The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition Blu-ray Review

”The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition 3D” (Blu-ray) – Reviewed by Kris Deering

Synopsis

The middle chapter in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy gets fleshed out in typical extended edition style with nearly 25 minutes of new footage. The quest to regain Erebor continues as the dwarves and Bilbo Baggins continue to make their way to the lonely mountain. But their path is rich with danger with orcs on their tails and the dangerous world of wood elves in front of them. As before each is tested along the way but ultimately the fiercest test is left for Bilbo as he sneaks his way into the mountain only to come face to face with the dragon Smaug.

Commentary

I’ve been a huge fan of the previous extended editions in the Lord of the Rings trilogy but I found this new extended edition only mildly different than the theatrical cut. Most of the new footage is fleshing out scenes that really didn’t need more development but there are a few key plot points that are served up that may help going into the final film of the series. The second feature in this new trilogy was an improvement to the first film but still falls a bit short of the original Lord of the Rings films to me. This is still splendid entertainment though. Whether you’ll find this new extended edition adds to the already enjoyable theatrical cut probably depends on just how serious you take your adaptation. Ultimately I found it didn’t add much, but it didn’t subtract from the enjoyment either.

Technical

This movie looked spectacular for its original theatrical cut release and this new cut is no different. Shot with the then new Red Epic digital camera, the image has a pristine look to it with incredible fine detail and depth. The color palette has a rather bleak look to it, similar to the previous movies, and there is a layer of light bloom that looks to be added. This can distract at times but it is part of the signature look to these new films. Black levels are outstanding and I didn’t notice a single instance of compression noise or banding despite the use of a single BD-50 for the 3 hour runtime. The 3D presentation is spread over two discs and looks just as good. This is one of the few movies out there that I actually recommend in 3D. The depth of image is incredible and despite a few pop out moments Jackson manages to keep the gimmicks to a minimum. I didn’t have any ghosting issues with my projector so hopefully this will hold up well on my displays out there.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix is a delight with a solid surround soundstage and powerful low end. The best is definitely saved for the last part of the film with the dragon Smaug. The sound design of this whole sequence is a sonic delight. I was a little disappointed to see that Warner didn’t include a Dolby Atmos mix for this release given its Atmos release in theaters but despite the lack of the new sound format I found this to be a real sonic treat.

Extras

Even without the extended cut of the film Warner gives you plenty of reason to want this new release if you’re a fan of the film. The biggest draw is The Appendices, which span over two dual layer Blu-ray discs and take you on the complete journey of making this film. Ever facet of the film is covered in depth giving you all access insight into the story, production, characters and film making process. You also get some features on filming in New Zealand, and audio commentary with director Peter Jackson and an inside look at the fantastic score by Howard Shore. If you’re looking for insight into the production, look no further.