The Hobbit Read-Along discussion

This week we're reading chapters 1 and 2, and (spoilers ahead!) covered a fair bit of information. Anything related to these chapters can be discussed on this thread, but some questions/ideas to consider are:

"An Unexpected Party" is Tolkien's earliest opportunity to introduce hobbits to the world. What do you think of his portrayal/explanation of hobbits (either on their own, or in comparison to the dwarves, or even the way hobbits are described later in Lord of the Rings.) What do you think of the way Tolkien writes about ADVENTURES? How does Gandalf fit into this story? If you've read LotR, what do you think about the way trolls are portrayed in The Hobbit as opposed to Tolkien's later stories? And how does Peter Jackson's introduction of the dwarves differ from Tolkien's?

And we already see Bilbo's Baggins vs Took conflict in these early chapters (but remember there's a whole separate thread for that discussion, if you want.)

I was a bit bummed about the extra scene of Gandalf and Thrain at Dol Guldur in The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, because I didn't remember that meeting and I thought it was another Peter Jackson's assumption. I was totally wrong! Apparently I didn't remember the book well and I was surprised reading about Gandalf telling Thorin that he met Thrain at Dol Guldur.

Alice wrote: "I was a bit bummed about the extra scene of Gandalf and Thrain at Dol Guldur in The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, because I didn't remember that meeting and I thought it was another Peter J..."

I completely agree. I was lying in bed reading the first chapter last night and was totally surprised. I know that it's been a long time since I've read The Hobbit, but I didn't think my memory was quite that bad!

Dani wrote: "Alice wrote: "I was a bit bummed about the extra scene of Gandalf and Thrain at Dol Guldur in The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, because I didn't remember that meeting and I thought it was a..."
Totally understand! :D

Alice wrote: "I was a bit bummed about the extra scene of Gandalf and Thrain at Dol Guldur in The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, because I didn't remember that meeting and I thought it was another Peter J..."

I used to think that they took those scenes from the LOTR appendecies (like the white council stuff i think). I had totally forgotten that it is actually mentioned in the book. :)

Nadine wrote: "Alice wrote: "I was a bit bummed about the extra scene of Gandalf and Thrain at Dol Guldur in The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, because I didn't remember that meeting and I thought it was a..."

Same here! I thought it was all from LOTR appendices and PJ's mind :D

Alice wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Alice wrote: "I was a bit bummed about the extra scene of Gandalf and Thrain at Dol Guldur in The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, because I didn't remember that meeting and I t..."

But still.. i think the inclusion of that scene in the extended edition was unecessary. I think it would have been enough to just have Gandalf mention how he got key and map.

Nadine wrote: "Alice wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Alice wrote: "I was a bit bummed about the extra scene of Gandalf and Thrain at Dol Guldur in The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, because I didn't remember that m..."

I don't know, honestly I liked that scene, because it explains the end of Thrain's story.

Alice wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Alice wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Alice wrote: "I was a bit bummed about the extra scene of Gandalf and Thrain at Dol Guldur in The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, because I didn't ..."

that's true. but to me it always felt a bit forced into the movies.

what i really loved on the other hand was the whole bag-end sequence in the first movie! :)
it is so well done and captures the first chapter of the book so beautifully. :)

I also really like the bag-end sequence in the first movie; brilliantly done! I think the introduction to the dwarves was fantastic and really showed the differences between the traditional characteristics of hobbits and dwarves

The Bag End scene is the reason why An Unexpected Journey is my favourite movie of the trilogy!

mine aswell :) Poor Bilbo being absolutely overwhelmed by this horde of dwarves and Gandalf silently laughing into his beard about all of it. :D

generally i recommend to all must see in time film

Dani wrote: "I also really like the bag-end sequence in the first movie; brilliantly done! I think the introduction to the dwarves was fantastic and really showed the differences between the traditional charact..."

Absolutely! For me, PJ definitely got those intro scenes spot on, 100%. (That was on wee cup of wine, eh?! haha!) I especially loved and appreciated the care that PJ/PB/FW and the actors and everyone else put into making the dwarves look different from each other and each retain their own personality. That's one of the few things I don't like about the book - Only 4/13 dwarves have any personality at all, Thorin (duh), Balin, Fíli and Bombur. The rest where just "the dwarves," barely mentioned by name and never with any individual personality (besides their instrument and clock colour, of course). But the cast gave each dwarf such AMAZING personality and personal history that you could totally fall in love with each and every one of them all on their own merit.

One thing I found interesting is that PJ went with the appendix on which brother was oldest: Fíli, then Kíli. In the book itself, Kíli is the older and Fíli is the younger, while in the appendix, it's reversed. (That never made sense to me. It seemed such a weird changed to make. I mean, just the age changed? What was the point? Was is a mistake on Tolkien's part?) It also interested me that they gave book!Fíli's personality to movie!Kíli. Book!Fíli is very immature and reckless and makes jokes and has much more personality than book!Kíli. But in the movie, they both have their own distinct personality and movie!Kíli is the more immature and reckless. I found that very interesting.

Concerning Fili and Kili, I totally forgot the colour of their beards. That's a shame, since the other Dwarves aren't described very well!

While the meeting between Gandalf and Thrain in Dol Guldur happened in the books, it happened 91 years before the Hobbit.

please to understand me how can i coming in your talking?

Alice wrote: "I was a bit bummed about the extra scene of Gandalf and Thrain at Dol Guldur in The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, because I didn't remember that meeting and I thought it was another Peter J..."

I reread The Hobbit last year and found myself doing that a lot, being surprised at the little fly-by mentions of Tolkien's that Peter Jackson really latched onto and gave more emphasis to.