J.R.R. Tolkien’s legacy continues in this first installment of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” As with “The Lord of the Rings” series, the Hobbit series will appear in three separate films, based on the children’s novel “The Hobbit: or There and Back Again,” published in 1937.

Bilbo Baggins is just a normal hobbit living a relaxing life in Bag-End when Gandalf the Grey recruits him, quite unwillingly at first, to join 13 dwarves in a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. Leading this party is Thorin Oakenshield, a legendary warrior and rightful King under the Mountain, who wishes to slay the dragon Smaug who inhabits Erebor.

Throughout their journey, the group encounters several different dangers and challenges. Bilbo, who was recruited as the group’s thief, often has his motives and abilities questioned by the dwarves, who consider him to be out of place on this adventure. Nonetheless, Gandalf urges them to continue on with the adventure with Bilbo in tow.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is a good start to what will hopefully be an amazing trilogy of movies, but falls short of expectations. Because the novel that this movie is based on is only 310 pages and created for children, the director Peter Jackson has to be very creative in order to make this trilogy a success. Unfortunately, this is evident in “The Hobbit,” where dialogue and boring scenes are very apparent in this film.

Character development is very important in this movie, due to the length of it. In “The Hobbit,” these characters are all unique and interesting, which takes away from some of the boring aspects of this nearly three-hour film. Couple this with the fact that the landscape is beautifully shown, with some use of similar locations as the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and new environments both add to the visual masterpiece that is “The Hobbit.”

Along with the visual aspects of the film, the emotional attachment developed and the plotline tie it together. While parts of the movie use humor and the odd characteristics of the dwarf party to lighten the mood, especially at the beginning, the film later incorporates amazing dramatic scenes to truly pull the viewer into the movie.

From sorrow and despair to scenes of pure joy, the film is a constantly changing emotional roller coaster, compelling many viewers to the edge of their seats in anticipation of the next scene. Once the film finally gets into full swing, it contains many dramatic and interesting events, well depicted and not overly predictable, adding to the excitement.

While it may seem like a daunting task to sit through a nearly 3-hour film, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is a worthwhile choice. Despite its less exciting periods, the film holds a emotional and visual appeal for viewers of all ages and is sure to pique your interest.