Top 70 Movies to Watch in 2012 (No. 2 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey)

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Produced by: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Carolynne Cunningham

Screenplay by: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro

Based on The Hobbit by: J. R. R. Tolkien

Music by: Howard Shore

Cinematography: Andrew Lesnie

Studio: WingNut Films

Distributed by: Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Release date: An Unexpected Journey - 14 December 2012; There and Back Again - 13 December 2013

Language: English

Budget: $500 million (total - part 1 & 2)

Cast:

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit and the protagonist of the film.

Ian Holm as old Bilbo Baggins.

Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey: A wizard who recruits Bilbo and helps to arrange the quest to reclaim the Dwarves' lost treasure in Erebor.

Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield: The leader of the Company of Dwarves who have set out to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug the dragon.

Graham McTavish as Dwalin: One of the Company of Dwarves that accompanies Bilbo and Thorin on the Quest of Erebor. 

Ken Stott as Balin: A member of the Company of Dwarves and the brother of Dwalin.

Aidan Turner as Kíli: One of Thorin's nephews who sets out on the Quest of Erebor.

Dean O'Gorman as Fíli.

Mark Hadlow as Dori: A member of the Company of Dwarves. 

Jed Brophy as Nori:A member of the Company of Dwarves and brother of Dori and Ori. 

Adam Brown as Ori: A member of the Company of Dwarves. 

John Callen as Óin: A member of the Company of Dwarves and brother of Glóin.

Peter Hambleton as Glóin: A member of the Company of Dwarves and brother of Óin. He is also the father of Gimli, who was portrayed in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

William Kircher as Bifur: One of the twelve companions of Thorin and Bilbo on the Quest of Erebor and the cousin of Bofur and Bombur.

James Nesbitt as Bofur: One of the Company of Dwarves and the cousin of Bifur and brother of Bombur.

Stephen Hunter as Bombur: Described in the novel as being fat and clumsy, he is the brother of Bofur and the cousin of Bifur. 

Christopher Lee as Saruman the White: Head of Gandalf's Order of Wizards and the White Council.

Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins: A hobbit and favourite relative of Bilbo Baggins. 

Orlando Bloom as Legolas: The Elven Prince of Mirkwood and the son of Thranduil. 

Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel: A female elf from Mirkwood. Her name means "daughter of Mirkwood".

Andy Serkis as Gollum: Serkis portrayed the character in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Hugo Weaving as Elrond: The Elven master of Rivendell. Elrond gives shelter to Bilbo's party, after which, presumably, the two become friends.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug: One of the last remaining dragons in Middle-earth. He guards the treasure in Erebor.

Mikael Persbrandt as Beorn: A shape-shifter (or, in the actual text, a "skin-changer"), a man who could assume the appearance of a great black bear.

Lee Pace as Thranduil: Referred to in the novel as "The Elvenking", he is the ruler of the realm of the northern part of Mirkwood. He is also the father of Legolas.

Stephen Fry as Master of Lake-town: The leader of the settlement of Men at Lake-town near the Lonely Mountain.

Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman: Bard of Esgaroth was a skilled archer and the heir of Girion, the last king of old Dale.

Cate Blanchett as Galadriel: An Elf and the co-ruler of Lothlórien along with her husband, Lord Celeborn.

Sylvester McCoy as Radagast the Brown: A wizard of Gandalf's Order. 

Jeffrey Thomas as Thrór: King of Durin's folk, the son of Dáin I, father of Thráin II and grandfather of Thorin Oakenshield.

Mike Mizrahi as Thráin II: A Dwarven king, Thráin is the son of Thrór and father of Thorin Oakenshield.

Bret McKenzie as Lindir: An Elf of Rivendell. 

Ryan Gage as Alfrid: The Master of Laketown's "conniving" servant.

Barry Humphries as the Great Goblin: The ruler of the underground caverns in the Misty Mountains.

Conan Stevens as Azog: An Orc chieftain of Moria.

Plot Summary: 

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" follows title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever... Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities... A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know. 

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