The Hobbit (Leatherette Collector's Edition)
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (24 October, 1973)
list price: $35.00 -- our price: $22.05
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Editorial Review

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork,The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Reviews (1432)

Light-years from Harry Potter
"The Hobbit" begins a tale continued in "The Lord of the Rings" and should be read first, it is a gem. How could anyone "review" these timeless fantasy classics? The prose in these books is first-rate, beautifully crafted English language and they should be considered classics. The quality of language use is light-years ahead in style and sheer enjoyment to read than that in the "Harry Potter" books (especially if you're an adult, "Harry Potter"'s writing style is more for kids). "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are the only "real" books on Middle Earth produced by J.R.R. Tolkein in his lifetime. "The Silmarillon" book and some others were gathered together by Christopher Tolkein (the author's son) to make money. There is no plot line, or anything but notes on the "pre-history" of Middle-Earth (the subject of Tolkein's real books) being really a bunch of disjointed random notes. DO NOT BUY if you're expecting a story- Christopher Tolkein is rich enough. The only other common original story book by J.R.R. Tolkein is a collection, "The Tolkein Reader", which is a really good collection of about 4 short stories bound together and fun to read, although different in tone from his other writings. "Farmer Giles of Ham" (the first story in the collection) is great and fun. If you have an 11 to 14 year old who likes to read, make sure they don't miss out on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in their childhood. The books have incredible detail, are full of sunshine, wonder, drama, humor, and fun- as well as being serious also, like the more brooding and hurried-up blockbuster movies. Get your kids reading them at 11 to 14 years of age, like I did. The books remain a pleasant memory to me 30 years later, ranking up there with "Treasure Island" and "The Call of the Wild" in my boyhood memory. ONE CAVEAT: "The Hobbit" is often referred to as a children's story (I read it at 12 years) while "The Lord of the Rings" is often referred to as for adults (I read it as a 13-14 year-old, and it was perfect).

The Hobbit !The Best Book I have ever read!
The Hobbit is completely my favourite book of all time. When I was 6 I listened to the tape and since then I have probably read the book 583 times. It has a superp story line which none absoulutely none of the several 100 other books I have read since can compare with. Okay Artemis Fowl was pretty good, well actually very good and so were the Harry Potter books but what other books can claim they have. A great storyline, Wizards, a hero who dosen't want to be one, Elves, Dragons and a richly satisfying ending? If there is a book I would really like to hear about it.

The hero is the loveable character called Bilbo Baggins. He is of course a hobbit. As i'm sure pretty much every one knows what a hobbit is but for the benefit of the people who do not the foggiest idea what a hobbit is I will type the books explaination .

If you have read the book don't bother reading this explanation if you don't wan't to.

They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you or me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good- natured faces, and a laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it).

Many people say they prefer the hobbit to the Lord Of The Rings for two simple reasons.

1) It is easier to read and a lot less complicated.

2) It has a better story line.

The hobbit is absoulutely fantastic! Any adults who haven't read this book need to read it or deserve to be PUNISHED!

As for the people who rate this book below 5 stars they probably didn't read this book well enough or haven't read it at all.

In conclusion

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even better than LOTR
Many fans of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will tell you something like, "The Hobbit tells you some stuff you'll need to know when reading LOTR, but it really plays second fiddle to the ULTIMATE fantasy that LOTR is."In my opinion, this simply isn't true.While LOTR focuses on a grand and epic battle encompassing Middle Earth in its entirety, The Hobbit is a more romantic tale - focusing on a single quest and taking its time to storytell.Its simple "there and back again" feel and lighter mood make it one of my favorite novels. ... Read more

Isbn: 0395177111
Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Classics    3. Fairy tales    4. Fantasy    5. Fantasy - Epic    6. Fantasy - Series    7. Fiction    8. Fiction - Fantasy    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Middle Earth (Imaginary place)    11. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

The Hobbit
Director: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Average Customer Review:
DVD (11 September, 2001)
list price: $12.98 -- our price: $11.68
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Editorial Review

The J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy classic set in Middle-earth was adapted into this excellent 1978 animated feature first broadcast on television. Codirectors Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., working from a script by Romeo Muller, are faithful to Tolkien's story and for that alone they get big points. The vocal cast can't be improved upon: Orson Bean is perfect as Bilbo Baggins, the timorous hobbit who grows brave on his adventure with the wizard Gandalf (John Huston). Otto Preminger is the voice of Elvenking, Richard Boone is Smaug, Hans Conreid is Thorin, and Brother Theodore is very effective as the weird Gollum. Terrific for kids and adults alike. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Animated
• Closed-captioned

Reviews (196)

A Good Adventure, but not the Epic
Set long, long ago in Europe, when the world was green and when much that is now did not exist.Before Men inherited the world. . .there was a hobbit.

