The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey

Following his hit Lord of the Rings trilogy, director Peter Jackson travels further back through the history of Middle-earth to tell the story of Bilbo Baggins. Martin Freeman plays the titular hobbit with curmudgeonly charm, as he reluctantly leaves home to join a band of dwarves led by Thorin (Richard Armitage doing mean and moody) on a quest to reclaim his birthright. Ian McKellen makes an amusing double act with Freeman as the wizard Gandalf, who nudges him into action. Jackson's decision to split the book across three films means he struggles to impose an orderly structure, but he does deliver extraordinary set pieces such as a battle between stone giants and a fateful encounter with Gollum (Andy Serkis). The action is heightened with a superfast camera, but crystal clarity doesn't lend itself to a storybook aesthetic. Overall, it's a rocky road with some spectacular views, but you're left feeling there's a long way to go.