The Hobbit franchise is one of the most anticipated in recent memory, but today it made news for another reason. According to a special report by Nick Perry with the Associated Press, animal wranglers who worked on the films said the circumstances of filming caused the deaths of multiple animals.

"Animal wranglers involved in the making of The Hobbit movie trilogy say the production company is responsible for the deaths of up to 27 animals, largely because they were kept at a farm filled with bluffs, sinkholes and other 'death traps,'" said Perry.

The American Humane Association is an agency that monitors animals on the set, but their reach only goes so far.

“We are currently only empowered to monitor animal actors while they are working on production sets,” AHA President Dr. Robin Ganzert said. “We do not have either the jurisdiction or funding to extend that oversight to activities or conditions off set or before animals come under our protection. There are too many incidents off the set and this must stop. It is vital that we work with the industry to bring the kind of protection we have for animals during filming to all phases of production.”

"A spokesman for trilogy director Peter Jackson on Monday acknowledged that horses, goats, chickens and one sheep died at the farm near Wellington [New Zealand] where about 150 animals were housed for the movies, but he said some of the deaths were from natural causes," said Perry.

But according to Reuters, Jackson denied any wrongdoing on set, and he claimed that the animals did not die because of their parts in the film.

"The producers completely reject the accusations that twenty seven animals died due to mistreatment during the making of the films," the statement read, according to Reuters. "Extraordinary measures were taken to make sure that animals were not used during action sequences or any other sequence that might create undue stress for the animals involved."

Animals rights groups, including PETA, have announced boycotts of the $500 million film trilogy, including the first movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

"We want to send a clear message to Hollywood that they need to be very careful when using animals and take all the precautions that need to be taken," Kathy Guillermo, with PETA, said.

An Unexpected Journey is set for a red-carpet premiere in Wellington and a worldwide opening in December.

Photo courtesy of WENN.com

In case you live under a rock in the Shire and haven't heard, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is nearly upon us.

As if the experience couldn't get any more epic, participating IMAX theaters will be giving away limited-edition posters at their midnight premieres.

In the running are four beautiful pieces featuring Bilbo Baggins, Gollum, Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield.

If free posters are this intricate, we can only imagine how amazing this movie as a whole will be!

Peter Jackson has crafted the predecessor film to The Lord of the Rings saga: the story of one hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, and his unexpected adventure deep into the darkness of Middle Earth and ultimately an exploration of himself.

Although the burden of the ring rests on Bilbo alone, his travels place him within great company like that of the wizard Gandalf, dwarves, elves and all the monstrous creatures on the fringes of his peaceful land.

The Hobbit may be cast across a medieval plain but it ultimately tells of the troubles we must all overcome on the path to courage, sacrifice and strength.

Grab your precious and check out The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Dec. 14.

Images courtesy of New Line Cinema/Warner Bros

Stephen Colbert has always been very vocal about his love for the upcoming The Hobbitmovie series, and now he is using his fame and influence to bring the stories to the world.

"Comedy Central's The Colbert Report will present four nights of Hobbit-themed programming , pegged to the Dec. 14 release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," said Entertainment Weekly. "Guests will include stars Ian McKellen , Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis , along with director Peter Jackson ."

Colbert spent time on the set of The Hobbit, and there is a rumor he will be making a cameo in one of the films. In October, he spoke with Playboy about the possibilities.

"I flew out and watched them shoot some scenes and went to some locations," Colbert told the magazine. "I saw a 25-minute cut, and it was amazing. Jackson knows I'm a big fan of the films."

When asked if he would appear, he replied, "Could be."

"It's yet to be confirmed or denied," Peter Jackson told EW last month when asked if Colbert would be appearing in the films.

Colbert even knows Elvish, one of the languages spoken in The Hobbit, and there is a good chance he will be putting that to use during his week with the hobbit and hobbit-friendly characters who will be visiting.

Jackson spoke last month about his respect for Colbert and the amount of knowledge Colbert has of Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle Earth.

