The much anticipated return of the Hobbit has finally
arrived on the big screen in REAL D3D, HFR 3D, IMAX 3D and whatever other
options your local cinema can offer. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End is now “Far over
the Misty Mountains old” and on his way to “Dungeons' deep and caverns cold.”
without his handkerchief!
'The Desolation of Smaug’ is part two of a trilogy of movies
following the young and rather reluctant Hobbit together with a spirited group
of dwarves to reclaim their stolen mountain home and treasure from Smaug the
dragon. At almost three hours long it’s a test for most but every review
including mine, says the same: The time moves fast, a bit like the Lord of the
Rings, grabs your attention from the start and better than Part one.
Part 1 was
a cinematic masterpiece in many ways from the super high definition capturing
the epic scenery of New Zealand without ‘avataring’ everything and everyone in
sight. In Part 2 however there are much
higher modelling needed for the orc’s through to Smaug. Of course our very own
(For Northern Ireland reads) James Nesbitt stars as ‘Bofur’; a rough diamond of
a dwarf who seems to be there for the craic and banter as much as the treasure.
Possibly no one could play that role better than Jimmy: Former ‘break man’ on
the big dipper at Barry’s Amusement park.
The story follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins and his
dwarf friends as they travel back to the dwarves home; known locally as the
lonely mountain. The face many a challenge including spiders, bears and orcs
(This includes an epic water chase which will no doubt will arrive at a theme
park in due course), but the ultimate problem is not enroute to the mountain
but in it! A giant dragon by the name of Smaug. The Hobbit: The Desolation of
Smaug is a surprisingly violent movie in parts and once again I would say that the BBFC
(British Board of Film Classification) is completely messed up. The answer is
simple: tone down the violence. You can’t go HOBBIT LEGO mad for 6-9 year olds
and then slap a 12A on the movie release allowing parents to bring their under
12’s. Orcs are not just shot with arrows and stabbed with swords; they really
do get messed up good. As soon as the elves show up, orc decapitations start
happening, with the aftermath of at least three being shown. If I read the BBFC
rules I think the movie breaks the already irresponsible too lenient
requirements. (Rant over... and incidentally we did not to bring our kids.)
Is there a Christian message in the Hobbit series?
Have you ever travelled been away from home, family and
friends longer than your heart can bear? This bittersweet ache for home is the
beating heart of Peter Jacksons The Hobbit film series. At the end of Part one
An Unexpected Journey little Bilbo is very much homesick and knows the only way
to get back is to first find the home of the dwarves. In The Desolation of
Smaug things as can imagine don’t go as planned, Gandalf disappears and they are
faced the dangers of Mirkwood Forest alone and of course the
Dragon.
The story set in middle earth seems a strange place to find
anything Christianity. There are no prayers, bibles, or any mention of Jesus or
anything else that might associated it with the Christian faith; so how might
it to be Christian?
Two things to consider:
1, The Author’s own comments:
Tolkein was a devout Christian who attended church regularly
and played a large part in leading his friend C.S Lewis to faith in Jesus.
While Lewis published classics like ‘Mere Christianity’ where faith is clear
and direct, Tolkien preferred not to make his faith so evident in his works.
This does not make his faith any less sincere or passionate;
he simply chooses to express it differently.
In the same way my Christian joiner friend Trevor does not need to
devote his crafts to pews, pulpits and crosses so too does Tolkien find no need
to use his writing skills directly on Christian work.
However he does not hide this faith on put it under a bushel
when writing: In a letter dates October 25 1958, Tolkien wrote: ‘I am a
Christian” and then adding “which can be deducted from my stories.” In addition
to this he told American scholar Clyde Kilby, “I am a Christian and of course
what I write will essentially be from that viewpoint.”
Remarks such as these make it clear that at the very least
it is not absurd to claim that Tolkien’s faith had a clear impact on his
fiction including the story of The Hobbit.
2, The Christian Thread in the story:
Purpose: Bilbo is chosen for a specific purpose - one he did
not create and even rejects at first. Bilbo looked content outside his little
Hobbit hole, furry feet rested and blowing smoke rings into the summer sky. All
is well in the shire and knowing that the cupboards where well stocked with
food there seem no reason for change let alone adventure! That word was not on
his radar... but someone had a different plan.
Though it seems incredible that such a person/Hobbit could
be of any use to a team embarking on a life threatening adventure to the
desolation of Smaug, Bilbo has been ‘chosen’ to do just that. In weakness, fear
and trembling he becomes a helper and hero. And in helping others, Bilbo is
helped... he returns eventually to his hobbit hole not with an ounce of
treasure in his hands but a heart full of a very different treasure.
Tolkien is suggesting: If Bilbo has purpose, so might we.
Providence: Elrond holding up the lamp in the right moonlight, Bilbo stumbling across the ring, the keyhole appearing. There is too much reliance on chance and it seems clear that Tolkien is suggesting something bigger: The hand of Providence. The writer has a personal faith and conviction that God works in mysterious ways and he uses Gandalf in his final words to Bilbo to address this “You don’t really suppose, do you, that all your adventure and escapes were managed by luck, just for your sole benefit?”
I guess the bearded wizard could ask the same question to
each of us... Providence?
(Providence: the foreseeing care and guidance of God over
each of us)
Protection: This is a world of good and evil, a world where Bilbo needs to think carefully clearly and make choices. There is always a decision to be made: Adventure or comfort? Spare Gollum or not? Hide or fight?
With the material comfort of the Shire constantly on his
mind he presses on with his mission trusting that in making the right choice,
protection will come.
What is more important: mission or comfort? Character or
talent?
From the smallest and weakest, The Hobbit reminds each of us
that we can make a difference and we each have a role to play.
Of course you don’t need to have a Christian faith to enjoy
the movies, that’s what makes them so universally popular and while I feel film
director Peter Jackson (brilliant as he is) has, and perhaps unintentionally,
sucked some of Tolkien’s original core value from the writing yet there is still
some Christianity alive in middle earth and a little Bilbo Baggins in each of
us.
In closing I will leave one of my favourite quotes from The
Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
‘It does not do to leave the dragon out of your calculations,
if you live near him’
Let’s be careful out there!
Onwards
Mitch
