The Hobbit on Film: Deviations from Tolkien's Vision and Fan Reactions

Despite the Hobbit movie series’ popularity, many fans have differing opinions on how faithful the films were to J.R.R. Tolkien’s original works. While some love the unexpected journey and the desolation of Smaug just as deeply as in LOTR, others are highly critical of the significant departures from Tolkien's canons. Below, we explore the most notable Hobbit film adaptations that fanatics of the book have found to be less than ideal.

The Top 5 Adaptations that Disturbed the Fans

For fans deeply in love with the books, the Hobbit film adaptation makes substantial changes that some find particularly grating. Here are the five most prominent critiques from a fan perspective:

Azog the Defier

The character of Azog the Defier, renowned for his role as Fallen Race Leader, is notably absent in Peter Jackson’s 2012 film adaptation. Instead, a grudge-having Dwarf named Grumbled serves as a proxy to Thorin Oakenshield. This treatment feels unjust to fans because, according to Tolkien, Azog was indeed dead at the Battle of Azanulbizar, and thwarted further interaction with the race of Dwarves.

Elf-Dwarf Romance: Irreconcilable Differences

An Elf-Dwarf romance, though not unprecedented, is highly controversial in the Hobbit. Fans express frustration with the relationship between Fíli, a Dwarf, and Tauriel, an Elven wang. Considering that humans are the race most similar to elves, and human-elf romantic relationships have been rare, even historical, this adaptation narrows the cultural differences in Middle-earth. Dwarves, however, have a vastly different background, making their romantic entanglement seem improbable. The adaptation of this fan-favorite character duo is seen as an unimaginative twist.

Das Kind in der Mine: Dwarven Cowardice

Another disturbing change in the film adaptation is how the dwarves handle Bilbo. While in the book The Hobbit, the dwarves show great concern for the eccentric Hobbit, the film version sees the dwarves surrender to the trolls rather than defend themselves. This deviation is criticized for going against Tolkien’s original narrative. Additionally, the film ignores how fire works when the dwarves confront the dragon Smaug.

La Dolce Vita in Dol Guldur: A Matchless Mistake

The scene with Gandalf engaging Sauron in Dol Guldur is another significant departure from Tolkien’s books. Gandalf, a legendary figure known for his minimal direct confrontation with powerful evil, would stand no chance against the Dark Lord.

Laketown: The Politics of Race and Power

The portrayal of Bard the Bowman as a Bargeman and political dissident significantly deviates from the character’s original portrayal. Additionally, the Master of Laketown’s role and elected status are changed in a way that feels disrespectful to Tolkien's characters. The inclusion of an election in the adaptation, following so closely on the heels of a feudal society, seems out of place and jarring.

Additional Criticisms

Other adaptations that fans were critical of include the portrayal of Mirkwood, The Trolls and the storyline of the Nazg?l. The film adaptation suggests that the Nazg?l are actually undead, with subplots and contradictory information that deviate from Tolkien's more consistent presentation of their spirit world passage.

The Nazg?l and Morgul

Fan fury over the Nazg?l subplots extends to their depiction as dead rather than undead. This change is inconsistent with both the books and the subsequent films. The Nazg?l, once possessed by the Rings of Power, passed over into the afterlife rather than dying.

On the other hand, scenes emphasizing Bilbo's concern over the One Ring's effects felt misplaced, as Bilbo, in the book, shows no signs of trouble from wearing the Ring.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Hobbit film adaptations, despite their immense popularity, have not been without their share of controversies and fan criticism. While they do not necessarily mean that fans dissented entirely, the significant departures from Tolkien's original canons have left a bitter taste by many. It is a testament to the power of The Lord of the Rings that these adaptations often feel like a step backwards for those who hold the original texts in such high regard.