"I have never met a bigger Tolkien geek in my life," Jackson told Entertainment Weekly. He also said Colbert's "encyclopedic knowledge" of the author is "spectacular."

If Colbert appears in The Hobbit trilogy, it won't be until the second or third film, so only time will tell if the rumor comes true. But we know now that all next week, fans of the series can get their fill just by watching The Colbert Report.

Photo courtesy WENN.com

One of the year's biggest films is The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. It's the first of three based on the popular J.R.R. Tolkien book. Directed by Peter Jackson , The Hobbit focuses on a younger, less experienced Bilbo Baggins.

The character's played by British actor Martin Freeman. Although he's steadily worked in his native country for years, The Hobbit is taking his career to a whole new level. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Freeman considers himself "geek royalty now."

It's official! Hobbit fans in for a third film>>

The actor's well aware of the fandom surrounding the franchise. His character's very popular, and the film's exposing him to a new audience. Freeman really wants to keep his new title. "That’s the main responsibility," he joked. "It’s not playing Bilbo, it’s my responsibility as a geek prince."

The Hobbit releases a new trailer for An Unexpected Journey>>

Even though he's at the center of Hobbitmania, he admits he didn't grow up reading it.

"I came to it as an adult for this. It was nice coming to it that way around, actually. In a way, it decreased the pressure. I think if I had been carrying that around since I was 10, that would have been quite overwhelming by the time I grew up. My being here would be overwhelming. As it was, it was more exciting than scary."

To be fair, The Hobbit isn't Freeman's first foray into the geek world. The actor currently plays Watson on the BBC series Sherlock opposite Benedict Cumberbatch. The drama has a huge geek following, and The Hobbit's just adding fuel to the fire.

The film opens in theaters Dec. 14.

Are you excited for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?

Photo credit: PNP/ WENN

Animal scandal

Animal wranglers from The Hobbit trilogy have accused the production company of being responsible for 27 animal deaths. Four wranglers who worked on the movies say that the farm where the animals were kept during production was full of dangers and hazards that contributed to the death of more than two dozen animals. Director Peter Jackson adamantly denies the charges, maintaining that animal welfare was a top priority and that many of the animals in the movies are actually computer-generated. A production spokesperson has said that two horse deaths were unavoidable and an investigation is underway to determine if there is any truth to the wrangler’s charges. This could make movie-goers a bit uncomfortable wondering if the animals onscreen are real and, if so, did they meet with an untimely demise?

Fast frames

The Hobbit is the first major film to use 48 frames per second as opposed to the traditional 24 frames per second. Since the movie premiered at the end of November in New Zealand, some movie-goers have complained that the speed and definition of the movie actually made them nauseous. Those who have previewed The Hobbit either loved the technological advancement of 48 frames per second or found it distracting. Either way, any time a production company pilots something new, you can expect that movie audiences will show up in droves to decide for themselves.

Orlando Bloom

For a lot of women, the promise of seeing Orlando Bloom might be the only thing that lures them to The Hobbit. But they will be sorely disappointed, as Orlando does not appear until the third installment of The Hobbit trilogy, There and Back Again. Sorry, ladies, you’re going to have to wait until July 2014.

Director resigned

After dedicating two years to bringing Tolkien’s classic The Hobbit to the movie screen, then-director Guillermo Del Toro bailed. Del Toro blamed "the most difficult decision of his life" on movie delays and the split between now-director Peter Jackson and Del Toro has played out as nothing short of professional and friendly. Of course Hollywood insiders think there is more to the story. Did Del Toro split due to artistic differences? Did he think Jackson was insane for turning a 300-page book into a movie trilogy? Will Del Toro gloat if The Hobbit doesn’t receive any Oscar nods? Only time will tell.

Who is Martin Freeman?

