Thanks! That means a lot.
Also yeah in my current edit, there’s one part I miss too. The warg chase before Rivendell, it was actually pretty awesome - cool music, action, good acting, most Orcs were non-CGI, but it was just unnecessary for the plot, inaccurate to the book, and had the inclusion of Radagast. I’ve always considered including a “deleted scene reel” on the Blu-ray version. Maybe the Stone Giants might be something to throw on there, I dunno.
But I had cut that sequence because it was very excessive, the stone giants in the book were probably just a different kind of troll or other creature, but not skyscraper tall giant boxers. I felt like it was kind of out of place in the Middle Earth film atmosphere, like we’ve never seen anything like that, it raises too many questions IMO about what they are, why they exist, who’s side are they on, where are they in LOTR, how come no one talks about them
Your logic is airtight on that. If nothing else, the scene would be inconsistent with your very book-accurate edit.
I guess if I could make an argument on the other side, it would be due to my personal reaction in the theater while watching that scene for the first time. I was just as dumbstruck as the dwarves and in awe of what I was seeing. My imagination took flight wondering what ancient and unseen elemental forces underpin our Middle Earth - things forgotten, perhaps even by the elves. In a world that we’re asked to accept treasure piles that are miles wide, impossible architecture, talking animals, immortality and more, I don’t think it’s much out of place. It’s maybe the only outright Jackson invention in the trilogy that isn’t silly or illogical.
More relevant to the discussion though, your list of upcoming changes was eyepopping. Once again, great choices and upgrades across the board. Thanks a million for making me a fan of the Hobbit movie!