First Time Watching *THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY* Was Better Than I Thought

[@HelloMellowXVI]

LOTR Is The Greatest Of All Time! It's A Fact

[@jonseitz8475]

By far!

[@paulpeterson4216]

I've read the books at least a dozen times. I took a college course on Tolkien's Fiction, I wrote a term paper comparing Treebeard and Tom Bombadil. And yes, the movies do the books justice. There are things that they had to cut out, and characters that they had to condense, but not only is it the best movie trilogy, it is the best adaptation of a long novel to film. I'm looking forward to 100k.

[@CassandrashadowcassMorrison]

@@paulpeterson4216 Tom Bombadil is the Beorn of LOTR actually. Though much more significant in Tolkien's Mythology. The ring not only doesn't tempt him it doesn't even affect him. It doesn't make him invisible and he can see anyone who is wearing it. He is the oldest living thing. Older than elves, dwarves, ents, or anything else.

[@juttapopp1869]

But still not QUITE as good as the book, lol.

[@jlrush316]

@mellverse you should read the book. Then read LoTR books. So we'll written and details for days.

[@jasonortega7528]

That scene where the trolls turn to stone is the story Bilbo was telling the children at his birthday party in Fellowship of the Ring

[@roddo1955]

I think he knows that😉

[@cyrus2728]

but also a main point in the hobbit,i dont know what point you are making.

[@mistabrrrly]

I love watching Fellowship and seeing the Stone Trolls from the story

[@biggswigg2613]

They also show up in Fellowship of the Ring after Frodo gets stabbed

[@mattschliemann9683]

I've always am confused how these trolls turn to stone but the trolls in LOTR don't turn to stone in the daylight. Are those different kind of trolls? They do look slightly different.

[@dinsism]

A lot of people hate on the Hobbit trilogy, but i still REALLY enjoy them.

[@MAOofDC]

The reason I hate the Hobbit trilogy is because the book is super short. Just over three hundred pages. Peter Jackson put in so much unneeded crap. All the extra stuff actually dragged the story down and made watching the movie a slog. If you really want to know how much padding Jackson added the last movie is basically all battle scene. Well in the book the battle scene is three pages long. It's barely in the book. I guess my point is they could have easily done The Hobbit in one very long or two decently lengthed movies, three was way too much and it showed. As for the filler stuff some of it is okay but most doesn't hold up to the original works and take away from it.

[@mollystorm25]

@@MAOofDC okay then you don’t have to like them. Just don’t watch it. Some people might actually enjoy the movies, and that’s okay, and have fun watching it so just let other people enjoy themselves. I personally like watching the hobbit more then the lotr, it’s just something that me myself enjoy more, and that’s okay. It is what it is, so stop trying to ruin it for everybody else.

[@sarahleary3162]

The only thing that was bad about the hobbit trilogy was the actual 5 army battle. I remember in theatres people being hype until that battle played out. It just felt like a rehash of the 5 army battle in Return of the King. Sure the book may have come first and that battle may have been written first (can't tell you because I haven't read the book) but the large majority of the audience of these movies hasn't read them either. So all we know are sure hobbit may have come first, but our expectations of large epic battles were at an all time high from LOTR. So when it played out at an almost 1:1 like how each army rolled in during Return of the King, it just felt like a let down and I know everyone I was with was on the same page like "dang I already saw this". It didn't feel memorable. Feels like when video games copy and paste dungeons or levels into future games they develop. OTHERWISE .. Everything was great about the movies and I'm so glad they didn't just kill Smaug in the 2nd movie and let his arc end in the 3rd.

[@sebastianemond5313]

I live Unexpected Journey and Desolation of Smaug. Battle of the Five Armies is okay, but a lot of the scenes in that movie felt out of place, such as with Alfrid, the mayor's Grima Wormtongue. I wish they had kept in the deleted scene with Bilbo planting his acorn in the city of Dale to inspire Bard to keep on fighting.

[@MAOofDC]

@@sarahleary3162 yeah because Peter Jackson had to fill 2 hours of movie. I don't have a problem with Jackson adding a little battle action and extending the battle scene some, but he extended it too much and it comes off as bloated and boring. In the book it takes up three pages and most of that is made up of dialogue before the battle. Bilbo the POV character gets knocked out in the opening moments of the battle so the readers never have the battle described to them. Just what happened before and after.

[@johnmccarron7066]

I love Gandalf's response to Bilbo about Radaghast: "I think he's a VERY great wizard." All the disrespect Radaghast gets, and Gandalf always had his back.

[@skylermaves7272]

Balin is the dwarf who's tomb Gimli sobs over in Fellowship

[@obiwanmartyn]

And the body Gandalf takes the book off in that same tomb is Ori

[@roddo1955]

I see we have some Appendices-watchers up in here! 🥳

[@obiwanmartyn]

@@roddo1955 he also writes in the same book during the hobbit movies

[@DizzNutt93]

Also, Gloin in Gimlis dad

[@TheitaniofRome]

in the book, idk about movie, it is mentioned that gimli wanted to go on the hobbit journey but was to young

[@danielgengler4342]

The saddest part about the Hobbit trilogy was that they had no time for pre-production after Guillermo del Toro left. Three months is less than nothing for anything larger than a student film. Basically, the start date was locked in and the studio refused to change it, so Peter Jackson stepped up. They also had to deal with studio demands, like forcing them use 3D cameras. That combined with being forced to literally making it up as they went is why they used so much CGI. That's not to mention the studio mandated story changes.

[@BBBHuey]

The Hobbit might not be as well received as the Lord of the Rings, but personally I feel it holds up pretty well. It is a worthy prequel to the first and a joy to watch every time. It is known that the Hobbit took less time to make and had issues during its production, so it is fairly easy to see that some scenes were either rushed or poorly planned out. But given that all three movies are prequels told in a flashback, one could pretend that Bilbo doesn't quite remember it correctly ^^

[@HenryConway007]

23:12 “When did this shit turn into a musical?” Since the book was published in 1937. Yes, that song literally comes from the book.

