A: Adventure
Of course, the hobbits in <em>LOTR</em> and <em>The Hobbit</em> go on some big adventures. The fate of the entire world rests on their (little) shoulders. We, as viewers, live vicariously through them.
B: Bilbo Baggins
Bilbo, like Frodo in the <em>LOTR</em> movies, is the perfect main character: he is smart, industrious and strong of heart, and hasn't an evil bone in his body. You just want to cheer for him as you watch him embark on the huge adventure.
C: Cate Blanchett And Christopher Lee
One of the greatest scenes in <em>The Hobbit</em> features the return of Cate Blanchett (the elf Queen Galadriel) and Christopher Lee (the not-yet-evil wizard Saruman). I won't divulge any more here, but watching these two veterans on-screen together is a pleasure.
D: Dwarf Power
Make no mistake: this movie centers on the story of the dwarves. You learn their entire backstory, how their ancient kingdom was destroyed, and why they need to go on a quest to Lonely Mountain. Good luck getting to know all 13 of them! (You can get some help <a href="http://news.moviefone.com/2012/12/10/the-hobbit-cast-character-guide_n_2272027.html">here</a>.)
E: Epic
The size, scope and magnitude of <em>The Hobbit</em> are obvious; truly, at some parts in the movie the effects are jaw-dropping.
F: Fili And Kili
Only one brother (Fili, on the left) is shown here, but he and brother Kili are earnest, diligent soldiers who like to crack jokes. Any target will do, though they particularly like to pick on Bilbo. They are also Thorin Oakenshield's (the fellow on the right) nephews.
G: Gollum
Our favourite tortured soul returns in <em>The Hobbit</em>, and offers one of the most entertaining scenes in the movie. Andy Serkis masterfully plays the little guy, and even though we're aware of Gollum's intense lust for the ring, we can't help but smile whenever we see him on screen.
H: Hiatus
For fans, <em>The Hobbit</em> will provide a much-needed salve after such a long hiatus. Re-entering Middle-earth is like having a dream filled with friends you haven't seen in a long time.
I: Ian McKellan
Is there anyone in the franchise more beloved than Ian McKellan as Gandalf? He brings a magnetism to every scene he's in, and no one can make wizardry as cool as the Grey Wizard.
J: J.R.R. Tolkien's Masterpiece
One of the best (and perhaps one of the most descriptive) authors of our time, J.R.R. Tolkien has created a universe filled with expansive mythologies and stories. They are timeless, and generations of kids and adults alike have, and will continue to have, fond memories of the series.
K: Kin
Throughout the movie, there is a strong sense of camaraderie and brotherhood, and even though the dwarves are constantly heckling each other, they save each other's lives more than once, and would gladly die for their ultimate goal.
L: Lonely Mountain
The dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf are on their way to Lonely Mountain to reclaim the dwarves' stolen treasure/kingdom. It's <em>The Hobbit</em>'s Mordor, basically. (The Stone Giants pictured aren't on Lonely Mountain, but they're encountered on the way.)
M: Martin Freeman
Freeman is charming, charismatic and funny as Bilbo, and is perfectly cast as the uptight little Hobbit.
N: New Blood
It's a treat to see the original <em>LOTR</em> cast members in <em>The Hobbit</em>, but it's also nice to finally get some new blood in Middle-earth (not literally, of course).
O: Oin And Goin
Oin is the white-haired dwarf, which means that he has the most knowledge in the group. He kind of reminded me of Santa Claus or Papa Smurf, in that patriarchal way. Goin (far right) is the father of Gimli, who, as we know, plays a huge part in <em>LOTR</em>.
P: Peter Jackson
We have to hand it to Jackson; he really knows how to craft the perfect fantasy epic. While many critics are complaining about various aspects of the movie (three films instead of one, the film's length), you have to admit that, in another director's hands, this probably wouldn't have turned out as well as it did. Jackson is very passionate about these movies, and you can tell.
