film an unexpected journey

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Upcoming Movies and TV shows
Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

What's the Tomatometer®?
Login/signup

Movies in theaters

Opening this week
Top box office
Coming soon to theaters
Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

Fandango at Home
Netflix streaming
Prime Video
Most popular streaming movies
What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

Challengers Link to Challengers
I Saw the TV Glow Link to I Saw the TV Glow
Música Link to Música

New TV Tonight

Shardlake: Season 1
The Veil: Season 1
Hacks: Season 3
The Tattooist of Auschwitz: Season 1
A Man in Full: Season 1
Acapulco: Season 3
Welcome to Wrexham: Season 3
John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA: Season 1
Star Wars: Tales of the Empire: Season 1
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Season 4.2

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Where to watch.

Watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey with a subscription on Max, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth is an earnest, visually resplendent trip, but the film's deliberate pace robs the material of some of its majesty.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Peter Jackson

Ian McKellen

Martin Freeman

Bilbo Baggins

Richard Armitage

Thorin Oakenshield

Graham McTavish

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Bundle and save, customers also watched.

Cast and Crew

41136 global ratings

How are ratings calculated? Toggle Expand Toggle Expand

Amazon Newsletter
About Amazon
Accessibility
Sustainability
Press Center
Investor Relations
Amazon Devices
Amazon Science
Sell on Amazon
Sell apps on Amazon
Supply to Amazon
Protect & Build Your Brand
Become an Affiliate
Become a Delivery Driver
Start a Package Delivery Business
Advertise Your Products
Self-Publish with Us
Become an Amazon Hub Partner
› See More Ways to Make Money
Amazon Visa
Amazon Store Card
Amazon Secured Card
Amazon Business Card
Shop with Points
Credit Card Marketplace
Reload Your Balance
Amazon Currency Converter
Your Account
Your Orders
Shipping Rates & Policies
Amazon Prime
Returns & Replacements
Manage Your Content and Devices
Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
Conditions of Use
Privacy Notice
Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
Your Ads Privacy Choices

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Streaming in:

We checked for updates on 246 streaming services on April 29, 2024 at 7:27:30 PM. Something wrong? Let us know!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey streaming: where to watch online?

Currently you are able to watch "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" streaming on Max, Max Amazon Channel. It is also possible to buy "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand as download or rent it on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Spectrum On Demand online.

Where does The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey rank today? The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

Streaming charts last updated: 9:18:53 PM, 04/29/2024

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is 620 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved down the charts by -14 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than Too Big to Fail but less popular than American Beauty.

A reluctant hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home - and the gold within it - from the dragon Smaug.

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Streaming Charts The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

Production country

Bundle offers, people who liked the hobbit: an unexpected journey also liked.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Popular movies coming soon

Upcoming Action & Adventure movies

Similar Movies you can watch for free

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

For Parents
For Educators
Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

Get the app
Movie Reviews
Best Movie Lists
Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

Best TV Lists
Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
Common Sense Selections for TV
Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

Book Reviews
Best Book Lists
Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

Game Reviews
Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

Podcast Reviews
Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

App Reviews
Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

YouTube Channel Reviews
YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

Explaining the News to Our Kids

Family Tech Planners
Digital Skills
All Articles
Latino Culture
Black Voices
Asian Stories
Native Narratives
LGBTQ+ Pride
Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

The hobbit: an unexpected journey, common sense media reviewers.

Tolkien tale isn't as great as LOTR, but better for tweens.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

As in The Lord of the Rings, the message of The Ho

No one except Gandalf thinks that Bilbo can be of

Less violent than The Lord of the Rings, but there

Slang use of "jaxie" (meaning "ass").

Although there are no product placements in Middle

The dwarves are a voracious lot -- even more than

Positive Messages

As in The Lord of the Rings , the message of The Hobbit is that even the smallest person can make a huge difference. Gandalf even says "it's the small things that keep the darkness at bay" in reference to Bilbo's involvement in the dangerous mission. Gandalf advises Bilbo that it's not knowing how to take a life that takes courage but knowing when to spare one. The dwarves' quest reminds viewers of the importance of home, kinship, and belonging somewhere. Curiosity, perseverance, and teamwork are major themes.

Positive Role Models

No one except Gandalf thinks that Bilbo can be of much help, but Bilbo rises to the occasion by summoning his courage when the time calls for it -- except for the fact that he fulfills his destiny as a "burglar" by stealing Gollum's precious ring. Thorin is dedicated to his fellow dwarves, and they in return revere him as their faithful leader.

Violence & Scariness

Less violent than The Lord of the Rings , but there's still some carnage: a battle between the dwarves and the dragon leads to the dwarf king being decapitated, an orc leader's arm amputated, and a multitude of dwarves and their property destroyed. There are several close calls when Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves are pursued or nearly die on their journey across Middle-earth, usually by orcs and their beasts. The orc leader is a frightening sight -- particularly with his claw-like prosthesis, and he's bloodthirsty. A group of goblins/orcs tries to kill the group as well.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Although there are no product placements in Middle-earth, the Tolkien books and Peter Jackson film adaptations have spawned a ton of merchandise: apparel, video games, LEGO toys and board games, role-playing games, special movie tie-in editions of the books, and more.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

The dwarves are a voracious lot -- even more than hobbits. They ransack Bilbo's pantry and consume large quantities of drink (and food). Gandalf and Bilbo smoke the mellowing pipeweed.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, director Peter Jackson 's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's stand-alone quest through Middle-earth, is less violent than the scarier Lord of the Rings trilogy. But there are definitely some frightening sequences, like the battle between the dragon and the dwarves of Erebor, during which one character is decapitated, another has an arm amputated, and there's mass destruction. The group of Bilbo, Gandalf, and 13 dwarves is often tracked and pursued and nearly killed several times, but they manage to avoid death -- at least in this installment. Bilbo (like Frodo and his friends in the LOTR movies) again shows that size doesn't matter when it comes to making a difference. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

Parents say (52)
Kids say (233)

Based on 52 parent reviews

Suitable for kids IMO.

Definitely not as good as the book..., what's the story.

Peter Jackson's first installment in his three-part adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien 's THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY starts off with an eleventy-one-year-old Bilbo Baggins (played once again by Ian Holm ) narrating the tale of how he, a mellow hobbit from the Shire, ended up enmeshed in a dangerous quest. Sixty years before The Fellowship of the Ring is formed, a considerably younger Bilbo ( Martin Freeman ) sets off an the titular Unexpected Journey with his friend Gandalf the Grey ( Ian McKellen ) to help 13 dwarves reclaim their homeland -- the kingdom of Erebor, which was taken over by a killer, gold-seeking dragon that forced the dwarves into exile. The motley crew, led by Gandalf and the smoldering heir to the Erebor throne, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), encounter two-and-a-half hours of conflict (most notably with the bloodthirsty orcs) with a brief respite found in the elven homeland of Rivendell, where Galadriel ( Cate Blanchett ) offers Gandalf her unconditional support.

Is It Any Good?

Despite issues with length and pacing, there's no denying this is a production worth seeing, especially with kids new to Tolkien's detailed universe. As a novel, The Hobbit skews younger than The Lord of the Rings , so it's only natural that the film is also more accessible for tweens -- just have them look the other way for a few of the darker battle sequences. The story is simple enough, and the visuals are dazzling (the 48 frames per second rate is neither as spectacular or headache-inducing as rumors would have you believe). The acting is admirable, including the return of our favorite wizard, Gandalf, Lady of Lorien Galadriel, and head elf Elrond ( Hugo Weaving ). Unfortunately, the dwarves all sort of blend together in a tangle of hair and mischief, with the notable exception of the broody Thorin and his swashbuckling nephews, Fili and Kili (Dean O'Gorman and Aidan Turner).

The main issue with Jackson's adaptation is that the run time is brutal, even for hardcore fans of Jackson's epic LOTR trilogy. Whereas that trilogy made sense as three separate movies -- considering it was the adaptation of three books -- The Hobbit isn't a substantive enough work to demand three movies, even with Jackson pulling extra material from Tolkien's indices. The fabulous visuals and impressive action sequences reminiscent of the trilogy are bogged down by an overlong and overly thorough first quarter that could have used a considerable edit job.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how The Hobbit compares to The Lord of the Rings . How are the stories similar (a hobbit joins a dangerous quest), and how are they different? Which adventure do you prefer?

For those familiar with the book , how does the movie adaptation differ? If you haven't read the book yet, does the movie make you want to delve into Tolkien's classic? Why do you think Tolkien's fantasy tale has withstood the test of time?

What does Bilbo learn about himself throughout the journey?

How do the characters in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey demonstrate curiosity and courage ? What about perseverance and teamwork ? Why are these important character strengths ?

Movie Details

In theaters : December 14, 2012
On DVD or streaming : March 19, 2013
Cast : Ian McKellen , Martin Freeman , Richard Armitage
Director : Peter Jackson
Inclusion Information : Gay actors
Studio : New Line
Genre : Fantasy
Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Book Characters
Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance , Teamwork
Run time : 166 minutes
MPAA rating : PG-13
MPAA explanation : extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images
Last updated : April 25, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Want personalized picks for your kids' age and interests?

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Hobbit (1977)

Best Fantasy Movies

Fantasy books for kids, related topics.

Perseverance
Magic and Fantasy
Book Characters

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

an image, when javascript is unavailable

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

The hobbit: an unexpected journey.

FILM REVIEW: More is less in Peter Jackson's gargantuan first installment of the new Tolkien trilogy.

By Todd McCarthy

Todd McCarthy

Share this article on Facebook
Share this article on Twitter
Share this article on Flipboard
Share this article on Email
Show additional share options
Share this article on Linkedin
Share this article on Pinit
Share this article on Reddit
Share this article on Tumblr
Share this article on Whatsapp
Share this article on Print
Share this article on Comment

Martin Freeman comes into his own as Bilbo Baggins.

THR Newsletters

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Golden globes screeners go digital-only as organization teams with indee on streaming platform (exclusive), zack norman, actor in ‘romancing the stone’ and henry jaglom films, dies at 83, jerry seinfeld brings back classic ‘seinfeld’ characters, takes jab at ‘friends’ in promo for his pop-tarts movie, karen gillan and zoë chao to star in mrc comedy ‘let’s have kids’, ‘mufasa: the lion king’: first trailer released by disney, gérard depardieu to stand trial over sexual assault allegations.

Skip to main content
Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Movie Reviews

A 'hobbit,' off on his unhurried journey.

Bob Mondello

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) takes a fantastic adventure across Middle-earth in Peter Jackson's prequel to his Lord of the Rings trilogy. James Fisher/Warner Bros. Pictures hide caption

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Director: Peter Jackson
Genre: Fantasy
Running time: 169 minutes

With: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage

Watch Clips

'Funeral Arrangements'

Credit: Warner Brothers Pictures

'Cut The Ropes'

'I'm A Hobbit'

'At Your Service'

The Hobbit 's path to the screen may have started out as tortuous as a trek through the deadly Helcaraxe, filled with detours (Guillermo del Toro was initially going to direct), marked by conflict (New Zealand labor disputes) and strewn with seemingly insurmountable obstacles (so many that the filmmakers threatened to move the shoot to Australia).

But with Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy having taken in almost $3 billion at the box office, there was never any real doubt that J.R.R. Tolkien's remaining Middle-earth fantasy would ultimately become a film — or, as it happens, three of them.

In that sense, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey isn't "unexpected" at all, though between its lighter tone and a decade's worth of improvements in digital film techniques, there should be enough of a novelty factor to delight most fans.

After a sequence that recounts the eviction of the dwarves from their Lonely Mountain kingdom by the treasure-coveting dragon Smaug, Jackson takes us to the Shire, 60 years before the Rings cycle. Frodo's adopted Uncle Bilbo, played by LOTR 's Ian Holm in a framing sequence and by a smartly cast Martin Freeman thereafter, is a comparative youngster, while Gandalf (Ian McKellen) looks as old as the New Zealand hills.

"I'm looking for someone," says the wizard, "to share in an adventure."

Bilbo says no way, but that night, dwarfs start showing up at his door. First one, who eats his dinner; then another, who raids his pantry; then lots more. They are a boisterous bunch — not seven dwarfs, but 13, all with alarming facial hair and all hell-bent on taking back their homeland — right after they 1) get acquainted, 2) have dinner, 3)attend to some paperwork and 4) sing a couple of songs.

You'll sense that there's a bit of padding going on here. Although Tolkien's novel The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, is shorter than any one of the three books that make up Lord of the Rings , it's being turned all by itself into three new movies. So where the challenge in LOTR was to condense and reduce and condense again, the challenge here is to include every syllable, plus an appendix or two to boot.

In this first film — which covers just six book chapters in close to three hours — the filmmakers are reduced to detailing troll recipes and staging a hedgehog rescue. They also, happily, make much of an encounter with the one little dude who makes any trek to Middle-earth worthwhile: Gollum.

Actor Andy Serkis plus motion-capture still equals the most memorable character in all of 21st century film. Here, though the surrounding story tends toward boisterous high spirits befitting the material's origins in a child-friendly book, Gollum is insidious — even dangerous. The high-stakes game of questions he plays with Bilbo is the one moment when this movie can't be dismissed as Lord of the Rings -lite.