[@phousefilms]

Lol, if he had read the LOTR books, he would have seen how many damn songs were in that. I was glad that they brought the songs from the Hobbit(the first book I read of Tolkiens world when I was about 9-10), but LOTR's songs were just so...out of place. Friggin' ten verses when Theodan dies, about Theodan, his sword, his horse, and all in the middle of the goddamn battle at Pelennor Fields, lol. Priorities people!

[@HenryConway007]

@@phousefilms I believe Jackson adapted “The Edge of Night” from Bilbo’s “Walking Song”, if I recall correctly.

[@SharedAcctWithFam]

It was still not it 🤣 my first time seeing it I was like where TF did troy Bolton come from this ain't highschool musical. Good songs but was just weird to see especially after LOTR an not reading the books🤣

[@mjcaboose8036]

I grew up with LOTR, with the opportunity to be at the premiere of the 1st Three movies. All three were great films, but The Fellowship of the RIng was my all-time favorite. My dad picked me from school early so he could drive me and my brothers for about 2 hours, met up with friends, and stood in a very long of fans before we could go in. The opening of the first one was the most enthralling experience I could have in the theaters. Love to see another fan! You are the best!

[@antoinettelopes]

I was a grown up when I saw FOTR on opening day. I still remember the experience. I remember feeling like I was pulled into the film when Arwen and Frodo emerged from the trees with the Ringwraiths on their heels. I didn't come back to the real world for a few hours. When I got the Extended Edition at home and watched it a few times, I knew that ROCKY had been replaced as my all-time favorite movie.

[@roddo1955]

@@drawmelikeafrenchgirl you feel old when you're young. You feel young when you're old

[@roddo1955]

@@antoinettelopes the first time I watched Fellowship was at a friends' who warned me that it was long. I only saw the first half and it was years before I finally, bought the trilogy. when that screen goes dark and Cate Blanchett's voice booms through the speaker: 'I can feel it in the water.....' ugh....SOLD! I have been buying new versions, ever since. Love my extended boxset and now I hear there is a special 4K edition. I barely have any money and no hardware that supports 4K and I still want it😂

[@antoinettelopes]

@@roddo1955 I know what you mean. 😊

[@ITSMRVIDEO-rg9ms]

I’m literally dropping my first lord of the rings reaction tomorrow

[@HelloMellowXVI]

Hoped you liked it bro, it's amazing

[@blackwolf4653]

young KZbinrs supporting each other instead of hating and competing? I Love that 🔥 i follow both of you and yall have amazing reactions.

[@sunowl5301]

Leo! You should definitely get a pipe for the remainder of your LOTR/Hobbit(?) journey! 💖😂

[@baron6797]

Just found Mellverse and totally surprised to see Leo here. Mr. Video is my favourite reaction channel!!

[@nilloc28]

Except the last 4 minutes. RIP 😂😂❤️

[@gabrieleomaggio1461]

That scene with Elrond and Bilbo talking is my favorite. Elrond realizing that Bilbo has no fear of standing up to him, and thinking that he might be a really good friend. Love it.

[@MARYWTHER]

So sad it's just in the extended version. It clarifies so much why Bilbo wanted to go back to Rivendell, even 60 years later.

[@donaldtrumpselbow8142]

The hobbit movies get way too much hate, they’re so underrated, of course, the lord of the rings will always be better and these movies have their flaws, but personally, I loved these movies, a chance to get back to middle earth for me was good enough

[@muggensan8611]

so agree , i mean , what's wrong with people? without the lotr trilogy comparison , the hobbit trilogy would have been hyped as one of the best story of fantasy ever made on cinema... it reminds me how tolkien's hardcore neerdy fans hated the first movies fo no real reasons

[@seimen4348]

Wouldnt say that. The production was hugely troubled and rushed. And you see that on the screen. I mean, they changed the design of smaug on the blu-ray releas from unexpected journey, because they changed the design after the movie hit the cinema. After LotR was a hit, the trend was mediocre blockbuster fantasy with all the movies like golden compass, narnia, erahon and so on. And hobbit fits perfectly in there. But of course, if "something hapoens in middle earth" is everything that counts. Theyre perfect. Hobbit happens in middle earth. Thats a fact.

[@gabrielellott2561]

LOTR are probably my favourite movies of all time. I went to see all the Hobbit films in Cinema and loved it. But then started looking more at the. Firstly, it should not be 3 movies. The book is not right for that. We have about 3 hours of story with 6 hours of extra stuff. It’s a highly inefficient use of time. The Hobbit would have far better suited a TV show, maybe 6 episodes, 1-1.5 hrs each. 1: Shire to Rivendell. 2: Rivendell to Mirkwood. 3: Mirkwood to the Lonely Mountain. 4: Into Erabor and meeting Smaug. 5: Defeating Smaug and build up to Battle of the Five armies. 6: the Battle of the Five armies. That would have contained all the relevant information, made a well paced story and have been better for fans of the books as it would keep to it more closely. So it shouldn’t have been 3 movies. But not just 1 either. It’s well structured for a TV show. Secondly if you take away the comparison to LOTR and the differences from the books, there are some problems I have with the film. For example there are cases (Battle down the river from Mirkwood) of just appalling CGI. Although I will admit most of the creatures and orca look pretty good. Secondly the story feels very jerky. A good story is continuous and flows, but this felt like someone was telling you the story the going “hang on 10 mins” insert fight scene. This gave it a very nursery feel and it meant that it feels like more of montage of fights than anything else at times. This may be enhanced because the book is so good so if the film lacks story telling it really shows, but it was just something I noticed. And my last point is that they do get a fair amount of hate. They were given an impossibly high bar to reach with the Lord of the Rings films being as amazing as they are so now I think about it, how could we expect for them to improve on that realistically. On the whole I felt it was too hit and miss for me but I am aware that as a film it is widely enjoyed so I just want to clarify. They are not “bad” movies. I just don’t think they are particularly well made. Producers were looking for money and had no real respect for the story so milked it for all it was worth and I think that the result is disappointing, when you think about what it could have been. But this is all just my opinion.

