The Year That Was: 2014 in Film

Check out ALL of the PDC end of year lists!

Review: Ava DuVernay's 'Selma'

Starring David Oyelowo

Review: Rob Marshall's 'Into The Woods'

Starring Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Anna Kendrick

Tim Burton's 'Big Eyes'

Starring Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams

Showing posts with label richard armitage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label richard armitage. Show all posts

Monday, December 15, 2014

Review: Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies'



The decision by Peter Jackson to expand JRR Tolkien's slim, trim novel The Hobbit into three movies was met with derision, and for very good reason. They all but guaranteed an extensive amount of filler and more of this new fellowship walking through grassy plains than ever. The first film was a crashing bore, the second film a marked improvement, and now with The Battle of the Five Armies we are treated to the final chapter of the trilogy and the first to meet the high quality standards of The Lord of the Rings. While the series as a whole doesn't quite measure up, Jackson deserves credit for wrapping up this massive fantasy epic on an incredibly high note.

Easily the best of the trilogy, Battle of the Five Armies is exactly what it promises to be: one mammoth war fought between every faction in Middle Earth. Picking up right where the last film left off with Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) setting Laketown ablaze, the heroic Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans) races to find a way to ground the armored dragon.  If there was too much drag on the first two movies, 'Armies' is all gorgeously detailed action. Would it have been cool to see what another director could do with this world visually? Absolutely, but there's a comfort in the beautiful familiarity he brings to Middle Earth, and his ability to choreograph multiple battle sequences at a time is stunning.

While Laketown burns, what seems like a dozen other plots are playing out at elsewhere. Gandalf (Ian McKellen) has discovered the dooming arrival of a darker evil threatening the land; while Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), and the company of dwarves are holed up in the Lonely Mountain reclaiming their lost treasure. True character arcs are few but Oakenshield gets the best one as he's torn between greed and leading his people. Bilbo's arc was completed mostly in the second film as he became more than just burglar, but he's important here as Oakenshield's conscience. With so many characters wrapped in prosthetics and make-up it's easy to take the acting for granted, but Armitage and Freeman are both excellent. Meanwhile, the other dwarves remain mostly interchangeable and indistinguishable, with the exception of Kili (Aidan Turner) who is memorable only for his romance with the elf, Turiel (Evangeline Lilly). Even that is handled with efficiency and a little bit of sweetness which shines through in the midst of the raging war surrounding it.

And let's talk about that war because it encompasses almost 60% of the movie, if not more. Jackson has never spared any expense in crafting his special effects budget but he really outdid himself this time.  Again pushing the limits of CGI technology, every disgusting orc, mountain range, and glittery elf looks exquisite. Tolkien himself would be in awe of what Jackson has been able to accomplish. With so many characters and plot threads weaving in and out of the fighting, there's also the need to connect with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. While that connection is definitely forced on occasion, we don't see a bunch of characters from the other films shoe-horned in where they don't belong, a problem faced by predecessors. Running at only 2 hours and about 20 minutes, this is the shortest and briskly-packed film of the bunch. There's simply not a lot of standing around this time, and even if the final battle stretches on a bit too long it never gets boring.  The humor doesn't always work, like with the aggravatingly duplicitous "Alfrid" character, but it's a welcome presence in what is basically a fantastical war movie.  That we care so much about these characters and their connections to one another speaks to the richness of Tolkien's vision but also Jackson's ability to fully realize it.

Now that it's all said and done, The Hobbit will certainly go down as inferior to The Lord of the Rings by comparison, but so what? They should be taken as a complete whole, one that reaches incredible heights of imagination and technical precision. Jackson will probably never do anything as big as this again (although we've said that before!), but he's left a mark with these films that can never be erased.

 Rating: 4 out of 5

Thursday, December 11, 2014

One Final Trailer for Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies'


With just under a week until the massive, epic return to Middle Earth now is a pretty good time for one final trailer. Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies wraps up the second trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien's books, and the title pretty much says it all. This one is basically one gigantic fight between the men, orcs, dwarves, wizards, and others vying for ultimate power in the land. Who will come out on top? Well, since this one's a prequel we pretty much know how things will turn out, don't we?

