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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Martin Freeman in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

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. 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. 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.

  • Peter Jackson
  • Philippa Boyens
  • Martin Freeman
  • Ian McKellen
  • Richard Armitage
  • 1.5K User reviews
  • 675 Critic reviews
  • 58 Metascore
  • 11 wins & 76 nominations total

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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  • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

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  • Trivia The production team returned to the same shooting location for Hobbiton as they used in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The land is part of a farm, which the owners allowed to be transformed into the Hobbiton set by The Lord of the Rings production crew in the late 1990s. After filming wrapped on the first trilogy, the farm's owners turned the land into a Tolkien tourism spot, offering guided tours of the Hobbiton set. With the crew from The Hobbit trilogy making improvements and additions to the aging Hobbiton set, the farm owners were happy to temporarily close down their tourism business, so filming could take place there again.
  • Goofs When the party is captured by the Goblins and Bilbo crawls away, a Goblin's CGI foot passes through the bridge he's walking on.

Galadriel : Mithrandir? Why the Halfling?

Gandalf : I don't know. Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I've 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 am afraid, and he gives me courage.

  • Crazy credits Lists the publishers for all of The Hobbit in all the different languages.
  • Alternate versions Also shown in a 3D and 48 fps version, but the content is the same.
  • Connections Edited into The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Extended Edition Scenes (2013)
  • Soundtracks Blunt the Knives Lyrics by J.R.R. Tolkien from "The Hobbit" Music composed by Stephen Gallagher (as Stephen Gallagher) Produced by Stephen Gallagher (as Stephen Gallagher) Performed by Jed Brophy , Adam Brown , John Callen , Mark Hadlow , Peter Hambleton , Stephen Hunter , William Kircher , Graham McTavish , James Nesbitt , Dean O'Gorman , Ken Stott , Aidan Turner

User reviews 1.5K

  • bob the moo
  • Jan 26, 2013
  • Why are the names of the blue wizards are not mentioned in this film?
  • When Gandalf talks to Bilbo about Sting, he mentions that "Elvish blade glows blue when orcs or goblins are nearby", should this rule apply to the Foe-hammer and the Goblin-cleaver as well?
  • Are the Goblins different from the Orcs?
  • December 14, 2012 (United States)
  • New Zealand
  • United States
  • arabuloku.com
  • Official Facebook
  • The Hobbit: Part 1
  • Mangaotaki, Waikato, New Zealand
  • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • New Line Cinema
  • WingNut Films
  • See more company credits at IMDbPro
  • $180,000,000 (estimated)
  • $303,030,651
  • $84,617,303
  • Dec 16, 2012
  • $1,017,106,749

Technical specs

  • Runtime 2 hours 49 minutes
  • Dolby Atmos

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THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Review

THE HOBBIT Review. Our review of director Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, starring Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage & Ian McKellen.

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  • Pros: Incredible clarity and sharpness of detail. Characters and objects in the background are nearly as clear and defined as those in the foreground of a shot. It makes for absolutely gorgeous establishing shots and exploration of new settings (Erebor, the Dwarven Kingdom before Smaug’s attack, is amazing. I’d love to see a film just about the Dwarves and their lives under the mountain). It’s great when steady or slow-moving camera work is applied. Beautiful for scenery or landscape shots; would make for excellent documentary applications.
  • Cons: Definite “motion sickness” potential during scenes of chaotic action or fast-movement; the increased clarity often feels as if you’re standing on set with the actors/characters, so when they take a crazy tumble down a rabbit hole, for example, you feel just as disoriented…which might not be too pleasant for some. There is a bit of an adjustment period for 48fps; I was jarred by it at the start but warmed up to 95% of its usage over time. 48fps means you cannot hide mistakes…period; there were some poorly-rendered VFX sequences that were unintentionally comical and resembled the old-school tactic of filming a stationary actor in front of a moving background. These effects were bad, bad, bad; there’s no way around it.

I admire and support Jackson’s decision to use 48fps and 3D going forward, but there is still some work to do to make it seamless. If you want more technical explanations of 48fps, head over to PC Mag’s explanation (via The One Ring ). Another quick note on a technical aspect: most of the enemies simply had no weight to them. Goblins were tossed aside like paper dolls with the Dwarves flicking them out of the way without breaking a sweat. I can only think of a handful of instances of this happening in Lord of the Rings, such as the surge down the stone ramp leading out of Helm’s Deep in The Two Towers or parts of the massive Battle of the Pelennor Fields in Return of the King. But for An Unexpected Journey, there was no sense of real danger during most of the fight scenes, right up until the end. This is strange, because the flashback battles were, for the most part, epic and brutal and heavy, with real emotion tied in to the loss of believable warriors. On the plus side, the costume and make-up design for the flesh-and-blood characters and creatures was phenomenal, even managing to surpass the original  Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The greatest achievement of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, is how well it ties in with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, much better than, say, the original Star Wars films and their prequels, which are widely-considered to be inferior. As we recently discussed in our Star Wars podcast, watching the films in episode order is not only visually jarring, it ruins the dramatic tension of the whole arc. At first blush, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey  appears to avoid this pitfall. The film   is set up in such a way that new viewers are briefly introduced to Bilbo and Frodo, but regard them only as an old storyteller and his nephew, nothing more. Returning viewers of the Lord of the Rings feel a bit of nostalgia for the old films and are transitioned into the new films by having a familiar starting place. This introductory scene, which some early reviewers cited as unnecessary, links the trilogies together in a much stronger way. I don’t know how Jackson plans to end his Hobbit trilogy, but the opening of An Unexpected Journey and Fellowship of the Ring are already neatly tied together.

Also, “Easter eggs” are not just there for fun; they actually refer to each other in the films (depending on which order you watch them in), as well as to the source material in the books. Without giving too much away, An Unexpected Journey enriches the relationship between Gandalf and Bilbo (and, by extension, Frodo), as well as Gandalf and the elder powers of Galadriel, Elrond and Saruman. The film also explores the reasons for the deep-seated hatred between Dwarves and Elves, Gandalf’s connection to nature, the desecration of the Greenwood, the secrets of Saruman, the origin of some of the famous weaponry in the series and, of course, the lore of the Ring. So An Unexpected Journey manages to pay homage to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, while forging strong introductions to the themes that are explored in the chronologically later-occurring films, especially for first-time viewers. It’s evident that much care was given over to consideration of how to weave these two tapestries together and it’s brilliantly achieved.

