Column by Delanie Downey
Downey is a first-year English major and can be reached at delanie.downey@drake.edu
“The Hobbit” certainly is an unexpected journey. I was taken on the grand journey to reclaim a Dwarf homeland. Bilbo Baggins, a secondary character in “Lord of the Rings,” takes the spotlight. This movie traces the adventures he alludes to in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
This great adventure seems to have generated some mixed feelings amongst fans. In my case, I unfortunately did not enjoy it. As a huge “Lord of the Rings” fan, I was more than excited to see “The Hobbit.” As I settled in with my soda and popcorn, I couldn’t wait to see what unfolded. What came before me was not what I anticipated. The graphics of this movie (compared to “Lord of the Rings” which are fairly older) were sub-par. A different filming technique similar to “Avatar” was used. The result was that everything seemed overly-animated and a bit cheesy. This may have been perfect for “Avatar,” but it should not be the style for “The Hobbit.” The film even recreated the Wargs, beasts that Orcs use in place of horses. They are transformed from the evil, ferocious creatures to giant wolves.
Criticism aside, there were things I enjoyed. Martin Freeman, who played Bilbo Baggins, did a fantastic job. While maintaining his character, he managed to make me chuckle quite a few times. The story line was very easy to follow and it left me wanting so much more. Thankfully, there is more of Bilbo and the rest of the wonderfully entertaining cast to come. Obviously, not everyone can like this film, but if nothing else, there is always the score. Howard Shore, who composed “Lord of the Rings” as well, came to “The Hobbit” with the same beautiful and mysterious music.
If you are looking for movies similar to this, then your best bet is “Lord of the Rings” (considering they are all tied together). However, if action and fantasy are what you thirst for, movies such as “Avatar,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Brave” may satisfy you.
Even though I myself didn’t enjoy this film as much as I hoped, I would definitely recommend “The Hobbit.” It may be your next favorite movie, or it may be a movie you only see once. Who knows? Go on that unexpected journey for yourself, and see what you think.
