Indeed, Smaug’s attack is akin to a World War II bombing raid in its destructive effect.

The second such scene is a massive battle—similar in scale to the final battle in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King —between armies of orcs and dwarves. The combat is mostly bloodless, but it’s fierce and intense as the age-old foes engage violently, dealing limb- and head-removing blows with various medieval weapons. A culminating beheading is followed by the assailant holding his victim’s bodiless head high, then mockingly bowling it down a slope. Avenging that death, Thorin cuts off the attacker’s hand.

Afterward, the camera pans over a vast battlefield filled with the dead.

A cacophonous clash between two stone giants generates flying boulders. A ferocious melee between Thorin and an orc king ends with the dwarf unconscious and carried in a wolf-like warg’s mouth. Three trolls capture Bilbo and his friends and are on the verge of eating them (we see several dwarves beginning to roast on a spit) when the rising sun turns the trolls to stone. Fissures in a mountain cave send Bilbo and Co. tumbling down a chute into the clutches of a goblin horde. Gandalf’s arrival yields a battle royal as the fleeing dwarves traverse narrow passes and rope bridges. Arrows and swords fly and flash, resulting in the deaths of many goblins, several of which are decapitated. Gandalf slashes the stomach of the enormous Great Goblin, then slashes again across his throat, killing him. Elsewhere, a goblin victim makes a peculiar face before his head rolls bloodlessly off his shoulders.

Gollum brutally beats and kills a goblin that’s fallen into his clutches, and is glad for the food the dead creature provides. He also thinks Bilbo will prove to be a savory morsel, and threatens to eat the hobbit if he loses a game of riddles.

Crude or Profane Language

Discussing the game of croquet, one dwarf says, “Wonderful game if you’ve got the balls for it.” Elsewhere, another dwarf says he looks forward to delivering some “dwarvish iron right up [Smaug’s] jacksy” (British slang for backside ).

Drug and Alcohol Content

That the dwarves are quite fond of ale is an understatement. One scene pictures them imbibing greedily, with the liquid running down their beards as they guzzle. Gandalf drinks a cup of red wine.

Gandalf, Bilbo and Radagast smoke their pipes and blow smoke rings. The latter takes a drag on Gandalf’s pipe at one point, crosses his eyes and blows smoke out his ears in a way that humorously hints at the smoke’s effect.

Saruman disdainfully says that Radagast’s affinity for mushrooms has made him crazy.

Other Negative Elements

We hear a belching contest among the dwarves. Radadast’s hair is filled with bird droppings because he has a nest tucked under his hat. While pondering how best to cook the captured dwarves, a troll quips about their “stinky parts.”

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is often viewed as a children’s story in comparison to the more serious Lord of the Rings saga. Indeed, Tolkien imbued his characters in The Hobbit with a dose of whimsy that’s largely absent from the grimmer, gravitas-filled trilogy that follows it.

Peter Jackson didn’t get that memo.

Jackson, who helmed the cinematic versions of The Lord of the Rings trilogy from 2001 to 2003, has crafted a prequel that arguably feels closer in spirit to that story than the book itself does. That’s partly because The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey strives to connect all the narrative dots between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings .

The first result is a tale I suspect many Tolkien fans will approve of (though purists may take issue with the ways Jackson has tinkered). The second result is a movie that is squarely in PG-13 territory in terms of its violence, some of which is magically generated. Decapitations, severed limbs, intense battle sequences and a high body count are just as pulse-quickeningly frenetic as anything in the Rings trilogy. The third result, of course, is a story crammed with bravery and heroism. A fable that inspires as it teaches. A Middle-earth parable that profoundly speaks to all of us who deal with the dilemmas of good and evil in the real world.

Still, my last thought on this first chapter remains: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is not The Hobbit you might remember reading years ago.

