Riddles In The Dark: Five Scenes We Can’t Wait To See In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

After what feels like nearly a life-age of the earth, Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is finally coming to a theatre near you - and thank Gandalf's beard that the man who made The Lord of the Rings trilogy so special has returned to helm these prequel stories. And in three glorious parts, too! So far the marketing team behind the upcoming film have proven to be extremely generous with tidbits: they even released the entire soundtrack as a stream earlier this week, and we have to say it sounds incredible. The tracklisting also hinted as to some plot points that are sure to make it into the movie. With just a month to go until Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) sets out on that dangerous quest to the Lonely Mountain, we've put together a list of five scenes we can't wait to see in the first part of what promises to be another epic trilogy. There are a few minor spoilers lurking here, though nothing that casual fans wouldn't know already. The road goes ever on and on... Continue reading on the next page... 1. Meet The Dwarves This is where it all begins, with Bilbo's introduction to those companions who will join him and Gandalf on their quest to reclaim treasure from the dragon Smaug. There are thirteen Dwarves in total (Thorin Oakenshield, Gloin, Óin, Ori, Nori, Dori, Dwalin, Balin, Kili, Fili, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur), and no doubt Jackson has relished the chance to give each member of the group their own distinct personalities (not to mention fighting skills). They arrive at Bilbo's house in a hilariously clumsy manor, falling through the front door at the stunned hobbit's feet. Although the dwarves have been given a comical slant in the trailers thus far, we've also glimpsed a haunting, melancholic moment as they come together to sing "Misty Mountains" before setting out on the perilous journey. All the dwarves look great (from what we've seen), and we can't wait to see how Jackson handles a fellowship of such large proportions. He did exceedingly well with a group of nine in The Lord of the Rings: let's hope he grants us the opportunity to tell them all apart by the time the first film comes to a close. Continue reading on the next page... 2. "Look, Mr. Frodo, it's Mr. Bilbo's trolls!" So goes a quote from the mouth of Samwise Gamgee in The Fellowship of the Ring, a nice knowing nod for anybody who was (at the time) familiar with The Hobbit. Now this scene will take its place in the first movie of the new trilogy, and we're positively giddy with excitement to see what Jackson has come up with. For those who don't know, Bilbo and company are surrounded by three Stone Trolls before reaching Rivendell, but Gandalf convinces them to talk until sunrise. As a result, the stupid beasts are turned to stone. Doesn't sound too exciting, we know, but from what we can gather (from trailers and such), Jackson has turned this into more of an action sequence which pits Bilbo, the dwarves and Gandalf against the three monstrous trolls in some kind of mad melee. Saying that, there's a scene at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring in which Bilbo recounts this story to a group of children, confirming that these creatures were, in fact, tricked into talking until sun-up - not fighting. No matter how he chooses to handle it, we're sure that Jackson will make this moment particularly brilliant. Continue reading on the next page... 3. The Misty Mountains An Unexpected Journey's main action set-pieces (our Mines of Moria equivalent, to make a comparison) look to focus on Bilbo and company as they make their way through the goblin-infested passages of the Misty Mountains. This chapter seems to have been extended into a flurry of close-quarter fights and chase sequences, presumably as Bilbo gets to grips with wielding his new sword Sting (it glows when orcs are near, don't you know?). We'll also meet The Great Goblin, played by Barry Humphries, who rules the dank world beneath the Misty Mountains and poses a considerable threat for our gang. Continue reading on the next page... 4. Gandalf's Departure/The White Council Originally rumored as just one movie (and then two), The Hobbit finally found its way into three parts. Though this was the cause of a relative outcry amongst fans of the book ("it's only 300 pages!"), Peter Jackson was able to extend our time in Middle-Earth by incorporating many of author J.R.R. Tolkien's appendices. One particular moment is sure to be elaborated on in An Unexpected Journey, and that's Gandalf's sudden departure from Bilbo at one point in the story. He leaves on an "errand" - and only in the appendices are the events of said errand told. Gandalf actually left the party to consult The White Council, an elite group of wizards based in Middle-Earth, one of whom is Saruman (before he is corrupted by Sauron in The Fellowship of the Ring). Going by the name of a track on the soundtrack, this scene has been plucked from the appendices and placed into this film. Which means we can look forward to a scene in which a bunch of bearded men feverishly argue with one another. But what are they consulting about, exactly? Well, let's just say a certain Dark Lord has taken up disguise in Mirkwood as The Necromancer. Will we get to see Gandalf and the wizards go up against him? We really hope so. Continue reading on the next page... 5. Riddles In The Dark Who isn't looking forward to this scene? One of the most famous moments from the original novel, the fifth chapter, entitled "Riddles in the Dark", brings us Bilbo Baggins' first ever meeting with the creature Gollum, who will once again be played by the brilliant Andy Serkis in An Unexpected Journey. Gollum, whose riddle-loving nature was exhumed from the Lord of the Rings films, will return here to torture Bilbo as he tries to find his way out of an underground lake after being separated from the dwarves. Gollum challenges him to a riddle game: If Bilbo wins, Gollum will show him the way out. If he loses... well, Gollum will eat him. This, of course, is also the scene in which Bilbo unknowingly pockets the One Ring. As a result, this sequence will bridge the gap between the prequel trilogy and its follow-up, so there's no doubt that Jackson will have invested a lot of time and effort into this particular moment. We can also muster that this'll be Gollum's only scene in the new trilogy, unless his role has been expanded somewhat later on - doubtful. In the original novel, "Riddles in the Dark" takes place towards the beginning of the story, but for dramatic purposes, it seems to have been moved to serve as the finale of An Unexpected Journey. Makes perfect sense to us. Though hopefully they've got rid of Gollum's little boat. Which scenes are you looking forward to watching in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey? Let us know in the comments section below.