Hobbit: The Anti-Cringe Cut, The

I promised to write this review a long time ago. Sorry to the creator it took me so long. My plan was to watch a few of the edits to be able to compare them all, but, as they say, life gets in the way sometimes.

This was my first fan-edit experience and I was totally impressed. (I hadn't seen The Hobbit films before I bought the extended editions, and it was actually how slow and dragged on the films were that triggered the web search that open my eyes to the fan-edit world.) I was completely surprised by the quality of image and sound in general, but especially how there was absolutely nothing that stood out to me to make me think these were anything other than original Hollywood released DVDs. Well done!!!

I burnt the 5 episodes to DVD in order to watch with my kids. The episode format was fantastic for that purpose, so thank you! Yours was their first experience in the HobbitLOTRTolkien universe! In general, I think the episodes are way better than having to sit thru a 3+ hour movie.

Watching a HOBBIT edit for me is difficult, since I am naturally conflicted having spent 4 year building mine.

HOWEVER, with the passage of time, memories fade, wounds heal...and Don Kamillo's was the first I had seen (back in August 2021) in a very long time (having only watched a handful previously, Spence's being one of them).

First up, I really appreciated the 5 episode structure. Not least because I could watch this over a few days...but now, let's get into the weeds.

Audio/Video Quality - 10
There is nothin to fault here. I watched this on a 55 Inch TV - Clean.

Visual Editing - 10
Flawless.

There are many original and unexpected creative choices in this edit, which I will not spoil by detailing too many. They are expertly executed with real finesse in places since the changes are NOT as easy to pull off as one would imagine. I was genuinely impressed.

Audio Editing - 10
Flawless
Similarly, watching and waiting for that tell tale sign of a movies I know so well repeatedly surprised me as my mind would naturally expect a certain piece of music or audio to follow, only to be gently (and seamlessly) taken off in a new direction. Very fine work there.

Narrative - 10
I have to score the narrative on the basis of "does it work"? "Is there something wrong"?
This CANNOT be... "oooo I don't like that"...that's not point of this category...The Q is "does it work, flow and engage"?
YUP - Sure does folks!!, Even with the multiple inclusions/excisions which I did not make, here in DK's vision they absolutely make sense and do not create any anachronisms or continuity issues. Once again, disciplined and informed choices all round.
The choices I made in my edit are IRRELEVANT. One must be objective.

Enjoyment - 9
My enjoyment of this creation was through the roof frankly, not least because it did take me on a new journey and one which I thoroughly enjoyed. Inevitably,subjectivity will inform this category; I have reluctantly docked one point here since there were some choices I would like to have seen NOT make it into this edit...but that in no way should diminish the fact that this was a superb assembly and execution, with very well placed episode endings, each episode being well paced and feeling self contained with no real jarring content...ANTI-CRINGE for sure.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

FINALLY...

Thanks you for being so gracious and patient when I was unsuccessfully trying to unzip this. You were polite, constructive and a true gentleman and professional.

See you in the Trenches !

Massive fan of Jackson's LOTR trilogy, but avoided the Hobbit films like the plague after enduring the first film's stupidities and self indulgence. And 3 films? Surely 2 would have done. So I come to this with a love of storytelling and familiarity with the book and Tolkien's world, but no intimate first-hand knowledge of the famously bloated Hobbit trilogy. I watched the 5-episode version of this cut, 1 episode each night, and was gripped to the end. Character development, pacing and technical quality are all first rate. I can't imagine any more footage being needed. I also don't care what was in the book and what wasn't, I care for the story and execution, and as a standalone film this cut is almost always internally consistent, save the slightly odd jump in narrative in a few spots (and the 5 episode structure cushions these bumps, like a TV show episode structure would - I can't speak for the 5 hour continuous version of this edit). The gentle tie-ins with the Lord of the Rings do not feel overdone either. My first Hobbit edit and possibly the last - because I found it so deeply satisfying. Well done DonKamilo.

I have seen three chapters (of five) and I love this edit. All work perfectly, very enjoyable. 10/10

DonKamillo does some crazy work to trim this trilogy down. Having read the book and knowing it is pretty light reading, I never understood the vast majority of the fluff in this series.

Never noticed any cuts, weird audio transitions, or anything. If you told me this was the official version and the official version was the hyper-extended cut that couldn't get greenlit by hollywood, I would believe you.

If you did not see the originals, you would never miss what is missing.