[@ingrimmschboindil1302]

Cause the flaws are quite dezent and for 1 book made into 3 movies it is so rushed. You can clearly see that they missed the heart of lotr in creating the hobbit. I still like it.

[@charlesfarley28]

First, The Fifth Element. Now, this. Good day of content, Ser!

[@yjwrangler7819]

Wait. .. 5th. Okay I need to back up lol

[@yjwrangler7819]

Okay I'm back lol

[@Enderslegend]

Just to help clarify, Goblin is a Westron colloquialism for Orc. Language is important in Tolkien's universe. The Hobbit is told most often from Bilbo's perspective and Hobbits most often refer to Orcs (which is an Elven word) as Goblins.

[@Luigiawesome13]

I had a huge, stupid smile on my face when you were nerding out about LOTR in the beginning of the video. I totally feel you. LOTR was and still is a huge part of my life. Can't wait to see you watch them!

[@sfodd1979]

The dwarves in the Hobbit, with the exception of Thorin were all pretty much throw away characters. It's not a very character driven book, being a childrens' book, with few exceptions. Jackson had to create characters for a lot of the dwarves, and other side characters. I actually think he did a great job, by the end of it.

[@tehdipstick]

Balin wasn't really a throw-away character in the book. The rest of the dwarves, yes, but Balin served as a good voice of reason to Thorin as well as someone who gave Bilbo more insight into dwarves in general. They gave a little taste of that in the movies, but most of the bond between him and Bilbo was transferred to Bilbo and Bofur instead for some reason... Probably to give Bofur more character.

[@SuperScottCrawford]

The dwarfs (dwarves?) doing their housecleaning song at the beginning is really the only part in the entire series (both new AND old) where we get to see how agile and quick and coordinated they are. Granted you can see it in some of the fight scenes, but nothing shows their intuitiveness to one another more than that scene.

[@maramackenzie-mann]

Its dwarves. Tolkien actually had to fight with his editor about that pluralisation because they kept changing it back to 'dwarfs'.

[@creepykretins]

The line “out of the frying pan” is a chapter in the book and I love it🤷😂❤️

[@CertifiedSunset]

I do like that they made that nod to the book.

[@kayshinae9023]

They do that quite a lot; usually the first one I think of is "a shortcut to mushrooms" from Fellowship.

[@Xander_Vos]

Seeing your tears just from the score made me cry too man. LOTR was my escape when my parents divorced, and I can literally listen to the soundtracks for all three movies and tell you what's happening at that moment, if not the dialogue being said. Hearing the opening music when the Hobbit logo comes up is like returning home after a years-long journey

[@theseventhsamurai9804]

A small detail I feel gets overlooked in the movies, is that elvish weapons are basically poison to dark creatures in Tolkien's universe. Orcs/Goblins, the giant spiders, and trolls are all susceptible. Basically every time you see Bilbo or Frodo stab or slash a creature of darkness with Sting, it's a death sentence. Those little guys are doing a lot more damage than we give them credit for.

[@CertifiedSunset]

Yup, in basic terms it's like silver to a werewolf or garlic to a vampire. Or in this case, light to the dark.

[@stevencolatrella3257]

You tearing up at the moving moments of this movie that reminded you of the LOTR somehow restored my faith in humanity.

[@ashallen3434]

I CRIED TOO. "In a hole, in the ground, there lived a hobbit." made me ugly cry in the theater. Looking forward to the rest! Have you seen Ralph Bakshi's Lord of the Rings? It's animated and uses Rotoscope that has very interesting effects and John Hurt voices Aragorn. I love love love Viggo Mortensen but when I hear "Aragorn son of Arathorn" I hear it in Hurt's voice. There's also a Rankin and Bass animated Hobbit and The Return of the King. The pacing between those versions glosses over the Two Towers and isn't really a cohesive trilogy, but the animations have interesting styles and it was what I grew up with until the Jackson versions.

[@MARYWTHER]

I remember the way my heart swelled when I saw Ian Holms, and then Elijah Wood. It had been so long, back then... it's making me so emo still, seeing pre-Ring Frodo, so innocent, so happy.

[@kampinak]

think the biggest mistake people do with The Hobbit is that they expect it to be like LOTR, like thats simply not possible since The Hobbit is a small children book that came out before LOTR, they just decided to make it later :) unfortunately with CG its just the issue of today's cinema where even if the director would like to do more practical the studio wouldnt allow it as its more expensive and time consuming...overall The Hobbit is still a solid trilogy, ideally you would put it into 2 movies but again thats just how cinema works nowadays you either get one movie or a whole trilogy :P

[@theviciouschickenofbristol4779]

I love the way Gandalf looks at Elrond when he realizes Saruman is there.

[@kingjellybean9795]

MELLOW WTF... FITFH ELEMENTS AND HOBBIT?! You made my night my dude and I couldn't be happier to see ya didn't think it sucked lol bilbo was 51 it was 60 years earlier and it was his 111th birthday lol they didn't use little people either just killer camera tricks, should def check out the best footage for this and the lotr trilogy

[@alec4724]

OMG!! Falling asleep at the movies is the worse thing that can happen to anyone, especially when it comes to an amazing movie.

[@kitkompo]

i’m so happy to know how much of a LOTR fan you are. These stories are timeless and are for everyone, and i mean… everyone!

[@tylorfox783]

That story about you and your mother falling asleep in the theater was awesome. My mother and I did the same thing with the Desolation of Smaug. Only difference was it was on our couch, she bought it for my birthday and I worked until midnight at that job, and she stayed up until I’d got home and watched it with me. One of the best birthday presents ever, even if we didn’t get through the whole movie. Thanks for that trip down memory lane man!

[@Realdrlipschitz]

Yes man! Agree with LoTR as the greatest trilogy of all time. Each movie got better than the last, which is UNHEARD of in a trilogy. Can’t wait to watch it for the 500th time along with you brotha

[@davesunhammer4218]

Greatest Fantasy Trilogy of all time, sure. Greatest Action Trilogy of all time is John Wick.

[@Realdrlipschitz]

@@davesunhammer4218 agree, except Wick isn’t a trilogy since 4 is coming out soon.. but I get your point

[@CChissel]

@@davesunhammer4218 I don’t know why you brought up John Wick, you can’t compare them, totally different genres.