It wouldn't be a Tolkien adventure without dwarfs like Bombur (Stephen Hunter, left), Ori (Adam Brown) and Dori (Mark Hadlow). Warner Bros. Pictures hide caption

Still, even if it's mostly technology this time rather than story that's providing the depth, there is a new feel to reckon with. Director Jackson takes to 3-D like an orc to battle, turning an escape from a cave full of goblins into a plunge inside a Rube Goldberg contraption — the camera soaring one way as our heroes careen another, across spindly wooden bridges that sway and collapse in a choreographed frenzy. Waves of goblins swinging in on ropes get turned into pinwheels, giant logs become pinball flippers flicking them right and left, all in a new process that doubles the number of frames per second, making even the fastest action clear, smooth and stutter-free.

Does that high frame rate also make slower scenes look too real — not orcs and dwarfs, but actors in makeup? Well, if you're worried about that, you have a record six viewing options for The Hobbit : the usual standard format and 3-D format, plus IMAX and 3-D IMAX, the new high-frame-rate 3-D, and high-frame-rate 3-D-IMAX. So you can choose how "realistic" you want your fantasy world.

Just remember that all that's really required for willing suspension of disbelief is an army of the willing. An army that is already, a day before the opening, lining up at your local multiplex.

When you purchase through Movies Anywhere , we bring your favorite movies from your connected digital retailers together into one synced collection. Join Now

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | Full Movie | Movies Anywhere

Buy From $9.99

Special Features

New zealand: home of middle-earth, the stone trolls, video blogs, theatrical trailers, game trailers, rotten tomatoes® score.

This is a cinematic world so fully realized that leaving it is a sad prospect.

A wonderfully satisfying fantasy adventure that not only connects to the previous films, but charts its own ground with great effectiveness.

When it comes to the fantasy genre, it really doesn't get more epic than this.

This is a film for true Tolkien connoisseurs.

In the end you're left wondering how it went that way, and how in the hell are they going to squeeze two more movies out of this?

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' is an expected journey that radiates entertainment, majesty and wonder. [Full review in Spanish]

While it doesn't have the same sense of urgency and darkness as the LOTR trilogy, An Unexpected Journey is a fun and welcomed adventure, filled with humor, spectacular visuals and great action sequences. [Full review in Spanish]

Despite a few minor flaws, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a superb (and suitably epic) addition to Peter Jackson's past adaptations of Tolkien's work. See it in 3D and 48fps for the ultimate experience.

It feels more scattershot than Jackson's prior films, a pastiche of set pieces that don't add up to a unified story.

It feels much like a gentler, more humorous and watered-down version of The Fellowship of the Ring.

Additional Info

Genre : Action, Fantasy, Drama
Release Date : December 14, 2012
Languages : English, Spanish
Captions : English, Spanish
Audio Format : 5.1

You Might Also Like...

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition)

New Releases

The Good (and Not-So Good) of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

As The Rings of Power brings Middle-Earth back to screens everywhere, let's look back to see how the first Hobbit film holds up after nearly a decade.

With the latest adventure into J.R.R. Tolkien’s world of Middle-Earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power , recently kicking off its first season on Prime Video, there has been a lot of discussion about the various on-screen iterations of Middle-Earth. While Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy from the early 2000s usually dominates the conversation (as it should, it’s the best trilogy of films to ever be put to screen), Jackson’s prequel trilogy of films based on The Hobbit are the second most-notable instance of Middle-Earth on film.

Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy is a bit of a mixed bag . It’s nowhere near the quality of the Lord of the Rings films, but that doesn’t mean that the movies are entirely without merit. All three movies bring their own great things to the table, in addition to some aspects that keep them from being truly excellent. With The Rings of Power currently bringing the world of Middle-Earth back to life through streaming, now is a good time to revisit the Hobbit trilogy to see how the films have aged over the nearly 10 years since their release.

As one might expect, it’s best to start with the first film in the trilogy. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was released in December 2012 and was generally well received at the time, but the difference in quality between it and The Lord of the Rings was already apparent. Here’s what worked and what didn’t:

Good: Return to Middle-Earth

The world of Middle-Earth was pretty perfectly established in Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films. It immediately became one of the most iconic fantasy worlds ever seen on film, and every location was brought to life with incredible detail and personality. An Unexpected Journey brings audiences right back into the world they had last seen in The Return of the King nine years prior. The film wastes no time establishing itself in the same continuity as Jackson’s Lord of the Rings , as it opens in The Shire just prior to the events of the first trilogy. Ian Holm returns as the elderly Bilbo Baggins and Elijah Wood also makes a surprise appearance as Frodo. Jackson uses this opening to re-introduce the audience to the world through the same blissful atmosphere of The Shire that was first seen at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring .

The film then flashes back to a younger Bilbo and the adventure that drives this trilogy of films. An Unexpected Journey visits many of the same locations as Fellowship , as Bilbo, Gandalf and the company of Dwarves travel across the vast landscapes of Middle-Earth, visiting Rivendell along the way (where Elrond, Galadriel, and Saruman also come into play) before trekking through the treacherous Misty Mountains. For much of the film, the group travels along a similar route to Sam, Frodo, and the rest of the Fellowship in the first half of that film. Weathertop, where Frodo would one day be stabbed by the Witch King, also appears, as it is where the villainous white orc Azog rallies his forces about halfway through the film.

An Unexpected Journey doesn’t solely rely on revisiting previously established locations in Middle-Earth, though. The film also brings many new locations into the fold, most chiefly that of the Lonely Mountain Erebor and the territory surrounding it. While the Fellowship visited the ruins of Moria in Fellowship of the Ring , the Lord of the Rings films never actually depicted an active and thriving Dwarven civilization. The prologue to An Unexpected Journey finally gives audiences that, as it details the lives of the Dwarves prior to their eviction via dragon fire. It expands the on-screen world of Middle-Earth that was established in the previous trilogy, and it does so in a way that feels very natural within the universe. So to sum it all up, An Unexpected Journey does a wonderful job of reintroducing the world of Middle-Earth and building on it in meaningful new ways.

Not-So-Good: Too Silly at Times

While it is well-known that The Hobbit , as a book, is much more of a children’s story than The Lord of the Rings , the trilogy of Hobbit films had a difficult line to walk with its tone. Many people came into An Unexpected Journey expecting it to strike the same balance between humor and heavy fantasy that the previous films had. For the most part, An Unexpected Journey does deliver on that same tone, as it feels very at home alongside the Lord of the Rings films.

However, the movie couldn’t just outright ignore the much lighter-hearted atmosphere of The Hobbit book. As a result, there are multiple occasions within An Unexpected Journey when the film suddenly shifts into a much sillier and more child-friendly tone. Of course, there are plenty of instances of this with the Dwarven company, as several of the Dwarves are just humorous caricatures that don’t really bring much to the movie other than providing a few laughs here and there (looking at you Bifur and Bombur). Although the Dwarves can get a little cartoony, much of that actually works because their silliness is contrasted against the seriousness and dramatic weight brought by Thorin, Balin, Bilbo, and Gandalf.

Beyond that, many of the film’s silliest moments come from Radagast, the Brown Wizard. While Radagast is mentioned in the original book, his inclusion in the film was an entirely new addition from Jackson. There are few details provided about Radagast throughout Tolkien’s Middle-Earth bibliography, but it is established that he does have a strong devotion to the plants and animals of the world. The silliness of the character in An Unexpected Journey , though, is largely a creative decision made for the film . Making Radagast such a whimsical and cartoony character would make sense if the film was as light-hearted as the book, but since the movie attempts to strike a similar tone to The Lord of the Rings , many of Radagast’s scenes feel out of place and awkward.

Related: Every Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movie, Ranked

Good: Howard Shore’s Music

One of the most crucial aspects to crafting the atmosphere of the original Lord of the Rings films was the incredible musical score from composer Howard Shore . Across those films, Shore produced one of the best scores in film history, which he deservedly won three Oscars for (though he oddly wasn’t even nominated for The Two Towers ). As such, it was a no-brainer to bring Shore back for the Hobbit trilogy.

Shore’s return to the musical side of Middle-Earth is another important contributor to how well An Unexpected Journey recaptures the feel of the world. Many of Shore’s most impressive and memorable themes and motifs from The Lord of the Rings can be heard here, ranging from the quaint melodies of The Shire, to the sweeping grandiosity of Rivendell, the enchanting theme for the One Ring, and the terrifying music of the Nazgul.

Just as An Unexpected Journey balanced its adventure between familiar and new locations, Shore does the same with his score. Though much of the music from The Lord of the Rings can be heard in the first Hobbit film, there are also plenty of excellent new themes and songs that round out the score and establish its own identity. Whether it be the bombastic nature of the Dwarven theme (built off the incredible Misty Mountains song the company sings in the film’s opening act) or the dread-inducing brass that accompanies Azog the Defiler, there are plenty of new musical explorations in The Hobbit to make the score live up to the high expectations set by that of the previous films.

Not-So-Good: Action Sequences

Whereas the Lord of the Rings films are praised for having a number of truly incredible action sequences, such as the Battle of Helms Deep, An Unexpected Journey drops the ball on this front a bit. Oddly enough, it doesn’t do this by having bad fight scenes, but rather by having generic and serviceable ones.

While there are some action sequences in the film that are exciting, such as the prologue of Smaug attacking Erebor or the Warg chase sequence, most of the film’s fights are just a flurry of people swinging swords and axes at various computer-generated foes. There are also a number of moments, particularly as the Dwarves are escaping the Goblin caves, that are overly contrived and convenient. They feel less like genuine action developments and more like a writer sitting in a room and saying “Wouldn’t it be fun if a dwarf caught all these goblins between the rungs on a ladder?”.

The action sequences of An Unexpected Journey don’t carry much dramatic weight to them. Instead, they are just a mess of CGI creatures being thrown around and hit with axes. While a movie is certainly more than its action sequences, the lackluster fights of this film really hinder the final act of the movie. The last third of the film goes straight from the goblin caves to a different fight between the Dwarves and Azog’s gang of orcs. While it’s understandable to have Azog show up in the final act, as the movie establishes him as the central antagonist to Thorin, that final action sequence is just as messy as the one that preceded it. The result is that the film doesn’t end on a very strong note, which leaves the audience focusing on that final sour taste, rather than all the excellent material that had come before.

Good: Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins

The Lord of the Rings is an ensemble story, with the adventure being shared between Frodo, Sam, Aragorn, Gandalf, and the rest of the Fellowship, but The Hobbit is fairly singular in whose story is being told. Although much of the plot is driven by the Dwarves, with Thorin being the most important character of the group, the heart, and overall central story of The Hobbit centers around Bilbo Baggins. As such, it was crucial to get the casting of the young Bilbo right.

Thankfully, Martin Freeman was the perfect choice for the role. Freeman, who was previously best known for portraying Watson in BBC’s Sherlock series, was the perfect blend of a charismatic leading man and a soft-spoken character actor. He fits excellently into the shoes of the legendary Ian Holm , who played the older version of Bilbo in the previous films, and he really makes the character his own while still embodying the same personality as Holm’s iteration.

Freeman carries the entire Hobbit trilogy on his back, and his performance in An Unexpected Journey lays the groundwork for all the development his character will undergo in the following films. Although the character may be sheepish and a bit cowardly at times, Freeman never makes those the defining traits of Bilbo. He always played the character with quiet confidence and tenderness. While the role is certainly well-written, it is Freeman that breathes the soul of Bilbo into the character. It’s the kind of casting that is so perfect you can’t imagine anyone else playing the role.

Related: How The Rings of Power Does (and Doesn't) Connect to the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movies

Not-So-Good: Overly Long

While The Lord of the Rings are notoriously long films, Jackson seemed to believe that length was a prerequisite going into the Hobbit trilogy. An Unexpected Journey clocks in at 2 hours and 49 minutes, which is way too long for this story. While the Lord of the Rings films were that long, they earned that length with an incredibly dense and well-paced story that needed that amount of time to be told. The Hobbit films just aren’t that.

An Unexpected Journey could have easily been cut down to under two-and-a-half hours. As much fun as it is experiencing so many adventures with Bilbo and the company of Dwarves, not all the random action asides are necessary to the story. Much of Radagast’s subplot and other moments, such as the stone giants fighting in the mountains, could have been removed to help shorten the film to a more digestible length.

That’s not to say that these sequences should have been erased entirely, but rather they should have been saved for the extended edition of the film that was released a year later. That version of the movie added 13 more minutes to the runtime, bringing it to just over three hours long. By trimming off many of the unnecessary sequences in the film, An Unexpected Journey could have been a much breezier and easy film to sit down and watch on a whim, while also having an optional longer experience for those who want it. At nearly three hours long, though, watching the film is an overly lengthy endeavor that is much harder to commit to.

Good: Riddles in the Dark

The Riddles in the Dark chapter of the original book is one of the most iconic sequences not just in The Hobbit but in Tolkien’s entire Middle-Earth canon. The scene introduces Gollum and the One Ring, depicts how exactly Bilbo ended up with the ring and sets in motion events that would dictate the rest of the world moving forward. It’s a moment so crucial to the history of Middle-Earth that there was even a shortened version of the sequence included in the prologue to Fellowship of the Ring , with Ian Holm playing the young Bilbo.