This movie was well-made for its time, but seemed that it was geared to please small children and their parents.Tolkein loved to and was magnificent at commentating on battle scenes, but most of the violence in this film has been censored.
Badly censored, with fuzzy, static pictures that look like a two-year-old drew them.

I must, however, say that everyone in my family who has seen it loves it.My mother, who is around 50, my non-english-speaking grandparents, and myself, all enjoyed the Rivendell and Mirkwood elves scenes.The singing was fantastic!Bilbo's songs were also quite enjoyable.

Not to be a pessimist, I must crack down on one more thing; the animation was not true to the book.The dwarves' hoods are of incorrect color, the elves resemble frogs, and they totally omit a delightful character, Beorn.

Still, in closing, I must say that this movie is ideal for children or adults who do not mind watching a kiddie-style and do not own a DVD player.

The BEST LOTR-related movie, PERIOD!
If you have not seen a LOTR movie, then I highly recommend this movie. If you must see only one LOTR movie, then this must be the one to see. I do not recommend this for children only; I recommend this for everyone.

The story, characters, and music show great depth and evoke strong emotions. As many other reviewers have written, the voices are excellent. Gandalf is wise and authoritative; Bilbo is innocent and genuine; Thorin is deceptive and petty (until the fantastic and emotional end); and Gollum is twisted and deranged. The rest of the cast are equally excellent. The music flows seemlessly with the visuals, and the songs are beautiful.

I truly feel that this movie is better than the two animated sequels and the Peter Jackson trilogy. You all may be thinking that I've lost it. But the character development in this 90-minute cartoon is superior to the 9+ hours of the PJ trilogy. The character interaction and conversation were more natural and involving and amusing. This cartoon doesn't have the melodrama and pathos of PJ. No dramatic faces during battle; no fake British accents from its cast, unlike PJ's Wood, Astin, Mortensen, and Tyler. Gollum was visually superior in the PJ trilogy, but the actual character was much more effective and amusing in The Hobbit.

I like the PJ trilogy overall, but it falls short when compared to this little cartoon. If you watch it with an open mind and an open heart, then this movie will touch you more deeply than the PJ trilogy, whether you are 7 or 70. It did for this 35-year-old. Thanks.

Wholesome Entertainment
I am a huge fan of the Lord of the Lord of the Rings.I am in my twenties and I still love this movie.It is good wholesome entertainment and is for anyone who is looking for a good movie to watch with the kids.It is also a fine addition to your collection of Lord of the Rings peraphanalia.

For those of you who have never read The Hobbit, this movie is based on book by J. R. R. Tolkien.It is about a small person named Bilbo Baggins who is recruited by a group of dwarves to recover a hoard of stolen treasure from a terrible dragon named Smog who lives in the Lonely Mountain.Along the way to the mountain they encounter giant spiders, are captured by goblins, and they are also captured by three trolls.They are also captured by the Woodelves and Bilbo finds a majic ring that when you put it on makes you invisible.

