An Unexpected Journey: Beginning to the contract

I've never really written movie reviews before so I'm not sure where to begin: there's the overall feel and pacing, the acting, the music, special effects, sets, and likely so much more my untrained eye does not see. I suppose to start I will mention some of the memorable scenes for me and by the end of the month my thoughts on how true to Tolkien do I perceive the movie to be.

• The music - the dark screen and Howard Shore's score begins. There's only been one movie in my life where the soundtrack stayed with me (Glory) before Howard Shore's collaboration with Peter Jackson. The LOTR soundtrack was epic and inspiring and to hear the familiar strings playing at the beginning of An Unexpected Journey (AUJ) brought smiles, and feels, and tears t me.
• I loved the beginning with old Bilbo and Frodo; and how cool is it that Ian Holm and Elijah Wood reprised their roles?
• It's safe to say that AUJ was my favorite of the Hobbit movies; in many ways it felt most true to the book. Plus, it's a big contextual film (and I LOVE context) with much to set up for the remainder of the story. It begins with Bilbo's prologue (and I love how it's framed as if it's his memoirs written in the Red Book!)
• We are introduced to Thror - Thrain - Thorin and the kingdom of Erebor. The Arkenstone, which will prove to be very important to the later films and Thror's gold-sickness. 
• Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, Father of Legolas makes an appearance. He clearly wants some of Erebor's jewels and is shown a white necklace that he covets. But it's snapped away as he reaches out. 
• Bilbo then tells Frodo how a division arose between Elves and Dwarves: How the Elves say the Dwarves stole their treasure and the Dwarves say the Elves did not pay. This animosity will prove important as well.
• Then comes Smaug. His power is immense but he's barely viewed as he ransacks Dale and Erebor. We get a fleeting glimpse of Girion Lord of Dale fighting Smaug with the flamed black arrow. In fact one of the arrows hits the underside of the dragon before falling to the ground. 
• Unexpectedly we cut to the Shire; a midsummer night, perhaps the Old Took's birthday. Fireworks amaze all by the master himself: Gandalf. And a spirited young hobbit named Bilbo who challenges the wizard with a toy sword (that looks suspiciously like Sting!). I loved this scene! 
• And then old Bilbo/Ian Holm gives the line: "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit" (p. 9, The Hobbit). Followed by a good rift on the opening paragraph of the book. These are the moments I really geek out about. 
• We get some moments between Frodo and Bilbo before the elder hobbit goes back to reminiscing (and the transition from old to younger Bilbo is excellent).
• Gandalf meeting Bilbo outside of Bag End was perfect. Spot on. I could watch this seen over and over. And Gandalf's response the Bilbo's good morning was straight out of the book. 
• The dwarves arrival is cut way shorter and while I hate to see anything from the book go this was a reasonable adaptation. How many awkward door answers could Peter Jackson had filmed?
• The Blunt the Knives sequence, while not verbatim, was done very well. And Martin Freeman's Bilbo running to and fro in protest while the Dwarves tortured him was very good.
• There are tons of little moments so far Gandalf lighting his pipe with his finger that satisfy the book lover. No, Gandalf never did this in text but the Wizard possessed the Ring of Fire and this is a subtle way the filmmaker's let the book lovers know they know there stuff. 
• I ended my viewing tonight to the point where Bilbo is finally issued a burglar contract much to the chagrin of Thorin who wrote the hobbit off from the moment they met. Bifur's commentary, egging on the overwhelmed hobbit, makes the scene.

It's clear in the first 40 minutes or so of the movie that Peter Jackson's crew has lost no love for Middle-earth. The attention to detail is astounding. New Zealand once again embodies Middle-earth. There are so many little moments straight from the beloved text. The visuals and sounds are inspiring. It's a movie to get lost in.

But the ensemble acting group is the Arkenstone of this movie. Martin Freeman's Bilbo delights from the moment you meet him. He was perfect for the role. Richard Armitage plays a commanding Thorin. Ian McKellan is established as Gandalf and it's as if 12+ years had never passed in his playing of the role. Jimmy Nesbitt stole any scene he was in from the other Dwarves as Bifur. These are characters you believe in; that you care for.