Hobbit films put Tolkien fans off

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.

Study shows Jackson’s trilogy left many unsatisfied and some concerned over production controversy

Die-hard fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's novels have been turned off by Peter Jackson's three-part film adaptation of The Hobbit, according to Kiwi researchers trawling through responses from viewers.

A project led by the University of Waikato's Audience Research Unit has also shown some early perceptions were tainted by widely reported controversy that surrounded the series' production.

Having received nearly 4000 responses from people here and overseas, the researchers of Hobbit Audience Project are now seeking feedback from those who have seen the final instalment before concluding the sprawling study.

The project explored the complex relationships between the reception of big blockbuster films and the demographics of viewers.

Jackson's epic trilogy offered many interesting potential focuses, given the films were a prequel, based on widely read books, made locally, and featured actors who drew their own following.

The data had so far shown many Tolkien fans had been left unsatisfied.

"They started off feeling cautiously optimistic and hopeful that it might be a reasonable adaptation of the book, but a lot of them have become very turned off by the films, progressively," study collaborator Dr Carolyn Michelle said.

Results from around the time the first film opened in cinemas showed 56 per cent of respondents cited being fans of Tolkien or the book as the biggest motivator in seeing the movie.

Many were also concerned New Zealand had adapted its labour laws and given Warner Brothers a tax break to ensure production remained here.

Kiwis made up about two-thirds of those who expressed disapproval over how the labour crisis was handled, with the strongest views coming from local critics of Jackson.

The project also highlighted groups of viewers whose sole reason for buying a movie ticket was because they were fans of Richard Armitage, who plays Thorin Oakenshield, or Benedict Cumberbatch, whose motion-capture work and voice animated the evil dragon Smaug.