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I've spent years never getting farther than about the trolls scene. I love and have reread at least 3 times The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, but this .... just wasn't doing it for me at all. Maybe enough time has gone by since I read or re-read any Tolkien. Perhaps going to the superb Bodleian exhibit on Tolkien when it came to The Morgan Library and Museum made a difference this time (the copy I read (I own several) was the 75th Anniversary reissue of Tolkien's preferred cover with all the illustrations - color and black/white). Perhaps it was understanding how this first of his works evolved - as episodic stories told to his children. Perhaps it was how dull and overworked I found the 3 part movie even though it was the same team as gave us the brilliant LOTR. Whatever the reason, I thoroughly enjoyed Bilbo's adventures with the dwarves and the defeat of Smaug, acquisition of the ring, and reclaiming of the lost treasure.

It's very much an adventure story, paced to entertain children, keep their attention and provide the elements that would so enchant young listeners. It does not have the complexity or emotion heft of LOTR. It does provide a hero for children to relate themselves to, a great deal of humor (the whole thing of Bilbo being hired as a burglar... and his meeting with Smaug), and such a variety of settings and characters.

I still prefer LOTR over this, and I doubt I will re-read this. But I'm for sure not ever re-watching the movie as it will feel and look even more overwrought and dull after finally pulling this off my DNF shelf.

- this is cover of special 75th Anniversary edition I read, which is the 4 color design created and prefered by Tolkien.

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