Starring Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Fry, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, and Orlando Bloom, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies opens December 17th.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

War Erupts in New Clips from 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies'



In case the hashtag #OneLastTime on all of the promos didn't tip you off, Peter Jackson's second epic trilogy set in Middle Earth is coming to a close. Last night the world premiere of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies was held in London, and to coincide with the event two new clips have been released. In keeping with the title, these are all about the massive war that erupts after the defeat of Smaug, when Thorin and his dwarf colleagues must defend their reclaimed homeland from an army of Orcs sent by Sauron.

Here's hoping the third and final movie is nothing but all-out action because there's really nothing else left for them to do. There's nowhere else to walk to. Check out the two clips followed by the full synopsis below. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies opens December 17th.





“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

New Epic Trailer for Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies'


When Peter Jackson first agreed to return to Middle Earth for The Hobbit after Guillermo Del Toro had backed out, it was envisioned as merely a two-parter. Already that was a bit of a stretch considering the thin nature of J.R.R. Tolkien's novel, and yet somehow Jackson found a way to get three massive movies out of it. With the third and "final" film (I'll believe it when I don't see any more) The Battle of the Five Armies coming in just a few weeks, a new trailer gives us one more advanced look at what will probably be another massive 3-hour+ spectacle.

This trailer focuses heavily on the choices made by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) as he tries to reclaim the dwarf homeland from the dragon Smaug. It's just one of a few storylines Jackson has to juggle, as we also see the emergence of Sauron and glimpses of the massive "battle of the five armies" that follows.  So yeah, you might want to pack a lunch for this one.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies opens December 17th. Check out the trailer and synopsis below.



SYNOPSIS: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town.

Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo's frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain.

As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide - unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Seven Character Posters for 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies'


Not that a franchise like The Hobbit  needs a huge marketing push or anything like that but that hasn't stopped Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema from flooding us with promo material for each and every film. That continues with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, which has released a new character poster every day for the past week. The images feature Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) and Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans), Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and the latest with Evangeline Lily's Tauriel.

SYNOPSIS:  “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

Directed by Peter Jackson, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies opens December 17th. 







Friday, August 8, 2014

Review: 'Into the Storm', Starring Sarah Wayne Callies and Matt Walsh


Hurricanes can get pretty strong and insane, and even though people living in hurricane regions have gotten used to them, they're still forces to be reckoned with. Oh, wait, Into the Storm isn't a hurricane movie. Although, it might have been a much better one had it focused on another kind of natural storm rather than practically ripping off Twister in a documentary-style film that is wooden, has no real stakes, and is just an excuse to make the largest tornado funnel ever, and gives the incarnation of the world-eating Galactus from Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer a run for his money. 

There isn't much of a story to go on here, but whatever narrative there is will be heavily summarized to prevent spoilers, though, spoiler alert, there aren't any. Allison (Sarah Wayne
Callies), Pete (Matt Walsh) and their small team are chasing tornadoes. Allison, to study them, and Pete to make a documentary about them and rake in the cash from them. They're
in a place called Silverton when a tornado hits and they're caught right in the middle of the action, their only real weaponry being fancy cameras and a tank-like vehicle that roots itself to the ground to prevent from being taken away by the intense twister winds. 

Donnie (Max Deacon) is shooting a time capsule video at the request of his father Gary (Richard Armitage). What are your hopes and dreams for yourself 25 years from now? That is the question he poses. Though we don't really see much of that as Donnie bails on filming his high school's graduation ceremony to help out his crush Kaitlin (Alycia Debnam Carey), giving over the project to his smart-ass brother Trey (Nathan Kress). What do all the storm chasers and the Silverton family have in common? Well, for one, they're all constantly tied to their cameras. Also, they get caught in the same tornado, as one twister turns into two, and three, and four... and well, you get the point. 

The film is shot in the way of a documentary, with the character's names and their jobs appear at the bottom of the screen at the beginning of the film. I'm pretty sure the director's intent to make it a documentary within a documentary sounded fantastic in his head, only the intensity of Hollywood fiction got in the way and it turned into awful melodrama and tried to sustain a story that's as unstable as a tornado they try to run from. 


