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

[XV-LTR1]

1. Why would anyone preorder the Walmart exclusive versions without knowing what they are?
2. Are the Walmart exclusive editions real or just a website mistake?
3. Assuming that they are real, what would Walmart have to gain by keeping them a secret until release day?

[Nostalgic2001]

I wish the Walmart exclusive could be a digipack like the nice treatment the DVD is getting, I also like that cover the best. But its not likely.

[TitusTroy]

Originally Posted by Farid

Review is up.

The film deserves a better rating.

I've seen the extended edition. It's pretty damn good.

the theatrical edition blu-ray review got a 4.0 for the movie itself while the extended edition got a 3.5...strange that the extra footage warranted a downgrade in the score

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by wormraper

different reviewers. remember a review is an opinion piece for the writeup and each reviewer will have their own opinions

Same reviewer. Ken Brown.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Mandalorian

Same reviewer. Ken Brown.

yeah, I just noticed that....


well, to revise.... more isn't always better. I'm firmly in the camp that believes the extended LOTR's are a DRASTIC step down from the theatricals. the extended stuff is just bloat for the most part

[Ken Brown]

Personally my least favorite part of the film is the Goblin-town stretch. It's now much, much longer (with a musical number to boot), which didn't go over so well with me. That played into the small reduction in score. Ultimately, though, my review was stating that I thought the extended cut wasn't quite as good as the theatrical cut, so I thought going with the same score would be confusing.

Like I said in the review, some people will enjoy the extended cut more, some will enjoy it less. Maybe I'll be in the minority

(Side note: I love the LOTR extended cuts!)

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by Ken Brown

Personally my least favorite part of the film is the Goblin-town stretch. It's now much, much longer (with a musical number to boot), which didn't go over so well with me. That played into the small reduction in score. Ultimately, though, my review was stating that I thought the extended cut wasn't quite as good as the theatrical cut, so I thought going with the same score would be confusing.

Like I said in the review, some people will enjoy the extended cut more, some will enjoy it less. Maybe I'll be in the minority

(Side note: I love the LOTR extended cuts!)

Always nice to have you guys in the threads. Thanks for the clarification.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by Ken Brown

Personally my least favorite part of the film is the Goblin-town stretch. It's now much, much longer (with a musical number to boot), which didn't go over so well with me. That played into the small reduction in score. Ultimately, though, my review was stating that I thought the extended cut wasn't quite as good as the theatrical cut, so I thought going with the same score would be confusing.

Like I said in the review, some people will enjoy the extended cut more, some will enjoy it less. Maybe I'll be in the minority

(Side note: I love the LOTR extended cuts!)

I can definitely understand the notion of the Goblin Town sequence dragging the score down. I've watched the extended cut a few times now and yep, I fast forward through Goblin Town, especially the new musical number. It just doesn't work.

I can almost make the case for the musical number in Rivendell not working either. The dwarves clean up after themselves at Biblo's but act like knuckleheads in the extended cut in Rivendell? It doesn't really work, even if the performances are great.

And yet, it's the stuff with Bilbo in Rivendell that ultimately saves the extended cut of this film. Frankly, why the hell was it cut in the first place? That new stuff with him in Rivendell was, to me, essential to the arc created for this first film.

Peter Jackson doesn't make it easy when it comes to choosing between which cut is the best to watch.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by Ken Brown

Personally my least favorite part of the film is the Goblin-town stretch. It's now much, much longer (with a musical number to boot), which didn't go over so well with me. That played into the small reduction in score. Ultimately, though, my review was stating that I thought the extended cut wasn't quite as good as the theatrical cut, so I thought going with the same score would be confusing.

Like I said in the review, some people will enjoy the extended cut more, some will enjoy it less. Maybe I'll be in the minority

(Side note: I love the LOTR extended cuts!)

