web counter
 

Our Precious Is Back Again: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Trailer

By Rob Payne | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (38)

pajibahobbittrailer.jpg

I’m going to admit upfront that I immediately wanted to hate this trailer. I don’t know why, I guess I’ve just gotten overtly cynical in the last few years, but the first couple of seconds of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey almost, for a split-second, had me rolling my eyes. Then Thorin Oakenshield started singing. I feel like I’m back in high school, watching the teaser for The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time. See if you don’t feel the same by the end.

Here’s the trailer:


(And another version for those who can’t watch YouTube)









And here’s one version of the Hobbit’s poster, which we may have seen in some capacity before:
pajibahobbittrailerposter.jpg
(via Collider)


As for the header image, it was released yesterday by way of an introduction to the above trailer (sort of like how Prometheus had a trailer for its trailer). Anyway, here that is in all its Hobbit/Dwarf majesty:
pajibahobbittrailerpromopic.jpg
(via /Film)


Rob Payne also writes the indie comic The Unstoppable Force, tweets on the Twitter @RobOfWar, and his ware can be purchased here (if you’re into that sort of thing). He may have found this trailer more exciting than The Dark Knight Rises. Maybe.









Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance

← 5 Shows After Dark 12/20/11 | The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher by Robert Kraus (and Other Reviews from Our Junior Cannonballers) →









Comments

Martin Freeman was well cast, he looks like a younger version Ian Holm.

Arthur Dent, Bilbo Baggins, they seem to have a lot in common.

Posted by: MRod at December 21, 2011 8:42 AM

The Hobbit Part 1. The Dark Knight Rises. The Avengers. 007: Skyfall. 2012 is going to be massive for great movies. Can't wait.

Posted by: LeatherBeds at December 21, 2011 8:53 AM

The singing sold it for me

Posted by: Luke at December 21, 2011 8:56 AM

I really wish you guys would stop with the fucking youtube embeds. Can't watch a fucking thing on this site anymore...


(There, I added another version, which I imagine some of our readers also can't view, so I'm using both. Don't say I never did nothin' for ya. -RobP)

Posted by: PissBoy at December 21, 2011 9:03 AM

Love. In fact, love so much, I'm going to have elevenses today to celebrate.

Posted by: Anna von Beav at December 21, 2011 9:09 AM

2012 is going to be an amazing year! But releasing The Hobbit just 7 days before the end of the world? That seems cruel to me. Going to have to be the first in line to make sure I can float on a cloud of joy into the abyss.

Posted by: Lurkey Turkey at December 21, 2011 9:32 AM

*yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwn*

Posted by: Juicy Weatherbee at December 21, 2011 9:47 AM

Well some of us can't watch either! Actually don't worry about it, because I can't really watch any videos from my current location.

Man, making levels for the Shire must be a really difficult job.

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at December 21, 2011 9:48 AM

They really need to set us up with a couple of clips of Smog and the Battle of five armies at the end.

Only then will I be truly excited.

And the spiders.

Posted by: Some Guy at December 21, 2011 9:59 AM

Whoa. I now know the meaning of the phrase, "giddy as a school boy." My neighbors are wondering why I'm giggling madly.
I'm behind the times, but I finally tried the Google maps Easter egg where you ask for walking directions from The Shire to Mordor. "...one does not simply walk into Mordor."

Posted by: Bob Frapples at December 21, 2011 10:09 AM

You people forget 'Brave.'

If the world does end next year, at least the major movies will let us go out with a smile.

(That music, though. *CHILLS*).

Posted by: Aislinn at December 21, 2011 10:16 AM

this reminds me of that lord of the ring movie.

Posted by: gp at December 21, 2011 10:21 AM

I hope it's somewhat light-hearted. As it should be.

Posted by: superasente at December 21, 2011 10:26 AM

Agreed supersente. This looks a bit heavy for the goof-fest that is the Hobbit. But I love me some Martin Freeman. Very excited.

Posted by: homeslice at December 21, 2011 10:49 AM

that mr jackson certainly has a way with middle earth. I wanted to be way too cool / too old / too mom-ish for this one too. But now I remember why the hubby and I had our study / movie room decked out in LoTR stuff 10 years ago before it became a play room and we decided to buy adult-like decorations

Posted by: lilianna28 at December 21, 2011 11:00 AM

At first glance I thought that was Topher Grace in the header pic.