[@Realdrlipschitz]

@@CChissel I think he just really wanted to talk about John Wick. But let’s all agree LoTR best Trilogy ever

[@roddo1955]

I wished he'd do a live viewing party on international hobbit day. Which is next week, btw.

[@gracedandelion8070]

Your smile when Rivendell came on screen was so fantastic

[@Camuska]

"That dragon is huge !" In the Middle Earth lore, he is but a small ass bitch for a dragon. But hey, he was still alive, so it's a win for Smauggy

[@phousefilms]

Damn right! LOTR started everything in the cinematic universe, but I love "The Hobbit"films so much...not least of all because the Hobbit was the first book of Tolkien I read when I was ten years old and hearing some of the lines from the story still makes me smile. "In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit."and the opening narration...my good, that WAS my childhood. Also, I LOVE that the dwarves are given the attention they deserve. In the books, they were pretty much just generic, all dwarves with different coloured hoods and very similar rhyming names(apart from Thorin, obviously), but here, they're given different looks, hair styles and a bit of interpersonal characterization. Also, LOTR had a lot of focus on the elves(including bringing them into the battle of Helms Deep, where they never showed up in the books)and having the dwarves, one of my favourite races from the novel given their due is especially great. Third one gives the best attention, but more on that later. I absolutely love how Jackson takes us into the early days of Erebor, because in the book, it's only explained secondhand to Bilbo through Thorin when the dwarves visit the hobbit hole. Seeing it come to life, see the creations of the dwarves, the halls of Erebor in its prime and the seas of gold and diamond through the underground is absolutely spectacular. Of course, we see one of the previous halls of the dwarves(Moria), namely Dwarrowdelf, but thats already half destroyed(and we only get a bit of time to look at it before we enter the tomb of Balin and all goes to hell). Just for your info, I'll do some fun facts(as usual), but a good thing to take this movie as is a bridge between "the Hobbit"and "LOTR". Both are important to the overall story. Some believe that this was a cash grab(Jackson wanted to make two films rather than three, but was pushed to make a third)and some think that the Gandalf story is not important. This is NOT the case, it's just taken from supplementary material that Tolkien released later in his life(in the Hobbit, Gandalf just disappears at one point and comes back later. More on that in the next reaction....) I'm so damn happy that Christopher Lee got to return as Saruman one last time. His voice is so deep and smooth, it gives me chills. As to making a third movie and putting extra story:All good stories deserve embellishment. FUN FACTS!(Tolkien trivia and so on): "That dragon is huge!" Surprisingly, Smaug was the smallest of his kind, the great worms(and far smaller than Angalacon the Black, the first dragon, who was larger than the mountains) Mellbo Baggins with his pipe is amazing(trivia fact). And he was truly a wise hobbit to watch the extended cut. "A master wizard and you can't guarantee his safety?" Smaug and the rest of the dragons were Maiar Spirits in physical form(convinced to change and serve by the first Dark Lord, Morgoth). Other Maiar spirits are Shelob(the giant spider)and the Balrogs(which, as you recall, one of which was enough to give Gandalf a very close battle.) Moria was the dwarf kingdom. They dug too deep and awoke the Balrog called Durin's Bane. Because of that, the dwarves had to flee after their king(one of the Durin's)died and the orcs overtook it. I thought it was a neat detail, but you can see the glow of the Balrog inside the doorway(it's the same doorway that the Fellowship exit after Gandalf is dragged off the bridge of Khazad Dum). For the five Wizards/Istari: Saruman was the head of the order, but he was jealous of Gandalf and grew a mind of metal and wheels, caring more about power than caring for the people of Middle Earth. The two Blue Wizards(Allatar and Pallando), who Gandalf can't remember the names of went into the East, disappearing into Mordor and possibly starting cults of magic within, their fates unknown. Radagast became lost in nature. Of the wizards, only Gandalf stayed true to the directives of the Valar(basically the gods of Middle Earth, as the five Wizards are, technically, angels.) The three trolls are the ones Bilbo talks about in "Fellowship of the Ring"and, in the extended cut(when Frodo is suffering from the morgul blades wound),they camp near the stone bodies. Sting is not yet named(you'll see how it gets its name), but I thought it was an awesome detail that Bilbo got the engraving on it that Frodo has through LOTR when he uses the sword with Sindarin(elvish)letters. SPOILERS: The translation is "I am Sting. I am the Spiders Bane." END SPOILERS. True, the original had the "ghosts"(or, shall we say, wraiths)look better, since they were actually people in costumes. These movies relied a bit too much on CG(a great deal of the goblins were people in costumes, just with cg masks). Saruman had already searched for the One Ring for himself before the time of this meeting of the White Council, but had never managed to find it. Gandalf talks about the dwarf rings, but I feel like giving a bit of a mention on the Rings of Power. Sauron created them(partially through a proxy, the One Ring being the only one he forged himself)to control the leaders of each race. The elves figured out what he was up when Sauron first donned his ring and removed their own before he. could control them. The Nine kings of Men became the Ringwraiths. The dwarves, on the other hand, were not controllable because of their sheer stubborness(something I always thought was fucking badass), but it transferred instead to make them incredibly greedy(as Gandalf said, the Ring of Power that was still out there belonged to the bloodline of the King Under the Mountain, which may be why Thror, Thorins Grandfather, went so sick in the quest for gold). Your grin and your tears at hearing the classic themes, from the Shire("Concerning Hobbits")to Imladris("Rivendell")is truly amazing. I feel myself smiling with you, my friend. Ooo, the goblins remind you of Morlocks? Yeah, I can see it! "When did this shit turn into a musical?" You're lucky that LOTR didn't use half of the hundreds of songs that it contained! Theodans death would have had three verses about him, two about his sword and one about his horse! "The Hobbit"book had a lot of songs, but the movie actually cut a few out(like the elves singing "tralala"as the dwarves come into Rivendell, lol.) "Smeagol had a pocket?!!" Yeah, that loincloth is just the remains of his pants from when he was a Stoor Hobbit. More of a pouch, really. Seeing Gollum again is amazing in itself. I knew it was coming since the first trailer dropped, but got chills all the same. I love the different pupils depending on whether it's Gollum(little pinpricks) or Smeagol(big and round pupils) talking. The shot when he's charging Bilbo and Bilbo says "I want to play. I do!"and Gollum turns his face into the shadow for a moment and raises it again with Smeagol's happy little smile is one of the greatest shots in this film. My second favourite shot of the film is when Bilbo is staring at Gollum, his sword at his throat, and we hear the Shire theme play as the wind blows past his face and we see the pity he has for him("The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.") and instead leaps over him, leaving him behind. I get absolute chills as Gollum swears to hate him forever.(Andy Serkis actually did a charity read of the whole "Hobbit"book, which I bet was easy for him to return as the voice of Gollum!) Gandalf only knew(by the end of the journey)that Bilbo had a magic ring, not that it was the One Ring. Not until he himself saw the markings when he tossed it into the fire was he totally sure. Third favourite shot? The image of Smaug's eye and that snarling growl. My feeling on this one: I love it, but I will say it takes a little while to get the journey underway and it sometimes feels a little overstuffed as a result. However, the next two fix that a great deal and we see a lot of new locations, which is always amazing. Can't wait to see your reaction to the next one!

