In Defense of The Hobbit Films

The first time I watched The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, I turned it off halfway through. I was fresh off of reading the book, and I decided I had had enough of the pale orc.

What a shame that I let such a minor character keep me away from this masterpiece of a trilogy for so many years!

Yes, I said masterpiece of a trilogy. And I’m aware that fans of the Lord of the Rings films are gearing up to write some disagreeing comments. So, let me just let you know, I’m one of you! I was raised on the Lord of the Rings trilogy and remain a die hard fan.

But I missed out on these films for too long, so now I want to convince you to give them a chance so you don’t have to miss out as any longer.

Let me encourage you to have an open mind, and give you a few reasons that just might convince you to give the trilogy a watch.

1. First of all, movie adaptations do not have to (and probably shouldn’t) follow the books to a T

As a kid, I used to get furious every time a film adaptation strayed the slightest bit from the book. Now, having earned a degree in Film & Digital Media, I have a better understanding of the language of cinema. And it’s a different language than literature, so sometimes things don’t translate perfectly.

It’s like translating French to English, for example. The French word for glasses is “lunettes.” The literal translation into English would be “little moons.” But we know that that’s not what the word truly means, so when we translate it, we don’t translate it perfectly.

In the same way, translating a book into a movie can be tricky. And there may be instances in which changing the original plot ends up capturing the spirit of the book better.

Example: maybe you were mad that they made Thorin younger in the movie than he is in the book. But making him younger onscreen communicates to the audience that he is a charismatic leader and an energetic warrior.

2. Most of the side plots come from Tolkien

But even if you are looking for the films to stick pretty close to the source material, you can rest assured that a lot of it does come from Tolkien’s other works.

There are a few side plots in the Hobbit films that do not come from the book. They may seem like they came out of nowhere, but most of them didn’t.

Shortly after finally watching the Hobbit trilogy, I was reading The Fellowship of the Ring. And during the Council of Elrond, I was shocked to hear almost every side plot from the Hobbit mentioned in one scene. Gandalf mentions his fight with the Necromancer, Legolas mentions how Mirkwood was plagued with a great evil that same year, and there’s even mention of Bard the Bowman’s son, Bain.

3. Martin Freeman

I will forever be outraged that Martin Freeman didn’t win an Oscar for the Hobbit. His performance is flawless. I can’t describe it except by saying, he just is Bilbo Baggins. So, even if you’re still mad about the plot of the films, give them a watch just to see Martin Freeman play Bilbo.

4. Fili and Kili

Fili and Kili, the two brother dwarves have small roles in the book. But in the films, they’re given so much personality and charm. In the movies, they’re the perfect dynamic duo. Think Merry and Pippin or Fred and George Weasley.

5. Tauriel

Yes, yes, I know people are mad because she wasn’t in the book or any Tolkien material. But she was written by another great writer, Phillipa Boyens. Boyens is known for adapting Tolkien lines, and adding in a few of her own lines, but keeping them very much in the spirit and voice of Tolkien. So, if there’s anyone we can trust to invent a new Tolkien character, it’s her. If you give Tauriel a chance, you might realize that she’s an interesting character who allows the audience to explore questions about life and love.

6. The Return of the LOTR Characters

Who doesn’t want to see Andy Serkis reprise his role as Gollum? Or Elijah Wood make a brief appearance as Frodo? As a Lord of the Rings fan, I enjoyed seeing more screen time for some of my favorite characters.

7. The Music

If nothing else has convinced you, perhaps Howard Shore will. As fans of Lord of the Rings, we’re all familiar with his moving melodies. We know that the Lord of the Rings is backed by the most beautiful score ever written. The Hobbit films include many of the same musical cues, as well as new melodies by Howard Shore, which are just as moving. If you don’t believe me, listen to the melody Howard shore wrote for Tolkien’s poem, Misty Mountains: