The Hobbit - 15 years too late?

Martin Freeman dons the Hobbit ears as Bilbo Baggins.

The movie adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is underway in the “new” Middle Earth, New Zealand.

Gratefully, after years of protracted talks, a failed movie company, a lengthy court battle, about 700 directors and a casting strike, Peter Jackson has returned to helm this epic movie monster. Also returning are Ian Mckellan as Gadalf, Ian Holm as the older Bilbo Baggins and recently confirmed, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins.

It’s been 8 years since the last film Return of the King premiered and 10 since Fellowship of the Ring graced our screens. It was way back in 1997 when it was announced that Peter would take on the mammoth task of recreating the much loved book as three movies; a 5 year journey that would see him make all three films at once, a feat never before accomplished, nor repeated.

Since then, Peter has only directed two features, King Kong and The Lovely Bones and now, he returns to directing duties on the Hobbit, filming both films at once. It has so far been a 15 year round journey for him and his team, one that makes me wonder if he can still be as focussed on the subject as he was before? He has been sleeping, reading, eating, filming, selling, writing, creating, JRR Tolkien for 15 years, could he be a tad stale?

Peter directs Martin in Bagend

By all accounts, I still think this man is the man for the job. When I met him in 2001 for the premiere of FOTR I was amazed by his passion and love. When he spoke about the films and about the source material, he did it with respect and appreciation. I don’t agree with all his choices for the films, but you cannot deny that he made some amazing films.

The snippets we are hearing (you can follow Ian Mckellen and Peter Jackson on Facebook and Twitter) reveal a positive return to Middle Earth from a man who is a perfectionist  with an almighty eye for detail.

I think its time to pick up my book again!