Special attention must be given to the musical score of the film, both for original pieces (such as "Misty Mountains," the haunting yet stirring theme for the Dwarves) and incorporation of the themes from Lord of the Rings. The musical cues go a long way to reinforce the connection I mentioned above. While the Misty Mountains theme pervades the film, there are also ties to the Shire, the Ring and even a heroic bit of music that I won’t spoil here, but will come as a welcome surprise.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has set a high bar for the next two installments, but if the Lord of the Rings trilogy is any indication, I fully believe that bar will be surpassed. Moving forward, I’d like to see the films become a bit more serious, especially since Bilbo is now in possession of a certain ring and all the grave consequences that portends. It would also be a more gradual transition into the Lord of the Rings trilogy and would allow new fans to mature along with the entire six-film arc, much like the Harry Potter films so expertly achieved. While The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is destined to be a stand-alone adventure classic in the vein of The Neverending Story, Willow and Legend , it is surely strongest when viewed as a satisfactory part of a greater whole.

For more on The Hobbit , here's 6 clips from the film and twenty minutes of behind-the-scenes footage .

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review

Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The

13 Dec 2012

169 minutes

Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The

“All good stories deserve embellishment,” Gandalf The Grey (Ian McKellen) tells Bilbo (Martin Freeman) before the latter has even left the snug, leathery comfort of his Bag End armchair and embarked on his Unexpected Journey. There is no way this line, a pithy conclusion to a tall tale of Bilbo’s Tookish grandfather (beheads goblin, invents golf), could have been written unknowingly. The Hobbit is a good story. And embellishment, controversially for some, has been the order of Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo Del Toro’s adaptation — both narratively (An Unexpected Journey is now a trilogy opener rather than part one of two) and visually; this sunnier, 60-years-younger Middle-earth was digitally shot at double the frame rate of the three earlier movies which concerned this mythic realm’s difficult autumn years.

To begin with the first form of embellishment is to immediately address the concern that Jackson and co.’s Hobbit may be a painful inflation of a slim, bedtime storybook, as opposed to The Lord Of The Rings’ leaner interpretation of a vast fantasy-historical epic. Team Jackson looks outside the novel’s narrative (which, while quicker than Rings, is still rich in detail and packed with incident) to the Tolkienverse yonder, and unashamedly treats The Hobbit as a prequel in which the return of Sauron The Deceiver is foreshadowed ominously.

Yet the cutaways to guano-faced nature-wizard Radagast The Brown (Sylvester McCoy) nursing hedgehogs, going boss-eyed and rabbit-sledging to creepy ruined forts do feel of limited relevance to the main quest. Beyond Gandalf expressing to a sceptical Saruman (Christopher Lee) his fear that dwarf economy-hoarding wyrm Smaug could come into play as a fiery WMD for “the enemy”, the threads concerning the White Council, the Necromancer and aforementioned fort Dol Guldur— all direct prequel material — have yet to be firmly twined with Bilbo’s relatively modest adventure. He may find the One Ring here, but for now its connection to Sauron is known only by us and Howard Shore’s string section.

Even so, this particular trek to a mountain has been smartly remoulded — the final destination’s always a mountain, this one Lonely rather than Doomed. It is well-paced, bringing in chief antagonist Azog (Manu Bennett), the albino orc-lord barely in the book, who from the start is hunting the “dwarf scum”, soon giving the quest frantic chase movie impetus. Existing set-pieces have been thoughtfully redrafted, so don’t expect the encounter with the trolls (a cockney Three Stooges) to play out as it does in the novel. And new sequences have been added, such as a skirmish with warg-mounted orcs on Rivendell’s borders. The Goblin Town diversion comes replete with Jacksonian grace notes, featuring a neat swinging gantry gag that references King Kong — although he doesn’t let these set-pieces breathe as freely as those in either Rings or Kong. While it’s good to see Gandalf get stuck in like never before, this is no Moria. And despite the running time, there is still the occasional sense that Jackson is rushing, underpinned by the fact that, for all their elaborate individuality, the dwarves remain somewhat amorphous, with only Thorin (an impressive Richard Armitage), Balin (Ken Stott), Bofur (James Nesbitt) and Fili/Kili (Dean O’Gorman/Aidan Turner) given any special attention.

Still, thanks to an Ian Holm-presented prologue, we’re in no doubt as to the significance of their mission. This isn’t just a treasure hunt: this is a desperate gambit to reclaim a homeland for a people who have suffered a generation of bitter diaspora. There is an appeal to the way Tolkien’s book begins small, seemingly trivial — Bilbo the reluctant burglar off on a perilous jaunt — then rises out into something so huge that five armies roll up to the ultimate fracas. But it is appropriate to Jackson’s cinematic rendition of Middle-earth that we should swiftly understand Thorin’s position (part Aragorn, part Boromir) in its weighty narrative history. This comes not only via the prologue, in which we witness the full glory of Erebor and its nuking by malevolent bat-lizard Smaug (of whom there are glimpses), but also an impressive flashback to Thorin’s hard-fought, albeit temporary, triumph over Azog on the slopes outside Moria.

One question raised by the book is: why precisely did Bilbo, a homely fellow and appreciator of simple comforts, agree to head off into such danger? And why didn’t he bail when the going got extreme? These are ingeniously addressed, and in fact form the arc of An Unexpected Journey. The Hobbit Episode I is the story of how Bilbo commits to adventure, how he realises his motive. And Team Jackson’s answer is elegantly simple, a fine-brushed masterstroke of scripting: the creature who just wants to go back home discovers that what he’s doing here is helping these homeless dwarves reclaim theirs.

It’s a concept sold flawlessly by Martin Freeman, perfect casting for the fusty halfling. There really is no other character like Bilbo in Tolkien’s chronicles, and he is arguably this saga’s strongest: a proper, decent, everyday sort of chap (if a little on the conservative side) whose resourcefulness is drawn from a deep well of inner strength. Not as beleaguered as Frodo, nor as acquiescent as Samwise, nor as comical as Merry and/or Pippin. “I’m not a hero or a warrior,” Bilbo asserts. He’s us. And Freeman encapsulates that throughout, without mugging or winking. His Bilbo does take his predicament seriously, and while this is the jauntiest — at times silliest, at times funniest, certainly the most child-friendly — Middle-earth movie yet, Freeman remains its emotional lodestone.

The most powerful moment comes during the Riddles In The Dark incident, which briefly brings back Andy Serkis’ Gollum, the other arguably strongest character in the saga. It is a joy and a thrill to once more see mo-cap master Serkis owning the role, and to have the celebrated encounter brilliantly re-envisioned through the prism of the Sméagol/Gollum split personality. However, the true punch of poignancy comes at that most pivotal of moments: when Bilbo, invisibly standing over Gollum with sword at his throat, exercises mercy. Jackson holds on Freeman’s face. This isn’t just Tim-from-The Office or Watson in pointy ears, but an actor at the height of his prowess finding every layer to a character it now seems he was born to play.

