The Hobbit, or There and Back Ag, better known by its abbreviated titleThe Hobbit, is a fantasy novel and children’s book by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. But I guess most of you guys know this!
I had the need to write a small appreciation about this particular story because I would be fascinated to have this book in my hands, even more after I heard some good thoughts about this book, (Anita, I know you´re a big fan).
Yet, after watching the Lord of the Rings and then with the release of this first movie of the trilogy, I could not wait to ask the first person about how it was! Good? Bad? My first impression was confused I have to say, perhaps because I didn´t know that this was a series of three epic fantasy adventure films.
To be honest I just thought it was one single movie made as late introduction of Lord of the rings. (Sorry!) So I had so many questions after watching the DVD and I was so unhappy with the end of this film. Then, ofcourse I heard about J.R.R. Tolkien and his fantastic book. (Why didn´t I think in that before??)
Anyways, I don´t have the book in my hands, it would be a treasure to have! But I was told that the whole story is amazing! Which made me feel comforted. So next thing was to try to read a bit more about it. And here´s what i found:
Who is Bilbo Baggins?
Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit in comfortable middle age at 50 years old, was hired in spite of himself as a “burglar” by the wizard Gandalf and 13 dwarves led by their king Thorin Oakenshield on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and its treasure from the dragonSmaug. The adventure took Bilbo and the companions through the wilderness, to the elf haven of Rivendell, across the Misty Mountains and the black forest ofMirkwood, to Lake-town in the middle of Long Lake, and eventually to the Mountain itself. Here, after the dragon was killed and the Mountain reclaimed, the Battle of Five Armiestook place.
By the end of the journey, Bilbo had become wiser and more confident, having saved the day in many gruesome situations. He rescued the dwarves from giant spiders with the magic ring and a short Elven-sword he acquired. He used the ring to sneak around in hostile environments, as well as his wits to smuggle the dwarves out of the elves’ prisons. He was able to hold his own in conversation with the wily Smaug. When tensions arose over ownership of the recovered treasure, he tried unsuccessfully to bring the opposing sides to compromise, using a stolen heirloom jewel as leverage. This strained his relationship with Thorin, but the two were reconciled at Thorin’s deathbed. At the end of the story, Bilbo returned to his home in the Shire only to find that several of his relatives, believing him to be dead, were trying to claim his home and possessions. In addition to becoming wealthy from his share of the dwarves’ treasure, he found that he had traded respectability for experience and wisdom.
J. R. R. Tolkien’s illustration of Bilbo Baggins.
2012. Peter Jackson´s Adaptation
At times, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey manages to recall the highest points of Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. The characters are warm, the landscapes vast and pristine, the CGI mostly an enhancement. In adapting a beloved book as a prequel to a beloved film franchise, Jackson invites nostalgia from the film’s opening moments, as Bilbo Baggins (played as an older hobbit by Ian Holm, and for the majority of the film by Martin Freeman) is shown writing an account of his life for the benefit of his nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood), himself a future adventurer. Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Elrond (Hugo Weaving), Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), Saruman (Christopher Lee), and Gollum (Andy Serkis) appear throughout, if not to propel the plot, then to gently remind viewers of the elements shared by this trilogy and the one from the recent past.
I would like to share the trailer with you
Now, It is not my intention to bring you to the same analysis I had when watching this first movie, actually I would like you to share with me what do you think about it! Yet, I did find some interesting things that i would like to share with all you:
4 Curious tips:
1- Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro was the first to be called to direct “The Hobbit”. In fact, the filmmaker spent years involved in pre-production, but in May 2010 he left to pursue other projects. Then appeared Peter Jackson.
2- Initially, “The Hobbit” would be adapted into two films. It was in full production phase, when it was about to finish the first the first film, which Jackson and his team realized they needed one more film. Thus was born the new trilogy more than two hours each.
3- Several Actors were called to play Bilbo Baggings on this film, including: David Tennant, Shia LaBeouf, James McAvoy, Erryn Arkin, Tobey Maguire and even Daniel Radcliffe, famous for the “Harry Potter”. The final choice was Martin Freeman.
4-Richard Armitage, who plays Thorin, the leader of the 13 dwarves who accompany Bilbo, debuted on stage giving life to an elf in a stage adaptation of “The Hobbit”.
My request:
I would like to hear what do you think of this film and if by chance you have had read the book, Wow! Please share your thoughts about it! In personal opinion, i can´t wait to see the rest of the trilogy!
Finally, I thought it would be nice to leave you with this:
I saw this Picture in a facebook status: It´s a sculpture created by the artist: Paige Bradley. I would like to research more about it in next days, perhaps i´ll do and post more but just now i wanted to share what a beautiful art.
This masterpiece, called “Expansion”, is a naked beautiful woman, whose body is split and emits light.
From the moment we are born, the world tends to have a container already built for us to fit inside: A social security number, a gender, a race, a profession or an I.Q. I ponder if we are more defined by the container we are in, rather than what we are inside. Would we recognize ourselves if we could expand beyond our bodies? Would we still be able to exist if we were authentically ‘un-contained’
Paige Bradley
From what I see and believe always, light is born from inside of each one of us. Let´s not contain it!
So I!
I want to learn make my words soft like breeze,
whispering to the ear, you hear me well.
Let my heart beat like yours at one rhythm,
my refuge for the stormy days.
Wonderful you!
Every morning when you wake up, you are born all over again,
be certain that the gift given is your life itself.
The inner me realized the greatest creature that you are,
and because of your smile, here I surrender.
If You are the fountain,
If You are the energy,
If You are the light, the reason, the path, the future.
Then for you I´ll walk strong.
Conqueror you!
In silence I understand you the best,
with your voice, you conquer it all.
I see nothing but this way
If you leave the prints I´ll follow all along.
Nature is!
Like in blossom, fresh sunshine is
New day, flowers born
Nothing can replace the scent
the nature in you.