The sequence is a blessing that was given to An Unexpected Journey. It is far and away the best part of the movie, not only because of how well-written and structured it is, but also because of how it provided an opportunity to bring Andy Serkis back to play the role of Gollum one more time. Serkis’s Gollum is one of the most transcendent aspects to come out of the Lord of the Rings films, and his inclusion in this film instantly made it a must-see for many viewers.

The scene is brilliantly translated from the page to the screen. Jackson and the rest of the creative team wisely followed the old adage of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” as much of the scene’s dialogue and pacing is directly taken from what was scribed in the book. It is one of the most faithful-to-the-book moments in all six of Jackson’s Tolkien films. Plus, the scene served as an opportunity for the visual effects house Wētā Workshop to show just how much they’d advanced in the nine years since Return of the King . The digital effects and motion capture work done for Gollum in the original films was already outstanding, but seeing the character brought to life as a remarkably better-rendered version in An Unexpected Journey was nothing short of awe-inducing. It was Wētā saying “You thought this was cool back then? Check it out now,” and it made for the most memorable moment in the entire Hobbit trilogy.

Turn Your Curiosity Into Discovery

Latest facts.

18 Justice Carradine Facts

10 Interesting Facts About Oscar Wilde

39 facts about the movie the hobbit: an unexpected journey.

Written by Bertha Tutt

Modified & Updated: 28 Apr 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

39-facts-about-the-movie-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a fantasy adventure film that takes viewers on an incredible journey through the magical world of Middle-earth. Released in 2012, the movie serves as the prelude to the critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy and is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel, The Hobbit. Directed by the visionary filmmaker Peter Jackson, this epic cinematic experience transports audiences to a time of dwarves, wizards , elves, and, of course, hobbits. With stunning visuals, captivating storytelling, and a stellar cast, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey mesmerizes viewers from start to finish. In this article, we will delve into 39 fascinating facts about this cinematic masterpiece, revealing behind-the-scenes secrets, interesting tidbits, and the incredible efforts that went into bringing Tolkien’s iconic world to life on the big screen.

Key Takeaways:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was a visually stunning film released in 2012, with a captivating story that introduces new characters and explores the rich mythology of Middle-earth.
The movie received mixed reviews but won an Academy Award for Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling. It set the stage for an epic adventure and showcased the art of swordplay and memorable dialogue.

The film was released in 2012

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, directed by Peter Jackson, was released in December 2012, captivating audiences worldwide.

It is the first installment of The Hobbit film trilogy

The movie serves as the beginning of an epic three-part film series based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel, The Hobbit.

The movie was shot in 3D

To enhance the cinematic experience, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was filmed and released in 3D, immersing viewers in the magical world of Middle-earth.

Martin Freeman plays the lead role of Bilbo Baggins

British actor Martin Freeman delivers a captivating performance as the hobbit protagonist, Bilbo Baggins.

The movie features an ensemble cast

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Ian McKellen , Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, and many more talented actors.

It grossed over $1 billion at the box office

The film’s success was undeniable, breaking records and earning over $1 billion worldwide during its theatrical run.

The movie received mixed reviews from critics

Critics had divided opinions about the film, with some praising its visuals and performances while others felt it dragged on unnecessarily.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey won an Academy Award

The film won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling at the 85th Academy Awards.

It introduces new characters and brings back familiar faces

The movie introduces new characters such as Thorin Oakenshield and features familiar faces like Gandalf the Grey, played by Ian McKellen.

The film stays true to Tolkien’s vision

Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Hobbit stays faithful to J.R.R. Tolkien’s original novel, delighting fans of the fantasy series.

The movie showcases stunning visual effects

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey boasts breathtaking visual effects, bringing the fantastical creatures and landscapes of Middle-earth to life.

It explores the origins of the One Ring

The film delves into the backstory of the iconic One Ring, offering insight into its significance in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey highlights the power of camaraderie

The movie emphasizes the importance of teamwork and friendship as Bilbo and his companions embark on their perilous quest.

The film features thrilling action sequences

From intense battles to narrow escapes, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey delivers adrenaline-pumping action throughout the film.

It explores the rich mythology of Middle-earth

The movie expands on the intricate mythology of Middle-earth, providing deeper context to the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey showcases stunning locations

The film takes audiences on a visual journey through breathtaking landscapes, from lush forests to majestic mountains.

The movie features memorable musical compositions

Composer Howard Shore masterfully creates a captivating musical score that enhances the emotional impact of the film.

It pays homage to the original Lord of the Rings trilogy

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey references and connects to the events of The Lord of the Rings, creating a cohesive cinematic universe.

The film captures the essence of Tolkien’s storytelling

Peter Jackson successfully captures Tolkien’s enchanting storytelling style, transporting viewers into a world filled with wonder and adventure.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey received numerous visual effects nominations

The film was recognized for its outstanding visual effects, receiving nominations at various award ceremonies including the BAFTAs and the Academy Awards.

It was shot in Jackson’s native New Zealand

Peter Jackson, a proud New Zealander, chose to film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in his homeland, showcasing its stunning natural beauty.

The movie has a runtime of 169 minutes

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey provides audiences with an immersive experience, spanning nearly three hours of thrilling storytelling.

It was a highly anticipated film

Fans eagerly awaited the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, excited to revisit the world of Middle-earth on the big screen.

The film showcases the art of swordplay

From elaborate fight choreography to skilled swordsmanship, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey displays the artistry and skill involved in combat.

It features memorable and quotable dialogue

The movie is filled with memorable lines that have become iconic within the fantasy genre, further solidifying its place in cinematic history.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey explores themes of greed and redemption

The film delves into the consequences of greed and the possibility of redemption, giving depth to its characters and their motivations.

It features a thrilling encounter with trolls

The movie introduces audiences to the perilous trolls encountered by Bilbo and his companions, resulting in a suspenseful and exciting sequence.

The film showcases intricate costume designs

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey dazzles with its elaborate and detailed costume designs, bringing the characters to life in a visually stunning way.

It was a box office success

The film’s commercial success is a testament to its widespread appeal, attracting both devoted fans and newcomers to the world of Middle-earth.

The movie received accolades for its sound design

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was praised for its exceptional sound design, creating an immersive audio experience for audiences.

It introduces the iconic character Gollum

The movie showcases the memorable character Gollum, portrayed by Andy Serkis , known for his mesmerizing performance capture work.

The film features breathtaking aerial shots

Utilizing stunning aerial cinematography, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey offers breathtaking views of the vast landscapes of Middle-earth.

It explores the nature of heroism

The film delves into what it means to be a hero and the transformative journey that Bilbo Baggins undergoes throughout his adventure.

The movie has impressive set designs

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey showcases intricate set designs that transport viewers into the fantastical realm of Middle-earth.

It features heartwarming moments of friendship

The film highlights the bonds of friendship and the loyalty that develops between the characters as they face various challenges and dangers.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey had a massive budget

The movie had a reported budget of over $200 million, allowing for the creation of its visually stunning and elaborate world.

It was filmed using the latest technology

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey utilized cutting-edge technology, including high-speed cameras and advanced motion capture techniques.

The movie explores the concept of destiny

With themes of fate and destiny woven throughout its narrative, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey invites viewers to contemplate the role of destiny in their own lives.

It sets the stage for an epic adventure

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey lays the foundation for an epic and thrilling journey that continues throughout the remaining films in the trilogy.

In conclusion, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is a remarkable movie that captivated audiences with its stunning visuals, epic storytelling, and memorable characters. From Bilbo Baggins’ unexpected adventure to the mesmerizing landscapes of Middle-earth, the film takes viewers on a thrilling journey of courage, friendship, and self-discovery.

With an impeccable cast led by Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and directed by the talented Peter Jackson, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” successfully captures the essence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel. It serves as an excellent prequel to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, expanding the magical world of Middle-earth and providing fans with a true cinematic spectacle.

Whether you’re a dedicated fan of Tolkien’s works or simply enjoy epic fantasy films, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is a must-watch. Its combination of breathtaking visuals, compelling storytelling, and incredible performances will transport you to a world filled with adventure and wonder.

So grab your popcorn, immerse yourself in the world of Middle-earth, and prepare to be swept away by the magic of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey!”

1. Who directed “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”?

Peter Jackson directed “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

2. Is “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” a prequel to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy?

Yes, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” serves as a prequel to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

3. What is the storyline of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”?

The movie follows Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who is enlisted by the wizard Gandalf to join a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim their homeland from the dragon Smaug.

4. Who portrays the character of Bilbo Baggins in the film?

Martin Freeman portrays the character of Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

5. Are there any other movies in “The Hobbit” trilogy?

Yes, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is the first film in “The Hobbit” trilogy, followed by “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.”

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey enthralls audiences with its captivating storytelling and stunning visuals. From the film's record-breaking box office success to its Academy Award win, this cinematic masterpiece brings J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved novel to life. Delve deeper into the world of Middle-earth as you explore the origins of the One Ring and witness the power of friendship and heroism. Continue your adventure with more mesmerizing facts about the next installment in the trilogy , The Desolation of Smaug, where even greater challenges and breathtaking moments await.

Was this page helpful?

Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

Share this Fact:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

While Peter Jackson's prequel to "The Lord of the Rings" delivers more of what made his earlier trilogy so compelling -- it doesn't offer nearly enough novelty to justify the three-film, nine-hour treatment.

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

Chief Film Critic

‘The Three Musketeers – Part II: Milady’ Review: Eva Green Surprises in French Blockbuster’s Less-Than-Faithful Finale 2 weeks ago
‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ Review: Henry Cavill Leads a Pack of Inglorious Rogues in Guy Ritchie’s Spirited WWII Coup 2 weeks ago
‘Challengers’ Review: Zendaya and Company Smash the Sports-Movie Mold in Luca Guadagnino’s Tennis Scorcher 2 weeks ago

Fulfilling just a fraction of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “ There and Back Again ” subtitle, “The Hobbit ” alternately rewards and abuses auds’ appetite for all things Middle-earth. While Peter Jackson’s prequel to “The Lord of the Rings ” delivers more of what made his earlier trilogy so compelling — colorful characters on an epic quest amid stunning New Zealand scenery — it doesn’t offer nearly enough novelty to justify the three-film, nine-hour treatment, at least on the basis of this overlong first installment, dubbed “An Unexpected Journey .” The primary advance here is technical, as Jackson shoots in high-frame-rate 3D, an innovation that improves motion at the expense of visual elegance.

Though international B.O. success seems all but assured for a franchise that has already commanded nearly $3 billion in worldwide grosses, splitting the source material into multiple pics here mimics a frustrating trend among lucrative fantasy adaptations, from the two final “Harry Potter” films to the bifurcated “Twilight Saga” finale, stringing fans along with incomplete narratives. Whereas “ The Lord of the Rings ” naturally divided into the three books, “ The Hobbit ” contains scarcely enough story to support a single feature, as those who recall Rankin/Bass’ 1977 animated made-for-TV version know all too well.

Popular on Variety

Tolkien’s delightful yet easier-going novel, written with young readers in mind, recounts the relatively simple tale of how Bilbo Baggins (“The Office’s” Martin Freeman, affable as ever) traveled with dwarves to face the dragon Smaug and, in so doing, came to acquire the fabled ring.

A mythologically dense, CG-heavy prologue details how Smaug raided the dwarf stronghold of Erebor, taking possession of the Arkenstone, a glowing gem of ambiguous power. Conjured by Jackson and returning co-writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens (credited along with Guillermo del Toro, who at one point planned to direct) for the sake of spectacle, this unnecessary pre-title sequence recalls setpieces from the second and third “Lord of the Rings” movies, as if to assure fans they can expect more of the same — and sure enough, “The Hobbit” offers familiar run-ins with orcs, trolls , goblins and even Gollum before interrupting the adventure halfway to its destination, the Lonely Mountain, to make room for the next installment.

But Bilbo’s “unexpected journey” is awfully slow to start. The film first locates him in Bag End, the cozy home in the Shire where the eleventy-one-year-old halfling hero (played briefly by Ian Holm and accompanied by Elijah Wood’s Frodo) narrates the adventure that first brought Hobbits into the affairs of Middle-earth’s more bellicose species. That tale begins six decades earlier, when the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) appears with a challenge for the younger Bilbo (Freeman), leaving a magic sign that brings a swarm of dwarves to the reluctant hero’s door.

With names like Balin and Dwalin (Ken Stott and Graham McTavish), Oin and Gloin (John Callen and Peter Hambleton) and Fili and Kili (Dean O’Gorman and Aidan Turner), the 13 dwarves are virtually indistinguishable apart from their facial hair — though one needn’t be Galadriel (Cate Blanchett’s future-seeing Elf queen) to recognize O’Gorman as a Kiwi heartthrob in the offing. In the absence of clearly defined characteristics, the unwieldy lot make Snow White’s companions seem downright three-dimensional.

