The Hobbit: The Desolation of Warners (Part 3/2)

Nothing is pure.
Twitter: @thelindsayellis
/ lindsayellis

[@SunniestAutumn]

"I don't have a problem with people making money, but I do have a problem with people making money off the poverty of other people."

[@kegheihga3374]

Veikko Elo "I want capitalism but without the bad stuff."

[@jaybuzzton453]

voidheim Well yeah

[@ondrejsaska3201]

voidheim Yeah, why not try

[@ZubbaKon]

voidheim It's called Social Market Economy. And everyone should fight for it.

[@Khenfu_Cake]

voidheim Well, that's basically what we are trying to do where I'm from. So far it's worked out fairly well for the most part. So, it's definitely possible:)

[@caustic1611]

This video should also be called "How Lindsay Ellis tricked me into watching a whole ass documentary on the Hobbit trilogy"

[@caustic1611]

@@MrLeafeater Lindsay Ellis came into my home with the promise of freshly baked lembas and then refused to leave until I had watched her entire documentary triology. I've been BAMBOOZLED.

[@royaloreo1275]

@@caustic1611 Top ten comebacks

[@Skp1452]

It was foreshadowed though so it’s ok

[@Lewting2000]

@@MrLeafeater It's amazing how many people will insult a guy leaving a sarcastic comment for being stupid when they just miss the joke and keep on going

[@Timic83tc]

@Cian McCabe this. really cringy after such a good discussion of the film to shit on capitalism for WB and NZ being stupid

[@chrisbuckman1756]

I feel I would have enjoyed this video more if there was a love triangle.

[@davidm1926]

It would have justified the fact that it was made by a woman. I'm kidding I'm kidding I'm kidding I'm alluding to a quip she made in part 2 about female representation in movies I'm kidding.

[@SeanGodos]

more jazz hands!

[@WolfHreda]

"Why does it hurt so much?!"

[@sarahheri7027]

OMG LOL!!!

[@dzonbrodi514]

@My name is Irrelevant Don't ask...just tiptoe away

[@Igorcastrochucre]

The way Lindsay managed to tie together Harper Lee, The Hobbit Trilogy and Ke$ha through this saga via foreshadowing and clever misdirection is the reason she will be missed on KZbin.

[@princesskenny1654]

wait, she's not on youtube anymore?

[@hurgcat]

@@princesskenny1654 yeah she got witch hunted off the platform by angry fans of a thing she exposed for being awful. Thanks, Awful Fan Bases!

[@NicolasGarciaLieberman]

@@hurgcat holy shit 😭 that is seriously sad

[@seanwells9702]

@@hurgcat wait she was witch hunted for these specific videos?? I thought it was super enlightening

[@seanwells9702]

@@Ceaseless_Cischarge Raya & the last dragon was a rip off of Avatar the last air bender and SO disappointing of a film, I’m sad to hear that’s the movie that did it, as I truly thought it was horrible, boring and honesty cliche as hell

[@daethalion1725]

Just the fact that a fricken' film company effectively wrote a treaty with a sovereign government makes me feel physically ill. Seriously, WTF?

[@Yawyna124]

Yeah, pretty scary isn't it? On a similar note, did you know that the tobacco industry similarly has sued countries up to Australia (but many times small, third-world, countries that have many times less GDP than the companies responsible) for making legislature requiring blank boxes and warnings and pictures of symptoms of prolonged smoking usage (as a step up to what we see in the US, for example, where tobacco companies cannot have advertisements and have to have a safety and health warning on the box)? Also, also, here's the wording of the relevant part of the labor laws that got changed in relation to WB's negotiations that I picked up in these comment threads: "Here's a direct quote from the Employement Relations Act 2000 (I.e. the law that outlines employee's rights to annual leave, maternity, work hours, breaks etc in NZ) "In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, employee- (a) means any person of any age employed by an employer to do any work for hire or reward under a contract of service *excludes in relation to a film production, any of the following persons:* (i) *a person engaged in film production work as an actor, voice-over actor, stand-in, body double, stunt performer, extra, singer, musician, dancer, or entertainer:* (ii) *a person engaged in film production work in any other capacity.*" So if you are a person engaged in film production work to any capacity, in relation to any film production work, you do not have employee rights in NZ, legally.

[@KingBobXVI]

This is why the US needs to get back to trust-busting. Corporations as or more powerful than nations should not be a thing.

[@TheMusicCritic101101]

All a part of colonialism. That's how it's always been. It was effectively companies that started colonizing the new world, and companies from the US that started neo-colonizing ALL of latin-america. This sadly isn't new, but I keep learning about new ways colonial rules of engagement seep into every bit of our culture the more we just let rampant capitalism run our lives. It's low key depressing.

[@thecianinator]

Money talks, bullshit walks

[@LowestofheDead]

The very first corporation was created in the Netherlands in the 1600s. They'd invented the stock market one year earlier and the government had already combined all the free-market competing companies into a giant monopoly, the Dutch East India company. The govt granted it the right to wage wars because it's business was invading Indonesia. So the very first Capitalist country in history immediately destroyed the free market and encouraged colonialism through multinationals, all with the government's help.

[@Mokkari77]

The realization that while the "Scouring of the Shire" didn't happen in the films, it happened in real life.

[@geralddavis2869]

Mokkari77 wow I never thought about it that way

[@msdowd85]

WB does make a good Saruman. Puts up this facade of a the good guy in white with their products, but really is conniving conglomerate manipulating things behind the scenes to their own benefit.

[@TheStanishStudios]

...Well fuck.

[@sazimalusi4477]

shit man well put

[@caammm88]

:''^(

[@MareTranquil]

"Hey, some KZbinr is taking shots at the Hobbit trilogy. Lets watch that, thats just bound to be fun!" 90 minutes later: "Great, now I hate the entire concept of being an adult."

[@Zetimenvec]

It's not specifically about being an adult, it's about internalizing the shittiness of others in the stuff you like. Without the shittiness, those bad feels will go away.

[@nerdherder9340]

Part 1/2 why is gandalf horny Part 3/2 how unchecked capitalism corrupts art

[@Evija3000]

@@Zetimenvec Since most stuff is corrupted in one way or another I just avoid paying for the most part. Thrift shops, borrowing stuff from friends, torrents. As long as I don't give money to the bad people or companies, I feel pretty good. Not that my money even matters to them. I support judging art separately from the artist. Otherwise there's not much to watch or enjoy. And I would have to do research on everything before I even try it. However if I really enjoy something and it seems legit, I will pay, especially if it's something smaller where my money might actually have an impact, like a kickstarter.

[@Cerberus1441]

@@Evija3000 Honestly, that's the best argument for pirating and sharing among friends: because the utterly horrible human beings profiting off of the poverty and suffering of others when they're already filthy rich don't deserve another cent from us.

[@LuisSierra42]

@@Cerberus1441 What about talented independent filmmakers?

[@nothinglikeasongbird]

Writing in from Aotearoa/New Zealand here, I just wanted to add in another bit of this story, a bit that gets particularly heartbreaking to me. Helen Kelly, then the leader of our Council of Trade Unions, fought for the actors pretty publicly, which she was harassed for extensively by the general public. Years later, when she was in the final stages of a battle with terminal cancer (and all the while publicly fighting for the rights of cancer patients and end of life legislation. long story short Helen Kelly was incredible), people continued to harass her over the Hobbit thing. People sent her hate mail while she was in hospital, saying--among other things--that they hoped she'd die slowly and painfully. Because she stood up for the rights of film workers. I grew up in a post-LOTR NZ where Peter Jackson's always been this like...near-deified national hero of the arts. He was absolutely, deliberately involved in the vilification of her and the union movement and knowing that he's involved with that makes his films pretty well unwatchable. Jackson's main hobby at the moment, for anyone wondering, is bribing the Wellington City Council to prevent the construction of affordable and social housing to preserve the city's "Character."

