Let me preface this by saying that I know the Hobbit movies are not perfect. This blog, like the movies, will go on a bit. I'm also going to assume you've seen the movies so there won't be much in the way of plot explanation. If you've started reading this and haven't seen the movies. STOP!!! Watch them, they're great.
Adapt Or Die
Let's address the Oliphaunt in the room. The changes from book to screen. They are many, they are large and I am not going to get hung up on them because this is an ADAPTATION. Suffice to say "All good stories deserve embellishment." Whether people like it or not, the story was always going to have to, ya know, adapt to film. In fairness, Jackson uses much of Tolkien's appendicies to flesh out the story and all of this is welcome. We all know the book is a great bit of whimsy. Rare is the movie that is a straight adaptation of a book. Things that work in books don't always fly in movies. Because of this, The Hobbit comes in for a lot of Tolkien fanboy pounding. Given how some folk reacted you'd swear The Hobbit was the first movie to make major changes from book to film. Of course, this is not the case. (Google Jaws book to movie changes for fun times)
After the huge success of the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit was always going to be a "link up" set of movies and it succeeds as such. Should it have been two movies as originally planned? Maybe. There's certainly a strong case for it. But given the near $3bn in box office returns, there was clearly an appetite for three movies.
Unexpected Issues
The Shire has long been a place of fond memories for us Rings fans. It starts out the same way in The Hobbit as Bilbo sits down to write his book and shares some screen time with Frodo. This is most welcome indeed and reminds us of all those lovely scenes from Fellowship. After a very exciting Erebor backstory narrated by a reminiscing Bilbo (played by the incomparable Ian Holm) the "Good morning" scene kicks in and we remain charmed. However the tone changes when, later that night, a seemingly endless stream of Dwarves show up along with Gandalf and they are hungry. Poor Bilbo has no idea what is happening and it is here that Jackson drops the ball. Attempts at humour fall, mostly, flat and only about half of the Dwarves are interesting leaving quite a few you could easily do without. Out of the thirteen that show up only Thorin, Balin, Dwalin, Kili, Fili, Gloin and maybe Dori are genuiely interesting. The rest get their moments in the trilogy, James Nesbitt's Bofur has a couple of nice scenes but for the most part the aformentioned seven are where it's at.
An Unexpected party ensues and it's pretty fucking terrible stuff. I was genuinely worried when our band of merry Dwarves started singing about Bilbo's cutlery. Of course, Tolkien's books are full of songs and poems but this is one scene that should not have even been filmed.
It is a little unfair to place Radagast The Brown in the "issues" section as he becomes a good character as the movies progress. However, given the mixed bag that the early part of AUJ is, I feel like Radagast's intro needed to be stronger. We find the Istari in the forest trying to save a hedgehog. Ugh! Anyway he gets back to his house and uses his magic to find out why the hedgehog is sick. As he does this his home is attacked by spiders. Radagast saves the hedgehog and the spiders go back to the depths of Mirkwood (you'd asssume). It's a pretty dull scene. If this is all that's wrong with Middle Earth then call Rentokill.
Expected Acting Excellence
It's worth mentioning at this point that, from a very early point in the movie it becomes obvious that Martin Freeman is a fucking genius. His performance is absolutely top drawer. His comedic timing is wonderful and his scenes with Sir Ian McKellen are both funny and essential as they fill the movie with a warmth that pops off the screen and wrap this viewer in a security blanket of joy!
McKellen is so at home playing Gandalf by now that we're almost underwhelmed by his brilliance. Almost.
Richard Armitage as Thorin is also highly watchable. He is a bit "one note" initially, but it's a good note and, like Radagast, he mproves as the movies progress. He also has a decent singing voice. This scene more than makes up for the "Blunt the Forks" shite. Misty Mountains Cold sets a foreboding tone that hints at later tragedies in the trilogy:
Azog's Gripe
Movies like this need strong bad guys! My favourite of the bunch is Azog. He's just so happy to be evil that you can't help but enjoy the chap's attitude. He fucking hates Thorin because the Dwarf who would be King took his arm off in the battle for Moria. Mind you this was in response to Azog taking Thorin's grandfather's head so, ya know... swings and roundabouts. No chance of them "hugging it out" here, this is pure hatred on both sides. Thorin has convinced himself that Azog "slunk back into the hole whence he came" and "died of his wounds long ago". This is clearly denial and it shows that Thorin fears Azog the Defiler. He is right to.
Sauron hasn't gone full eye tower yet but his power is growing and rapidly. He appears to Radagast in Dol Guldur as a kind of wraith and there's a menace about him. It's a nice little portent of things to come not just in this trilogy but the Lord of the Rings also.
Radagast knows something is fucked in Denmark and, as mentioned above, he goes to Dol Guldur to see what is going on. In a scene which helps us get on board with the little forest wizard, the Witch-King of Angmar appears and attacks him with a Morgul blade. The Nazgul is too weak to continue the fight and Radagast is able to take the morgul blade from him. It's a nice adrenaline pumper. Again, like Sauron above it sets the scene for later adrenaline filled confrontations.