Speaking of 3D, the technique adds a level of dynamism to Andrew Lesnie’s swooping camerawork, which once again cuts from the closest of closeups to the widest of wide shots, in addition to plunging down and around elaborate enemy encampments, such as the underground Goblin-town, where spindly rope bridges teeter over gaping chasms. But 3D also complicates the forced-perspective tricks Jackson used in the earlier films, making for odd, eye-boggling moments, especially in the crowded Bag End scene, where Gandalf somewhat unconvincingly towers among characters half his size.

More disconcerting is the introduction of the film’s 48-frames-per-second digital cinematography, which solves the inherent stuttering effect of celluloid that occurs whenever a camera pans or horizontal movement crosses the frame — but at too great a cost. Consequently, everything takes on an overblown, artificial quality in which the phoniness of the sets and costumes becomes obvious, while well-lit areas bleed into their surroundings, like watching a high-end homemovie. (A standard 24fps projection seems to correct this effect in the alternate version of the film being offered to some theaters, but sacrifices the smoother motion seen in action scenes and flyover landscape shots.)

After Bilbo finally accepts his calling 40 minutes into the picture, such technical distractions virtually disappear as Jackson draws auds into his familiar world, particularly a troll-infested forest and the film’s darker, more expressionistic realms. Recognizing the limitations of their source material, Jackson and his co-writers pilfer freely from Tolkien’s other writings, including appendices to “Lord of the Rings” that reveal such details as where Gandalf goes during his long disappearances.

With few exceptions, these insights bog down a tale already overtaxed by a surfeit of characters. The film introduces Radagast (Sylvester McCoy), a comical brown wizard with an ordure-streaked beard, and an unsatisfying subplot involving a Necromancer that’s clearly an early form of Sauron, out of place in this story. It also makes room for cumbersome reunions — or “preunions,” perhaps — with Galadriel, Elrond ( Hugo Weaving ) and Saruman ( Christopher Lee ) in the elf city of Rivendell, hinting at the greater roles they will play in “The Lord of the Rings.”

The pic stands on firmer footing when embellishing the book’s more cinematic sequences into full-blown setpieces, such as a perilous cliffside passage complicated by the fact the mountains themselves appear to be doing battle, like giant stone Transformers. An expanded subplot pitting dwarf captain Thorin (Richard Armitage, nobly trying to match Viggo Mortensen ‘s smolder) against a battle-scarred and vengeance-bent orc helps disguise the fact that this particular road trip has no immediate villain.

Still, Jackson and his team seem compelled to flesh out the world of their earlier trilogy in scenes that would be better left to extended-edition DVDs (or omitted entirely), all but failing to set up a compelling reason for fans to return for the second installment. The film hints at a looming run-in with Smaug, but makes clear that this mission serves more to win back the dwarves’ lost kingdom than to protect the fate of Middle-earth. Bilbo’s arc, therefore, consists of proving his value to a mission that doesn’t concern him personally.

In keeping with the child-friendly tone of the source book, “The Hobbit” is more comical, features a couple of amusing songs, and doesn’t dally on funerals the way “The Lord of the Rings” did. But it’s no kinder on small bladders or impressionable eyes, running every bit as long and violent as Jackson’s initial trilogy.

While it would have been fascinating to see del Toro’s take on “The Hobbit,” there’s something to be said for continuity. Few film series have achieved the consistency of look and feel maintained across these Middle-earth-set stories, and once the adventure gets going, Jackson reminds auds of his expertise at managing action on a scale that would have made David Lean wish he’d had CGI in his toolbox.

That connection is clearest in the character of Gollum, once again performed by Andy Serkis , who loses not only an unmistakably schizophrenic game of riddles to Bilbo, but also his precious ring. Below-the-line contributions, including those of composer Howard Shore and the entire production and costume design teams, support the illusion that we never left Middle-earth.

Production: A Warner Bros. release of a New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures presentation of a Wingnut Films production. Produced by Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson. Executive producers, Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins, Carolyn Blackwood. Co-producers, Philippa Boyens, Eileen Moran. Directed by Peter Jackson. Screenplay, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson, Guillermo del Toro, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Crew: Camera (color, widescreen, HD, 48fps, 3D), Andrew Lesnie; editor, Jabez Olssen; music, Howard Shore; production designer, Dan Hennah; supervising art director, Simon Bright; art directors, Andy McLaren, Brad Mill, Brian Massey; set decorators, RA Vincent, Bright; costume designers, Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor, Bob Buck; sound (Dolby Digital/Datasat/SDDS/PRP), Tony Johnson; sound designers, David Farmer, Dave Whitehead; supervising sound editors, Brent Burge, Chris Ward; re-recording mixers, Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges; stunt coordinator, Glenn Boswell; armor, weapons, creatures and special makeup, Taylor/Weta Workshop; senior visual effects supervisor, Joe Letteri; visual effects supervisor, Eric Saindon; visual effects and animation, Weta Digital; animation supervisor, David Clayton; special effects supervisor, Steve Ingram; assistant director, Carolynne Cunningham; second unit director, Andy Serkis; second unit camera, Richard Bluck; casting, Amy Hubbard, John Hubbard, Victoria Burrows, Scot Boland, Liz Mullane, Ann Robinson. Reviewed at Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Calif., Nov. 30, 2012. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 169 MIN.
With: Gandalf Ian McKellen Bilbo Martin Freeman Thorin Richard Armitage Balin Ken Stott Dwalin Graham McTavish Bifur William Kircher Bofur James Nesbitt Bombur Stephen Hunter Fili Dean O'Gorman Kili Aidan Turner Oin John Callen Gloin Peter Hambleton Nori Jed Brophy Dori Mark Hadlow Ori Adam Brown Old Bilbo Ian Holm Frodo Elijah Wood Elrond Hugo Weaving Galadriel Cate Blanchett Saruman Christopher Lee Gollum Andy Serkis Radagast Sylvester McCoy Great Goblin Barry Humphries Thror Jeffrey Thomas Thrain Mike Mizrahi Tom Troll William Kircher Bert Troll Mark Hadlow William Troll Peter Hambleton Necromancer Benedict Cumberbatch (English, Elvish, Orcish dialogue)

More From Our Brands

Ariana madix wants out of raquel leviss ‘revenge porn’ lawsuit, denies sharing video, a west hollywood penthouse just sold for $24 million, one of l.a.’s biggest condo deals in years, after ceo’s ouster, paramount isn’t fielding any questions, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, jim parsons reprises big bang’s sheldon ahead of young sheldon series finale — watch video, verify it's you, please log in.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

User Reviews
Opening scene: Ian Holm just looks too dissimilar from his appearance in FOTR (especially his haircut), which is really distracting. The frame story doesn't blend in naturally and the history of Erebor has too much to show in too little time.
Radagast: He appears as suddenly as he disappears. His scene in Dol Guldur really threw me out of the movie.
The White Council: I know the screenwriters want to underline the growing dark powers (hence the - preposterous - finding of the Morgul blade), but the empty talk about things of which we all know how they've played out in the LOTR films isn't convincing at all.
Azog: An appallingly one-dimensional character, who feels most out of place (the fact that he looks like a creature from a cheap horror movie also doesn't help ...). His scenes have a strange "un-Tolkien" vibe, particularly the battle of Azanulbizar (the worst scene of the movie), which doesn't feel like a fierce and thrilling battle at all.
The 3D was good, no complaints about that. However, although I have no problems with watching movies in 3D, I start questioning its necessity.
I am bewildered many people claim that 48 fps creates a "TV-look" with "actors with clear make-up on a fake set". I didn't have that feeling at all, but on the other hand - and this was the most surprising - the difference with 24 fps isn't THAT spectacular. After 30 minutes, I even had to remind myself: "Oh, I'm watching 48 fps, right?". Yes, the images look very clear and it does smooth fast movements, but the latter (which is positive) only sticks out a couple of times (and no, the motion never comes across as "sped up", so I was never distracted by the higher frame rate). All in all, I consider 48 fps to be an improvement over 24 fps (without diminishing the "cinematic" look of a film), but I didn't have the feeling I had witnessed a "revolutionary new cinema experience".
The introduction is way too long.

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

User Ratings
External Reviews
Metacritic Reviews
Full Cast and Crew
Release Dates
Official Sites
Company Credits
Filming & Production
Technical Specs
Plot Summary
Plot Keywords
Parents Guide

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits
Alternate Versions
Connections
Soundtracks

Photo & Video

Photo Gallery
Trailers and Videos

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | 2012

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey poster

Locations |

New Zealand

Peter Jackson
Martin Freeman,
Ian McKellen,
Richard Armitage,
James Nesbitt,
Aidan Turner,
Andy Serkis,
Christopher Lee,
Elijah Wood,
Cate Blanchett,
Hugo Weaving,
Sylvester McCoy,
Barry Humphries,
Benedict Cumberbatch

Locations for The Hobbit are, like its predecessors, The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, scattered around the two islands of New Zealand .

Shot as two films, back-to-back, with a little additional footage, the saga was finally divided into a trilogy.

Much of the filming is in the area of Queenstown , on New Zealand ’s South Island .

In the prologue, narrated by the older Bilbo Baggins ( Ian Holm ), the dragon Smaug drives the Dwarves from their traditional home of Erebor. A pass called the Mararoa Saddle , between the Oreti and Mararoa Rivers, southwest of Lake Wakatipu , is the mountain route through which Thorin Oakenshield ( Richard Armitage ) leads the dwarf refugees.

The famous Hobbiton set at Matamata , on State Highway 27 between Hamilton and Rotorua on New Zealand ’s North Island , is used again. Rebuilt and extended, it was intended to last as a tourist attraction. Not only can you see the Hobbit homes, you can now wine and dine at The Green Dragon Inn or The Shires Rest.

From Hobbiton, the younger Bilbo ( Martin Freeman ) sets off with Gandalf ( Ian McKellen ) and the Dwarves, led by Thorin, on a mission to reclaim their stolen lands.

As the company heads west through the ‘Westfarthing’ region of the Shire, they’re at the furthest end of the South Island , on Takaka Hill , west of Nelson and just south of Abel Tasman National Park. A dramatic cliff top, which offers spectacular views over western Golden Bay, the land is the private property of the Kaihoka Station, a large sheep farm. Cape Farewell Horse Treks , however, offer rides through the area.

‘Straddles Farm’, the abandoned farmhouse at Trollshaw where the company camps for the night, is another private property. It’s on farmland near Piopio , southwest of Te Kuiti on the western side of the North Island , backed by the sheer cliffs of the Mangaotaki Rocks .

Although the camp and the Trolls’ campfire are stage sets, the entrance to the cave in which the Troll hoard is discovered, is here. There was talk of opening up the land for tours, but nothing seems to have happened yet.

It’s suddenly back to the southeast of the South Island for the Warg attack, as Radagast the Brown ( Sylvester McCoy ) provides a diversion with his bunny-drawn sled. The landscape strewn with jagged boulders is real. The Dwarves are fleeing across the wide glacial valley of Strath Taieri , a few miles north of the town of Middlemarch on State Highway 87 , with the imposing Rock and Pillars Range in the background.

The chase continues about 100 miles to the north, across the lands of Braemar Station in the Mackenzie Basin region off State Highway 8 between Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo , which is where Gandalf guides the Dwarves down through a crack in the rocks.

Most of the aerial shooting was captured by a second unit, overseen by Andy Serkis , in between donning the motion capture suit to play Gollum.

Thorin is furious to find Gandalf has brought them to Rivendell, the realm of the Elves. The Rivendell set, with Gandalf, Elrond ( Hugo Weaving ) and Galadriel ( Cate Blanchett ) discussing mysterious portents with a loftily dismissive Saruman ( Christopher Lee ) was built at Pinewood Studios in the UK to allow the 89-year-old Lee to return to the role he created in the earlier films (the prologue with Ian Holm as Bilbo was also filmed in the UK).

Meanwhile, the Dwarves sneak quietly away to trek through the mountains, “over the edge of the Wild” at Pass Burn on the Mavora Walkway section of New Zealand ’s national walkway Te Araroa , which runs the length of the country. In fact, Queenstown is a popular base for some of the world’s best hiking. Pass Burn connects the Mararoa Valley and the Greenstone Valley, just west of the northern part of Lake Wakatipu , on land owned by New Zealand ’s Ngai Tahu Maori tribe and managed by the Department of Conservation, which permits public access.

The 'Misty Mountain Paths' where the Company pass behind a majestic waterfall before negotiating the bluffs towards the ‘Misty Mountains’ were shot at Earnslaw Burn , a few miles north of the tip of Lake Wakatipu on Glenorchy Paradise Road .

In this dramatic landscape, a sheer wall of granite rises more than 2,500 feet from the basin floor, where a monumental glacier cascades from the top of the cliff to form ice caves below. In the summer months, the ice melts giving rise to dozens of waterfalls.

They press on to the Treble Cone area, west of the southern end of Lake Wanaka , which also happens to be a world-class ski field, boasting unrivalled views across Lake Wanaka itself and the Central Otago region.

After a desperate confrontation with mounted Orcs, the Dwarves are rescued by giant eagles, who soar over the breathtaking Sutherland Falls , to the southeast of Sutherland Sound in Fiordland National Park . The huge birds bear the Company to ‘The Carrock’ – which is the summit peak just to the south of Lake Dale in the Light River Valley southeast of Sutherland Sound .

