Grabbed the opportunity to watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey last night. To put it simply, I'm struggling to understand why so many critics aren't giving it much praise. True enough, there was plenty of room here to give the audience something new and different. It feels a bit like you're back watch Lord of the Rings. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that was the whole point wasn't it? It's Peter Jackson and it's the same setting and there many familiar faces from the old LotR cast have returned, including Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Sir Ian McKellen, Ian Holm and so on. So, some critics have even called this film tedious. It's anything but. Trust me. It's a lovely little fairy tale and an exciting journey, especially for viewers who appreciate Peter Jackson's earlier flicks. J.R.R. Tolkien fans should be pleased as well. Emphasis on the word "should" though.

My only gripe in this instance is that they've done little to elaborate on Tolkien's incredibly rich lore. I would've like to have seen more of the elvish kingdoms and a deeper story about some of the fleeting characters. It's obvious that they're saving this for the next two installments. On the other hand, I do understand that the dwarves are supposed to be the center of this tale and in that respect Pete and Fran give us a lot to hold on to. Thorin Oakenshield is a bad-ass to say the least and the movie delves deep into the history of the character, as well as the dwarven race.

No matter what you expect to see yourself, nothing will change the fact that these are still good storytellers and great movie makers. Don't miss out on watching this one on the big screen and in 3D.