The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition (November 4th, 2013) Pre-orders

[Buddy Ackerman]

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 3D Blu-ray Steelbook



The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 3D Blu-ray





The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Extended Edition


Released November 4th 2013.

The new Extended Cut includes 13 minutes of extra film footage that extends individual scenes, making this the must-see, definitive version for fans. All disc versions of the Extended Edition include nearly nine hours of new bonus features.

"I'm thrilled that the Extended Edition will give fans the opportunity to experience certain key scenes in the film as they were originally shot, as well as an abundance of special features," said Jackson. "It's exciting to present this expanded and enriched version of An Unexpected Journey to allow fans to fully immerse themselves in the movie, before seeing the second part of the trilogy."

Tech specs have yet to be fully detailed, but are expected to be revealed soon. Cover art is final. Special features available on both the 2D and 3D releases of the Extended Edition include:

The Filmmakers' Commentary - Director/writer/producer Peter Jackson and writer/co-producer Philippa Boyens provide their perspective and stories on creating the first film.


New Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth - From Matamata to Queenstown, travel with Peter Jackson and his team across the stunning locations of New Zealand, transformed by the filmmakers into Middle-Earth.


The Appendices Part 7: A Long-Expected Journey - A 14-part chronological history of the filming of An Unexpected Journey, covering pre-production in the various departments of the film in the months leading up to the start of principal photography, the boot camp training for the main cast, and the work done on set chronologically through the three shooting blocks and in the world of its digital effects. Chapters include:

The Journey Back to Middle-Earth
Riddles in the Dark: Gollum's Cave
An Unexpected Party: Bag End
Roast Mutton: Trollshaws Forest
Bastion of the Greenwood: Rhosgobel
A Short Rest: Rivendell and London
Over Hill: The Misty Mountains
Under Hill: Goblin Town
Out of the Frying Pan: The Forest Ledge
Return to Hobbiton: The Shire
The Epic of Scene 88: Strath Taieri
The Battle of Moria: Azanulbizar
Edge of the Wilderland: Pick-ups and the Carrock
Home Is Behind, the World Is Ahead

The Appendices Part 8: Return to Middle-Earth - Another selection of documentaries and featurettes await, further detailing the development, design and production of An Unexpected Journey:

The Company of Thorin - Explores the characters and backgrounds of the five families of dwarves and the company of actors chosen to play Thorin's company on the Quest of the Lonely Mountain. Chapters include:

Assembling the Dwarves
Thorin, Fili & Kili
Balin & Dwalin
Oin & Gloin
Dori, Nori & Ori
Bifur, Bofur & Bombur

Mr. Baggins: The 14th Member - A revealing look at the film's charismatic and talented lead actor, Martin Freeman.


Durin's Folk: Creating the Dwarves - Reveals the journey and process of designing, conceptualizing and physically realizing the dwarves in The Hobbit.


The Peoples and Denizens of Middle-Earth - Focuses on the realization of new characters and creatures encountered in the first film, from casting to characterization to physical and digital design. Chapters include:

The Stone Trolls
Radagast the Brown
Goblins
Azog the Defiler

Realms of the Third Age: From Bag End to Goblin Town - Follows the creation of the Middle-Earth locations from conceptual design to set and prop building to fully digital realities. Realms explored include:

Hobbiton
Rhosgobel
The Misty Mountains
Goblin Town

The Songs of The Hobbit - A look at the realization of Tolkien's songs in An Unexpected Journey.

Other countries are getting a Weta statue version, much like the LOTR:EE boxsets. Hopefully it will pop up for sale through a UK retailer soon.

[blurayoliver]

Fingers crossed for 3D too, with more special features

[BarnDoor]

I'm hoping for Dwarven Sentinel statues (as seen outside Erebor) as bookends for the WETA piece.

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by blurayoliver

Fingers crossed for 3D too, with more special features

Both are as good as certain. The Digital Bits confirmed the 3D version with Warners back in March, the additional extras (the meaty documentaries and in-depth commentarues) are part and parcel of the Extended Editions.

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

I'm hoping for Dwarven Sentinel statues (as seen outside Erebor) as bookends for the WETA piece.

Ooh, nice idea! I'd love that - then I could have each trilogy presented with 'matching' bookends (though it the DVD EEs of LOTR that are on display with the Argonath statues in my flat - the blu-ray boxset just didn't look right).

Speaking of which, I hope they carry over a version of the 'book' packaging they had for LOTR. It really suited it.

[chip75]

The special-features will have to be amazing for me to buy part one again. I wouldn't mind seeing a condensed film once part three is finished. Some of part one was just torture to get through, I enjoyed it but it was a terrible disappointment compared to The Fellowship of the Ring.

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by chip75

The special-features will have to be amazing for me to buy part one again. I wouldn't mind seeing a condensed film once part three is finished. Some of part one was just torture to get through, I enjoyed it but it was a terrible disappointment compared to The Fellowship of the Ring.

What do you mean by "condensed film"? You mean like a fan edit?

[BarnDoor]

If they mirror the DVD EE packaging, I'm interested to see what colour they'll go with. The deluxe album and merchandise suggests some kind of autumnal colouring - brown and gold.

[Foggy]

Hopefully the extended edition will be sold in 2D as well (you would think it was a given but you're never too sure when it comes to Warner Bros.) otherwise I'll probably just get the original cut which will hopefully be cheaper by the time.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Buddy Ackerman

What do you mean by "condensed film"? You mean like a fan edit?

Something more official than that. I know it will never happen. I saw The Keep the other day and it had whole chunks cut out of Michael Mann's original cut so it was almost incomprehensible unless you'd read the book beforehand. I think you could cut a lot out of The Hobbit and still have a decent story. The scenes in the Shire went on and on trying to introduce characters who's name I couldn't remember five minutes later. It was all nicely done but it just dragged on for me personally.

