Fast-forward to 2012, and Jackson might not be so big anymore, but his return to Middle Earth is nonetheless greatly anticipated by fans of both his original films and Tolkien's world.
So can The Hobbit live up to the hype?
Er, of course it can. Here's why:
#1 The Story
Jackson's decision to split The Hobbit into a trilogy has been met with much consternation, but regardless of how you feel about it the guy knows how to tell a tale. 60 years previous to passing the ring of power to Frodo we meet Bilbo, a respectable and conservative hobbit whose priorities in life revolve mainly around his armchair and pantry. But the interference of a mischievous wizard and the plight of a company of 13 dwarves compel him to leave Bag End behind as he embarks on an adventure to find - and defeat - a dragon. An Unexpected Journey fulfils the 'Fellowship of the Ring' role in this trilogy, introducing us to its myriad characters and telling the backstory in great detail. As he has before, Jackson immerses us in Tolkien's world, giving us characters to love, laugh at, feel sympathy for, and hate - sometimes all at once - with the greatest respect for the author's creation.
#2 The Performances
Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian 'YOU SHALL NOT PASS' McKellan… with a cast like this how could it possibly fail? As young Bilbo, Freeman's performance is near-perfect, giving just the right amount of grump and vulnerability to make the earnest Hobbit believable without seeming cloying. Armitage, meanwhile, has captured his proud, pompous warrior dwarf-King perfectly, bringing a man anyone would follow into battle to the big screen. It's simply impossible, meanwhile, to imagine anyone but McKellan as Gandalf. He is, just as he was. And that's the greatest compliment we could possibly give.
While the company of 13 dwarves are at times difficult to distinguish, by the movie's end we've come to know their distinct personalities and abilities and are able to tell the difference between them. Standout performances come from Ken Stott and Graham McTavish as brothers Balin and Dwalin, while James Nesbitt was born to play fun-loving Bofur, and we were most impressed that Aidan Turner still manages to maintain his hotness despite all the… you know… 'dwarf'.
#3 The Cameos
Whether he did it for the fans, the crack, or he's just really clever, Jackson's incorporation of the LOTR characters we know and love (some of whom don't appear in Tolkien's tale) into The Hobbit serve not only to give us a little geeky cheer whenever they appear, but also to help immerse us further in the story. Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee and Andy Serkis all reprise their roles in An Unexpected Journey, and it was nothing short of wonderful to see them return.
#4 The Action
For all their quests for peace, the population of Middle Earth don't really believe in a quiet life, do they? Those who are worried that watching a bunch of halflings swing their swords won't have the same gravitas as seeing Aragorn and Boromir do battle, shouldn't be. Short, they might be, but sweet the company of Thorin Oakenshield ain't. They know how to told their own - against mountain trolls and orcs and goblins alike. It's all very impressive.
#5 The Direction & Cinematography
It should be no surprise that this movie is pretty jaw-dropping. Explosive battles are enhanced by lots of 3D plunging from huge heights, Rivendell looks as magical as ever, and the backdrop provided by New Zealand's stunning natural beauty is simply stunning.
The decision to shoot in HFR (High Frame Rate: 48 frames a second as opposed to the traditional 24), however, we suspect will remain a controversial one. It undoubtedly enhances the realism of the film, but also takes some getting used to. And, ultimately, this reviewer left the cinema wondering why realism is necessary in a world of orcs and goblins and wargs and quite a lot of CGI. The HFR effect, for us, was one that killed the fantasy a little, making us feel like we were watching a theatre production on TV. Our next viewing - and there will be one - will be in good old 2D, and 24FPS.
GG♥SF Verdict: ♥♥♥♥♥ - a very welcome return to a world we fell in love with over 10 years ago, but one that could be made even better by going a bit low-tech on a second viewing.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits cinemas on Thursday 13th December, 2012.
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