Heh.

Posted by: No Pithy Name at December 21, 2011 11:31 AM

So looking forward to this one. The list of the cast that they were able to get outside of even the returning LOTR crew is amazing. I'm very curious about Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug, but I am going to enjoy Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield.

Posted by: Jast at December 21, 2011 11:36 AM

So, Watson is Bilbo and Holmes is Smaug?
Stunt casting!!!

Posted by: shawnp at December 21, 2011 11:56 AM

Some Guy, Smaug and the Battle of the Five Armies will be in the second part that comes out 2013. I don't know about the spiders, though.

Posted by: FabMax at December 21, 2011 11:59 AM

This is so not my thing.

Martin Freeman, however, totally is my thing.

Posted by: Zirze at December 21, 2011 12:05 PM

Richard Armitage is even hot as a dwarf. Ticket: sold.

Posted by: Elfrieda at December 21, 2011 12:08 PM

NERDGASM.

Also, Martin Freeman was BORN to play that role.

Next December can't come fast enough. I know the changes to the book will probably be ridiculous, but damn if it doesn't look like it'll be a shitload of fun.

Posted by: figgy at December 21, 2011 12:11 PM

This trailer simultaneously excited and concerned me. Jackson, whatever his faults as a director, is exceptionally good at rendering the world these books inhabit. The sets, the costumes, the music, it's all perfect. But this trailer looks much darker than I hoped it would be. The Hobbit gets to some lessons about loss and grief at the end, but it's fundamentally a lighthearted story about adventure and friendship and the ways in which the Bilbo is surprised by the world outside his door and by himself.

I just fear that we're going to get a lot of Gandalf discovering backstory in dark and dangerous places intercut with the main storyline, and I also worry that every bit of danger the party finds themselves in will be shot as tense and gloomy instead of being done with some fun. Seriously, Jackson, DWARVES IN BARRELS. Do not try to make that shit actually dark or scary.

Posted by: Artemis at December 21, 2011 1:14 PM

I am aware of the 2nd part, I just thought they should show some glimpses of the big things at the end in order to justify the story. The problem with that trailer was that it was less an introduction to the plot, and more random scenes indicating a journey with no purpose. They hinted at it with the dwarven poem, yes, but Smaug's the villain.

Posted by: Some Guy at December 21, 2011 1:55 PM

Oh, how I love listening to bass. Tenors are overrated.

All the rest has already been said. The 14th of December is more firmly in my calender than Christmas right now.

Posted by: Rooks at December 21, 2011 1:57 PM

Baritone baby! It's the best of both worlds! (This is coming from a tenor.)

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at December 21, 2011 2:15 PM

I feel like I’m back in high school, watching the teaser for The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time.

I was a little older at the time, so to recapture that teen magic I decided to be scathingly sarcastic to the person in the next cube and then feel deeply hurt when they took offense. I feel 14 again!

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at December 21, 2011 2:56 PM

I loved the book and I loved The Lord of the Rings (books and movies), but this looks like a real piece of shit to me. I don't know why exactly. Something about the way the colours pop makes this look like a straight-to-video sequel.

I wish I could have caught the fever with you guys when the arsehole started singing, but all I heard was "Superman never made any money..."

Posted by: Pfft at December 21, 2011 3:10 PM

Ok, wait, wait wait...did I just see some Galadriel on Gandalf action? Consider my flabbers gasted.

Posted by: NateS1973 at December 21, 2011 3:15 PM

Yep. Couldn't care less, then suddenly dude starts singing and I'm in.


...


AND MY AXE!

Posted by: Lucas at December 21, 2011 6:20 PM

Fan-freaking-tastic. Stuff your snarkiness in sack...to whom it may apply.

Posted by: stryker1121 at December 21, 2011 7:22 PM

Looking at the cast list, and saw that everyone's favorite Lostie is playing "Tauriel." Evangeline Lilly y'all! (I don't remember Tauriel from the book so maybe it's a bit part, but I'm hoping for some KateHate nonetheless)

Posted by: stryker1121 at December 21, 2011 7:26 PM

There's walking in this one? Whew! I was worried.

