# Question for those who enjoyed Jackson's LOTR films **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 30, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027 "2014-10-30T16:47:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/61 "2014-11-01T04:01:04Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I really don’t understand seeing things so simply for “completeness.” If you’ve seen enough of PJ’s work to predict that the new movie will at best annoy you, why give him any more of your money? Because if I didn’t see it I’d always be wondering what it was like, and if there were some good parts that were worth seeing, and unhappily being left out of discussions by fellow Middle-earth fans who did see it. Having seen Thorin & Co. come this far, even wincing at times along the way, I want see their journey through to the end. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/62 "2014-11-01T04:30:44Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Because if I didn’t see it I’d always be wondering what it was like, and if there were some good parts that were worth seeing, and unhappily being left out of discussions by fellow Middle-earth fans who did see it. Having seen Thorin & Co. come this far, even wincing at times along the way, I want see their journey through to the end. If you say so. It still seems to me like going to a restaurant where the food was bad, the service was worse, and there was a roach in your salad, and then coming back the next night because the head chef had taken a pastry class and you wanted to try his cheesecake. His NO-BAKE cheesecake. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/63 "2014-11-01T08:01:01Z")
I’m in Skald’s camp. And not merely because he invited me to lead his Legions of Doom and Despair. Really. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/64 "2014-11-01T10:26:50Z")
How do the Extended Editions / Director’s Cut versions of the Hobbit so far compare with the theatrical release versions? Really, my only criticism of the theatrical releases so far is that I had to see them in 3D and I just can’t relax into a 3D film. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/65 "2014-11-01T16:48:40Z")
Doesn’t bother me a bit. Once again I disagree with a lot of PJ’s choices, but it’s hard to get upset about them. I’m thoroughly enjoying participating in his vision about what Middle Earth looks like, and how he’s choosing to expand the Hobbit story to better fit into Middle Earth (something JRRT tried to do also, later in his life.) I admit to be less interested in watching Hobbit film 1 multiple times than I was for LOTR films. But that just may be me, as I’ve gotten older. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/66 "2014-11-01T17:05:34Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > How do the Extended Editions / Director’s Cut versions of the Hobbit so far compare with the theatrical release versions? I haven’t looked at what is in the extended version vs. the theatrical release, but clearly I either missed the entire Thrain bit in the theater, or it’s an extended scene. In the first movie, Gandalf brings up the threat Smaug poses if he aligns himself with ‘the Enemy’. Saruman dismisses this as fantasy, since he is sure Sauron is forever powerless and ‘the Necromancer’ is just some easily dealt with Human Sorcerer. The second makes it clear that Smaug is firmly aligned with Sauron and will be a major weapon in the coming war. Now obviously, this isn’t in The Hobbit because the whole War of the Ring wasn’t on Tolkein’s map yet. However, it works well to tie him in to the whole story and make it even more vital that Smaug is slain. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/67 "2014-11-01T18:56:44Z")
I think I have figured out Jackson’s idiosyncracies. I know in advance what I will be getting, so I don’t think I will be disappointed. The visuals will be beautiful. The drama will be ham-handed, but well-intentioned. The action sequences will be absurdly overdone, with the coyote and roadrunner serving as technical advisors for the CGI team. He actually could have had an excuse for the action scenes. He should have told the story as flashbacks, with a frame story of elderly Bilbo telling tall tales to a group of hobbit children. Whenever the action gets too far-fetched, cut back to the frame story, and show Bilbo exaggerating things to entertain the kids. I like the depiction of Smaug, especially the glowing chest when he is preparing to breathe flame. Benedict Cumberbatch is a great actor, but Richard Boone had a better voice for the role. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/68 "2014-11-01T19:20:36Z")
In some mildly alternate reality, Guillermo del Toro’s 3+ hour The Hobbit movie is exquisite. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/69 "2014-11-01T22:09:34Z")
