Blu-ray.com has posted their review of the 2D Blu-ray release of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. High marks are given for both video (4.5 out of 5) and audio quality (5 out of 5) – and we also get a closer glimpse at what bonus features are offered on this Theatrical Blu-ray/DVD edition.
Of particular note is the inclusion of last year’s The Desolation of Smaug Live Event, as well as a collection of trailers for the film (both of which were previously unadvertised for this release).
Blu-ray.com‘s rundown of the extras:
Peter Jackson Invites You to the Set (HD, 41 minutes): Divided into two parts — “In the Company of The Hobbit” and “All in a Day’s Work” — Jackson’s invitation doc details the cast and crew’s daily routines, from pre-dawn calls to scene blocking, shooting, lunchtime, choreographing and end-of-day festivities.
Production Videos (HD, 37 minutes): Four production featurettes are included: “Introduction to Pick-Ups Shooting,” “Recap of Pick-Ups, Part 1,” “Recap of Pick-Ups, Part 2” and “Music Scoring.” The first three visit Stone Street Studios for extra bits of filming and post-production, while the fourth visits composer Howard Shore in his composing studio and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at Wellington Town Hall.
Live Event: In the Cutting Room (HD, 38 minutes): An archival version of the March 2013 worldwide live event in which Jackson fielded fan questions and offered a tour of his production facilities.
New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth, Part 2 (HD, 7 minutes): A brief overview of the New Zealand locations and countrysides used to bring Jackson’s Middle-earth to life on screen.
Trailers & Previews (HD, 12 minutes): Three Desolation of Smaug trailers are joined by three additional promos for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition, The Hobbit LEGO videogame and The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth videogame.
Music Video (HD, 2 minutes): “I See Fire” by Ed Sheeran.
Click here to read the full review.