A postscript: Much has been made of Peter Jackson’s decision to shoot The Hobbit films at 48 frames per second, twice the 24 frames-per-second rate at which movies are typically filmed. More than a few critics have said the preternaturally high-definition realism of the resulting images has undermined the story. And, personally, I did find it a bit off-putting. A colleague, though, couldn’t even tell the difference. And the story itself is so immersive that whether you think the new technology awesome or annoying, you’ll probably forgot all about it by the time Bilbo and the dwarves begin their adventure in earnest.

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Adam R. Holz

After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

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  • Studio: Warner Bros Pictures
  • Release: December 19, 2012
  • Director: Peter Jackson
  • Writer: Fran Walsh , Philippa Boyens , Guillermo del Toro
  • Cast: Andy Serkis , Ian McKellen , Martin Freeman , Richard Armitage , Rob Kazinsky , Aidan Turner , Graham McTavish , John Callen , Stephen Hunter , Mark Hadlow , Peter Hambleton , James Nesbitt , Adam Brown , Cate Blanchett , Ken Stott , Sylvester McCoy , Mikael Persbrandt , Ryan Gage , Jed Brophy , William Kircher , Saoirse Ronan , Elijah Wood

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Tolkien's Best: 8 Quotes To Inspire Adventure

  • Tolkien's quotes encourage embracing adventure, stepping out of comfort zones and trying new things.
  • The smallest steps can lead to great travels - progress in adventures may be slow, but determination is key.
  • Facing the unknown can be daunting, but escaping comfort zones can lead to extraordinary experiences.

J.R.R. Tolkien took readers on grand journeys in his writing leaving plenty of inspiring Tolkien quotes about adventure that can be meaningful to anyone. Tolkien’s works explore many different themes, but one of the central takeaways of his stories is that even the unlikeliest of people can have the grandest of adventures. In The Hobbit and his Lord of the Rings books, though there was plenty of danger to be found, it was all about the idea of embracing the adventure that lies before his characters and making the most of it.

Tolkien's iconic characters obviously found themselves on the more stereotypical adventures, fighting dragons and battling evil forces. However, within Tolkien's writings are the encouragement of all people to seek out adventure in life. That does not mean dropping everything to commit to dangerous expeditions, but could be the everyday adventures of stepping outside of comfort zones and trying something new. While it can be scary, these quotes from the author himself offer the kind of inspiration people sometimes need.

10 Unsolved Mysteries from the Lord of the Rings Canon

"not all those who wander are lost.", the fellowship of the ring, the lord of the rings: the fellowship of the ring.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first film in Peter Jackson's critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy. The movie follows Frodo Baggins (Elijah Woods) as he is tasked with destroying the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom after he inherits the ring.

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Tolkien likes to challenge people's perception of the world even within his stories that are set in Middle-earth . This quote speaks to those people in life who seem to be in search of something but never find it . While others may look at those people with pity and wonder when they will be able to stop wandering and settle, that misses the point that the search might be part of the pleasure.

It is possible to venture out into the world without knowing where to go. The directionless pursuit can be daunting, but that is also when people often stumble upon something great or beautiful accidentally. Knowing the end goal can be helpful, but just because a person doesn't have one in mind doesn't mean they need one in order to have a purpose.

"You Step Onto The Road, And If You Don't Keep Your Feet, There's No Knowing Where You Might Be Swept Off To."

Just as wandering without direction can be freeing, some of the best experiences come from having no plans at all. Frodo remembers this advice given to him as he faces his own great adventure and how getting the courage to start can be the hardest part. Frodo proves himself to be the bravest of the characters in the story, not because he is the most powerful Lord of the Rings character , but because he is willing to venture further than he ever has without knowing what awaits him.

There is comfort and security to knowing what is in store every day.

This courage can be found in everyday people even if it is not celebrated as much as it should be. There is comfort and security to knowing what is in store every day. However, embracing the fear of the unplanned can be exciting and something that can only be experienced by taking those first steps.

"Home Is Behind, The World Ahead."

