On Monday night, Middle-Earth fans across the country were treated to their best glimpse yet of forthcoming dragon-laden caper The Desolation of Smaug. Sarah Deen, our Hobbit in the field, was there – and here’s what she found out about Bilbo’s next adventure.

Last week, we got a nice little peek at the next instalment of The Hobbit trilogy with some pretty action packed banners. This week, Peter Jackson is filling in the..

Two and a half months to go! Or, to look at it another way, one year and two and a half months.

Legendary comic receiving treatment.

Make some effort, Pete.

Infinite cash Vs Probable agonising death. Quick cost benefit analysis… Let’s send Martin Freeman in instead

People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of remakes. Welcome to that land

TOMORROW, they’re out TOMORROW! Ha, they’re not.

A national treasure, a gay icon, a Shakespearean behemoth, a level 4 magnetic mutant and Mithrandir himself, Sir Ian McKellen is one of the greatest actors of all time. At the age of 73, our 5 foot 11 inches undertaker continues to astound, most recently in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Did you know that Sir Ian attended Cambridge University where he studied English, and that he only got a 2:2? NO!? Then you’d better read our Ian McKellen Cheat Sheet!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is undoubtedly an event-movie, but can it overcome the ridiculously high expectations and accusations of technological awkwardness surrounding its release? Yes. Yes it can. All the criticisms leveled at the first film in The Hobbit trilogy might be justifiable, but Peter Jackson has still created a worthy prequel to the Lord Of The Rings. Big flashy set pieces, enjoyable and complex characters and an accessible yet captivating script add up to a movie you will be proud to one day have as the cornerstone of your DVD collection. You’ll never be so glad to return to Middle Earth.