I really like the new trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, it does two things well, it shows us a clear path of new characters and story while retaining the feel and style that we loved so much with Lord of the Rings, as well as the crossover of characters.

It's a gentle introduction to the film that delivers a montage of moments gently building up the anticipation and the action, while making sure we realise this isn't going to be a nice gentle tale, there's danger too.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey isn't due out until next year, and by that I mean a whole year not arriving at some point during 2012, so we have a long wait and plenty more teases and footage in trailers to come, however this is great starting off point.

Here's the blurb for the film:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the 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 Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever ... Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths ofguile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities ... A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

The blurb comes from Apple Trailers where they have the new trailer and below I've embedded the TrailerAddict version for your enjoyment.

Is this going to live up to Lord of the Rings and deliver something new and exciting? I think so, and I think Peter Jackson is going to excel himself and wow us once again, or twice again.

Oh, and while you're watching, see if you can recognise the actors.