Peter Jackson makes amends

Rating: 9/10 (17 January 2013)

Let me start by saying, I'm a huge fan of LoTR, I've red the book about a dozen of times starting from 1979 until a few years ago, and I didn't like Jackson's treatment of the story. I have two main bones of contention with his approach, the first, while Tolkien keeps telling us all through his stories "there's much more to middle earth than I'll ever be able to tell you" Jackson chose an opposite approach of I'm telling you all there is in the story and weeded out everything that could've hinted differently. He also committed an even worse sin of translating what Tolkien referred to as sensations, feelings and suspicions into actual screen events. And to top it all he made some specifically bad changes to the original story. So I came in to the movie practically ready to hate The Hobbit. As you may see from the rating I gave this movie, I didn't hate it at all. In fact I was positively surprised. Jackson's technical mastery is still there, but that was never in doubt. His all inclusive approach is also present here, but it doesn't hurt the story, it moves ahead along the lines Tolkien has laid so perfectly even if the story has a lot added some from other Tolkien stories, some from the imagination of Jackson and his crew. But as long as it remains true to the spirit of the original story and characters I think Jacson is entitled to do so. It does make a small story that was supposed to be the gate into Middle Earth for children into an epic, but it does maintain some levity at many moments and since the prequel to the LoTR became a sequel anyhow, and like it or not we're all familiar with the epic conclusion it's another transgression I'm willing to forgive this time. Truth is, I think the simpler attitude Tolkien used all through this story helps Jackson a lot - since the story is simple and straight forward, there were a lot less traps for him to fall into, and he also got a better feel for Tolkien's creation by now, so he stays the course without failing this time, which makes it all a real visual feast. Read the book, and go and enjoy the ride with Jackson and his version - it's worth the time and the money.