Because I'm not geeky enough already...
My comparison of the parallels between 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"
Obviously, since the two movies are done by the same filmmaker, the parallels here probably come from the brain of Peter Jackson and co., and are probably deliberate. However, I think it useful to spell them out, and then speculate a bit on what the parallels mean for the next two Hobbit movies. Tables are used for ease of comparison, with “An Unexpected Journey” example on the left and the “Fellowship of the Ring” example on the right (note: I have always tended to watch the extended editions of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, so I don’t even bother noting what’s in the extended edition and what’s in the theatrical edition. Because I don’t remember.).
Spoilers for basically everything, including slight speculation on the next two Hobbit movies.
(Trailer shots b http://thorinoakenshield.net/screencaps http://www.moraya.net/lotr/main.php?fotr, and http://www.arwen-undomiel.com/sc/fotr/index.htm )
The Beginning
At the very beginning, the movies begin with a prologue which segues into a scene in Bag End. This is slightly inverted in “Hobbit”, but since the majority of the Bag End scene (the ‘frame narrative”) happens after the prologue, it is still contiguous with “Fellowship”.
Old Bilbo begins writing about his adventure, and ends up narrating the prologue about the history of the dwarves of Erebor and the desolation of Smaug. The prologue ends with Old Bilbo writing and talking with Frodo.
Galadriel narrates the prologue, which tells the history of the Rings of Power, particularly the One Ring and the War of the Ring. The prologue then segues into Bilbo writing down his story and calling out to Frodo.
Introducing Hobbits
Some information on the background of hobbits is given.
Old Bilbo relates what a hobbit hole is, thus imparting information about the nature of hobbits, by quoting the beginning of ‘The Hobbit’ book.
Bilbo quotes ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ which describes the character and nature of hobbits.
The Shire
Writing gets interrupted, allusions to the quest of the Lonely Mountain are made, and pipeweed is smoked. Also, Gandalf is introduced, though his introduction is at the end of this section in ‘Hobbit’ and at the beginning in ‘Fellowship’
Frodo interrupts Old Bilbo’s writing, and they end up discussing Old Bilbo’s adventures, and the excitement that the 111th birthday party is causing. There is complaining about the Sackville-Bagginses. Frodo heads off to meet Gandalf, and Old Bilbo smokes his pipe in the yard. This leads into Young Bilbo (henceforth simply ‘Bilbo’) smoking his pipe in the yard and meets Gandalf for the first time, where they discus who Gandalf is (‘Gandalf means me’ and his excellent fireworks) and the nature of Bilbo’s character that needs shaking up.
Frodo meets with Gandalf who gives a little information about himself (he’s ‘never late’ and is known to be a disturber of the peace). They also discuss how Bilbo’s character is changed for a mysterious reason. They separate and Gandalf reaches Bag End, interrupting Bilbo’s writing, and they end up discussing Bilbo’s adventures and the excitement that the 111th birthday party is causing. There is complaining about Sackville-Bagginses. Bilbo and Gandalf smoke their pipes in the yard.
Party in the Shire
There are actually two parts to the parties in both movies, the fun and the serious. This relates the ‘fun’ part of the parties in the Shire, in which more characters are introduced.
Bilbo is setting down to eat when twelve dwarfs, who are strangers, barge into his house, eating, drinking, and making music and causing all sorts of havoc. There is a song that’s basically a drinking song. The fun party comes to an end when Thorin appears at the door of Bag End.
Bilbo celebrates his 111th birthday where he doesn’t know the guests ‘half as well as I should like’. There is food, drinking, and music. Bilbo tells the story of the trolls to the innocent children. Merry and Pippin are introduced, as they cause havoc in the party, scaring the guests with a dragon firework. The fun party comes to an abrupt end when Bilbo disappears and goes back to Bag End.
The drinking song Frodo, Merry, and Pippin sing at the Green Dragon could be considered a secondary parallel, as the fun of the pub ends when Gandalf appears in Bag End.
Serious Partying
The fun comes to an end and the serious discussion begins.
With Thorin’s arrival, the discussion turns to Erebor, Smaug, and the treasure of the dwarves. At one point, Gandalf uses his spooky wizard powers to settle an upset crowd of dwarves. They discuss a bit of background for the quest. Gandalf produces a map with text concerning a second entrance into Erebor, and a key that he received from Thrain in a scene that is possibly going to be shown in another movie. The dwarves sing about their home as night grows.
