The Hobbit Trilogy 4K UHD Extended & Theatrical (2012-2014)

[nick4Knight]

LOTR itself was not "faithful" to the books in that it had to make giant cuts, entire characters removed, leaps of narrative made and trims; as any good adaption should.

So if you looked at LOTR trilogy and then went "oh yeah but im sure they'll stick right to the hobbit when they do that one" you just deluded yourself. Peter Jackson never made such claim. It was honestly telegraphed a mile away he'd reference, harvest and mash up all Tolkien expanded universe to make a trilogy of Hobbitses 2.5+ hours each.

[bradnoyes]

Originally Posted by Spud_Almighty

How are they too young? Kids have wonderful imaginations, which is great for the Jackson films.

Honestly can' t think of many things that would be less engaging to my kid's imagination than watching Jackson's Hobbit movies. That's why I read him the book. So, you know, he could imagine things.

[morphinapg]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

True, the initial plan was for two movies, one that adapted the book and another that was basically LOTR 0.5 which would bridge between the two

This was only the plan when Del Toro was the director. When Jackson came on, it was two movies that covered the book and additional material from the appendices, but the footage they ended up shooting would have made two very long movies, and he felt cutting it into 3 felt more natural narratively as well.

[iaragorn1]

Originally Posted by morphinapg

This was only the plan when Del Toro was the director. When Jackson came on, it was two movies that covered the book and additional material from the appendices, but the footage they ended up shooting would have made two very long movies, and he felt cutting it into 3 felt more natural narratively as well.

This is more or less how I remember it; 2 movies, Del Toro moved to New Zealand for like a year and finally said F this, and Jackson revised it to his liking and piled on.

The Amazon TV show I'm sure will be a little of the Silmarillion, Lost Tales, Appendices and all the drafts that Tolkien left and his son compiled into book form.

I'm hoping for the best with the new show but there are going to be some major changes coming. For sure.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by morphinapg

This was only the plan when Del Toro was the director. When Jackson came on, it was two movies that covered the book and additional material from the appendices, but the footage they ended up shooting would have made two very long movies, and he felt cutting it into 3 felt more natural narratively as well.

I know. That’s why I said “the initial plan”. Never go full slimdude.

[Filmmaker]

I’m no GdT hater (though NIGHTMARE ALLEY proves yet again, much like Tim Burton before him, that he’s an excellent visualist but is hard pressed to recognize a decent script even if it bit him in the ass), but I will never stop being thankful he dropped out and this project fell back in PJ’s lap.

[iaragorn1]

Del Toro in the midst of some amazing movies or a bloated script (I liked these movies just saying) from what seems like a burned out director who had a script actually bite him in the ass and said make this movie.

[Deathbymonkeys]

Originally Posted by Spud_Almighty

How are they too young? Kids have wonderful imaginations, which is great for the Jackson films.

In the middle of watching all six films for the third time with my six year old. She's loving the heck out of it. Loves the Dwarves, Elves and all the Mordor stuff. She's particularly fascinated with the ring wraiths. Literally just away to watch Return of the King extended cut with her (in one sitting). \m/

There's no benefit in hiding your children from things. I was watching Terminator and Robocop at that age. She loves those too, just thinking about it lol.

Really should get The Hobbit in 4k. LoTR looks amazing. Would love to see a high frame rate version.

I used to read the hobbit all the time at 6. I showed my kid the movies last year at 5 and while he was a little Squirrely in parts with them being so long he loved them.

[Deathbymonkeys]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

I’m no GdT hater (though NIGHTMARE ALLEY proves yet again, much like Tim Burton before him, that he’s an excellent visualist but is hard pressed to recognize a decent script even if it bit him in the ass), but I will never stop being thankful he dropped out and this project fell back in PJ’s lap.

Agreed. I personally love every second of these movies and only wish they had been longer.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Deathbymonkeys

I used to read the hobbit all the time at 6. I showed my kid the movies last year at 5 and while he was a little Squirrely in parts with them being so long he loved them.

Both of my kids love them, too and loved hearing The Hobbit read to them. We watch all the Middle Earth movies annually. World is a rainbow after all...

[Lord Method Man]

Originally Posted by iaragorn1

The Amazon TV show I'm sure will be a little of the Silmarillion, Lost Tales, Appendices and all the drafts that Tolkien left and his son compiled into book form.
.

They don't have the rights to adapt The Silmarillion or The Book of Lost Tales.

[iaragorn1]

Originally Posted by Lord Method Man

They don't have the rights to adapt The Silmarillion or The Book of Lost Tales.

Never meant to imply that the whole of either of those books could be adapted and thinking about it more now, I shouldn't have said Lost Tales but Unfinished Tales. He wrote a lot of tales.

[Alister_M]

Originally Posted by iaragorn1

This is more or less how I remember it; 2 movies, Del Toro moved to New Zealand for like a year and finally said F this, and Jackson revised it to his liking and piled on.

