#What came first the hobbit or lord of rings movie
If you think that that is OK in a movie - after all all movies made from books do that to some degree - then by all means see the movies in the order in which they were made - after reading the books in the order in which they were written at least once.By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. I won't even go into the subject of making eight hours of movie from less than 300 pages of children's book on top of all that. I would have understood if they had left out some characters and scenes from the books, but they have 'combined' characters in spite of at one point promising not to, and then they have added a lot of their own inventions, sometimes based on misunderstanding of the books, but more often for no good reason, and in every case disrupting Tolkien's careful narrative and world-building structure. Tolkien crafted the books - even The Hobbit - very carefully.
Then watch the movies if you want to take the risk of having your experience ruined. Read the books, including Appendix A to LotR.
If you see the latter first, you may encounter disappointments that leave behind a bad taste that hinders your LotR enjoyment. Thus, if you see the Hobbit films first, they may make you feel disappointed in certain visual effects in LotR.įinally, LotR are universally hailed as cinematic masterpieces whereas the Hobbit films are at best good and entertaining films. Not surprising considering they arrive a decade later. While inferior in important ways compared to the LotR trilogy, the Hobbit films are arguably more technologically advanced and flashier. That will spoil your LotR enjoyment when you later watch the original trilogy. So if you watch the Hobbit first, you will meet those elements for the first time in less positive light than they deserve. The problem is important elements such as the score and the characters (played by the actors who have aged noticeably since the first 3 films, who have to play younger versions of the characters, and who are now given a much less rich source material to work with) appear in the Hobbit trilogy as lesser versions of themselves in the LotR trilogy.
The score, several actors, the filming angle, certain emphatic quotes and many subtle hints for the people who have seen the first 3 films. If you are somewhat familiar with those things, LotR (the films and the book) will be much easier to follow.īecause they are made after LotR, the Hobbit films strive for continuity and providing fan services by bringing back many elements of the first 3 films. ME is a complicated universe with its rich history, diverse geography, many races, many languages and many maps. The Hobbit serves at least 2 purposes: laying some foundation for the important events that take place in LotR and being a gentle introduction to Middle Earth. (Switching (2) and (3) can also be recommended.) My Reasons: Watch the Hobbit films if the nostalgia is unbearable.Watch LotR films (perhaps many times each!).Here is a personal opinion: Suggested ordering: I saw the films in the order that they were released and I have read the Hobbit and halfway through the LotR tome.