The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition - November 4, 2014

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by Adam_WM

RE: The Dwaves meeting Thranduil



Why was it removed? Does an extended scene make the scene redundant or something?

It wasn't "removed". It was never in the film to begin with.

[Adam_WM]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

It wasn't "removed". It was never in the film to begin with.

Ah ok. I've only seen the theatrical version twice, so I didn't remember.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

Everything you said.

It's just such a shame. I love all the additions to the EE, but that scream just trivializes all the drama built up by the Thrain additions.

Honestly, the whole thing seems some kind of joke that is being played on us - like an April Fools or something. If only.

As much as I love Peter Jackson and almost consider these films my religion, this does seem a little out of touch. I can't imagine that he would willfully irritate fans- he comes across as being one himself- but I get the feeling that he wouldn't assume most people to recognize the scream in the context of the movie. Of course we all do because we're likely also intimately familiar with Spielberg and Lucas and the filmmakers who came before. But all of these guys come from a generation long before dvd and however tech-savvy they may be, they still make films that aren't necessarily intended to be held up to the kind of scrutiny we all give them.

I haven't seen the EE yet, but I don't know that it'll bother me all that much in a movie that has molten gold surfing.

[ChristmasFnatic]

Anyone have an idea how much the 3D will be on release day?

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by happydood

As much as I love Peter Jackson and almost consider these films my religion, this does seem a little out of touch. I can't imagine that he would willfully irritate fans- he comes across as being one himself- but I get the feeling that he wouldn't assume most people to recognize the scream in the context of the movie. Of course we all do because we're likely also intimately familiar with Spielberg and Lucas and the filmmakers who came before. But all of these guys come from a generation long before dvd and however tech-savvy they may be, they still make films that aren't necessarily intended to be held up to the kind of scrutiny we all give them.

I haven't seen the EE yet, but I don't know that it'll bother me all that much in a movie that has molten gold surfing.

The movie begins with Peter Jackson lumbering into frame, staring straight into the camera, and biting a carrot. Clearly he wasn't taking this movie seriously and he strikes that tone right from the beginning. As for Wilhelm screams, they were getting lame 10 years ago, time has not improved the in-joke.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

The movie begins with Peter Jackson lumbering into frame, staring straight into the camera, and biting a carrot. Clearly he wasn't taking this movie seriously and he strikes that tone right from the beginning. As for Wilhelm screams, they were getting lame 10 years ago, time has not improved the in-joke.

I don't disagree with you. And I don't think what you say is contrary to my point.

[Geoff D]

Jesus, are people still going on about that Wilhelm scream? It didn't bother me in the slightest.

Anyhoo, I really enjoyed the Smaug EE. I always bang on about Jackson's EEs belabouring the point and adding too much superfluous crap along with the good stuff ('twas ever thus for most extended versions, TBH), but this one really worked for me because it fills in a few extra character beats and corrects a few pacing missteps from the theatrical version. I mean, I've grown to really like the film precisely because it's so fast and furious, comparatively speaking, but it's in too much of a hurry to get from one scene to the next and it's great to have it fleshed out in the EE.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Jesus, are people still going on about that Wilhelm scream? It didn't bother me in the slightest.

I have started to wonder exactly why it's bugging me so much. It wasn't a great decision, surely, but I seem to be harping on this more that I think I usually would be. Maybe it's because I was looking forward so much to the added Thrain stuff, that the slightest thing that seems like a miscalculation is annoying me to higher degree than usual.

If the material had been in the movie when I saw it in theaters, scream and all, I doubt I'd have been going on about it so much.

Maybe it's just time to get out more.

Anyhoo, I really enjoyed the Smaug EE. I always bang on about Jackson's EEs belabouring the point and adding too much superfluous crap along with the good stuff ('twas ever thus for most extended versions, TBH), but this one really worked for me because it fills in a few extra character beats and corrects a few pacing missteps from the theatrical version. I mean, I've grown to really like the film precisely because it's so fast and furious, comparatively speaking, but it's in too much of a hurry to get from one scene to the next and it's great to have it fleshed out in the EE.

Yep, I absolutely agree. I actually feel like this could have the Theatrical Cut. So little of it was superfluous. The added beats enriched the film wonderfully, and actually helped with the pacing.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Jesus, are people still going on about that Wilhelm scream? It didn't bother me in the slightest.

Anyhoo, I really enjoyed the Smaug EE. I always bang on about Jackson's EEs belabouring the point and adding too much superfluous crap along with the good stuff ('twas ever thus for most extended versions, TBH), but this one really worked for me because it fills in a few extra character beats and corrects a few pacing missteps from the theatrical version. I mean, I've grown to really like the film precisely because it's so fast and furious, comparatively speaking, but it's in too much of a hurry to get from one scene to the next and it's great to have it fleshed out in the EE.

I'm starting to believe that this HOBBIT trilogy will end up being my favorite part of the Middle Earth Saga.

No matter how hard I try I can't get through THE TWO TOWERS or RETURN OF THE KING no matter which edition it is. It's just something about the story and couple that with the superfluous additions that Jackson added to those films (especially in comparison to the brilliance of THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING EE) and those films just don't fully work for me.

