Director: Peter Jackson Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis Genre: Fantasy / Adventure The Verdict: A Visual Feast That Takes Its Time Following the monumental success of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey . While it captures the magic and visual grandeur of its predecessors, it struggles to justify its extended runtime. It is a comfortable 3.5 out of 5 stars—a good movie that lives in the shadow of great ones. The Story The film serves as a prequel, introducing us to a younger Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman). Bilbo is swept away by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a company of thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). Their goal is to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and its treasure from the dragon Smaug. Index Of 1080p Parent Directory Index Verified Official