Visit The Film Locations

Visit: New Zealand

Visit: Auckland

Flights: Auckland Airport , Ray Emery Drive, Auckland 2022 ( tel: 64.9.275.0789 )

Visit: Matamata , State Highway 27 , between Hamilton and Rotorua, North Island

Visit: Hobbiton

Ride with: Cape Farewell Horse Treks , 23 McGowan Street, Puponga 7073, Collingwood, South Island ( tel: +64.3.524.8031 )

Visit: Fiordland National Park , Lakefront Drive, Te Anau 9640, South Island ( tel: +64.3.249.7924 )

Walk: Te Araroa , New Zealand's Trail

Share full article

For more audio journalism and storytelling, download New York Times Audio , a new iOS app available for news subscribers.

The Crackdown on Student Protesters

Columbia university is at the center of a growing showdown over the war in gaza and the limits of free speech..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

[TRAIN SCREECHING]

Well, you can hear the helicopter circling. This is Asthaa Chaturvedi. I’m a producer with “The Daily.” Just walked out of the 116 Street Station. It’s the main station for Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus. And it’s day seven of the Gaza solidarity encampment, where a hundred students were arrested last Thursday.

So on one side of Broadway, you see camera crews. You see NYPD officers all lined up. There’s barricades, steel barricades, caution tape. This is normally a completely open campus. And I’m able to — all members of the public, you’re able to walk through.

[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

Looks like international media is here.

Have your IDs out. Have your IDs out.

Students lining up to swipe in to get access to the University. ID required for entry.

Swipe your ID, please.

Hi, how are you, officer? We’re journalists with “The New York Times.”

You’re not going to get in, all right? I’m sorry.

Hi. Can I help please?

Yeah, it’s total lockdown here at Columbia.

Please have your IDs out ready to swipe.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. This is “The Daily.” Today, the story of how Columbia University has become the epicenter of a growing showdown between student protesters, college administrators, and Congress over the war in Gaza and the limits of free speech. I spoke with my colleague, Nick Fandos.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

It’s Thursday, April 25.

Nick, if we rewind the clock a few months, we end up at a moment where students at several of the country’s best known universities are protesting Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks, its approach to a war in Gaza. At times, those protests are happening peacefully, at times with rhetoric that is inflammatory. And the result is that the leaders of those universities land before Congress. But the president of Columbia University, which is the subject we’re going to be talking about today, is not one of the leaders who shows up for that testimony.

That’s right. So the House Education Committee has been watching all these protests on campus. And the Republican Chairwoman decides, I’m going to open an investigation, look at how these administrations are handling it, because it doesn’t look good from where I sit. And the House last winter invites the leaders of several of these elite schools, Harvard, Penn, MIT, and Columbia, to come and testify in Washington on Capitol Hill before Congress.

Now, the President of Columbia has what turns out to be a very well-timed, pre-planned trip to go overseas and speak at an international climate conference. So Minouche Shafik isn’t going to be there. So instead, the presidents of Harvard, and Penn, and MIT show up. And it turned out to be a disaster for these universities.

They were asked very pointed questions about the kind of speech taking place on their campuses, and they gave really convoluted academic answers back that just baffled the committee. But there was one question that really embodied the kind of disconnect between the Committee — And it wasn’t just Republicans, Republicans and Democrats on the Committee — and these college presidents. And that’s when they were asked a hypothetical.

Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Penn’s rules or code of conduct? Yes or no?

If the speech turns into conduct, it can be harassment.

And two of the presidents, Claudine Gay of Harvard and Elizabeth Magill of the University of Pennsylvania, they’re unwilling to say in this really kind of intense back and forth that this speech would constitute a violation of their rules.

It can be, depending on the context.

What’s the context?

Targeted at an individual. Is it pervasive?

It’s targeted at Jewish students, Jewish individuals. Do you understand your testimony is dehumanizing them?

And it sets off a firestorm.

It does not depend on the context. The answer is yes. And this is why you should resign. These are unacceptable answers across the board.

Members of Congress start calling for their resignations. Alumni are really, really ticked off. Trustees of the University start to wonder, I don’t know that these leaders really have got this under control. And eventually, both of them lose their jobs in a really high profile way.

Right. And as you’ve hinted at, for somewhat peculiar scheduling reasons, Columbia’s President escapes this disaster of a hearing in what has to be regarded as the best timing in the history of the American Academy.

Yeah, exactly. And Columbia is watching all this play out. And I think their first response was relief that she was not in that chair, but also a recognition that, sooner or later, their turn was going to come back around and they were going to have to sit before Congress.

Why were they so certain that they would probably end up before Congress and that this wasn’t a case of completely dodging a bullet?

Well, they remain under investigation by the committee. But also, as the winter wears on, all the same intense protests just continue unabated. So in many ways, Columbia’s like these other campuses. But in some ways, it’s even more intense. This is a university that has both one of the largest Jewish student populations of any of its peers. But it also has a large Arab and Muslim student population, a big Middle Eastern studies program. It has a dual degree program in Tel Aviv.

And it’s a university on top of all that that has a real history of activism dating back to the 1960s. So when students are recruited or choose to come to Columbia, they’re actively opting into a campus that prides itself on being an activist community. It’s in the middle of New York City. It’s a global place. They consider the city and the world, really, like a classroom to Columbia.

In other words, if any campus was going to be a hotbed of protest and debate over this conflict, it was going to be Columbia University.

Exactly. And when this spring rolls around, the stars finally align. And the same congressional committee issues another invitation to Minouche Shafik, Columbia’s President, to come and testify. And this time, she has no excuse to say no.

But presumably, she is well aware of exactly what testifying before this committee entails and is highly prepared.

Columbia knew this moment was coming. They spent months preparing for this hearing. They brought in outside consultants, crisis communicators, experts on anti-Semitism. The weekend before the hearing, she actually travels down to Washington to hole up in a war room, where she starts preparing her testimony with mock questioners and testy exchanges to prep her for this. And she’s very clear on what she wants to try to do.

Where her counterparts had gone before the committee a few months before and looked aloof, she wanted to project humility and competence, to say, I know that there’s an issue on my campus right now with some of these protests veering off into anti-Semitic incidents. But I’m getting that under control. I’m taking steps in good faith to make sure that we restore order to this campus, while allowing people to express themselves freely as well.

So then the day of her actual testimony arrives. And just walk us through how it goes.

The Committee on Education and Workforce will come to order. I note that —

So Wednesday morning rolls around. And President Shafik sits at the witness stand with two of her trustees and the head of Columbia’s new anti-Semitism task force.

Columbia stands guilty of gross negligence at best and at worst has become a platform for those supporting terrorism and violence against the Jewish people.

And right off the bat, they’re put through a pretty humbling litany of some of the worst hits of what’s been happening on campus.

For example, just four days after the harrowing October 7 attack, a former Columbia undergraduate beat an Israeli student with a stick.

The Republican Chairwoman of the Committee, Virginia Foxx, starts reminding her that there was a student who was actually hit with a stick on campus. There was another gathering more recently glorifying Hamas and other terrorist organizations, and the kind of chants that have become an everyday chorus on campus, which many Jewish students see as threatening. But when the questioning starts, President Shafik is ready. One of the first ones she gets is the one that tripped up her colleagues.

Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Columbia’s code of conduct, Mr. Greenwald?

And she answers unequivocally.

Dr. Shafik?

Yes, it does.

And, Professor —

That would be a violation of Columbia’s rules. They would be punished.

As President of Columbia, what is it like when you hear chants like, by any means necessary or Intifada Revolution?

I find those chants incredibly distressing. And I wish profoundly that people would not use them on our campus.

And in some of the most interesting exchanges of the hearing, President Shafik actually opens Columbia’s disciplinary books.

We have already suspended 15 students from Columbia. We have six on disciplinary probation. These are more disciplinary actions that have been taken probably in the last decade at Columbia. And —

She talks about the number of students that have been suspended, but also the number of faculty that she’s had removed from the classroom that are being investigated for comments that either violate some of Columbia’s rules or make students uncomfortable. One case in particular really underscores this.

And that’s of a Middle Eastern studies professor named Joseph Massad. He wrote an essay not long after Hamas invaded Israel and killed 1,200 people, according to the Israeli government, where he described that attack with adjectives like awesome. Now, he said they’ve been misinterpreted, but a lot of people have taken offense to those comments.

Ms. Stefanik, you’re recognized for five minutes.

Thank you, Chairwoman. I want to follow up on my colleague, Rep Walberg’s question regarding Professor Joseph Massad. So let me be clear, President —

And so Representative Elise Stefanik, the same Republican who had tripped up Claudine Gay of Harvard and others in the last hearing, really starts digging in to President Shafik about these things at Columbia.

He is still Chair on the website. So has he been terminated as Chair?

Congresswoman, I —

And Shafik’s answers are maybe a little surprising.

— before getting back to you. I can confirm —

I know you confirmed that he was under investigation.

Yes, I can confirm that. But I —

Did you confirm he was still the Chair?

He says that Columbia is taking his case seriously. In fact, he’s under investigation right now.

Well, let me ask you this.

I need to check.

Will you make the commitment to remove him as Chair?

And when Stefanik presses her to commit to removing him from a campus leadership position —

I think that would be — I think — I would — yes. Let me come back with yes. But I think I — I just want to confirm his current status before I write —

We’ll take that as a yes, that you will confirm that he will no longer be chair.

Shafik seems to pause and think and then agree to it on the spot, almost like she is making administrative decisions with or in front of Congress.

Now, we did some reporting after the fact. And it turns out the Professor didn’t even realize he was under investigation. So he’s learning about this from the hearing too. So what this all adds up to, I think, is a performance so in line with what the lawmakers themselves wanted to hear, that at certain points, these Republicans didn’t quite know what to do with it. They were like the dog that caught the car.

Columbia beats Harvard and UPenn.

One of them, a Republican from Florida, I think at one point even marvelled, well, you beat Harvard and Penn.

Y’all all have done something that they weren’t able to do. You’ve been able to condemn anti-Semitism without using the phrase, it depends on the context. But the —

So Columbia’s president has passed this test before this committee.

Yeah, this big moment that tripped up her predecessors and cost them their jobs, it seems like she has cleared that hurdle and dispatched with the Congressional committee that could have been one of the biggest threats to her presidency.

Without objection, there being no further business, the committee stands adjourned. [BANGS GAVEL]

But back on campus, some of the students and faculty who had been watching the hearing came away with a very different set of conclusions. They saw a president who was so eager to please Republicans in Congress that she was willing to sell out some of the University’s students and faculty and trample on cherished ideas like academic freedom and freedom of expression that have been a bedrock of American higher education for a really long time.

And there was no clearer embodiment of that than what had happened that morning just as President Shafik was going to testify before Congress. A group of students before dawn set up tents in the middle of Columbia’s campus and declared themselves a pro-Palestinian encampment in open defiance of the very rules that Dr. Shafik had put in place to try and get these protests under control.

So these students in real-time are beginning to test some of the things that Columbia’s president has just said before Congress.

Exactly. And so instead of going to celebrate her successful appearance before Congress, Shafik walks out of the hearing room and gets in a black SUV to go right back to that war room, where she’s immediately confronted with a major dilemma. It basically boils down to this, she had just gone before Congress and told them, I’m going to get tough on these protests. And here they were. So either she gets tough and risks inflaming tension on campus or she holds back and does nothing and her words before Congress immediately look hollow.

And what does she decide?

So for the next 24 hours, she tries to negotiate off ramps. She consults with her Deans and the New York Police Department. And it all builds towards an incredibly consequential decision. And that is, for the first time in decades, to call the New York City Police Department onto campus in riot gear and break this thing up, suspend the students involved, and then arrest them.

To essentially eliminate this encampment.

Eliminate the encampment and send a message, this is not going to be tolerated. But in trying to quell the unrest, Shafik actually feeds it. She ends up leaving student protesters and the faculty who support them feeling betrayed and pushes a campus that was already on edge into a full blown crisis.

[SLOW TEMPO MUSIC]

After the break, what all of this has looked like to a student on Columbia’s campus. We’ll be right back.

[PHONE RINGS]

Is this Isabella?

Yes, this is she.

Hi, Isabella. It’s Michael Barbaro from “The Daily.”

Hi. Nice to meet you.

Earlier this week, we called Isabella Ramírez, the Editor in Chief of Columbia’s undergraduate newspaper, “The Columbia Daily Spectator,” which has been closely tracking both the protests and the University’s response to them since October 7.

So, I mean, in your mind, how do we get to this point? I wonder if you can just briefly describe the key moments that bring us to where we are right now.

Sure. Since October 7, there has certainly been constant escalation in terms of tension on campus. And there have been a variety of moves that I believe have distanced the student body, the faculty, from the University and its administration, specifically the suspension of Columbia’s chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. And that became a huge moment in what was characterized as suppression of pro-Palestinian activism on campus, effectively rendering those groups, quote, unquote, unauthorized.

What was the college’s explanation for that?

They had cited in that suspension a policy which states that a demonstration must be approved within a certain window, and that there must be an advance notice, and that there’s a process for getting an authorized demonstration. But the primary point was this policy that they were referring to, which we later reported, was changed before the suspension.