The story is wooden, the characters as bland and boring as dry toast, and the personal stakes practically non-existent. It might have even served the story better had they actually made the movie a documentary instead of something the filmmakers seem to have no vested interest or passion in and cut something together to make it look legit. Ok, ok, that's a bit harsh, but the film isn't at all near to being average. There's no depth, and for a story that's about a natural disaster that people have experienced, it's rather annoying to not even remotely try to make it something decently watchable. 

Ultimately, there are too much debris in the way to make Into the Storm an entertaining or intriguing watch. It tries, and fails miserably, at giving us something resembling a moving story about natural disasters, the people caught in them, and the destruction they leave behind, but all the drama and tension between characters, and even the storms themselves feel contrived and tacky in the larger scheme of things. Stiff, with no cohesive story or personal stakes. 





Monday, July 28, 2014

Prepare for War with 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' Teaser Trailer; Plus Watch the Comic-Con Panel


This past weekend Peter Jackson was on hand at Comic-Con to unveil The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the sixth film in the franchise that he has been the steward of for more than fifteen years. To introduce it he began with a reel that showed everything that had happened in war-torn Middle Earth in the prior movies, and seeing everything unfold it's hard to deny this is probably the most epic cinematic series we've ever seen. They've retained such a visual consistency and general quality (even the maligned first 'Hobbit' movie is very well-made) that it's easy to take a film like The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies for granted, but now the first trailer is here to remind you why that may be a mistake.

Reuniting Martin Freeman as young Bilbo Baggins, Luke Evans as the heroic Bard the Bowman, Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, and of course Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Smaug, this film wraps up Jackson's epic run (for now, anyway) with one gigantic war. And this trailer would be sewing the sides for that battle, showing the colorful faces involved and hinting at the conflicts that will erupt amongst them when honor and treasure are the spoils. There will be orcs, goblins, dwarves, and everything else Jackson can throw into the mix for his final blow out, and yes it looks incredible. This is the same footage he unveiled to an awed crowd at Comic-Con, leading to one fan who pondered if The Silmarillion is next.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies opens December 17th. Check it out below and also the full Comic-Con panel where Jackson and much of the cast field questions from the audience. An even longer cut of the Lord of the Rings on Blu-Ray? Yeah....probably.


The Hobbit 3 Battle of the Five Armies - Official Movie Trailer (2014) (HD). by Newest Trailer

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Deadly Tornadoes Strike in First Trailer for 'Into the Storm'


There's a good chance you've never heard of Into the Storm, the upcoming disaster flick from Final Destination 5 director, Steven Quayle. It features no big names, and looks like the kind of film Roland Emmerich makes in his spare time. But Warner Bros. has high hopes for it, and they're starting to spread the word with this new trailer.

Starring Richard Armitage, Jeremy Sumpter, Matt Walsh, and The Walking Dead's Sarah Wayne Callies, the film takes place in the small town of Silverton on a day in which they are devastated by a series of deadly tornadoes. Meanwhile, storm chasers get in on the action while more sensible folks find cover from the unpredictable cyclones.

Are we sure this isn't just a mash-up of all the Final Destination opening death scenes? It's obvious why Quayle was hired for this, and maybe when Into the Storm opens on August 8th it'll be the silly popcorn flick it appears to be.


Into the Storm - Official Teaser Trailer by Dread Central

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Review: Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'


I count myself as one of the apparent few who liked The Hobbit: AnUnexpected Journey well enough and certainly doesn’t think it deserving of the venom some were all-too-happy to spit at it. Certainly the film had its share of problems, with far too many dwarfs singing dull songs, and Peter Jackson not doing a very good job of getting things moving. But as the film neared its end, and a miraculous transformation occurs within its unlikely hero Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), the franchise underwent a similar evolution, one that continues with the far-superior and highly enjoyable The Desolation of Smaug.

Picking up where the last film left off and thus moving at a snappier pace, we’re thrust right in the middle of the barrel-riding adventure, one that is lighter, funnier, and makes the most of a wide array of colorful characters. That's something we couldn't say about the prior movie, which mostly relegated Bilbo's dwarven companions to background characters recognizable only by the lengths of their beards. A part of that could have had to do with Jackson seeming to spend more time laying the foundations for his already-completed Lordof the Rings trilogy rather than focusing on giving The Hobbit a narrative to call its own. 'Desolation of Smaug', while still very episodic in nature befitting its place as the trilogy's middle chapter, feels like it has a purpose all its own.

