The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey2012

This review is for a fan edit that combines the trilogy into one film. It removes as much of the extra stuff as possible and really shows that a 3-hour version of the story would have worked. Or even as a two-parter.  It definitely follows closer to the original novel, but it’s tough because there’s so much of the B plot that’s now tied to the main part of the story. So because of that, it feels like something is missing. Which there is.  I can understand why the studio felt the need to make a trilogy. They want to make it an event like the LOTR. But undoubtedly, it would have been stronger as one or two films.  I’ve never read the LOTR, so I wouldn’t know the difference between what was added and what wasn’t, but what I’ve learned is everything added seems to only benefit the narrative. But I HAVE read the Hobbit, and everything added to the movies really seems to do nothing but lengthen the story and explain stuff that doesn’t need to be explained. So watching a version with all that superfluous stuff removed is definitely a better experience, but it’s not perfect.  Maybe one day I’ll make an edit of my own. Or maybe I’ll just watch the animated version.