In the morning, Bilbo decides to join the quest and meets up with dwarves and Gandalf and set off eastwards.
Again, there is a primary and secondary parallel for this section. The first Serious Partying scene occurs when Gandalf and Bilbo discuss the latter’s trip to the east, and the Ring. At one point, Gandalf uses spooky wizard powers to settle an overwrought Bilbo who is getting out of control talking about the Ring. This scene ends with Bilbo leaving the Shire.
The secondary parallel is when Gandalf arrives back from visiting Minas Tirith where he found a text concerning the Ring. Gandalf and Frodo discuss the history of the Ring during the night. Frodo decides to take the Ring to Rivendell. Gandalf also made the decision that Sam would go with them.The three set off to the east.
Interlude with a Wizard
This may be a bit of a stretch, but the two scenes that really don’t have another parallel both have to do with other wizards in the order of the Istari. I’m including other ‘wizard’ scenes as well in this category. It’s kind of a catch-all, but also shows an interesting contrast between the ‘idiot’ Radagast and the ‘wise’ Saruman.
Radagast the Brown realizes that some evil sorcery has entered the Greenwood. He saves Sebastian the Adorable Hedgehog while under attack by spiders.
Later, he enters Dol Guldur, smacks down the Witch King of Angmar, and escapes from the Necromancer in a super-sonic bunny-sled (why isn’t he the head of the Istari again?).
Saruman has turned to evil sorcery and attacks Gandalf, imprisoning him on Orthanc. The Eagles free Gandalf while Saruman is attacking him again.
Later, Saruman cuts down Fangorn, breeds his Uruk-hai, and sends them out to do his dirty work for him (how did he become the head of the Istari again?).
History Lesson While Being Hunted
This one was a hard parallel to come up with, but the more I think about it the better it works. Basically, there’s a relatively quiet interlude, with a bit of rising tension, where a character exposits on some point of history during a period of rest. However, meanwhile the company is being hunted by an enemy.
While the company is camped, a relatively innocent joke leads to a harsh reaction by Thorin. Balin then relates the story of the Battle of Azanulbizar and how Thorin became known as ‘Oakenshield’ at the fall of his grandfather in battle. Meanwhile, a group of orcs on warg-back are hunting the company.
While settling into Bree, an innocent but possibly dangerous comment by Pippin leads to the Ring being used and Aragorn hastily and a bit harshly reacting in order to protect Frodo. He relates to the hobbits the history of the Nine Rings of Power and the downfall of Men. Meanwhile, they are being hunted by Nazgul on horseback.
A secondary parallel might be the scene where Aragorn briefly relates the Lay of Leithian to Frodo at the campsite.
You Pick the Worst Places to Camp
In this scene, the companies camp for the night. This turns out to be a very bad idea all around.
Thorin decides to camp near a burned-out farmstead, against Gandalf’s advice who thus leaves them to their own devices. Unattended ponies lead to an encounter with mountain trolls who nearly eat the dwarves and hobbit before they are saved by Gandalf’s return and his ability to break open rocks at just the right angle and moment to let in the morning sunlight.
There’s also a quick scene where they discover swords in the trolls’ cave.
Aragorn decides to camp on the ruins of Amon Sul, and then leaves the hobbits to their own devices. An ill-timed campfire leads to an encounter with Nazgul who attack the hobbits and badly wounds Frodo before they are saved by the timely return of Aragorn and his ability to fight with flaming torches.
There’s a quick scene where Aragorn and Sam search for athelas and Aragorn ends up on the wrong end of Arwen’s sword.
Flight to Rivendell
I think the biggest difference is that Thorin doesn’t want to go to Rivendell and Aragorn really, really does.
After meeting with Radagast, the company realizes that the orcs and wargs are close behind them. Radagast leads the wargs off while the company races to escape. The wargs are right on their heels, but they escape through the timely arrival of Elrond’s elf warriors who sweep over the orcs/wargs. The company then goes through the hidden way to Rivendell
After meeting with Arwen, the company realizes that the Nazgul are close behind them. Arwen rides with Frodo ahead of the company, but is chased by the Nazgul. The Nazgul are right on their heels, but they escape through the timely arrival of a flood sent by Elrond (bearer of Vilya) which sweeps the Nazgul down the Bruinen. Arwen gets an unconscious Frodo to Rivendell somehow.
