“The Hobbit”: was this unexpected journey what fans expected?

Panel will allow students to discuss Tolkien's latest screen adaptation

By David Seaman

One of the biggest movies this past holiday season, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," captivated audiences around the globe with director Peter Jackson's adaptation of the beloved J.R.R. Tolkien classic. But for all its popular appeal, what did Tolkien fans think of the film?

A panel discussion of "The Hobbit" film, hosted by Taylor's C.S. Lewis Center, will find out at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17 in Whitaker Auditorium. Three panelists will make statements about what they thought of the film, and will allow time for Q & A. Audience participation is encouraged.

"It's not just a sit-and-listen," said Laura Constantine, Assistant for the Lewis Center. "We encourage people to express their opinions about the film and how it compares to the novel."

All three panelists are lovers of the Tolkien world. Film producer Edward McDougal is the visiting scholar-in-residence at Taylor and is teaching a screenwriting class this J-term. He will discuss adapting the book to screen and whether it succeeded or failed.

Taylor Director of Technology Services T.R. Knight is another panel member and devoted Tolkien aficionado. The third panel member, Paul Michelson, is a Tolkien scholar and historian from Huntington University. Michelson has been to previous panels devoted to Tolkien's work, including panels discussing the books related to the "Lord of the Rings" films.

"I think people will profit from the experience," said professional writing professor Pamela Jordan-Long. "These panelists are well-acquainted with the work of Tolkien, and they can discuss how the themes in the film compared to how Tolkien explained them in the book. They can point people back to Tolkien."

Themes to be discussed include how Jackson interprets Tolkien's themes and characters. "Has Jackson understood Tolkien's themes accurately?" Constantine prompted. "There are so many characters and thoughts from the book that could be hard to portray onscreen."

The main character Bilbo Baggins exhibits great courage in both the book and the movie. Constantine said that this theme can look different depending on the portrayal. "Bilbo displays courage in both mediums, but the portrayal of courage may be different in each form," she said. "Does he have a more thoughtful sense of courage, or does he take on a more active form?"