The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition Out Now

I forgot about this but The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition is out now at retail stores everywhere in the US. The price range seems to be from $20 to $30 depending on store and combo type.

Behind the Scenes Clip from The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition

The main reasons you really should consider getting The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition isn't the extra 25 minutes of scenes but really the best behind the scenes documentary ever made for movies that is collectively called "The Appendices". No other movie does it as well. Below is a clip from the section called "Barrels Out of Bond: The Elven Sluice" that hints at both the very low tech approach (foot powered locomotion) and the high tech (whole lot of CGI) that was part of making the barrel escape sequence. The extended edition will be released on November 4th. To pre-order from Amazon: Blu-Ray + Digital HD | DVD | Blu-ray 3D Amazon Exclusive Set

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition Scene Guide

The One Ring has posted a detailed guide that breaks down the 25 minutes of extra footage that has been added to The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. By default, since describing the scenes, consider what they write to be spoilers but it might be useful if not entirely sure what was added. The full breakdown is here.

To pre-order from Amazon: Blu-Ray + Digital HD | DVD | Blu-ray 3D Amazon Exclusive Set

Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug Motion Capture B-Roll

Below is a brief video that shows Benedict Cumberbatch performing as Smaug the Dragon from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. While I can see how his line readings, facial expressions and head movements were translated to the final performance of the pure CGI character, I have to admit I can't figure out why his body as a whole is also sporting the same motion capture dots and how they where used. I guess the upcoming release of the Extended Edition may clear that up.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition Digital Copy Only Available Now

For the price of $20, you can now buy the Digital Copy of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition two weeks on iTunes or Google Play before its official release on November 4th on Blu-ray and DVD. I recommend waiting another two weeks since for the same exact price you can get a physical copy of the movie AND the digital copy for the exact same price. It might be worth it if live in iTunes for your digital movie fix as likely the Digital Copy will be Ultraviolet but really the reason you want the Extended Edition is only partially for the extra 25 minutes of footage. The main reason is the awesome Making Of documentary that remains the gold standard on how these extra features should be done. Still never understand why most behind the scenes stuff remains a sales pitch and actor butt-kissing session by the crew to talk you into watching a movie you are clearly already committed to or you literally would not be able to watch said sales pitch. The Extended Edition is just a huge info dumping session that any fan of movie making can enjoy.

To pre-order from Amazon: Blu-Ray + Digital HD | DVD | Blu-ray 3D Amazon Exclusive Set

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition Trailer

Below is the first new commercial to promote The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition that is coming to digital HD on October 21 and Blu-ray on November 4. Just like the previous extended editions, it will included additional scenes (25 minutes worth) blended into the movie with all the post productions parts added along with 9 hours of behind the scenes footage that continues to remain the best and no other movie in the last 14 years has come close since all other films treat their featurettes as advertising than true behind the scenes while the extended editions is all about the movie making. I recommend not buying the early digital HD as for the same $20 price you can get the non-compressed Blu-ray edition with free Digital HD so more bang for the same buck.
To pre-order from Amazon: Blu-Ray + Digital HD | DVD | Blu-ray 3D Amazon Exclusive Set

Everything Wrong with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

From the Everything Wrong series, Cinema Sins has issued their take down of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Available Now

Just a little reminder that as of now, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is available nationwide (and few other countries) in multiple different formats without that Star Trek crap that Paramount pulls on their releases where special features vary from store to store and format to format. Nope, here it is thankfully the same. In this case the special features are a behind the scenes look at the film based mostly on Jackson's video blogs and music video. The real goodies are being saved the Extended Edition due sometime around Christmas. Hit the links to order from Amazon, with note on average price for each format.

Versions: BR + DVD + Ultraviolet ($23) | 3D BR + BR + DVD + Ultraviolet ($25) | 2 disc DVD ($17) | Limited Edition Book Ends + 3D Combo Pack ($80)

Behind the Scenes of the Creation of Laketown

Weta Digital has posted a new behind the scenes video for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. The video covers the creation of Lakedown from concept to its pure CGI creation. The home video release of the movie is next Tuesday.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Gets Early Digital Release

If you are a digital only buyer, then good news. iTunes and Amazon have posted the digital copy of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug early along with extras at a cost of $19.99. As a result of that price, I highly recommend just save your hard earned money and instead wait for the official April 8th Blu-ray release of the movie as can get the combo edition with Blu-ray disc, DVD and UltraViolet digital copy for a few dollars more. Now I will be the first to admit that UltraViolet is absolute crap compared to iTunes but regardless the physical copy is still more bang for your buck even if don't own a Blu-ray player. Even better the extra features are the same regardless if get iTunes or physical copy as both come with "Peter Jackson Invites You to the Set" and "New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth: Part 2." Still if you are needing that early The Hobbit hit, click the links to pick your virtual source: iTunes | Amazon.

