Our answer is yes, not only for the quality of the production but also because we're enjoying the format in which the show is being released - drip-feeding episodes, just like House of the Dragon.
"The Lord of the Rings" isn't just one of the most sweeping, epic adventures in film history, but a visual delight. The beautiful imagery from cinematographer Andrew Lesnie illuminated the gorgeous environments in immaculate detail, and few modern fantasy films have been able to capture the same depth or luster.
Switch the two trilogies so all The Hobbit movies go first, and, if you wanted to include The Rings of Power, pop that on before anything else. Your viewing order would look like this: Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power (2022) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
In terms of consistency, The Lord of the Rings had the definite advantage because the entire series was shot simultanously with a single director (Peter Jackson) in New Zealand. Over the course of the franchise, the changes in the characters' looks were done gradually and based on the progression of the story.
I suggest reading the books first. The reason is that once you watch the movies your imagination will be restricted to what you experienced in the movie and will override your experience of the text. It will not necessarily degrade your reading of the book - but it will change your experience.
Tolkien's world-building is absolutely stunning and unmatched in its richness of detail. These two points alone make the books worth reading. However, many people shy away from Tolkien's writing because — admittedly — it's not very easy to read.
Great story and visuals but may be a bit frightening for kids under 7. PG -13 rating seems excessive. PG seems fine along with an exercise in judgement based upon the individual child.
In close-quarters combat, Gandalf easily has an upper hand because of the weapon he wields. Glamdring, the Elven blade he uses, would put Dumbledore in a spot of trouble. He'd need to maintain his distance at almost all times during this battle, while Gandalf would be comfortable fighting at both short and long ranges.
While Dumbledore is undoubtedly a powerful wizard, Gandalf's innate magical abilities give him an edge in a battle between the two. Gandalf's fire magic, telekinesis, and healing powers would make him a formidable opponent for Dumbledore.
Parents need to know that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, director Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's stand-alone quest through Middle-earth, is less violent than the scarier Lord of the Rings trilogy.
There were a lot of moving parts to the Hobbit films, and the production of the movies was significantly more rushed than The Lord of the Rings had been. While Jackson and his team had years of pre-production to prepare for The Lord of the Rings, they did not have the same kind of prep time for The Hobbit.
But ultimately, there can only be one winner in the battle of the hobbits, and the undisputed champ has to be the original, the O.G., the bravest little hobbit of them all: Bilbo Baggins.
The obvious explanation for this slow burn approach is that the project can take its time to breathe, as five seasons have already been green-lit by the studio. When all is said and done, Amazon will have sunk well over $1 billion into the adaptation, making it the most expensive television series in history.
Amazon's Lord Of The Rings drama, The Rings Of Power, was a flop. Not only was it snubbed almost entirely during awards season, it turns out that a mere 37% of people who started the show actually ended up finishing it.
The primary reason for the dislike was due to lore-based decisions. LOTR fans take Tolkien's material very seriously, so when The Rings of Power started making changes to canon, it didn't sit well.
Combined, however, the entire Harry Potter series is the most successful book series of all time, selling out a cool 500 million copies worldwide. This includes all 7 books of the main series, plus 8 “supplemental” works that link directly to the 7 (character guides, world-building books, in-universe textbooks, etc.).
Post Fight
Another thing to mention is that Sauron has bested multiple wizards before like Saruman or Gandalf, meaning that he'd eventually beat Voldemort in the end, though the Avada Kedabra could most definitely kill him. Boomstick: If you think Voldemort stood a chance, you'd be Saurong. Wiz: The winner is Sauron.
According to records from the wizarding world, he is thought to have been among the most powerful wizards in human history. Merlin attended Hogwarts as a Slytherin and displayed a remarkable command of the magical arts. Some claim that he is the most potent wizard ever.
1. Marvel Cinematic Universe. The overall highest-grossing franchise by almost $6 billion, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an immortal giant that towers over all other franchises mentioned here.
The highest-grossing movie franchise of all time is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The top two highest-grossing franchises, the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars, are both owned by Disney.
So it is not a little ironic and curious that The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies has been slapped with an R-rating. Let me explain.
The race's average life expectancy is 100 years, but some of Tolkien's main hobbit characters live much longer: Bilbo Baggins and the Old Took are described as living to the age of 130 or beyond, though Bilbo's long lifespan owes much to his possession of the One Ring.
Frodo was born in 1368. When he sets off from the Shire on his journey, he is 50 years old. Samwise Gamgee was born in 1380, making him 12 years younger than Frodo. But it's possible they looked similar in age, since the ring keeps the bearer from aging.