5 Best (& 5 Worst) Lord Of The Rings Extended Edition Scenes

One slight criticism that could be levelled at The Fellowship of the Ring is that it spends too long in the Shire. Whereas it is important to get a sense of the cosy home of its hairy inhabitants, there are a few problems with pacing as we await the action.

This problem manifests itself in the extended edition which begins with Bilbo's long-winded narration: "the 22nd day of September in the year 1400 by Shire-reckoning. Bag End, Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, Westfarthing, the Shire, Middle Earth." From this moment it is clear we are in no rush. After the epic prologue which tracks the history of the One Ring, the last thing we need is another big info dump of exposition about something as mundane as a Hobbit's love for food.

Instead of going straight to Gandalf and Frodo after the prologue as the theatrical edition does, this detour to Bilbo as he tries to write his memoirs There And Back Again: A Hobbit's Tale only confuses whose journey we are following. Cutting this meandering tone from the theatrical cut was the smartest move that Jackson did, even though it is a faithful transcription of the Concerning Hobbits opening from the books.