Bedameister
Member
I watched both the theatrical and the EE and I didn't really see a difference. The EEs aren't even that much longer right?
I enjoyed all of them nevertheless.
I enjoyed all of them nevertheless.
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The Hobbit Extended Editions
- Thread starter Dead
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Sorry OP, but there's no way I'm watching the EE'a of these awful films. BotFA might be one of the worst experiences I've ever had watching a film.
Also, I strongly disagree with the notion that the EE's of the original LotR films are a nice extras, but not necessary. The originals were good, but the EE's are even better and the definite versions of those films, especially Return of the King's EE. Cutting out Saruman from the theatrical version will never make sense to me.
Also, I strongly disagree with the notion that the EE's of the original LotR films are a nice extras, but not necessary. The originals were good, but the EE's are even better and the definite versions of those films, especially Return of the King's EE. Cutting out Saruman from the theatrical version will never make sense to me.
Well this has saved me the trouble of articulating my own feelings and the correct viewing of LotR.
SiegfriedFM
Member
The EE's elevated the first film from decent to good, the second film from average to decent and the third from poor to average. There's at least a payoff for all that extra nonsense.
Except
Except
Thranduil still doesn't get his bling. And Beorn still doesn't do anything except cannonball a bunch of orcs.
Unknown Soldier
Member
They should have released a Contracted Edition which condensed all 3 movies into 1 and removed everything not actually related to the book. I would watch that.
I thought that AUJ and DOS were improved by their extended editions, even though in an ideal world much of the material that was in the theatrical edition would have been cut out and the whole series would have been much shorter. I did not think that BOFA was significantly improved by its extended edition, as several of the additions mucked with the flow of the few effective scenes in the original version, and the more fleshed out ending still lacked much in the way of emotional payoff, although that's partially 'cause I never connected with the characters in the first place.
It's amazing how sometimes excessively cutting down the length of a movie can make it more boring. Barely made it through the theatrical version of Kingdom of Heaven, but the extended DC is one of my favorite movies.
Haven't seen the EEs of The Hobbit but definitely need to after reading the op. Didn't think they were bad but they did seem to be stuck in that awkward middle ground of being too long yet not long enough to fully flesh out the plotlines and characters. Little scenes here and there can add so much, like the addition of the Boromir/Faramir flashback in TTT EE and how it brings a big emotional punch to both of those character arcs.
Do this but then listen to the silmarillion audiobooks while you fall asleep.
Unknown Soldier
Member
Oh man, I need to get on this.
Dash_Riprock
Member
I think last Christmas you could've bought all three EE blu-rays for like $30. I forget where though...
SiegfriedFM
Member
Oh, and for whatever else Battle of Five Armies did, it gave us this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ir8rVl2Z4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ir8rVl2Z4
Bedameister
Member
In a single day? Man that's rough. I could do either of them but sure not both.
Like you, OP, I watched the first two Hobbit flicks, then bailed on the last one. I consider the extended LotR movies to be the definitive versions, and your impressions make me feel like I should give the Hobbit EEs a try. Hope I feel the same way as you, because as a huge fan of LotR, I never imagined I'd find The Hobbit so forgettable.
I recently watched them too. There's some stuff that I didn't like which they added, but the Battle of the Five Armies itself is much better in the EE indeed. I really like that the Dwarves and Elves actually go at eachother.
I love the first one and it's definitely my favorite. I remember liking DoS more in the theatrical cut. I enjoyed watching all three though, because the company is just a joy to watch, especially Bilbo and Thorin. Those two are probably my favorite characters in all six films.
And the Appendices are amazing! Seeing Pete just wing it on the day really puts things into perspective.
Send in the goats!
I love the first one and it's definitely my favorite. I remember liking DoS more in the theatrical cut. I enjoyed watching all three though, because the company is just a joy to watch, especially Bilbo and Thorin. Those two are probably my favorite characters in all six films.
And the Appendices are amazing! Seeing Pete just wing it on the day really puts things into perspective.
warcraft is a better film than battle of the five armies
I was so disappointed by TBOTFA, I haven't watched the EE yet (though I own a copy, due to wanting the collection to be complete). For all their faults, I actually like the first two. They at least are enoyable. Five Armies was just bad.
But I might check the EE now. Was going to do it anyway one day.
But I might check the EE now. Was going to do it anyway one day.
Why would you apologize? Two movies in the same genre can both be bad.
andythinkpad
Member
They need to shorten it into a 2.5 hr movie for the whole trilogy. Don't care about the added dialogues.
