The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey - Extended Edition + Digital Download UV Copy + Over 9 Hours of Special Features (5 Disc) Blu Ray + Blu Ray 3D Box Set

Brilliant movie, I can watch it over and over again.

As usual with my reviews, I will limit my comments to the product advertised, in this case the steel-book limited edition blu-ray of the extended version of The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey. Hopefully helping you to make the decision on whether the extended cut of the film is really worth the expenditure, especially if you, like me, already have the theatrical cut. I will also give you a run-down of all the additional scenes.The packaging itself is the usual black plastic box sandwiched between metal covers, and in all honesty looks cheep when compared to the extended versions of the original trilogy in their book-style, individually coloured sleeves. Inside are the two-disc 3D version of the film; a single disc containing the extended blu-ray version and two discs containing the appendices which are numbered parts seven and eight, to fall in with the nomenclature of those in the extended version of The Lord Of The Rings, and hints at a box set containing all six films and their appendices in the not too distant future.(No surprise there then).The quality of the blu-ray, as you'll already know if you have the theatrical version, is second to none, with dazzling colour saturation, perfectly solid blacks and stunning detail, as one would expect from twenty first century high def'. And the additional scenes or partial scenes fit in seamlessly. I can not comment on the effectiveness of the 3D version as I do not have a 3D player and have little love for the medium in any case.Subtitles are included on the Blu-Ray version, as are various language options which include: French, Italian and Spanish.The scene-extensions are as follows:(Please read no further if you want it to be a surprise)1. During the prologue, the Elf-king Thranduill is shown a chest of stolen elven treasure when he confronts Thror, King Under The Mountain, which further explains why the elves are reluctant to help the dwarves when attacked by Smaug.2. During the dragon attack on the town of Dale, we glimpse some of the large arrow-firing machines that form that towns defense.3. A firework flashback during old Bilbo's narrative at the beginning of the film proper, reveal the origins of Bilbo's friendship with Gandalf.4. The afternoon following young Bilbo's stressful meeting with Gandalf outside his Hobbit hole, Bilbo goes for a wander through Hobbiton searching for the wizard in the hope that he has truly gone. This is the longest of the additional scenes, and is a wonderful opportunity for us to get a lingering look at Hobbiton market. For every Hobbit-loving person, this is truly a magical addition, though does nothing to add to the story as a whole.5. During the dwarf dinner scene, we get to learn a little about Biffor, and how the axe that remains embedded in his head has effected his speech.6. As the dwarfs and hobbit approach Rivendell, we get a sense of Bilbo's character as he talks to Gandalf of a magical feeling he has as he looks down on the Last Homely House. Gandalf begins to sense that there is more to this hobbit than meets the eye.7. There are a few additional scenes during the dwarf's stay at Rivendell, these include: kili winking at an elf who he thinks is female, only to be told that in fact it is a male elf. The dinner scene itself is extended with a food fight as we watch the growing irritation of the elves with their rowdy guests, during which Bofur sings a song. Interestingly the song, 'The Cat And The Fiddle' is a song originally sung by Frodo Baggins in the book, The Fellowship Of The Ring, as he dances on a table in The Prancing Pony, prior to his finger slipping into The One Ring ad his introduction to Aragorn. So for all Lord Of The Rings aficionados, this is an interesting little addition and nod back to the books.As the dwarves feast, Bilbo's growing affection for Rivendell is revealed as he wanders off along tree-lined balconies and through open rooms, where Elrond finds him and invites the hobbit to stay in Rivendell if he so wishes. This little addition gives us a better understanding of why Bilbo should later want to return to the elves when he finally decides to leave the dwarves as they sleep in the porch of the goblin cave.Following the feast, the dwarves finally test their hosts patience to the limits, as they strip off and dive into a fountain in the centre of Rivendell to bathe, overlooked by stunned elves.8. A meeting between Gandalf and Elrond, where they discus Thorin's past, is overheard by Bilbo and the dwarf leader. This further helps to explain Thorin's decision to leave Rivendell unannounced and unexpectedly.9. The meeting at Rivendell between Gandalf, Elrond, Saroman and Galadrial, is extended, and we get some important information about the missing rings of power and how the dwarves fit in with the One Ring story.10. Finally, we get another song, this time sung by the Gobblin King, which does little in my mind but add length to an already overly-long story line.So there it is, a breakdown of the extra 13 minutes in the extended edition. They are all nice little scenes, with the expanded views of Hobbiton, for me the highlight. But none of the extended scenes really add anything to the storyline, with only the background information on the One Ring and the missing rings of power, really adding anything to the narrative subtext of the overall story of Middle Earth, and which ties in with later events in the 'Ring' trilogy.What really counts in this extended edition however are the appendices. Nine hours of extras which I am still wading through, all shot in wondrous high-def' and a vast qualitative improvement over appendices one through six of the original trilogy.I promised myself when purchasing the theatrical edition of the Hobbit, that this time around I would not buy the extended version when it was released, as I knew there would be nothing important added - the Hobbit storyline having been already stretched to breaking point. In the end I couldn't resist it. Was it worth the £17.00 I paid for the steel-book? The jury is still out as I have only watched it through once at time of writing. I'm certain in time that the question will be irrelevant however, as I will certainly get my monies worth out of it in the end, having already watched the original blu-ray some fifteen times. I'm certain I will never grow tired of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey.If you have enjoyed reading this review, please read my others.

