On December 13, many teenagers from across the country will be watching dwarfs, wizards, elves, and hobbits adventure across the lands of Middle Earth when The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug comes to theaters.

The Peter Jackson film is a sequel to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, but the film trilogy is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Both film series are based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels.

In The Unexpected Journey, a cautious hobbit named Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) sets out on an adventure with Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), a band of dwarfs, and the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, Thorin’s homeland.

Many students enjoyed The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

“I did like the last film,” senior Emily Brundige said. “It’s really cool to see The Hobbit, a book I grew up reading, on the big screen. I do prefer the book, though, because I grew up reading it.”

Midway through their journey, in this film, the travelers will encounter giant spiders, woodland elves and the settlers of Lake-town.

Two of the elves that were not in the book, Legolas and Tauriel, will be featured in the film. Legolas (Orlando Bloom) was one of the main characters in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) was created by Peter Jackson, not by Tolkien. Although the majority of fans of the book are upset with these additional characters, sophomore Cassidy Hennessy is looking forward to seeing the elves.

“I am very happy that Orlando Bloom is in this new film,” Cassidy said. “I loved Legolas in The Lord of the Rings films. I’m not upset that Tauriel is in the movie. Peter Jackson has done a wonderful job. Adding this new character will be great.”

Emily also believes that the addition of Legolas is a positive part in this film.

“I’m not too upset that Legolas is in the film because they’re going back and describing things that they didn’t explain in The Lord of the Rings movies,” Emily said. “I just hope he doesn’t mess it up. With the new character, I’m a bit wary. I’m going into it with an open mind, though.”

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was taken with critical reviews from Tolkien fans because of unnecessary subplots. The new film’s trailer already has fans predicting that this film will be better than the first.

“I actually think the movie will be better because the last one was only the beginning,” Cassidy said, “this one will be closer to the climax.”