So it felt a little ad hoc to people?

Yes, it certainly came as a surprise, especially at “Spectator.” We’re nerds of the University in the sense that we are familiar with faculty and University governance. But even to us, we had no idea where this policy was coming from. And this suspension was really the first time that it entered most students’ sphere.

Columbia’s campus is so known for its activism. And so in my time of being a reporter, of being an editor, I’ve overseen several protests. And I’ve never seen Columbia penalize a group for, quote, unquote, not authorizing a protest. So that was certainly, in our minds, unprecedented.

And I believe part of the justification there was, well, this is a different time. And I think that is a reasonable thing to say. But I think a lot of students, they felt it was particularly one-sided, that it was targeting a specific type of speech or a specific type of viewpoint. Although, the University, of course, in its explicit policies, did not outline, and was actually very explicit about not targeting specific viewpoints —

So just to be super clear, it felt to students — and it sounds like, journalistically, it felt to you — that the University was coming down in a uniquely one-sided way against students who were supporting Palestinian rights and may have expressed some frustrations with Israel in that moment.

Yes. Certainly —

Isabella says that this was just the beginning of a really tense period between student protesters and the University. After those two student groups were suspended, campus protests continued. Students made a variety of demands. They asked that the University divest from businesses that profit from Israel’s military operations in Gaza. But instead of making any progress, the protests are met with further crackdown by the University.

And so as Isabella and her colleagues at the college newspaper see it, there’s this overall chilling effect that occurs. Some students become fearful that if they participate in any demonstrations, they’re going to face disciplinary action. So fast forward now to April, when these student protesters learned that President Shafik is headed to Washington for her congressional testimony. It’s at this moment that they set out to build their encampment.

I think there was obviously a lot of intention in timing those two things. I think it’s inherently a critique on a political pressure and this congressional pressure that we saw build up against, of course, Claudine Gay at Harvard and Magill at UPenn. So I think a lot of students and faculty have been frustrated at this idea that there are not only powers at the University that are dictating what’s happening, but there are perhaps external powers that are also guiding the way here in terms of what the University feels like it must do or has to do.

And I think that timing was super crucial. Having the encampment happen on the Wednesday morning of the hearing was an incredible, in some senses, interesting strategy to direct eyes to different places.

All eyes were going to be on Shafik in DC. But now a lot of eyes are on New York. The encampment is set up in the middle of the night slash morning, prior to the hearing. And so what effectively happens is they caught Shafik when she wasn’t on campus, when a lot of senior administration had their resources dedicated to supporting Shafik in DC.

And you have all of those people not necessarily out of commission, but with their focus elsewhere. So the encampment is met with very little resistance at the beginning. There were public safety officers floating around and watching. But at the very beginning hours, I think there was a sense of, we did it.

[CHANTING]: Disclose! Divest! We will not stop! We will not rest. Disclose! Divest! We will not stop!

It would be quite surprising to anybody and an administrator to now suddenly see dozens of tents on this lawn in a way that I think very purposely puts an imagery of, we’re here to stay. As the morning evolved and congressional hearings continued —

Minouche Shafik, open your eyes! Use of force, genocide!

Then we started seeing University delegates that were coming to the encampment saying, you may face disciplinary action for continuing to be here. I think that started around almost — like 9:00 or 10:00 AM, they started handing out these code of conduct violation notices.

Hell no! Hell no! Hell no!

Then there started to be more public safety action and presence. So they started barricading the entrances. The day progressed, there was more threat of discipline. The students became informed that if they continue to stay, they will face potential academic sanctions, potential suspension.

The more they try to silence us, the louder we will be! The more they —

I think a lot of people were like, OK, you’re threatening us with suspension. But so what?

This is about these systems that Minouche Shafik, that the Board of Trustees, that Columbia University is complicit in.

What are you going to do to try to get us out of here? And that was, obviously, promptly answered.

This is the New York State Police Department.

We will not stop!

You are attempting participate in an unauthorized encampment. You will be arrested and charged with trespassing.

My phone blew up, obviously, from the reporters, from the editors, of saying, oh my god, the NYPD is on our campus. And as soon as I saw that, I came out. And I saw a huge crowd of students and affiliates on campus watching the lawns. And as I circled around that crowd, I saw the last end of the New York Police Department pulling away protesters and clearing out the last of the encampment.

[CHANTING]: We love you! We will get justice for you! We see you! We love you! We will get justice for you! We see you! We love you! We will get justice for you! We see you! We love you! We will get justice for you!

It was something truly unimaginable, over 100 students slash other individuals are arrested from our campus, forcefully removed. And although they were suspended, there was a feeling of traumatic event that has just happened to these students, but also this sense of like, OK, the worst of the worst that could have happened to us just happened.

And for those students who maybe couldn’t go back to — into campus, now all of their peers, who were supporters or are in solidarity, are — in some sense, it’s further emboldened. They’re now not just sitting on the lawns for a pro-Palestinian cause, but also for the students, who have endured quite a lot.

So the crackdown, sought by the president and enforced by the NYPD, ends up, you’re saying, becoming a galvanizing force for a broader group of Columbia students than were originally drawn to the idea of ever showing up on the center of campus and protesting?

Yeah, I can certainly speak to the fact that I’ve seen my own peers, friends, or even acquaintances, who weren’t necessarily previously very involved in activism and organizing efforts, suddenly finding themselves involved.

Can I — I just have a question for you, which is all journalism, student journalism or not student journalism, is a first draft of history. And I wonder if we think of this as a historic moment for Columbia, how you imagine it’s going to be remembered.

Yeah, there is no doubt in my mind that this will be a historic moment for Colombia.

I think that this will be remembered as a moment in which the fractures were laid bare. Really, we got to see some of the disunity of the community in ways that I have never really seen it before. And what we’ll be looking to is, where do we go from here? How does Colombia repair? How do we heal from all of this? so That is the big question in terms of what will happen.

Nick, Isabella Ramírez just walked us through what this has all looked like from the perspective of a Columbia student. And from what she could tell, the crackdown ordered by President Shafik did not quell much of anything. It seemed, instead, to really intensify everything on campus. I’m curious what this has looked like for Shafik.

It’s not just the students who are upset. You have faculty, including professors, who are not necessarily sympathetic to the protesters’ view of the war, who are really outraged about what Shafik has done here. They feel that she’s crossed a boundary that hasn’t been crossed on Columbia’s campus in a really long time.

And so you start to hear things by the end of last week like censure, no confidence votes, questions from her own professors about whether or not she can stay in power. So this creates a whole new front for her. And on top of it all, as this is going on, the encampment itself starts to reform tent-by-tent —

— almost in the same place that it was. And Shafik decides that the most important thing she could do is to try and take the temperature down, which means letting the encampment stand. Or in other words, leaning in the other direction. This time, we’re going to let the protesters have their say for a little while longer.

The problem with that is that, over the weekend, a series of images start to emerge from on campus and just off of it of some really troubling anti-Semitic episodes. In one case, a guy holds up a poster in the middle of campus and points it towards a group of Jewish students who are counter protesting. And it says, I’m paraphrasing here, Hamas’ next targets.

I saw an image of that. What it seemed to evoke was the message that Hamas should murder those Jewish students. That’s the way the Jewish students interpreted it.

It’s a pretty straightforward and jarring statement. At the same time, just outside of Columbia’s closed gates —

Stop killing children!

— protestors are showing up from across New York City. It’s hard to tell who’s affiliated with Columbia, who’s not.

Go back to Poland! Go back to Poland!

There’s a video that goes viral of one of them shouting at Jewish students, go back to Poland, go back to Europe.

In other words, a clear message, you’re not welcome here.

Right. In fact, go back to the places where the Holocaust was committed.

Exactly. And this is not representative of the vast majority of the protesters in the encampment, who mostly had been peaceful. They would later hold a Seder, actually, with some of the pro-Palestinian Jewish protesters in their ranks. But those videos are reaching members of Congress, the very same Republicans that Shafik had testified in front of just a few days before. And now they’re looking and saying, you have lost control of your campus, you’ve turned back on your word to us, and you need to resign.

They call for her outright resignation over this.

That’s right. Republicans in New York and across the country began to call for her to step down from her position as president of Columbia.

So Shafik’s dilemma here is pretty extraordinary. She has set up this dynamic where pleasing these members of Congress would probably mean calling in the NYPD all over again to sweep out this encampment, which would mean further alienating and inflaming students and faculty, who are still very upset over the first crackdown. And now both ends of this spectrum, lawmakers in Washington, folks on the Columbia campus, are saying she can’t lead the University over this situation before she’s even made any fateful decision about what to do with this second encampment. Not a good situation.

No. She’s besieged on all sides. For a while, the only thing that she can come up with to offer is for classes to go hybrid for the remainder of the semester.

So students who aren’t feeling safe in this protest environment don’t necessarily have to go to class.

Right. And I think if we zoom out for a second, it’s worth bearing in mind that she tried to choose a different path here than her counterparts at Harvard or Penn. And after all of this, she’s kind of ended up in the exact same thicket, with people calling for her job with the White House, the Mayor of New York City, and others. These are Democrats. Maybe not calling on her to resign quite yet, but saying, I don’t know what’s going on your campus. This does not look good.

That reality, that taking a different tack that was supposed to be full of learnings and lessons from the stumbles of her peers, the fact that didn’t really work suggests that there’s something really intractable going on here. And I wonder how you’re thinking about this intractable situation that’s now arrived on these college campuses.

Well, I don’t think it’s just limited to college campuses. We have seen intense feelings about this conflict play out in Hollywood. We’ve seen them in our politics in all kinds of interesting ways.

In our media.

We’ve seen it in the media. But college campuses, at least in their most idealized form, are something special. They’re a place where students get to go for four years to think in big ways about moral questions, and political questions, and ideas that help shape the world they’re going to spend the rest of their lives in.

And so when you have a question that feels as urgent as this war does for a lot of people, I think it reverberates in an incredibly intense way on those campuses. And there’s something like — I don’t know if it’s quite a contradiction of terms, but there’s a collision of different values at stake. So universities thrive on the ability of students to follow their minds and their voices where they go, to maybe even experiment a little bit and find those things.

But there are also communities that rely on people being able to trust each other and being able to carry out their classes and their academic endeavors as a collective so they can learn from one another. So in this case, that’s all getting scrambled. Students who feel strongly about the Palestinian cause feel like the point is disruption, that something so big, and immediate, and urgent is happening that they need to get in the faces of their professors, and their administrators, and their fellow students.

Right. And set up an encampment in the middle of campus, no matter what the rules say.

Right. And from the administration’s perspective, they say, well, yeah, you can say that and you can think that. And that’s an important process. But maybe there’s some bad apples in your ranks. Or though you may have good intentions, you’re saying things that you don’t realize the implications of. And they’re making this environment unsafe for others. Or they’re grinding our classes to a halt and we’re not able to function as a University.

So the only way we’re going to be able to move forward is if you will respect our rules and we’ll respect your point of view. The problem is that’s just not happening. Something is not connecting with those two points of view. And as if that’s not hard enough, you then have Congress and the political system with its own agenda coming in and putting its thumb on a scale of an already very difficult situation.

Right. And at this very moment, what we know is that the forces that you just outlined have created a dilemma, an uncertainty of how to proceed, not just for President Shafik and the students and faculty at Columbia, but for a growing number of colleges and universities across the country. And by that, I mean, this thing that seemed to start at Columbia is literally spreading.

Absolutely. We’re talking on a Wednesday afternoon. And these encampments have now started cropping up at universities from coast-to-coast, at Harvard and Yale, but also at University of California, at the University of Texas, at smaller campuses in between. And at each of these institutions, there’s presidents and deans, just like President Shafik at Columbia, who are facing a really difficult set of choices. Do they call in the police? The University of Texas in Austin this afternoon, we saw protesters physically clashing with police.

Do they hold back, like at Harvard, where there were dramatic videos of students literally running into Harvard yard with tents. They were popping up in real-time. And so Columbia, really, I think, at the end of the day, may have kicked off some of this. But they are now in league with a whole bunch of other universities that are struggling with the same set of questions. And it’s a set of questions that they’ve had since this war broke out.

And now these schools only have a week or two left of classes. But we don’t know when these standoffs are going to end. We don’t know if students are going to leave campus for the summer. We don’t know if they’re going to come back in the fall and start protesting right away, or if this year is going to turn out to have been an aberration that was a response to a really awful, bloody war, or if we’re at the beginning of a bigger shift on college campuses that will long outlast this war in the Middle East.

Well, Nick, thank you very much. Thanks for having me, Michael.

We’ll be right back.

Here’s what else you need to know today. The United Nations is calling for an independent investigation into two mass graves found after Israeli forces withdrew from hospitals in Gaza. Officials in Gaza said that some of the bodies found in the graves were Palestinians who had been handcuffed or shot in the head and accused Israel of killing and burying them. In response, Israel said that its soldiers had exhumed bodies in one of the graves as part of an effort to locate Israeli hostages.

And on Wednesday, Hamas released a video of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American dual citizen, whom Hamas has held hostage since October 7. It was the first time that he has been shown alive since his captivity began. His kidnapping was the subject of a “Daily” episode in October that featured his mother, Rachel. In response to Hamas’s video, Rachel issued a video of her own, in which she spoke directly to her son.