[@RetroRanter]

A subscriber is never late.. Congrats on 60k! Learning you're such a LOTR fanboy is amazing, I've always wanted a pipe like that. 😂

[@felixtr1328]

Amazing reaction man i love how you were able to get so emotional throughout random Things in the movie that reminded you of the lotr and probably your childhood i had the exact same feelings when i was watching the Creed movies as I grew up on the Rocky Franchise

[@forestcatkay14]

15:43 you know a place is special when it gets you to smile so bright. Didnt even need to give the name, the view and music are all that is needed. Doesn’t matter how old you get nor the fact that these places only exist on paper/film it feels like coming home when you see them in film or open the first chapter.

[@Crimsy3000]

The Hobbit was always meant to be more light hearted based off a children’s story. The first two movies were pretty good but the third felt way to rushed and undeveloped. I wish they put more effort in that one.

[@phousefilms]

I actually liked that they did the things they did with the third one. It was the goodbye to the Tolkien world(at least at the time, given the upcoming series)and the battle was between the Necromancer's armies, not the Necromancer himself(just so I don't spoil). It was a fine finale and it couldn't be given the same amount of attention(or multiple endings)that ROTK did because...it just wasn't that type of movie.

[@magicbrownie1357]

After the original director bailed and left Jackson holding the bag, things went a little screwy for sure. Also sure it would have gone much better had the plan played out as expected.

[@duraunpierre8872]

The Hobbit doesnt suck is an amazing title for this video yo hahahahaha. U been puttin in that work G, biggups to you

[@rickardroach9075]

23:15 The book is for children and has songs throughout, which is why this musical number feels out of place with the film's darker tone. The Goblin King is performed by Barry Humphries, who is most famous for his character Dame Edna Everage.

[@selenawolf2466]

Ehhhhh, to be honest I LOVED they added down to goblin town song - I was originally baffled by the goblin lord's design, then the song came on and I forgave it all 😂❤

[@thepaganpirate3528]

You’re Gollum impression is still amazing! The Hobbit as a book was written to be more for children hence the songs and such. I think one of my favorite things about these movies, is while they look so CG due to the high fantasy, when I read The Hobbit I picture higher fantasy, that looks almost video game like for lack of a better term, and Lord of the Rings I picture more real to life. Other cool thing is the chapter where Gollum and Bilbo meet, it’s called “Riddles in the Dark.” And Gandalf says it while he’s smoking after Bilbo leaves and Frodo finds the ring on the floor of the door step.

[@Impulsiveveins]

Man, I have been binge watching your stuff, I gotta say I love your vids, when you crack up laughing it’s contagious and it makes me wish I was hanging with you laughing with the homies!

[@jskillit1686]

It makes me so happy to see you geek out over this fandom!

[@nostrebornod]

I’m going to be that person. The problem isn’t that it sucks. It’s a great book. The problem is it’s less the length of the of the Fellowship of the Ring book that odd stretched over 3 movies. Stretched thin “like butter scraped over too much bread.”

[@firekrys]

Agreed, I liked these, but at most they could have done just two movie. At the end of the second movie, since I’ve read the book, I thought, “Wait, they’re seriously going to make a full movie just on the Dragon and the Battle of Five Armies?” There’s barely any big arc, since everything already happened, and you can barely count that big fight with Thorin and the big bad they pretty much created out a minimal description just for this series. I loved the animated version and they could have just kept that format.

[@larrote6467]

more than anything jackson didn't spend several years adapting it so most of the added stuff and changes are not as well thought out as they were with lotr, also, the last film is too boring, almost nothing happens in it

[@firekrys]

@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 Oh I agree, this one is the best. I love the intro to the Dwarves and how Bilbo and their relationship grows.

[@josh1235]

For sure. This is the best of the three. Honestly what I recommend if you want to spend the same amount of time is to get The Hobbit audiobook. The version read by Andy Serkis is amazing. His Smaug is great and it is worth the price of admission for Riddles in the Dark alone.

[@heliopyre]

have a look at the m4 book edit. it re cuts the three moves into one 3 hour one. it removes as much of the fluff as possible, going as far as using vfx to edit stuff out of the shot.

[@K-11609]

20:45 funny thing is in the books when Gandalf came back, it was Galadriel who sent the Eagle for him and then subsequently she gave him his new staff and sent him out.

[@flavorwise3511]

I was not expecting the pipe. You are giving me new life today. Hobbit hole in Rivendell ftw. Dude. I have loved your reactions for a while now. This is up there with my favorites.

[@augustinewestley7310]

Peter Jackson did this on a lower budget and under stricter guidelines. (Still, no talking Eagles though.) But Dude READ THE BOOK! The SONGS ARE IN THE BOOK and that's one of the Tolkien Highlights P.J. actually got right in this one. Completely missed most of the amazing songs and ballads in the first trilogy (not to mention the absent Tom Bombadil).