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at December 21, 2011 7:45 PM

You were in high school when that came out? How fucking old am I?

Also,
The singing totally sold it for me too.

Posted by: John G. at December 21, 2011 9:39 PM

Can I have Richard Armitage singing in my ear? Please? Thorin costume is optional. No costume at all is desirable.

Posted by: Cuca at December 21, 2011 10:14 PM

Altough I bought Hobbit the book just after I read LOTR, I never read it. Don't know why, just didn't.

Trailer is good but I haven't decided yet. Why not no Aragorn? Wasn't he 87 when he became king? Coudn'he be there with Bilbo's journey?

I seriously have no idea. Guess it s time to watch the movies again for some Aragorn time.

Posted by: canan at December 22, 2011 7:07 AM

There's walking in this one? Whew! I was worried.

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at December 21, 2011 7:45 PM

There's also an extended chase scene on jet skis.

Posted by: piedlourde at December 22, 2011 1:23 PM

You read my thoughts, Artemis. I fear for this film as much as I'm anxious to see it. Peter Jackson scares me. He's an odd mix of love and disdain for the source material, brilliance and idiocy with choreographing scenes, and just can't seem to keep it in his damn pants when it comes to creepifying EVERYTHING!!! Barrels indeed. I fear he will make that scene a nauseating and visually frustrating, not to mention CLICHED, white water rapid, suspense-filled chase scene through narrow underground caverns a'la every goddamn movie ever. It was tiresome when they were beating that dead Bantha in the original Star Wars films, much more so when you see it used to create chase scene drama where there is none. Death Star II. Pod race. Harkins theater intros. it's absolutely time to stop this meme.

And then there's the over-abundance of "Hey! It's that guy from Fellowship!!" flashback cameo stupidity. Legolas, Galadriel, Gimli, Aragorn as well, I think (though, theoretically, Legolas could be there in non -flashback from, as he's anElf and essentially immortal AND ***SPOILER*** he's the son of a minor character in the film, King Thranduil of Mirkwood) ***END***. Most of that doesn't bother me too much. Well, maybe having to see Orlando Bloom again. The main issue I have is about one scene in the trailer. Galadriel and Gandalf are standing in Rivendell. Not sure why Galadriel is in Rivendell, but whatever, the scene involves Galadriel looking wistfully into a weary and bedraggled Gandalf's eyes and gently brushing his ratty haiir from his face.

Now, there are a few ways this can be taken. Seeing as Gandalf is basically the Middle Earth version of an Archangel, and Galadriel has been around since the first Elves awoke in the beginning of the world, she could be noticing how old Gandalf looks and be lamenting the trials he's endured. But that doesn't really make sense if we're talking canon, as Gandalf can pretty much assume whatever form he likes. He's only an old man so that his appearance can help in his role as advisor and wise counsel for the good inhabitants of Middle Earth in their battle against the evil ones. Perhaps Galadriel is just astounded at his appearance, seeing as she might have seen him, before the world was broken at the end of the First Age, when he was probably much more angelic or at least more Elvish looking. It could be that she's just looking into his eyes to give him one of her probing mindscrews, as embellished by Jackson in The Fellowship. My fear is that Jackson is going to make up some past or present love affair, requited or no, between the two. He hasn't been to shy about pissing off hardcore fans in the past, why should he care that Galadriel is partnered with Celeborn or that Gandalf has a fancy for the Vala Nienna. No, just go shit some more on my most beloved universe, you brilliant hack.

As for the Dwarves and Bilbo, they all look pretty damn good and the scenes I've seen, equally so. The only exception to that is the Dwarf, Kili, who looks like he's waiting for his photoshoot for Gentledwarf's Quarterly. So very non-Dwarfish. Freeman is PERFECT as Bilbo, from all I've seen, and Thorin is Dwarfish AND serious enough, considering the gravity of the adventure they're embarking on.

My only hope right now is that they don't further spoil the film by showing Smaug. I so want that to be a surprise.

Posted by: Protoguy at December 25, 2011 12:18 AM