Saying that whenever I watch Batman Begins I skip ahead to Bruce been picked up by Alfred in the Wayne Enterprises jet. I can't stand the stuff before it. I felt he went around the World to learn how to be Batman and the Batmobile and all his gear is basically in the sub-basement of Wayne Enterprises? Bollocks.

[Indiana Jones]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Hopefully the extended edition will be sold in 2D as well (you would think it was a given but you're never too sure when it comes to Warner Bros.) otherwise I'll probably just get the original cut which will hopefully be cheaper by the time.

I think that's a given, there was more uncertainly over whether the EE would be released in 3D.

[The Apocalypse]

I nearly bought the theatrical edition several times, but as with LOTR, this one is the one to go for. So, when it releases, I'll be sure to pick it up.

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by chip75

Something more official than that. I know it will never happen. I saw The Keep the other day and it had whole chunks cut out of Michael Mann's original cut so it was almost incomprehensible unless you'd read the book beforehand. I think you could cut a lot out of The Hobbit and still have a decent story. The scenes in the Shire went on and on trying to introduce characters who's name I couldn't remember five minutes later. It was all nicely done but it just dragged on for me personally.

Saying that whenever I watch Batman Begins I skip ahead to Bruce been picked up by Alfred in the Wayne Enterprises jet. I can't stand the stuff before it. I felt he went around the World to learn how to be Batman and the Batmobile and all his gear is basically in the sub-basement of Wayne Enterprises? Bollocks.

Haha! As much as I enjoy Batman Begins, I like your blunt summary of its opening section as "bollocks".

I see what you mean about The Hobbit. Personally, I love it and can't get my head around why, of all the scenes, people say that the Shire/Bag-End scenes went on to long when, for me, every single second of that was a joy and the closest to the original book. But there we go.

As it is, I honestly - even with my obvious bias removed - believe that An Unexpected Journey will fare much better when the trilogy is complete and it becomes part one of a story as opposed to an individual film (though I still love it as the latter). What seem to be dragging bits now (for instance, the Dol Guldur and White Council stuff) may end up looking much better when we've seen where it goes. Likewise, the introduction of characters that you mention above may be easier to take when you've followed the characters to the end of their journey.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Buddy Ackerman

As it is, I honestly - even with my obvious bias removed - believe that An Unexpected Journey will fare much better when the trilogy is complete and it becomes part one of a story as opposed to an individual film (though I still love it as the latter).

I agree with you on that 100% but the wait for the entire story is too much!

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by chip75

I agree with you on that 100% but the wait for the entire story is too much!

It's sad that I only have to glance at my phone screen for this but... only 546 days to go until There and Back Again!

[AndyXL]

I'll pass on this.

I found the theatrical release long and drawn out enough...it was painfully slow in places.

LotR extended editions were great, but that's because there was so much content...This trilogy could have probably been done in one movie.

[Natty]

Whoop. Really hoping this adds to the film as I think it needs some extra footage. The TE was alright but it certainly was Jacksons finest hour imho.

[nuttyhotspurs]

Originally Posted by Natty

Whoop. Really hoping this adds to the film as I think it needs some extra footage. The TE was alright but it certainly was Jacksons finest hour imho.

what extra footage are you hoping for? i think that more will only make the story even more unrecognisable. unless footage from the actual book was left out lol

[Villiam Hayes]

I have the 3D release and I enjoyed it although I agree with others that it could have been made shorter so an extended edition won't interest me.
I still only own the TC of the LOTR trilogy.

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by nuttyhotspurs

what extra footage are you hoping for?

The bit I'm most excited about it seeing Bilbo react to Rivendell - him falling in love with it is essential to his final fate and the theatrical edition scrimped on it. Seeing him approach the Shards of Narsil in the first trailer gave me goosebumps so I was disappointed it never made it in - the perfect, subtle foreshadowing and hearing Bilbo and Elrond converse over it is an exciting prospect.



I'm also looking forward to the child Bilbo/Gandalf scenes (though if they go into the middle of their meeting I can understand why they would be cut), more of Bilbo in the Shire before the Unexpected Party and extra of the goblin scribe who was a fantastically designed creature.

[rapta]

I do wish people wouldn't keep comparing the storylines of The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring because they're clearly not comparable. Personally I much prefer young Bilbo and the company of Dwarves and there were too many Hobbits in The Lord Of The Rings. The best thing about The Hobbit is that we get to know THE Hobbit who started this all, and in my opinion Tolkien's strongest character. I really enjoyed the film and welcome an extended cut - my entire reason for ignoring the initial release was to wait for the eventual Extended Trilogy much like I did with The Lord Of The Rings - would be nicer, and better for them, if they made these extended versions volumes of sorts and they would go inside a collectable box that would either come with the first or third film, or separately, so we could collect all three extended versions together without having to wait 3 years for an eventual boxset. Of course it would take a logistical leap on the distributors part but would be a great touch, and even an incentive to collect and purchase each volume as it comes out (the idea being if you have the first film and the box, you now have to fill that box with said second and third films). It's a wonder why they wouldn't do that with these films as they probably could pull it off pretty well and they have plenty of time to do it, and now there isn't a riff-raff about platforms - as I had said I updated my extended edition VHS's of LOTR, which I had bought each year they had originally been released, to blu-ray just this year, so obviously there were VHS, DVD and Blu-Ray editions of the extended versions about. Now it's just DVD and Blu-Ray, and I can see DVD perhaps dying out by the end of the decade unless there's a financial means for it (i.e. may be cheaper to release some films on DVD, I know Artificial Eye tend to do that).