[@Asari547]

it makes sense they crossed bombadil from the story.

[@BBBHuey]

Lines from Tom Bombadil was given to Treebeard in the extended version of The Two Towers.

[@krisssmith477]

@@BBBHuey and the old man willow scene

[@tanmryan]

Agree with all of this 💯! Plus in the Silmarillion Tolkien delves into the importance of music in the creation and ontology of Middle Earth. That’s why the trolls’ version of music is considered a “perversion”, just as orcs aren’t their own species but originally mutilated, tortured elves.

[@rhaenyralikesyoutube6289]

Agreed. The books are awesome! I have to admit though in Return of The King when Pippin shouted "The Eagles are coming!" I laughed so hard because he sounded like an excited fan boy, and almost expected Don Henley and the other Eagles to show up, and start singing Hotel California or something. 🤣🤣🤣

[@MdGuardian1032]

Songs are in the book. Was written as a children's story. JRR Tolkien even had his son read it and review it for him.

[@velociraptor3313]

I love Lord Of The Rings, my dad would tell me stories when he was a kid growing up in the 1950s in Yorkshire. He read The Hobbit book and he would tell me stories of LOTR and of Tolkien. I admire and respect Tolkien, I'm twenty three years old and in a few days my Dad will be Seventy two.

[@scotter23]

No it doesn’t suck! I hate narratives about films that people don’t give a chance. Well done! Watching now!!!! - Scott (The Movie Defenders)

[@larrote6467]

that's the typical fanboy talking point and pretty hypocritical: to just dismiss people in that way,

[@andrewcharles459]

Can you explain what you mean by "don't give it a chance"? Everybody I know that dislikes this trilogy has seen it. That's why they dislike it.

[@OfficialClacka]

The trolls are in the original LOTR too. Sam says to Frodo "look mr Frodro, its Bilbos trolls" just before looking for the Everlas plant and Arwen turns up to save frodo.

[@ardethbay8338]

thank you for this. so much. for that video title and in your description. THAT makes me cry. i love this trilogy so much, and i (along with other hobbit fans) am constantly harassed for loving it and put down by other aggressive fans who insist that it's the worst and will attack anyone who likes it. it means the world to see someone give this trilogy a chance and realize how moving and amazing it is.

[@Personneinternet]

Little did you know, in the books (hobbit and LOTR) there are many songs and signing parts

[@KIMKRIS1]

I just love how they put the scene together with the high council at Rivendale, as Christopher Lee wasn't in the same room/country with them...and they still acted well all together

[@LS-tk7hp]

a lot of people forget that the hobbit was/ is a childrens book, while the lord of the rings wasnt considering this the hobbit movies are some of the best childrens book movies

[@danielledaniel1900]

I huge Tolkien fan. I own all the extended editions. Tolkien was the reason I got into reading

[@AnuViation]

I feel that the real problem with this trilogy is that is pales in comparison to its predecessor, without spoilers, all I can say is that, they spend too much time trying to do "fan service" and spent no time building characters. Like many others have stated as well... there is SOOO MUCH MOVIE with very little content to work with... Many things happen over this trilogy that did not happen in the book and I feel as well that there are so many "over the top" moments in them, that leave you in bewilderment.. like physically impossible moments lol. Keep up the good reactions, Breh.

[@sweetcinnamonpnchkin]

Also heard that Peter Jackson was rushed and the studio pressured him. Imagine how the movies would have gone if he was allowed to do what he did for LOTR.

[@kpny8484]

@@sweetcinnamonpnchkin Ya, Guillermo Del Toro was doing it when he had some major family issues (death) and he dropped out. They asked PJ to step in, but things were already in motion so he didn't have time to pre plan like they did in lotr, and they changed what Del Toro was planning, and so lost any ground that was already laid. There are good parts in each of the movies, but there are sooo many issues that they created that didn't need to happen. The love triangle, Azog, Dol Gul'Dor, Legolas to name a few. Watching behind the scenes you get a good idea of the mess they got themselves into. I'd love to see what Del Toro could have done with it one day though.

[@kpny8484]

@KarSoban Ya, and PJ had originally said after lotr that he didn't want to film the hobbit because there were to many characters, to paraphrase.

[@daniellooney8878]

Problem was "the man" wanted 3 movies....when the simple hobbit + the appendix could only be 2 movies max. That is why it did not live up to expectations. Let alone weird frame rate etc. People only complain about the extra crap and filler to stretch it out.

[@kpny8484]

@@daniellooney8878 In the behind the scenes, when PJ and crew were filming the five armies, realized they didn't have any idea what they were doing, so he called up HQ and said he needed more time, and that they could make it into three movies, which the studio said yes to. Del Toro was going to have it be two, which I think if he had stayed on it would have been. That 48 frame rate was strange, although it didn't make me feel sick like some others I knew.

[@RavenTheTrickster]

I used to fall asleep to these soundtracks. Love Howard Shore!

[@camerapunk4109]

“Did you all see a sign that said f$&@“n snowwhite is here?!” I’m dead 🤣😂

[@mellysomethingclever]

I love The Lord of the Rings so much. The trilogy and books hold such a special place in my heart. I collected everything I could from the movie. I don’t like the hobbit films as much I prefer the books. But any reason to go to middle earth again I’m down. This is why I love this channel. Quality movie picks.

[@SRP3572]

My mom and I had a mini tradition with the films of the LOTR trilogy. The last day of summer before my junior and senior year of high school, we watched them. Starting in the morning, we would watch the Extended versions, so that's a good 12 hours. We would have movie theater-themed food all day, and it was so great. It was a good thing for us, since we both knew that during the school year, we wouldn't be able to spend a lot of quality time together since she would be busy with work and I would be busy with school, sports, church, youth group, and senior year I had a girlfriend and college prep, so I was very busy. We got a little ambitious with the last day before my first day of college, as we watched those movies AND all six of the Star Wars Saga, which required an earlier start, a later finish, and a lot more food 😂. I hope I can do the same thing one day with my kids with those films AND these movies. Great reaction Mellverse.