VFX of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Below is another video that gets into the visual effects of the The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. It acts as an overview of not only creating Smaug the dragon but also all the effects that were used such as in the barrel escape.

Behind the Scenes of the Barrel Escape

Below is a video posted by Wired that gets into the complexity of what seems relatively simply on screen but really is extremely complicated behind the scenes, in this case the barrel escape sequence in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Behind the Scenes: Bringing Smaug to Life

Below an interesting short behind the scenes video that gets into some of the details on how they used the motion capture performance of Benedict Cumberbatch to create the digital Smaug the Dragon with his 1 million unique scales and 2x jumbo jet size.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Blu-Ray Details, Release Date

The official home video release date of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug has been revealed. In the US, it will be out on April 8th while in other countries the range will be from April 7th to 17th (list at end). Per usual now, there will be multiple formats for the release, not including whatever store exclusives that are in the pipeline: a Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo Pack ($105.42), a Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack ($44.95), a Blu-ray Combo Pack ($35.99), and a 2-Disc DVD Special Edition ($28.98). All the combo packs will include UltraViolet Digital copy. The collector's edition includes two "Gates of Erebor" replica bookends created by the Noble Collection.

As for as announced special features on all formats:
- Peter Jackson Invites You to the Set: In the Company of the Hobbit and Peter Jackson Invites You to the Set: All in a Day’s Work: Experience the film’s challenges and demands, and journey alongside the director into Mirkwood, Lake-town and Dale as the movie’s most intense, pivotal scenes are created
- Production Videos: Watch production come to life as Peter Jackson gives you an inside look at the making of the film
- New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth, Part 2: Travel with Peter Jackson and his team across the stunning locations of New Zealand transformed by the filmmakers into Middle-earth
- “I See Fire” Music Video: Ed Sheeran’s beautiful theme song from the film is illuminated with this intimate music video

Chances are there will be a few more special features, released as store exclusives with most of the goodies saved for the Extended Edition that will be released sometime in December.

Regional release dates:
April 7: UK
April 8: USA, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Hungary
April 9: Italy
April 11: Germany
April 16: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia
April 17: Brazil

Behind the Scenes for the Sound Effects of The Desolation of Smaug

Last week The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug received two Oscar nominations for sound in the categories of Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. In the video below the crew discusses how how they created the audio track, the challenges, and how the film influences their decisions.

The Desolation of Smaug Receives Three Oscar Nominations

Today the Academy of Motion Pictures of Arts and Sciences officially announced the nominations for the the 86th Annual Academy Awards. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug received three nominations in the Visual Effects, Sound Editing and Sound Mixing categories. Congrats to the crew on the recognition of their fantastic work. Sadly odds are very long with them winning as suspect a Gravity sweep. The winners will be announced during the Oscar telecast on March 2nd. The full list of nominations is here.

Visual Effects
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Iron Man 3
The Lone Ranger
Star Trek Into Darkness

Sound Editing
All is Lost
Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Lone Survivor

Sound Mixing
Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Inside Llewyn Davis
Lone Survivor

How The Desolation of Smaug Should Have Ended

A new entry from How It Should Have Ended that focuses on The Desolation of Smaug. The voice work is good but in this case not as funny as some of their past offerings.

The Hobbit Box Office Update

Despite a bunch of new releases, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug remains on top of the box office for the third week in a row. Practically unheard of nowadays. The movie has benefited from the good reviews and word of mouth. Probably didn't hurt that all the other films released in December has been more for Oscar bait then big budget action fair as the studios released all those during the crowded summer. Since they are using the same game plan in 2014, the final Hobbit film will likely enjoy the same lack of meaningful competition.

Any case for this final weekend of 2013, The Hobbit took in $29.8 million for a US total of $190.3 million. Add in the foreign gross of $614 million for a worldwide total of $614.1 million. It is assumed the movie will just barely cross the $1 billion threshold joining its brother The Unexpected Journey in that rare list of movies.

The Hobbit Concept Art

Andrew Baker, one of the concept artists for The Hobbit trilogy, has posted some of his creature concepts on his blog. These include a look at Smaug, Bolg, Beorn and more. Click here to view them all.

The Hobbit Production Video #14 - The Music

In time for Christmas, Peter Jackson has posted the 14th production video for The Hobbit trilogy and last for this year. The remainder will start sometime in the new year with the focus being on filming The Hobbit: There and Back Again. In the video below, it focuses entirely on creating the beautiful soundtrack for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug as composed by Howard Shore.

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