RipperGrim
Member
I honestly was surpsised how much people were expecting from the Hobbit movies because as a huge fan of LOTR as well and having read the Hobbit it was obvious that the scale wasn't going to be even close to the original trilogy and that was when it was thought to be two films.
One of the main problems in my opinion was the fact that The Hobbit was never a big story in the first place and doing it after LOTR was setting it up for disappointment. Not that that was the only issue though.
dragonfart28
Banned
I agree with the OP.
I saw the EE about a month back and it vastly improved the experience.
I felt like it helped retain the spirit of the books because it padded out the violence with more fantastical plot.
I saw the EE about a month back and it vastly improved the experience.
I felt like it helped retain the spirit of the books because it padded out the violence with more fantastical plot.
Haha.
Just a note OP. It was not PJ's decision to do three movies. He wanted two and the studios told him to make three with very little extra preproduction time to scale up from two to three movies. This entire trilogy's problem was the rushed production schedule.
Making a kids books so freaking violent and dark is all on Peter though.
Making a kids books so freaking violent and dark is all on Peter though.
FF Seraphim
Member
Oh man I got to see this
RipperGrim
Member
Are you kidding me? The books went out of their way to explain how the companies ponies were killed and eaten by the goblins which the movies actually cut out, not to mention all the death that happened in the battle of the five armies
It's about tone not content.
RipperGrim
Member
The movies were way sillier than the book.
I'm rewatching LotR extended right now and it's actually startling how fast they are. In just moments we jump from scene to scene, making huge bounds in geographic traversal and character development. I can definitely picture how longer scenes where the characters have room to breathe could potentially help in the Hobbit.
Took me 4-5 sittings to finish An Unexpected Journey. Got dragged to the cinema by a couple of friends to watch Desolation of Smaug and only one of us was awake through all of it (note - not me). Still yet to watch Battle of the Five Armies but honestly have no will or desire beyond feeling like I owe it to my love of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I'll get to it eventually, perhaps I'll watch the extended version of that one.
Thanks for the review subby. But I still can't make myself watch the Trilogy again.
It is nice to here that things I felt were missing from the movie (more Bilbo) were added back in. But it doesn't negate the terrible additions that were in regular cut.
Azog plot in all three film was not well thought out. I hate the stupid ice fight.
Bard was a Disney hero with the power of family. His taking down of Smaug is terrible.
Curses on all you who reminded me Alfred was a thing.
Tauriel was fine until they forced in the romantic subplot.
Bilbo and Thorin never really jelled as the centerpiece personal conflict. Bilbo came off as a extra in a film series that was suppose to be about his adventures.
The movies are just messy cause they tried to give time to every little detail in Middle Earth with no thought how to weave the story lines into Bilbo's. The choice to leave so much of Blbo's story on the cutting room floor show they really lost the core of the story.
They didn't make the Hobbit. They made LOTR- the Prequel.
I would love to see a Hobbit where Jackson was given proper planning time to make it. Alias, it is not to be.
It is nice to here that things I felt were missing from the movie (more Bilbo) were added back in. But it doesn't negate the terrible additions that were in regular cut.
Azog plot in all three film was not well thought out. I hate the stupid ice fight.
Bard was a Disney hero with the power of family. His taking down of Smaug is terrible.
Curses on all you who reminded me Alfred was a thing.
Tauriel was fine until they forced in the romantic subplot.
Bilbo and Thorin never really jelled as the centerpiece personal conflict. Bilbo came off as a extra in a film series that was suppose to be about his adventures.
The movies are just messy cause they tried to give time to every little detail in Middle Earth with no thought how to weave the story lines into Bilbo's. The choice to leave so much of Blbo's story on the cutting room floor show they really lost the core of the story.
They didn't make the Hobbit. They made LOTR- the Prequel.
I would love to see a Hobbit where Jackson was given proper planning time to make it. Alias, it is not to be.
Return of the King is my favorite movie of all time. Five Armies competes for my least favorite movie of all time. I loathed every moment I was in that theatre and would have walked out if I wasn't with a group. Agreed the other 2 are alright. Not LotR of course, but still fun.
EE fixed a lot of my problems with Two Towers back in the day, which felt like it had the same problems the Hobbit movies did, trying to stretch the wrong content to fill out the middle bit of the story.
They don't do jack for the Hobbit movies besides make them longer.
There's a good three hour film in the Hobbit somewhere. One. A film.
They don't do jack for the Hobbit movies besides make them longer.
There's a good three hour film in the Hobbit somewhere. One. A film.
Megalosaro
Banned
The EES still don't solve the problem of Lego Legolas getting Orcrist
That's fucking Thorin's iconic weapon
That's fucking Thorin's iconic weapon
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