[@azaiav2480]

This is the moment where Bilbo remembers 29:37 *True Courage is about knowing, not when to take a life… to when to spare one*

[@leperwolf7287]

Did y'all see a sign that says "Snow White is here?!" WTF you doing on my doorstep?!🤣🤣🤣

[@emperorconstantine1.361]

I’ve been to the real Hobbiton, in New Zealand! 2018. Part of a graduation present. One cool fact. When Peter Jackson was flying in a helicopter for filming locations, he came over a sheep farm, and suddenly saw the ground. He said he suddenly heard the theme playing in his head, and not 1 single note of music had been written yet. And you should also listen to the audiobook to this book, find the one that has the movie score and almost perfect movie voices one. It’s on KZbin unless KZbin removed it…again.

[@tyrionlannister1628]

Hell Yeah! Double Feature! Just came from watching your Fifth Element reaction which was great!

[@benjalucian1515]

Oh and the dwarves sing a lot in the book the Hobbit, when you get a chance to read it.

[@orionvitale5020]

Hey mellverse just wanted to point o it that the songs that you hear in this film are from the hobbit novel so that’s why they included them because the book had songs in it

[@azaiav2480]

As a New Zealander I’m so glad so many people around the world are loving not only the *LORD OF THE RINGS* But also *THE HOBBIT* And you said it right about the Shire *UTOPIA* Fun fact: *Listening to the Shire Soundtrack over and over imagining yourself living in the Shire is a paradise living away from crime and just peaceful law no wars just living the life smoking and having fun* 🥰🥰🥰

[@heathercontois4501]

Your opening, I was a little worried about your comments on trilogies, but then I realized-You Are Right. LOTR and Star Wars are my only favorite trilogies, but you are so right. I actually hadn't thought abut it until you said it.

[@xandermerrick]

I was able to go to see all three LOTR films in theaters with my brother, who was a huge fan. He died shortly after Return. Glad I got to share that memory with him.

[@shakeyras_beauty]

I'm so sorry for your lost

[@9robb5]

I love watching people react to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit (even if they weren't as good as the first three) trilogies and loving it themselves! The first three have a special place in my heart, growing up on them, can't wait for your reaction to the last two!

[@TheArbiterOfTruth]

For those of you who’ve never read the Hobbit Book (yes, it’s one book, and it’s about 350 pages) here are the things they added: The elves not helping the dwarves in the flashback sequence. The Arkenstone. Rhadagast the brown (he was actually in the fellowship book originally) Dragon sickness. The white orc. The entire scene with the white council. The Nazgul. Sauron. Frodo. Old Bilbo writing to Frodo. Legolas. The elf Fili had a crush on. The black arrow (in the book it’s Bard’s lucky arrow. That’s it). In the book, “what have I got in my pocket” wasn’t a riddle, Bilbo was loosing and trying to come up with something to say, he hadn’t even realized he’d picked up the ring and just wondered aloud about it. Those are just some of the additions. Peter did way better with the LOTR trilogy.

[@heathercontois4501]

I liked how you commented how some of the shots didn't feel right. The sad part about the making of the Hobbit trilogy is that Jackson took over halfway through pre-production from Del Toro. The studio had also wanted it shot for 3D capability so forced perspective was out, so a lot (A LOT) of CGI and greenscreen was used to give the studio what they wanted.

[@simonnewby1215]

'dodge-boulder' may be the single funniest line you have ever said in a reaction, perfect

[@TheMarvelousM]

All of the Middle Earth films are fantastic.

[@Broken-xi5io]

Congrats on 60k !!

[@TheOTA101]

The first one doesn't suck! It's a shame the same can't be said for the next two

[@sweetcinnamonpnchkin]

The second one was great! The third was ok. Loved Smaug in the second film.

[@muggensan8611]

the extended edition of the battle of the 5 armies is much better than the first version if you haven't seen it , it makes the movie much less frustrating

[@cluster_f1575]

After watching the LOTR trilogy, it's fun to go back & revisit the the familiar faces in the Middle Earth universe. Martin Friedman was absolutely fantastic as a younger Bilbo. That being said, the main issues I have with the Hobbit trilogy is there's not enough story to warrant 3 films. Without spoiling things, some of the subplot(s) injected in films 2 & 3 just didn't need to exist. I also I didn't like the over-reliance on CGI.

[@muggensan8611]

@@cluster_f1575 indeed , btw pj was very aware of this but the studios wanted 3 movies so he knew that he had to deal with this issue , but i think he is eventually satisfied of the desolation of smaug which he had to creat only for the producers's requierment

[@lukem5604]

'you're watching lotr AGAIN' yeah man its like a monthly event i will never ever get sick of it lol i don't know how i missed that ur a big fan but WOW i appreciate u so much XD

[@briannayoung5412]

This movie made me realize how much of a fantasy geek I am!

[@aascottie]

"I love when Gandalf tells us where we are" 😂 and now I want Gandalf to be a GPS voice option.

[@alexanderb5726]

I could scarcely believe when I found this reaction and someone with the exact same childhood relationship with Lotr as me. I mean nerds on Middle Earth and its lore is one thing, but you described the very same love I had for the movies. They really do raise you to be a certain kind of person do they not. Only those who've had that understands it fully, it is by all accounts a matter of the heart. And the feeling of the Shire theme at the start, I know man, I know. Just wait until the credits of the last movie, that song will bring tears.

[@MsMelyjean]

You own the maps, the books, AND action figures? I heartily approve.

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

Got a lot of Ian Holm going on today lol. Hey, give Time Bandits a shot. he plays Napoleon in that. That movie is insanely great.

[@smokeyverton7981]

Yes!! Thank you. Been requesting for months. Hopefully no copyright issues. I know some channels have run into problems with AMADEUS. Oh and R2D2 is in Time Bandits as well

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

@@smokeyverton7981 Yep, Kenny Baker plays Fidgit :) A lot of great casting in that. John Cleese as Robin Hood, Sean Connery as Agamemnon, and especially David Warner as evil. For my money it's the single most under-appreciated movie these days. Everyone of all ages knows about pretty much every other adventure film from the 80s but they seem to have forgotten about that one.