At Rivendell
The company is at Rivendell. There’s not much more to it than that.
Despite Thorin’s hatred of elves, the company stays at Rivendell, for which Bilbo seems thrilled. The dwarves enjoy being together in safety. Elrond discusses the history of the elvish swords. Under the moon, Elrond reads the cirth ithil and divines the heart of Thorin - to enter Erebor. Thanks to the runes, the dwarves have a little more hope in the success of their quest.
According to the trailer and the production videos, it looks like a scene was cut of Bilbo looking at the shards of Narsil. Extended edition?
Frodo wakes up in Rivendell and is thrilled to meet Bilbo again, and the enjoy being with his fellow hobbits in safety. Elrond and Gandalf discuss the history of the Ring. Aragorn and Boromir look at the shards of Narsil. Under the moonlight, Arwen reads Aragorn’s heart and gives him hope that the quest will succeed and they will be together.
Elrond Likes Councils
What would a Tolkien movie be without a council?
The White Council meets to discuss the dwarves’ quest and the dark news from Mirkwood. There is some reluctance to believe that the Necromancer is Sauron. Gandalf convinces at least Galadriel that something is terribly wrong and that it is imperative that the quest of the dwarves succeed.
The dwarves continue on their journey.
The Council of Elrond meets to discuss the Ring and initiate a quest to destroy it. There is some reluctance to believe that destroying the Ring is the right decision. Still, most of the council is convinced that it is imperative that the Ring be destroyed.
The newly-formed Fellowship sets out on their journey.
Far Over the Misty Mountain Cold
After all that happens to the dwarves in the Misty Mountains, it’s a wonder Gandalf wanted to take the Pass of Caradhas later.
The dwarves are nearly killed by stone giants throwing rocks at them and playing rock’em sock’em robots in the rain. It’s quite miserable.
The Fellowship is nearly killed by Saruman who brings a blizzard on their heads. It’s quite miserable.
Going Under the Mountains
Going under the mountains also turns out to be a fairly terrible idea.
The dwarves make camp in a cave. Bilbo has an existential crisis about his place in the company. The whole group ends up falling into Goblin Town and meet up with the Goblin King who intends to torture them. Eventually Gandalf saves them and they run out of the mountain and into the sunlight.
The Fellowship travel through Moria. Frodo has an existential crisis about his part in the quest. Pippin brings a hoard of orcs and a cave troll on their heads, and then they run into a Balrog. Gandalf saves them from the Balrog at the cost of his own life (apparently) and the Fellowship runs out into the sunlight.
The Quiet Interlude
Now hear me out here. At first glance, it would seem that these two scenes have absolutely nothing in common. You are probably right. But that doesn’t mean I can’t shoe-horn parallels in where I want them. And there’s one I’m rather fond of near the end.
Bilbo escapes from the orcs, only the find himself trapped in a cave with the creature Gollum. Gollum has an issue with split-personalities and a ring-obsession. They play a riddle-game and Bilbo wins. Bilbo shows pity to Gollum by sparing his life.
Bilbo leaves the goblin caves carrying the Ring - a tool that will be used to effect later in the story but is not the main point of the plot.
The Fellowship escapes from the orcs, and are then ensnared by the elves of Lothlorian, which is ruled by Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Lady Galadriel has an issue with ring-desire and a moment of split-personality, where she shows what she would be like if she had the One Ring (terrible as the dawn, stronger than the foundations of the earth, etc.). Frodo shows his willingness to give up the Ring to Galadriel.
Frodo leaves Lothlorian carrying the Light of Eärendil - a tool that will be used to effect later in the story but is not the main point of the plot.
Doubt
character doubts the strength of another character.
Thorin doubts Bilbo’s strength and conviction for the quest.
Boromir doubts Aragorn is willing or able to save Minas Tirith from destruction. He also doubts that Frodo can fulfill the quest.
Pursuit by Orcs and Battle
This is where I actually started thinking about the parallels. The rest of both movies consists largely of a pursuit of the company by orcs and a final battle where a character is badly wounded and saved from the death blow by the timely intervention of another.
The company is pursued by Azog and his warg-riders. They are facing overwhelming odds and all seems lost. Realizing he had failed to kill Azog before, Thorin attacks Azog for revenge and to protect the rest of his company that are hanging precariously on a tipping, flaming pine tree.
