The First Trailer for 'The Hobbit' Released

The first trailer of what has to be one of the most anticipated films of this decade, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," directed, as was the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, the incomparable Peter Jackson, is now out.

For those few people in Western Civilization who are not familiar with the story, "The Hobbit" depicts the story of a quest by the hobbit Bilbo Baggins and 12 dwarves led by the exiled King Thorin Oakenshield to recover the dwarfish treasure from a dragon named Smaug. The story was written in the 1930s by J.R.R. Tolkien as a children's book, but it is considered a prelude to the much more epic story told in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. How Bilbo found the One Ring, for example, is recounted.

The story of "The Hobbit" is going to be expanded in the two films Jackson is making. That is certainly hinted at with the shots of Cate Blanchett as the Elf Queen Galadriel. The two films, the first of which will open on December 14, 2012, will serve as the opener for the previous three movies that told the story of "The Lord of the Rings."

By the way, what is Jackson hinting at with Galadriel playing with Gandalf's beard? A friendly gesture? Or is something more being hinted at?

The film will feature the return of a lot of familiar characters from the previous three movies, not the least Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Andy Serkis as Gollum, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, Christopher Lee as Saruman, Ian Holm as the Old Bilbo, and Elijah Wood as Frodo. The latter two are in a scene that obviously sets up the story with Bilbo recounting the tale to his young nephew.

Martin Freeman looks great and vigorous as the younger Bilbo, as does Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. A sequence where Gandalf introduces the 12 dwarves, who occupy Bag End with a vengeance will bring a warm feeling of recognition to fans of the book. There will be plenty of action against trolls, orcs, goblins, and the like.

The only sad bit is that we have to wait almost a year before the thing opens.

Sources: The Hobbit Trailer, YouTube, Dec 20, 2011

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," Yahoo Movies