I want to visit that universe. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/70 "2014-11-01T22:29:36Z")
Please bring a copy back for me when you do. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/71 "2014-11-02T00:24:08Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I want to visit that universe. Okay, I’ll send over a continua buggy. On the way back I’ll need you to stop over in the Marvel of universe and deliver a small package to Stark Industries. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/72 "2014-11-02T01:43:48Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Okay, I’ll send over a continua buggy. On the way back I’ll need you to stop over in the Marvel of universe and deliver a small package to Stark Industries. If it’s not ticking or leaking noxious fluids, my friend, I’d be glad to. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/73 "2014-11-02T03:18:24Z")
I didn’t particularly like the first Hobbit film (the only one I’ve seen so far), but I think that’s more because of the source material than what Peter Jackson did with it. It just doesn’t fit very well in the Lord of the Rings universe, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/74 "2014-11-02T03:32:35Z")
The problem was Jackson fell in love with his LOTR and is unable to simplify. The Hobbit is a fairy tale, not an age ending epic. A grocer goes off on an adventure and discovers to his surprise that he’s brave. It isn’t a relentless series of action sequences built solely to give Lego video game ideas. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/75 "2015-01-20T01:53:23Z")
Reviving to say there’s a fan cut [out there](http://kotaku.com/fan-cuts-the-hobbit-into-a-single-4-hour-movie-1680489729). Here are the cut notes: > [@](#): > > The investigation of Dol Guldor has been completely excised > The Tauriel-Legolas-Kili love triangle has also been removed. > The Pale Orc subplot is vastly trimmed down. > Several of the Laketown scenes have been cut, such as Bard’s imprisonment and the superfluous orc raid. > The prelude with old Bilbo is gone. > Several of the orc skirmishes have been cut. > Several of the action scenes have been tightened up, such as the barrel-ride, the fight between Smaug and the dwarves (no molten gold in this version), and the Battle of the Five Armies. > A lot of filler scenes have been cut as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/76 "2015-01-20T02:09:27Z")
> [@JesterX](#): > > Also, the orcs are the most INEPT army since the iraqi’s. They get slaughtered in two’s and three’s by every character. Why those guys don’t just hang their heads in shame and say “ahh hell with it”, I’ll never know. I figured it out in a way. There are only so many non-orcs (or orcs, for that matter) in the world that it is possible to slaughter, so each orc, no matter how large and well-armored they seem, statistically has probably never killed anyone. Once [del]the PCs[/del] Thorin and Company have killed their first few, they are vastly more experienced. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/77 "2015-01-20T03:52:50Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > Reviving to say there’s a fan cut [out there](http://kotaku.com/fan-cuts-the-hobbit-into-a-single-4-hour-movie-1680489729). Here are the cut notes: I would have left in the Dol Guildor stuff. That was some of the better scenes. Other than that it sounds good. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/78 "2015-01-20T03:58:57Z")
I’m not a really big fan of the books. I liked the LotR movies more than the books by a considerable margin. The Hobbit movies have not been as good but I’ve enjoyed them quite a bit. I can certainly understand how if you’re a big fan of the books it might seem like a train wreck but for me they’re quite a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/79 "2015-01-20T05:00:15Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > For those who loved (or even liked or mildly enjoyed) Peter Jackson’s LOTR movies: Has the clusterfuck that is his adaptation of The Hobbit ruined your enjoyment of the LOTR movie trilogy? Why or why not? No. Books are books, and movies are movies, and I hope McKellen\* and Freeman and Skeris make a boatload of money and live happily ever after. - Does anyone else remember his Juliet’s soliloquy in “Acting Shakespeare”? Breathtaking. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027/80 "2015-01-20T16:14:47Z")
I liked The Hobbit. I’ll agree that it would have been better as just two movies with a lot of the fight scenes eliminated, but overall we enjoyed watching them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-enjoyed-jacksons-lotr-films/703027.md?page=5)