[@blueshit199]

jesus christ

[@penname8441]

+

[@alang.bandala8863]

Character!?

[@shrimp3rjr413]

Not saying you are wrong, but sources?

[@nothinglikeasongbird]

@@shrimp3rjr413 Check out Rebbeca Macfie's book on Helen Kelly, it hits all the big notes in the first chapter IIRC

[@sonyablu7694]

I was living in Wellington when the LoTR was being filmed and a lot of people I knew were working on those films. It's hard to explain what it was like, the energy, the excitement that Wellington had over that time... we all felt something magical was happening, something we'd never seen before in our little part of the world. And it didn't matter to us that the main cast were big stars from overseas, and that the money paying for them was Hollywood money... working on the LoTR was so much more than a job for many of the people I knew, it was bigger, a lot more personal. So, for many of us here in NZ these films do feel like they are our films. There is something very Kiwi about them, about how they got made, and even the way they tell the story. The Hobbit on the other hand didn't even come close to that - where as Kiwis felt very much a part of making the LoTR, the Hobbit felt more like it was being made here but in its own bubble sort of. Sure, we had the casting calls for extras, and people got work behind the scenes... but it was very much 'a job' in a way that the LoTR never was. So when the labour issues cropped up, it wasn't so much that we 'owned' the Hobbit, or that we didn't support the actors wanting better conditions... I actually think a lot of Kiwis really did understand that the performers were getting stiffed. But the thing is, so was everyone in the industry. So most of the people protesting were very aware that we were on the 'losing' side of things even before our government sold us out. Those were people who knew they could very well be losing their jobs tomorrow in a place that doesn't have enough work for them if we don't sell ourselves cheaply to overseas projects.

[@zkme2734]

this comment deserves more likes

[@jackjones4248]

And noone noticed the irony that this film series revolved around a monster obsessed with the control and accumulation of a vast pile of treasure

[@Gavgoyle]

And, cautionarily, how when their home was reclaimed, rather than equitably split some of the spoils with others who had suffered under the monster, greed consumed the soul of their leader causing his downfall, as well.

[@CynicalBastard]

This is easily noticed, because plot holes can tell hidden (mostly quite ironic) narratives, which can be extrapolated outside of the fiction and into real-life stories of whatever their counterparts (in whole) are constructed upon. But when it's so perfect...you know there is a real good plot.

[@Doc_Fun]

Would've been ironic no matter the studio.

[@camipco]

I just re-read the Hobbit recently to my kids, and this message is emphasized in the book. In fact, to me the most powerful conflict in the book is between the greed of the dwarfs, elves and humans and their better natures. The danger is not the goblins or the dragon, it's that the dwarfs might become like the goblins and the dragon. And Bilbo's real value to the party is that he steers them from that. Giving away the Arkenstone to Bard over the temptation to keep it for himself is his most heroic moment, and the act that saves Thorin. That's also, of course, the tension at the core of LotR - greed vs sacrifice. Of course, none of that made it into the movie.

[@publioaurelioperonciniano3403]

The dwarves are hard-working miners, soldiers and artisans which got their labour value stolen by one big dragon, powerful, rich, and greedy. The elven aristocracy didn't want to commit to the fight, and stood back, and the men, which are largely a small bourgeois society, were also driven to poverty by the dragon. The working class dwarves attacked the beast, but only middle class men, capable of creating a ruling class, could kill the dragon. Only together, in the end, the three freed themselves from the fascist orc backlash. Made by Labour gang

[@TheQuashingoftheTub]

Me; * watching this and feeling my childhood shatter* "Why does it hurt so much?" Lindsay: "BECAUSE IT WAS REAL."

[@MauFerrusca]

"I refuse to transcribe this once more"

[@Alternatoast]

I hate you 😭

[@LutzHerting]

No, it wasn't. It NEVER was. International Conglomerates have ALWAYS "exploited" people by producing where it's cheapest and selling where they earn the most. That's how capitalism works and it doesn't change by ignoring that fact.

[@DackxJaniels]

@@LutzHerting You're like that weird uncle that always starts rambling about something completely unrelated in a discussion.

[@mrdisco99]

@@LutzHerting Yeah capitalism is a thing... we all get that. The problem here is in figuring out how to enjoy art in that context.

[@randomrandom450]

This was more interesting to watch than any of the Hobbit movies.

[@NoraGermain]

i tried to watch the hobbit, stopped 30 mins in and watched all 3 parts of this instead :)

[@wenkeadam362]

Agree!

[@joeypotter6051]

True! I hated the first, almost fell asleep in the second one and refused to watch the third.

[@ShadowMan64572]

It would be more interesting if she actually spent more time critiqing the films instead of making it political.

[@randomrandom450]

@@ShadowMan64572 How dare she cares about the people involved in the movie.

[@MG-np2jj]

Dang, they really exploited the emotional tie of a nation to the film to turn Kiwis against each other, and to ultimately agree that their laborers are worth less than their foreign counterparts.

[@rosePetrichor]

John Callen might be one of the warmest, most genuine, compassionate speakers I've heard in a long time. What a lovely, intelligent man.

[@ktownshutdown21]

I want him to be my grandpa so I can give him warm, caring hugs

[@irpwellyn]

potential fun fact; he played Zuka, the Mandalorian technician, in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II

[@Junuman1]

@@irpwellyn 😮

[@BP-vc4em]

So did WB blackball him yet?

[@rosePetrichor]

@@BP-vc4em sounds like with the way they were being treated even when they *were* being offered work, WB wouldn't need to do much..!

[@nowhereweareagain]

One of the saddest things is that you get the sense from John that they thought they could have made an incredible movie, but so much got in the way and stole that opportunity from them.

[@Evija3000]

Yeah, it's sad. Both on a grander scale regarding what the movie could have been and on a personal level regarding what the actors went through. The way he talked about the beginning of shooting... they thought they'd be playing important roles in an amazing movie that focused on the hobbit and the brotherhood of dwarves. And they created an actual sense of brotherhood between the actors, they did their part, and they were excited. And then they had to wait, and wait, and film a little, and wait, and wait again, and get involved in a political mess, and get treated like trash in the end...

[@mr.dalerobinson]

@@Evija3000 yeah, I got that sense of a ‘band of brothers’ feeling amongst the actors when I had the pleasure of working on the premiere and media junket on the first movie. After seeing behind the scenes of weta and the ‘buzz’ about town, I thought it was going to be a win for everyone, but it seems to have turned out similar to my experience with studios.

[@matthewbibby8921]

Is that not obvious just by watching the Dwarf's introduction to Bilbo and the Riddles scene already?

[@katherinewilson1853]

He seems like such a nice person.

[@Oli.V]

As an update, the first of five season of Amazons lotr show (now titled Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) was filmed in New Zealand. As of August of 2021, as post production began on that season, the teams in New Zealand were informed only 20 minutes before the press release that season 2 would be produced in the UK. Many people who were likely expecting to have a job on this show for likely over 5 years are now without one.