The movie includes some well-written original songs and puts some of the poetry from the book to music.I think that the average rating for this movie is 3 1/2 stars is because the animation is not of the same quality as Disney and the other aspects of the movies are not of the same quality as the recent makings of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (the sequel to The Hobbit).In that respect it does deserve 3 1/2 stars, but put in a category all of its own it deserves 5 stars.It is a B-movie, but it is well-done.The acting and the animation are great, not to mention the story is one that will keep you wondering what is going to happen next. ... Read more

Asin: B00005MP59
Subjects:  1. Feature Film Family   

The Hobbit
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (14 November, 2003)
list price: $49.99 -- our price: $19.99
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Features

• Wield the power of the ring to become invisible and sneak past enemies
• Face legions of enemies, from menacing orcs to the dragon Smaug
• Interact with mythical figures like Gandalf and Gollum
• Explore Middle-earth--battle and adventure through Tolkien's breathtaking world
• Engage in hair-raising combat using weapons like the legendary sword, Sting

Reviews (35)

Everlasting and Entertaining, but no LOTR
Although a little childish, a good game. Easy enough that you can always pick it up and advance a little further, and it seems to just go on forever.Each level is dramatically different, and there are plently of puzzles even for the experienced gamer.I would definitely try it out if you are a Tolkien fan.Granted, theres not alot of sword play, but its The Hobbit, what do you expect.

The Hobbit------enjoying, fun,
I got this game for my gamecube sold it but I like it so much I had to have it for my playstation 2 system. The graphics are beautiful,and it is adventure....lots of of play time..one thing I will say that in this game everything is not the same old thing each chapter of the game is different...I love it,To bad I'm not the hobbit

This Game Rock's!!!!!!!
The best game in the LOTR series.Here are my pros & cons 4 this game.Even though it's more cartoon-like other than the real LOTR games.

pros:
-great graphix
-plenty of enemies to fight
-fun highly detailed levels to roam around freely in
-great mind-twisting puzzles to solve
-lots of missions in every level to keep you busy

cons:
-not much weapon choice.A sword,stick,and rocks.
-for some levels you have to stick to a strict map plan
-some missions seem nearly impossible to complete unless you go backwards through the level.

But overall...I give this game a 5 of 5. ... Read more

Asin: B00008XPJH
Sales Rank: 4097
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. PS2 (PSX2)    3. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    4. Playstation2 (Play station2)    5. Role Playing Games (rpg, rpgs)   

The Hobbit
Average Customer Review:
Video Game (14 November, 2003)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Wield the power of the ring to become invisible and sneak past enemies
• Face legions of enemies, from menacing orcs to the dragon Smaug
• Interact with mythical figures like Gandalf and Gollum
• Explore Middle-earth--battle and adventure through Tolkien's breathtaking world
• Engage in hair-raising combat using weapons like the legendary sword, Sting

Reviews (21)

Awesome Game, definitely worth 30 bucks.
Great graphics, can use items like three different types of walking stick, the Ring, Sting, throwing rocks, firecrackers, and many more. Has lines straight out of the books. A good action, adventure, stealth game makes it an instant classic as fun as Return of the King for GBA.

The Resurrection of Classic RPG Gaming.
"THE HOBBIT" is what many refer to as a simplistic action/adventure game with many RPG elements, challenging bosses, unique sidequests, and a sufficient replayability value. I call it a rebirth of the classic RPG. I see all the signs: poor story-telling, with more time spent on graphics and action; quirky characters and attempted humor that often comes off as being childish or moronic; and sad dialogue that sounds like it was pulled from a children's book. Obsessive Tolkien fans might be dissapointed; RPG fans may not understand the full story, as little explanation to "whom or what" is given. This game straddles the fence of failures-- but I love it. Many people may love it. It's one of those things you either adore or abhor. It's as if the staff of Vivendi forgot that the game just might have a specific audience. Oh, well. At least give it a try. If you're a casual gamer (like myself), you might enjoy this game. Personally, I don't have enough time or money to sit around playing video games all day long, even if I am a home study student. But little Bilbo (the main character) does provide enough distraction in those tired, frustrated moments to consider renting or buying him. Personally, I'd rent it first, or wait until you see it on a bargain rack before I went out I spent a lot of money on it.

PLOT: Bilbo Baggins, the "hobbit" and title character, joins a troupe of dwarves on a mission to regain treaure from an evil dragon-- but many things go wrong.

The Best Game Ever!
This game was awsome!There was a lot of adventure.I never have gotten bored of it and I never will.I would give it a 10 star rating. I highly recomend this item. ... Read more

Asin: B00008KTM9
Sales Rank: 4469
Subjects:  1. Action    2. Adventure    3. Video Games    4. Nintendo Game Boy Advance (Gameboy)    5. GBA