How Would You Format 'The Hobbit'?

Considering the size of the book that it is based on, and what happens in the story, it all could have fit in one movie; two tops.

My preference is one movie, as the Rankin/Bass animated version told most of the story in 75 minutes, minus the Beorn chapter, Arkenstone, and most of the first chapter, and I can see all this plus a few other things work in one three-hour movie.

However, a two-movie structure does make a lot of sense. Thorin begins to see the merits of having Bilbo as part of the company after they are rescued from Mirkwood, and this acceptance of Bilbo would actually work great as the ending of a two-part version (which was the original plan anyway). Once they reach Lake Town in the book, the story does screech to a halt, and it feels like the start of another story focusing on the feud between the Dwarves, Men, and Elves. So separating these two plots by making g them separate movies does make a lot of sense.

It's also important to note that the way the films are structured makes it impossible to edit down into one three-hour movie even if you do only use the stuff that was in the book. But this is likely because when the films we're shot, the plan was for two films, so I bet if they had been shooting for one film from the start, the structure would be completely different.

In short, I believe that only one film was needed. I would have been okay with two films. Three films was really pushing it, and that idea should have never been considered.

Here's what my idea would be for a one or two movie version.

At the beginning, we see Ian Holm Bilbo writing in the book, without him mentioning Frodo. Instead, it immediately begins with him writing, "In a hole in the ground." Then it segues immediately to Martin Freeman Bilbo smoking and talking to Gandalf.

After he finishes talking to Gandalf, we see the deleted scene where he goes to the market and thinks he sees Gandalf approaching (necessary for establishing what Shire life is like for people who are being introduced to Middle Earth through this movie).

The party scene plays out similar to the movie, but shortened down so that it doesn't drag as much as did in the trilogy. I like Thorin arriving late to the party, as it makes him seem more important.

Like in the trilogy, Bilbo decides to go on the adventure himself rather than being pushed into it by Gandalf (it makes his character seem more developed). However instead of catching up to the dwarves on the road, he runs to the Green Dragon Inn to meet them there. With all the LOTR references Jackson threw into the trilogy, I'm baffled he didn't include this location, as it was both in the book and LOTR, which would have been bonus points.

As they mountain their ponies, this is when Bilbo notices he is missing his handkerchief and receives a makeshift one from Bofur.

After beginning the journey, we go immediately to the Trollshaws, where Gandalf and Thorin argue and then Gandalf leaves.

Instead of the Dwarves surrendering, we see a few seconds of the fight with the trolls, and then a fade to Black. Then we cut to the Dwarves in sacks, leaving the viewer to guess how they lost the fight.

Gandalf imitates the troll's voices like he does in the book. This is a point where Bilbo is supposed to have gotten the Dwarves into a messy situation with Gandalf as their only hope. Bilbo is supposed to learn from experience.

They enter the troll cave and get their swords and things, and then there is a traveling montage that takes them to Rivendell.

After Elrond examines the swords, Thorin gets up from the dinner table and walks away, not wanting to talk about his quest with the "filthy elves." Then, we see the deleted scene of Bilbo talking to Elrond about how he wants to stay in Rivendell.

Then we see the Moon Runes scene. Gandalf tells the Dwarves he has business to attend to and sends the Dwarves and Bilbo ahead without him. We don't see what Gandalf is up to. This is just what Gandalf does, leaving the company at different points of the story.

There are no Stone Giants (they were in the book, but I'd rather they stayed out). Rather, Bilbo is clumsy, and gets into several mishaps, with Thorin finally telling him that he doesn't belong with the company.

Bilbo attempts to leave the company, with Thorin overhearing his conversation with Bofur. But before Bilbo can leave, the floor opens and they have a SHORT (not the ridiculously long fall from the trilogy) fall into the Goblin tunnels, where they are captured. Bilbo gets attacked by a tiny Goblin and falls down a crevice, separated from the Dwarves.

The Dwarves are brought before the Goblin King, who recognizes Thorin. He sends a servant to send word to Bolg (not Azog). This is the first time we hear about Bolg.