[@crimsondynamo615]

If the Hobbit already hasn’t soured New Zealand’s view on the series as a whole, i imagine this doesn’t help

[@Jsa460]

Given how bad Amazon's production was, if it lasts more than 3 season's I'll be very surprised no matter how much money Amazon spends to skew the optics. It's a souless cash grab where Amazon will do everything they can to make as much money as possible out of it no matter the cost to everything and everyone else involved. NZ is better off without it as I can only see it going further downhill from here and probably not end well for anyone working on it if it stayed in NZ.

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

I mean that show might spend millions upon millions on CGI, it’ll never get better, and if they’re producing it in the UK ppl will only complain more about the VFX. Amazon has a real stick up their ass that they haven’t learned a thing from Hobbit

[@shadowaccount]

Who cares

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Well, they’ll have to go find another job, I suppose. There’s no guarantees in life, so better get a signed agreement. I watched three episodes of Rings of Power and it was terrible. Casting was great. Afaict, there’s nothing wrong with the actors’ talents. It was the writing that really stank. Really, really stank. I will be surprised if Amazon doesn’t find a way to weasel out of its five season billion dollar commitment. And you can be sure that the folks to whom they made that commitment on paper will be amply awarded for letting Amazon slither off.

[@marsimus13]

John Callen's story is so heartbreaking and disgusting... Much love and respect for him and all the Kiwi dwarves of The Hobbit

[@haizee2330]

Is it heartbreaking? He's a bitter old actor who is upset no one acknowledges his bit part

[@silvanloher5912]

@@haizee2330 you really haven't understood anything in this video then, have you? What a nasty comment.

[@princesskenny1654]

@@haizee2330 literally shut up, he, along with the dwarves (mainly the kiwi ones) were treated HORRIBLY, and here you are insulting him? Grow up

[@haizee2330]

@@princesskenny1654 and here you are hearing one side of a story

[@ND-nr6mx]

​@@haizee2330your comment reeks of ignorance.

[@hbomberguy]

This is a masterpiece

[@CandleLightDoesThings]

Stop overdosing on Brain Force and make a video you raging SoiBoi

[@Jupiter065]

She really is the best

[@barnytv5707]

i will never forgive your skyrim video

[@Leo-pw3kf]

When will we have a crossover episode between Soyboi and Misandry Critic?

[@ratguy101]

"Top 10 Anime Crossovers"

[@clairematthews8524]

After the first video: wow, she makes great points! The Hobbit really was quite average and badly structured! After the second: Omg I remember this controversy about Del Toro and the producers, I wonder what the truth really was! After the third: Lying in bed considering every product I've ever purchased and media I consume, subscribed to Lindsay Ellis, nostalgic for Lotr, and not considering re-watching the Hobbit movies for a very long time...

[@johans3164]

i never really cared for hobbit anyway. it was mediocre af, especially being compared to LOTR and its obvious people that are working there isnt really having any fun whatsoever. it was CLEARLY controlled by the big bad company men and women. its quite sad really

[@clairematthews8524]

@@johans3164 Yeah I think I definitely didn't realise the extent to which it was bad BECAUSE of the production... I mean I was only 10 years old when they were first released, but man it hurts realising exactly why they went to shit and thinking about the potential it could have had :(

[@johans3164]

@@clairematthews8524 it sucks for the people to learn about it. especially if they are a fan, like you. but thats the ultimate question of the world. would we prefer a bitter truth or comforting lie? the world is complicated and the big company men and women LOVE to make it even more complicating using their manipulation, power and greed. they are not even human anymore in my eyes. but oh well, hopefully we can find a way to head toward a better direction in the world cause 2020 sure does remind us how much we failed with all the disasters and what not

[@beanieguitarguy4070]

@@johans3164 It’s not about bitter truth or comforting lies, it’s about having to live in a capitalist society knowing that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, since it’s inherently exploitative. Some people get way too caught up with that, and either beat themselves up over it or rant at other people for doing it.

[@manuxx3543]

Made me thinks of games developpers, everyone is used to game being built on the soul and sanity of devs Yet we still enjoy some, when they dont break much

[@slavmetal]

Maybe the saddest part is that had Jackson and the big name actors sided with the NZ crew and threatened to walk if they kept treating them that way, this entire thing could have been resolved to the benefit of the workers.

[@joeypotter6051]

You could see Peter Jackson seemingly on the edge of a nervous breakdown in that interview they did with him. He was really wedged between the studio demands and the workers. That said, he chose the wrong side and he has doubled down on it since. He was a darling of NZ for a few years but that's pretty much faded entirely now. Now we love Taika instead.

[@plazasta]

if the big name actors did it maybe, but Peter Jackson alone? Not sure there, I think Warner Brothers would've just taken the production to another country. However, if the big names actors like Sir Ian McKellen had also sided with the NZ workers, then it might've worked (can't have a Hobbit trilogy where Gandalf is played by someone other than McKellen)

[@hyperspace2752]

@@plazasta Yes. It's a complicated situation with no easy answer.

[@arthurdurham]

@@plazasta They could have replaced him too. They really could replace anyone as it's a "prequel" using the justification they're younger so they look different. I mean I know it doesn't make sense in the lore as much but the studio won't care

[@plazasta]

@@arthurdurham if they're willing to go that far I'll be terrified of their greed

[@marthaemma9138]

you made a beautiful 1.5 hour documentary and put it on youtube for free. You're the sh**

[@beegyoshi8797]

Martha Emma you’re the shop? You’re the ship? You’re the shut? You’re the shun????

[@danielachamorro8783]

Seriously! 😍

[@r1ch1o24]

@@beegyoshi8797 shit

[@Evija3000]

@@beegyoshi8797 shoe

[@thepeacefish]

Imagine being a lead actor making $Xmil on a production and having to show up to work alongside people who are currently protesting for a living wage

[@MissDanyDae]

Would it be me, i'm sure rich by the time, so i'll join them

[@21CCommunIT]

@Benny TheJet Could I find a more simple minded, reductionist view of the situation? Nope... "here's your sign"... 😏

[@differentbutsimilar7893]

@Benny TheJet "Unendless" greed... so you're saying that the socialists' greed DOESN'T not... have an end? So you mean that it does have an end? I don't see what the problem is there, honestly. Sound like good people.

[@debaronAZK]

@Benny TheJet you're spending your time commenting on youtube videos about The Hobbit movies... that is not what capitalist fat cats do in their spare time, so I can only assume you're an average guy like the rest of us. that means "evil communist" concepts such as raising the minimum wage and protesting against unfair work conditions would benefit your life far more than whatever capitalist dream you're deluded into defending. calling the actual protestors and activists 'garbage' whilst enjoying the benefits from a history of worker protests and rights activists since the industrial revolution... no sir, you're the one who is garbage.

[@KirigiriOnigiri]

@@debaronAZK it was a satire comment

[@shadowstone13]

The end of this video, where Lindsey says, exasperated, "Well, I'm back" genuinely hurts to hear in 2022. I am so, so sad that Lindsay is gone from social media, that we don't get to hear her excellent critiques and takes anymore. If, in the off chance that Lindsay sees this, this is not a call for your return, but a wish to express my gratitude for your content after all these years. I've been going through the backlog of videos I didn't see when they first came out, and it is sad to know there will be no more. I wish Lindsay success in her writing career and all future endeavors. Thank you for sharing content that influenced how I approach media and the content I consume.

[@Blacknight8850]

If you've not heard already, she has started making videos again but they're exclusive to Nebula (presumably to avoid any dogpiling).

