Is there a preference for the first Hobbit film over LOTR among fans?

[Firawyn]

The Hobbit films cause me physical pain. From beginning to end. There are a couple of scenes here and there that make me go "Awww, that's nice..." but overall it's just one very long cringe. Somewhere between stoned off his arse Radagast and his team of sled bunnies, and the general squick that was the romance blossoming between Fili and that female Elf who wasn't even in the bleeding book... and then there was that creepy alluding of an intrigue going on between Gandalf and Galadriel that fanfic writers got ALL OVER... I'm scarred. I'm scarred for life.

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

The Hobbit films cause me physical pain. From beginning to end. There are a couple of scenes here and there that make me go "Awww, that's nice..." but overall it's just one very long cringe. Somewhere between stoned off his arse Radagast and his team of sled bunnies, and the general squick that was the romance blossoming between Fili and that female Elf who wasn't even in the bleeding book... and then there was that creepy alluding of an intrigue going on between Gandalf and Galadriel that fanfic writers got ALL OVER... I'm scarred. I'm scarred for life.

Yup, as someone else stated it's good up until Bilbo leaves to join the dwarves for his journey but after that it's downhill the moment he leaves Bag End. I saw Battle of Five Armies in the theater and remember thinking it was awful though someone got me the extended edition as a gift for a birthday or holiday at one point. Other than redeeming the digital version code so it's in my library, I have yet to watch it again (with no plans to do so).

 

[Spirit of Fire]

Does anyone know where one can purchase (or access) the fan-edited version that removes as much of the garbage as possible?

 

[Starbrow]

Does anyone know where one can purchase (or access) the fan-edited version that removes as much of the garbage as possible?

That would be a pretty short movie.

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

This guy made a cut that's 4.5 hours total

I have recut Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy into a single 4-hour film

Let me start by saying that I enjoy many aspects of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy. Overall, however, I felt that the story was spoiled by an interminable running time, unengaging plot tangents and…

tolkieneditor.wordpress.com

 

[Spirit of Fire]

Thanks Erestor! Although it's probably impossible to salvage an enjoyable movie from those horrors, it's probably a vast improvement.

 

[Ealdwyn]

This guy made a cut that's 4.5 hours total

I have recut Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy into a single 4-hour film

Let me start by saying that I enjoy many aspects of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy. Overall, however, I felt that the story was spoiled by an interminable running time, unengaging plot tangents and…

tolkieneditor.wordpress.com

Is it any good?
I'm not keen to spend 4.5 hours of my life that I'll never get back.

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

The only part of the Hobbit movies I enjoy is the first few minutes. The unexpected party is a joy.

Once they leave Bag End it becomes what I can only describe as a hot mess.

I like the ending back in The Shire. And I agree that the opening scene in Bag End in FoTR is well done.

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

Is it any good?
I'm not keen to spend 4.5 hours of my life that I'll never get back.

I haven't watched it yet but Reddit recommended it and said it cuts out a lot of the PJ BS

 

[Elassar]

Simple answer:



Yes

 

[Deimos]

Charity (and pity) compels me to answer thusly:
A person is not answerable for his later actions that result from having been dropped on his head during infancy.

 

[Annatar]

Am I the only one who preferred the first Hobbit film over the Peter Jackson lord of the Rings trilogy?​

No, I liked that part better too, at least until they left the Shire. (Which, however, was probably not very long.)

 

[Barrow Wight]

The first installments to both trilogies were the "best" of PJ's Hobbit and LOTR. At least PJ made some pretense of following the books at the beginning of those first offerings, although both Unexpected Journey and FOTR began to derail about half way through, as silly and unnecessary changes to the story materialized on screen. [The Arwen appearance in lieu of Glorfindel and the dwarf/she-elf romance are what did it for me with those first installments.] The final two installments of both stories were abominably bad, once you got beyond the CGI and cool New Zealand landscapes. IMO, PJ should be thrust out beyond the Door of Night and not allowed to do anything other than Beatles re-do's going forward.

 

[Deimos]

The Hobbit films cause me physical pain. From beginning to end. There are a couple of scenes here and there that make me go "Awww, that's nice..." but overall it's just one very long cringe. Somewhere between stoned off his arse Radagast and his team of sled bunnies, and the general squick that was the romance blossoming between Fili and that female Elf who wasn't even in the bleeding book... and then there was that creepy alluding of an intrigue going on between Gandalf and Galadriel that fanfic writers got ALL OVER... I'm scarred. I'm scarred for life.

I was terrified of that happening to me, so right after the last movie (should have done it on the first installment) I made an appointment with hypnotist to get rid of the memories. He told me that only a lobotomy could do that.
But he did banish all memories of the actual story (that is, absolutely everything I saw and heard on screen) to the most remote recesses of my subconscious.
I don't even dream about it.
But I'm concerned that some unforseen event will trigger my subconscious , and the entire mess will burst in to my conscious mind, and then, well, then I'm afraid I'll go postal.