The Hobbit Movie review

By: Dorothy McGee

Movie Rating • If I were to rate this movie I would give it a 4.5 out

of 5. I really enjoyed tis movie but the reason I did not give it a perfect score because I just felt like it was missing something. I really thought that the parts the director added really enhanced the story. I would defiantly recommend the movie but for a younger crowd. This would not be a movie for elderly people and grandparents in my opinion because it has a lot of action and the movie can be very loud at points.

Changes From the Book1. There is a prologue, which explains the history of the Hobbits, Middle Earth and the Dwarves’ current circumstances. However in the book, this

information is given throughout the book, when needed2. Frodo makes a small appearance at the beginning of the film. Frodo speaks with his uncle (an elderly version of Bilbo) about an adventure he had long

ago. This never happens in the book.3. In the book, during Bilbo’s first encounter with Gandalf, Bilbo becomes fed up with Gandalf for suggesting he go on an adventure, wishing him a “Good

morning” and making his departure. But because Hobbits are never impolite, he invites him to tea the next day, which he soon regrets. No arrangement happens in the film.

4. Thorin, the leader of the dwarves and the protagonist of the film, enters the “unexpected party” at Bilbo’s hobbit hole last, after the feast with the other dwarves has already begun. In the book, Thorin arrives with three other dwarves.

5. Radagast the Brown, one of the six wizards who exist in Middle Earth, plays a substantial role in the film. He is painted as a crazed, animal-loving and quirky character who interacts with Gandalf, the dwarves, and Bilbo throughout the film. He even aids the group by distracting a herd of orcs on their tail (a made up scene for the movie). Yet in the book, Radagast is only mentioned, and never actually appears.

6. In a memorable scene in the novel, Bilbo has a moment of “Took-ish-ness” when he sees a group of Trolls in the woods, and because Hobbits have the ability to be ultra sneaky due to their size and lightness of foot, he decides to pickpocket them. Yet in the film, Bilbo only pursues the goblins because they have stolen the company’s ponies to eat, and Bilbo hopes to set them free.

7. In the book, Gandalf is the one to distract the trolls, so they will not get eaten. In the movie, it was Bilbo.8. When Gandalf, Bilbo, and the dwarves reach the elves’ home in Rivendell, they are grateful for shelter, safety, and food to stuff their bellies. But in the

film, an unnecessary tension is presented when the dwarves arrive, throwing a fit and complaining to Gandalf that they would rather not room with elves.

9. The beautiful female elf does not appear in The Hobbit. In the movie, she appears in a very long and tedious scene.10. In the film, there is a heavy tension between Bilbo and Thorin. Thorin doesn’t believe Bilbo is cut out to make the trek, and constantly belittles his

comfortable life at home. There are several verbal confrontations between the two that escalate throughout the film. In the novel, Thorin’s hostility towards Bilbo is mostly petty, and rarely personal.

11. In the film, we watch as Gollum gets in a fight with his next meal,( a goblin). While the two are fighting, Bilbo sees a gold ring fly from Gollum’s pocket and land unnoticed on the ground. Once Gollum drags offthe goblin, Bilbo hurries to retrieve the ring, putting it in his pocket for safe keeping. But in the novel, we aren’t told how the ring is lost, and Bilbo never sees it, but rather stumbles upon it in the darkness of the cave.

12. In the movie, the “Pale Orc” (Thorin’s archnemesis and leader of the goblins—a character very embellished for the film) shows up to join the party. Riding a warg, the Pale Orc watches as the company awaits their free-fall into death. He recognizes Thorin as the dwarf who cut off his hand way-back-when, and tries to claim his life.

Why Did the changes Work ?• I think all the changes made worked in the film. All the

add ins give information that really helps you under stand the story line and other information gives parts from the book that was kind of boring, into action packed scenes.

• I think the director added all those changes to interest a modern audience and to try to get them to come to the movies and watch it. I think he added and changed certain things to make Bilbo look like a courageous hero throughout the whole story. In the book, he really did not take on the roll as a hero until the Gollum scene.

Preference, Book or Movie?

• I preferred the movie over the book. I really liked the story version of the Hobbit but I thought the changes the director made to it to make the movie really worked and enhanced the story line. I also liked visual aspect of the movie, actually getting to see the settings and what the characters looked like.

Themes

Movie• Loyalty, bravery, revenge are all themes

that are presented in the movie.• An example of loyalty in the movie is at

the end when the pale Orc has Thorin beaten and almost dead, Bilbo steps in and saves Thorin’s life by fighting the pale Orc for him.

• An example of bravery is when Bilbo (on his own) ran out the door and decided to go on the adventure.

• An example of revenge in the movie is when the pale Orc is tracking Thorin down and is doing whatever he has to do in order for him to take his life for taking the Orc’s arm off. Also, the dwarfs are all trying to get revenge on Smaug for taking their treasure.

