With all of the recent ballyhoo concerning the value of splitting “The Hobbit”, the shortest of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth novels, into three films, there was justifiable cause for unease. Prospective patrons worried that this new adaptation would drag on for too long and fall far short of what might have been.
Although this criticism may be true for casual moviegoers who are doomed to sit in the Shire for a full hour before Bilbo and company even step one foot beyond the borders of Hobbiton, for fans of Tolkien’s literary works, the sheer accuracy and attention to detail that director Peter Jackson and the production crew crafted are not only gifts, but sights to behold.
“The Hobbit” takes place exactly 60 years prior to Frodo Baggins’ first adventure. His uncle, Bilbo Baggins, played by Martin Freeman, is tasked by Gandalf, played by Ian McKellen, to accompany thirteen dwarves to the Lonely Mountain in order to reclaim what was lost to their kind.
Generations ago, the dwarves thrived at the location, mining it for precious minerals and gold. Unfortunately for them, dragons have an insatiable lust for gold. The most brutal and powerful dragon of the age, Smaug, ravages the town, forcing the surviving inhabitants to flee. For the hundreds of years following his attack, Smaug continues to dwell within the lost dwarven mountain; hoarding their treasure as his own.
Like any good fantasy, a foretold prophecy is paired with the destiny of the old family line. The rightful claimer of the throne and the mountain, Thorin Oakenshield, played by Richard Armitage, along with twelve loyal dwarves, the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins and the grey wizard, Gandalf venture off to smite Smaug and to reclaim the treasure of their dwarven ancestors.
The film does an exceptional job of capturing the lighthearted spirit of Tolkien’s book. Even during tremulous moments, dwarves or goblins break into their respective songs right on literary queue.
Although Tolkien’s fantasy was originally crafted for elementary school students, Peter Jackson does a good job of interweaving in the seriousness of the circumstances and successfully captures the foreboding theme of the hunters becoming the hunted. As a result, the children’s story is transformed into a PG-13 masterpiece.
The style of the film has changed somewhat since the original Oscar-winning trilogy. This is fair considering that the style of the Lord of the Rings books was entirely different from that of “The Hobbit”. Still, there are plenty of magnificent moments that fully capture Peter Jackson’s stunning vision that fans of the film trilogy have come to admire and respect.
This is no more apparent than Bilbo’s time with Gollum, played by Andy Serkis. In that instant, fans of Jackson’s films and fans of Tolkien’s literature are certain to intersect their tastes.
Without giving anything away, admirers of the first three films are in for a few pleasant surprises. Many of the actors from the original trilogy reprise their roles in “The Hobbit”.
Peter Jackson took a big risk in splitting the novel into three films. But these first six chapters are true to J.R.R. Tolkien’s vision of Middle-Earth. While those who are avid fans of his literature are certain to appreciate Jackson’s attention to detail, those with little knowledge of Tolkein’s writings may feel a bit uncomfortable sitting through 169 minutes of fantasy that undulates between seriousness and lightheartedness.
Grade: A-