There is nothing wrong with enjoying the comfort of home. However, such comfort can be a prison at times and it is important to escape it, no matter how reluctant a person is to do so. This inspiring phrase is featured in one of Bilbo Baggins' songs in The Lord of the Rings and is also used by Gandalf in the first of the Hobbit movies to encourage him on in his journey .

The phrase is perfect for those who fear leaving the house but do so anyway. While it is all too easy to return to the comfort of home, this is a reminder that once out the door, there is a whole world ahead and no time to look back . Once an adventure begins, embrace the fun of it and never worry about how to get things back to normal.

"Little By Little, One Travels Far."

Long journeys can seem daunting. But just like everything else in life, they’re completed one step at a time. Whether it’s a grueling hike or an undergraduate degree, the only way to get to the end is to keep moving, even if it’s slowly. No matter how small a person's stride is, as long as they take enough steps, they'll be able to travel further than they ever imagined.

No adventure worth taking is completed with ease and the progress will sometimes be slower than people hope. However, determination and persistence are enough to achieve great things. Tolkien loves to remind readers of what can be accomplished by the smallest and most unassuming people, as with his heroic Hobbit characters.

"The Wide World Is All About You: You Can Fence Yourselves In, But You Cannot For Ever Fence It Out."

Sometimes leaving the comfort of one's life is not something they should do, but something they have to do. Frodo lived a peaceful life in The Shire , never really wondering much about the world beyond. However, the One Ring brings news of a great danger that faces all of Middle-earth. With this quote, Gandalf warns Frodo that he cannot hide from the reality of the world forever and, like it or not, he will be faced with it.

It is a powerful quote that is something that remains applicable to modern times. There are things in the world that are uncomfortable, unpleasant, and difficult. However, shutting the door and pretending these things do not exist will not truly make them go away . Everyone is confronted with the real world sooner or later and it is best to face it head on.

"Then Something Tookish Woke Up Inside Him, And He Wished To Go And See The Great Mountains, And Hear The Pine-Trees And The Waterfalls, And Explore The Caves, And Wear A Sword Instead Of A Walking-Stick."

Bilbo Baggins is one of the great reluctant heroes in literature. He is a man content with his easy-going existence until the idea of an adventure is presented to him. He is not forced, paid, or tricked. He is simply presented with the opportunity to take it or not. Though he refuses at first, Bilbo cannot ignore the stirring of adventure and the idea of missing out .

Although part of human nature is to crave stability, it’s not a love of routine that leads people to cross oceans and explore lands unknown. Pursuing adventure is as much a part of humanity as seeking security, and the key to living a full life is finding a balance between these two intrinsic drives. Meeting different people and having new experiences can lead to entirely new perspectives. It is something everyone knows deep down, and it is only a matter of how they react when their feeling for adventure stirs.

"Don't Adventures Ever Have An End? I Suppose Not. Someone Else Always Has To Carry On The Story."

The end of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was often criticized for being drawn out and seemingly having multiple endings. Not only did the long conclusion seem earned given the epic trilogy that had been accomplished, but the ending perfectly captures part of the theme Tolkien wrote about. Though one adventure ends, the stories of it will help inspire the next person and the next, ensuring that it forever continues.

For those who love adventure, it can be scary to imagine our escapades coming to an end. However, when it is finally time to settle down, the adventure never truly comes to an end, as long as it lives on in the memories that are shared . Frodo might never have gone on his own adventure without the stories of Bilbo's quest. Sometimes, hearing the experiences of others makes people want to make their own.

"The World Is Not In Your Books And Maps, It Is Out There."

The hobbit: an unexpected journey (2012), the hobbit: an unexpected journey.

As Bilbo Baggins celebrates his 111th birthday, he recounts the extraordinary journey that changed his life. Guided by the enigmatic wizard Gandalf, Bilbo joins a band of Dwarves on a perilous quest to reclaim their homeland from the fearsome dragon, Smaug. Along the way, they face treacherous foes, unearth long-buried secrets, and discover unexpected courage within themselves. With danger lurking at every turn, Bilbo's adventure unfolds in a tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope.