Then we cut to Bilbo waking up. He sees the Ring on the ground (he doesn't see Gollum drop it), and pockets it. He sees Gollum on his island killing the tiny Goblin, and the rest of the scene plays out the same as the trilogy (best adapted scene in the entire thing).

After the scene, we see Gandalf rescue the Dwarves. He kills the Great Goblin IMMEDIATELY (no more of this stupid reappearance nonsense), and they run away from the Goblins, and the scene ends there.

Bilbo sees them run past, and manages to get away from Gollum.

Bilbo gives his speech about how he realizes the Dwarves don't have a home, and that he is motivated to help them get it back. Thorin looks like he's about to say something to Bilbo about how he was wrong to judge him, but is interrupted by the howls of Wargs.

They all climb into the trees, and Gandalf throws flaming pinecones at the Wargs. But a pack of Orcs show up, led by Bolg (who was called by the Great Goblin) and Bolg orders the Orcs to burn the trees down. Gandalf prepares to do a suicide jump to blow up the Orcs and Wargs to save his friends, but the Eagles arrive and save them (Gandalf doesn't send a stupid moth).

The Eagles take them to the Carrock, where they spend the night. Bilbo asks Balin why Bolg and Thorin are enemies, and Balin tells Bilbo about the Battle of Azanulbizar, where Thorin killed Bolg's father, Azog, and Bolg swore revenge.
Meanwhile, back in the forest where the Dwarves were rescued, Bolg and the Chief of Wargs are planning revenge on the Dwarves (Bolg wants to avenge his father, the Chief of Wargs wants to avenge the Great Goblin). Bolg tells the Chief of Wargs that he has business in Dol Guldur, and sends the Wargs to catch up to the Dwarves and kill them.

(At this point, the visit to Beorn could happen, but I'd prefer for him to be cut out, similar to Tom Bombadil.)

We then see the Dwarves about to enter Mirkwood, and Gandalf tells the Dwarves that he has business to attend to, as the Orcs are in alliance with Sauron, and he must find a way to stop them. He leaves, and we never see his quest.

Mirkwood plays out the same, but includes the deleted river scene, as well as emphasis on the starvation of the company.

After being captured, we quickly segue to the rescue and escape, and they sail down the river in barrels. The Wargs (not Orcs) attack during their escape, but they manage to get away from them.

At the edge of the lake, Bard walks up, and if this is a two parter, the movie cuts to Black and goes to the credits. If it's a one parter, it simply has some expositional dialogue.

A post-credits scene is the part with Smaug's eye opening.

I'll put more here later. How I wish the movies had been this way instead of the way they were. I did make an edit of the movies, but I can only roll a turd so far.

It should have been two movies.

One long ass movie.

The Rankin-Bass version was a spot-on adaptation clocking in at a single hour and a half sitting. This mentality that two films were necessary baffles, and that comment is not aimed just at you.

I dunno, man. After rewatching the Rankin-Bass version again a few weeks back, its actually impressive what those guys were able to keep with just an hour and a half. They managed to keep the troll scene in pretty much its entirety (the only difference is they had trolls nab all the dwarves at the same time like Jackson did). Really, Beorn is the only major cut and a film twice its length could be kept him. However... I can't exactly say I'm glad Beorn was included in the Jackson trilogy given what they did to his character.

I admit I've never seen the Rankin Bass version, but I don't doubt that one film could work. I just think two would allow more room to breathe. In any case, three was a huge mistake. 

And even with less movies there may still have been problems given how bizarrely they treated some of the source material. Like you said, Beorn was horribly neglected. I mean, you have a whole damn movie dedicated to the Battle of the Five Armies and Beorn gets like five seconds of screen time? WTF!

Yeah. I can enjoy the first two for what they are, in spite of their many many flaws, but the third movie just makes me cringe from start to finish. Sure, let's keep going back to Alfred for who the *beep* knows why, include utterly pointless scenes with Legolass, work in the paper thin Tauriel... And then completely ignore one of the book's best characters!!! So absurd.