Q: Quest
This is what it's all about. At almost three hours, the movie feels like a quest in and of itself -- but I have faith in you, you can make it through.
R: Radagast
Meet Radagast, the Brown Wizard. Helplessly cute and endearing, the guy rides on a sled powered by a gaggle of super-fast bunnies. Despite his apparent insanity, he's quite powerful and is able to communicate closely with the forest animals.
S: Smaug
<em>(Sorry, no pictures of Smaug for public consumption -- these imbecilic trolls will have to do.)</em> Smaug is the main enemy in <em>The Hobbit</em>, but we don't see much of him in this first installment. You gotta admit, though, that the idea of a gold-obsessed dragon is pretty cool, and we get some little glimpses of him at the beginning and the end of the movie.
T: Thorin Oakenshield
Remember how much love you had for Aragorn in the <em>LOTR</em> movies? Well, make room in your heart for dwarf king Thorin. He is passionate, bad-ass, and does that look into the distance like nobody else.
U: Underdog
As mentioned before, it's fun to root for the little guy -- even if you're cold and heartless. I dare you to sit through <em>The Hobbit</em> without smiling at least once.
V: Vivid Visuals
A lot of people have been griping about <em>The Hobbit</em> being shown in 48 FPS (frames per second). I will admit it was a bit jarring at first, but the layperson audience probably won't really notice. There are several breathtaking vistas and scenes, plenty for the average audience to enjoy.
W: Wizardry
Wizards are awesome. Always have been, always will be.
X: "X" Marks The Spot
There's always a map to follow in the Tolkien universe, and <em>The Hobbit</em> is no exception. The characters must decipher some ancient text (with the help of the Elves) to ultimately find their goal.
Y: Young Audiences, New Experience
<em>The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King</em> was released ten years ago. TEN YEARS AGO. If you've had a child since then, now's your chance to fully immerse them in the glory of the Tolkien universe. Even if you have nieces, nephews or random strangers to share with, go for it!
Z: Zeitgeist
As with <em>Twilight </em>and our seemingly insatiable appetite for vampires in pop culture, <em>The Hobbit</em> stands to infiltrate every available opening in our society. Expect an influx of toys and references ("You shall not PASS!") in the months to come.
As for me, who's read and loved the Tolkien books, it makes my teeth grind to think of Peter Jackson milking this franchise for the money. Yeah, a trilogy suggests 3 movies. One book, however, does NOT suggest 3 movies. Making The Hobbit into one dynamic movie could have been thrilling, jam-packed and profound. Dragging it out over 3 movies and at least that many years is like eating styrofoam in the theatre instead of popcorn. Jackson's ego-envy of the Star Wars saga is showing. But he could make 10 LOTR movies and still not be as witty, interesting, profound and ORIGINAL as SW. Lucas cornered the market on mythology and symbolism with these movies and gave us believable characters in the process! One word: Princess Leia. Let's face it, Jackson, no one is EVER going to want to wear a Galadriel costume for Halloween. And Sauron won't replace Darth Vadar anytime soon. Get over it!
Great movie. I don't much care for the technology--especially the 3D--dear God, get rid of it!--but I came away otherwise delighted.
Don't believe everything you read on the internetwebgoogles.
The 48-frame capture gives it the look of a bbc TV movie. Maybe an episode of dr. Who.
A massive letdown on par with The Phantom Menace and Superman IV.
I've read the entire LOTR cycle 5 times over the past years, as well as The Hobbit, and the presentation on the big screen was an experience to be savored! I knew that this first offering was going to be long but the time flew by for me. I'm going to go re-read the book again as there were some details in the film that I didn't remember (since it had been a long time since I last read it.) I expecially appreciated the attention to details in the story line which was a source of irritation for me in LOTR (I still say that Peter Jackson should have included the scene with Tom Bombadill...but that's another discussion for another time!!)