Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Edits, The

As the saying goes, “Sometimes less is more.” So it is with this fun and exciting edit, so it is with this review.
While long the originals are, this one is not, and the better for it. It was only a few months ago that I watched Hobbit trilogy, first the edited versions, then the extended editions. The latter was after acquiring the Blu-rays for a great price, but I digress. Well-proportioned, this can be viewed in multiple sittings, without losing one's place.
Technically this edit is, in my estimation, flawless – visually and audibly. I enjoyed it as if it were a studio cut. The transitions are seamless, the cuts precise, the scenes well-placed. The story flows nicely, the narrative emended. In short, a triumph!
Having not (yet) seen all the other Hobbit edits from which this wonderful work was wrought, I’m guessing it’ll be an enjoyable rabbit hole.
To all the editors from whence this treasure has come, if this edit represents the sum of its parts, then well done!

The series is absolutely fantastic! I prefer watching most films in shorter sittings, so the episodic format is perfect, and that alone makes this my preferred viewing experience of The Hobbit! I gave it a 10/10 because I think I don't think it gets better considering the source material, but I still wouldn't say that every episode has an equally good narrative. While episodes 1 and 2 are absolutely perfect, episode 3 feels a bit strange because the story rushes through so much in a single episode. Episode 5 is also very good, but it does of course almost entirely consist of fighting. I was very surprised that it includes a lot of scenes from the extended edition, but they do work fairly well in the context. I highly recommend getting the version of the edit with the Arkenstone and Gandalf in the beginning of episode 5 to add some much needed non-combat-related drama to the episode.

Hi Stromboli -

Now, I’ve been with Adam Dens’ edit for some time now, but it’s time for a changing of the guard.

Your edit is absolutely stupendous. I’m so used to the above edit it took me time to adjust to the “new material” or remember what was changed.

But I’ll be with this one for a while.

Btw, I loved the White Council. Excellent placement as an add-on.

I’ve expounded a bit on this film with Adam’s, so I’ll just mention a few things that really do knock this one out of the park:

1) obviously the 6-ep formatting made the viewing very pleasurable.

2) all changes from Dens’ edit make sense and improve upon those ideas.

3) bard = excellent character development

4) the story is so streamlined it truly should have been done this way. You say it’s not necessarily a book edit, ah, but a book edit it is. Beautifully simple story.

5) the crown achievement of your edit is thorin and bilbo. This was the most frustrating part of PJ’s original, because even at 11.5 hours it felt forced and false.

Allowing it to grow organically is exactly what’s needed, but your edit does one better: they never had time to develop a proper friendship. Thorin’s final scene is now rather poignant in this context. It also shows bilbo’s final line to be somewhat false, but “we get it”.

Bravo on this one, Stromboli!

6) the battle is so clear to understand, so easy to follow, that I’m amazed I was as confused as I was before. Wonderful work.

A new fave, just adding my two cents. M.C.

My wife and I watched this together, and we were extremely impressed. I didn't think the bloated original Hobbit trilogy could be fixed, but somehow here it is in a fully enjoyable format!

At times there is the sense that something was cut, but only because we'd seen the originals and knew there were entire sections of the movie missing by the time we get to the finale. The only jarring edit in the whole edit might be the intro, which threw me for a loop before I realized it was the same intro for each episode. I can't blame Stromboli for wanting a fun consistent opener.

Overall, incredibly impressive work! Highly recommended to everyone!

Jeez. This was a journey!

I've seen three edits of the Hobbit now and although they were all terrific I have to say this was my favorite version. The Hobbit lends itself so well to this episodic structure!

Not a single cut feels 'off' and everything flows greatly! I particularly liked the way Bard was handled, as well as the black arrow! It feels like every majoy event in the movies get's it's own episode. It's just terrific. 10/10. You do yourself a disservice by not watching this edit!