So what, finally, of that other embellishment, the history-making visual treatment? 48 frames per second is, as they say, something else. And you can take that both ways. On the one hand, the crispness of detail is almost overwhelming, whether you’re noticing the seam down the back of Gandalf’s hat, or repulsed by the scabby goitre dangling from the Great Goblin’s (Barry Humphries) hideously distended face. On the other, there’s something about the lack of grain and motion blur that oddly makes the movie feel less epic — it’s so immediate and intimate that the distance between seat and screen is all but removed. This may make you feel more thrillingly part of the action, or it may diminish the spectacle and unflatteringly highlight the film’s more set-bound nature. Something to bear in mind when deciding if you’re going to seek out the upgraded experience.

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Screen Rant

'the hobbit: an unexpected journey' trailer is here.

A full-length trailer has been released for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey', the first installment in Peter Jackson's 'Hobbit' trilogy!

A few days ago Peter Jackson announced that, in celebration of Tolkien week, a second, full-length trailer would be released for the first installment in his Hobbit trilogy, titled The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey . For many a fan, this is the first new footage they've been treated to since the teaser premiered some nine months ago; others will recognize that a healthy chunk of the new trailer features excerpts from the 12 minutes of material previewed at the Hobbit Comic-Con panel .

An Unexpected Journey continues to look like a visually-magnificent treatment of J.R.R. Tolkien's source novel, as you would expect from the filmmakers behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Middle-earth is as gorgeous a fantasy realm as ever, thanks to Jackson's expertise at capturing the New Zealand landscapes in all their majesty - not to mention, improvements in CGI over the past nine years since Return of the King was released in theaters.

Moreover, this trailer offers a taste of the lighter tone Jackson and his collaborators are aiming for with the first Hobbit  installment, when compared to the weightiness of the second and third  Rings  movies. Not only are the stakes lower, but the colorful Dwarves  lend themselves to comedic antics. So far, the humor in  An Unexpected Journey  is broader than anything since the Shire opening to Fellowship of the Ring , but the jokes don't seem too forceful - nor do they appear to diminish the dramatic atmosphere of the film's action-packed portions (again, so far).

Here is the official synopsis for An Unexpected Journey , followed by a collection of screenshots from the latest trailer:

“The Hobbit” follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever… Gollum (Andy Serkis). Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities… A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-Earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

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[gallery columns="2"]

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey  hits theaters on December 14th, 2012; its sequel,  The Desolation of Smaug , follows on December 13th, 2013; and the final installment,  There and Back Again , release on July 18th, 2014.

Source: iTunes Movie Trailers , MovieWeb

The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Review by brian eggert december 15, 2012.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , Peter Jackson returns us to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, and it’s like taking a welcome trip back to a fondly remembered place in our cinematic memory. Almost ten years after his final entry in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Jackson’s team revisits Middle Earth to embark on another series of adventures inspired by Tolkien’s single volume of The Hobbit, or There and Back Again . And rather than a stand-alone film with a self-contained story, Jackson has established the first remarkable piece in a planned prequel trilogy, the director’s liberty with the source material dividing Tolkien’s many devoted fans. Accusations of bloated runtime and self-indulgence overlook the magic and enchanting detail of Jackson’s filmic embrace of Middle Earth. Moreover, for many moviegoers, no single component of this new trilogy will feel entirely complete until they can view it in its full trilogy form. Nitpicks aside, Jackson has launched an impressive expedition for which I am unabashedly on board.

Much like The Fellowship of the Ring , An Unexpected Journey opens with a prologue detailing the background stakes, which involve a dwarf empire ejected from its home in the Lonely Mountain by the arrival of the fire-breathing dragon Smaug. Two generations later, a band of thirteen dwarves led by proud kingly heir Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) joins the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) to reclaim their home. Their missing element remains a burglar who can stealthily sneak into Smaug’s chamber. Gandalf, in his cunning wisdom, arranges for the dwarves to convene at the home of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), a homebody hobbit wary of anything new, especially the dangers of adventure. Nevertheless, drawn into their company as their burglar (a task at which he has no experience), Bilbo remains an outsider in the group as their quest begins, and in the film’s narrative arc, he must prove his worth within a gang of warriors and hardened dwarves. Along the way, they face iconic scenes from the book, including a run-in with a trio of flesh-eating trolls, capture by the grotesque Goblin King (voiced by Barry Humphries), and a fantastically rendered game of riddles with a cave-dwelling Gollum (motion-captured Andy Serkis).

Almost instantly in the prologue, those versed in Tolkien will recognize how Jackson and the screenplay’s co-writers Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Guillermo del Toro have reformatted the original children’s storybook mannerism to marry with the more sobering tone of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tolkien’s The Hobbit was a lighter and easier read, whereas his trilogy proves a dense and often darker voyage. They’re making a proposed trilogy out of a single volume, after all, which unavoidably means the writers have elaborated upon the source material. Then again, given the storybook quality of The Hobbit , a lot happens in a lesser number of pages, allowing Jackson to give each of the book’s rather condensed scenes appropriate breathing room. Of course, Warner Bros. and MGM’s decision to extend The Hobbit from the originally planned twofer into a prequel trilogy cannot help but inflame bitter recollections of what happened when George Lucas opted to make a prequel trilogy to Star Wars . And depending on your familiarity and devotional level with Tolkien’s book, this creative decision may be suspect, making the film seem overlong if only for the studio’s financial gain. On another level, one can understand Jackson’s desire to spend as much time in Middle Earth as the studio allows, it being such a gorgeous and lovingly imagined fantasy world.

As far back as 2008, in the development stages, Del Toro ( Pan’s Labyrinth , Hellboy ) had been assigned the director role alongside Jackson, then just a producer. This was during the prolonged sale of MGM, a deal so protracted that Del Toro eventually bowed out after continuous delays. The originally proposed project would have been two films, the first a self-contained adaptation of The Hobbit and the second a film bridging Del Toro’s world with Jackson’s existing trilogy. We cannot help but wonder how The Hobbit would have been different in Del Toro’s hands. Would the film have felt perhaps more appropriately distinct from Jackson’s trilogy, or contained a Del Toro-esque storybook quality that may have better suited this particular adaptation? Such questions are pointless now, because what we are left with is another wowing Peter Jackson film set in the filmic universe he introduced us to all those years ago. In another controversial decision, Jackson chose to shoot the film at 48 frames-per-second for 3D, a choice that has once again divided many. This review pertains to a standard presentation in 2D at 24 fps.

