Hope I will live to see them all.... I like that fact there is a variety of action in this saga, but I am upset the story stops with the dragon opening his eye. Yikes, why do we have to wait so long for another film? Why? Poor planning in a sequence of films but EXCELLENT ACTORS who make the woes of Middle Earth something we can relate to. The film is an excellent vehicle to teach (in a small way) the character traits of hero’s that are small and humble. Yeah Bilbo, yeah Gandalf, (OK Dwarves), and yeah Elves who think of others and not just gold or Hollywood (TMZ). Waiting for the next film…hope I will live to see them all.

Serious disappointment I really loved Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" principally because he followed the story so faithfully. So imagine my disappointment at seeing The Hobbit gratuitously padded with characters who are pulled straight from Melville's "Moby Dick" and chase scenes that would have wound up on the cutting room floor of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". Aweful.

Great movie This is a great movie. Tolkien purists may complain that it deviated from the text of the book which it does. But it gets a lot of it right. Most importantly the more light hearted tone of The Hobbit comes through. I loved the crazy chase under the mountain. I even enjoyed the non-canon rabbit sleigh. Was there additions to the book? Yes. Did it make the movie worse? Not noticeably to this Ringer. Great movie. Can't wait for the next installment.

Predictable, unimaginative, awful From the terrible casting of all the new characters, the acting, to a highly unimaginative and predictable script, this inaugural video is even worse than Jackson's 2nd LOTR film (the latter of which is only worth watching for the Ents and the Legolas/Gimly banter). Sorry, but the casting of the dwarves, Bilbo the younger, and the whole Goblin (err Ork) fiasco just don't cut it. Unless something drastically changes in the next 2 films in this series, there's no chance we'll watch them.

Spectacularly amazing, beautifully portrayed Very close to my imagination in the book with many scenes. Read the book at least 4 or 5 times.. Wonderfully portrayed movie.. Better than any Lord of the rings because the scenes were better harnessed instead of skipping around..Good story line and acting, reminded me of old 3 star wars film making. Riddles in the dark was extemely close to the book. If you don't give this 5 stars, then lay down the pipe.

Such a disappointment... I consider myself a HUGE Tolkien fan. I'm also a huge fan of Peter Jackson's vision and translation of LotR but this movie was an abomination. It was as though George Lucas had a hand in its production for all the useless, contrived and overtly gratuitous hamming of several scenes. The chase scene in the goblin mines??? Come on, Peter. It was like one reviewer mentioned, a scene better left on the Indiana Jones cutting room floor. Absolutely pathetic and such a disappointment.

There are few artists but many critics I love the scene from History of the World Part I when the first cave painting by man is created. Immediately after, the first critic appears, smugly considers the cave painting and pees on it. The Hobbit was a great movie. The production was first rate, the score was brilliant, the acting again, first rate. Too long? fine. A twenty minute trim might have made it better. Otherwise, it was a very good movie.....but like any subjective piece, you would ask "compared to what?". Inevitably to the near perfect LOTR. I am sure had this been Peter Jackson's first movie based on a Tolkien book, much of the whining would be abscent. I said it was a great movie, not a perfect movie. If you paid to see the movie and didn't like it, fine, it didn't meet your stratospheric standards for film. Pan it and move on. .......or, try and create something yourself.

Based on a true story... Based on a true story... I don't mean based on real-life events. This echo of the books is based on good solid story-telling. It fails, at least as the first three movies, to even resemble the atmosphere and deeper meaning of Tolkien's book. Tolkien's genius was not in slapstick humor of dwarves belching and a lonely hobbit deciding on a whim to go "on an adventure". It feels like the plot was made for an 8 year old, yet the violate graphical nature is somewhat mature. A young fresh version would be true to the air of the book, or a modern mature rendering would also be acceptable. However, it ends up really silly at times, and bloated with non-Tolkien material almost all the time. I have some hope for the next two in the series since the Lord of the Rings trilogy was done quite well. Yet, if this film was any sign of things to come, I will truly lament the missed chance Jackson had to produce a well-told story.

