Both of Tolkien's books are centred on unlikely heroes performing acts of valour well beyond what anyone could expect of them, their actions in turn influencing a world far larger than their own. Despite the epic, possibly world shattering events transpiring around them, they perform feats well beyond their capabilities. Reducing Bilbo to a mere sideline character in the final instalment of the trilogy seriously diverts the narrative away from what it has been sold as - don't forget Bilbo did actually write There and Back Again, so it does really make sense that he should be the principal protagonist. Look at The Battle Of The Five Armies. Bilbo does have a couple of moments to stand out - sneaking the Arkenstone out to Bard and, erm, throwing some rocks at cartoon orcs and... that's about it. He's there but he's a passive bystander to the events unfolding rather than having a tangible role, a waste of Freeman's talents. Sure, that's the case in the book, but it doesn't work given the film's much wider scope. His role is over at the end of the second film, meaning he might as well have started his 'Back Again' right then. What fixes do you think would have saved The Hobbit? What did you make of the fan edits? Discuss all things hairy-footed down in the comments.
