In the theater, as the credits started to roll for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, I chastised my family for wanting to leave right then. I had been too young to see or remember seeing The Lord of the Rings films on the big screen, where beautiful battles and landscapes like those are meant to be projected in their full, surround-sound glory. But by golly, I was not going to miss the experience this time around! And I mean, who can walk out as Billy Boyd’s crooning reverberates around the auditorium? In these films, the credits are always a work of art all their own.
Now news is breaking that the Hobbit trilogy, which many (unreasonably, in my opinion,) had complained was made into a trilogy in the first place, will be pulling a film-history first. Others may call it a money-making scheme, and it may be.
Quite frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.
Says Collider.com, “The Hobbit Trilogy Extended Editions will make a theatrical return this October! In addition to being the first time the extended editions will be shown in theaters, this run will also feature a new introduction from Jackson himself.”
From the source, FarAwayEntertainment.com, we know, “Fathom Events and Warner Bros. are partnering to present the extended editions of all three Hobbit movies. Shown over three nights, the epic Peter Jackson trilogy will be the first time the extended editions have ever been released in theaters… Also included will be an exclusive introduction by director Peter Jackson. First night showing starts Monday, October 5th, 2015 at 7:30pm local.”
As someone who prefers the extended Lord of the Rings films to the feature-length versions, this sounds like a blast. Even if I won’t go to see all of the Hobbit films in the theater (because admission will still be regular ticket price), I’ll likely see at least one of the films for kicks. The question is, which?
Time to get your nerd on, free-folk of Middle Earth!