The film adaptation of the beloved J. R. R. Tolkien classic, “The Hobbit,” has finally made it to the silver screen as a part one: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” Running at two hours and 45 minutes, it shouldn’t disappoint fans of the Middle Earth fantasy. “The Hobbit” is the prequel to the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy of films: “The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Two Towers,” and “The Return of the King.” Gandalf the Grey (a wizard, played by the made-for-the-role Ian McKellen) invites the homebody hobbit, Bilbo Baggins (an impeccable, humble and nuanced performance by Martin Freeman), on an “adventure.” Baggins declines, but suddenly finds his hobbit hole filled with dwarves intent on a quest to win back their homeland from the evil dragon Smaug. A hobbit is needed for the journey because the dragon (and assorted nefarious creatures they will meet along the way such as orcs and goblins and trolls) isn’t used to the smell of hobbit, and being tiny, Bilbo will be able to slip around unnoticed. The dwarf prince doesn’t want Bilbo along, thinking he will be a burden, but Gandalf believes in Bilbo. There are many action scenes and battles and one perilous predicament after another. However, the scenes are so carefully planned out, easy to follow and interesting that they hold our attention. This is not just generic swashbuckling and sword clashing. The intense action scenes lead from one stage of the journey to the next, and we never know what our little band will encounter as they advance through diverse terrain. At times, it almost seems that Tolkien has the mind of a child or an animator, where everything is alive, even the mountains. There are two extremely long scenes that seemed to be smaller plot points than others but that are integral to the entire “Lord of the Rings” story: One where Bilbo tries to save the dwarves from being eaten by trolls, and the scene with Gollum and the ring in the cave. The movie is long but never tedious. Tolkien was a devout Catholic who helped translate the New Jerusalem Bible, and his fantasies were really the moral imagination at play. Multitudes of readers have found deep purpose, hope and meaning for their lives in his yarns.