Director Peter Jackson

Release Date December 14, 2012

Writers Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro

Cast Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Richard Armitage, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee

Rating PG-13

There are also endless opportunities to explore the world through reading and researching without ever having to leave home.

Thanks to great authors like Tolkien, the world has been given the chance to experience grand adventures within the pages of their books. There are also endless opportunities to explore the world through reading and researching without ever having to leave home. These avenues are important and learning is the key to broadening a person's mind. However, there is also nothing like experience itself.

There are things that can simply not be read in a book, seen in a movie, or drawn on a map. To go out in the world is to truly understand what it is about . It is by seeing the world and trying new things that those books get filled in the first place. Indeed, both Bilbo and Frodo needed to leave the Shire and see the rest of Middle-earth in order to complete their stories that could be passed on to others.

Tolkien's Best: 8 Quotes To Inspire Adventure

hobbit an unexpected journey cast

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  • Um, That Seems Super Racist
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  • Things You Still Don't Know About the Cast
  • Behind the Scenes of the Franchise
  • Wardrobe Secrets from Behind the Scenes
  • Every 'Lord of the Rings' Movie, Ranked By True...
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  • The Cast: Where Are They Now?

18 Bilbo Baggins Quotes That Prove He's The Best Hobbit

18 Bilbo Baggins Quotes That Prove He's The Best Hobbit

Rafa Boladeras

Often it feels like Frodo Baggins gets all the love when it comes to Hobbits, but no fan should forget about the original: Bilbo. There are a lot of powerful characters in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, and yet without Bilbo Baggins, evil would've counquered Middle-earth much sooner. He may not be very intimidating in terms of raw power, but his courage, empathy and curiosity make him a winner every time.

After coming to life in the pages of J.R.R. Tolkein's novels, Bilbo was played on-screen by Martin Freeman and Ian Holm at different ages. His older self in The Lord of the Rings trilogy has a wonderful way with words and plenty of life experience. On the other hand, The Hobbit trilogy shows how younger Bilbo gained that experience, with his adventures making him a hero worth rooting for.

Throughout his life, Bilbo always has plenty to say, and that's why he's the source of some of the greatest quotes in the whole series. If you're a The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit fan, and especially if Bilbo is your favorite character, this list is for you - help vote on the greatest words to come from Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End.

'Is He A Great Wizard? Or Is He More Like You?'

'Is He A Great Wizard? Or Is He More Like You?'

Movie: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

At the start of their adventure together, Bilbo thinks of Gandalf more as an eccentric old man than a powerful Wizard. While it’s raining and one of the Dwarves asks the Wizard if he can stop the rain, Gandalf says no. He then explains who the four other Wizards in Middle-earth are, and Bilbo chimes in with this innocent (but somewhat tactless) question. Gandalf answers him with kindness.

The moment is also a great transition into the story involving Radagast the Brown, who has discovered something is going on in the forest and that the Necromancer is coming for all of them.

'I'm Going On An Adventure.'

'I'm Going On An Adventure.'

This may be the single quote that is most associated with Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), given how it captures his enthusiasm and desire to get into the unknown. The moment, which was heavily featured in the trailers for the first Hobbit film, happens the day after the visit by Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the Dwarves.

When Bilbo wakes up and sees they finally have left him alone, after a few moments of comfort, he evidently seems to fear missing out on the journey. He leaves his home as quickly as possible to catch them and start his first adventure. It's a good thing he did - if Bilbo hadn't had this unexpected journey, Middle-earth may have fallen fully into the control of Sauron.

'I've Thought Of An Ending For My Book: And He Lived Happily Ever After... To The End Of His Days.'

'I've Thought Of An Ending For My Book: And He Lived Happily Ever After... To The End Of His Days.'

Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Bilbo says this as a goodbye to his friend Gandalf, just after the Hobbit has revealed the extent of the hold the One Ring still has on him. Although Bilbo claims he doesn't want it, he seems unable to leave it behind - only doing so in the end because of the Wizard's intervention. Bilbo finally leaves the Ring for Frodo, but it takes all of his strength to do so. 

Once he's outside his home, he offers these words as a farewell acknowledgment of everything he's shared with his friend. Gandalf's reply (“And I'm sure you will my friend.”) also comforts Bilbo, emphasizing how well they know each other.

'I Don't Know Half Of You Half As Well As I Should Like, And I Like Less Than Half Of You Half As Well As You Deserve.'

'I Don't Know Half Of You Half As Well As I Should Like, And I Like Less Than Half Of You Half As Well As You Deserve.'

Even as he grows older and more prickly, Bilbo remains incredibly skilled with words. As he longs to find a way to escape his birthday party and be alone, he makes a speech where he subtly criticizes those around him, but with such complicated wording that it's difficult to understand what he means, let alone get offended. Still, this veiled insult demonstrates that by this point in his life, Bilbo is less empathetic than his old self in The Hobbit, thus why it’s time for him to leave The Shire - as well as time to give up the One Ring.

'That's Why I Came Back, 'Cause You Don't Have One. A Home. It Was Taken From You. But I Will Help You Take It Back, If I Can.'

'That's Why I Came Back, 'Cause You Don't Have One. A Home. It Was Taken From You. But I Will Help You Take It Back, If I Can.'

At this point in the story, Thorin (Richard Armitage) doesn't trust Bilbo completely, so when he disappears after the Goblin attack, the Dwarf wastes no time trashing the Hobbit and explaining why he never trusted him. Bilbo is invisible, thanks to the One Ring, and listens to all of it. He takes off the Ring and gives this beautiful speech that proves his empathy and care for those around him. He's not on this quest for riches or glory; he's a true hero. His own love for his home also helps him empathize with the Dwarves.

'I Think I'm Quite Ready For Another Adventure.'

'I Think I'm Quite Ready For Another Adventure.'

Movie The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

This quote is the last thing Bilbo ever says in the film series, within the story's chronology. He’s finally feeling his age (after having given up the One Ring in the first film) and is leaving Middle-earth to go to Valinor with Elrond, Galadriel, and other Elves. The quote is beautiful as it perfectly encapsulates Bilbo's spirit and curiosity while mirroring one of his first quotes in The Hobbit , where he leaves Bag End to go on his first adventure.

The fact that the other four Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings and Gandalf are also there serves as a beautiful reminder about friendship and the place you come from. The scene gets even more dramatic when it’s discovered that Gandalf and Frodo are also leaving.

'I'm Old, Gandalf. I Know I Don't Look It, But I'm Beginning To Feel It In My Heart.'

'I'm Old, Gandalf. I Know I Don't Look It, But I'm Beginning To Feel It In My Heart.'

Bilbo confides in his friend Gandalf at the start of the story on how he feels life wearing on him. Though one could initially assume he's prompted by his birthday, it becomes clear that he's likely referring to One Ring has on him, as he’s even touching it in his pocket while talking. Bilbo remains far from the warped appearance of Gollum, yet this admission hints that he may continue down a similar path if he keeps the Ring for much longer. Bilbo further confesses, “I feel… thin. Sort of stretched, like… butter scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday. A very long holiday. And I don’t expect I shall return. In fact I mean not to.”

This vulnerable, honest moment a great way to show the friendship between Bilbo and Gandalf, as well as to set up the difficulties Frodo will experience when he becomes the next Ring-bearer.

'Gandalf, My Old Friend, This Will Be A Night To Remember.'

'Gandalf, My Old Friend, This Will Be A Night To Remember.'

Bilbo says this to Gandalf as they are hanging out and smoking, like any other old friends might do, before Bilbo's birthday celebration. This conversation happens pretty early on in the film, and it does a great job at quickly demonstrating the deep bond between the Hobbit and the Wizard for those who haven't read Tolkein's books (nor seen The Hobbit films). There's also an understated melancholy and foreboding to the line, as both know this might be one of the last times they see each other.