Book• Heroism, more than meets the eye,

revenge are all themes that are presented in the book.

• An example of heroism is when Gandalf (in chapter 2) distracts the trolls, and they turn into stone and the dwarfs don’t get eaten by them.

• More than meets the eye is a theme because Bilbo saves the dwarfs on several occasions (elves and steps up to investigate Smaug) even though he is the underdog.

• Revenge is a theme because the whole book/ adventure is made so the dwarfs can get revenge on Smaug.

Faithful Adaptation

• I thought the movie was a faithful adaptation of the novel. The director included on the major and important scenes from the book. Also, he did a really good job including small details to stetting's and to the characters appearance. He did not add change anything to be drastically different in my opinion. Overall, I think he did a terrific job bringing the novel to life.

Summary• Long before Bilbo's involvement, the Dwarf Thror becomes King of the Lonely Mountain Mountain and brings a lot of gold to his

kingdom until the arrival of Smaug the dragon Smaug destroys the nearby town of Dale before driving the Dwarves out of the mountain and taking their gold.

• Young Bilbo is tricked by the wizard Gandalf into hosting a party for Thorin and his company of Dwarves: Balin, Dwalin, Fíli, Kíli, Dori, Nori, Ori, Óin, Glóin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur. Gandalf's aim is to recruit Bilbo as the Dwarves' "burglar" to help them steal their treasure back from Smaug. Bilbo reluctantly joins the company on their journey to the Lonely Mountain. Traveling onward, the company gets captured by Trolls. Bilbo stalls them from eating the company until dawn, when Gandalf exposes the Trolls to sunlight, turning them to stone. They search the Trolls' cave and find treasure and two Elven blades.

• The company encounters Radagast the Brown, another wizard. He tells them of an encounter with the Necromancer, who has been messing with the forest with dark magic. The company is chased by Orcs on Wargs, with Radagast covering their escape. Gandalf leads the company through a stone passage to Rivendelll. Lord Elrond reads Thorin's map and discloses that the Lonely Mountain has a secret door, which will be visible only on Durin’s Day. Gandalf talks with the White Council about his involvement with the Dwarves, presenting a sword, Radagast found as a sign from the Necromancer.

• Without Gandalf, the company journeys into the Misty Mountains , where they find themselves in a battle between stone giants. They discover a cave and go inside it for shelter and as a place to sleep for the night. They soon are captured by Goblins, who take them to their leader, the Great Goblin. Bilbo becomes separated from the Dwarves and falls into a cave where he encounters Gollum, who accidentally drops a ring, while killing a stray Goblin to eat. Pocketing the ring, Bilbo finds himself confronted by Gollum. They play a riddle game, if Bilbo wins he will be shown the way out, if Bilbo losses he becomes Gollum’s next meal. Bilbo eventually wins by asking Gollum what he has in his pocket. Realizing that he lost the ring, Gollum suspects that Bilbo possesses it and attacks the hobbit. Bilbo discovers that the ring grants him invisibility and evades a furious Gollum, following him to an exit. Bilbo considers killing Gollum, but spares him out of pity and escapes.

• Meanwhile, the Great Goblin informs the crew that the Pale Orc is giving a reward for whoever brings him Thorin’s head. Gandalf arrives and saves the Dwarves from the Goblins, killing the Great Goblin during their escape. Bilbo rejoins the group, keeping the ring he found secret. Ambushed by the pale Orc and his hunting party, the company climbs up into the trees. Thorin charges the pale Orc, but is defeated and knocked to the ground. Bilbo saves Thorin from the Orcs before the company is rescued by Eagles , who fly them to the safety. Gandalf heals the unconscious Thorin, who acknowledges Bilbo's bravery. In the distance, the company sees the Lonely Mountain, where Smaug is.

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Peter Jackson(Director of The Hobbit)

• Peter Jackson is an only child and was born October 31, 1961 in a small coastal town in New Zealand. When he was 8 years old and family friend gave him a camera because they saw how interested he was in taking photos. At age 17 he dropped out of school and became a photographer for his local newspaper. Photography later got him interested in film making. He won many awards early in his career for horror comedy movies and he became well- known in New Zealand in 2003. Peter is best known for the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Today he has won many awards for directing and is a very successful in what he does.

Thorin’s CharacterCompare and Contrast

• Thorin is brave, stubborn, proud, and intelligent.

• He wants Bilbo to join them on the journey.

• Thorin is just a typical member of the dwarfs (not main character and not the evil character either).

• Thorin is very haughty, stern, and officious.

• He does not think Bilbo is not cut out to be a burglar and should have never come along with them.

• Thorin is portrayed in the movie as the protagonist.

• Thorin is greedy for gold and willing to put up with anything to get “his” kingdom back.

Book Movie