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RELEASED:
2012
DIRECTOR(s):
Peter Jackson
PERSONAL RATING:
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Approaching his 111th
birthday, the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins begins writing the story of his
adventure 60 years earlier for his nephew, Frodo.
Long before Bilbo's involvement, the Dwarf king Thrór brought an era of
prosperity for his kin under the Lonely Mountain until the arrival of the
dragon Smaug. Smaug destroyed the nearby town of Dale, drove the Dwarves
out of their mountain and took their hoard of gold. Thrór's grandson,
Thorin, sees King Thranduil and his Wood-elves on a nearby hillside, and
is dismayed when they leave rather than aid his people, resulting in
Thorin's everlasting hatred of Elves.
In the Shire, 50-year-old Bilbo is tricked by the wizard Gandalf the Grey
into hosting a dinner for Thorin and his company of Dwarves: Balin, Dwalin,
Fíli, Kíli, Dori, Nori, Ori, Óin, Glóin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur.
Gandalf's aim is to recruit Bilbo as the company's "burglar" to aid them
in their quest to enter the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo is unwilling to accept
at first, but has a change of heart after the company leaves without him
the next day, racing to join them. Travelling onward, the company is
captured by three Trolls. Bilbo stalls the Trolls from eating them until
dawn, and Gandalf exposes the trolls to sunlight, turning them to stone.
The company locates the Trolls' cave and finds treasure and Elven blades.
Thorin and Gandalf each take an Elf-made blade, Orcrist and Glamdring,
respectively; Gandalf gives an Elven dagger to Bilbo.
The wizard Radagast the Brown finds Gandalf and the company, and recounts
an encounter at Dol Guldur with the Necromancer, a sorcerer who has been
corrupting Greenwood with dark magic. Chased by Orcs, Gandalf leads the
company through a hidden passage to Rivendell. There, Lord Elrond
discloses a hidden indication of a secret door on the company's map of the
Lonely Mountain, which will be visible only on Durin's Day. Gandalf later
approaches the White Council — consisting of Elrond, Galadriel and Saruman
the White — and presents a Morgul blade, a weapon of the Witch-king of
Angmar, which Radagast obtained from Dol Guldur as a sign that the
Necromancer is linked to an eventual return of Sauron. While Saruman
presses concern to the more present matter of the Dwarves' quest,
requesting that Gandalf put an end to it, Gandalf secretly reveals to
Galadriel he had anticipated this and had the Dwarves move forward without
him.
The company journeys into the Misty Mountains, where they find themselves
amid a colossal battle between Stone Giants. They take refuge in a cave
and are captured by Goblins, who take them to their leader, the Great
Goblin. Bilbo becomes separated from the Dwarves and falls into a crevice
where he encounters Gollum, who unknowingly drops a golden ring. Pocketing
the ring, Bilbo finds himself confronted by Gollum. They play a riddle
game, wagering that Bilbo will be shown the way out if he wins or eaten by
Gollum if he loses. Bilbo wins via trickery, and Gollum notices his ring
is lost and that Bilbo has it. Chased by the furious Gollum, Bilbo
discovers that the ring grants him invisibility, but when he has a chance
to kill Gollum, Bilbo spares his life out of pity and escapes.
Meanwhile, the Great Goblin reveals to the Dwarves that Azog, an Orc
war-chief who killed Thrór and lost his forearm to Thorin in battle
outside the Dwarven kingdom of Moria, has placed a bounty on Thorin's
head. Gandalf arrives and leads the Dwarves in an escape, killing the
Great Goblin. Bilbo exits the mountain and rejoins the company, keeping
his newly obtained ring secret. The company is ambushed by Azog and his
hunting party and takes refuge in trees. Thorin charges at Azog, who
overpowers and severely injures him with his Warg. Bilbo saves Thorin from
the Orcs and challenges Azog, just as the company is rescued by eagles
summoned by Gandalf. They escape to the safety of the Carrock where
Gandalf revives Thorin, who renounces his previous disdain for Bilbo.
They see the Lonely Mountain in the distance, where the sleeping Smaug is
awoken by a thrush knocking a snail against a stone. |