Jackson orchestrates several scenes that channeled my own memories of Tolkien’s book, as they’ve come to life exactly as I imagined Jackson would film them. The scenes in the goblin caves, for example, are so thrilling in their frenzied terror, the Goblin King so disgusting and terrifying, that I felt like a child again experiencing this story for the first time. Seeing Gollum, brought to life with CGI bettered by ten years of development, challenge Bilbo in the riddle sequence, brought a new sense of fear for the character that immediately enhances what we know of him from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. All the while, McKellen’s endearing presence as Gandalf and the pitch-perfect casting of Freeman as a younger Bilbo (Ian Holm’s original, older version appears early on in the prologue) fully immerse us in Jackson’s world. If one must quibble, it would be about the anonymity of several dwarf characters. Among the thirteen are a select few who have defined personalities, Thorin being the standout. James Nesbitt’s turn as the friendly Bofur and Ken Stott’s aged storyteller Balin also make an impression. The others have two more chapters in which to pronounce themselves. Before the journey begins, nearly an hour is spent developing some of these characters and enriching their histories, although, just as with the theatrical version of The Fellowship of the Ring , I wanted more (perhaps a problem corrected on an inevitable “Extended Edition” video release?).

The tone employed early on is somewhat lighter than The Lord of the Rings films, offering several moments of comic relief with the slapstick dwarves, but Jackson maintains his dramatic airs for Tolkien’s world throughout, with foreboding toward the two forthcoming sequels and the desperate times shown in The Lord of the Rings . Howard Shore’s excellent score also helps transport us back into this world musically. Along the way, we’re warned of a human conjurer calling himself The Necromancer, who, in reviving ancient evils, makes Gandalf and members of the White Council wary, with references to Mordor and Witch Kings promising dark times in the future. The film ends with a goosebump-inducing teaser of Smaug, who is never witnessed in full view. In this sense, much of An Unexpected Journey may feel like mere setup with the promise of more on the horizon. As such, arguments against the runtime and pacing have no place in a review of the first chapter in a trilogy. There’s much more to come, and those who balk at the film’s length haven’t prepared themselves for the journey.

Although mine is a minority opinion on this point, Jackson and company’s extending of Tolkien’s book never drags or feels overlong during its two-hour-and-forty-nine-minute runtime. This is a cinematic world so fully realized that leaving it is a sad prospect. If the sequels—tentatively titled The Desolation of Smaug (due 2013) and There and Back Again (due 2014)—live up to or prove even better than An Unexpected Journey , Jackson will have achieved another legendary series of motion pictures. This also makes writing about An Unexpected Journey at this stage a somewhat difficult notion. Distinct though The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers , and The Return of the King may be, they were all parts of a greater whole that arguably transcends any requirement for individual examination. It’s like assessing the first hour or so of Lawrence of Arabia , but not seeing the rest except in increments over the next couple years. As a result, initial reactions have been divisive; however, we cannot yet consider An Unexpected Journey in the full scope Jackson intended. For that, we must have patience, because we may not truly grasp this film until 2014 when we sit down for a marathon of the entire Hobbit trilogy. So, until we can see the full project in its three-part entirety, this first entry has sharpened my interest and satisfied my Tolkien cravings with Jackson’s superior creativity and vision.

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Parental guidance: the croods , the hobbit: an unexpected journey , and les misérables, we give you what you need to know about the family-friendliness of this week's new releases..

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This week in family films, prepare for a journey: we’ll take you across stone age landscapes ( The Croods ) to Middle-earth ( The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ) to the dusty streets of Paris ( Les Misérables ). Read on to find out what’s appropriate for family viewing.

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What’s it about? After the cave they call home is destroyed, a stone-age family journeys across its pre-historic environs, encountering wild beasts and learning to love and trust each other along the way.

Who’s it for? It’s rated PG for “some scary action.” Despite it’s title, The Croods is pretty wholesome fare, though some little kids might be frightened by various animal attacks.

Is it any good? Critics say The Croods is a funny, charming animated tale with fantastic visuals and exciting action.

New On DVD:

The hobbit: an unexpected journey.

What’s it about? Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf go on a journey to recapture the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from an evil dragon, meeting some wild characters — including the mischievous Gollum — along the way.

Who’s it for? It’s rated PG-13 for “for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images.” The film features beheadings, stabbings, characters in peril, and scary orcs and trolls, among other things, so you should probably leave the little ones at home, though teens will be fine with it.

Is it any good? Critics say The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a notable step down from the Lord of the Rings trilogy — though it’s visually stunning and well acted, it’s also overlong and sometimes feels overextended.

Les Misérables

What’s it about? Hugh Jackman stars as Jean Valjean, an ex-con turned factory owner who takes care of his ex-employee Fantine (Anne Hathaway) and her daughter while avoiding the ruthless Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe).

Who’s it for? It’s rated PG-13 “suggestive and sexual material, violence and thematic elements.” It’s got a couple brutal beatings, and it delves into the world of prostitution, so this is probably one for young high schoolers and up.

Is it any good? Critics say Les Misérables is often over-the-top, but the performances are excellent, and director Tom Hooper injects a sense of grit and passion to the proceedings.

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The 29 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video (March 2024)

H ow many hours have we all lost to the endless streaming scroll? Aiming for a little kickback, you end up perusing all the good movies on Prime Video, intent on finding just the right one, ultimately unsure what to choose in the face of overwhelming options. Fret not: The Collider staff did all that scrolling for you, scanning through the catalog in search of the best picks for an entertaining night in. We've put together a wide-ranging list of the best movies on Prime Video right now.

What's more, we'll be updating the list regularly with additional picks, so you won't run out of viewing material any time soon. The list spans genres, decades, and ratings, so there should be a little something for everyone, but if you can't find what you're looking for below (and you're a multi-platform streamer), be sure to check out our picks for the best TV shows and best movies on Netflix .

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Prime Video.

Editor's note: This article was updated March 22nd to include Road House.

'Road House' (2024)

Rotten tomatoes: 68% | imdb: 6.3/10, road house (2024).

Release Date March 21, 2024

Director Doug Liman

Cast Darren Barnet, Jake Gyllenhaal, Conor McGregor, Lukas Gage, Daniela Melchior, Arturo Castro, Jessica Williams, Beau Knapp, Billy Magnussen, Joaquim De Almeida, JD Pardo

Genres Thriller, Action

Read Our Review A modern reimagining of the 1989 Patrick Swayze film, Road House is an action drama movie that stars Jake Gyllenhaal , Daniela Melchior , and Conor McGregor in his feature film debut. Directed by Doug Liman , the film follows a former UFC fighter who takes a job as a bouncer at a roadhouse in the Florida Keys, only to discover dark secrets. The movie’s screenplay is by Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry , and it’s produced by Joel Silver , who also produced the original.

Road House had its world premiere on March 8th, 2024, at the SXSW Festival. With largely positive reviews, the film is a well-executed update of the cult classic it’s based on. This isn’t the sort of movie you watch for the intricate plotting, but if adrenaline is what you’re looking for, then this is the film for you.

