With "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" due out in December, Oscar expectations run high. After all, this is the first installment of the film adaptation of the book that spawned J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Those films by Peter Jackson won 17 Oscars and earned 13 additional nominations. Three bids were for Best Picture, a prize finally won by "Return of the King" during its historic 2003 romp when it went undefeated in 11 races, tying the record for most victories previously achieved by "Titanic" (1997) and "Ben-Hur" (1959). Earning a nomination for Best Pictu re maybe more difficult this time because "The Hobbit" was more of a children's book than the "Rings" tomes that followed. Traditionally, academy members shrug off kid's stuff. (Click the right-pointing arrow beside the photo to see more about potential Oscar nominations for "The Hobbit.")

By Tom O'Neil

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