The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition Blu-ray (3.0 Stars)

The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey was a wholly Unexpected one. It lacked emotion, danger, nor atmosphere than the previous Trilogy. I didn't sit gladly throughout until some actual levity and character development appeared and it wasn't until the last twenty minutes of the piece. The extended edition though impacted me immensely, the story all but obviously brighter, safer, freer to be an adventure and a voyeuristic film, instead of the lore, politics and huge arc's that made TLOTR. Though TLOTR's series will always hold a deeper and more passion love in my being and soul, due to the age I saw them, and how they afflicted me and changed my perspective on film-making. But The Hobbit films are still not given enough credit, these films are pure cinema quality fodder, they retain what a true cinema experience is, bold, brash, fun, charming, makes your heart beat, original. Though some scenes and odd bits feel recycled, Jackson and Co. know how to make good action and spectacle. |Yes, The Hobbit films are Not as out there and thoughtful and Tolkien driven, but they still retains the spirit, look, feel of the Middle Earth saga so far established by by Peter Jackson.

The Hobbit AUJ was livened up by the added sequences of the dwarves, their bond, familiarity, strength divided opinion in the theatrical cut, but the Extended though only an added 20 odd minutes still made it broader, you felt the relationship, it exhumed the wit and wilds that these company represent, wherein the theatrical all of them are only messily set up in a thirty minute intro. But sadly the opposite lies here in The Desolation of Smaugs Extended Cut, happily stated by Jackson as "not playing by the rules, it being a recut and not a Extended Cut" his heart still lies in giving us more as he dos. Here though the sequences are Deleted Scenes material, the pact that should never see the light of day, attached to the film in any way should be illegal. But instead he saw this opportunity and altered the film, not at all as detailed driven as he previously has been to the recuts, having run into the Commentary openly admitting he had no idea what film he was watching, and obviously from this recut obviously no idea what he thought he was doing for the REPUTATION OF THIS FILM. It features many ex-positional sequences that obviously had been added for theatrical usages, due to the loss of the NOW added sequences, but not re-editing them out so we don't have repetitive story alleviations, that are not working for the pace of TDOS, both playing over each other through the run time. So Jackson openly admits this in commentary, uncaring, and seemingly not so fond of the cut himself but just passing it of for the fans, but ruining what I class as the best Hobbit film so far.

The Desolation is fast, fastest in cut, pace and storytelling, never letting up in action, spectacle, beautiful sets designs, and introducing stronger characters, bigger presences like Beorn, that you crave to see more of, but crave to see less of in THE EXTENDED CUT. Evangeline Lily superb, elegant, troubled and skilled, Legolas looking young as ever, as theatrical and OTT as ever also, but for the fun of it amped up to 1010% awesome. The film sees us comfortable with the company of the Dawrves of Erebor, also the introduction of an unsung hero in the form of Luke Evans' Bard The Bowman, and also the return of the Necromancer aka. Sauron. It sees our troupe, all known, all ever funny, heroic but flawed and daft, but also a deeper look at the dwarves, as characters and benefactors to this mission, and the simplicity and episodic pacing suits this film. It isn't tied down by much, the strands never over bearing, enough for a young audience to lap up, and enough Middle Earth/Peter Jackson fans happy. Also to see Gandelfs true almighty power at Dol Gul Dor is and stands immense. Everything from the motion capture, visual wizardy itself, the motivations, Bilbo's growth but also slow demise into the cruel lull of the One Ring.

Peter Jackson isnt abject to the notion that true Tolkien-ites want to kill him, but I find much more entertainment, power, emotion and beauty from watching Jackson's iteration and vision than that of Tolkiens wasted imaginary./ Tolkien was the man for ideas, not putting them down well, nor actually evolving them, so comes in Boyens and Welsh and Jackson and make it come true. These films do aim to please, but they also allow you to go, oh I would like to go read that book. Im my humble opinion, both fans stray, your either the films legion or the Tolkien Legion, as Boyens says "many of your fans and of the audience who love these films are not known to Tolkiens work" which lets be honest is a short children's book, some appendices, a 1000 or something book that is flawed and has only found true fanfare and fruition since the release of Fellowship so back off and except the films as they are, grand.

But the Extended Cut is just dull, it strains on the perfect run time of the Theatrical Release, it also goes into details to already knuckle biting irritants in the form of Ryan Gages Alfridd and Stephen Frys Lord of Laketown, both dull, repetitive, there for exposition, there for crudity, and there to get the frame device going. Also longing out the prologue of the film, with the meeting between Gandelf and Thorin throwing in a very hastily put together flashback, that constitutes many a more scenes coming, and also an introduction of a new character, Thorins Father Thrain who is stuck in Dol Gu Dur, enchanted and made. The edit sets back Gandelfs own quest and motivation for the film, to go there, knowing it may be a trap, all the legions of wargs and the pale orcs followers amassing for the pursuing war that Sauron is heading,.

Instead its dulled down, elongated about him rescuing Thrain, yes the intrigue about Azog taking the ring from Thorins father, being one of the brothers to the one ring which the ring master himself is collecting, makes you grin, but if you pay attention, it is explained in one sequences already, layering more on top just dumbs it down, makes the audience feel small and undermined.

