I’m so thankful for this edit. It makes Jackson look much better, showing the good choices he did make and removing his poor attempts to punch up or elongate the story. What’s left comes out far better than the theatrical version, and counterintuitively, makes the Hobbit story track better with the LOTR trilogy. Yes, the story beats that link the two sets of movies are removed, but the overall quality of this Hobbit edit hews closer to the quality of LOTR and that makes all the difference.

Personally, I missed the giant rock dudes clashing as the company watches in fear. Really awe inspiring scene, even if it isn’t from the book. Same deal with Thorin making a stand when the wargs had the company treed.

Okay, wait. I just refreshed my memory by watching the Thorin heroics among the burning trees. Yup. Far better to dump all of that nonsense, if for no other reason than it’s full of Azog. Nice choice!