The Hobbit: A Long-Expected Journey (to the theater)

Rating: 8/10 (15 December 2012)

Dear denizen of IMDb:
If you are reading this, then you want to know what I thought of Peter Jackson's latest offering, The Hobbit. While I can honestly say that I enjoyed it, I may not have enjoyed ALL of it...
What did I find wrong with it? Well, I'll begin with what my family said about it as soon as it was over... it was no Lord of the Rings. And THAT, actually, is the whole problem in a nutshell.
Jackson and team have tried to turn the Hobbit (a very simple tale, all things considered) into an epic the likes of LOTR. Their approach to this involved a) making one 300+ page book into a trilogy, and b) working in pointless back-story designed to tie it all directly into the Lord of the Rings movies. Yes, the Hobbit is the prequel to the LOTR, but it's also its own story: please tell it! Why do we need to see Radagast the Brown, a high council meeting in Rivendell, and talk of Sauron and Morgul blades, when we came here to see the quest of Erebor? There are also sub-plots involving Azog "the Pale Orc" and his hunt for Thorin, and Elrond's disapproval of the Dwarfs' quest to reclaim their home. If you're a Tolkien aficionado, this'll likely give you a heart attack. But ignoring the fact that most of this isn't at all accurate to ANY of Tolkien's works, let alone the Hobbit, it's all a serious strain on the movie's pace. It takes for-flipping-ever to get as far as the Trolls: even I, who have watched the entire extended edition of the LOTR trilogy not once, but THRICE through, started to feel a bit bored. All of this is obviously padding to help justify the next two films, but for now all it does is bring this film's pace to an utter halt.
Then there's the little things: the endless nitpicks. For example, Thorin holds the Elves a major grudge in the film - not sure if THIS was in the book, but my memory may be rusty. Anyway, throughout the film Gandalf attempts to help Thorin overcome this grudge, and logically we the audience should be rooting for Gandalf to prevail. However, for some reason, Elrond does not approve of the Dwarfs' quest, and would have stopped it had they not crept away when he wasn't looking. Who is he to forbid the Dwarfs from taking back their home, especially while he's safe and snug in his? Thorin's dislike of Elves, all in all, does not seem totally irrational.
"Confusticate and be-bother" the lack of singing! Having grown up with the Rankin/Bass Hobbit, which included MANY of Tolkien's songs, I was dying to hear them in this. I knew from the trailer that "Misty Mountains Cold" was here; the film manages to add "Chip the Glasses, Crack the Plates." But that's all! Heck, more songs would've made great padding! How about a round of "Down, Down to Goblin-Town" from the Orcs of the mountain? No such luck. It's Azog himself that chases the Dwarfs into the trees; don't expect HIM to break into "Fifteen Birds" any time soon.
There's plenty more I can nitpick: Bilbo stalling the Trolls instead of Gandalf; the Hobbit leaving home of his own will when the Wizard actually forced him to. But that's enough, I think. After all, I gave this film an 8. After all this negativity, why did I like it? Well, for all that was done wrong, there was plenty that was done right, and it helped make the overall experience enjoyable. Bilbo himself, for instance, was great. Martin Freeman looks a lot like a young Ian Holm, and his performance as a homebody taken WAY out of his comfort zone was spot on. I sympathized with him, so much so that I gladly forgave the blatant changes the director made from the book, both during and after the party scene.
The Dwarfs are likable - although several of them aren't quite Dwarfish enough (Thorin could have used a prosthetic nose, while Fili and Kili were clearly human). Still, they're a fine group to have an adventure with, and while they may be goofy, they never cross the line. The closest thing to an actual line-crossing is Radagast, who, despite seeming out of place, was certainly no Jar Jar Binks.
I thought Gollum's scene was handled very well. His split personality is played to great effect, and the director manages to mix legitimate tension with welcome comedy (I loved Gollum's very business-like delivery of the line "If Baggins loses, we eats it whole"). And Gandalf's statement from FOTR about the pity Bilbo felt toward Gollum makes sense, as we ourselves feel pity when seeing this wretched creature weep for his lost Ring.
The overall feel of Middle-Earth is still here... mostly. Hobbiton and Rivendell haven't changed, and I thought Erebor was magnificent, full of Dwarven pride and glory. On the other hand, Dale looked like something out of Narnia, not Middle-Earth, while Radagast's house would not seem out of place in Wonderland. Hmm.
There's a duel between Azog and Thorin toward the end. Obviously, this was not in the book, and therefore a turn-off at first, but after seeing Bilbo stand up to Azog on Thorin's behalf, and more importantly, Thorin's reaction to this, I'm forgiving. The aftermath is actually touching... kudos!
The film ends with a teasing glimpse of Smaug's eye. I expected as much, but I did NOT expect to be quite so anxious for more. Purists will complain, as have I, but despite my gripes, I'm no less excited for the journey to continue (though I honestly don't see how they could conjure TWO more films from what's left). I'd recommend this, as a Tolkien and Jackson fan.