[@baskervillebee6097]

24:07 is where Bilbo picked up the ring.

[@rickardroach9075]

35:20 In the book most of the dwarves arrived in family groups of two or three, but in the film Jackson condensed their introduction so he could have that _hilarious_ sight gag of them all toppling through the door at once. The problem is we then don't get a chance to cement names to faces and we're forever lost. 🙄

[@josh1235]

To be fair they are written almost interchangeable in the book, but the few that do have set personalities (Thorin is a wind bag who makes long speeches for example) are changed to map onto the Aragorn mold more or less. Balin gets an upgrade, Bombur is still fat, and Kili gets more to do but that is not for the better.

[@josh1235]

@@anni.68 Good for you if you liked that weird love story (I don't mean that facetiously), but I thought it was bad. Even had they gone for it, the executions was not great. They also made him less of a Dwarf essentially. He was just a short handsome guy with a five o-clock shadow. I am not a lore purist or something, but he would have gotten roasted for being a Dwarf with a beard that puny, especially as the guy who is in essence second in line for the throne.

[@forlornhauntedghost]

I love the Hobbit so much! (more than LOTR, but that's just cause it's easier for me to rewatch 😅). I'm just fascinated by the dwarves and Bilbo is so adorable and quirky 😄🥺.

[@marthaclanton]

If Gandalf had revealed that Bilbo had The One Ring, the dwarves might have been tempted to take it from him.

[@LordHoth_90]

It’s good for what it is. Would I have liked a more faithful adaptation? Sure, but I still love them.

[@smokeyverton7981]

Have you seen the animated version from 1977? It did a fair job

[@LordHoth_90]

@@smokeyverton7981 I own all three animated movies, those I absolutely love

[@hopet7090]

I like the hobbit but desolation of Smaug was such an experience especially hearing Smaug’s voice in surround sound. This movie is very much set up and the second and third movie I feel you get a lot more. But I loved Lotr growing up cause my mom did . She was obsessed and took me to every movie

[@Herucarne]

Mell: "That song was fire." - I see what you did there!

[@DarthAndrew520]

I'm not sure if this is true, but apparently Tolkien tried to go back and rewrite The Hobbit to match the darker tone of the Lord of the Rings and he couldn't do it. The Hobbit is a Fairy tale and more contained while LOTR is more of a grand world spanning fantasy. Trying to make one like the other is just going to take away from what was already good.

[@MattBaileyPlaystheSlots]

Peter Jackson also pays a lot of homage to the animated The Hobbit from the 1970's. A lot of the musical numbers come from that and it's a whole lot easier to get away with in a cartoon than a big budget live action adventure film.

[@TheNervousMedic]

The hobbit trillogy, and espeically this first movie, are my comfort movies. Bilbo is more relatable to me than Frodo (no shade, Fodo, still love you) and expansion of Dwarvish culture just makes me so cozy.

[@FredFukkinBear]

If you had grown up reading all of these books like I have, you learn to appreciate all of the movies that bring life to your imagination and exceed your expectations.

[@draketoothsilvertongue9922]

Yeah there was a lot of singing in The Hobbit in the books. LotR had a lot of songs as well, but the movies, they left out most of the songs in the book replacing it with ethereal melodies from the score, or humming scenes like with Gandalf humming/singing The Road Goes Ever On, at the beginning of the Fellowship. Or Aragorn in the extended version of the Fellowship singing the elf song about Beren and Luthien. When The Hobbit was written, Tolkein had tons and tons of songs and each one was pretty important, as they, in some cases, helped to move the story along. Biggest example being of the dwarves singing The Misty Mountains song at the beginning which in the book, put Bilbo to sleep and had him dreaming of the adventures he was soon to have. Its what pushed him to head out. The goblins had their song as well. The elves of Rivendell had a weird song when the dwarves first entered in the book, which thankfully they left out of the movie. But basically, that's why it felt like at times it was a musical. Tolkein just had tons of songs during the Hobbit books, that its only natural they'd have to add a few in the movies. The other two movies of The Hobbit, were kind of subdued as far as the songs go. But yeah that first one has quite a few. The LotR trilogy left out the majority of the songs Tolkein wrote, only including small, short parts. They also left out Legolas's cry of fear when the Balrog first appeared in Moria. Rather than have him say "Ai ai ai a Balrog!" the Fellowship movie just pans in to Legolas looking wide-eyed when Gandalf mentions the Balrog. Balrog were originally created to be elf-killers.

[@justcode2822]

I first read LOTR when I was 15 in 1977, around the same time they did an animated version which only covered the first two parts of LOTR. I didn't actually read The Hobbit for quite some time afterwards and I've never read it again. The LOTR I've read at least once a year for the last 45 years, I've read the books so many times over the years I think I've had 6-7 copies of it...

[@HobGungan]

Just because an 8/10 is less than a 10/10 doesn't mean it's bad. These films were compromised by a very troubled production and executive meddling, and *THEY STILL TURNED OUT AMAZING* . This one in particular is my personal favorite of the six (narrowly beating out RotK because while I can enjoy either version of Journey I can *only* watch the EE of King)

[@25TheCaveMan]

Agree 100%, TOTR, best trilogy ever made. Fellowship is my fave because it sets the stage so well for the rest of the story. That opening, with the over dub of Lady Galadriel, telling the story of the rings of power, just pure epic-ness, imo...

[@mayavictoria9582]

This one is my favorite of the hobbit films for sure!!

[@coryspang7548]

Glamdring is one of my all time favorite weapons in Middle Earth lore. Sword of Turgon, King of Gondolin. When it was recovered by Gandalf the Grey in the troll hoarde, it was more than 6,000 years old since it was supposedly lost after the fall of Gondolin in 510 of the First Age.

[@andrewcharles459]

23:40 I get such a "master blaster" vibe off that little goblin.

[@LiTTleGaBi21]

Fellowship of the Ring was my first vhs I bought. There really hasn’t been a magical set of films like that since. Howard Shore music is so damn perfect.