[@zarthered]

Those short snippets of the interview with Peter (in a weak, trembling voice) betraying his fellow Kiwis, while Philippa listens with an expression like she'd rather be anywhere else, are brutal to watch. Talk about your heroes disappointing you. That was complete Toadyism.

[@tobinminded2427]

As a New Zealander, from Wellington no less, this was the first cohesive story of the shit that went down that I have seen. Huge props to +Lindsay Ellis for making this wonderfully put together video. The last shot driving around Lake Taupo was a particular highlight. Thanks

[@luco5769]

I remember seeing these movies because my friend was an extra. And we had so much fun trying to figure out where everything was filmed, in the original and the Hobbit. I had no idea this was happening. This was a fascinating essay.

[@Flitalidapouet]

Yep this is high quality documentary.

[@MrKingkez]

@@luco5769 I meet one of the stuntmen for the dwarfs can't remember what one but the nicest man i feel sorry he could not just enjoy the hey i am in a big movie that we all think and just hope is there.

[@susanscott8653]

I came here to say exactly this. Having watched all 3 excellent parts I am clearer on what happened - In my own country no less! As a New Zealander, LOTR is easy to be proud of; The Hobbit brings up more complicated emotions, even more so after this. Thanks.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

@@MrKingkezThe problem is that the producers (and never forget that Peter Jackson is also one of the producers) would love nothing more to pocket your salary if you’re “just happy to be there, working on such a wonderful project”. Jackson and Fran Walsh are neck deep in the chicanery. Don’t give them a pass by resting all the blame on the studio. They are the face of the studio. They made a crap movie while exploiting local workers.

[@alex0589]

This is your magnum opus. Not sure what else to say. You nailed it. Thanks for doing this.

[@fossilfighters101]

+

[@NikkiMKarLen]

Dude.

[@TheRachaelLefler]

+

[@youtubeisawebsite7484]

i do love that end message of "you're selling your soul to preserve your childhood naivety" because it's something that seems to be exceptionally needed as we move forward

[@ernie39]

agreed! there's a reason "ignorance is bliss" is an unwise and harmful philosophy to subscribe to -- denial and action enable (and sometimes are in themselves) violence

[@sldaymond]

This part hits different after the recent news of Amazon abruptly pulling future seasons of the LotR TV show from filming in NZ to the UK.

[@elliotwright1626]

part 3/2 MIGHT be one of the most clever things I have seen.

[@erfanmanouchehri7999]

I know right?

[@Cesaryeyo]

It reminds me of the way Douglas Adams kept called The Hitchhikers Guide later books things like “book 4 of the trilogy" lol

[@lee_1292]

It's fantastic

[@ryneprince7113]

You need to get out more.

[@Qjimbo]

The quality of this documentary series could have easily justified a commercial release, incredible we get something of this level for free on KZbin. Thank you!

[@fossilfighters101]

+

[@voidify3]

Can I just say, the choice to play Tik Tock over the montage was genius. At the start on a first watch we assume it's just to give the montage manic energy, but it plants Kesha in the brain for the payoff at the end. It's like the Harper Lee stuff in part 1 or the Robert Moses stuff in game of thrones part 2, but subtler and cleverer

[@benthomas2458]

"Oh, a Hobbit film retrospective, this will be a fun light-hearted watch!" - Me, 2 hours ago. This was an incredible series, thank you for making it.

[@groofay]

This is, without doubt, the best (supposedly) unintentional trilogy about an unintentional trilogy ever made.

[@LemonCurry.]

well said! :D

[@InvaderTak176]

It was an intentional trilogy, please

[@TeaDrinker3000]

KZbinr's such as Ellis have me convinced that video essays are not just mindless coffee-break distractions. They are documentaries, they are cinema. I don't know if Ellis ever plans to direct, or write, or produce on an industry level, but as far as I'm concerned, she's already a filmmaker. And a damn fine one at that.

[@eyreyereye]

if i recall, she has made a documentary about her experience with abortion

[@DodderingOldMan]

Yup, talented amateurs and semi-pros on KZbin are now outshining most mainstream productions, in most areas. Which is a good thing, for the most part.

[@joshuakim5240]

Video essays only follow the worthiness of being considered documentaries when they show plenty of evidence to back their information. Lindsey Ellis does this extraordinarily well to the point of getting interviews and she absolutely deserves having these videos considered true documentaries. However, there are plenty of youtubers who either don't show evidence, gloss over showing evidence, or refuse to show evidence for their arguments whose content do not come anywhere close to Lindsey's content. A lot of youtube drama is completely centered around flimsy youtube video essays, just to show.

[@Volvith]

Oh, this is just flat out a three part documentary and detailed autopsy of a movie trilogy. There's no doubt about that. I wouldn't say this is cinema, not because it lacks quality, but because what the term 'cinema' as come to represent in the second millennium. By all accounts, i consider this to be a professional production, because for all intents and purposes, it is.

[@wizkidgamer9942]

@@eyreyereye now that sounds like an abortion documentary I wouldn't mind watching as a pro-lifer

[@willsaenz6320]

Me at the beginning of this trilogy: "Yas kween tear the Hobbit movies apart" Me at the end of this trilogy: "I have a bone to pick with capitalism, and a few to break"

[@VanillaVillain8]

"I have a bone to pick, and a few to break" I am going to use that so much-

[@willsaenz6320]

@@VanillaVillain8 oh I totally ripped it off of a lyric from the band Refused

[@willsaenz6320]

@@nathynorthy6916 you missed the part where I'm an extremely good looking loser

[@vedantthapar3666]

Nathy Northy Me at the beginning of your comment: Oh look, someone who can’t take a joke! Me at the end your comment : Oh look, someone who can’t take a joke _or_ apply basic critical reasoning beyond propaganda he or she has been fed since birth!

[@frankytoad12]

@@nathynorthy6916 Shhh.

[@DougWIngate]

John Key was one of our absolute worst prime ministers. Pretty much his sole focus was bringing big business into NZ and completely shafting all social welfare in the process. He also launched oil drilling into endangered dolphin waters and protected national parks. But his crowning achievement was allowing the property market to run amok with foreign speculation during a time in which the govt really needed to step in and issue regulations in order to prioritize residents and citizens. He also unsuccessfully tried to drum up patriotism by changing the New Zealand flag in an obvious attempt to distract the public from the numerous scandals that were plaguing his government. He resigned before finishing the term that the NZ public mandated for him, because he didn't want to go down in history as a guy who lost an election. He was also a total creeper, with a penchant for tugging on women's ponytails and sending them bottles of wine from his personal estate as an apology. He also supported the illegal invasion of Iraq and was opposed to gay rights and women's reproductive rights.

[@silvanloher5912]

Ugh, the full packet! 😵 We read a lot of positive about your current prime minister though, so I hope things are better now! Please tell me, has the oil drilling in dolphin waters and protected areas been reversed? I hope so!

[@Lolia.]

@@silvanloher5912 To answer your question, I believe that has been stopped! Jacinda was a godsend, she's done so well to try and rectify what Key destroyed. She has also lead NZ with empathy and kindness, yet currently Kiwi's have taken to social media during COVID to express their distain for Ardern's choices over the past few years, that had actually saved a lot of lives and put our people first. I am eternally grateful to her and I thank her with every fiber in my body for doing the right thing. Sadly she has recently announced that she resigned due to being exasperated and belittled by 24/7 hate by the NZ public, and she quoted "Nothing left in the tank to do the job". Hate is so prevalent and easily expressed now with social media. We need to be better than this. I feel incredibly saddened by her departure and I hope Kiwi's regret and reflect on their current actions towards the woman who will be celebrated and go down as one of NZ's greatest Prime Ministers in history.

