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The Hobbit or There and Back Again
A
L8wrtr
Fanedit
[align=center]Covers by @"bionicbob"
After years in the shadows, a new fanedit! As Bilbo would say We're going on an adventure!
This fanedit is a two-disk set (Volume One & Volume Two) rather than two separate releases. It uses the Extended Editions as their base, with a few scenes from the Theatricals. Total run time is 344 including closing credits for both volumes, so actual runtime of the film is closer to 312.
The primary goal of this edit is to focus first on Bilbo's story; a humble and sheltered hobbit caught up in an adventure bigger than himself and the growth that he experiences. Secondary, this edit seeks to allow Thorin's story to come more into focus. Bilbo's arc is tied directly to his relationship with Thorin, and conversely Thorin's own growth is tied to this seemingly inconsequential Hobbit who teaches him about Honor, Courage and Humility. Lastly, this edit preserves and refines the added storyline of Gandalf's concern about The Enemy.
To achieve this, everything that interferes with these narrative points is removed or trimmed. Jackson's Hobbit is full of some amazing work; I feel that many of the additions, particularly the depth that was added to Bilbo, Thorin and several of the Dwarves was fantastic and necessary. A straight adaptation of the novel would not line up with the more serious tone of the LotR films (which themselves were for the most part a faithful adaptation of the novel), so while I was initially opposed when I heard he was messing with the story and adding prequel type elements, once I sat down and watched An Unexpected Journey I was surprised at how well the additions worked overall.. it was with great horror then that I watched Desolation of Smaug and everything went south at Laketown and then inside Erebor. It was after that viewing that I really started to develop a plan for what to do with this edit. For every 2 things that PJ nailed, I feel he failed 1 time.. which makes sense when you look at it.. Hobbit should have been two films rather than three, and everything that I have cut wasn't simply because they weren't in the book, but rather they just aren't necessary to the story. The tyranny of the Master of the Men of the Lake and his sniveling underling Alfrid serve no narrative purpose, the boorishness of the Dwarves interfere with the story and their own plausibility and likability, the battle under the mountain was over-the-top and unnecessary, and so-on.
So this edit does not seek to create a Book Cut variation, but rather to make what was for me, the most enjoyable version of Peter Jackson's interpretation, focusing on the fantastic character development and portrayals. For me, the released versions of the trilogy are cumbersome and tiresome to watch, all of the massive effects sequences and attempts at humor all detract/distract from the great work that was done, so my goal was simply to chisel away at the bloat until a streamlined version rose to the top.
A few important notes to give credit where credit is due.
First, I have to thank my friend Jewyl, who while not a member of this community, nonetheless deserves credit as she pushed and pushed for me to make this edit. I had no interest in this project, but once I started, I was hooked.
Second, I have to thank @"spence" and @"Billy Batson". Their splendid 3-in-1 edits helped provide fantastic examples of how things could be cut, and ultimately how malleable this footage is. I borrowed a few sequences cut-for-cut from them because I simply saw no better way to achieve the same result than what I saw in some of their projects. Other times I appreciated their goal, but used a different sequence of cuts to get to the same end-point. In either case, this edit certainly is better for having theirs come before, and by extension whichever editors inspired them.
Lastly I owe a great deal to @"njvc" for his friendship and support. I'd pretty much lost my editing flame and his support and encouragement, as well as his being an Adobe sherpa helped me finally overcome my resistance to learning a new editing program, not to mention key feedback on the first workprint. Likewise @"TMBTM" provided invaluable feedback as he always has in the past for my edits. @"ThrowgnCpr" helped me turn my opening titles from amature hour to something resembling professionalism, and @"bionicbob"'s wonderful work on the covers helped me focus on the edit and not stress about details, knowing the covers were in great hands really helped me as I put the finishing touches on the edit. @"reave" was also highly supportive with technical advice and a sounding board. While the bulk of this edit was crafted in the absence of community input, these guys helped get me over the hump and I cannot thank them enough, once again demonstrating how fantastic this community is.
Now to the details:
This list represents mostly cuts, but does not address scenes or sequences being re-ordered to serve narrative needs, but works as a good guide to know what is removed and general approach of the project
An Unexpected Journey (which is essentially Volume One):
- Cut out flashback of Erebor and Dale's heyday and fall
- Cut An Unexpected Journey title
- Cut Bilbo wandering Hobbiton after being spooked by Gandalf
- Cut some dialog in Bilbo's pantry between Dwalin and Balin
- Cut out Dwarves overtaking Bilbo's house and Gandalf naming them all off, also being raunchy and rude at the table chugging ale and burping
- Cut Bombor snoring moths in and out of his mouth
- Cut Introduction of Orcs watching company's camp
- Cut out entire sequence of Radagast (various nips and tucks of sequence of Company in the rain in order to accommodate removal of Radagast)
- Cut Radagast scaring the Company after they come out of the Troll hole
- Cut Orc pack chasing Company and Radagast trying to distract them
- Cut some back and forth between Gandalf and Thorin before entering Rivendell
- Cut out Thorn's confrontation with Elrond
- Cut out dwarves being rude and uncultured at dinner, singing at the table, falling for male Elves etc..
