It may not be The Lord of the Rings, but we’re only getting started. We’ve got a few less hobbits, a lot more dwarves, and the same epic sense of adventure. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the start of another great trilogy by director Peter Jackson. I’m happy to say that it lived up to my expectations, perhaps even in ways I had not expected. Let me say up front that I have never read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, so I had very little knowledge of what was to come or what might happen, other than there being a hole in the ground, in which there lived a hobbit.

The fate of Middle Earth may not be at stake this time, but The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is no less exciting and adventurous. And it just feels good to be back in Middle Earth, enjoying a new story with all the familiar, lovable trappings.

Movie Rating: 5/5: Great.

Starring that guy from the British version of the Office

The Lord of the Rings films are my favorite of the great geek trilogies, so I was definitely looking forward to The Hobbit. Yet after seeing it, I felt as if something was missing; some special spark, some level and grandiose. Then I realized that I was comparing this one film to the entirety of previous trilogy, all the way from Fellowship of the Ring to Return of the King. And in that regard, of course, The Hobbit doesn’t hold up, because this is just one film of a whole new trilogy. There is much more adventure to come and more movies to see. And this new trilogy is definitely off to a good start.

Almost everything about this new movie succeeds. The story is a strong one and seems perfect for what we know of Middle Earth. The humor is delightful and definitely funny, and doesn’t over-saturate the film, unlike the action. There were times were I rolled my eyes at just how quickly the characters were thrust into another action scene, but they were still enjoyable to watch. The CGI didn’t bother me in the least. And the characters are especially fun, whether it’s seeing old favorites like Gandalf and Elrond, or meeting all the new dwarves; though unless you brought some kind of cheat sheet with you, only a few of the baker’s dozen dwarves really stood out. With the exception of Thorin Oakenshield, I forgot all of their names almost immediately.

But most importantly, Bilbo Baggins was one awesome hobbit. Much more badass than his nephew Frodo.

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