The Hobbit movies -- a revised viewpoint

[finarvyn]

When the Lord of the Rings movies came out I felt the three were as close to perfection as possible, but when the three Hobbit movies came out I was disappointed. It's not that such a thin book was stretched out into three movies, which seems to be a common objection. I loved the added content and the tie-in to the LotR movies and the fact that Peter Jackson filled in some details of what main characters were doing when they were "off camera" in the books. I liked some of the new characters introduced, and the fact that we got more depth about the dwarves of the Company. Before the movies, I felt like there were Thorin and Bombur and "the rest" without any real personality or distinction. All of those things made the three Hobbit trips into Middle-earth great.

I think my disappointment was in the CGI-heavy style that bordered on cartoonish in places. The scenes in Bilbo's home where dwarves are recklessly throwing and catching plates just seems too absurd and grates on my nerves. I never liked the storm giants throwing rocks during the storm, and always felt that this was more of an analogy for rough weather than an actual event, yet the movie showed giants tossing around boulders. Somehow that stuff diminished the movies for me and, other than the initial viewings with my family, I rarely ever re-watched the Hobbit movies.

But today I may have had an epiphany. I'm trapped home with Covid and my son suggested I watch the Hobbit movies. My reply was that I started to watch the first one a while back and just couldn't get into it. His reply was, "fine, so jump right into the second one." Sounded dumb but I decided to give it a go and it was interesting how much better the "trilogy" feels to me if a viewer starts with Desolation of Smaug. True, viewing this way caused me to lose the backstory of how the dwarves lost their home at the Lonely Mountain, but viewing this way also threw me right into the action. Loved it.

So, for those who were disappointed in the Hobbit movie trilogy, maybe try skipping #1 and going right into #2. See what you think. :-D

 

[d4rk3lf]

First of all, I wish you speedy recovery from Covid.

For me, even LOTR movies have some flaws that is very hard for me to swallow (mainly heavy characters digression from the book, and some stupid arguing scenes), so you can imagine how Hobbit movies felt to me?

Anyway, I wanted to show you that this guy took all 3 Hobbit movies and made an edit so it's as close to the book, as possible, while maintain continuity (not a single scene with Legolas here, for example)
I think he did an amazing job.

The Hobbit: The Bilbo Edition 3.0 (The Final Cut)

The Hobbit: The Bilbo Edition 3.0 An Unexpected Update – 6/01/2020: Hello everyone! Due to the ample time provided by COVID-19 quarantines, I finally have had time to address frequently repor…

goldfishblues.wordpress.com

Check it out.

 

[Ent]

Check it out.

Please just tell me before I try it..
did he eliminate Radagast and his bunnies ??

 

[d4rk3lf]

Please just tell me before I try it..
did he eliminate Radagast and his bunnies ??

Yes, everything that isn't in the book is not there....

Now I am not sure you're happy because of it, or you will miss bird's poo on the Radagast ear.

 

[Ent]

Now I am not sure you're happy because of it, or you will miss bird's poo on the Radagast ear

"There is much to be said for saying little." 😁

Yes, everything that isn't in the book is not there....

Thank you. you have done your part. Now I shall do mine. I've put a link to it so I can give it a look later.

 

[d4rk3lf]

Thank you. you have done your part. Now I shall do mine. I've put a link to it so I can give it a look later.

I watched it some time a go, and liked it pretty much.

If I remember correctly, he managed to avoid Azog completely too... or Azog just appeared as some random orc leader at the battle of five armies at very end (duel with Turin).
And yet, he managed to get really nice fluidity...
One thing I'0d personally improve is shorten even more that dinner in the beginning at Bilbo's house... other then that.. I from what I recall.. it's great...
This guy knows how to edit stuff.

 

[Elthir]

(duel with Turin).

Now that's some powerful editing!

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Oh darn -- I slipped up and reacted.

 

[ZehnWaters]

When the Lord of the Rings movies came out I felt the three were as close to perfection as possible, but when the three Hobbit movies came out I was disappointed. It's not that such a thin book was stretched out into three movies, which seems to be a common objection. I loved the added content and the tie-in to the LotR movies and the fact that Peter Jackson filled in some details of what main characters were doing when they were "off camera" in the books. I liked some of the new characters introduced, and the fact that we got more depth about the dwarves of the Company. Before the movies, I felt like there were Thorin and Bombur and "the rest" without any real personality or distinction. All of those things made the three Hobbit trips into Middle-earth great.

