A crowd of 100,000 have lined a 500m-long red carpet to see the stars turn out for the world premiere of The Hobbit in New Zealand, the fourth JRR Tolkien instalment from Peter Jackson.

The film was shot in New Zealand and the director said he was delighted to release the film on home soil, telling the crowds: “The home crowd isn’t it? You can’t do better.”

Crowds lined the red carpet dressed as their favourite characters – some complete with elf ears – to cheer on the stars.

British actor Martin Freeman, who takes the lead role of Bilbo Baggins, said he thought director Peter Jackson had done an amazing job on the film. “He’s done it again,” he said on the red carpet. “If it’s possible, it’s probably even better than The Lord of the Rings. I think he’s surpassed it.”

Andy Serkis, who ‘plays’ Gollum, ran along the 500m red carpet, and Cate Blanchett posed for pictures in a red, white and black chiffon colour block dress.

Sir Ian McKellen, who plays the wizard Gandalf, did not attend but sent a message from London in which he said those who were there to see the film were in for a treat.

Elijah Wood, who played the role of Frodo Baggins in all three Lord of the Rings films and had attended similarly packed premieres, said: “This is echoing in the past for me.”

Jackson said that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey had been shot using new technology to give scenes greater clarity and that the advance was comparable to the move from vinyl records to CDs.

You’ll recall it’s the same sword that Bilbo passes on to Frodo in the Lord Of The Rings saga, handily glowing blue whenever there are orcs or goblins in the vicinity.

Understandably, given that he is a retiring, mild-mannered fellow, Bilbo isn’t overly thrilled to be presented with such a blade. And yet, we’ve a feeling he’s going to need it.

There’s some pleasing foreshadowing to Gandalf’s conversation with Frodo in the Mines of Moria going on here, as Gandalf imparts his wisdom on the virtue of sparing a life. Gollum certainly owes him a drink…

Directed by Peter Jackson and co-starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens in the UK on 13 December 2012.

Instead of shooting at 24 frames per second, they shot at 48 frames per second. The movie was also shot in 3D.

He said this was an age where younger people were happy to watch films on their iPads and that studios had to try to get them back into the cinemas.

He said: “We just have to make the cinema-going experience more magical and more spectacular to get people coming back to the movies again.”

The film opens worldwide next month.

The Hobbit Release date 13 December 2012 watch first official trailer

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