The addition of the relationship between Gandelf and Thrain is heart breaking, the sorrow, but the following just loses out, and the inclusion of that classic "ARGH" action/wounded sound effect is obviously thrown in for Jackson love of it and also probably he couldn't be bothered to go into the sound mix and create something new, so any creature or character bumped off, that classic distressed yelp pursues, destroying the atmosphere and the huge moment that is the revealing the eye of Saurons iris is Saurons silhouette, Shores score thumbing. In cinemas it is an immense scene, Gandelf facing evil itself, showing the light of his power, against the thrashings of Saurons. Jackson obviously had this idea way back or felt he needed to add something new into the mix, and the idea the iris of Sauron is Sauron was just a eyes wide open, why didnt I think of that? Moment, but with the threading of deletable and travesty sequences to it, it kills the film in many places and sours its pace, its DNA, but I am happy those scenes didnt make the cut at all. So theatrical cut, a sure go!

The film triumphs in emotionality, connections, Bilbo's acent and slowly and secret decent into this mania and madness, sickness of the ring.

Richard Armatage has been blown out of frame as oh hes this films Aragorn. He isnt, he is more than Aragorn, he is troubled, determined, set in mind to be king, good of heart, good of soul, but good of mind, no. He is stronger and a stand out, you want to give him a hearty wallop on the back but also spit in his face. He is this films own new heroic image, so push aside Viggo comparisons, they are far and between tonally different.

Jackson is the only guy for these movies, the tension, the multi layers of tone and making it fit into the world, the scenes in Mirkwood stand out, all giving it there all and the film feels more confidant and free than the last Hobbit. I still have not seen The Battle of The Five Armies, but having rekindled my love over the Christmas period with my Blu-Ray releases I am set to see it this Saturday, so await my review. I am always forgiving on Jackson, for Kong, for Lovely Bones because, he isnt all talk, he is actions, and all about entertainment and keeping us happy. That he does, and more, no matter what a Tolkien nerd or pompous film critic thinks, feel lucky these are films we should have more of, and will, as long as Jacksons on the scene.

EXTENDED EDITION: 4 stars

THEATRICAL: 5 Stars

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey arrives in theaters under a brutal weight of expectations, coming not only after the magnificent Lord of the Rings trilogy, but with the knowledge that there are two more films to come in this adaptation of a very slim novel. It's hard to see the maps of Middle Earth and hear Howard Shore's score and not brace yourself for the sweeping emotions and battles of Lord of the Rings, but anyone who has read The Hobbit knows to expect a lighter, smaller story, one more about amiable dwarves and a grouchy hobbit than stirring calls to heroism.

And though The Hobbit feels in its first half very much like a brief story stretched far too thin, it eventually settles into its own enjoyable rhythm, a comic adventure that's a good enough excuse to make a return visit to Middle Earth. As Bilbo Baggins, the comfortable hobbit unwillingly dragged onto this journey with a band of 13 dwarves, Martin Freeman is a nicely flustered and quick-witted presence; it takes a while for Bilbo to embrace his call to adventure, but by the time he does, he feels like a guy worth following for two more movies. Add in returning characters like Ian McKellen's Gandalf and (however briefly) Andy Serkis' Gollum, plus the handful of dwarves who manage to distinguish themselves from that rowdy bunch, and An Unexpected Journey becomes a comfortable little adventure-- and an even better one if you can convince yourself to stop comparing it to Lord of the Rings.

Not that the movie actually encourages that-- the film begins on the exact same day as Fellowship of the Ring, with an older Bilbo (Ian Holm reprising his role) preparing for his birthday party and sending his nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood in a fun cameo) off to meet Gandalf. Between this frame device and a recreation of the battle with Smaug the dragon that lost the dwarves their pile of gold in the mountains, it takes a while to get around to the unexpected dinner party Bilbo hosts for the 13 dwarves, and even longer to get the group of them on the road toward reclaiming the dwarves' ancestral home (there are two songs sung during that party. Two!)?Bilbo is a far less willing adventurer than the wide-eyed Frodo, and for the film's first hour he's a grouchy and bumbling presence, clashing immediately with the solemn dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and wishing frequently he was back home in his hobbit hole. You might wish the same.

Then the group stumbles upon a mean group of hungry mountain trolls and Bilbo and the movie alike finally find a purpose, digging into the awkward group dynamics and setting up Bilbo's redemption in Thorin's eyes. The giant battle scene against Smaug the dragon is being saved for the next film, but we at least get an impressive cavern full of goblins to run away from, not to mention the return of Gollum, whose "riddles in the dark" scene is riveting, and Andy Serkis' performance as remarkably nuanced as ever. Some story elements are added from the book to give more of a sense of epic continuity, like a flashback to Smaug's takeover of the dwarves' mountain and a scene with Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) and Elrond (Hugo Weaving) warning of Sauron's potential rise; the movie can't quite find a natural ending point, but the hints at a larger story bode well for the coming sequels.

I saw An Unexpected Journey in the much-touted 48 frames per second and in 3D, an experience I recommend, but maybe only on second viewing. I never adjusted to the look, which makes everything feel more real and closer to you, an effect that's utterly bizarre when seeing giant trolls or goblins or even a band of tiny dwarves. The technological experimentation may have helped Peter Jackson get excited about a smaller-scale return to Middle Earth, but its effect on the movie is harder to gauge; it's fascinating seeing familiar characters like Gollum move with an unbelievable realness, but also nearly impossible to feel as swept away by this journey to an imaginary world.

When Jackson took on The Hobbit after Guillermo del Toro dropped it in 2010, it seemed like an obligation more than the passion that drove him to make the original trilogy. But for its occasional moments of excess and unhurried pace, An Unexpected Journey is proof that Jackson still has a knack for stories in this world, and that he may have more surprises in store as the rest of this new, unexpected trilogy unfolds.

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