Not so with these HOBBIT movies. Yes, I was too perplexed as to why this book would get made into three films instead of one or maybe just two. But when you add in the fact that Tolkien kind of wanted to go back and redo the HOBBIT and then basically just decided to add the extras bits he wanted to tell in the appendices of RETURN OF THE KING, I kind of get what Jackson is going for with these films. In my humble opinion, the action is the problem with these HOBBIT films, not so much in how the story has been constructed to tell this tale. The action is laborious to a fault, but the story of Bilbo, Gandalf, and Thorin is fantastic in the way Jackson is trying to tell it...at least for me.

For me, there's something more grounded, more personal about a story of a guy, out of his element, trying to help his friends reclaim their home vs trying to save the world.

I know that's ass backwards but I think I prefer Biblo's story over Frodo's by a wide margin.

The EE of the DESOLATION OF SMAUG has kind of crystallized this.

[BarnDoor]

I think it's also because everything else in terms of new material was so good and this is the only misstep. Otherwise it would be pretty much perfect.

[Cook]

One problem I had with the theatrical cut was that it was bam bam bam bam bam until Laketown and then it just feels like it screeches to a halt with Laketown politics and internal drama that doesn't really inform on the quest itself. Up until Laketown the momentum and plot is all flowing off of AUJ. When you get to Laketown your introduced to a whole new set of matters and that section has the pace of the beginning of a film while all that came before feels like the climax section of a film which could be due to the fact that the first part through the barrel chase was originally the climax of AUJ. Not sure if I'm explaining this well, but it just felt like pace of the film was sorta lopsided and off in the theatrical cut. The EE seems to balance the overall pace a bit better which is really what I wanted more than anything.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by happydood

I don't disagree with you. And I don't think what you say is contrary to my point.

I wasn't disagreeing with you, either. Just saying "restraint" has never been Jackson's strong suit in these movies.

"Nobody tosses a dwarf!"

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Jesus, are people still going on about that Wilhelm scream? It didn't bother me in the slightest.....

I haven't watched the scene yet, so I'm not sure how much it will bother me, I just think that scream has been used WAY too much over the last few decades that it just sounds annoying; like the filmmakers were too lazy to get one of their actors to do a decent scream.

[Cook]

Originally Posted by gregmasciola

I haven't watched the scene yet, so I'm not sure how much it will bother me, I just think that scream has been used WAY too much over the last few decades that it just sounds annoying; like the filmmakers were too lazy to get one of their actors to do a decent scream.

The actor's scream is in the scene. It can be heard under the wilhelm scream.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by Cook

One problem I had with the theatrical cut was that it was bam bam bam bam bam until Laketown and then it just feels like it screeches to a halt with Laketown politics and internal drama that doesn't really inform on the quest itself. Up until Laketown the momentum and plot is all flowing off of AUJ. When you get to Laketown your introduced to a whole new set of matters and that section has the pace of the beginning of a film while all that came before feels like the climax section of a film which could be due to the fact that the first part through the barrel chase was originally the climax of AUJ. Not sure if I'm explaining this well, but it just felt like pace of the film was sorta lopsided and off in the theatrical cut. The EE seems to balance the overall pace a bit better which is really what I wanted more than anything.

You're on the money. And honestly, even in the EE, Laketown still doesn't really work because it's not as interesting as the rest.

[coulson96]

Just to be clear, i'm not usually one for extended cuts as i don't typically double dip. BUT WOW! After hearing and seeing clips of the Dol Guldur Material alone I NEED THIS! I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH THEY CUT FROM THAT IN THE THEATRICAL.

I mean Azog attacking gandalf takes place in an entirely different room from the one where he comes down the stairs and does his reveal itself spell in the theatrical plus so much more of the fortress is shown like corridors and stuff from the original trailers! Plus more mirkwood sounds great! AND THAT FLASHBACK WARNER BROS POSTED ON YOUTUBE IS EPIC! I make it no secret i see no problems with The Hobbit films and adore them as much as the marvel films!

The three nagging things i had with the Theatrical film were:

Wish there was more mirkwood

Wish there was more Dol Guldur

Azog's laugh after he hits gandalf is out of sync so it looks odd due to cuts.


THE EXTENDED SEEMS TO SOLVE ALL THREE! As in the extended Azog sequence, Azog laughs for longer and naturally and in sync. CAN'T WAIT TO GET THIS! Gonna 86 my theatrical BD. This is way better! Roll on 3rd of November (uk release)

Can't wait to see what it all looks like together and what else of Dol Guldur and Mirkwood other than the bridge clip there is.

[SethRex]

Hey guys there is a DVD edition right? I ask cause Amazon doesn't seem to show one in their site. I'm asking on behalf of a friend.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by SethRex

Hey guys there is a DVD edition right? I ask cause Amazon doesn't seem to show one in their site. I'm asking on behalf of a friend.

It's a Walmart exclusive I believe.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Hobbit...creen/38760768

[Optimus-Prime-Rox]

Originally Posted by SethRex

Hey guys there is a DVD edition right? I ask cause Amazon doesn't seem to show one in their site. I'm asking on behalf of a friend.

The DVD version will be $19.96 on Wal-Mart.com http://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Hobbit...creen/38760768

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by SethRex

Hey guys there is a DVD edition right? I ask cause Amazon doesn't seem to show one in their site. I'm asking on behalf of a friend.

Friends don't let friends DVD.