The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Extended Edition 2D 3D Statues 11/5/13

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

It's in stock now!

EDIT: Yikes, not going to pay $50 for this tho!

Mine is on the way UK to Sweden might take some days though depending on shipping?

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

Unless the extended edition makes it bloated :/

I haven't seen the Hobbit EE yet, but with other Jackson EEs, I've found (subjective opinion) they have made their films flow a bit more smoothly, so that's a good trade-off. A better flow and clearer exposition almost make a film seem shorter.

Which raises an interesting implication: As much as I like Jackson as a filmmaker, I seem to feel his EEs are better versions of his films. Perhaps that means I feel Jackson overtrims his films for their first cinema releases?

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

I haven't seen the Hobbit EE yet, but with other Jackson EEs, I've found (subjective opinion) they have made their films flow a bit more smoothly, so that's a good trade-off. A better flow and clearer exposition almost make a film seem shorter.

Which raises an interesting implication: As much as I like Jackson as a filmmaker, I seem to feel his EEs are better versions of his films. Perhaps that means I feel Jackson overtrims his films for their first cinema releases?

This EE doesn't feel smoother compared to the Rings EE. The theatrical cut felt smooth already, even if the film was bloated. Here, the editing of the new scenes, in some parts, are kind of rough.

On top of that, there are some tracked music from the Rings films that are used in the new scenes and it's obvious as hell. Distracting even.

Besides certain elements in the Rivendell sequence, the rest of the new stuff is a complete wash. The theatrical cut is the better version.

[Lyle_JP]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

Unless the extended edition makes it bloated :/

A breezy afternoon read is being turned into a 9+ hour epic, and we're going to ponder whether an extra 20 minutes makes it bloated or not?

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

This EE doesn't feel smoother compared to the Rings EE. The theatrical cut felt smooth already, even if the film was bloated. Here, the editing of the new scenes, in some parts, are kind of rough.

Fair enough. Still, I'm reserving judgement for myself.

I didn't feel the cinema version was very smooth, myself. To be really honest, I feel AUJ as a film is a bit "off" — compared to the three LotR flicks, certainly — so I wouldn't be surprised if the EE of it is a bit misjudged, as well. Is Jackson trying to do too many things at once, perhaps? I can't help wondering. I didn't feel AUJ was very balanced storytelling overall, which is why I've been hoping the EE might balance it a little better.

[JohnWayne]

I love special features too much to hold out from buying these movies until the EE releases. Plus I love my digibook

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Fair enough. Still, I'm reserving judgement for myself.

I didn't feel the cinema version was very smooth, myself. To be really honest, I feel AUJ as a film is a bit "off" — compared to the three LotR flicks, certainly — so I wouldn't be surprised if the EE of it is a bit misjudged, as well. Is Jackson trying to do too many things at once, perhaps? I can't help wondering. I didn't feel AUJ was very balanced storytelling overall, which is why I've been hoping the EE might balance it a little better.

I'll agree with the "off" feeling to the theatrical cut even if I felt the editing was smooth within that cut. I, personally, think that "off" feel has to do with the concept of the project to begin with. If you've read the Hobbit, you can just feel how overblown the first film is, if you have a strong memory of the book.

The EE doesn't help matters. On top of that, Jackson has his own "Jedi Rocks" moment in the EE. It's atrocious. Not even kidding.

[Indiana Jones]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

It's in stock now!

EDIT: Yikes, not going to pay $50 for this tho!

I believe they won't ship early to US customers, only to those overseas.

Originally Posted by wesslan

Mine is on the way UK to Sweden might take some days though depending on shipping?

Takes on average 2-5 days to get from the US to the UK then however long it will take to get from the UK to Sweden, end of next week would be my guess.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

If you've read the Hobbit, you can just feel how overblown the first film is, if you have a strong memory of the book.

I deeply admire Tolkien's conception of Middle Earth, and the awesome inventiveness of the overall story, but I wouldn't hold the novel of The Hobbit up as any example of good storytelling. It's fragmented, discordant, and very uneven in style. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given its history, it reads like several separate episodes of ad-hoc bedtime stories collated as a single book, without a guiding thread of narrative style imposed.