'I'm Sorry I Brought This Upon You, My Boy. I'm Sorry That... You Must Carry This Burden. I'm Sorry For Everything.'

'I'm Sorry I Brought This Upon You, My Boy. I'm Sorry That... You Must Carry This Burden. I'm Sorry For Everything.'

This rather frightening line is spoken in Rivendell as Frodo prepares for his trip. Bilbo gifts him his old sword, Sting, as well as a set of mithril chainmail. As Frodo goes to don the chainmail, Bilbo sees the One Ring around his nephew's neck and tries to touch it one last time. He's overcome by desire and momentarily gains a monstrous look on his face, before snapping out of it in horror.

After he shows his darker side to his nephew, Bilbo apologizes. This scene is important as it shows the evil, corrupting power of the One Ring. It's chilling for Frodo, both to see his uncle in such a state and to glimpse a future version of what he could become if he succumbs to the Ring's power.

'An Adventure? No, I Don't Imagine Anyone West Of Bree Would Have Much Interest in Adventures. Nasty, Disturbing, Uncomfortable Things. Make You Late For Dinner.'

'An Adventure? No, I Don't Imagine Anyone West Of Bree Would Have Much Interest in Adventures. Nasty, Disturbing, Uncomfortable Things. Make You Late For Dinner.'

At the start of his journey, Bilbo has no fondness for adventures and doesn’t want to be involved in them at all, preferring the comfort and familiarity of home, like most Hobbits. The fact that he thinks an adventure only takes a few hours and makes you late for dinner is also hilarious. This line is even more amusing because Bilbo seems to protest a bit too much - ultimately, within 24 hours of this speech, he changes his mind and sets out on a journey that will change his life forever.

'Truly, Tales And Songs Fall Utterly Short Of Your Enormity, O Smaug The Stupendous.'

'Truly, Tales And Songs Fall Utterly Short Of Your Enormity, O Smaug The Stupendous.'

Movie: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Bilbo has one eye-opening, scary, dangerous conversation with the dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch) when the Hobbit wakes him up. Remaining undaunted, Bilbo uses his charm and wits to try to help him survive the encounter by laying on the flattery. He offers great praise to Smaug, while also trying to avoid any scenario that might involve the dragon leaving the cave and going to kill everyone in Laketown.

Bilbo has always been one for multitasking, so while he’s having this conversation, he's also trying to find the Arkenstone and steal it without Smaug eating him for breakfast. 

'Why Don't We Have A Game Of Riddles... Just, Just You And Me.'

'Why Don't We Have A Game Of Riddles... Just, Just You And Me.'

In a certain light, this quote might be the most important line spoken across both film trilogies. If this meeting of Bilbo and Gollum (Andy Serkis) hadn't happened, the chain of events leading to the massive war with Sauron's forces may not have unfolded as it does in the Lord of the Rings films. After playing this game of riddles with Gollum, Bilbo soon discovers the One Ring and takes it with him - while leaving Gollum alive, ready to play his part in the destruction of the Ring decades later.

Although Gollum's appearance in the first Hobbit film is almost a cameo, direct Peter Jackson knew the scene’s importance. The riddles scene is brought to life brilliantly, and it might be the best moment of the whole The Hobbit trilogy.

'They Pillaged The Pantry. I'm Not Even Going To Tell You What They've Done To The Bathroom... They All But Destroyed The Plumbing!'

'They Pillaged The Pantry. I'm Not Even Going To Tell You What They've Done To The Bathroom... They All But Destroyed The Plumbing!'

The Dwarves are everything Hobbits arent: rowdy, loud, and heavy drinkers and singers. So, the first night they stay at Bilbo’s house, the host gets a bit flustered about how the guests are disrupting the particular order of his house and his things.

