Trailer Breakdown: THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

After the smash hit of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the early 2000s, it was only a matter of time before director Peter Jackson brought The Hobbit to life as well. As one can imagine, Jackson has split the story into three separate films, the first of which - subtitled An Unexpected Journey - will be released this December. Here's the first, and still only, full-length trailer available for the film:

And now, for a few questions that came to mind after watching the trailer:

1. At the end of the day, The Hobbit trilogy is going to be compared to the Lord of the Rings trilogy whether it likes it or not, so why not tackle that right now? How will this new "franchise" hold up in comparison to its predecessor?

When you take a look back at the accomplishments of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, it can seem a bit staggering. Combined, those three films won a total of seventeen Academy Awards and have earned over $2.9 billion at the worldwide box office. You can make the argument that The Lord of the Rings is the franchise of the 21st century, and you probably wouldn't have many naysayers. All that being said, how will The Hobbit fare in comparison? I think the hype leading up to this first film will bring plenty of people to the theaters, but the overall success of the continued franchise will rely on how well-made An Unexpected Journey proves to be.

2. Why is this new saga being released so long after The Lord of the Rings? Will that affect its popularity?

There are a number of reasons that Peter Jackson probably waited this long to bring The Hobbit to audiences, many of which probably deal with his work schedule. In the time between The Lord of the Rings and now, he directed both 2005's King Kong and 2009's The Lovely Bones, both of which were rather grand in stature. After spending so much time creating The Lord of the Rings, the guy probably needed a bit of a break. Seeing as The Hobbit has, like its predecessor, all been shot at once, Jackson ultimately just needed the time to take on such an endeavor.

Now, as to the question of whether or not the nine-year delay between The Return of the King and An Unexpected Journey will have any affect on this new film's popularity, I have a few mixed feelings. Normally, I'd want to say that it will have no bearing, and the recent buzz makes it seem as though there are quite a few people excited for this film. However, in a world where franchises like Spider-Man are being rebooted only five years after the previous installment, it's really hard to say how today's "younger" audience will take an epic feature like The Hobbit. Teens and young adults are sure to be a key demographic for The Hobbit, but these people were only pre-teens or younger when The Lord of the Rings was released. Who knows how they'll respond to a film like this. 

3. Why is Jackson crafting The Hobbit into a trilogy rather than the original plan of a two-parter?

To be honest, I'm still trying to figure this one out. When the announcement for a third Hobbit film was made, Jackson stated, "It has been an unexpected journey indeed, and in the words of Professor Tolkien himself, 'a tale that grew in the telling.'" He hopes that using three films will allow him to tell more of the story, but it's left a lot of people scratching their heads. From a pure standpoint of source material, we can see why a The Lord of the Rings trilogy made sense: it was already separated into three books with a combined page count of over 1500. The Hobbit, however, is a stand-alone story that tops out at 310 pages, making it shorter than any of the Lord of the Rings books individually. How can Jackson possibly craft two films, let alone three, out of such a small amount of material? This one has all the feel of a grab for more money, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. 

4. At least the film seems to have the same vibe as The Lord of the Rings, right?

From this lone trailer, I think we're seeing a lot of the same pieces we got from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and I think that bodes well for the carry-over audience. At the end of the day, most fans of a franchise want to see something similar to what they've already loved, and The Hobbit presents a very strong possibility for such. The trailer seems to show a good mix of drama, comedy, adventure and action, all of which made The Lord of the Rings such a success. If The Hobbit can dial into that vibe, there's no limit to what success it may enjoy.

5. Doesn't it seem like there are a lot of characters bouncing around?

That was one of my first real issues with the trailer. We're introduced to a number of characters right from the start, and they come flying at you at a very rapid pace. While The Lord of the Rings had a slew of key central characters, it never really felt like there were too many. Everyone played their role, and it all balanced quite well. This trailer, however, makes it seem like there are a few too many new pieces entering the canon, and that may cause a bit of confusion for movie-goers. 

6. Is anyone from the cast of The Lord of the Rings returning for The Hobbit?

While a lot of the talk should be about the newer characters - namely, Martin Freeman as a younger Bilbo Baggins - many people are going to wonder which of their favorite characters will be making appearances this time around. Heavily featured in the trailer is Sir Ian McKellen's Gandalf, so we can be sure to see plenty of him. Also noticeable are the returns of Cate Blanchett as Galadriel and Andy Serkis as Gollum. And according to the cast list, we should be seeing appearances by Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood and Ian Holm. So we'll see how that goes, I suppose.