[@silvanloher5912]

@@Lolia. Thank you for your answer! Yes I read yesterday that she is stepping down, made me truly sad! She is great! I'm sorry to hear she had to endure so much hate on social media - the maddening thing is, I just KNOW it would be half as much of that if she was a man. We had a similar case with a young female politician here in Norway. I wish her peace and happiness and am sure she will be remembered in a positive way! Yes, people really have to learn to behave on social media - here in Norway, the worst trolls are often elderly people 😳 Anyway, great to hear that pipeline has bin reversed, thank you Jacinda! 💚

[@KBomb86]

That was... surprisingly good. Watched all three parts back to back to back. I had started part one with the intention of watching a review that would shred the Hobbit trilogy to pieces for everything it got wrong, as that mirrors my opinion of the film, but ended up watching a documentary of everything that went wrong to include the marginalisation of an entire island nation. You should package this as a documentary film release, and not just a three part video on youtube.

[@sarahbrand9747]

Fully agree, here!

[@robinchesterfield42]

Apparently she was nominated for a freaking Hugo for it! (The most prestigious sci-fi/fantasy award, kind of the Nerd Oscars only it includes lots of non-movie things.) I definitely think it should have a chance. Fingers crossed!

[@bryntendo]

@@robinchesterfield42 Seriously? I've never even heard of that before but now it's my greatest wish she'll win one, lmao. This series was so good, I was actually really happy to be baited and switched by a youtuber for once!

[@WimpyMcWeaksauce]

I think repackaging it would only ruin the charm. Watching this months later, I already knew there were 3 parts. But the real twist was that it was ACTUALLY a documentary on the film, and not just a review.

[@RionWulfe]

I feel this is some of the best journalism I've seen in a very long time. In a world where people seem to have such a hard time finding truth, Lindsay cut through everything, presented us with facts. I too went in thinking I'd be entertained by a bit of schadenfreude over what went wrong with The Hobbit... and ended up learning what really happened and how deeply that cut, emotionally, into a movie I am very much on the fence about. I adore Tolkien's work, and I hate seeing how they used it.... Thank you, Lindsay.

[@iridescentdemon]

Loved John Callen. I can feel the magic of the old trilogy through him and how he talked about the main cast. He seems like such a fine person. Very informative.

[@shereenj3018]

Loved how your ending was a simple, dry “I’m back.” It pathetically and intentionally mirrors the “There and Back Again” of Bilbo’s story and how the magic in those words has been run dry and stolen in the aftermath of greedy companies and uninspired filmmaking. I still find some good in the Hobbit movies and I want to watch the “Tolkien Edit” that’s been circling around to see if that salvages any of it. The LOTR movies will always be close to my heart and have never failed (yet) to suspend my disbelief while watching them, but this was eye-opening and sobering. I can’t wait to watch more of your videos!

[@ljhcmh614]

Agree, that ending is killer. I've watched this three times and that moment perfectly reflects the sadness of losing something special and magical from your youth that you know you'll never have again.

[@15thobserver]

If you did not end up watching the Tolkien edit, I would highly recommend you do it. It flat out saved the story and the viewer gets to see Bilbo's journey as the focus. Only downside is that no re-edit can be perfect because you have a set amount of choices to pick from to make your vision come to life.

[@lzmunch]

@@15thobserver where did you watch it?

[@15thobserver]

@@lzmunch So it keeps deleting my comment. If you search Tolkieneditor it should be the first result, but its a wordpress site.

[@lzmunch]

@@15thobserver thanks!

[@rosePetrichor]

It's so telling the way Peter Jackson talks about this. He's trying his best to appear reasonable but then he refers to the actors 'bringing a frivolous action' and 'having a bit of fun' as though they were just putting their careers at risk for a laugh. He doesn't give a shit.

[@AGooseInSweden]

The tricky thing there is that Jackson can't make the studios unhappy; if he'd have made statements portraying him in a bad light, he would in all likelihood have had to... 'Excuse' himself, the way Del Toro did. A suitable replacement who would run the production in line with studio demands could've been found in a matter of hours, in all likelihood.

[@Kiki-cs8xv]

I personally think this is one of the saddest parts. Jackson came up as an independent filmmaker in the New Zealand industry. Then, when he got his international contracts, he didn't just pull up the ladder behind him - he smashed it to pieces.

[@EllenMJKrog]

I started these three videos expecting it to just be about how the Hobbit movies did good/bad by the book and the LOTR movies. These videos did so much more and it was amazing. When it concluded with the point that "there is no ethical consumption under modern capitalism," I have to admit... that was an unexpected journey.

[@Evija3000]

The most ethical consumption is probably just less consumption. Buy less, reuse, make stuff yourself. Still can't avoid the problem completely, just slightly lessen it. But yeah, nice comment.

[@ciaranmcguinness8900]

@@Evija3000 that's a fairy tale way of looking at it, sure you can make your own things, but where are you going to get the materials to make those things? Through commerce. You could make your own materials too but the tools needed to do so also have to be bought, you want to till your own earth and grow crops, how are you going to make the tools needed, you could chop down a tree to make a hoe or other tools but to chop down that tree you need an Axe or a Chainsaw which you have to buy, you can try to mine metal yourself and make a crude axe but you need the many materials and resources needed to mine even the poorest metals, Capitalism rules all.

[@Evija3000]

@@ciaranmcguinness8900 I'm obviously not saying we need to revert back to medieval or nomadic times. I'm saying doing these things where possible would reduce some consumption and waste.

[@trabadoireacht6545]

@@ciaranmcguinness8900 your talking about basic trading between parties which isn't capitalism. Capitalism is the centralisation of wealth in a productive model. In the above example despite the hard work of the crew and actors, it was the excutives and shareholders who managed to get most of the money film. That is capitalism, those who did the work recieve little whereas those who do little recieve the value of the work.

[@dabbyabb]

Unexpected journey... I see what you did there, and I love it.

[@louieberg2942]

The gall to contact John over him sharing the news of the Kiwi actors' absence and the reason he was given. "This is bad for business"... how's that John's problem? Maybe if you treated them with more respect, they'd return it in kind.

[@Altermerea]

If it's bad for business, then maybe stop doing things that are bad for business while also trying to hide that you are doing things that you consider are bad for business?

[@plazasta]

@@Altermerea nono them abusing actors and showing them how powerless they are about it is good for business. The public knowing about their abuse is what's bad for business. It's like when bullies in school threaten you if you tell the teachers you're being bullied

[@Markell1991]

Also, it's blatantly not true. He made those "bad for business" comments and how much money did the studios make off the films? The films made shitloads so their argument is invalid.

[@MareTranquil]

Lindsay: "I've always been a big fan of Kesha" *list all the crap that went on behind the scenes* Me: "I can relate. I've been a big fan of Channel Awesome."

[@Scraxivele]

God dude i hate that you quit KZbin. Your videos were all so amazing and I miss your content. I still come back and watch this all the time.

[@Trassel242]

This is utterly engaging and also terrifying. The very idea of an entire nation suddenly changing labour laws to kowtow to a company. Every single labourer’s rights law has been paid for in blood. That’s why they’re so goddamn important.