A big part of that purpose is to up the action significantly. There are more orcs, more elves, more giant spiders, a shape-shifter the size of Manute Bol, more of everything than before, making for a grand swashbuckling time. Bilbo and his fellowship crash (sometimes literally) into one sticky situation after another, beginning with an evil forest in Mirkwood and a nest of nasty arachnids. J.R.R. Tolkien's novel is a slim read but pulls deeply from every appendix he can get his hands on, and still finds room to invent some things out of whole cloth. One conjured up aspect that works extremely well is a greater focus on the woodland elves, with Lee Pace as their arrogant king Thranduil. His son Legolas (Orlando Bloom) has yet to become the fun-loving orc killer we come to know later on, but he's got a thing for the hot female elf Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly), who may be falling for the brave (and surprisingly tall) dwarf Kili (Aidan Turner). Did The Hobbit really need another love story at the center of it? Yeah, it kind of does because there sure aren't any females to be found anywhere else. Besides, it serves as a reminder that Jackson has a few tricks up his sleeve that aren't just totally cribbed from Tolkien.

Between the daring escapes and sword-clanging clashes with orcs and goblins, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) has a quest of his own to the gloomy, desolate castle Dol Guldur to confront a growing evil known as the Necromancer. A lot of fierce magic gets thrown around and the true enemy is revealed, not that it was ever much of a mystery. It's all just foreshadowing, which is kind of odd to be dropping hints for movies we've already seen, but they work a little like DVD Easter eggs. Those who know Tolkien's world inside and out will get every obscure reference and oddly-named locale. The rest will wonder what the difference is between a Beorn and a Bofur. They're both dwarves, right?

Jackson shoots the action with a greater sense of urgency, and has fun indulging in the visual flourishes in a way he didn't before. In particular the sweeping, thrilling barrel-riding escape sequence is much bigger than Tolkien ever imagined it. Elves, orcs, worgs and other creatures are bounding around everywhere, not to mention a good number of flying arrows. There is scarcely a dull moment over the course of the first couple of hours, so much so that it one might feel exhausted once the dwarfs make it to Laketown, smuggled in reluctantly by eventual hero Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans), who they might as well call Aragorn Jr. Laketown is in itself an impressive feat of construction; a town that resembles the waterways of Venice by way Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes. Also dazzling, but considerably more ominous, is the dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), who lies beneath a room full of gold at the heart of the Lonely Mountain.  The greatest set piece is reserved for him, as well it should be, and Smaug makes for a menacing villain and imposing presence. Taking up nearly every inch of the screen with every appearance, Smaug is easily the scariest Cumberbatch has been on screen this year. Sorry, StarTrek fans but you know it's true.

And at the heart of all this is Bilbo Baggins, and a large part of the reason this film works so well is how Martin Freeman has grown into the role, similar to Bilbo's growth into a hero. He still hasn't quite earned the respect of his cantankerous companions, but it's a treat to watch him take on Smaug basically alone, and stand up for himself when called upon. He's also begun to use that mysterious ring, his "precious", and is starting to feel its addicting effects. Richard Armitage continues to be appropriately brave and stern, but he's hardly a sympathetic figure yet. Tauriel is perhaps the one character other than Bilbo who gets an emotional arc worth investing in as she challenges her clan's isolationist attitude. 

An abrupt cliffhanger reminds us that these movies are meant to be enjoyed as a whole rather than separate, and the simple truth is that The Desolation of Smaug is a vast improvement over An Unexpected Journey. It deserves to be championed in the way Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies are, and sets this latest journey through Middle Earth back on the right track.

 

Monday, November 4, 2013

Seven Character Posters for 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'


Other than Marvel movies, The Hobbit films are the last ones to need an overabundance of hype. And yet the marketing machine is always going, and with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug right around the corner, the film's official Facebook page has dropped a number of new character posters.

