Hobbit: The Original Two-Film Structure, The

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I watched almost every single fan-edit of “The Hobbit” trilogy available out there. I consider the Maple Films Edit (MFE) performed by eldusto84 for very far the best cut. Technically speaking, the MFE is perfect and the running time clocks in 4h. Every single aspect from MFE is flawless and its strongest feature is indeed presenting “The Hobbit” in the closest way to the novel. So, for purists, MFE will be the edit to go without a doubt.

However, if you prefer a more cinematographic approach to the Tolkien’s saga be welcome to experience the most comprehensive cut to enrich “The Lord of the Rings” (LOTR) cinematographic universe. Indeed, Adam Dens claims about his work are undeniable. He accomplished two chapters which are a must before watching LOTR. The visual tone is corrected here and coupled with the one shown in the first trilogy. All the narrative clearly moves forward to be organically integrated into a five-entry saga and for me, this is the greatest achievement of this edit. A big plus in Adam’s edit compared to the MFE cut is the running time. You will enjoy two extra hours of Middle Earth in Adam’s cut and once again this is another first-class feature here. It is not about showing more footage for free but showing more footage for narrative purposes. I personally disliked the theatrical version of “The Hobbit”, I always saw it as a missing chance. Moreover, despite great performances from Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage I felt zero engagement with the story. After Adam’s edit viewing… I experienced the epic once again, I really cared about the different characters and I was moved in many parts of the story.

Endless gratitude for this gift, as Adywan’s work is a masterpiece in the Star Wars universe among fanedits, “Hobbit: The original two-film structure” deserves the same consideration into the ring franchise. Be welcome to experience the best fan edit of the year and ones of the best ever!

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Ever since it was announced that Peter Jackson is directing the Hobbit, this edit is what I was expecting to see in theaters.
I was always curious as to what was the original plan exactly before they changed it to three films.

I have deep praise for the final product from Peter Jackson. It's not easy to make a good movie. There was obviously a lot of pressure, restrictions, vision conflicts, etc. Still the movies came out were good with some bad stuff in it.
I was happy to find out from the appendix video that Adam's mind set here was not one of hate for the original movies, but respect for them and deep love for the Lord of the Rings movies and Tolkien lore as a whole.

Like Adam in the above appendix video saying he found it harder and harder to watch the Hobbit Trilogy, I felt the same way. Resulting in me looking for an alternative version and even attempting an edit of my own. This edit however filled that void of curiosity in me as to what the Hobbit films could (and dare I say should) have been.

Two movies. Each feels like a complete story with its own narrative, pacing and style.
The quality is top notch. The color grading brings it closer to the LOTR movies making this feel more related to that brilliant trilogy, even though I don't mind the more brighter and warmer colors of the Hobbit films.
The edits are masterfully executed and are seamless through and through.

And the best thing is the restructure of scenes and the reworked subtitles for the Black speech to achieve this whole new narrative.
Sauron commands Azog to march upon the mountain to form alliance with the dragon, immediately followed by Orc army leaving Dol Guldur sent shivers through my entire body. Brilliant.
The entire battle of the five armies is masterfully re-edited.

Few nitpicks (none of which is serious enough to reduce points for the edit)

- The first Radagast scene is weird. It feels like it comes from the Narnia films and doesn't fit here. It could have easily been cut and we could have Radagast introduced later. However, I respect Adam's decision to leave it in.
- Same goes for the first scene between the Master of Laketown and Alfrid. In "The Desolation of Smaug" Alfrid and the master are introduced in the middle of the movie and it was bizarre that we should suddenly start being invested in the politics of this new location. In this edit, on the other hand, since we go to Laketown at the very beginning of the second film, it felt more natural to learn more thoroughly about it.
Still, that scene could have been trimmed.
- The transition between AUJ and DOS is weird. I do believe it is the best one possible (all things considering). But, it's weird. It took me a while get used to it. I didn't mind that we lose the eagles scenes. These scenes are beautiful so it's a bit of downer, on one hand. On the other hand, it was refreshing not to have eagles deus ex machina for a change. Also, we do get to see the eagles in the next film. It's not like they completely gone.
- I don't think we need the added "I'm sorry I doubted you" from Thorin as Bilbo helps them escape the elves.
- The was one edit that felt a bit rushed. Right after the Dwarves make their barrels escape. We cut quickly from Legolas on the edge of the river to Thraduil with Legolas and the captured Orc in the Woodland realm. I think you could have shown the part of how they capture the Orc. Or, an idea I just had right now - you could have followed the Dwarves up to the point they are meeting with Bard and then cut to the captured Orc scene where he talks about the flames of war and the looming threat, immediately followed by the final sequence as Gandalf enters Dol Guldur and gets a definitive proof that Sauron has indeed came back.


Bottom line: It is a great edit. Well done Adam Dens. I hope to see your name in the credits of a big motion picture sometime soon.
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(Updated: August 22, 2018)
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I know The Hobbit films very well, and I've seen several fanedits that I think greatly improved them. But this one rises above them all. Adam Dens has created the definitive version of The Hobbit here. For fans of the book, you have a narrative vastly restructured and improved to focus on Bilbo and Thorin's journey, while drawing on all available material to hit all the key narrative points. For fans of Lord of the Rings, you have two films vastly more in-line with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, preserving the Nercromancer subplot, and even enhancing it with some excellent reworking of the Black Speech subtitles to both make the enemy's plans clearer and more engaging, and to pepper in some delicious references to Tolkien lore WB didn't have the rights to.

