The Hobbit trailer debuts online (25.12.11 by Pieter Collier) - Comments

A trailer for Peter Jackson’s "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" was released last Tuesday, a year ahead of the film's release. For some the big wait has now officialy begun. It was a bumpy ride so far, but it seems it is now finally going to happen!

The much-anticipated teaser starts with Ian Holm as the elderly Bilbo Baggins, writing to his nephew Frodo.

"My dear Frodo, you asked me once if I had told you everything there was to know about my adventures," he says. "While I can honestly say I have told you the truth, I may not have told you all of it."

It then flashes back to a younger Bilbo (Martin Freeman), who is approached by Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and invited to go on an adventure. We then get to see all 13 dwarves and some flashes of images from further in the movie. The trailer ends with a scene from riddles in the dark, and the well known voice of Gollum.

Along with McKellan, other actors reprising their roles from the "Lord of the Rings" series include Andy Serkis as Gollum, Orlando Bloom as Legolas, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, Christopher Lee as Saruman and Elijah Wood as Frodo.

This is the first of two films based on J.R.R. tolkien's "The Hobbit." The first one is scheduled to hit theaters on Dec. 14, 2012.

Mixed reactions but a huge success

The trailer has only been released on Tuesday and already it has been viewed a millions of times. In fact only the first day alone it has been viewed more than seven million times on YouTube, proving just how much demand there is for the first of two Jackson-directed Hobbit films.

For most people the trailer was the first look at Martin Freeman as a young Bilbo Baggins, and included all 13 new dwarves plus well-known characters Frodo, Gandalf the Grey and Gollum. It was logic there were a lot of reactions. Most of the reviewers are highly positive and seem to like it a lot. I read some very emotional reactions, "Just watched the trailer for The Hobbit. Must say I am underwhelmed. Suspect I'll go watch it, though, if I'm homesick for NZ by then," said Rebekah Macdonald on Twitter.

Pierce Hickey said: "Trailer for The Hobbit is out, my day is made. Better start planning my next NZ trip then."

Hayden Dugmore seemed more excited than most: "I know every word to the Dwarven song, I'm not going to lie...I pooped a little."

But in general people feel like they are back in The Lord of the Rings, which for many is a good thing, but gives others very mixed emotions. The reaction by Christopher Watson sort of sums it all up: "It doesn't look very 'Hobbity' to me .... more like a Lord of The Rings spin-off."

I'm in general not a movie fan and it is hard to convince me to go and watch any. But for one or another reason I always go and see the Tolkien movie adaptations. So I looked to the trailer on Wednesday morning and was a bit confused. I don't know what to think of it really. Yes, we are back in Peter Jacksons' Middle-earth, but what happened with the story I have come to love so much? The dwarves don't look at all as I have imagined them and Thorin does not look much like a dwarf at all. Most of the dwarves look extremely disneyfied... and I'm scared to see some flashes of scenes with Galadriel and Gandalf and I'm already worried big time. But then again, I quit understand how difficult it must be to have 13 different dwarves and do something with that, even Tolkien paired them by color and did not really manage to give them all a separate identity. Still it seems Peter Jackson tries to do this and seems to want to please both the fans of the Lord of the Rings movies and the readers of the book. He did throw in a song, which is nice, since he dropped most songs out of the Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit however is full of them and it seems Peter Jackson will work with these... but then again, while the song is great, this did not sound like the deep throat dwarven song as is described in the book. Well maybe if I keep watching the production videos and trailers I get used to the idea of all Peter Jackson ideas, but as for now I'm once again feeling what I felt 8 years ago... why of why? It is not because it can be done, it needs to be done. Now let us hope many will remember that The Hobbit is in fact a nice book and read it!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey official Movie Trailer

If you’re not familiar with the story, you can read the official synopsis below:

"The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever… Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know."

And here you can see the trailer, let me know what you think:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey production videos

As promised by Peter Jackson, here is a Christmas gift for fans with The Hobbit Production Video #5 posted on his Facebook page. This edition explores the logistics of on location shooting as production moves all over New Zealand to film scenes. The is no minor task as for all intents this become a moving town as need to move all the cast and crew, make sure food and lodging is available, everything that is needed as far as props, costume, and makeup, and so much more. As you recall from the previous movies, they take things seriously. Even the best Halloween costumes didn't hold a candle to the magic they worked on screen. It is an immense undertaking but as the video shows as they arrive at Hobbiton, it is worth it.

Video #1 | Video #2 | Video #3 | Video #4

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