Thorin fights a losing battle and is badly, perhaps mortally, wounded. Thorin is unable to continue the fight, and one of Azog’s orcs is about to behind him when Bilbo flings himself on the orc. Bilbo slays the orc. Thorin falls unconscious.
Most of the rest of the company comes up and they are all rescued by Eagles.
The Fellowship is pursued by Lurtz and his orcs. On the shores of the Anduin, they are attacked and face overwhelming odds. Merry and Pippin in particular are in danger and all seems lost. Realizing that he has betrayed Frodo and lost his honor, Boromir attacks the orcs to protect Merry and Pippin.
Boromir ultimately is mortally wounded by many orc arrows. Due to his wounds, Boromir is unable to keep fighting and Lurtz is about to make the final blow when Aragorn flings himself on Lurtz. After a brief fight, Aragorn slays Lurtz. Boromir dies of his wounds.
Legolas and Gimli come up and they decide to go rescue Merry and Pippin from the orcs.
The Ending
The end of the movie still has the parallels though sometimes it is parallel through its differences, if that makes sense.
As the Eagles take them to the Carrock, Fili calls out to an unresponsive Thorin.
Thorin looks quite dead when they arrive at the Carrock, but Gandalf is able to revive him. Thorin reconciles with Bilbo.
The company looks east into the distance, where Erebor looms. They are hopeful that the worst is past. The scene zooms to the eye of Smaug.
As Frodo leaves for the eastern shore of the Anduin, Sam shouts for him and ends up coming with him.
Boromir is quite dead, and they give him a funeral. Aragorn is reconciled to the fact that he can no longer protect Frodo and Sam and leaves with Legolas and Gimli.
Frodo and Sam look east into the distance, where Mordor looms (Mordor, the home of Sauron who is now a great flaming eye). Frodo believes that their road ahead will be perilous. Sam is hopeful.
As you can see, there are distinct parallels between the two movies. What I find interesting is that the scenes of ‘Hobbit’ are often significantly less perilous than the parallel scenes in ‘Fellowship’. Where the dwarves fight trolls, Aragorn fights Nazgul. Where the dwarves face the Goblin King, the Fellowship faces a Balrog. Where Thorin survives, Boromir dies. However, the greater darkness in ‘Fellowship’ is fitting, since the book is much more adult and dark than the book of ‘The Hobbit’.
One point to look at is that Thorin, while analogous to Aragorn at times, does not always play Aragorn’s role despite their characters’ similarities - the parallels are mostly near the beginning. By the end of the movie, Thorin is more Boromir than Aragorn. Could this play into his characterization in the next movies?
Another intriguing contrasting parallel is between Radagast and Saruman. They seem to be playing opposites. I find myself wondering whether Radagast will have a heroic fall to parallel Saruman’s ignominious end.
The big question raised, however, is whether Peter Jackson and co. will continue the parallels in the next two Hobbit movies. I find it difficult to imagine, since LOTR becomes more epic and grand-scale as it goes on, while The Hobbit does so only marginally. I suppose we can speculate more as we get more information on ‘The Desolation of Smaug’.
There is one situation in particular sparks my interest. As anyone who hasread ‘The Hobbit’ knows, at the very end Thorin, Fili, and Kili die. Thorin really doesn’t become king. If Jackson is indeed trying to parallel the two trilogies, how will he deal with this difference? And, more particularly, how will he do the Thorin/Fili/Kili death scene? Because he technically already did it at the end of ‘Unexpected Journey’. Remember, Fili and Kili die protecting the body of a mortally wounded Thorin. But in ‘Unexpected Journey’, the body of a badly/mortally wounded Thorin is protected by Bilbo. Will Jackson really repeat such a similar scene in ‘There and Back Again’?
If Jackson ends up killing all three (and that’s not necessarily a certainty, though I think we can bet on it), will he then change the sequence of events? Will Fili and Kili be Faramir, charging out to their deaths leaving a distraught Thorin to follow them a la Denethor? Will they be Theoden to Thorin’s Eowyn, being killed by Azog/Bolg for Thorin to be mortally wounded revenging their deaths? Regardless, I do speculate that Fili and Kili will die first and Thorin will have a scene where grief spurs him on to his death, since the ‘revenge for Thorin’s fall’ has already been done by Bilbo.
Or they could throw out the ending and have Fili crowned King Under the Mountain with Kili by his side. But I doubt it.
Anyway, let the speculation begin!