- Trimmed dialog between Gandalf and Elrond to no longer reference the orc pac
- Cut Orc pac reporting to Azog
- Cut Dwarves bathing in the fountain
- Trimmed scene between Elrond, Galadriel, Saruman and Gandalf to remove references to cut elements
- inserted flashback of Radagast giving Gandalf the Nazgul sword
- Cut Rock Giant fights
- Trimmed fall from porch into basket
- Used Theatrical version of introduction of the Goblin King, cutting out his song.
- Trimmed fight once Gandalf shows up
- Cut everything of their running fight once they leave the King's main hall
Leave theatrical conclusion.
Ultimate effect/approach. With Volume one, the primary goal was two-fold; cut out as much silliness as possible, mostly accomplished by removing boorish dwarves at Rivendell and the Goblin king and fight, and also to hold off on Azog's introduction.. we hear about/see him during Dwalin's tale to set him up.. but now we don't see him until the very end of the film when they chase them to the trees. This heightens the tension and makes the reveal more dramatic.
Desolation of Smaug
- Cut out flashback to the battle outside Moria/Trim dialog between Gandalf and Thorin
- Cut Desolation of Smaug title
- intercut Extend and Theatrical at Beorn's house, use theatrical cut's version of waking up with Beorn serving breakfast
- Trim dialog between Beorn and Gandalf that references raising the dead and the darker power etc..
- At Elvin gate, cut Gandalf murmuring to himself about the High Fells, and simply says.. "So be it.." before yelling to keep his horse.
- Keep Extended version with bridge, cut Bombor falling in the water, trim up and slightly re-arange their getting lost in Mirkwood
- Trim spider battle to remove Dwarves ripping legs from spider, cut Bilbo going crazy and killing small creature over the ring
- Trim their capture for continuity/remove the 'moments' between Kili and Tauriel
- Trim banter between Tauriel and Kili in prison
- Trim strange face-melting moment from Thranduil
- Cut Thrandruil being a dick to Tauriel about Legolas
- Cut more talking between Kili and Tauriel, and Legolas creeping.
- Heavily edit barrel escape; gate is never closed so the Dwarves simply sweep right through them as the Bolg and the Orcs attack. This also keeps Kili from getting shot by an arrow. Sequence loses most of the ridiculous fighting elements; Legolas standing on people's heads, Bombor bouncing around in his barrel, etc...
- Cut Gandalf going to the High Fells, which also cuts him meeting up with Radagast
- Trim Thranduil's interrogation of the Orc to omit reference to Kili getting shot with an arrow
- Remove Radagst from outside of Gol Dolgur, Gandalf approaches alone
= MASSIVELY REDUCE LAKETOWN. Too many cuts to note, just know that it removes Alfrid and the Master to almost nothing, the Dwarves don't almost get caught running around the docks, no flashback tale about the Black Arrow launchers and Thorin lamenting that if the aim of men had been true...
- Cut Dwarves departure from Laketown, do not show Kili, Fili and company being left behind
- Cut Bard getting arrested
- Cut Orc attack on Laketown, as well as Legolas and Tauriel's fighting there
- Cut all of fight inside Erebor between Dwarves and Smaug
cute credits and blend into Battle of Five Armies
- Cut all references to Orcs, Legolas, Tauriel or Dwarves in Laketown, as well as Alfrid and the Master stealing the treasurey
- Recut Smaug's attack and Black Arrow, he simply uses his last arrow to take him out (basic approach both Spence and Billy Batson take but different execution)
- Cut opening Battle of the Five Armies title
- Laketown survivors washing ashore, Kili and company parting with Tauriel, all that jazz
fds
- Cut as much Alfid as possible
- Bolg returning to Azog and reporting about the fight at Laketown
- Cut shot of giant worms boring holes into the ground
- Cut Alfrid finding Bilbo gone
- Used Theatrical version of Dain confronting 2 armies
Frome here, too many cuts to detail, suffice to say the battle is dramatically reduced, sequence between Azog's arrival and Thorin, Dwalin, Kili and Fili arriving at Ravenhill is 12 minutes, it unfortunately excises all of Tauriel's part in the battle because it all ties into her love of Kili as well as most of Legolas'. I use Spence's sequence for Kili's death pretty much frame-for-frame, it's fantastic work and I saw no reason to reinvent that particular wheel. I also use a hybrid of Spence and Billy's concepts how Legolas aids Thorin at Ravenhill. There is no confrontation between Tauriel, Thranduil and Legolas etc..
Ending uses the Thorin/Kili/Fili funeral sequence, Bilbo's goodbye and journey home.