Several sections of it move quite slowly and in relative detail, while in other parts quite a bit of story is told in what is effectively précis form, covering only a page or two. So comparisons between screen time of the film and page numbers of the book are essentially meaningless.

I don't have a problem, myself, that Jackson has turned it into a Big Story, since I think it always was one really, struggling to break free of Tolkien's then-inexperienced storytelling ability. Especially so, since Jackson's incorporated so much of Tolkien's later inventiveness for sections of the story that he left inspecific in the original novel's text.

My own issue with AUJ is that there's almost no light and shade in it; almost everything happens at full-tilt and set-piece pace and volume turned up to 11. It's no surprise to me that most people's favourite bit (from comments I've read) is the "riddles in the dark" sequence — on top of the fact that it's beautifully staged and performed, it's also most noticeably the only real part of the film that slows down and gets focussed in clearly on what's happening, rather than the camera swooping and sweeping past boss CGI. I personally feel the film needed much more of the drama and less of the wow.

On top of that, Jackson has his own "Jedi Rocks" moment in the EE. It's atrocious. Not even kidding.

I'm guessing you're talking about the Great Goblin's song? As I think I've already said, he was far from my favourite character in the film. He made me cringe, even in the cinema cut. The fact that Jackson and Walsh are selling the EE by reference to "even more of the Great Goblin!" is not, for me, good news.

[Pieter V]

The EE is pretty disappointing. It doesn't feel EE, like The Lord of the Rings were.
Maybe because there weren't much new scenes. Only the Rivendell part stands out and the Great Goblin scene.

I have more the feeling they added more quick camera shots in action moments and more little pieces you won't directly notice.

After seeing TC vs EE, well the TC was already more then finished. Or they have should added the EE footage in the first place.

[Jumpman]

I'm guessing you're talking about the Great Goblin's song? As I think I've already said, he was far from my favourite character in the film. He made me cringe, even in the cinema cut. The fact that Jackson and Walsh are selling the EE by reference to "even more of the Great Goblin!" is not, for me, good news.

Yeah, I'm talking about the Great Goblin song. Just...whoa!

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by Pieter V

The EE is pretty disappointing. It doesn't feel EE, like The Lord of the Rings were.
Maybe because there weren't much new scenes. Only the Rivendell part stands out and the Great Goblin scene.

I have more the feeling they added more quick camera shots in action moments and more little pieces you won't directly notice.

After seeing TC vs EE, well the TC was already more then finished. Or they have should added the EE footage in the first place.

The EE's of this new trilogy isn't going to feel like the Rings pictures EE because of how late they added that third film to the overall production. If the third film hadn't been added, I think we'd have lengthier EE for the Hobbit story.

[rickah88]

I don't mind being in the minority by saying I'm looking forward to my EE version!

[Kryptonic]

Mostly getting this for the extra features. The added scenes are just icing on the cake.

[ChristmasFnatic]

So much haters for the EE, similar things again and again for weeks now.

I hope they are wrong though and that Ill still enjoy the EE.

[BaerGriggs]

I for one am going to continue being optimistic for this release. Some of the scenes still sound very interesting to me and I'm not going to let a simple thing like a song ruin that for me. And the HD extras are really the call for me anyway.

[BaronVH]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

Yeah, I'm talking about the Great Goblin song. Just...whoa!

As cheesy as it is, the Great Goblin was my favorite character. That, alone, makes me glad I waited. To each his own.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by BaronVH

As cheesy as it is, the Great Goblin was my favorite character. That, alone, makes me glad I waited. To each his own.

I guess. To me, it's just a really poor moment/sequence. I can completely see why it was cut. And it's not the only scene.

Again, what was added doesn't really add anything except for maybe 2 minutes in Rivendell.

[mamamikey]

I may have to buy this. Especially for the statue that is included. Glad I held off on this release for awhile.

[Falaskan]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

Besides certain elements in the Rivendell sequence, the rest of the new stuff is a complete wash. The theatrical cut is the better version.

Are all the extended scenes online yet. I would like to see for myself. If so, I'd just cancel my order of the Extended and get the Theatrical.