The Hobbit: A Journey We Expected “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (the movie) was released on December 14, 2012. It was no doubt one of the most highly anticipated movies to come out in cinemas in 2012. It was based of the book The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and is also intertwined with the Lord of the Rings books by J.R.R. Tolkien. “An Unexpected Journey” is one of a trilogy of movies, as if the makers of this movie are trying to extract all that is left of Tolkien’s work in three movies. The story is fabricated upon a mythical land consisting of dwarves, elves, hobbits, dragons and many more. In the movie Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, and a group of dwarves go on an adventure to take back a dragon hoard that is rightfully theirs. Along the way they encounter many challenges and predicaments. Bilbo must prove himself to be worthy of the expedition while trying to stay alive. Some challenges include a troll, goblins, and even a time when Bilbo is separated from the group and must fight to stay alive by answering riddles to a strange creature named Gollum. Thorin, the leader of the group of dwarves also expresses his distaste and annoyance of Bilbo very openly. Although, in the movie it did seem that Tho

A little inaccurate There were a few things that weren't spot on such as the passage of time in the beginning, but overall it was pretty good. Sad to see most of the negative reviews here not sharing any actual critique. The movie's best feature was definitely the environment. It was great to visit Middle-Earth again. Though I agree with some that it dragged on at points, bur not enough to completely ruin my enjoyment of the movie.

Long Great story and fun to watch. It dragged on in some places but was an overall pleasure to watch. I think going from the last movie in this universe where we see everyone max level to seeing them at level one makes some of the sequences seem underwhelming. In Lord of the Rings we saw entire armies of 10,000 soldiers duke it out and here we see the plight of a few dwarves. Ignoring my sub-conscience's desire to see larger and more elaborate battles and scale from the LotR universe; The Hobbit is a wonderful movie that I think most will enjoy.

Fantastic, Peter Jackson and all the actors at their best. I know it differs from the book in several was (like every other LOTR movie), but honestly that's what makes the films so special and fantastic. I love how it kept me engaged through out the movie, balancing out the action scenes with funny and witty side scenes. Only things that bothered me was that they made the Orcs digital (especially Azog), this was really the first time they did that and the Orcs look blatantly fake. I would've liked it if they made Richard Armitage look more like a genuine Dwarf, he looked more like a short, stocky man. He did put on a great performance as Thorin. The actor who played Balin looked and sounded exactly as I had imagined him. And Ian McKellin as Gandalf never ceases to blow Dumbledore or any other wizard out of the water. I'm glad they started to show off his magical abilities for once. I loved the riddles in the dark scene, that scene is one that'll go down as one of the best of the decade. Martin Freeman, and Andy Serkis were sensational also. A 5 out of 5 despite the minor issues.

Phantom Menace it ain't The various criticisms about pacing are valid, especially for the first half of the film; I hope the editor has some caffeine next time. But as a casual Tolkien fan I was thoroughly delighted, and as a movie watcher I was entertained. Recommended (with the caveat that some patience is required).

A Far Cry from LOTR They should have kept this to 2 movies. All the added appendix stories really dragged the adventure of Bilbo Baggins down. Radagast, Galadriel, the Necromancer, the orc warlord, and Saruman just diverted attention from the story. It made the movie feel as long as it really was. LOTR never did that. Also, the portrayal of the dwarves was awful. With the exception of Thorin, they were all one dimensional comedic relief characters, and their action scenes were mostly pratfalls and farce. Very disappointing.

Amazing Even though i didnt see the movie or read the book, i read the book of the second one and its a lot like the first one. It is a amazing story writen by the genius J.R.R Tolkien, unfortenely he passed away and ofcourse we all want him to still be alive and play with our imaginations. The only thing about reading the book before watching the movie is that it kind of migh dissapoint you because you might imagine the characters or the scenes way differently. Please dont get me wrong, this is a amazing movie.

good and bad i read the book before going to see the movie. i loved the book! there things exactly described in the book. there are other things which are not. for me, it was good and bad. i will buy it later, 3d didn't impress me that much. the landscapes were very nicely done in 3d, else meh...

Took me back! I watched the animated version often as a kid, and this excellent rendition reminded me of many great moments in the story. To bad it will take three films to complete. Good movie if you haven't seen it!

Weak, boring and stupid This 'adaptation' of Tolkien's story is filled with pointless deviations from, addendums to and bastardizations. Pointless fight scenes, bizarre plot decisions and crappy side stories turn a true classic into utter crap.

Me and daughter love it!!!!!! This movie was very creative and the film locations were breath taking. Very much like the lord of the rings presenting a story of how things started. Its a journey into this little guy life of seclusion but he wants more out of his life. So his quest begins as the little man. But he that is little has advantage and the wizards knows it. Enjoy the movie.......

Love LOTR HATE THIS!!! Horrible Horrible Horrible, sure the quality of the production is great but the pacing, the story 1/2 way through the film and I was still waiting for something interesting to happen. LOTR had depth this was just a flight movie with one dimensional characters, felt like someone was just trying to relive the Glory days.