''My dear Frodo''
That's how it begins,nine years after the triumphant epilogue of the LOTR trilogy. I had shivers down my spine and a smile on my face...I was back in Middle Earth, seeing familiar faces, locations...what else could I ask for?
Well,I guess new faces, new locations,hmmm maybe a new cinematic technology? I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed. From the majestic Gandalf to the aetherial Galadriel and from Bag End to the Misty Mountains,there was such a nostalgia in the air and good memories came to mind...
But this is the story of a particular Hobbit,a very respectable yet oddly courageous one.

''In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit''
Yes, Martin Freeman is THE perfect Bilbo,his style,attitude,expression,humor give a 'quality' character that all of us wanted to see , he is brilliant,love him!

''Welcome to the company of Thorin Oakenshield''
There is such a magnitude,charm and pride in Richard Armitage's Thorin, yet despite his bad manners you can't but sympathize him for the suffering his people endured through the years.
The dwarves are quite a merry gathering!I would like to see each dwarf more exposed in the next movies,some of them have their little moments in here but there is room for more.Never the less the scenes in Bag End were a delight to watch, they rocked it!

''Something moves in the Shadows''
The Dol Guldur story arc begins with a peculiar fellow, Radagast the Brown. I admit Radagast is one of my favourite characters in the movie, such a crazy/hippie wizard, simply adorable. He is the first to discover that a 'necromancer'is shadowing over Mirkwood...that was scary and cool,I was so excited about everything concerning the white council and the necromancer's rise,can't wait to see more of it.

''Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold''
Here lies the heart of the movie. After the dwarves get captured by the goblins everything goes so fast I could not take my eyes off,the chase down to Goblintown was spectacular! The most special scene? Arguably it's the 'Riddle Game' where Gollum loses from Bilbo but steals the show with Andy Serkis' sparkling performance. Bilbo's mercy and the final showdown with the company confronted by Azog really moved me.

''Concerning the 48FPS format''
It's a blast! After a load of mixed/bad reception I was so worried about it... My opinion is that this is the best way to experience a 3D movie.I hail Peter Jackson for his brave desicion to shoot the movie in this format and offer it to the public for the first time, it's a big WIN even though not fully appreciated...yet.


''Conclusion''
I have to give the credits to mr Jackson and his team for a terrific return to a beloved world. 'Un Unexpected Journey' is loyal to the essence of the book without attempting to mimic LOTR and is rather embodied with Middle Earth's greater background that ties some parts with the 'Rings'trilogy in a healthy way.

The road goes ever on...

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