The Hobbit or There and Back Again (novel)

I know this novel is not really that long but it took me some time to finish it because of several concerns. Well, if you visit this blog often then you would be able to know what those concerns are.

Instead of going straight to "The Two Towers" after reading "The Fellowship of the Ring", I decided to read "The Hobbit" because it is currently under production. I want to have an idea of what the movie is going to be.

This Tolkien novel is much much easier to read than "The Lord of the Rings" series. The language is simpler and the plot more straightforward. The characters are easy to follow because there are not that many of them.

Tolkien takes his readers to the simple life of Hobbiton to the perilous journey that Bilbo Baggins takes. If you have seen the three gigantic movies, then this book will explain a lot of things like Bilbo's riches and why he wanted to join Frodo in the latter's own adventure.

The world that Tolkien created is tamer compared to the succeeding series. Though evil is lurking, Middle Earth does not seem as bad as the time the fellowship left Rivendell.

As always, it will be extremely difficult to put all the important adventures on the big screen. I am sure there will be lots of encounters that will not be included. I just hope that the last battle scene will be presented in its entirety.

Casting will also be a challenge. Gandalf is not that different in this novel so I hope that the producers will be able to convince Sir Ian McKellen to reprise this role. Ian Holmes cannot reprise Bilbo Baggins' role as Bilbo here is much younger and he needs to be super charismatic and funny. The actor who will play Thorin has to be very strong as a leader, imperfect but very relatable. He needs to make a huge impact at the end of the adventure.

Guillermo Del Toro is reportedly directing this movie with couple Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson as writers. I really would love Jackson to stick to directing but I guess he was traumatized by the earlier three movies. Del Toro is a great director but he is a bit too dark for the theme of "The Hobbit".

I will definitely watch this movie on the big screen in 2011. The next installment will be in 2012.