The Hobbit // Review
Peter was in, Guillermo was out, and before you could say, “are you Tolkien the piss?” it was shot, edited and split it into THREE films!
I love big Christmas family blockbusters, and this year’s comes courtesy of Peter Jackson as we return to Middle Earth with J.R.R Tolkien’s the Hobbit. This is the story of the young Bilbo Baggins quest to free the Dwarf kingdom of Erebor from the fierce dragon Smaug. Along with Thirteen Dwarves he must face Orcs, giant spiders and generally all the nasty-yet-self-affirming trials that you would expect to find in an allegorical tale of right and wrong. So it looks like the recipe for the perfect Christmas feast, but will it be a golden goose, or a dried up turkey?
Following the success of the LOTD trilogy, making the Hobbit must’ve seemed inevitable. As fans following its progress since 2001 can testify however, the chance of it actually happening was looking as unexpected as the titular journey. There were location problems, directorial changes, etc. Eventually, Peter was in, Guillermo was out, and before you could say, “are you Tolkien the piss?” it was shot, edited and split it into THREE films!
Trying to tell whether a film that’s not out yet is any good is a bit like trying to guess your Christmas presents. You can feel it up a bit, sure, and with Sir Ian, Andy Serkis and other returning favourites, this feels like the other films. There’s what it looks like when it’s wrapped, and by all accounts this looks fantastic, with famous/cgi dwarves, and the best looking dragon I’ve ever seen.
Ultimately though, Peter Jackson has proven to be one of those people who realises (unlike my Aunt Mildred) that all he has to do is simply listen to the fans to give them what they want for Christmas. I’m sure, therefore, that this will be good – as sure as I am that I will be watching it wearing a reindeer jumper and matching socks (thanks Aunty). Merry Christmas, filmders!
Smiley