With the success of TheLord of the Rings , you would think director Peter Jackson would have picked a household name to play the lead role. Instead he chose Martin Freeman to play Bilbo Baggins. Freeman is known for his role in the BBC version of The Office, for playing Dr Watson in Sherlock and for his part in our favorite Christmas movie, Love Actually. Jackson felt so strongly about Freeman playing the role of the hobbit, that he worked around Freeman’s Sherlock schedule. He does sort of make the perfect hobbit, wouldn’t you say? Early reviews of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey claim the movie has a comedic element to it, which Freeman is a proven fit for.

So, why is The Hobbit a big deal?

Good question. To understand it, you need to remember that The Hobbit actually reads more like children’s literature. So if you didn’t read this in junior high, you missed it. For some of us it is the equivalent of a Judy Blume book, or The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe or James and the Giant Peach. Anytime a childhood classic is turned into an epic movie series, people go a little crazy wondering how their mental version of a beloved story will compare with the cinematic version.

What’s with that creepy Gollum dude?

With his freakishly huge eyes, hairless body and spooky language patterns, Gollum is the sort of creature that will haunt us for many nights to come. Gollum is just one of the strange beasts in this creature feature. There are also trolls, dragons, giant spiders, goblins and elves. This is all part of The Hobbit’s appeal — adventure, fantasy and Middle-Earth-like creatures.

Will my life have more meaning and purpose if I go see the movie?

That’s hard to say. Reviews of early screenings have been mixed — fans seem to love it but critics feel it is too long and doesn’t measure up to TheLord of the Rings. Some love the 3D high definition 48 frames per second rather than the traditional 24 frames per second. It made other movie-goers sick to their stomachs. A point that all seem to agree on is to read the book first. It is richer in detail and director Peter Jackson made three movies out of one book, so content has been added to accomplish this goal.

Sip a fanciful vodka cocktail

While hobbits are typically known for favoring their ales and meads, might we suggest that you try something a little more adventurous in the hope that you will be unexpectedly delighted?

Before heading out to watch The Hobbit, sip one of these vodka cocktails, inspired by the fanciful film.

The Hobbitual recipe

Recipe by Nugget Markets

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Purity Vodka
• 2 ounces fresh apple juice
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Pinch of sage
• Apple slice for garnish

Directions:

1. Pour vodka, apple juice, cinnamon and sage in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake and pour into a chilled martini glass.
3. Float a thin horizontal apple slice as garnish.

Shire flower recipe

Recipe by Nugget Markets

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces Purity Vodka
• 3/8 ounce elderflower liqueur
• 3/8 ounce lemon juice
• 1 bar spoon apricot preserves

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until ice cold.
2. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with small, white flowers .

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2 Stars: Perfect for your 12-year-old son

The Hobbit begins with a 20-minute prologue, explaining how the once pristine and magical Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor came to be a place of danger and darkness due to the bad Dragon Smaug. Once the exposition is out of the way, we meet our hero, Bilbo Baggins , a shaggy Hobbit who enjoys the calm and quiet of his hobbit hole.

Bilbo is quite distressed when the Wizard Gandalf the Grey and 13 Dwarves come visit his hole and eat every morsel of food. Turns out, this is the gang’s last meal before setting out on a journey to battle the big, bad Dragon Smaug and restore peace to their land. Urged on by Gandalf, scaredy-cat Bilbo reluctantly decides to join the adventurers — for better or worse.

From the beginning, Bilbo conflicts with the legendary warrior dwarf Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the pack, who calls out Bilbo for being a wimp. But the dwarves have more serious matters to contend with, like escaping the Goblin tunnels.

Goblins, trolls, and massive stone giants wreak havoc on the dwarves and the fat-footed hobbit. As they fight their way through this fearsome forest, Gandalf believes Bilbo will be their secret weapon, should they ever reach the Dragon Smaug .

The best scenes in the film are with Bilbo and Gollum , whom we know from Lord of the Rings. But in The Hobbit, Gollum is 60 years younger and keeper of the magical, golden ring — its powers are unknown to Bilbo, however. Clever, odd and engaging, Gollum is the most interesting creature in this fantasy world.

Cate Blanchett returns as Galadriel, the film’s only female character , but even this lovely actress lacks the ability to inspire this wandering story that is 2 hours and 46 minutes in length.

