5. Tension Between Throin & Bilbo
Throughout Jackson's film, there is a very palpable and distinct tension between Bilbo and Thorin, stemming from the fact - as mentioned previously - that Thorin doesn't think that Bilbo is capable of making this epic journey, and constantly makes light of how easy the Hobbit has it at home. The two have frequent confrontations throughout the film that escalate as the action does, yet in the end, of course, Thorin comes to recognise that Bilbo might have more to offer than his slight frame and quirky demeanour at first suggest. Still, this is mostly artifice on Jackson's part, because in the novel, Thorin mostly berates Bilbo in a pretty flippant, playful manner that never gets personal or particularly antagonistic. It's as though Jackson felt that he had to up the stakes a bit by manufacturing some condescension in the ranks that really isn't there. It rings pretty false whether you've read the novel or not, simply because it all feels so damn malnourished and half-assed.