I was so excited for this movie that I was afraid I was setting myself up for disappointment... That was not the case! I couldn't have asked for a better opening for The Hobbit trilogy.

The pace and tone of the movie were perfect. The beginning of the film gave us just enough time to get to know the characters and backstory, while the second half of the film was filled with fast-paced action adventure. There were several light-hearted, funny moments that had me laughing out loud (which is perfect for a film adaptation of a children's story). However, there were also plenty of moments that were full of suspense and (as my sister described it), "horror". Sir Peter Jackson mixed the elements of this movie quite beautifully.

The acting was absolutely superb. Each of the dwarves appears to have been perfectly cast (Richard Armitage's Thorin and Ken Scott's Balin were particular standouts). Being the titular character in the film, Bilbo Baggins (played by Martin Freeman) was perhaps best cast out of everyone. Even in moments when he had no lines, Freeman's expressions made me feel exactly what Bilbo was feeling: Sadness, fear, wonder. It is a performance which I feel acting students should study.

And yes, I'm not going to lie, it was fantastic being back in Middle-Earth. Whenever the score added in bits of music from the older LOTR trilogy, my heart swelled. It felt like coming home. I was also surprised by the fact that Elrond, Frodo and Galadriel did not look 10+ years older (as the actors now are). For the most part, they looked like the exact same characters we had fallen in love with so many years ago.

I highly recommend this movie whether your are a Tolkien enthusiast or not. It was a fun time with interesting characters, and I felt happy after watching it.

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