Air New Zealand is showing The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey EXTENDED EDITION before any of the rest of us have a chance to get our hands on it! And one lucky fan got to see it. Based on what she could remember, here’s her account — from her blog, ‘fortysixthhour’ – of the new scenes you can expect. TORn’s own comments are added in [bold and square brackets]:
It’s almost here! Before we get to The Desolation of Smaug, we can start that Unexpected Journey all over again with the Extended Edition of the first Hobbit movie! The digital download of the movie will be available October 22nd – that’s just next week! – with the Blu-ray 3D and DVD versions to follow on November 5th in the US, November 11th in the UK.
The word from the official press release is that this extended version ‘Features a 13-Minute Longer Cut and Nearly Nine Hours of New Special Features.’ The digital download will be available exclusively on iTunes from 22nd October, before being made widely available on 4th November.
The press release quotes Peter Jackson:
“I’m thrilled that the Extended Edition will give fans the opportunity to experience certain key scenes in the film as they were originally shot, as well as an abundance of special features,” said Jackson. “It’s exciting to present this expanded and enriched version of An Unexpected Journey to allow fans to fully immerse themselves in the movie, before seeing the second part of the trilogy.”
Here’s what we can expect in those nearly nine hours of special features:
• Commentary with Peter Jackson, Director/Producer/Screenwriter and Philippa Boyens, Co-Producer/Screenwriter
• The Appendices – A multi-part chronological history of the filming of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, covering pre-production in the various departments of the film in the months leading up to the start of principal photography, the boot camp training for the main cast, the work done on set chronologically through the three shooting blocks and in the world of its digital effects.
• New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth [A documentary film we assume, though the press release doesn’t say anything else about this feature.]
Once the Extended Edition is available in ‘hard copy’ in November, you’ll be able to choose from a 5-disc Blu-ray 3D set that features the Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray versions of the Extended Edition, or a 5-disc DVD set. The Blu-ray 3D and DVD both include UltraViolet versions of the movie, allowing download and instant streaming.
As soon as we have more details to bring you about the Extended Edition – for example, any different sets or packaging, and any international variations – we will of course bring you that news! Meanwhile, just over a week and we can see those extended scenes… Let the countdown begin!
NZSO recording DOS. Orchestral recording for The Desolation of Smaug soundtrack in the Wellington Town Hall has concluded. It also seems as though the choral(?) work occurring in London for the soundtrack is almost complete. It’s all very hush-hush though.
Additional Orchestrator and Conductor Conrad Pope reported on his Facebook:
With the superb first trumpet of the NZSO, Jon Dante celebrating the end of a series of some 29(?) sessions with the NZSO. Making music with the NZSO was wonderful and I look forward to working with them again — not only are they a superb concert orchestra, they are a remarkable “film orchestra” — they read difficult music accurately right out of “the chute”. But now, after 3 pictures, recording sessions in Wellington and London, since June — it’s time to sleep in, rest up and fly home and await the next assignment.
Over at Forbes.com, Scott Mendelson analyses the cost of The Hobbit movie trilogy, and why he believes that even at a cost of $561 million USD (with some post-production and marketing expenses still to come), it’s a bargain for the studios.
Imagine you’re a studio executive and you had the opportunity to spend $200 million a pop on three films in a trilogy that was all-but-guaranteed to earn $800-$1 billion at the worldwide box office per-installment.
You’d probably agree in a heartbeat and plan how to spend your bonus. So when you read about the “shocking” news [Demosthenes: I didn’t think the news was that shocking, frankly] from Variety that Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy has thus far cost $561 million, don’t be too alarmed. All-told, it’s actually a pretty smart investment. Continue reading “Why The Hobbit movie trilogy is a bargain”
That figure includes the major 266 days of filming with actors that was completed last year, although it doesn’t include an additional two months or so of “pick-up” shoots done this year. There will likely also be additional post-production costs as the next two movies are completed.
Through March 31, production had cost 676 million New Zealand dollars, or $561 million at current exchange rates, according to financial documents filed Friday in New Zealand, where the movies are being made.
Distributor Warner Bros. and director Peter Jackson may consider it money well spent. To date, only the first movie in the latest trilogy has been released. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” took in just over $1 billion at the box office. Continue reading “Hobbit film trilogy has cost $561 USD million so far”
On Monday we let you know about an exciting contest Denny’s are holding this year, where one lucky fan will win a trip to see the World Premiere of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. The competition officially launched yesterday, but we were too busy watching the trailer multiple times to post about it!
So, if you’re getting your video entry ready to prove yourself the biggest Hobbit fan out there, here are all the details you need, taken from Denny’s official press release:
Air New Zealand is showing The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey EXTENDED EDITION before any of the rest of us have a chance to get our hands on it! And one lucky fan got to see it. Based on what she could remember, here’s her account — from her blog, ‘fortysixthhour’ – of the new scenes you can expect. TORn’s own comments are added in [bold and square brackets]:
Over at Forbes.com, Scott Mendelson analyses the cost of The Hobbit movie trilogy, and why he believes that even at a cost of $561 million USD (with some post-production and marketing expenses still to come), it’s a bargain for the studios. 
That figure includes the major 266 days of filming with actors that was completed last year, although it doesn’t include an additional two months or so of “pick-up” shoots done this year. There will likely also be additional post-production costs as the next two movies are completed.