The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

As successful and magical as any of the other original films from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Sure, there is an argument to be made that Jackson and company trumped up another trilogy from J. R. R. Tolkien's slim first book for business reasons, but that argument only holds if the films don't work. And this one does work, especially if you are willing to settle into the world of Middle Earth and spend some time there. Critics were especially harsh about the extended opening sequence in the Shire, when Bilbo Baggins is descended upon by Gandalf and thirteen dwarves. I loved this sequence, especially when the dwarves break into song (yes, that happens), and especially the way Bilbo is torn between the comforts of home and the lure of adventure.

The set pieces that occur after the group embark on their way toward Lonely Mountain (spoiler alert: they don't get there in this movie), are all fairly amazing. There are mind-blowing action sequences involving goblins, mountain giants, orcs on wargs. Peter Jackson manages to utilize state-of-the-art special effects and still make the film seem from another, more old fashioned time.