Review Detail

So I recently re-read THE HOBBIT, finished a couple nights ago. Loved it. When the movies came out, though, I basically cached out at the Bombur Barrel Roll. However, this time around, I perused the available fan edits, hoping I could find a version that cut that scene. I ended up watching the Spence edit. It’s one of the shorter options at 3hrs 45 or so for the whole trilogy. Obviously cuts a lot. Notably, it cuts Beorn entirely, a character who is certainly in the book, and I’m sure that’ll bother some, but I felt okay with it. The Battle of Five Armies felt particularly choppy and a little un-dramatic, and having only seen the original once, I can’t say whether that’s the fault of the source or the edit. (Incidentally, I’d completely forgotten that the Orcs had Nydus worms!) I actually wish he’d have cut a couple more very small silly bits, like a Bombur Belly Smash, or Legolas’s first surfing entrance, but overall, I really enjoyed watching this version. That was a big change and a big surprise. Not being triggered by all the dumb stuff helped me see all the good stuff. Martin Freeman is just the best Bilbo. So fun to watch and to root for. I love the distinct personalities of each dwarf, which is an accomplishment considering there are 13 of these characters, and you find yourself actually caring if one of them dies. More Gandalf and Gollum is great. Doing LSD in Mirkwood. And Bilbo saying he’s going to finish the quest because he values the principle of home and the Dwarves need to reclaim theirs—a gem that the movies added to the story. Basically the good stuff shines through when it’s a tighter narrative (though admittedly not without some tradeoffs). Oh, and my favorite change in the Spence Edit (aside from no Bombur Barrel Roll) was that Bard shoots the dragon with his great longbow instead of a mounted turret gun! That just seems much more heroic to me. Anyway, I think some of you like the Hobbit movies, and I sincerely think that’s great, but this was a big win for my personal tastes at least, so I thought I should report in! I’m grateful to have more good Tolkien content!