Also for my journalism assignment I was asked to write a the Hobbit review, I really tried to be objective so here is another Hobbit rant, but not because I was good. It better be alright, took me forever and a half!
Out of all the films in the world, the genre I find
hardest to find is that of fantasy. For a firm fantasy lover there just don’t
seem to be enough of said genre out there to enjoy. Whether filmmakers are
frightened of their grandeur or whether they just are not the favoured genre, I
don’t know. Be that as it may, let it be stated that I was more than happy to
hear that Peter Jackson has returned to direct and produce the adaptation of JRR
Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’. Perhaps all that makes me slightly biased but I shall
force myself to be objective for your benefit.
There have been a lot of conflicting views about The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey. Originally
the film was supposed to be split into two films, seemingly stretching the
300-page book over about four hours, and this decision was made more understandable
when rumours of the sub-plots began to emerge, from the material supplied by
Tolkien in his Appendices. Providing me, at least, with a firm belief that
there would be more than enough material to fill out the pair. But then it was
announced there would be three, to make a trilogy. I have no problem with this,
but I can understand the points of those who do. For this to happen there would
have to be a great deal of more material placed in and, most likely, the
expansion of well known chapters of the novel.
So, we re-enter the fantastical world of Middle-Earth
sixty years before the more famous and darker epic, The Lord of the Rings, takes place. Once again we are provided with
an amazing opening sequence, where we learn the history of the stolen Kingdom
of Erebor, found in the Lonely Mountain
and of the tragic back story of the ruggedly good-looking and vengeful
‘King-Under-the-Mountain’ Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage.) And we find
ourselves back outside Bag-End where we are re-introduced to some old friends
and have a little fun before we get down to the heavier details.
And so the adventure begins and the trek across the
beautiful land begins, where Martin Freeman (Sherlock’s John Watson) is given the frequent opportunity to prove
that he is the perfect man for the job of playing Bilbo– recently awarded MTV’s
best hero award as voted by tweeters – and that Peter Jackson was right to go
to such effort to attain his time. His comic timing is fantastic and his
British humour proves him again and again to belong in the role; while still
proving himself to be the perfect hero for this lighter epic (than it’s
predecessor anyway). While you may worry that you’ll be caught up in the little
jabs of humour, Freeman still conveys the seriousness of his role; he is the
classic example of tentative hero, battling brawn with brains in more cases
than one - including his encounter with the reprising Gollum (Andy Serkis).
We mustn’t forget, however, in the midst of all this
riding, fighting and walking, we are dealing with thirteen – unseen in the
already existing trilogy of the Lord of the Rings – new characters, let
alone our very complex little hero and the mischievous wizard in the form of Gandalf
(reprising Ian McKellen), all of whom deserve a decent amount of
characterisation. Speaking of which, it is hard not to be impressed by the
diversity of dwarf that Peter Jackson has managed to create, each having their
own personal style and characteristic that defines them in the eyes of viewers.
And though many have reviewed it as being slow, I didn’t
once find myself wondering if it was over yet and it certainly doesn’t feel
stretched, as though someone has scraped
butter over too much bread. I know that I wouldn’t cut out a second of it, and
there wouldn’t be any need to. Every extra piece of story Jackson has included comes
directly from Tolkien’s Appendices, which provide more than enough butter for
slice of white or brown. Similarly, concerning the marmite of the controversial
48fps (double the amount of frames per second usually used) only makes Tolkien’s
world seem more real.
The
Hobbit is sassy and fun and still remains a serious epic and I
for one can’t wait for the next edition in the trilogy. Was making the novel The Hobbit into film a mistake?
No.