[@cthulhuholmes]

And look at the shitty movies we got out of it, too. The ends don't even come close to justifying the means. We have a major company holding the economy of an entire nation hostage, and it's for these garbage movies that people have already forgotten about. Aren't movies fun!?

[@jkdsteve]

Happens in the US every day.

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

Steve Hodson False.

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

Soviet Loli False.

[@epsilonborealis]

Ike Okereke - you liked your own comments, didn't you?

[@OracleNightwhisper]

As a kiwi i must thank you for bringing this controversy to an international audience. The damage it did to NZ labour laws is still being felt and we still don't really understand what the reprucussions will be in the future and it's importanr that people oberseas know that.

[@FunFanRandomerz]

I'm back on my yearly rewatch of this 3 part series ❤🎉 one of My faves of Lindsay's works

[@poilboiler]

"The unions were far weaker than in, say, the United States." Wait what? Mordor cares more about the individual worker and their rights and welfare than the US does.

[@AnthonyParas]

"Why does it hurt so much? Because it was real." Fitting quote for that ending. Fantastic series, Lindsay.

[@connorscanlan1736]

*We understand you're REALLY, REALLY ANGRY* Old guy: "Woah... okay..."

[@Sylinnilys]

They were projecting; Truth hurts.

[@dzonbrodi514]

@@Sylinnilys "why does it hurt so much"

[@ljhcmh614]

In fairness ... they're weren't wrong. It's obviously he's pretty angry. And putting "budget" in quotes, as in "… Warner Brothers won’t be taking the Kiwi dwarves of the Hobbit to the London premier because of “budget” considerations …” was clearly a shot at them and pretty passive aggressive. I like the guy, but insisting that there was nothing angry “whatsoever” seems disingenuous to me.

[@mosesbrown4126]

@@ljhcmh614 I think there's a fair bit of difference between "VERY VERY ANGRY" and miffed about a multi-billion dollar studio pretending they're too strapped for cash to pay for some airline tickets. To state all that completely neutrally seems almost inhuman. Yeah, maybe a bit passive aggressive, but only in the way one rolls their eyes at something ridiculous that is out of their hands.

[@silentlamb21]

@@ljhcmh614 angry maybe in the bigger context but in that part it seemed to be in regards to that specific action. If he is angry, it seems to be about the whole ordeal (hobbit law, how the movie turned out, how filming went etc) but not specifically about that London event. At that point in time, it probably was expected that they wouldn't be invited and the right feeling would be dissapointment.

[@samuelirwin7802]

As someone working in NZs entertainment industry thank you very very much for telling this story! And with empathy and practicality too!

[@Sljm8D]

John Callen seems like a joy to interview. Even if the subject matter took a turn, his metered delivery of the inconvenient reality of how the NZ cast and crew were treated was well needed. Thanks for sharing this all with us, and I'm glad his was among the voices included, because it was so compelling.

[@ariellakahan-harth8831]

1. Lindsay, you are a master of what you do. 2. John Callen is a goddamn national treasure.

[@scottylilacleona9193]

In reference to Harper Lee, the fact that Atticus goes from a shining symbol of principle to a flawed human being with his own prejudices who cared about doing his job as a lawyer rather than the systemic injustice in society, to me that sounds almost like a breathtaking piece of reality.

[@jbvader721]

Something that many readers of "Go Set a Watchmen" didn't want to read. No one wants to see their heroes in a bad light.

[@iansandon8057]

There's a reason for the old saying, "never meet your heroes"... Nobody can be *that* good.😔

[@avamasquerade]

@@iansandon8057 They can, they just don't go around declaring it.

[@gillianp6842]

@Polymath that's true. She never wanted it published in the first place, either.

[@crimsondynamo615]

@@gillianp6842 it was all because the *lawyer* wanted some of that sweet Harper Lee cash

[@maxwellarnold8290]

I enjoyed watching this hobbit trilogy SO much more than the I did watching the actual Hobbit Trilogy

[@ulrichvonliechtenstein6138]

I really enjoyed the Hobbit movie.

[@IM2OFU]

"great place to do business, great place to visit" fuck being a great place to live and work apparently

[@ColonelRPG]

John Callen is such a gentleman.

[@jmiquelmb]

I could listen to him all day. He's so calm, intelligent and well articulated.

[@allocater2]

I know nothing about New Zealand, but he should be a national treasure.

[@The_Blog]

I definitly enjoyed listening to him. Never heard of him before, but I'm glad he gave an interview. He seemed very articulated and reasonable.

[@soddinnutter5633]

He's an old fashioned 'academic' actor, likely educated at a classic university for the arts (given his age). They generally tend to be a cut above modern-era actors who have generally taken acting classes from a tutor, but not much else.

[@What-go8ng]

looked to me like a bitter manchild actor that thought he had a vastly more important part in the film than he actually did

[@johannageisel5390]

Thank you for making all this known to a larger public. I had no idea. Respect to John Callen for pissing off Warner, even if it has been involuntarily. He did something right. :)

[@starsapphire156]

Tolkien would have been so horrified that the whimsical and courageous story he created for his children led to this, especially with the main story being about fellowship and home not about gold.

[@gianturtlecow1455]

The deal warner bros cut with NZ reads so much like colonialism and just saps the enjoyment out of these films that much more. Unlike the hobbit, im glad you made this 3rd part, thank you

[@augustopinochet1670]

lol Colonialism. The people of South America had slavery, empire, ritualistic cannibalism and human sacrifice The people of Africa had slavery, empire, ritualistic cannibalism and human sacrifice The people of the Pacific Islands had slavery, empire, ritualistic cannibalism and human sacrifice

[@lukeulibarri3924]

@@augustopinochet1670 Truth

[@annikid7010]

"...thousands of people had some sort of job related to the making of The Hobbit, and it was the capitalist - er - catalyst..." *smaug intensifies*

[@Jebbtube]

So glad that an entire nation got shafted so that we could get a mediocre trilogy that just spits on its source material.

[@magsec5]

MagnuMagnus hobbit was a light read. If any thing it was too short to be made into a trilogy.

[@anonmouse6337]

Well, not the entire nation. The actors maybe, but continued interest by American film studios supports the country's tourism industry, which is why the NZ government kowtowed to WB.

[@stephengrigg5988]

And movies have only gotten more magical since

[@cosmiciaria]

I know this video is old, but Lindsay. I have been watching your reviews for a while, and they're always top-notch. But this video. This one in particular. You have excelled yourself. This is a perfectly crafted documental on the downfall of a franchise. I love the professionalism around it and the way you edited everything, how well the scenes transition into one another. John is also such a stellar addition. This is just. Peak content. I love you and your criteria. Thank you for shedding light over this matter.

[@goodtaste2185]

It is incredible that a country would rather change laws than pay workers a fair share.

[@jbvader721]

American workers: "First time?"

[@PiercingSight]

Came in expecting just a cursory review of the Hobbit movies and a side mention of the outside forces that ruined them, but instead got an incredibly well researched documentary going in depth on every facet of the production of the films. You've earned a subscriber.

[@trblessed1020]

Same

[@blackoak4978]

And she lead into it so gradually you didn't see it coming! 😆😆🤔🤔😭😭😭

[@rusvanko8732]

Man this is like a legit netflix documentary

[@cloudofthought]

That's almost an insult considering a good portion of the 'documentaries' I see on Netflix are "Anti-christ Obama" or about how communist aliens helped hollywood fake the moon landing.