In addition to being too long, Director Peter Jackson used what’s sure to be a controversial new technology when he shot the film. Not only is it in 3D, but the special cameras he used recorded 48 frames per second . This translates into twice the amount of detail on the screen, but at times also gives the image a 1980s video quality that fails to impress.

Bottom line: If you’re a Lord of the Rings-lover, hit Starbucks before seeing this lengthy movie. If you like a little more depth with your fantasy movies, go see Life of Pi.

Photo credit: Warner Brothers

Setting a new box office record for a December opening isn't enough for The Hobbit: The film's $84.8 million weekend take is actually disappointing, Entertainment Weekly explains.

What? Why? Because ticket takings plunged 25 percent from Friday to Saturday. This signifies a film's box office is "front-loaded," meaning, all the Middle-earth geeks ran out to see it Friday, and other people aren't as interested in seeing it.

This front-loaded phenom is common these days in big budget movies that go into wide release their first weekend. Back before the late '80s, many movies used to open up first on a few hundred movie screens in metropolitan areas.

They'd get reviewed, and if the takes and reviews were good, then and only then would they go into wide release in more theaters.

The trend now, however, is for gigantic tent-pole pics such as the Harry Potter and Twilight films to open up in thousands of theaters their first weekend. Then, everyone who's a Twi-hard or what have you, goes to see the movie the very first night it opens. Once the hard-core fans are done, the film may or may not catch on amongst the non-converted.

The Hobbit gives Martin Freeman serious geek cred>>

So though The Hobbit's $84.8 million weekend take handily beat out I Am Legend's then-record-setting $77.2 million bow in 2007, insiders are still grumbling that its performance ultimately may not impress.

Reviews for The Hobbit were middling as well. The reviewer for The Huffington Post sighed, "my enthusiasm for ore Hobbit adventures is at an all-time low," while the New York Times reviewer alludes to a "film critic suicide-watch" at the prospect of having to watch a multi-hour Hobbit trilogy.

The Hobbit earned a mediocre 65 percent Fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

Image courtesy WENN.com

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Find out what topped the charts this weekend!

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1. Somber, yet familiar music

While it's fitting that "Edge of Night," the song that Pippin sings to Denethor in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, plays during the trailer, the music is slow and melancholy, with a Celtic feel. The lyrics speak of treading paths, unknown elements hidden in the shadows and uncertain fate. Clearly, the music is setting the tone for an epic battle we humans know all too well.

The Hobbit's Tauriel vs. The Hunger Games' Katniss smack down >>

2. Fallen statue

The image of a statue of a leader smashed to bits on the ground reminds us of a war-torn city. It represents civil unrest and the broken dreams of citizens who want peace. Of course, no story would be entertaining or relevant without intense conflict, but we're wondering if we've seen enough war on the evening news.

3. Dragon as a Godzilla figure

While the 2014 version of Godzilla tried to make the beast less threatening to mankind, the image of the giant lizard spewing fire on a city sends chills up our spines. It seems this trailer is trying to invoke some of Godzilla's fire-breathing fury with Smaug the dragon as he soars over Lake-town, letting us know the world is out of control.

Why Godzilla is the new Zombie-Vampire >>

4. Gandolph's haunting question

Gandolf (Ian McKellen) says, "Will you follow me, one last time?" implying this journey is coming to an end. The wizard, with his staff and white robe, is a father figure to many of the characters in the story. To us, it feels as if a family member is saying farewell.

5. Galadriel sorrowfully kneeling over Gandolf

A kiss can be many things, but when Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) leans down to put her lips on the bruised and battered face of Gandolf, it reveals a deep love and respect between the two. The image is very powerful.

6. Thorin: "I will have war!"

Thorin (Richard Armitage) is no different than many of today's modern leaders who believe waging war proves a nation's strength. We hope that one day, elves, wizards, dwarves, hobbits and even humans will find peaceful solutions to their conflicts.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies opens Dec. 17.