I think my disappointment was in the CGI-heavy style that bordered on cartoonish in places. The scenes in Bilbo's home where dwarves are recklessly throwing and catching plates just seems too absurd and grates on my nerves. I never liked the storm giants throwing rocks during the storm, and always felt that this was more of an analogy for rough weather than an actual event, yet the movie showed giants tossing around boulders. Somehow that stuff diminished the movies for me and, other than the initial viewings with my family, I rarely ever re-watched the Hobbit movies.

But today I may have had an epiphany. I'm trapped home with Covid and my son suggested I watch the Hobbit movies. My reply was that I started to watch the first one a while back and just couldn't get into it. His reply was, "fine, so jump right into the second one." Sounded dumb but I decided to give it a go and it was interesting how much better the "trilogy" feels to me if a viewer starts with Desolation of Smaug. True, viewing this way caused me to lose the backstory of how the dwarves lost their home at the Lonely Mountain, but viewing this way also threw me right into the action. Loved it.

So, for those who were disappointed in the Hobbit movie trilogy, maybe try skipping #1 and going right into #2. See what you think. :-D

It'd definitely a mixed bag. I don't mind CGI as much as others. Practical effects can look just as fake to me. I think the tone is very different because the tone of The Hobbit book is VERY different (do you see Tra-la-laing elves in LotR?).

Of all the things PJ added I actually liked Tauriel the best. I don't know why. I think I like the tragic story she goes through. I wish it wasn't a love triangle. I think Legolas being a protective, kind of bigoted older brother would have made more sense.

The White Council was fun to watch. It did happen in the background and while I don't like the compressed timeline it...makes sense I suppose.

 

[Ent]

the tone is very different because the tone of The Hobbit book is VERY different

Indeed...! And I actually enjoyed seeing some of that difference captured in the work, even if the manner of it wasn't entirely to my taste in a couple cases.
(aka: bunnies.)

 

[ZehnWaters]

Indeed...! And I actually enjoyed seeing some of that difference captured in the work, even if the manner of it wasn't entirely to my taste in a couple cases.
(aka: bunnies.)

I hated their version of Radagast.

 

[d4rk3lf]

Now that's some powerful editing!

Haha... that was cool burn bro

(now, on a serious note)

Now you got me curious, and I had to fast forward ending of that edit... and indeed.. there's no Azok at all.. not even as a random orc.. actually, I looked now at the last scene, and once again, being impressed how that guy edited it out.
Incredible...

In my 20's I was an editor on TV station, for several years, and I hope I have some credibility to agnowledge what is good to me... and now, after I watched again Turin's death, and how this guy made it... Peter Jackson is a child to him.

 

[Elthir]

I wish I had the skills!

But I barely know how to ediy edit this post.

 

[ZehnWaters]

I wish I had the skills!

But I barely know how to ediy edit this post.

And I. My YouTube channel might have taken shape by now.

 

[finarvyn]

Of all the things PJ added I actually liked Tauriel the best. I don't know why. I think I like the tragic story she goes through. I wish it wasn't a love triangle. I think Legolas being a protective, kind of bigoted older brother would have made more sense.

I liked Tauriel a lot, as well as Arwen. I think that JRRT wrote a tale that represented the era in which he lived, but my daughter wasn't that interested in LotR other than the female characters. Those brought Middle-earth into her heart, and I like to think that JRRT would have included characters such as those had he been writing today.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

I'm still wondering how he managed to get Turin into the movie . . . 🤔

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

I like to think that JRRT would have included characters such as those had he been writing today.

Well, there's Eowyn. And Luthien. And . . .

 

[ZehnWaters]

I liked Tauriel a lot, as well as Arwen. I think that JRRT wrote a tale that represented the era in which he lived, but my daughter wasn't that interested in LotR other than the female characters. Those brought Middle-earth into her heart, and I like to think that JRRT would have included characters such as those had he been writing today.

It was also inclined towards his view of gender roles per his religious beliefs. I do not fault any of them as he clearly didn't view women as inferior, just that men and women had different roles. Women are portrayed as powerful: Galadriel, Lúthien, Melian, Varda. Still, we have women warriors: Aredhel, Haleth, Éowyn.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

I was waiting for someone to add to the list. 😃

 

[Ealdwyn]

I like to think that JRRT would have included characters such as those had he been writing today.

You mean included a female character as a token love interest? Rather misogynistic, don't you think, to reduce her to one corner of a love triangle?

Whatever you think of Tolkien's female characters in canon, they were never "token" anything.