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nottheone wrote:RyersonSonOfRyer wrote:Has anyone seen it yet?? If so, then post your thoughts!
I watched it. I am coming from the point of never having seen the three films. I read the book a few times years ago.
Its still much too long a movie. I can't imagine watching the uncut version. There are too many captures and escapes, etc. Too many of the same devices used over and over again. i.e. a main character almost dying, Bilbo doesn't want to be there, Thorin is a jerk... Also, there are some really cheesy lines of script.
I did some edits just for the fun of it and have cut an hour already. That's not to say I've made a better edit. Just that I've made it better for me to watch I guess. There is absolutely no screen time for Legolas or the girl elf. Not only as main characters, but as any type of character. I've made Smaug attack the city and then get killed toote suite. No Stephen Fry in my edit at all. (I don't even know what he's there for.) There's no spider fight and capture in the forest, just that Bilbo goes up top and while he's there the dwarves get captured. I cut out minor spots but still tried to keep fun things for the kids. Contemplating the removal of the troll scene or at least reducing it. But that is a fun kid scene. I wish there was a way to get them ponies without having to have ANY of the bear-man side plot. I might do that by jumping directly into Mirkwood some way. No false tension at the door scene... they miss the sun, then right to Bilbo seeing the keyhole in the moonlight. Nobody leaves or drops the key. No rock monsters and the false idea that Bilbo fell and needs to be saved. Why do that? We know he's going to live. They just walk in the storm and then go in the door. No Bilbo trying to sneak away. We already get enough info that he doesn't really like being there. No "earth eaters"... why have them anyway? They show up for 5 seconds and never play a part in anything again.
Remember, I'm using your edit and don't have other things to "put back in." Kind of fun. So far, the only saving grace of this movie is Martin Freeman.
Well...........
I'm a little overwhelmed. From the looks of it, I don't think these films are for you at all, since you cut some things that were somewhat significant.
This isn't a full finished version, and im still looking for reasonable ways to make the film shorter. But I'll most likely just split it into two parts or just throw an intermission halfway in like the extended LOTR films.[/quote]
No need to be overwhelmed. It's just another edit. And no, these films aren't for me, that's why I'm editing it! And I thank you for making your version available so I can give it a shot.
I think your idea of making it into two films makes sense, especially if you want to keep all the action pieces. The major action piece I cut was the spiders in Mirkwood and that seemed to work ok. I had to put back in more of Smaug and the destruction of the city as I cut too much. I don't know what other things you mean that are significant that I cut. It was pretty easy to cut Legolas and the elf girl without much fuss.
I tried a version with cutting the troll scene... not sure about that. Its a fun scene and shows Bilbo's first bit of bravery and quick thinking. Things are pretty dull since there is then no action at all until they get captured by the goblins. That's a long wait. So right now it is at 2 hours and 30 minutes. Not too bad. I'll watch it again later to see how it flows.
I can't remember, but whatever became of the Arkenstone? In your version it's journey ends up with the elf and the dragon-slayer. Does it ever show up again?[/quote]
They don't even show what happens to the Arkenstone in the original version, but they will show it in the extended edition. We will see a scene where the ARKENSTONE is buried with Thorin.