This is one of those situations where I had the exact opposite reaction. I now like the Goblin Town section much more with the extended material (including the song!). Most importantly, Bilbo has a full, fleshed out arc - which the theatrical cut shortchanged tremendously (this alone raises my score for the film). Overall, I think the EE was quite a stronger film. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

[ChuckT43]

This is how you release a film. Tons of extras not spread out across retailers. A release week price of $20 for the 2d version is an absolute steal. It's funny, here is a release that if it was priced a little higher it would be justified. I can't wait to pick this up.

[TitusTroy]

after being spoiled with the LOTR Extended trilogy this seems like a bit of a letdown in terms of extra content...FOTR had 30 extra minutes...Two Towers had 40 and ROTK had 50...Hobbit: AUJ's measly 14 additional minutes is a disappointment...not to mention the content doesn't seem as satisfying

I think when they made the decision to turn the movie into a trilogy versus 2 movies it changed the value of these Extended Editions

[NYorker]

Now after reading the review, I'm considering canceling my preorder and going withe the TE. Anyone else feels the same?

[LesPaul]

Originally Posted by TitusTroy

after being spoiled with the LOTR Extended trilogy this seems like a bit of a letdown in terms of extra content...FOTR had 30 extra minutes...Two Towers had 40 and ROTK had 50...Hobbit: AUJ's measly 14 additional minutes is a disappointment...not to mention the content doesn't seem as satisfying

I think when they made the decision to turn the movie into a trilogy versus 2 movies it changed the value of these Extended Editions

You are getting over 9 hours of extras mind.

[Edword]

Originally Posted by ChuckT43

This is how you release a film. Tons of extras not spread out across retailers. A release week price of $20 for the 2d version is an absolute steal. It's funny, here is a release that if it was priced a little higher it would be justified. I can't wait to pick this up.

Exactly. While I love the $20 price, I don't think I'd complain about $22.99 or $24.99 considering what we are getting in this release. I'm getting tired of multiple retailer exclusives with the special features spread out. Personally, I think retailer exclusives should just be about special packaging ie, slipcovers, steelbooks or digibooks.

Originally Posted by LesPaul

You are getting over 9 hours of extras mind.

Yep! I wasn't expecting tons of bonus footage like LOTR, but all of the special features are still certainly worth it.

[RyanPom]

Originally Posted by NYorker

Now after reading the review, I'm considering canceling my preorder and going withe the TE. Anyone else feels the same?

I'm excited to see that Smaug discussion in that one feature.

[Doctor Jack]

Originally Posted by NYorker

Now after reading the review, I'm considering canceling my preorder and going withe the TE. Anyone else feels the same?

Not me. I want the extended cut even more so I can decide for myself which cut is better. Plus, even if some of it doesn't work, for me at least, the more time I can spend in Middle Earth the better. I still wish the LOTR EE were even longer than they are.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by NYorker

Now after reading the review, I'm considering canceling my preorder and going withe the TE. Anyone else feels the same?

Hell no. The two bonus discs are worth $20 alone. I've heard enough people say that the extended cut is superior to be pretty assured that it's as good, if not better than the theatrical cut.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

Hell no. The two bonus discs are worth $20 alone. I've heard enough people say that the extended cut is superior to be pretty assured that it's as good, if not better than the theatrical cut.

Like with the Rings EE, it just depends on how you feel about each addition. I think, because of the Bilbo arc being complete in this EE, this sort of feels like the superior version.

But, some of the new additions are basically 50/50.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Doctor Jack

Not me. I want the extended cut even more so I can decide for myself which cut is better. Plus, even if some of it doesn't work, for me at least, the more time I can spend in Middle Earth the better. I still wish the LOTR EE were even longer than they are.

I agree with the first part. I do at least want to see the EE so I can make up my own mind. I'll probably end up owning both versions, just like the LOTR movies.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

Peter Jackson doesn't make it easy when it comes to choosing between which cut is the best to watch.

Quoted for truth.