At the end of the day, none of us can truly be sure as to what's going to happen in The Hobbit, and we can't know for sure just what kind of an impact it will have. Although I wasn't a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I do find the films entertaining, and I understand their impact and presence on the cinematic landscape. For that reason, I am excited for, and am eagerly awaiting, the release of The Hobbit this holiday season.

The Hobbit is currently slated for a December 14, 2012 release here in the United States.

2012 Movie Preview

Happy 2012, everyone! I hope everybody had a splendid (and safe) New Year's Eve and New Year's morning. I myself had work all through the night, but I am back and ready to tackle the new year of film. I'm sure you'll be seeing plenty of articles like this one over the course of the next week or so, as everyone will be telling you what films they think are worth your time in 2012. I, on the other hand, realize that everyone has their own taste in film, so my likes and dislikes are probably vastly different than yours, so the best I can do is tell you which movies I'm most excited to see this year and give you a little explanation as to why. And so, below you'll find the ten films I'm most eager to see in 2012 followed by a few others that almost made the cut. I hope you enjoy this post, and once again, happy new year everyone!

10. The Expendables 2
Release: August 17, 2012


Directed by: Simon West
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Randy Couture, Jean Claude Van Damme
-----
While the original film wasn't necessarily the greatest action movie to grace the silver screen, it was definitely one of my guilty pleasures of 2010. It's over-the-top ridiculousness was so brilliantly cheesy that it was hard not to like the film. Immediately, there was talk of a sequel, and it looks as though Sly Stallone might be pulling out all the stops for this one. When you have a cast list that includes names like Willis, Staham, Lundgren, Norris, Van Damme and Schwarzenegger, you can be sure that the filmmakers are going all out.

*****

9. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Release: December 14, 2012


Directed by: Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis
-----
I may be vehemently hated for what I'm about to say, but I was not a huge fan of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy back in the early 2000s. Yes, I concede that they were finely-crafted films that held audiences captivated for three years, but in terms of the critical success they achieved, I'm not quite sure they were all that deserved. That being said, I can't help but be prepared for the first installment in The Hobbit, which has been split into two parts, the first of which will be released this December.

*****

8. The Amazing Spider-man
Release: July 3, 2012


Directed by: Marc Webb
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Sally Field
-----
Like The Lord of the Rings, I was never a massive fan of Sam Raimi's Spider-man franchise, mostly because of my issues with Tobey Maguire's ability to act. When I heard that the franchise was to be rebooted, I had my qualms, but the casting of Andrew Garfield truly excited me in the prospects. As the cast list continued to grow, I became more and more anxious about how good this movie might actually be. I went so far as to break down the above trailer, which you can find here and will hopefully answer any questions I had about the film.

*****

7. The Cabin in the Woods
Release: April 13, 2012


Directed by: Drew Goddard
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins, Jesse Williams
-----
When I first saw the trailer for The Cabin in the Woods, I probably had the same thought as everyone else: "Great, not another one of these horror flicks." However, the trailer quickly gives us the following title cards: "You think you know the story. / You think you know the place. / Think again." Immediately, we're taken to a seemingly more sci-fi oriented piece, and I for one am eager to see just how it will all play out. For all I know, this will prove to be drivel, but with Joss Whedon producing and Chris Hemsworth as our lead, I'd bet that we're in for something a little bit different.

*****

6. Prometheus
Release: June 8, 2012


Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce
-----
What was originally going to be a direct prequel to the 1979 film Alien has become instead a preceding story that takes place in the same cinematic universe but doesn't directly reference any of the characters or events from the 1979 film. Despite this, we're getting Ridley Scott back in the director's chair, so my own personal excitement couldn't possibly be any higher. Let's just hope he still has that same magic touch he had thirty-three years ago.

*****

5. The Pirates! Band of Misfits
Release: March 30, 2012


Directed by: Jeff Newitt, Peter Lord
Starring: Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven, David Tennant, Brendan Gleeson, Martin Freeman, Imelda Staunton
-----
Sure, this movie could end up being an animated remake of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and I'm sure the success of those films were in part the reason behind making this little animated feature. Still, I've always been a fan of stop-motion animation, and this one actually looks to be a rather pleasing entry into the genre. And with vocal work from the likes of Grant, Hayek, Piven and Tennant, this should be a jolly good time on the high seas.

