10 Simple Fixes That Would Have Made The Hobbit Awesome

3. Remove The Comic Relief

Alfrid bloody Lickspittle. The man is a walking joke and the amount of screen time he gets in The Battle Of The Five Armies is absurd. Why Jackson felt he was needed for a cameo let alone a major supporting role in the Laketown story arc is beyond even Galadriel's comprehension. It's just another example of the totally confused tone of the film; if you're going to match the feeling of the first three films, it just doesn't track correctly that you have this greedy buffoon offering nothing whatsoever to the progression of the narrative. Being generous one could argue that he represents the greed of men that has plagued the race over time, but he's so in your face any subtlety is absent. Worst of all is the missed opportunities for more in keeping humour. Have you seen Freeman in the Office? The guy has serious comedic chops which went slightly to waste in this trilogy.