"The Gathering of the Clouds" is like most AUJ edits, trimming down the "multiple beginnings" syndrome and getting us into the action quicker. I wish the "Sebastian" scene had been cut here to improve this, as other edits have successfully introduced Radagast when he meets the company. The masterstroke however in this film is introducing Azog after the Goblin Tunnels, using the Goblin King's reference to introduce a mystery element the original's didn't have. I won't spoil how, but with some re-subtitling, and moving around of key scenes Adam Dens has created an entirely new sequence here to bridge AUJ with DOS in place of the "Out of the Frying Pan" scenes, and its very effective. One minor quibble, the ponies they had before the tunnels are present again out of nowhere, and then gone. But the pacing here is not only maintained, but better than many other points of the film as a sense of urgency and peril is injected into what had been up to that point, a very meandering and somewhat childish quest. Gollum's scenes are also uninterrupted to better engage audiences with Bilbo's experience, a trick Adam Dens explains he is fond of in the brilliant accompanying special features. I feel this film would have benefited from some additional cuts to fit the vision of keeping in tone with LOTR. Many of the beats in Radagasts scenes for instance could be cut to make him feel more like a character we can take seriously. And the run time could have been improved by sacrificing moments other edits have, like the rock giants or extended Beorn intro and forest scene. But these, granted, will please book purists. Finally, Tauriel and Legolas are handled well. Both are cameos and supporting cast in this version rather than active participants. Meanwhile, Gandalf's subplot is accelerated and used to bookend the film. If you're really familiar with these films like I am, I'd warn some of these early changes may seem a tad jarring. But its done very well. Tauriel's romance is cut for instance, but she is still used to help explore the culture and different points of view of the Woodland elves.

Film 2, "There and Back Again" is simply brilliant. The looming threat of Sauron and his army, foreshadowing the beginning of the battle for middle earth is ever present and much clearer from the go. The scenes flow brilliantly from one film to another. The bridging of the ending of DOS into the Battle of Laketown has been done before, and it couldn't be more obvious this was the way it should have always been. But Adam Dens edits it with more professionalism and skill than versions I've seen before. Overall this film really flows and is emotionally resonant and engaging in a way the same material never was before. The restructuring and editing of the Battle of the Five Armies is masterful. It now feels emotional, engaging and like there are real stakes, whereas before it was tonally muddled, confusing, and unfocused. On a final note, I would have liked Alfred and the Master to be cut down a lot more, again because their characters are tonally inconsistent with the rest of the film and with the LOTR films. Other edits for instance have been very effective in waiting to introduce both characters till the scene where Thorin and company are brought before them, and even imply Alfred died in the Battle of Laketown. I'd have also liked Gandalf's eulogy from the appendices to be included in the Funeral, which Adam Dens so effectively mined for the "Acorn scene" and used to deeply emotionally enrich the battle. But these things are all down to preference.

Adam Dens has delivered the version of these films the world deserves to see, and for that I applaud and thank him.

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Did you fall in love with Middle Earth as a kid, when your parents read Tolkien to you at bedtime? This edit will make you feel like that kid again!

Following Peter Jackson's outstanding Lord of the Rings, expectations were unbelievably high for the Hobbit prequel. Not surprising, the 3-movie version fell short. Painstakingly, Adam Dens has edited The Hobbit back to its book origin. Not to the letter, but to its spirit.

The outstanding achievement of this edit isn't about trimming it to 6 1/2 hours, though that helps. It isn't about cutting Blunt the Knives, though that helps too. It's creating a movie that feels like a book is being read to you. Storylines get more time to build up before we switch from one group of characters to another. They resolve before too many new ones start up, enabling us to keep up with the story. Battles are shorn of their worst CGI.

The two-part structure, consistent with the original movie intention, is not merely the three movies cut down the middle. Instead the story is restructured to create a satisfying beginning, middle, and end for each Part. To that end, the cliffhanger at the end of Part 1 is certainly inspired.

Some viewers will miss the Eagle escape. This and other sacrifices keep the overall narrative focused. On a practical note, the absence of subtitles makes dialog in several scenes harder to follow, so keep your remote handy.

Does this edit replace the original? Yes, wholeheartedly. Does this edit surpass the other fanedits of The Hobbit? For me it does.
L
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10.0
First fan edit of anything I've actually watched, and it was pretty good. Not perfect, sometimes the editing is a little bit choppy, and the Kili subplot getting deleted is a good thing, but it means that the new subplot of him and the dwarves saying back in Lake Town because of Kili's injury amount to nothing, but it's probably the best one can do with eliminating the dumb love triangle.

I am one that actually doesn't hate the original Hobbit's setting up of LotR, so I appreciate it remaining included and improved in this edit.

This is most definitely how I'm gonna watch The Hobbit going forward, including doing a 5 movie, 18 hour super marathon with LotR sometime next year which should be fun.

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