And, Hersh, if you can hear this, we heard your voice today for the first time in 201 days. And if you can hear us, I am telling you, we are telling you, we love you. Stay strong. Survive.

Today’s episode was produced by Sydney Harper, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Olivia Natt, Nina Feldman, and Summer Thomad, with help from Michael Simon Johnson. It was edited by Devon Taylor and Lisa Chow, contains research help by Susan Lee, original music by Marion Lozano and Dan Powell, and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Michael Barbaro. See you tomorrow.

April 29, 2024 • 47:53 Trump 2.0: What a Second Trump Presidency Would Bring
April 26, 2024 • 21:50 Harvey Weinstein Conviction Thrown Out
April 25, 2024 • 40:33 The Crackdown on Student Protesters
April 24, 2024 • 32:18 Is $60 Billion Enough to Save Ukraine?
April 23, 2024 • 30:30 A Salacious Conspiracy or Just 34 Pieces of Paper?
April 22, 2024 • 24:30 The Evolving Danger of the New Bird Flu
April 19, 2024 • 30:42 The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness
April 18, 2024 • 30:07 The Opening Days of Trump’s First Criminal Trial
April 17, 2024 • 24:52 Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ a Forever Problem?
April 16, 2024 • 29:29 A.I.’s Original Sin
April 15, 2024 • 24:07 Iran’s Unprecedented Attack on Israel
April 14, 2024 • 46:17 The Sunday Read: ‘What I Saw Working at The National Enquirer During Donald Trump’s Rise’

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Featuring Nicholas Fandos

Produced by Sydney Harper , Asthaa Chaturvedi , Olivia Natt , Nina Feldman and Summer Thomad

With Michael Simon Johnson

Edited by Devon Taylor and Lisa Chow

Original music by Marion Lozano and Dan Powell

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Columbia University has become the epicenter of a growing showdown between student protesters, college administrators and Congress over the war in Gaza and the limits of free speech.

Nicholas Fandos, who covers New York politics and government for The Times, walks us through the intense week at the university. And Isabella Ramírez, the editor in chief of Columbia’s undergraduate newspaper, explains what it has all looked like to a student on campus.

On today’s episode

Nicholas Fandos , who covers New York politics and government for The New York Times

Isabella Ramírez , editor in chief of The Columbia Daily Spectator

A university building during the early morning hours. Tents are set up on the front lawn. Banners are displayed on the hedges.

Background reading

Inside the week that shook Columbia University .

The protests at the university continued after more than 100 arrests.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Research help by Susan Lee .

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Nicholas Fandos is a Times reporter covering New York politics and government. More about Nicholas Fandos

Exclusive: Filmmaker Scott Derrickson Chronicles His Journey from ‘Hellraiser: Inferno’ to ‘The Black Phone’

Reflecting on ‘Hellraiser: Inferno’, your first directorial work, it seems to have gained newfound appreciation over time. What’s your take on its resurgence in popularity?

It’s quite unexpected that after two decades, the film has started catching attention.

With the benefit of hindsight, what filmmaking advice would you offer to your younger self who was just starting out?

To focus equally on your lead’s performance as much as the rest because the film can never be better than its lead’s performance. Despite a low budget, ‘Hellraiser: Inferno’ had potential that wasn’t fully tapped, and more emphasis on the lead performance and suspense elements could have enhanced it.

Has your approach to casting changed as a result of your experience with ‘Hellraiser: Inferno’?

It has indeed. Since then, I’ve prioritized casting, working with talented actors like Jennifer Carpenter in ‘[The Exorcism of] Emily Rose.’ The emphasis on performances has become a cornerstone of my filmmaking process.

Speaking of ‘Emily Rose’, which was a substantial financial success, can you shed light on the film industry’s profit-sharing practices?

Despite a movie’s earnings, filmmakers may see little benefit without gross profit participation. ‘Emily Rose’ made significant profits but, as a net profit participant, I didn’t see a proportionate return. The complexities of studio accounting can result in scenarios where only rarities like first-dollar gross participants can anticipate notable income from a film’s gains.

FAQ Section:

What was scott derrickson’s directorial debut.

Scott Derrickson’s directorial debut was ‘Hellraiser: Inferno’.

What advice does Scott Derrickson have for young filmmakers?

His advice for young filmmakers is to never underestimate the importance of the lead performance in their films.

Did the success of ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’ financially benefit Derrickson significantly?

No, due to the way net profits were defined by the studio, Derrickson did not receive a substantial financial benefit from the film’s success despite its impressive box office numbers.

What is the difference between net profit participation and gross profit participation?

Net profit participation relies on creative accounting definitions by studios and often results in minimal payout to filmmakers, whereas gross profit participation begins after a movie reaches its cash break and can lead to a more significant share in the profits.

Does Scott Derrickson attribute importance to performances in genre films?

Yes, Derrickson considers performances as the most important aspect, even when making genre films, as they fundamentally determine the film’s quality ceiling.

Conclusion:

In this exclusive interview, Scott Derrickson provided a rare glimpse into his entire career trajectory, sharing insights from his initial steps with ‘Hellraiser: Inferno’ to the wisdom he’d impart to his novice self. Highlighting the paramount importance of a lead actor’s performance and acknowledging the financial intricacies of the filmmaking industry, Derrickson’s journey exemplifies both the creative and economic challenges directors face. His dedication to casting and performance quality has become a defining feature of his work, shaping the calibre of his films, regardless of the genre. The interview reveals the significant discrepancies between box office success and the actual benefits reaped by filmmakers, underscoring the complexity of the business side of cinema.

How a migrant farmworker built generational wealth, penny by penny

My grandfather kept ledgers logging every day he worked in the U.S. The dry entries — “18 boxes of cherries, $4 per box” — tell a story of success against the odds.

Show more sharing options
Copy Link URL Copied!

My grandmother told me about the missing notebook.

It had a blue cover, she said, and was unmarked except for “ cuaderno de trabajo ” written in the italicized superscript taught in elementary schools around Mexico. Kept by my grandfather when he labored on farms and orchards in the United States, the notebook recorded where he had worked, how much money he earned and — most important — where that money went.

The problem, my grandmother said, was that the “notebook of work” probably had been destroyed or thrown out. My grandfather, a man of few words, didn’t know where it was either.

But what if that notebook wasn’t gone?

An older man with mustache, in a white T-shirt and gray pants, sits in a chair outside his home

After graduating from college in 2023, I traveled to the Mexican state of Oaxaca to visit relatives and to report on the effects of remittances sent back to Mexico. I was unable to find old bank records or receipts, but my grandmother mentioned the missing notebook one night after dinner.

I knew I had to see it to learn more about my family’s history, so I went to the last place Herminia Rodríguez Andrade remembered having seen it: the village where she and my grandfather, Pedro Martínez, were born in the 1940s and started a family.

Inside the two-room adobe house where the couple and their eight children once lived as subsistence farmers, I sifted through photographs and utility receipts filling a cardboard box that sat next to the only bed. At the bottom, I found it: a Mead brand spiral-bound notebook. The front cover nearly fell off when I opened it, revealing page after page of entries that were dry, even monotonous.

A page from a spiral bound notebook with handwritten notes "Año 2012." "Año 2013"

“October 3, Friday. Eight hours laying wire with Enriquez.”

“November 21. Friday. Eight hours pruning pears. Pruning started today.”

“December 5, Friday. Eight hours pruning apples with Eri.”

Page after page, line by line, I saw how Pedro lived and worked in 2008 and 2009 in the orchards of central Washington. They traced every job he had and even indicated the days rain cut a workday short.

The notebook was the first of about a dozen ledgers that I would find in the adobe house and at the family’s current home in Huajuapan de León, a Oaxacan city of 80,000.

Pedro often recorded what he earned, as in this entry from 1999: “July 22, Thursday. 18 boxes of cherries. $4 per box.”

He also recorded the day he made nothing at all. Using an X to indicate zero, on July 26, 1990, Pedro wrote, “X because there was no work.” Some weeks had lots of Xs. The last entry from that year, in November, reads, “On Thursday I left for Mexico at 5 a.m.”

Handwritten notes in Spanish and English on ruled notebook paper. "He is not here — ji is nat jir"

With entries from California, Oregon and Washington state, the books were kept to document the transfer of money. Now, in a larger sense, they tell the story of how remittances sustain life in Mexico. Over time, remittances provided a source of modest generational wealth for my Mexican grandparents, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews — to the point where my American family no longer feels the need to send money, except in times of emergency.

The notebooks capture pieces of Pedro’s life, work and aspirations from 1981 to 2010, when he returned to Mexico for good. They are far richer than any bank records.

Handwritten notes in Spanish and English. "Wyckoff Farms Inc. 1984"

Sometimes, Pedro drew sketches of the house he planned to build in Huajuapan someday. It would have six rooms across two floors, with windows along the north side.

Other times, he wrote English phrases that he copied from paperwork or learned from classes in the United States: “Your employee number with Wyckoff Farms is 46450. Please put it on the card.” He also wrote down “cherry,” as in “18 cajas de cherry ,” instead of the Spanish “cereza.”

Pedro’s notations, though repetitious and even tedious, opened my eyes to his meticulous nature, the way he viewed each dollar as one that couldn’t fall through the cracks.

Section divider: A handwritten green line

Money sent from the United States plays an oversized role in the economy of rural Mexican states. In Oaxaca, home to more than 4 million people, residents collectively received $2.9 billion in remittances in 2022 — equal to about 12% of the state’s gross domestic product, according to the Bank of Mexico and government figures.

For many recipients of remittances, the funds are used to fill gaps in social services and to supplement a minimum daily wage of 207 pesos, or roughly $10.

More than 80% use the transfers for basic needs such as food and clothing, according to the bank BBVA , while fewer than 15% use the money for education. Even fewer use it to buy land, another way in which my family is an exception.

A street with streamers hanging overhead near stores

Since the money is often not invested in something that could ultimately generate income or promote development, like starting a business, its long-term impact is limited, said Jose Ivan Rodríguez-Sánchez, a research scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico.

Generally, he said, people stay poor.

But in my family, remittances have been used for decades as a pathway to upward mobility.

And it all began, as with the notebooks, with envelopes always bearing three stamps.

Handwritten notes in Spanish. "$200 dolares que mando Sergio importo dinero mexicano $600,000"

March 12, 1992: Sergio Martinez sent $200, worth 600,000 pesos

Growing up in Wenatchee, a small city in Washington state known as “the Apple Capital of the World,” I knew the importance of remittances from weekly trips to the tienda mexicana . There, my dad, Sergio, would buy telephone cards and call his parents, Pedro and Herminia, to check on the family or confirm they received the money he’d sent.

A man on a ladder, using long-handled pruners on bare tree branches

I knew that my grandparents grew up the way most rural Mexicans did in the 20th century: extremely poor. I knew that poverty led Pedro to follow a gushing stream of laborers from Mexico to chase farmwork in the western U.S. Pedro drifted from San Diego County to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, until he found a job he liked picking fruit in arid central Washington.

A showcase for compelling storytelling from the Los Angeles Times.

But there’s a difference between stories passed down and truths I could learn as a journalist. It was only while reporting in Huajuapan that I understood the coordination it took to save my relatives from food insecurity and the discipline it took to avoid using newfound wealth for unnecessary purchases.

When Pedro first crossed the border without documentation in 1978 to pick strawberries in Escondido, he lived in a tent on a patch of flat dirt near the farm where he was working. Intent on saving almost every dollar of his pay for his return to Oaxaca, he ate wild cactus he harvested from the hills, recalling that they were “different — no, worse — than the cactus at home.”

On his first trip home, Pedro brought an envelope thick with cash. It was the largest sum of money the family had ever deposited in a bank at one time: $3,600.

Two men seated in a row of bare wood-frame beds as another man stands nearby holding a bowl

As detailed in the notebooks, that sum was the result of months of modest accumulation: $100 on a good day, when his wages were above $4 per box of fruit picked and he could fill more than a dozen boxes; less than $50 on others, when the dry summer heat made it unsafe to continue work in the afternoon.

After returning to the United States, he began to send home cash in monthly envelopes — always using three stamps to ensure prompt delivery. Herminia and her young children would pick up the mail and hold these envelopes up to the sun, estimating their value by the silhouette of the bills inside.

In 1985, the couple purchased land in Huajuapan, down the street from the central produce market. They built a small house where seven of their children grew up. Each time Pedro returned, he would build a wall to expand it.

A page from a spiral-bound notebook with handwritten notes from 1981

When my father and two of his brothers, Jorge and Saturnino, joined Pedro in Washington in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with remittances paying the coyotes who got them across the border, they shared a room in a house and didn’t get to keep most of the money they earned picking cherries at $4 per seven-gallon crate. They let Pedro allocate part of their paychecks for their living essentials.

The remainder was sent to Huajuapan, where their sisters logged each remittance payment in yet another notebook for Pedro to review each time he returned for visits.

The girls bought new shoes and ate more meat, but along with Pedro’s financial savvy came a stinginess that extended to his family. He refused to pay for any education not provided by the government.