Watch on Prime Video

'The Edge of Seventeen' (2016)

Rotten tomatoes: 94% | imdb: 7.3/10, the edge of seventeen.

Release Date September 16, 2016

Director Kelly Fremon Craig

Cast Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, Haley Lu Richardson

Runtime 104

Main Genre Comedy

Kelly Fremon Craig 's directorial debut (a film which she also wrote), The Edge of Seventeen , is a coming-of-age story that stars Hailee Steinfeld and Woody Harrelson , with Kyra Sedgwick , Blake Jenner , and Haley Lu Richardson excellent in their supporting roles. Edge of Seventeen is a raw exploration of a cringe-filled experience as Nadine (Steinfeld) navigates high school with a seemingly perfect older brother (Jenner), an image-obsessed mother (Sedgwick), and her best friend (Richardson).

The quippy interactions between Nadine and her teacher (Harrelson) are the true highlight of The Edge of Seventeen , as their reluctant mentor-mentee relationship feels authentic through the witty dialogue and earnest performances. Steinfeld and Harrelson are the best part of this movie, introducing humor in taxing situations and when confronting heartbreaking realities such as grief and loss. - Yael Tygiel

'Bottoms' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 90% | imdb: 6.8/10.

Release Date August 25, 2023

Director Emma Seligman

Cast Rachel Sennott, Nicholas Galitzine, Ayo Edebiri, Dagmara Dominczyk

Runtime 92 minutes

Genres Comedy

Read Our Review

Bottoms is a 2023 teen comedy starring Ayo Edebiri ( The Bear ) , Ruby Cruz ( Mare of Easttown ) , Rachel Sennott ( Shiva Baby ), Havana Rose Liu , and Kaia Gerber ( Babylon ). It tells the story of two unpopular students in high school who start a fight club in order to try and find other students to sleep with before graduation. The girls get more and more embroiled in their schemes as time goes on, facing challenges in their own friendship as well. Bottoms features a fun appearance by former NFL football star Marshawn Lynch , who has been expanding his acting resume in recent years.

The film was popular with audiences when it premiered, with critics liking its satirical nature and the way in which it flipped teen tropes on their heads. It was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Screenplay, as well as a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film. - Emily Cappello

'Belfast' (2021)

Rotten tomatoes: 86% | imdb: 7.2/10.

Release Date September 2, 2021

Director Kenneth Branagh

Cast Caitrona Balfe, Jude Hill, Ciarn Hinds, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Colin Morgan

Genres Drama

Written and directed by Kenneth Branagh ( Murder on the Orient Express ), Belfast is a coming-of-age story about a boy’s childhood experiences in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The film takes place in 1969 at the beginning of The Troubles, which was an ethnonationalism conflict fueled by religious discrimination between Protestants and Catholics. While the film’s focus is mainly on nine-year-old Buddy ( Jude Hill ), it also includes his family life with Me ( Caitríona Balfe ), Pa ( Jamie Dornan ), and his older brother, Will ( Lewis McAskie ).

The film was widely praised by audiences and critics alike, winning Branaugh an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay at the 2022 Academy Awards, in addition to its six other nominations, including Best Picture. At the Golden Globes, Belfast won Best Screenplay in addition to its six other nominations. - Emily Cappello

'Women Talking' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 90% | imdb: 6.9/10, women talking.

Release Date December 23, 2022

Director Sarah Polley

Cast Jessie Buckley, Rooney Mara, Frances McDormand, Claire Foy

Runtime 104 minutes

Read Our Review Based on the book by Miriam Toews , Women Talking is a film that tackles a brutal topic: women living in an isolated religious community as they debate whether or not they can escape the abuse they’re experiencing. Directed and written for the screen by Sarah Polley , the film is an intense ride with many difficult scenes and visuals. It’s best to watch the film if you know you’re in the right headspace and won’t be personally affected by any of the material.

The film won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and received a Best Picture nomination. It was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, including Best Original Score by Hildur Guonadóttir and Best Screenplay for Polley. The film stars Rooney Mara ( The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo ), Judith Ivey ( The Devil’s Advocate ), Claire Foy ( First Man ), Frances McDormand ( Fargo ), and Sheila McCarthy ( The Day After Tomorrow ). - Emily Cappello

'The Blair Witch Project' (1999)

Rotten tomatoes: 86% | imdb: 6.5/10, the blair witch project.

Release Date July 30, 1999

Director Eduardo Snchez, Daniel Myrick

Cast Michael C. Williams, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard

Runtime 81 minutes

Genres Mystery, Horror

Considered one of the first found footage horror films, The Blair Witch Project was co-created by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez , who wrote, directed, and edited the film. Starring Heather Donahue , Michael C. Williams , and Joshua Leonard as a trio of film students investigating a mythical witch, The Blair Witch Project succeeded by building not only a fictional documentary but also a brilliant marketing campaign centering on the missing, fictional film students.

Cleverly allowing audiences to freak themselves out rather than rely on scary movie cliches, The Blair Witch Project was groundbreaking and praised for reinvigorating the genre with new elements in the filmmaking game. - Yael Tygiel

'Saltburn' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 71% | imdb: 7.1.

Release Date November 17, 2023

Director Emerald Fennell

Cast Carey Mulligan, Archie Madekwe, Jacob Elordi, Barry Keoghan, Rosamund Pike

Runtime 127 minutes

Genres Drama, Comedy, Thriller

Written, directed, and co-produced by Promising Young Woman ’s Emerald Fennell , Saltburn reunites her with Carey Mulligan , who appears alongside an incredible cast including Barry Keoghan , Jacob Elordi , Rosamund Pike , and Richard E. Grant . Saltburn focuses on Oliver (Keoghan), a young man struggling through the social side of Oxford University when he’s invited to join the family of charismatic and classy Felix Catton (Elordi) on summer holiday. Wickedly exciting events ensue as the family’s eccentricities are revealed, forcing young Oliver to sink or swim.

Known for her clever storytelling and catchy visuals, Fennell pours her feverish style all over Saltburn . Like Promising Young Woman , Saltburn weaves a thrilling tale exploring the intersection of sex, violence, and class while slathering on a colorful veneer of secrets. Peppered with stellar acting, the talent within the ensemble cast is undeniable, yet it’s Fennell’s ability to maneuver through harshness and humor that sets Saltburn apart. - Yael Tygiel

'Tár' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 91% | imdb: 7.4/10.

Release Date October 7, 2022

Director Todd Field

Cast Sophie Kauer, Noemie Merlant, Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss, Julian Glover

Runtime 2 hr 38 min

Genres Drama, Psychological

Tár revolves around the titular character Lydia Tár ( Cate Blanchett ), a pioneering conductor of a renowned German Orchestra. At the peak of her career, she's gearing up for a book launch and a highly anticipated live performance of Mahler's Fifth Symphony. However, as the following weeks unfold, her life takes a uniquely modern turn, resulting in a compelling exploration of power, its consequences, and its relevance in contemporary society.

