Director: Peter Jackson
Writers: Fran Walsh (screenplay), Philippa Boyens (screenplay)
Stars: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage
Release Date: December 14, 2012
A reluctant hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home – and the gold within it – from the dragon Smaug.
I have seen The Hobbit twice, first on opening day and the seco
nd over Christmas. Both times I was annoyed by the beginning. The movie opens with Bilbo (played Ian Holms) at his writing desk composing A Hobbit’s Tale or There and Back Again. Personally, I think it would have been great if they just went from there into The Hobbit, but no, the had to bring Frodo in (played by Elijah Wood) creating a “behind the scene” behind the closed hobbit hole of Bag End, before Frodo runs off to met Gandalf (played by Ian McKellen), forming a connecting between the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit. I get that, but for some reason it still irked me.
Once I got over that, I really enjoyed it. Bilbo’s story begins with a “chance meeting” of Bilbo (played by Martian Freeman) and Gandalf followed by unexpected guests in the form of dwarfs. I thought they looked like a grown-up version of Snow White’s dwarfs and wasn’t a big fan of their singing (although I always skip over songs/poems in books). Otherwise, I thought they were a great comic relieve and very likable.
So Bilbo, wakes up late in Hobbit fashion and rushes after the wizard and dwarfs to join their quest for treasure. After getting over a forgotten handkerchief, Bilbo and his new found friends run across a trio of trolls who decide Bur-Hobbit would be a great appetizer to a main course of Dwarfs. While all the other dwarfs squirm in their ties, Bilbo stalls for time, suggesting said dwarfs would taste better skinned as they all have worms. By stalling for time, he keeps the trolls talking until the sun rises and are turned to stone, thus gaining cred with his companions.
We met Radagast and he is completely bad ass (as my brother says) who couldn’t like a guy who is one with furry creatures.
Later, Dwarf, Wizard and Hobbit are separated like mother and child at a supermarket, Bilbo just happens upon the Misty Mountains. Everybody who is familiar with LOTR knows that Gollum resides there with the One Ring. Gollum. like in the LOTR Trilogy is both frightening and amusing. threating to eat the hobbitess whole one moment and playing a game of riddles the next. Bilbo, who has already found the ring but unaware of its powers plays a cheat asking the creature what it has in his pocket (the One Ring) and upon Gollum’s defeat manages to escape, but that is not before Gollum notices his precious is missing and threatens to gain revenge against the nasty hobbitess.
After, returning to the group on his own accord and saving the chief dwarf from a nasty death by Orc is accepted into the group and not a bother at all. Continuing on their journey until December, 2013.
I can see your frustration with the beginning of the movie, but I really liked it. And yes, Radagast is totally bad ass. 🙂
I liked The Hobbit much more the second time, but obviously I was still annoyed. Although I still love Radagast.
I love parts and disliked other parts. I saw it opening day too and I just thought to much was added. I am going into the next one with much more caution and awareness.
I agree, I'm still going to see the other two movies just a little more cautiously.
Radagast was my favorite! So thrilled to see others loved him as much as I did.
I agree about the beginning. The exposition dragged, and I don't think the viewer needs such an explicit connection made between The Hobbit and LOTR. I don't think it irked me to the extent that it irked you, I just felt it wasn't time well spent.
"I just felt it wasn't time well spent." is a perfect way to describe it. Even though I may not have enjoyed the film as much as the rest, its hard not to love Radagast (he even has "Rad" in his name).