The Hobbit

Before Peter Jackson took the reigns of the franchise, Guillermo del Toro was supposed to direct The Hobbit, and planned to bring his friend and longtime collaborator Ron Perlman to voice the dragon Smaug. But financial problems and delays at MGM eventually forced del Toro from the project; after Peter Jackson, king of The Lord of the Rings, signed on to direct in his place, he replaced Perlman with Benedict Cumberbatch. That’s just one of the facts packed into the latest episode of You Think You Know Movies, which takes you on an unexpected journey behind the scenes of the first film in The Hobbit trilogy!

Having gone on an unexpected journey and endured the desolation of Smaug, Peter Jackson’s bloated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ finally comes to ‘The Battle of the Five Armies,’ which is less of a climax to this trilogy than a distended epilogue. After spending two movies and 330 minutes building up the dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) as the ultimate antagonist, he’s eliminated from the story completely in the first ten minutes. He’s literally gone before the title appears onscreen.

The final 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' trailer has arrived and, well, it looks like another 'Hobbit' movie. If your faith in director Peter Jackson's vision of Middle-Earth remains unshaken, prepare to get excited. If the previous two films have muted your excitement for the series, prepare to see...more of the same.

Back in 2012, some of the cast members from the 'Hobbit' films appeared in an in-flight safety video for Air New Zealand titled "An Unexpected Safety Briefing," and to coincide with the upcoming sequel 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,' they've made a different kind of sequel: "The Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made." It is very epic indeed.

We've had an 'Unexpected Journey' and seen the 'Desolation of Smaug,' and now this year Peter Jackson brings us the conclusion of the trilogy with 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.' With six months still left ahead before we catch up with Bilbo and friends, it's about time we get our first look at the final chapter in their story.

If it's set in Middle Earth, it's going to open at number one. That's common knowledge. The big question is always how big or how small it's going to open at number one. 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' did open at number one this weekend, but it's a number that's going to feel controversial for people who like to bicker about box office numbers. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it disappointing? Ho

Familiar and highly popular screen characters mark their return to theaters this weekend,

" a good actor, but, hell, I'm Willie Nelson!" That's right, you are. The legendary country star and marijuana enthusiast turns 80 years old on Tuesday, but instead of us honoring him with a gift, he's given the world the best thing ever -- a spoof audition reel for 'The Hobbit 2.' What would the Peter Jackson-directed films look like with Nelson in the role of Gandalf? Here's a taste. R

Though Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' hit screens mere hours ago, it's already on track to have the highest opening weekend of any picture to open in December. That's right, it's on track to open bigger than 'Avatar.'