Tár is a brilliantly crafted depiction of a complex woman and her various relationships — with her family, her industry, and time itself. The film is also a nuanced work that naturally prompts challenging and uncomfortable conversations about women in positions of power and the potential for power abuse. Furthermore, Tár stands out as an atypical #MeToo movement story in which the perpetrator is a woman. It underscores the important message that danger and threats can emerge from unexpected sources, even within what is traditionally considered a victim pool. Tár also refrains from making overt, accusatory statements about the state of our society and individuals in positions of authority. Instead, it invites the audience to examine Lydia, encouraging them to perceive her in her entirety and to form their own conclusions. - Jessie Nguyen

'Funny Girl' (1968)

Release Date September 18, 1968

Director William Wyler

Cast Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Omar Sharif, Barbra Streisand

Runtime 2 hr 29 min

Genres Biography, Drama, Comedy, Musical

Earning eight Academy Award nominations, Funny Girl is the iconic musical comedy film that was not only Barbra Streisand ’s film debut but also gave her her first Oscar. Directed by William Wyler , Funny Girl is based on the true story of comedienne Fanny Brice (Streisand), her romance with Nick Arnstein ( Omar Sharif ), and her rise to stardom around World War I. Supported by Kay Medford and Anne Francis , Funny Girl was adapted by Isobel Lennart from her book for the semi-biographical Broadway show.

With recent returns to Broadway, allowing both Beanie Feldstein and Lea Michele a chance at playing Brice, Funny Girl continues to hold strong to its legacy, yet no performance is better than Streisand’s award-winning portrayal. With hilarious jokes and memorable quips, Funny Girl also shines due to the catchy, and now legendary, musical numbers, including Don’t Rain on My Parade and People . - Yael Tygiel

'Heathers' (1989)

Rotten tomatoes: 93% | imdb: 7.2/10.

Release Date March 31, 1989

Director Michael Lehmann

Cast Penelope Milford, Winona Ryder, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, Shannen Doherty, Christian Slater

Runtime 103

Genres Comedy, Thriller, Documentary

Heathers revolves around Veronica Sawyer, played by Winona Ryder , who is part of a popular but cruel clique of girls, all named Heather, at Westerburg High School. The Heathers, led by the domineering and ruthless Heather Chandler ( Kim Walker ), engage in manipulative and bullying behavior. Veronica becomes disillusioned with the Heathers and falls for a rebellious new student named Jason "J.D." Dean ( Christian Slater ). Together, they embark on a dark and satirical journey, inadvertently causing chaos and violence in the high school.

Even three decades later, Heathers remains an iconic movie about high school and has achieved cult classic status over the years, drawing a dedicated fan base. It satirically comments on high school social dynamics, bullying, and extremes, featuring memorable characters like the domineering Heather Chandler and rebellious J.D., who have left an enduring mark on pop culture. Additionally, Heathers is a unique blend of horror, satire, and teen drama, along with its sharp dialogue and dark high school politics, setting it apart in the high school movie genre. The film's distinctive '80s aesthetic and killer soundtrack also further enhance its visual and auditory appeal. Moreover, Ryder flawlessly embodies a character that fans can scarcely believe exists in real life, cementing it as one of her most iconic roles ever. - Jessie Nguyen

'Sylvie's Love' (2020)

Rotten tomatoes: 93% | imdb: 6.8/10, sylvie's love.

Release Date December 23, 2020

Director Eugene Ashe

Cast Ryan Michelle Bathe, Tessa Thompson, Rege-Jean Page, Nnamdi Asomugha, Aja Naomi King, Eva Longoria

Runtime 1 hr 54 min

Genres Drama, Romance

Set in the hot New York summer of 1957, Sylvie's Love tells the story of Robert ( Nnamdi Asomugha ), a saxophonist playing in a jazz quartet led by a less talented bandleader, and Sylvie ( Tessa Thompson ), a young woman dreaming of a television career while working at her father's record store as she awaits her fiancé's return from war. When Robert starts working part-time at the record store, their friendship ignites a profound passion in each of them, unlike anything they've ever experienced.

Sylvie's Love is a nostalgic throwback that envelops the audience in a lush cinematic tapestry of jazz, ambition, and starry-eyed enchantment, creating a captivating and evocative experience. Rather than following the typical "boy meets girl and falls in love" formula, the film presents a narrative that harks back to the classic storytelling of Hollywood's golden years — an approach that people of color should have had the opportunity to take on leading roles in. Furthermore, the film strikes a balance of being heartwarming without becoming overly sentimental. It also serves as a showcase for the exceptional chemistry between Thompson and Asomugha. In an era when Black love stories were rarely portrayed in this manner, it's wonderful that we've reached a point where such stories can be beautifully depicted. - Jessie Nguyen

'Interstellar' (2014)

Rotten tomatoes: 73% | imdb: 8.7/10, interstellar.

Release Date November 7, 2014

Director Christopher Nolan

Cast Matthew McConaughey, Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Casey Affleck, Bill Irwin

Runtime 169 minutes

Genres Drama, Sci-Fi, Adventure

Read Our Review This critically acclaimed mind-bender from Christopher Nolan stars Matthew McConaughey as farmer and ex-NASA pilot Cooper, a man charged with entering a wormhole in an attempt to secure a future for humankind. Devastated by its brutal climate, Earth has become uninhabitable, and only a voyage through a newly-found wormhole can discover if another planet may become our new home. However, Cooper’s trip to save the world may, in fact, teach him more about his own life than anyone else’s.

Cinema at its visual best, Interstellar is a masterpiece in modern technology, managing to capture the vast scope and wonder of the universe without ever using broad strokes. Jonathan and Christopher Nolan’s time-bending narrative has to be seen to be believed, with the mind-boggling depths of space matched by the mind-boggling depths of this story. When incredible performances, eye-popping visuals, and a heartfelt story combine, you can guarantee a recipe for success, with Interstellar even winning an Academy Award. - Jake Hodges

'Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 91% | imdb: 7.3/10, dungeons & dragons: honor among thieves.

Release Date March 31, 2023

Director John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein

Cast Jason Wong, Daisy Head, Justice Smith, Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Rege-Jean Page, Chloe Coleman, Sophia Lillis, Ansel Elgort

Runtime 134 minutes

Genres Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Read Our Review Based on the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons , this film by directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein tells the story of Chris Pine ’s Edgin Darvis, a bard and former gang member who is left to bring up his daughter alone following the tragic death of his wife. After meeting Holga ( Michelle Rodriguez ), the two become close, with Holga even acting as a surrogate mother to Edgin’s daughter. As a team, they attempt to find a magic stone to bring the mother back to life but are frustratingly captured and imprisoned before they can succeed. With so much on the line, how will the care of a father defeat the improbable, all in the name of familial love?