An Unexpected Journey (which is essentially Volume One):
- Cut out flashback of Erebor and Dale's heyday and fall
- Cut An Unexpected Journey title
- Cut Bilbo wandering Hobbiton after being spooked by Gandalf
- Cut some dialog in Bilbo's pantry between Dwalin and Balin
- Cut out Dwarves overtaking Bilbo's house and Gandalf naming them all off, also being raunchy and rude at the table chugging ale and burping
- Cut Bombor snoring moths in and out of his mouth
- Cut Introduction of Orcs watching company's camp
- Cut out entire sequence of Radagast (various nips and tucks of sequence of Company in the rain in order to accommodate removal of Radagast)
- Cut Radagast scaring the Company after they come out of the Troll hole
- Cut Orc pack chasing Company and Radagast trying to distract them
- Cut some back and forth between Gandalf and Thorin before entering Rivendell
- Cut out Thorn's confrontation with Elrond
- Cut out dwarves being rude and uncultured at dinner, singing at the table, falling for male Elves etc..
- Trimmed dialog between Gandalf and Elrond to no longer reference the orc pac
- Cut Orc pac reporting to Azog
- Cut Dwarves bathing in the fountain
- Trimmed scene between Elrond, Galadriel, Saruman and Gandalf to remove references to cut elements
- inserted flashback of Radagast giving Gandalf the Nazgul sword
- Cut Rock Giant fights
- Trimmed fall from porch into basket
- Used Theatrical version of introduction of the Goblin King, cutting out his song.
- Trimmed fight once Gandalf shows up
- Cut everything of their running fight once they leave the King's main hall
Leave theatrical conclusion.
Ultimate effect/approach. With Volume one, the primary goal was two-fold; cut out as much silliness as possible, mostly accomplished by removing boorish dwarves at Rivendell and the Goblin king and fight, and also to hold off on Azog's introduction.. we hear about/see him during Dwalin's tale to set him up.. but now we don't see him until the very end of the film when they chase them to the trees. This heightens the tension and makes the reveal more dramatic.
Desolation of Smaug
- Cut out flashback to the battle outside Moria/Trim dialog between Gandalf and Thorin
- Cut Desolation of Smaug title
- intercut Extend and Theatrical at Beorn's house, use theatrical cut's version of waking up with Beorn serving breakfast
- Trim dialog between Beorn and Gandalf that references raising the dead and the darker power etc..
- At Elvin gate, cut Gandalf murmuring to himself about the High Fells, and simply says.. "So be it.." before yelling to keep his horse.
- Keep Extended version with bridge, cut Bombor falling in the water, trim up and slightly re-arange their getting lost in Mirkwood
- Trim spider battle to remove Dwarves ripping legs from spider, cut Bilbo going crazy and killing small creature over the ring
- Trim their capture for continuity/remove the 'moments' between Kili and Tauriel
- Trim banter between Tauriel and Kili in prison
- Trim strange face-melting moment from Thranduil
- Cut Thrandruil being a dick to Tauriel about Legolas
- Cut more talking between Kili and Tauriel, and Legolas creeping.
- Heavily edit barrel escape; gate is never closed so the Dwarves simply sweep right through them as the Bolg and the Orcs attack. This also keeps Kili from getting shot by an arrow. Sequence loses most of the ridiculous fighting elements; Legolas standing on people's heads, Bombor bouncing around in his barrel, etc...
- Cut Gandalf going to the High Fells, which also cuts him meeting up with Radagast
- Trim Thranduil's interrogation of the Orc to omit reference to Kili getting shot with an arrow
- Remove Radagst from outside of Gol Dolgur, Gandalf approaches alone
= MASSIVELY REDUCE LAKETOWN. Too many cuts to note, just know that it removes Alfrid and the Master to almost nothing, the Dwarves don't almost get caught running around the docks, no flashback tale about the Black Arrow launchers and Thorin lamenting that if the aim of men had been true...
- Cut Dwarves departure from Laketown, do not show Kili, Fili and company being left behind
- Cut Bard getting arrested
- Cut Orc attack on Laketown, as well as Legolas and Tauriel's fighting there
- Cut all of fight inside Erebor between Dwarves and Smaug
cute credits and blend into Battle of Five Armies
- Cut all references to Orcs, Legolas, Tauriel or Dwarves in Laketown, as well as Alfrid and the Master stealing the treasurey
- Recut Smaug's attack and Black Arrow, he simply uses his last arrow to take him out (basic approach both Spence and Billy Batson take but different execution)
- Cut opening Battle of the Five Armies title
- Laketown survivors washing ashore, Kili and company parting with Tauriel, all that jazz
fds
- Cut as much Alfid as possible
- Bolg returning to Azog and reporting about the fight at Laketown
- Cut shot of giant worms boring holes into the ground
- Cut Alfrid finding Bilbo gone
- Used Theatrical version of Dain confronting 2 armies
Frome here, too many cuts to detail, suffice to say the battle is dramatically reduced, sequence between Azog's arrival and Thorin, Dwalin, Kili and Fili arriving at Ravenhill is 12 minutes, it unfortunately excises all of Tauriel's part in the battle because it all ties into her love of Kili as well as most of Legolas'. I use Spence's sequence for Kili's death pretty much frame-for-frame, it's fantastic work and I saw no reason to reinvent that particular wheel. I also use a hybrid of Spence and Billy's concepts how Legolas aids Thorin at Ravenhill. There is no confrontation between Tauriel, Thranduil and Legolas etc..
Ending uses the Thorin/Kili/Fili funeral sequence, Bilbo's goodbye and journey home.