The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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Terry M Good family movie. Loved it. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Chief B Don't agree with the rating. It's not lord of the rings but while it's a long movie the story still feels small.. And that's meant as a compliment. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/03/25 Full Review Ryan B Ryan Barhorst Dr. Gan COM-123-OL-A: Catholic Worldview of Media 9/25/2025 Post to Media Website (Conducting a Media Review) Titles: An Unexpected Journey (2012) The Desolation of Smaug (2013) The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) Directed by: Peter Jackson Date Released: December 14, 2012; December 13, 2013; December 17, 2014 I chose The Hobbit movie trilogy for my media review. When I was first allowed to watch these movies along with The Lord of the Rings, I thought they were the best movies ever made. The virtues, characters, and storylines are absolutely perfect. I’ve read The Hobbit, and it’s one of my favorite books. When I was little, I used to dress up with plastic swords, shields, and armor and reenact the battle scenes, pretending I was an Orc or a knight from Gondor or Rohan. I know many people don’t like The Hobbit movies, but I still think they are well portrayed and meaningful. The First Media Key: Balance The trilogy balances epic fantasy with moral depth. Bilbo Baggins, a humble hobbit, is thrust into a dangerous quest. His journey is not just physical but spiritual—he grows in courage, wisdom, and selflessness. The films avoid glorifying violence; instead, they show its consequences. Thorin’s descent into greed and “dragon sickness” in The Battle of the Five Armies illustrates how unchecked desire corrupts even noble intentions. As Dr. Gan writes, “Temperance helps us to see clearly and act justly, especially when media tempts us to extremes” (Infinite Bandwidth, p. 31). Bilbo’s restraint and Gandalf’s wisdom model this virtue throughout the trilogy. The Second Media Key: Attitude Awareness While the films are not overtly religious, they reflect Tolkien’s Catholic worldview. The narrative favors humility, sacrifice, and virtue over power and pride. Gandalf’s guidance often echoes spiritual mentorship, and Bilbo’s mercy toward Gollum in An Unexpected Journey—“It’s pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand”—is a subtle nod to grace and redemption. Dr. Gan reminds us that “Attitude awareness helps us recognize the worldview behind the media and evaluate whether it aligns with our faith” (Infinite Bandwidth, p. 37). The trilogy invites viewers to reflect on their own attitudes toward power, mercy, and purpose. The Third Media Key: The Dignity of the Human Person The central message is that even the smallest person can change the course of history. Bilbo’s transformation from timid homebody to brave peacemaker reflects the Catholic belief in vocation and divine purpose. His decision to give the Arkenstone to Bard to prevent war is a Christ-like act of peacemaking. As Dr. Gan writes, “Media should uphold the dignity of every person, especially the vulnerable and overlooked” (Infinite Bandwidth, p. 52). Even Thorin, in his final moments, recognizes the futility of greed and the value of friendship, saying, “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” The Fourth Media Key: Truth-Filled The films promote virtues like courage, loyalty, and humility. Bilbo’s simple life in the Shire contrasts with the greed and ambition of others. The dwarves’ desire to reclaim their homeland resonates with Catholic values of family and restoration. Evil—whether in Smaug’s destruction or Azog’s hatred—is portrayed as seductive but ultimately hollow. “Truth in media is not just about facts—it’s about revealing what is good, beautiful, and holy,” writes Dr. Gan (Infinite Bandwidth, p. 68). The trilogy’s moral clarity affirms that truth is not relative—it is rooted in virtue and sacrifice. The Fifth Media Key: Skillfully Developed Peter Jackson’s trilogy is visually stunning and emotionally resonant. From the sweeping landscapes of Erebor to the intimate scenes in Bag End, the films are crafted with care and depth. The musical score by Howard Shore enhances the emotional arc, especially in scenes like Thorin’s death or Bilbo’s farewell. “Media must be well-made to be well-received,” Dr. Gan notes. “Poor craftsmanship can obscure even the best intentions” (Infinite Bandwidth, p. 99). The trilogy meets this standard while also elevating the viewer’s moral imagination. The Sixth Media Key: Inspiring Tolkien’s world is mythic but grounded in moral truth. Evil is real and must be resisted. Goodness is not subjective—it’s embodied in characters like Bilbo, Gandalf, and Bard. The films affirm that truth is worth defending, even at great cost. Gandalf’s line, “Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check… I have found that it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk, that keep the darkness at bay,” encapsulates this beautifully. As Dr. Gan writes, “Media should point beyond itself to something greater—toward God, virtue, and hope” (Infinite Bandwidth, p. 85). The Seventh Media Key: Motivated by and Relevant to Experience Though set in Middle-earth, the themes are timeless. The struggle between good and evil, the temptation of power, and the call to virtue are deeply relevant today. Bilbo’s journey mirrors our own spiritual growth—leaving comfort, facing trials, and returning changed. “Media must be rooted in the realities of our lives,” Dr. Gan writes. “It should help us see our own story in light of God’s story” (Infinite Bandwidth, p. 116). Tolkien’s message—“The world is indeed full of peril… but still there is much that is fair”—reminds us that hope and goodness endure. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/01/25 Full Review Jayden Z. It’s a master piece, it’s one of my favorites outta the whole saga Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/30/25 Full Review Kevin E Peter Jackson took a slim, charming 300-page novel and inflated it into a bloated, nine-hour endurance test, beginning here with the first movie - nearly three hours of padded detours. What should have been a lighthearted, tightly woven story of a reluctant hero on an adventure gets swamped by filler sequences, CGI overindulgence, and constant winks toward the Lord of the Rings films—as if they needed to be retrofitted into lore they were never part of. The magic of Tolkien’s little book was its pace and simplicity, a brisk tale that left room for wonder. Here, it becomes an overextended franchise extension, stretching material so thin you can almost hear it snapping. At three hours for the entire book, this would have been a delightful companion to the LOTR trilogy. Instead, we get a lumbering introduction to a trilogy no one was truly asking for. It feels less like storytelling and more like risk-management accounting. Yes, it’s gorgeous to look at, but it’s hard to see where the joy of the story went amid the endless attempts to justify a business decision disguised as art. This was less An Unexpected Journey and more An Unnecessarily Long Franchise Experiment. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/13/25 Full Review Asciai R If I'm not mistaken some scene that are based from the previous trilogy (Lord of the rings) was changed like how Bilbo got the ring (who knows probably they follow what's on the book) but the essence and the meaning of the whole trilogy were still there making it more beautiful and poetic. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/29/25 Full Review Read all reviews

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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