Extended Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The biggest edits in The Desolation of Smaug are all the Thrain bits.

In the original (the book), Gandalf mentions that he obtained the map and key from Thorin's father, Thrain when he visited him in the "dungeons of the Necromancer," where Thrain died. Personally, I think Jackson should have stuck with this explanation. Thorin's desire to return to Erebor could have been emphasized/encouraged by knowledge of his father's death.

Thrain dying at the end of Desolation accomplishes absolutely nothing in any particular direction. It does layer Tolkien's world--a particular skill of Jackson's that I greatly appreciate. Tolkien's world is dense, the product of generations of history, including the rise and fall of civilizations. Through the products of the magnificent Alan Lee, John Howe, and WETA Workshop, Jackson manages to convey that same feel.

Overall, however, I think it was wise to cut the Thrain scenes--and they are cut most intelligently.

Other than Thrain's, most of the additional scenes are minor extensions--no new information. We get to see a little bit more of Monty-Python-esque Stephen Fry and Ryan Gage (Ryan Gage as Alfrid Lickspittle is an excellent example of the sarcastic bootlicker, a very English character who flatters his boss while delivering sotto voce criticisms).

What received no cuts for the theater release was Bilbo's confrontation with Smaug. I appreciate how willing Jackson was in the first two Hobbit movies to keep Bilbo's most important scenes (Gollum, Smaug) intact. The movies move quite rapidly between locations and sets of people, but the riddle scenes--Bilbo at his most courageous and most shrewd--are left uncut.

I must say again: Benedict Cumberbatch's interpretation of Smaug is exactly how I think a dragon speaks and acts! The wonderful combination of the boastful, sarcastic Smaug and the tremulous but exceedingly dry Bilbo (Freeman) wit is one of the best parts of the film.