Just like the game it comes from, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is packed full of fun fantasy adventure, with many comparisons made to the Guardians of the Galaxy series. Among an all-star cast, Hugh Grant stands out in his all-new villain era, thriving thanks to his dastardly evil front with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Despite indulging in its own lore, the plot never loses sight of the genuine depth at its heart, with this movie certainly able to be enjoyed by the entire family. - Jake Hodges

'M3GAN' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 93% | imdb: 6.4/10.

Release Date January 6, 2023

Director Gerard Johnstone

Cast Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, Ronny Chieng, Allison Williams

Runtime 102 minutes

Genres Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror

Read Our Review This futuristic horror stars Allison Williams as Gemma, an engineer at a robotic toy manufacturer whose life changes after she suddenly becomes the sole caregiver to her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady ( Violet McGraw ). Trying to make the most of the situation, Gemma sees Cady as a chance to test out her company’s latest invention: a lifelike robot called M3GAN ( Amie Donald ), voiced by Jenna Davis . In an attempt to help both herself and her niece, who is struggling to make friends, the prototype robot instead causes unforeseen havoc for all parties involved.

A horror movie with a finger on the pulse of modern attitudes to technology, M3GAN is a disturbing adventure that will make you want to switch off your smart devices. Although the story follows many of the beats a normal horror narrative would, a perfect formula need not be tampered with as director Gerard Johnstone delivers everything a fan of the genre could ask for. Fun, thrilling, and intense, M3GAN is a shining example of why creative horror movies like this are impossible to miss. - Jake Hodges

'Top Gun: Maverick' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 96% | imdb: 8.3/10, top gun: maverick.

After thirty years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads TOP GUN's elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.

Release Date May 27, 2022

Director Joseph Kosinski

Cast Val Kilmer, Ed Harris, Monica Barbaro, Tom Cruise, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Connelly

Runtime 146

Genres Drama, Action, War

Read Our Review Set 36 years after the release of the original, Top Gun: Maverick catches up with the titular high-flyer ( Tom Cruise ) after he rejoins the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program. No longer the budding young talent he once was, Maverick is charged with training up the heroes of tomorrow to face the toughest of missions. With his past also ready to be battled, that particular challenge manifests itself in the form of one of his trainees: the son of his deceased best friend Goose, played by Miles Teller .

Jam-packed full of action stunts and eye-popping set pieces, it could have been easy for director Joseph Kosinski and the rest of the Top Gun team to simply make an ode to the classic it is a sequel of, but Top Gun: Maverick instead uses the pedestal created by the original as a springboard to make one of the most exciting films of the 2020s so far. Put simply, there were many cries for this sequel to not be made, with plenty citing Top Gun ’s satisfying ending as more than enough for this particular story… how wrong they were. - Jake Hodges

'Charade' (1963)

Rotten tomatoes: 94% | imdb: 7.9/10.

Release Date December 25, 1963

Director Stanley Donen

Cast Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn

Runtime 1 hr 53 min

Genres Romantic Comedy

Starring the timeless pairing of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn , Charade follows Hepburn’s Regina Lampert, who, after admitting her plan to leave her husband, returns to Paris to find her belongings stolen and is informed her husband is dead. Despite initial blame pinned on the now deceased spouse, Regina is unsure of what to believe and, with the help of new friend Peter (Cary Grant), goes on a mission to track down the truth. However, it is Regina and Peter themselves who are also being tracked down as this mystery unravels with twists and turns aplenty.

A classic in many ways, Charade represents the best of a golden period of cinema, with a swelling score, charming comedic dialogue, and a central pair with more chemistry than a science lab. Widely cited as one of Hepburn’s best films, Charade excels as a narrative that, on its surface, feels superficially hilarious but, when digging deeper, actually contains a gripping tale of deceit and betrayal. Colorful, vibrant, and wild, Charade is the definition of fun, with it holding up today just as well as it did in 1963. - Jake Hodges

'Nanny' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 90% | imdb: 5.3/10.

Release Date November 23, 2022

Director Nikyatu Jusu

Cast Sinqua Walls, Michelle Monaghan, Anna Diop

Runtime 1 hr 38 min

Genres Psychological, Horror

Read Our Review A film that found enormous success on the festival circuit before making its way to Prime, Nanny follows Aisha ( Anna Diop ), a woman who, whilst leaving her son behind, traveled from Senegal to New York City on the hunt for the American Dream. After becoming a nanny for a middle-class career-driven white couple, she ends up connecting with their 6-year-old daughter Rose ( Rose Decker ) as her life slowly becomes attached to this family’s. However, as the family unit begins to unravel, so does Aisha’s mental state, with her disconnection from her son causing much more harm than she had once thought.

A horror movie with a deeply personal central message, Nanny is a mature story that comes surprisingly as writer/director Nikyatu Jusu ’s debut feature. Rather than simply molding to the generic expectations of horror, Jusu instead adds horror flourishings to a touching dramatic script with all the sadness and depth of a tragedy. The final twist is brilliantly crafted, with each beat of the story unexpectedly serving the film’s triumphant ending. Riddled with tension, Nanny must be added to your watch list with haste. - Jake Hodges

'It's a Wonderful Life' (1947)

Rotten tomatoes: 94% | imdb: 8.6/10, it's a wonderful life.

An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

Release Date January 7, 1947

Director Frank Capra

Cast Lionel Barrymore, Donna Reed, James Stewart, Thomas Mitchell

Runtime 131

Genres Christmas, Supernatural, Drama

Read Our Review Widely regarded as the greatest Christmas movie of all time, It’s A Wonderful Life follows James Stewart ’s businessman George who, after generously donating much of his life to those less fortunate than him, finds himself stuck in a rut on Christmas Eve after financial trouble. Fearing for his own safety after he is sure to be accused of a crime he didn’t commit, George makes the decision that the lives of his loved ones would be better off without him. That is until he is visited by an angel ( Henry Travers ). By showing George how much poorer life would have been if he had never been born, will the guardian angel finally restore George’s faith?

A story with the true spirit of Christmas at its heart, It’s A Wonderful Life is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, managing to blend tear-jerking drama with genuinely hope-filled fantasy. Considered legendary for a reason, James Stewart’s performance as George is quite possibly the iconic actor’s best, with the rest of the ensemble also in top form. Writer/director Frank Capra cements himself as one of the greats of Hollywood’s classic era, with this movie quite possibly his crowning achievement. - Jake Hodges

'Hellraiser' (1987)

Rotten tomatoes: 70% | imdb: 6.9/10, hellraiser (1987).