*****

4. Brave
Release: June 22, 2012


Directed by: Brenda Chapman, Mark Andrews
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane
-----
I'm going to come out and say this right now: Brave looks to be one of the most beautifully-crafted animated films ever to grace the silver screen. I know I'm putting a lot of stock into this one at such an early date, but Pixar has yet to offer a real stinker (sure, Cars 2 wasn't fantastic, but I didn't hate it). This movie, however, could easily find its way into the annals of the greatest animated films ever to be released. It's basing a lot off the trailer, but there looks to be comedy, adventure, action and a bit of drama in this one. I'm sure Pixar will find a way to blend it together perfectly and offer yet another fantastic film.

*****

3. Django Unchained
Release: December 25, 2012

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Samuel L. Jackson, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kurt Russell, James Remar, Christoph Waltz
-----
Growing up, I was never much of a fan of Tarantino's films. It wasn't until I saw 2009's Inglourious Basterds that I really started to see what all the hype was about. After going back and re-watching his other films, I'd have to say he's definitely one of the better directors of his generation. So when it was announced his next film would be Django Unchained, the story of a slave looking to exact revenge on his former master, I was ecstatic. And with a cast list that includes Foxx, DiCaprio, Gordon-Levitt, Jackson, Cohen, Russell, Remar and Waltz, I think we can all be a little bit excited.

*****

2. ParaNorman
Release: August 17, 2012


Directed by: Chris Butler, Sam Fell
Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Leslie Mann, John Goodman, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Casey Affleck
-----
It's from the makers of Coraline and offers an awesome trailer that's sure to stick in your mind. It's looking to be a bit of a horror or thriller that's probably accessible to kids, which means it won't end up being scary. But if it's even half as good as Coraline, then we should be in for quite a treat. The story follows young Norman, who can speak to the dead and must save his town from an old curse that's come to fruition. Sure, it sounds a tad cliché, but with these guys at the helm, I'm expecting something marvelous.

*****

1. The Dark Knight Rises
Release: July 20, 2012


Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Juno Temple
-----
If this film isn't at or near the top of everyone's list of "must-watch" films in 2012, then there's something wrong with them. After crafting a brilliant film in 2008's The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan has quite the pedestal to reach. I've done a trailer breakdown for the film's two trailers, and even those aren't enough to answer any of the questions lingering in my mind. And even though my excitement level is off the charts, I think there's only two ways this movie could possibly turn out: it will either be one of the greatest movies ever to grace a silver screen, or it will be a disappointment in comparison to its predecessor. There's no gray area for The Dark Knight Rises, but I have every faith in Nolan's ability to toss up another bit of brilliance and cement himself as arguably one of the greatest directors of all time.

*****

Also be on the lookout for the following films in theaters this year:

Man on a Ledge
Release: January 27, 2012
Directed by: Asger Leth
Starring: Sam Worthington, Ed Harris, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell

Big Miracle
Release: February 3, 2012
Directed by: Ken Kwapis
Starring: John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore, Ted Danson, Kristen Bell

Chronicle
Release: February 3, 2012
Directed by: Josh Trank
Starring: Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan, Alex Russell, Michael Kelly

Act of Valor
Release: February 24, 2012
Directed by: Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh
Starring: Roselyn Sanchez, Alex Veadov

Wanderlust
Release: February 24, 2012
Directed by: David Wain
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Malin Akerman, Justin Theroux

The Hunger Games
Release: March 23, 2012
Directed by: Gary Ross
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Wes Bentley, Elizabeth Banks

The Avengers
Release: May 4, 2012
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner

Men in Black III
Release: May 25, 2012
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Emma Thompson, Josh Brolin

Rock of Ages
Release: June 1, 2012
Directed by: Adam Shankman
Starring: Tom Cruise, Mary J. Blige, Julianne Hough, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones

Premium Rush
Release: August 24, 2012
Directed by: David Koepp
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon, Dania Ramirez, Jamie Chung

The Great Gatsby
Release: December 25, 2012
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher