Book vs Movie: My Thoughts on The Hobbit

Hi Jellies! I know I have not posted for a little while but here I am with another really interesting book review. This might sound like a rant, but trust me, I have good reasons for everything I'm about to say about The Hobbit. I was super excited about this book, and while I wasn't disappointed, I have to admit that watching the movie first influenced my reading experience. Honestly, I think the movies did a better job in this case. Let me explain. 

COMPARISON OF THE BOOK AND THE MOVIES

The book is definitely a good read on its own, and I rated it as such. However, when you compare it to the movies, it feels a bit dry and lacks the magical effect that the movies had. I get that movies can "show" a lot and be magical with their visuals, but even story-wise, the book felt lacking.

For example, I was really looking forward to meeting Tauriel, only to find out she isn't even in the book—she's a movie creation. I was hoping the book would explore Tauriel and Kili's relationship more deeply, but sadly, she's not even real.

Bard is another character I loved in the movies, but his role in the book felt underwhelming. In the movies, they delve into his family and beliefs, and his battle with the dragon is epic. But in the book, everything happens so quickly, and Bard feels like just another side character. We don't get to see his story at all, and his character seemed very different from the movies. 

Legolas was also missing, but I understand why.

One thing that bugged me was how Tolkien portrayed the dwarves. In the movies, they have strong, independent personalities and don't need anyone's help. But in the book, they're portrayed as needing assistance all the time, either from Gandalf or Bilbo. It made me wonder how they survived alone so far.

KEY SCENES: BOOK VS MOVIES

One of the biggest letdowns for me was the escape from the Elven kingdom. That scene in the movies was so epic; I was literally cheering. But in the book, it felt flat and quick. Thorin and the dwarves just walk up to the Master of the Lake Men and talk to him. That scene was set up so much better in the movies, in my opinion. Even their time in Lake Town was more memorable in the movies.

The dragon fight was another disappointment. In the movies, the tension, pain, and risks were palpable. Bard's fight with the help of his son was a pivotal moment. In the book, he just says, "Oh, I saved this arrow," shoots it, and the dragon is dead. I wish this had been written better because the dragon fight was set up from the very beginning. The book also lacks the epic fight between the dwarves and Smaug inside the mountain.

The constant threat of the Orcs in the movies created a sense of urgency and fear that was missing in the book. We don't see the Orcs following them, and there isn't a big Orc like in the movie. Plus, the necromancer plot isn't explored in the book, except for a brief mention in the last chapter.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE HOBBIT

Overall, the book by itself is excellent. I loved the journey and the writing style. It's not for everyone, but I had so much fun reading it. My favorite scene from the book is when they enter Mirkwood and fight the spiders—it was written so well. I am starting to realize that I really like such adventure books where the magical "fantasy" element is not very apparent or out of the norm but quite realistic and low-key. If you know of any such books, please feel free to drop them in the comment section. 

BOOK BREW REVIEW SYSTEM

Now that I have said everything that I had in mind about the book, let's see how well this book does on my Book Brew Review System. 

• Plot (Espresso shots): ☕☕☕☕☕
• Characters (Boba Tea): 🧋🧋🧋
• Writing Style (Cookie): 🍪🍪🍪🍪
• Pacing (Croissant): 🥐🥐🥐🥐
• World Building/Setting (Donut): 🍩🍩🍩🍩
• Emotional Impact (Wine): 🍷🍷🍷.5

      Overall Rating:

      23.5/30 brews = 3.92 Brews

      However, since I really like this book, I will round it off to a 4 Brews!

This is all I have for today! If you liked this book review, stick around for more of my thoughts and reviews on books (and maybe movies/series too). If you would like to know me more, be sure to check out my Instagram!