The Hobbit Trilogy gets a bit of flak from critics and I agree that they are not as good as Lord of the Rings (nothing ever will be), but the Hobbit Trilogy is entertaining, full of great actors and while the story has a few changes from the book, I am of the opinion that the changes make the movie more digestable. For lovers of the Hobbit movies, the extended editions are an absolute must. They add plenty of footage that makes you appreciate the movies even more and add a whole lot of context to scenes that may have been a little lacking in the theatrical release. If somehow you have not seen these extended editions before, they will certainly be worth a watch.

Before Tolkien fans start crying heresy I would urge everyone to reread the book before commenting. I have and whilst the book is still a good read at heart it is still more of a children's book and written in an appropriate style and light on characterisation.Peter Jackson has breathed greater depth into the characters, provided more layered motivation and emotional depth and created a stronger link with the Lord of the Rings which fills in the gaps between the two books and also Gandalf's experiences when he is missing from the Hobbit. Hopefully the future parts of the trilogy will deal with some of the gaps referred to in the Lord of the Rings. This is important because when it comes to the books you can read the Hobbit and have a complete tale without reading the Lord of the Rings, but you can't fully appreciate the Lord of the Rings without first having read the Hobbit.The reverse problem Peter Jackson has is that almost all of those who see the Hobbit will have seen the Lord of the Rings and therefore there needs to be more linkage between the two sets of films.That's the backdrop but what about the film itself and why in some ways is it better than the book?The book never really sets the scene with regards to the history of Erebor and the dwarves are painted more as adventurers after treasure, but the film provides more emotional depth and historical backdrop which is summed up when Bilbo explains that yes he is homesick, but he has a home whereas the dwarves have none and he is prepared to help them win back their home. It's a poignant and emotive part of the film made all the stronger because of the earlier depiction of the fall of Erebor and the the loss of the Dwarves home and their failure to find a new home in Moria.You can tell that Peter Jackson has really thought through some of the other small details and has taken a more layered and realistic approach then in the book. If nothing else Middle Earth has always been depicted as a formal place. Even the Hobbit is referred to as 'Mister' Baggins and Lords and Kings are given due deference and everyone is by now conscious of the issues relating to Stewards and Kings in Gondor, but one thing that doesn't ring true in the book given this backdrop is Thorin Oakenshield's arrival with a bundle of other dwarves falling on the floor as they arrive at Bilbo's house. The collapsing group of dwarves still features but Thorin, heir to a the great dwarf kings of Durins line arrives on his own and last of all - and that's a much more realistic depiction. Jackson has also introduced a number of other nice touches - the reasons why Thorin has the name Oakenshield; the back story to the Necromancer and the behind the scenes discussions of the White Council that take place 'offstage' in the book. Radagast never appears in the book, but has a prominent role in the film which again creates more linkage with the Lord of the Rings trilogy.Martin Freeman makes a great Blbo with a combination of humour, enthusiasm and a frisson of fear that is true to the book and in only one film has become a more three dimensional character than was achieved with Frodo over three films. Richard Armitage has brought to the screen a magnificent rendition of Thorin that is so much more than the one dimensional character in the book. The Thorin in the film is clearly noble in intent, wants to do the best for his people, has a core of sadness for what happened to his home and his line and a massive hate for the Orcs who slew his kin. He is flawed, but you can immediately understand when Balin describes the battle before the gates of Moria and says that when Thorin rallied his people Balin felt that he had found someone worthy to follow; someone who he could call king.And as always with Peter Jackson's Middle Earth the battle scenes are epic; the Orcs are suitably vile; the monsters are on a grand scale and the spiders are scary.I was in two minds whether to buy this film given some of the comments I had heard and like many people I was cynical about the need to create another trilogy with such a short book. So if anything I started watching the Hobbit with a negative mind set, but it quickly won me over for all the reasons outlined above. If the other two films are anywhere near as good as this first part of the trilogy it will be a fantastic triumph.Having reread the book I really do believe that this film is better than the equivalent part of the book.This is a five star film and I think JRR Tolkien would have very much approved and applauded Peter Jackson's innovations.