2. Acting
A movie may boast gorgeous cinematography, stunning landscapes and state-of-the art era-defining CGI, but the actors are the key pieces of the jigsaw that hold the directors ideas together. In general a great director needs great performances to enable him to deliver his vision. So how does
An Unexpected Journey hold up? The acting is sublime! The gradually shifting nature of the relationship between Gandalf, Thorin and Bilbo is the beating heart of
An Unexpected Journey, and McKellen, Armitage and Freeman do not disappoint as the central leads around which Bilbos coming-of-age story is woven. Thorins back-story is established at the outset: the loss of Erebor to the movies scarcely-seen antagonist Smaug the Terrible, and Armitage brings an extraordinary depth, noble sadness and pathos to the role of this potential future king who has lost so much, serving as the perfect counterweight to the general jesting and frivolity that his troupe of dwarven comrades bring to the table. Andy Serkis, the undisputed master of performance capture, is unerringly phenomenal as he revises his role as the tragically doomed Gollum for his 15 minutes of scene-stealing screen time. Weta Digitals developments during the last 10 years have been grand indeed, but have been effectively paralleled by Serkis own evolving talents: never has Gollum so looked real, lifelike and emotionally expressive as he engages in his battle of wits and riddles with Bilbo. McKellen reprises everything that was great about Gandalf the last time around: exuding charisma as this 'younger' and slightly more humorous incarnation of Gandalf the Grey, lighting up scenes with meditative glances and eyebrow-raisings in the way that only Ian McKellen can accomplish. And we cannot forget the supporting cast of thespian heavyweights who reprise their roles as members of The White Council: Hugo Weavings Elrond Half-Elven, Cate Blanchetts Lady Galadriel and Sir Christopher Lees Saruman the White- all who are excellent in conveying the protracted debating and developing distrust amidst the Council as they slowly begin to realise with impending dread that Middle-earth is about to face the inevitable return of the shadow of Sauron.