Release Date September 18, 1987

Director Clive Barker

Cast Robert Hines, Oliver Smith, Sean Chapman, Andrew Robinson, Ashley Laurence, Clare Higgins

Runtime 94 minutes

Genres Horror

Read Our Review This cult classic horror from writer/director Clive Barker , based on his own novella, follows the aftermath of the summoning of demonic beings from an other-worldly puzzle box —sadomasochistic creatures that find pleasure in pain. After finding the resurrected body of her brother-in-law Frank ( Sean Chapman ), the man who first opened the puzzle box, Julia ( Clare Higgins ) is convinced to seek blood sacrifices in an attempt to save Frank from the clutches of the demonic creatures led by the iconic Pinhead.

Spawning a total of nine sequels, Hellraiser has found itself a huge fanbase thanks to its unique story and legendary villain. Certainly the best in the series, the original Hellraiser is a masterpiece in building tension and creating visual horror, with cinematographer Robin Vidgeon crafting a beautifully gruesome set of scenes that make it impossible to look away. Director Clive Barker uses his love of close-ups to accentuate the striking effects at work, with Pinhead in particular perfect fuel for years of nightmares — or at the very least, fuel to make you cancel your acupuncture appointment. - Jake Hodges

'Val' (2021)

Rotten tomatoes: 94% | imdb: 7.6/10.

Release Date August 6, 2021

Director Leo Scott, Ting Poo

Cast Val Kilmer

Runtime 1hr 49min

Genres Documentary

Read Our Review The celebrity documentary has become a staple of mainstream viewing over the last few years, with this particular example centering on the life of the Hollywood icon Val Kilmer . From unseen home footage from his childhood to an unfiltered look at his time as an actor from Batman to Top Gun , Val wades through the hundreds of hours of content from his life to cherry-pick a selection of moments that beautifully encapsulate the spectrum of experience of the beloved performer.

Directors Ting Poo and Leo Scott take a saturated genre and breathe new life into it with a storytelling style that feels straight out of an experimental piece. Raw and intimate, no punches are pulled in the depiction of Kilmer’s life, with the movie feeling like both an ode to the actor and a deep dive into some of the dangers of living such a high-profile life. Serving as a producer on the project, Val Kilmer himself adds a genuine sense of memory to the movie, creating an aura of nostalgia that will leave you in contemplative silence as the credits roll. - Jake Hodges

The 29 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video (March 2024)

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2024, Comedy/Drama, 2h 11m

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Crew   photos.

Three ordinary air hostesses from Mumbai embark on a journey to pursue their dreams, but find themselves caught up in unexpected misfortunes.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Original Language: Hindi

Director: Rajesh Krishnan

Producer: Anil Kapoor , Ekta Kapoor , Rhea Kapoor , Shobha Kapoor

Writer: Nidhi Mehra , Mehul Suri

Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 2024  limited

Runtime: 2h 11m

Distributor: FunAsia Films

Cast & Crew

Kareena Kapoor

Kriti Sanon

Diljit Dosanjh

Kapil Sharma

Rajesh Krishnan

Nidhi Mehra

Screenwriter

Anil Kapoor

Ekta Kapoor

Rhea Kapoor

Shobha Kapoor

Anuj Dhawan

Cinematographer

Raj Ranjodh

Original Music

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  2. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) Movie Information & Trailers

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  4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

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VIDEO

  1. THE HOBBIT unexpected journey 2012 @jackkhiangte movie recap!

  2. FIRST TIME WATCHING THE HOBBIT

  3. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey OST

  4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

  5. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Movie Review

  6. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

COMMENTS

  1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

    Movie Info. 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 ...

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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, ... The ensemble cast also includes Ken Stott, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, ... The film holds a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 306 reviews, with an average score of 6.60/10. The site's consensus reads ...

  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 ...

  6. 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' Review

    Follow me on Twitter @ benkendrick for future reviews, as well as movie, TV, and gaming news. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images. Now playing in 2D, 3D, IMAX, and 48fps theaters. If The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is any indication of what's to ...

  7. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Review

    THE HOBBIT Review. Our review of director Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, starring Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage & Ian McKellen.

  8. 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.

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

    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 ...

  10. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review

    Release Date: 12 Dec 2012. Running Time: 169 minutes. Certificate: 12A. Original Title: Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The. "All good stories deserve embellishment," Gandalf The Grey (Ian ...

  11. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

    The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic 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 ...

  12. 'The Hobbit': Is 'Smaug' better than 'An Unexpected Journey'?

    But in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, part 2 of Jackson's three-part quest to wring ever last ounce of drama from Tolkien's slim Lord of the Ring 's predecessor, the visual feast ...

  13. 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' Trailer Is Here!

    A few days ago Peter Jackson announced that, in celebration of Tolkien week, a second, full-length trailer would be released for the first installment in his Hobbit trilogy, titled The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.For many a fan, this is the first new footage they've been treated to since the teaser premiered some nine months ago; others will recognize that a healthy chunk of the new trailer ...

  14. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

    In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Peter Jackson returns us to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, and it's like taking a welcome trip back to a fondly remembered place in our cinematic memory.Almost ten years after his final entry in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Jackson's team revisits Middle Earth to embark on another series of adventures inspired by Tolkien's single volume of The Hobbit ...

  15. Parental Guidance: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ...

    This week in family viewing, we take a journey to Middle-earth with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. On DVD and Blu-ray, we've got the spy thriller The Bourne Legacy and the animated sequel Ice Age: Continental Drift. Read on to find out what's appropriate for the whole family.

  16. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Pictures

    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Pictures and Photo Gallery -- Check out just released The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Pics, Images, Clips, Trailers, Production Photos and more from Rotten ...

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    Embarking on a journey of heartfelt connections led by director John Carney, Modern Love weaves a tapestry of touching tales. Anne Hathaway, famed for The Devil Wears Prada, brings to life a woman ...

  18. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

    This week in family films, prepare for a journey: we'll take you across stone age landscapes (The Croods) to Middle-earth (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) to the dusty streets of Paris (Les Misérables). Read on to find out what's appropriate for family viewing.

  19. The 42 Best Shows on Apple TV+ Right Now (March 2024)

    Read Our Review. The New Look covers the rise of now-iconic fashion designer Christian Dior as he goes head-to-head in the cutthroat industry against Coco Chanel.A period piece, the show is set ...

  20. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

    Movie Info. Having survived the first part of their unsettling journey, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and his companions (Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage) continue east. More dangers await them ...

  21. The 29 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video (March 2024)

    Read Our Review A modern reimagining of the 1989 Patrick Swayze film, Road House is an action drama movie that stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, and Conor McGregor in his feature film debut ...

  22. Crew

    Three ordinary air hostesses from Mumbai embark on a journey to pursue their dreams, but find themselves caught up in unexpected misfortunes.