A page from a spiral bound notebook with handwritten notes "15 de Disiembre 1984 — y de 1985"

My grandfather never saw the point of using remittances for educational purposes — or for any expense beyond what he deemed immediately essential. This view is common among many Mexican recipients of remittances, either because their finances are so limited that extra money is spent on necessities or because they undervalue education as a key to advancement, according to Tania Castillo Villegas, who studies the effects of remittances at University of the Isthmus in southern Oaxaca.

By the mid-1990s, my father was in his early 20s and starting to become disillusioned with life in the U.S. He had left Huajuapan to avoid becoming a laborer like his father, and yet the only jobs he could find were in Wenatchee’s orchards.

Soon, he stopped taking agricultural jobs, enrolled in English classes at a community college and began to work in restaurants. Using the same method of accounting pioneered by their father in the blue notebooks, he and his brothers directed their remittances to go toward their sisters’ education.

My dad paid for his sister Nubia’s accounting school. Daifa Norma went to a teachers’ college in Mexico City, and Maribel went to Oaxaca City for nursing school.

Handwritten notes in Spanish. "25 domingo lupe y Her. 21 cajas de cheerry"

July 25, 1999. Lupe and Herminia picked 21 boxes of cherries.

Eventually, Pedro, now 80, settled permanently in Huajuapan, his spine bent by years of climbing ladders with 40-pound bags of apples on his back. Macular degeneration slowly took over his vision until he was blind. And in July 2023, after coughing up blood for several days, he stopped eating altogether.

His gallbladder might burst at any time, a doctor warned, and the family had to decide whether Pedro was strong enough for surgery. Although an operation was risky, and the doctor gave a 20% probability of a full recovery, the chances of survival appeared lower without an operation.

The family opted for surgery at a private hospital in Huajuapan rather than at the nearest public hospital in Oaxaca City, which would have required a bumpy three-hour ambulance ride.

Sergio, my father, arrived a day after the surgery, using the frequent flier points he had stockpiled for years to secure a last-minute flight from Seattle to Mexico City. When he arrived in Huajuapan, he was still unsure of his father’s fate. At the hospital, he walked into Pedro’s room and found him awake and responsive. The toxic gallbladder floated in a dark liquid inside a plastic jar on the bedside table.

The decision to take Pedro to a private hospital rather than a subsidized public institution, despite the uncertainty of what the final bill would total, exemplifies the family’s financial stability. The hospital bill exceeded 100,000 pesos (roughly $6,000), an astronomical price for many in the region but a cost that the family could afford with contributions from Pedro’s children.

Remittances did not pay for Pedro’s potentially lifesaving surgery, at least not directly. But they did facilitate the generation of wealth that allowed my father and his siblings to save money for unexpected medical expenses. My aunt Maribel, the family nurse who tended to Pedro’s wounds after his surgery, gained the skills she had from the investment of remittances.

A man points to a photo in an album as a woman with long hair looks on while seated at a table

It has been years since the family has been concerned about having enough to eat. Though the family once relied on a field they planted with crops, that field has essentially been allowed to go wild, with corn and cactus growing on their own, along with avocado and mango trees. Herminia and Pedro now harvest whatever the field yields — something to supplement the pounds of meat and masa that are purchased each week to feed the home’s eight permanent residents: an assortment of children and grandchildren, and a handful of regular visitors.

The family has, in a way, grown out of its dependence on remittances.

My father, who got his green card in 2000, no longer pools money or sends set amounts each month. The investments he and his brothers made in education have paid dividends for those still living in Mexico. Norma is a teacher in Mexico City, Maribel a nurse in Huajuapan. The third generation, my cousins, are able to take private English classes and participate in enrichment programs that my father and his siblings could only have dreamed of.

Other Mexican families have not been as fortunate as mine. Sometimes, accidents or injuries prevent migrant workers from making enough to send money that can accumulate as wealth. In some households, remittance money is “spent on something without any benefit for the family,” said Castillo Villegas.

Handwritten notes in Spanish. "28 cajas de cherry. Satur y Jorje returon pora Mexico"

July 23, 1991: Pedro and Herminia picked 28 boxes of cherries. Saturnino and Jorge left for Mexico.

Shortly after my grandfather’s surgery, on a rainy evening in Huajuapan, my cousin Carmen Méndez Martínez sprinted across the concrete driveway to where the family was seated at a table.

“ ¡Me aceptaron en la UNAM !” she said, panting. She had been accepted to attend the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the country’s most prestigious public university.

The adults congratulated her, but their tone was somber. It meant that Carmen would be leaving Huajuapan and, if her aspirations of exploring the world as a doctor were fulfilled, she would not be returning. For Nubia, her mother, it brought to light concerns of the family’s closeness. Would her daughter visit? Would she still feel a duty to help her family?

Carmen is one of 16 grandchildren under the age of 21; the return on my family’s educational investment is just beginning. One cousin wants to be a dentist, another wants to join the U.S. military. Inevitably, they will continue to spread out. And to think those ambitions can be traced back to ledger entries such as “December 5, Friday. Eight hours pruning apples with Eri.”

Three weeks after Carmen was accepted to UNAM, she was on her way to Mexico City. She said her goodbyes to her stoic aunts and siblings, tears in their eyes. When she got to Herminia, her grandmother, Carmen bowed her head for a blessing.

Xavier Martinez is a special correspondent.

‘Something more dream-like’: These butterflies tell an unexpected story about migration

April 22, 2024

Illustration of a man wearing a cowboy hat holding a bag of cactuses for sale shouting "Nopales!"

Op Comic: My Mexican grandfather’s infinite garden

March 18, 2024

Rome, Italy- Elderly woman cashier selling a man fresh produce in Campo de' Fiori, the largest and oldest outdoor market in Rome. It is located south of Piazza Navona. (Photo by: VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Opinion: ‘Work longer’ is no solution for people who can’t afford to retire

Feb. 26, 2024

Start your day right

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

More From the Los Angeles Times

HAIFA, ISRAEL -- JANUARY 22, 2024: Carmel Neta and his wife Inbal, 36, spend time with both their children, Dror, 2, and Lily, 7, at home in Haifa, Israel, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. Carmel Neta lost his mother Adrienne, 66, who was killed in the massacre at kibbutz BeOeri N one of about 1,200 people killed across the country that day in the single deadliest attack in IsraelOs history. A native Californian, Adrienne believed different cultures could and should co-exist. She had raised her four children to respect Palestinians, and had been deeply moved when Carmel and his wife had enrolled their two young children in an experimental bilingual school in which students from diverse backgrounds learned together in both Hebrew and Arabic. (MARCUS YAM / LOS ANGELES TIMES)

World & Nation

After Hamas killed his mother, an Israeli man chooses peace over vengeance

April 24, 2024

Myojang, he president of the Korean Buddhist Foundation for Social Welfare, poses for a photograph inside Jeondeung Temple.

Inspired by reality TV, Buddhist monks become matchmakers

NEW YORK, NEW YORK APRIL 11, 2024 - Portraits of poet and essayist Diana Goetcsh in Manhattan, New York City on April 11, 2024. (Andrew Kelly / For The Times)

Entertainment & Arts

This trans author toured red-state libraries. What she found might surprise you

April 17, 2024

This L.A. director made a film in Russia. The Kremlin wasn’t happy. Then came death threats

April 10, 2024

IMAGES

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Promo Poster
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey • Movie Review
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Why The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Is the Best Film of the Trilogy

VIDEO

The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey TV Spot #15
A Cinematic Christmas Journey S2 Trailer
A Long Journey To An Uncertain End
'A Journey In Spring': first English trailer for San Sebastian competition title
The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli
Hobbit 1

COMMENTS

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Directed by Peter Jackson. With Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott. A reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home, and the gold within it from the dragon Smaug.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a 2012 epic high fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson from a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro, based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.It is the first installment in The Hobbit trilogy, acting as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.. The story is set in Middle-earth sixty ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Bilbo Baggins is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. PG-13 Released Dec 14, 2012 2 hr. 49 min. Fantasy Adventure List. 64% 305 Reviews Tomatometer 83% 250,000+ Ratings Audience Score Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman ...
The Hobbit (film series)
The Hobbit is a series of three epic high fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson.The films are subtitled An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Desolation of Smaug (2013), and The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). The films are based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, with large portions of the trilogy inspired by the appendices to The Return of the King, which expand on ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Mel Milanovic. ... special effects technician (uncredited) Simon Rose. ... prosthetics technician: Weta Workshop (uncredited) Sky Vega. ... special effects makeup life casting and mold making (uncredited)
Watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The adventure follows Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim Erebor with the help of Gandalf the Grey and 13 Dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield. 41,125 IMDb 7.8 2 h 49 min 2012. X-Ray UHD PG-13. Drama · Action · Ambitious · Exciting. Available to rent or buy.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey almost attains greatness yet despite so many moments of epic fun, greatness remains just out of its reach. This is a very good and entertaining movie even if it ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
From the smallest beginnings come the greatest legends. http://www.thehobbit.com/The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a 2012 epic high fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson from a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro, based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is the first installment in The Hobbit trilogy, acting as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey movie clips: http://j.mp/2iBjpZQBUY THE MOVIE: http://bit.ly/2hW2fGBDon't miss the HOTTEST NEW TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/1u2y...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth with the first of three films based on J.R.R. Tolkien's enduring masterpiece. Set in M...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first part of Peter Jackson 's The Hobbit film trilogy and it is based on J.R.R. Tolkien 's 1937 novel The Hobbit, although some elements are taken from the story and The Appendices of The Lord of the Rings. It was released on 14 December 2012 in North America.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey streaming
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is 474 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved up the charts by 1448 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than Fallen Leaves but less popular than Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Movie Review
Parents need to know that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, director Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's stand-alone quest through Middle-earth, is less violent than the scarier Lord of the Rings trilogy. But there are definitely some frightening sequences, like the battle between the dragon and the dwarves of Erebor, during which one character is decapitated, another has an arm ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
There has almost certainly never been an adaptation of a novel more studiously, scrupulously and strenuously faithful as Peter Jackson's film of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Movie Reviews
Peter Jackson takes his audience back to Middle-earth in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, set in a time before the Lord of the Rings films. NPR's Bob Mondello says that where the Rings films ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Purchase The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on digital and stream instantly or download offline. Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth with the first of three films based on J.R.R. Tolkien's enduring masterpiece. Set in Middle-earth 60 years before the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy, the adventure follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic ...
The Good (and Not-So Good) of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
An Unexpected Journey doesn't solely rely on revisiting previously established locations in Middle-Earth, though. The film also brings many new locations into the fold, most chiefly that of the ...
39 Facts About The Movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was a visually stunning film released in 2012, with a captivating story that introduces new characters and explores the rich mythology of Middle-earth. The movie received mixed reviews but won an Academy Award for Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling. It set the stage for an epic adventure and showcased ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey While Peter Jackson's prequel to "The Lord of the Rings" delivers more of what made his earlier trilogy so compelling -- it doesn't offer nearly enough novelty to ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) is a movie I originally saw in theaters, is in my DVD collection and I recently rewatched with my daughter on HBOMAX. The storyline for this picture involves our old friend, Bilbo Baggins, as a youth when Gandalf the wizard shows up at his door about an adventure. Bilbo says no but that night 12 dwarfs ...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Benedict Cumberbatch. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey location: Hobbiton: Matamata, North Island, New Zealand | Photograph: Hobbiton. Locations for The Hobbit are, like its predecessors, The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, scattered around the two islands of New Zealand. Shot as two films, back-to-back, with a little additional footage, the saga ...
The Crackdown on Student Protesters
This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this ...
Exclusive: Filmmaker Scott Derrickson Chronicles His Journey from ...
It's quite unexpected that after two decades, the film has started catching attention. ... Derrickson's journey exemplifies both the creative and economic challenges directors face. His ...
The untold story of a Mexican farmworker's journey to a better life
"October 3, Friday. Eight hours laying wire with Enriquez." "November 21. Friday. Eight hours pruning pears. Pruning started today." "December 5, Friday.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Email not verified

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Movies / TV

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

What to Know

Audience Reviews

More Like This

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Cast and Crew

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey streaming: where to watch online?

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Streaming Charts The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

Production country

Popular movies coming soon

Upcoming Action & Adventure movies

Similar Movies you can watch for free

Or browse by category:

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

Common Sense Selections for Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

Explaining the News to Our Kids

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

A Lot or a Little?

Positive Messages

Positive Role Models

Violence & Scariness

Products & Purchases

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Parents Need to Know

Where to Watch

Community Reviews

Suitable for kids IMO.

Is It Any Good?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Suggest an Update

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Hobbit (1977)

Best Fantasy Movies

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

site categories

Todd McCarthy

Related Stories

THR Newsletters

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Movie Reviews

Watch Clips

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | Full Movie | Movies Anywhere

Special Features

Additional Info

You Might Also Like...

New Releases

The Good (and Not-So Good) of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Good: Return to Middle-Earth

Not-So-Good: Too Silly at Times

Good: Howard Shore’s Music

Not-So-Good: Action Sequences

Good: Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins

Not-So-Good: Overly Long

Good: Riddles in the Dark

Turn Your Curiosity Into Discovery