Finally There, and At Last Back Again: The Hobbit movies, having come full circle, are finally at an end and bring Peter Jackson, Weta Workshop et al's cinematic adaptations of JRR Tolkien's two most famous and celebrated works to an abrupt, anticlimactic conclusion

Yes, she's all over bar the shouting, with nary a whimper much less a bang...save the upcoming 'Academies' (awards, that is), for which I predict a very mixed review for Jackson, Weta workshop Et Al's sixth and final take upon JRR Tolkien's classic tomes (The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit). The Jacksonesque version of said hobbit-obsessed works has indeed at last come to a rather abrupt and anticlimactic end for Tolkien/Jackson afficionadoes like myself. Yes, we've quite literally, it seems, arrived at the end of an era.

Sure, I've little doubt whatsoever that the team here in God's Own will scoop up not only the dragon's share of Academy Awards for visuals, costuming, special effects etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...indeed quite possibly sweeping 'em all, even 'hand's down', though I *strongly suspect that the 'major' awards (for best actor, director, story etc) will not go their way. Which is rather sad for not only Sir Peter himself and his co-writers/directors (in view of his/their lifetime work essentially being this triad turned sextuplet, a monumental work and accomplishment in its own right even were it not such a distinctive and powerful 'production' and internationally popular, prize-winning undertaking), but - if realized - will also be an unfair reflection upon some other superb 'assets' in the enterprise. Such as the unquestionably exceptional talents of the younger Bilbo Baggins, Martin Freeman, who has turned in another very good rendition of Tolkien's inimitable character, on top of what was an equally good performance in the second film and a simply superb characterization in the very first Hobbit film. Somehow I suspect that the films have not - even remotely - come up to, much less exceeded, the simply out-of-the-universe expectations built up over the years (and now decade plus) since the Lord of the Rings' films bowled all before them. I suspect people - even some Jackson/Tolkienophiles like myself - have simply tired of the long-winded, never-ending project, which seems to have become more about a monument to Peter Jackson & Co's extraordinary cinematic talents and imaginative genius than a tribute to the original idea(s) and creative legacy of JRR Tolkien.

For which I certainly impute no intentionally self-serving motive to Jackson Et Al, I simply recognize their inextricable closeness from the whole affair and believe that 'incestuous' involvement has tended - if rather subtly, largely unconsciously, even almost imperceptibly - to obscure their vision and stunted their ability to distance themselves from the project often enough to really see whereto their efforts have ultimately led them: i.e. to a somewhat self-perpetuating, self-referential retelling of Tolkien's stories in such a way that they point less and less to his creative genius and more and more to that of their modern-day technically brilliant, even unsurpassed cinematic interpreters. And in addition I believe the case can easily be made that the movie version of said tales has also become more a matter of placating modern sensibilities, prejudices and perspectives - see: gender equality, spicing things up with a dash of romance here, and an extra large helping of violence and warfare there - than faithfully fulfilling the creative worlds and vision, quintessential quirks and inimitable ideas and inspiration of JRR himself. Such seem unavoidable conclusions, even were the Hobbit films never to have come about, and all we had to go on (and therefore judge or make evaluations by) being the three Lord of the Rings movies.   

*Though, if only in Martin Freeman's case at least, I hope to be disproven. And PJ, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Richard Taylor, Tania Rogers and Weta Workshop et al have also surely 'proved their quality', as Sam Gamgee might have put it, and earned not only their keep but commensurate rewards for - overall - their consistent, top-of-the-class talents and efforts. I simply suspect that, as the films have come to an ending with more of a whimper than a bang, the onlooking Academy Awarders will see things likewise, having, much like myself and many others I instinctively feel, simply come to tire of the whole affair and rather impatiently wishing for its speedy wrapping up. Moreover, failing to see enough 'new stuff' (qualitywise) to justify the seemingly never-ending project and to compensate their already greatly diminished expectations.