[@rusvanko8732]

cloudofthought i was unaware of this wild part of netflix. Like whot kinda

[@filippoeich1180]

"there's too much LOTR in the world now..." Jeff, you should write that one down...

[@indianajim]

John Callen was an absolute delight and I'm glad you were able to interview him. This is an important story and I'm glad you told it.

[@llamafromspace]

Wow, not invited to your own film release? I had no idea this was all happening.

[@NotTheStinkyCheese]

I didn't either, but then again ... the suits in power can be pretty petty and mean when things don't go their way. Heck, getting your name on the credits list in a movie (or game for that matter) is more about company politics and less about being part of the crew that made the thing.

[@jennifermoriarty2188]

They went to the one in Wellington but still a douche move

[@jennifermoriarty2188]

They went to the one in Wellington but still a douche move

[@TheRandomestRedHead]

If this series had been shown to me under the pretence that it was a Netflix documentary made by a large film crew I would never have been able to tell the difference.

[@CristobalHernandez]

I really love the joke of being a 3 part of 2.

[@user-ez3sj8hm8i]

Really part 3 of 1

[@philosophers0077]

"How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand, there is no going back."

[@bluerascal370]

This turned out to be a depressing reality check, but the quality of the content that was made here is saturated with passion. I wish I had seen your work sooner, but I admire your effort and skill. This was very well made.

[@Antonicane]

I always admire Lindsay (and a number of her contemporaries) shedding light on elements of media studies and film theory and its impact on collective culture, ideology, sociology, etc. But I have to say, I think this video in particular is an even more valuable contribution than Lindsay normally makes, because it is not only a theoretical analysis of the media that is its subject matter, but more importantly gives wider exposure to a serious problem in the industry that is effecting the livelihoods of real people, whose plight is all too easily overlooked by being on the 'wrong' side of the world.

[@celinak5062]

Jonny Worldbeater +

[@Patrick-cj7es]

Thank you for exposing me to this labor issue. As a lefty political junkie, and a life long LOTR fan, I’m surprised I’ve not heard of this before. Thank you also for parsing exactly why I felt so defeated and awful when the Hobbit films came out. Some friends of mine and I watched the second in theaters drunk because we new from the first it was going to be horrible. I feel like you put into words exactly how I’ve felt about the whole Hobbit trilogy

[@BissjeTommy]

I had ZERO idea this was going on behind the scenes °----------°

[@petercarioscia9189]

BissjeTommy same, I was completely unaware

[@Coffeebean1985]

same

[@julianorozaa]

That's the point I suppose

[@SkipperWing]

If it helps, none of us did, and that's kinda the point.

[@BissjeTommy]

I was planning on visiting New Zealand in the future to visit the sets. Is it even worth it?

[@grahamrichardson9620]

WHY DOES IT HURT SO MUCH???

[@ritabastos168]

Graham Richardson because it was real...

[@uber21]

Graham Richardson Because it was too real

[@asherketchup7013]

*because it was real*

[@Lady_in_Yearning]

...Because it was profitable.

[@juniperw.766]

~because it was real~

[@rudolfschrenk6171]

And the success of the Hobbit Law is that now Disney makes movies at Chinese Reeducation Camps.

[@ThePhunnman5]

Still the best to ever do it

[@ThePhunnman5]

(you not the warners)

[@koopa159]

The fact that a studio can come in and make demands to a government is horrifying. Not surprising, but horrifying.

[@JimmyKip]

Well yeah, but that's more a symptom of how "good" that government's deal making was. They run as being super duper business savvy people, but deals like the one with Warners & with Peter Thiel kinda showed them to be chumps that were easily gazumped by actual big time players.

[@zanite8650]

That's just gross.

[@kgjames3603]

I initially misread this as "The Desolation of Wankers." After watching the video, I guess I wasn't far off.

[@micahorr8669]

This is the trilogy that actually deserves awards.

[@don5anjos]

I think this is one of the most important videos I've seen on youtube, thanks algorithm

[@AndySunshine1291]

Lindsay, I've been watching your videos since Nostalgia Chick first started. These past 2 weeks with all of this Channel Awesome drama happening has been putting me in pretty much the exact same state of mind. There was this time where my dream was to analyze content and be a critic on the Channel Awesome team, now reading about all of these shady dealings and unfair treatment of the people involved it makes me want to retreat into a sort of nostalgic mindset to escape it all again. It just isn't possible to do, and I think that's a good thing. It sort of depresses me, but if you hadn't left Channel Awesome forever ago then there's a possibility you'd still be "Nostalgia Chick" which was a cool gig but (as we've seen in the years to come) not a good utilization of your true talents and skillset. I'm so happy you made this video. It's probably your best so far! Thank you for all of the amazing content over the years!

[@fossilfighters101]

+

[@spannycat2]

What Channel Awesome drama?

[@luapdd1]

What is Channel Awsome?

[@daniisd2555]

spannycat waffles Channel Awesome is the company that Lindsay used to work under as "Nostalgia Chick". It was a group of reviewers on BlipTV and KZbin. There was a document recently that exposed alot of the corruption going on in the company that i would definitely say to check out.

[@the_ktb]

That was one of the best "KZbin-Documentaries" I have seen on this platform. Thanks for creating this.

[@Savyon0]

I found myself really wishing there was some kind of Oscar-type award we could nominate this series for.

[@sanialeilamacapundag4846]

Joshua Godfrey There is! The “Oscars” of online video are called the Streamys. We should get her nominated for the Video Essays.

[@Savyon0]

God damned right we should!

[@Little1Cave]

Sania Leila Macapundag How do we go about that? What’s the process and the dates we need to keep in mind?

[@sanialeilamacapundag4846]

Little1Cave The Streamys hasn’t announced when the audiences will be able to nominate or vote yet. I think we need to check their website or Twitter for further updates.

[@valesfm]

If this helps for any comfort, your video made me feel like that child amazed by the beauty of the world, but also as a grounded adult who sees the world as it is. Kind of like Frodo after all the shit he went through

[@ishubetterthanyou1582]

Just want to say watching the actor explain everything and this documentary actually made me cry. And I have a problem of not being able to cry naturally for years. This made me angry and sad. Thank you for making this beautiful masterpiece. I hope you read the comments and how much people appreciate your work.

[@LostCosmonauts]

I started this video thinking oh wow cool Lindsay's talking about my home country. I ended it thinking oh no... That's my home country.

[@boceksiadam]

What's up Eric, didn't expect to see you there.

[@Omnipotentous]

I thought you lived in space.

[@EGOS42]

I often critique documentary style for being way too one sided. Not to denigrate Lindsay's production I have to grudgingly admit that the presentation is mostly one sided. Probably reality sets in when/if Lindsay tried to contact WB corporate staff or request a statement from them. I suppose what I'm saying is there are two sides to every story and perhaps, hopefully, things aren't as bad as described here.

[@ThatFeelBr0]

Don't worry, this is probably the case almost everywhere in the world... scratch that, we should be worried.

[@alexeru6154]

Legitimately best comment

[@MalloryMovies]

This is actually a brilliant feature-length documentary on the production of the hobbit that is a subtextual look into the ways we consume media and how that relates the painful ways artistic expression is commodified, exploited, and complicated by the capitalist machinations that simultaneously inhibit and enable said expression AND how said machinations affect the human psyche as we learn to grow up and inhabit a world dominated by those machinations AND you released it for free on youtube in three parts because holy shit wow you are doing the youtube thing better than 99.99999999% of all the people on this platform wow

[@ataridc]

Braeden Glickman i wouldnt say free... That ignores the contributions of those people at the end there

[@MalloryMovies]

I meant free to consume, obviously a lot of time and money went into the production of this much of which was crowdfunded, but it is available to the public to consume without a paywall (aside from the costs inherent to being on the internet which would have existed either way) but yes this is a fair point.

