I’m not sure why I was so stupid, but I was not expecting an extended edition. Extended editions for The Lord of the Rings films were absolutely necessary, because there was so much that had to be cut in order to make the theatrical release more manageable. These days, I don’t know anyone who chooses to watch the theatrical versions over the extended editions. In fact, I don’t know anyone who still has the theatrical versions on their shelves (I don’t).

However, when you’re making one movie per book, there is bound to be some material cut before the theatrical release. However, when you’re making three movies per book, you just assume that every minute detail is going to make it into the three movies, therefore making the extended editions unnecessary. I forget, however, that the extended editions include hours upon hours of special features and not just the additional 50 minutes of deleted scenes.

I also forget that a lot of source material was either borrowed from the appendices or fabricated by Peter Jackson. There is always bound to be additional filmed material that didn’t make it to the final theatrical version with Jackson at the helm—material that makes its way into the extended edition.

I suppose the smartest (the most cost-effective) choice would be to wait for all the extended editions to be released in a boxed-set version. However, my heart and my brain don’t always see eye-to-eye (or soul to mind?), so what’s most likely going to happen is that I buy not only each extended edition as it becomes available, but also each theatrical version too, because let’s face it: I have been re-watching The Hobbit about every two weeks since it was released.

And who can say no to all these extended edition features?

The Filmmakers’ Commentary. New Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth. The Appendices Part 7: A Long-Expected Journey. The Appendices Part 8: Return to Middle-Earth. (Supposedly these are a continuation from The Appendices Part 6, which was included in The Return of the King Extended Edition.) The Company of Thorin. Mr. Baggins: The 14th Member. Durin’s Folk: Creating the Dwarves. The Peoples and Denizens of Middle-Earth. Realms of the Third Age: From Bag End to Goblin Town. The Songs of The Hobbit.

Call me foolish if you like, but I certainly won’t be saying no to this extended edition! Check out the complete details at TheOneRing.net!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition is available for preorder at Amazon in four different versions: [Gift Set] [Blu-Ray 3D + Blu-Ray + Ultraviolet] [Blu-Ray + Ultraviolet] [DVD + Ultraviolet]

What do you think? Is this worth the purchase right now? Or will you wait for a boxed set? Share your thoughts in the comments.