GDT was allegedly enjoying NZ a bit too much, he'd gained a ton of weight after becoming addicted to Pavlova. So even if he was completely committed to making the films, he had to leave for the sake of his health

[joekun]

I saw the first movie in the theater and really liked it (despite the awful HFR). Went to see the 2nd and totally lost interest. Ended up getting the 3rd from the library just to finish it up. I have no desire for an extended cut, but if they actually went back and cut it down to the story of the book (I know there are changes with orcs and such, which is all fine, but lose Legolas and all that jazz) I would buy the set just to have that. It’s a shame really. There is something good in all that footage.

[fredman]

I watched this over the last 3 days and enjoyed it more than the first time around with the blu-ray set. The entire story did drag a bit in the second movie and it was disappointing that it pretty much ends with the intro of Smaug, but the 3rd movie was redeeming. References throughout made me anticipate the next viewing of LOTR. I may have missed it but was a little surprised that I saw no mention in the credits for the Gollum character. I did slag this somewhat after the first viewing as an extended money grab (I read the books decades ago during the heyday in the late 60s - early 70s) but in retrospect of my second viewing it's a good companion piece and 'prequel' to the LOTR epic. I thought the UHD PQ was quite good (can't really comment on AQ as I listen via headphones) although my UBK80 did hiccup on the layer change of the last movie between chapters 35 and 36 where Gandalf meets Legolas and Taurian during the battle; all in all it was better than anticipated the second time around.

[schultz.kevin1972]

I'd only ever seen An Unexpected Journey, and that in the theater back in the day (sheesh, nearly 10 years already?). But after watching Cassie's reaction videos on Popcorn in Bed on YouTube, I decided I had to see the rest. So I splurged and ordered the Middle Earth 4K box, even though I already had LOTR in its initial Extended Blu-ray release. Hope I'm not disappointed (I don't think I will be).

(And thank you Prime for Next Day delivery, expecting it today!)

[Hydra Spectre]

Originally Posted by Spud_Almighty

How are they too young? Kids have wonderful imaginations, which is great for the Jackson films.

In the middle of watching all six films for the third time with my six year old. She's loving the heck out of it. Loves the Dwarves, Elves and all the Mordor stuff. She's particularly fascinated with the ring wraiths. Literally just away to watch Return of the King extended cut with her (in one sitting). \m/

There's no benefit in hiding your children from things. I was watching Terminator and Robocop at that age. She loves those too, just thinking about it lol.

Really should get The Hobbit in 4k. LoTR looks amazing. Would love to see a high frame rate version.

Warner should've authored The Hobbit 4K discs as 4K 60fps with the 48fps films presented with a bit of judder.
Some judder is a good sacrifice for the HFR versions of The Hobbit.

It would also be great if Warner Bros. could release HFR 3D discs for The Hobbit that are 720p but are in 3D and HFR. Blu-ray 3D can only handle 1080p at 24fps or 720p at 50 or 60fps.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Hydra Spectre

Warner should've authored The Hobbit 4K discs as 4K 60fps with the 48fps films presented with a bit of judder.
Some judder is a good sacrifice for the HFR versions of The Hobbit.

It would also be great if Warner Bros. could release HFR 3D discs for The Hobbit that are 720p but are in 3D and HFR. Blu-ray 3D can only handle 1080p at 24fps or 720p at 50 or 60fps.

Adding judder to enable the HFR versions to be put on disc is utterly stupid because that betrays the entire point of using HFR in the first place.

If they really wanted to they could've interpolated a 60fps version from the 48 using certain tools that are out there but it would've taken a lot of time and money to do so, so naturally it never entered into the conversation.

[Zombie Dude]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Adding judder to enable the HFR versions to be put on disc is utterly stupid because that betrays the entire point of using HFR in the first place.

If they really wanted to they could've interpolated a 60fps version from the 48 using certain tools that are out there but it would've taken a lot of time and money to do so, so naturally it never entered into the conversation.

It's surprising to me that they even bothered filming in that framerate if it can't even be viewed on disc.
I know 3D setups are a bit rare again now but at least at the time it was a fad at the theaters we had the means to buy a setup to view them that way at home.
I guess motion interpolation is the closest way to view these in a similar way to how they looked with the higher framerate.

[slask]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

I’m no GdT hater (though NIGHTMARE ALLEY proves yet again, much like Tim Burton before him, that he’s an excellent visualist but is hard pressed to recognize a decent script even if it bit him in the ass), but I will never stop being thankful he dropped out and this project fell back in PJ’s lap.

Actually a fresh new take is what was needed for another ride in the Middle Earth.. especially with Jackson being clearly burnt out from the previous experience.
The Hobbits are not bad movies imho, but they are undeniably plagued by terrible choices in many ways (writing/adaptation, CGI abuse, pacing, acting..).

Plus, I think Del Toro would've managed to make 2 movies only, and maybe he would've focused more on storytelling rather than 3D and HFR.......