[@Captain8ball]

It still blows my mind that a company like Warner Bros. had the balls to go up to a a government, an actual government, and be like “OK, we need the labor laws changed” that really blows my mind.

[@FreeDemonSoul]

The Hobbit (movie) will never demolish or somehow diminish my love and passion for The Lord of the Ring trilogy. For each time i re-watch it, i fell in love with it even more.

[@blueoutrun]

Watching this was like re-reading the Scouring of the Shire all over again. Growing up is painful.

[@chrisamador1216]

What a perfect way to sum up the video! ... because that is LITERALLY how I feel.

[@lauravturner]

What is "Scouring of the Shire"? (I am watching this video as a Lindsey Fan, not a LotR fan, so apologies if it is an LotR thing I am uninformed about.)

[@chrisamador1216]

@@lauravturner It's one of the final chapters of The Return of the King, where the Hobbits come back to the Shire and discover that it was ruined by Saruman, and they have to fight to reclaim their home. Aka, the whole "hobbits are so innocent" thing is ruined.

[@lauravturner]

@@chrisamador1216 Oh wow :/ I don't even know how to respond to that. Just sounds like such a kick-to-the-crotch after the rest of the novel.

[@wppb50]

@@lauravturner It really is. I can see why they cut it out of the film series (we already had, what, at least twenty minutes of denouement as it was? Adding another plot arc after Mt Doom would have been a bit much), but it was a really emotional bit. And as much as the Professor loathed allegory, I can't help see it as a personal part of his WW I experience. Going on this harrowing experience with thoughts of Going Home when it's over, but then it turns out that you aren't you and home isn't home.

[@pinkyfull]

As a point of note. That law doesn't just affect actors. It influenced and still influences EVERY WORKING PERSON in New Zealand. A movie that was shit caused a caustic and really negative attitude towards workers rights for people not even in the film industry.

[@ebuzzmiller34]

Yeppp National used a seemingly popular issue, the movies, as a covert way to push through their anti-collective bargaining agenda.

[@laurajansen4398]

The government served themselves instead of us yet again. As an employee in NZ you are seen as a liability rather than an asset. You're replaceable, so you work hard for the bare minimum. I am an employer now and it isn't too much to ask to treat people fairly and with respect. I think that's how you grow a healthy business and a healthy industry.

[@pendlera2959]

+Laura Jansen "I am an employer now and it isn't too much to ask to treat people fairly and with respect. I think that's how you grow a healthy business and a healthy industry." I think that's the *only* way to grow a healthy business and a healthy industry. It gives me hope to hear an employer say that, because so many business people seem to think that if it's not immediately profitable, it's a waste of time.

[@22kaybee22]

Well how are you supposed to feel secure in your job when you know even your own country won't stick up for you?

[@rodri_merli27]

That was, by far, the best series of videos EVER about cinema. And this part 3/2 was absolutely unexpected and astonishingly deep. I'm just left wondering how it took me over 2 years to find this video on KZbin.

[@Tirannie]

The best part is it ended up being 3 parts instead of two (just like the hobbit trilogy)

[@stevevondoom4140]

Hollywood: " so , your country has some laws , eh?" hands over check Country :" laws , only if you want us to boss..." :(

[@geniehossain3738]

“Warner Brothers REALLY doesn’t like this.” And that’s really all it takes , doesn’t it? What does it matter to them that people’s livelihoods are at stake? Marvelous series, such an eye opener! Congrats on the Hugo nomination!

[@randyg22152]

If people like you would only agree to pay more for movie tickets, then the movie studies could afford to pay the actors more to makes these movies. So it is your fault for being cheap. BTW, the movie studios did not get rich by “impoverishing others”. The actors got paid (probably more than you do at your job) or else they would not have worked on the film. They simply got paid les than they would have liked (Which is less than actors and workers based in American make - where the cost of living is different than in NZ, obviously), because otherwise their jobs would have gone to enrich some unemployed actors and stage hands in Poland instead. And the Prime Minister of NZ would not have changed the labor laws of his country if it did not create jobs for actors and stage hands in NZ who would have been otherwise unemployed if the move had been finished elsewhere, such as impoverished Eastern Europe (which is poor, by the way, because they are still recovering from the damage done to their countries by socialism). So there is all that to think about 🤔

[@dig8634]

@@randyg22152 Lol, this is such a one-sided take. You think every single actor in the movie got payed millions or something? The strike wasn't about how much Bloom made, but about the supporting actors, the extras, everyone else involved in production. The actors that got payed more than me had no stakes in the strike, except to support other people making a living. I absolutely abhor the idea that companies can make millions of a movie, but I should have to pay more for the extras to be able to live off their work. What a disgusting thing to say. They CAN afford to pay them more, LOTS more. That isn't even up for debate. These companies make much more than they ever need to make movies, and most of it goes to the executives that make the awful decisions detailed in the last two instalments. The studios got rich, because they cheated the actors they worked with out of a living wage. The idea that they wouldn't have worked on the movie if they didn't get payed a fuckton is absurd. Only the most famous of actors get to argue for money like that, because less known actors can just get sacked and replaced. You think the studio has a lack of willing talent? And even if we assume they got paid a sizeable living, the company fucking changed the laws of a country. They removed bargaining rights, which regardless of whether you think they are being greedy or fair, is just absolutely disgusting. All professions should have the ability to defend themselves and their rights through collective bargaining. That is fundamental to making sure no workers are being mistreated or exploited. With that ability gone, even if we assume they get paid enough now, what's to stop companies from pushing wages down below whatever threshold YOU think they deserve? Your last comment about how the PM wouldn't have changed the laws unless it would have created more jobs or whatever is just absurd. You think he gained nothing out of the deal? You think there was no reason for him to do that except the common good? Bullshit. He wanted the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer, and he wanted to do it in a fashion that also gave him an optics win. By "saving" the Hobbit, he didn't move any more productions to NZ than was already going there, as was pointed out by multiple people working in the industry throughout the video. And even if it did bring more productions to NZ, it is questionable whether that benefits the people of NZ at all, or whether it just makes the companies and the executives more money, which is definitely what it does.

[@lamecasuelas2]

The story of these movies is way more engaging that the films themselves, maybe that's the real legacy of the hobbit, a cautionary tale about hollywood

[@michaelkemel9711]

If more of us cared for storytelling and artistic integrity than gold, Bilbo Baggins, it would be a better world.

[@lorenajenny]

how greedy governments will sacrifice their own citizens for the sake of being popular and known as a cheap place to film.

[@callumhumphries323]

This was just so impressive, such a lot of work, dedication and an openness to listen to what you're actually being told rather than a story you planned on telling clearly went into it. Blown away, haven't seen independent content like this on KZbin before

[@seazenbones6945]

Thank goodness for Lindsay Ellis. Ignorance is bliss,, but knowing is much, much better.

[@steampunkerella]

worker solidarity is always necessary

[@cyanplaza5153]

for the union makes us strong!

[@celinak5062]

Kat Reynolds +

[@d4n4nable]

Yuck.

[@bernardoheusi6146]

Yuck what imbecile? You want oligarchs fucking your life? Paying less taxes than you? Exploiting people? Go fuck yourself.