Ladies and Gentleman, today November 4, sees the extended edition release of WB Studio’s The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug and let me be one of the first people to tell you to go out and get it. As with all other EEs, extra content is a given and these extras do not disappoint! I believe both those familiar with the story and those that aren’t will be excited to see what adds up to be 25 minutes of both extended and extra scenes. The following are just 5 of the reasons I enjoyed this edition of the film and why I hope you will too!

1. More Beorn
In the original version of DOS we got just a glimpse of the skinwalker Beorn. He is in bear form when we first meet him and then human form when speaking with the company over a meal. Not only do you see more Beorn in this EE version, you get a better sense of his personality as well as see more of his surroundings (beautiful). There is a quite comical exchange between he and Gandalf concerning Bilbo and the dwarves that helps paint a clearer picture of his role in this story.

2. Mirkwood
As we learned in the original version, Mirkwood has a cursed stream running through it that has poisoned the forest and allowed darkness to enter. The additional footage added in this EE goes deeper into how sick the forest is and how much that sickness disorients the Company. You begin to feel as lost as they do. This really adds contrast to the next scene (from the original version) when Bilbo climbs to the top of one of the trees and is greeted by sunshine, butterflies and the clear path. For a moment they are found.

***The Barrel Riding Scene is a favorite of mine***

3. Laketown
There are several extra nuggets throughout this segment that I found really added to the story. You begin to see who the town people are (which I don’t think even mattered to me in the original version), The Master and Alfred’s true motivations are surfaced, and more of the prophecy (and the town’s awareness of it) is revealed. All of it made me pay more attention to Laketown than I ever have.

4. The Desolation of Smaug
There is a bit more added as the Company approaches the overlook to Dale that really puts what happened there into perspective. I found it both a beautiful and heartbreaking scene.

5. Bilbo, Bilbo, Bilbo
I adore him, I always have BUT the extra Bilbo bits throughout this EE really made me stand up and pay attention to WHY I adore him. He rises to the challenge each and every time he is presented with one and while it is done with some questioning, it still gets done. Bilbo has saved the Company so many times by now it is clear that he was needed beyond his expert burglary. I, admittedly, am usually paying more attention to Smaug than Bilbo in the treasure room but during this viewing, I marveled at how, in the face of Smaug the Stupendous, Bilbo continues looking for the Arkenstone the entire exchange…amazing.

I could go on and on (and this doesn’t even include the two discs of additional extras) but I believe what I have shared gives you a good idea of what to expect from The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition. This article is based on the movies alone (though I know the book well) and fellow movie fans should consider adding this to their collections and enjoying all the extended goodness.

Until Battle of the Five Armies,
CC