Though he eventually comes to view them as close companions, at this point, the Dwarves are Bilbo's archenemies. They start to redeem themselves when they clean everything while singing the "Blunt The Knives” song, proving they have a sense of humor and are great when working as a team (both traits that are made even more clear to Bilbo during their journey together).

'If You Ever Pass Through Bag End, Tea Is At Four. You Are Welcome Anytime. Don't Bother Knocking!'

'If You Ever Pass Through Bag End, Tea Is At Four. You Are Welcome Anytime. Don't Bother Knocking!'

Movie: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

This quote is Bilbo's goodbye to the remaining Dwarves after the climactic battle against the Orcs. Three of the Dwarves have died, including Thorin, but the survivors have become like family to Bilbo. This farewell also marks significant contrast to when the Dwarves first met Bilbo at his home, when the Hobbit wanted them to leave immediately. Although it’s not shown in the movies, the Dwarves take that invitation to heart and end up visiting Bilbo many, many times over the years.

'No, Thank You! We Don't Want Any More Visitors, Well-Wishers, Or Distant Relations!'

'No, Thank You! We Don't Want Any More Visitors, Well-Wishers, Or Distant Relations!'

After a prologue showing how the One Ring was created and where it is now, this interaction is one of the first scenes in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Bilbo shouts this dismissive cry before opening the door and discovering his old friend Gandalf is the one knocking. It's amusing and also shows that the Hobbit has become more reclusive and less friendly over the years, as he seems annoyed by the idea of people spending time with him or greeting him on his birthday. It's also an effective way to show how the One Ring has changed him.

'One Day It'll Grow. And Every Time I Look At It, I'll Remember. Remember Everything That Happened: The Good, The Bad... And How Lucky I Am That I Made It Home.'

'One Day It'll Grow. And Every Time I Look At It, I'll Remember. Remember Everything That Happened: The Good, The Bad... And How Lucky I Am That I Made It Home.'

Bilbo tells this to Thorin while showing him an acorn he picked up in Beorn's garden (although he's also hiding the One Ring). Here, the Hobbit shows the Dwarf how much he's grown. Bilbo knows he's lucky to be alive, and that he'll remember their story together and make the best of it. At this point in the story, Thorin is mad with greed, yet with this exchange, he returns to be the great leader Bilbo met at the start of their adventure. It's an interaction that strengthens their bond and emphasizes the value of their difficult experiences together.

'I've Grown Very Fond Of Them, And I Would Save Them If I Can.'

'I've Grown Very Fond Of Them, And I Would Save Them If I Can.'

This speech might be one of Bilbo's most heroic moments in the whole saga. He’s trying to avoid war between Dwarves, Elves, and Men by giving the Arkenstone to Thranduil (Lee Pace) and Bard (Luke Evans) so they can exchange it for the treasures the Dwarves had promised them. Bilbo wants to save his friends and understands that sometimes diplomacy is much better than a sword, so he takes the matter into his own hands and tries to create peace with one simple speech, beginning with:

I know that Dwarves can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult. They’re suspicious and secretive, with the worst manners you can possibly imagine. But, they are also brave and kind, and loyal to a fault.

He then wraps up by emphasizing the fondness he has developed for Dwarves thanks to his recent experiences. The monologue is quite compelling. Unfortunately, Thorin grows more and more agitated every minute he’s inside the mountain, so he refuses a truce.

'I'm Not A Warrior, I'm A Hobbit.'

'I'm Not A Warrior, I'm A Hobbit.'

Another of the most famous Bilbo quotes, these words are uttered before the pivotal battle as Bilbo he receives a vest made of mithril from Thorin (which will also be used by Frodo in the future). Bilbo's initial response shows his humility and disbelief at being offered such a valuable piece of armor. However, it also shows how far he's come - though he may not have been a warrior when he began his journey, he has survived by his smarts and bravery, so he's certainly proven himself worthy of the title. The moment is also a sign of respect by the Dwarf, who finally considers Bilbo one of his own.

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  1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Menu. Movies. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. TV Shows.