"Look Frodo, it's Mr. Bilbo's trolls"
The much loved troll scene is so embedded in fantasy folklore that it needed to be nailed. Thankfully it is a success. Great work again from Freeman leads to an exciting rescue by Gandalf. The special fx are again terrific here. Each of the trolls have different personalities and characteristics. When they finally turn to stone, it looks exactly how you'd imagine someone turning to stone would look... I think. One criticism aimed at these movies is they cost twice as much as the Lord of the Rings but look half as good. This is preposterous. There are obvious improvements in fx, especially in creature fx and Rivendell seems richer too. The reason these movies cost so much more is because back in 2000 you had no idea who WETA were? You knew who ILM were, but WETA? Nope. Now, since their amazing work in the Lord ofthe Rings trilogy, King Kong etc etc everyone knows who they are and that's fair enough. They are the best fx house in the world and if you want the best you're going to pay for it. It was money well spent in my opinion.
"This Way You Fools"
Having tracked down Gandalf and the company, Radagast leads a party of Orcs away from our heroes in a very exciting scene. It's another sequence that endears you to the little Istari and his Rhosgobel Rabbits pulling him on his sleigh are a sight to behold. It's another PJ addition to the movie that rubbed many the wrong way. I've no time to be bothered by such insignificant additions. In fact, they are a hugely enjoyable part of this excellent chase scene which also features Wargs and Orcs. The company escape to the refuge of Rivendell. Of course the Dwarves are not happy to be in the company of Elves but they stay on the promise of food...
Lord Elrond (not in the book) questions Gandalf about Thorin and his crew. Gandalf is reluctant to say why it is he is in such company but finally cracks when he's led to a meeting with Saruman the White (not in the book) and Lady Galadrial (not in the book). It is a scene that brings the story threads together. Gandalf explains his actions and his fears. Saruman is unimpressed but Lady Galadrial believes in him. She also figures out that Gandalf is buying time for the Dwarves to leave Rivendell and continue the quest. She's impressed and we see a half smile. It's a wonderfully subtle moment between Gandalf and Galadrial. These powerhouse actors play the scene pitch perfectly. Galadrial and Gandalf have grown closer, something which pisses a lot of people off but again, I love it! It all leads to one of my favourite scenes, not just in An Unexpected Journey but in all of cinema. McKellen makes me tear up every single time! Look out for the hands at the end of the scene, it is something that is played on again in The Battle of the Five Armies:
And so the movie rips along. The dwarves stumble into a fight between stone giants. Another great spectacle ends with our company taking refuge in a mountain crevice. Unfortunately this leads them to the Goblin Kingdom where Bilbo becomes separated from them. The company are once again rescued by Gandalf and a truly memorable action sequence takes place. "To arms" shouts Gandalf and the dwarves find themselves in a fight to the death against a huge army of Goblins. Peter Jackson let's the camera off the noose here and some fantastic cinema ensues. Oooh and aaah moment after moment but even more thrilling is Bilbo's encounter with a Middle Earth legend.
Riddles in the Dark
Talk about pressure! This is maybe the most famous and loved piece of all of the stories of Middle Earth. It's one of the many jewels in Tolkien's crown. This needed to be perfect. Not good. Not great... PERFECT!!! Peter jackson, Andy Serkis and Martin Freeman are more than up to the task. The scene is a fucking doozie. I'll never tire of it. The riddles, the humour and the mixture of sympathy and revulsion that you feel whenever Gollum is on screen. And how could I forget Howard fucking Shore!? We all remember the music from the scene in Fellowship when Frodo and Gandalf discuss Bilbo's treatment of Gollum. Frodo wondering why Bilbo didn't kill him. Gandalf explaining it was "pity that stayed his hand". We get to see this scene played out superbly by the actors and then the same beautiful music kicks in and all the wounds/memories we took from the Mines of Moria re-open as Bilbo shows Gollum mercy. Cinematic gold! It's worth noting Gollum looks better than ever here. There have been technological advances in special fx and they are evident here.
So the company escape the Goblin cave and Bilbo gains the Ring of Power from Gollum. The movie ends on another excellent sequence where Azog and his band of orcs seemingly have the company trapped. Thorin faces off against Azog but is less successful this time, Azog's Warg takes Thorin down and is about to feast on him when Bilbo saves Thorin with a spectacular show of courage. He launches himself at the Warg and Sting in hand, he faces the enormous creature. All seems lost but Gandalf has requested aid from the Eagles. They arrive just in time and deliver everyone from certain death. They leave the company on a mountain that resembles a bear (set up for Beorn). It's a truly gorgeous sight to behold. Thorin cannot believe he is alive and he thanks Bilbo profusely, thus solidifying the hobbit's status among the group.
Final thoughts: A few early missteps are absolutely dwarfed (ahem) by some dazzling sequences and superb acting from messers Freeman and McKellen. 9/10.
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