The Hobbit – Kids Movies
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The HobbitFamily Movie Reviews: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
(Written by dad blogger Mike)
Peter Jackson brings the first part of what will be a three-part rendition of
The Hobbit, based on the story by J.R.R. Tolkien. Fans may note that
The Hobbit is actually the shortest of the Middle-earth books and is a predecessor to the books that make up the Lord of the Rings trilogy (films that Jackson also produced). However, this first part of the three checks in at close to three hours.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is visually incredible with dazzling effects that take us through chase scenes and all kinds of adventures involving dwarves, hobbits, wizards, orcs, goblins, and Gollum (of course). It follows the story of Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, and a band of dwarves as they head off to help the dwarves reclaim their homeland that has been taken over by the dragon Smaug. Along the way they encounter helpful elves, angry orcs and golbins, and even a few trolls. Bilbo also ends up trading riddles with Gollum and ends of the ring that becomes the focal point of the Lord of the Rings movies.
A solid and fun adventure that is a bit long. Fans of fantasy fiction and Tolkien will likely love The Hobbit – others may be turned off by the length and the fact that it is less accessible to non-Tolkien fans or the average moviegoer than the three LOTR movies.
Is The Hobbit appropriate for kids?
I wouldn’t recommend taking kids under 13 to The Hobbit (the movie is rated PG-13 by the MPAA).
First, the movie is very long and, at times, feels every bit as long. There is a lot of character development, pontificating, and even dwarves singing… if you can imagine that. Younger kids will likely have trouble sitting still through a movie of this length that also takes itself fairly seriously (I can’t imagine what would go through a 10-year-old’s head as wizards and elves discuss the politics of middle-earth).
Further, The Hobbit includes a large number of fight sequences that involve swordplay and other assorted violent aspects including a somewhat graphic (although completely CGI) disemboweling of a goblin, among other things. Aside from a few pieces the violence isn’t particularly gory but, that said, the violence and frightening aspects (such as the orcs being creepy and some perilous situations) would keep me from taking younger kids to this film.
The Synopsis
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”
The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers.
Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.
Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of ingenuity and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities… A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.
How about you? Do you plan to take the kids to see The Hobbit in the theaters?
Is The Hobbit appropriate for kids? We offer a sneak peek for parents in our kid-friendly movie review.
Tagged as: family movie reviews, is the hobbit ok for kids?, kids movies, The Hobbit movie review, what age for The Hobbit
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