  2. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Directed by Peter Jackson. With Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott. A reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home, and the gold within it from the dragon Smaug.

  3. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a 2012 epic high fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson from a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro, based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.It is the first installment in The Hobbit trilogy, acting as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.. The story is set in Middle-earth sixty ...

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    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Full Cast & Crew. 58 Metascore; 2012; 2 hr 50 mins Travel, Horror, Fantasy, Action & Adventure PG13 Watchlist. Where to Watch. Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the wizard ...

  5. The Hobbit (film series)

    The Hobbit is a series of three epic high fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson.The films are subtitled An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Desolation of Smaug (2013), and The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). The films are based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, with large portions of the trilogy inspired by the appendices to The Return of the King, which expand on ...

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  7. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) Cast and Crew

    A Good Day to Die Hard. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Jack the Giant Slayer. Meet the talented cast and crew behind 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' on ...

  8. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

    Bilbo Baggins is swept into a 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 ...

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  10. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a 2012 epic high fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson from a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro, based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is the first installment in The Hobbit trilogy, acting as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

  11. The Hobbit Cast & Character Guide: An Easy Guide to Middle Earth

    Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman and Ian Holm) Image Via Warner Bros. The hobbit of the title is Bilbo, the "uncle" (technically first and second cousin, once removed either way) of Frodo Baggins ...

  12. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

    Find trailers, reviews, synopsis, awards and cast information for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) - Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner on AllMovie - Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) joins Gandalf (Ian…

  13. Cast

    Cast and crew of «The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey» (2012). Roles and the main characters. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage

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  15. 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey': 10 Things You Need to Know Before

    'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' director Peter Jackson and other cast & crew members discuss high frame rate 3D, Gollum, how these prequel films compare to 'Lord of the Rings' and more. It's been nine years since the final Lord of the Rings film hit theaters, but the time has finally come to return to Middle-earth.

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    Bilbo Baggins begins a journey to reclaim a stolen treasure. Limited time offer. You must purchase at least one (1) movie ticket for each of the three (3) Pixar movies 'Soul', 'Turning Red', and 'Luca' (in other words, at least three (3) total tickets) on Fandango.com or via the Fandango app, all on the same Fandango account.

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    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Meet the Cast on Apple Podcasts. 2 episodes. Join Ian McKellen (X-Men, The Lord of the Rings), Martin Freeman (Sherlock, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), Richard Armitage (Captain America, Spooks) and Andy Serkis (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Lord of the Rings) as they discuss their new film, The ...

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    The The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Cast . Gollum / Smeagol voiced by Andy Serkis and 5 others . Goblin King voiced by Barry Humphries and 5 others . Azog voiced by Manu Bennett . The Necromancer voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch and 1 other . Tom Troll voiced by William Kircher .

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    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - an exclusive interview with the castSubscribe HERE: http://bitly.com/UvkFpDCate Blanchett, Martin Freeman, Richard Armita...

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    Still, my last thought on this first chapter remains: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is not The Hobbit you might remember reading years ago. A postscript: Much has been made of Peter Jackson's decision to shoot The Hobbit films at 48 frames per second, twice the 24 frames-per-second rate at which movies are typically filmed. More than a ...

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    Database of movie trailers, clips and other videos for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). Directed by Peter Jackson, the film features a cast that includes Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage.

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    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. As Bilbo Baggins celebrates his 111th birthday, he recounts the extraordinary journey that changed his life. ... Cast Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen ...

  23. 18 Bilbo Baggins Quotes That Prove He's The Best Hobbit

    Movie: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. At this point in the story, Thorin (Richard Armitage) doesn't trust Bilbo completely, so when he disappears after the Goblin attack, the Dwarf wastes no time trashing the Hobbit and explaining why he never trusted him. Bilbo is invisible, thanks to the One Ring, and listens to all of it.

  24. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Showtimes

    Find The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey showtimes for local movie theaters. Menu. Movies. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. TV Shows.