The Jobilt Edition

Initial release: 2/1/2017

Editor: Jobilt

Length: Ludicrous 2:10 hrs; Theatrical 2:42 hrs; Extended 3:45 hrs

Website: http://jobilt.tumblr.com/post/156704220060/jobilt-hobbit"'My edits refocus three sprawling films by:""-Focusing on Bilbo’s story, neither slavish to the book nor indulgent of Jackson’s additions.""-Cutting the goofiness, gore and dread for a consistent tone balancing the book’s exuberance and the sequel films’ grit.""-Unifying the narrative with fewer flashbacks, cross-cuts, establishing and reaction shots.""-Closing dozens of plot holes, inconsistencies, implausibilities and redundancies.""-Mining all three Extended Editions for character moments and visual storytelling.""I reviewed seven other fan edits before and during my process, and took bits and pieces from all of them, most notably Dustin Lee’s.  My edits are particularly lean on Bard–now just a roguish archer–and Thorin, whose corruption is more natural and human.  Unlike most other edits, I kept Gandalf’s side quest and Thorin’s beef with Azog (except in the Ludicrous Edition).""Here are my guiding principles:""-This is Bilbo’s story. Thorin & Gandalf also have arcs, but everyone else is a supporting character.""-Respect the light-hearted tone of the book. No visceral gore or amputee slave trolls steered with chains from their eye sockets.""-Respect the sequel films. Reign in the cartoon physics, and don’t reuse plot devices.""-Keep some quiet character moments. You won’t care without them.'"