While not quite reaching the heights of *'The Lord of the Rings'*, I really did enjoy *'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'*. It has a certain appeal, and the story is captivating enough, with some nice references to earlier films—it’s visually stunning, just like its predecessors. The actors are well-chosen; Martin Freeman as Bilbo is someone whose performances I’ve always found inconsistent, but he was great in this film. His comedic timing is familiar, but his overall portrayal is quite good. Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf and is a pleasure to watch once again. The other cast members are all fine, though none of them particularly shine; James Nesbitt (Bofur) does provide some amusing moments. I'm hoping the next two installments live up to this one!

Source on TMDB