The images feature Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield,  Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman, and the elves Thranduil played by Lee Pace, the returning Legolas portrayed by Orlando Bloom, and new character Tauriel played by Evangeline Lilly.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug opens December 13th.







Sunday, August 4, 2013

Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Joe Manganiello Up for Batman Role in 'Superman vs. Batman'



Only a day ago a rumor surfaced that Warner Bros. was seeking an older actor, possibly in his 40s, to play a "grizzled veteran" Bruce Wayne in Zack Snyder's Superman vs. Batman movie. That led to what one would expect, a ton of speculation, dream casting, and even greater rumors. Whoever dons the cape and cowl of Batman is a major decision for the studio because the choice they make is likely to be around for a long time, through the dark knight's solo films and into the inevitable Justice League.


Six names have emerged as contenders for the Batman role according to THR, and they seem to confirm an older actor is being sought. Leading the way as the apparent frontrunner is Josh Brolin, who coincidentally has been at the top of many fan castings for the character, and has a number of connections to the studio and The Dark Knight Returns author Frank Miller, whose graphic novel inspired this particular story. Brolin has worked with WB on Gangster Squad and the unfortunate Jonah Hex, and he's set to star in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, which is based on Miller's comic book. If Brolin is the lead choice WB won't admit to it, dismissing the rumors because casting has yet to begin. Thanks to Poumap at DeviantArt for that image of Bat-Brolin.


At 32 years old, Ryan Gosling is the youngest name on the list but easily the most high profile. While it may not seem like the most obvious move for Gosling to make, he was attached to WB's remake of Logan's Run for a time, and has worked with the studio on Gangster Squad and his upcoming directorial debut, How to Catch a Monster. I have a hard time buying into Gosling as Batman, but after watching how he was able to transform himself in Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines, it would be foolish to write him off.


Perhaps the most interesting name on the list is Joe Manganiello, who at 36 years old fits right in the middle in terms of age, and is reasonably well known thanks to his leading a wolf pack on HBO's True Blood. He began to come into his own a little bit last year in Magic Mike, but what's important to remember is that he was the runner-up to Henry Cavill for Man of Steel. So clearly Snyder likes him, and may be looking at a way to get both of his top guys on screen.


Matthew Goode has worked with Snyder in the past as part of 2009's Watchmen, so he knows a thing or two about superheroes and adapting some of comics' most cherished works. Other names in consideration are Max Martini, who played the Aussie dad in Pacific Rim, but he seems too unknown for a role like this. And lastly, there's Richard Armitage, best known for slaughtering orcs as Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit movies.

This is still very early on as David Goyer and Zack Snyder are still working on the script, but to assume they haven't been planning this sequel for months already would be foolish. So it's likely that many of these names and others have been kicked around for awhile. A decision is said to be coming in just a few weeks in order to get ready for an early 2014 start date.

Can you see any of these actors as Batman? Or do you have someone else in mind?

Sunday, August 5, 2012

New dwarven trailer for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'


The newest trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey isn't really all that new. Warner Brothers actually debuted it ahead of Pixar's Brave, but since there are only a few small changes from the previous trailer, they decided to hold it until now. The differences are small, but fans eagerly awaiting the first part of Peter Jackson's newly planned trilogy will appreciate the additional footage.

While still a bit downbeat, the new trailer gives us some additional looks at the 13 dwarfs who will be accompanying Bilbo Baggins(Martin Freeman) on his journey to defeat the dragon, Smaug. The introduction of his companions is one of the few cheery moments, capped off by the dour dwarf leader, Thorin Oakenshield(Richard Armitage). We also get a couple of new scenes involving Bilbo and Gandalf(Ian McKellen), including one with them sprinting through the forest.

The big question remaining for The Hobbit is whether Jackson is going to be able to expand J.R.R. Tolkien's story enough to make three movies out of. The original novel is fairly light-hearted and simple, designed mostly for children, so there were doubts of it even being a sequel. Even with Jackson having access to additional Tolkien materials, a third film seems like a hard nut to crack.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theaters on December 14th, followed a year later by The Hobbit: There and Back Again on December 13th. Then the final chapter, The Hobbit: Third Breakfast or whatever it will be called opens in the summer of 2014. Check out the new trailer below...