Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Arkenstone Edition, The

This was the movie I was hoping to see in the theatres. I am a huge Tolkien fan and was incredibly disappointed with all six movies, but especially the Hobbit trilogy. The over the top dialogue and action scenes, constant battles, distractions from plot flow, and I could go on and on, left a sour taste in my mouth for these movies that had so much potential. then I saw this, and I have been telling everyone about it since- this is instantly my go-to version. I love the streamlined plot, and that it still kept some of the new ideas in the movie that were extrapolated from other Tolkien works.

Kerr is a gifted editor who shined in this edition. the only negative, other than minor nitpicking over the inclusion/exclusion of script/plot choices is that the dialogue is a little difficult to pick up at times in the beginning over the really great redone score.

Arkenstone has restored the warmth for Middle Earth, and I hope Kerr takes a stab at the next 2 in the trilogy, whether they are in one or two films.

This edit without a doubt saves a bloated and childish film that was full of potential, tranforming it into one that I can truly enjoy. Where the original's poor pacing and seemingly conflicted intentions with regard to tone and audience caused what great stuff there was to get somehow lost in the mix, this version flows and carries you along on a wicked ride. Kerr demonstrates a greater understanding of what was needed in this film, using scenes from the EE which greatly enhance the narrative while drastically trimming plenty that made it into theaters. Radagast is an excellent example. By omitting his introductory scenes, the awkward humor, and Saruman's full verbal laceration of the character, he now seems quirky (although not annoying), and like someone who you can actually believe as a wizard.

Kerr's use of Howard Shore's original soundtrack also hugely enhances the whole experience, providing us with more appropriate accompaniment at almost every turn, and making you wonder how the editors thought reusing so much of the soundtrack from Lord of the Rings in favor of original themes composed for this film would be better. There are four exceptions to this however (all near the end of the film) where the change of music was jarring and/or detracted from my experience. The first is using a different version of the ring theme. The original used the same version as TLOTR which I feel both sounds better and is more thematic in this case. Likewise the eagle theme which he uses for about twenty seconds before changing to a new piece is so associated with those eagles in my mind that using anything other strips the scene of all its beauty. Third, for Thorin's charge on Azog he replaces the Nazgul theme from fellowship (epic, but very out of place) with one which I think he took from Skyrim. This sounded out of place and simply didn't work for me. Better I feel to have kept the Nazgul theme, despite the anti-thematicness. Lastly atop the Carrock when Thorin wakes and the audience is meant to be unsure whether Thorin will rebuke or thank Bilbo Kerr has used a theme which he accented to the scene beautifully and I think was much better, all except for the fact that its tone makes it clear in no uncertain terms that Thorin will not rebuke Bilbo as the scene intends you to fear. Sadly, that seems a deal-breaker for me.

All-in all a Masterpiece of an edit that will leave you exasperated with the original editors and sympathizing greatly with the time pressure everyone involved had placed on them. Personally I would add (and have done so myself) the Old Took's birthday party scene from the EE because it creates a much warmer introduction to the Shire scenes, and better establishes this young Bilbo Gandalf repeatedly recalls in later scenes. As well as Gandalf's concerns about the dwarf rings and mention of Thrain during the White Council - as this leads directly into a plot line from DOS that Kerr was, at the time of this edit, unaware of.

I can't say much which hasn't been said already in other reviews.

When I watched the first part of the Hobbit in the theater, I thought that there was a good movie hidden in the theatrical edit. Kerr was able to unearth this movie – or better – get the movie somewhat more down to earth. Gone are most of the many physical impossibilities, most of the "funny" stuff, the pacing is better, the story does focus much more on Bilbo.

Sure, I could imagine an even better version if Radagast's Raving Rhosgobel Rabbits were gone, too, if the orc subplot was toned down, and if the White Council vanished, but I totally understand the choices Kerr made to keep it compatible to what came in DoS and most likely will come in the final part (I still hope that an almost close to the book fan edit, without any added stuff, will be possible in 2015). I thoroughly enjoyed the edit (and the incredible audio wizardry, though in a few parts the dialog was a bit hard to understand).

Professionally done. This is a great alternative to the original movie. My issue with the original movie was that sometimes it feels like we jump from a movie to a video game (stone giants, goblin town escape sequence). Radagast also had too many silly moments and his original introduction scene felt like we suddenly jumped to Narnia. All that and more was improved by this edit.

Another major improvement this edit has to offer is the sound editing and some alternative soundtracks (Thorin vs. Azog and eagles rescue scenes, especially) which work incredibly well.
I think, the minor negative I have in this regard is the missing sound piece from the scene when Gandalf breaks the rock to reveal sunlight on the Trolls. I liked that scene, as it originally was, with the Trolls' response to Gandalf.

Overall, it's an awesome work with a lot of heart put into it. This should have been the movie released in theaters.
Well done, Kerr.

I greatly enjoyed this fanedit, it had been sitting waiting to be watched for a couple years for a number of personal reasons and today I finally decided to go ahead and watch it.

It is edited perfectly, everything is seamless. Superior skill is shown by Kerr. It being available in HD is most welcome.

Narrative wise, it provides a very lean and entertaining take compared to the bloated and honestly boring original cut.

Kudos!