Introduction

In December 2011, the first trailer for the long-expected prequel to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy was released in theatres: Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit".

More interesting yet: in the summer 2012 an alternative version of the trailer was released. It was rated in Canada first, therefore we shall call it "Canadian Trailer" here. However, it also was released in the US theatres and also has the rating "For General Audiences" (G), same as the first trailer. Also, these two trailers are known as "Trailer 1.0" and "Trailer 1.1".

Why the new trailer? The reason is that for showings together with children films (it was first released with Pixar's "The Brave"), there are special guidelines for showing disturbing images or bad habits like smoking. For this reason, some action scenes as well as pipe-smoking scenes were replaced by alternative footage.

Runtime US Version: 2:31 Min
Runtime Canadian Version: 2:32 Min (longer black picture at the end)

5 Alternative scenes
1 changed color grading
2 changed intertitles

This comparison does not address longer fadeouts-fadeins and black picture.

Scene 1 Alternative Footage
0:00:23.0 Min. (Time in US Version)
0:00:22.4 Min. (Time in Canadian Version)

In the US version, Bilbo smokes a pipe as Gandalf walks past him. In the Canadian version, he only holds his pipe and looks somehow nervous.

Difference: 2 Frames (Canadian version is longer)



Scene 2 Alternative Footage
0:00:51.8 Min. (Time in US Version)
0:00:51.2 Min. (Time in Canadian Version)

In the US version, the camera closes in, with Kili in the right third of the frame. It ends with a display of Thorin and Gandalf, smoking. In the Canadian version, the camera starts closing in earlier and ends before Gandalf and Thorin come into frame.

Difference: 12 Frames (US Version is longer)



Scene 3 Intertitle change
0:01:15.6 Min. (Time in US Version)
0:01:14.7 Min. (Time in Canadian Version)

The US version shows "Next December", the Canadian one shows "This December" as the new trailer was released in 2012.

No time difference



Scene 4 Changed color grading
0:01:36.1 Min. (Time in US Version)
0:01:35.5 Min. (Time in Canadian Version)

In the Canadian version, the color grading was changed so that the dungeon looks darker and Gandalf’s staff glows stronger.

No time difference



Scene 5 Alternative Footage
0:01:58.0 Min. (Time in US Version)
0:01:57.7 Min. (Time in Canadian Version)

In the US version Gandalf fights a dwarf (probably, Thrain). In the Canadian version Bilbo is looking up from some rocks.

Difference: 3 Frames (US Version is longer)



Scene 6 Alternative Footage
0:01:58.5 Min. (Time in US Version)
0:01:58.2 Min. (Time in Canadian Version)

In the US version, the dwarf strikes back at Gandalf; in the Canadian version, Bilbo is looking anxious in a closeup through a hole in a rock formation.

Difference: 3 Frames (Canadian version is longer)



Scene 7 Alternative Footage
0:01:59.2 Min. (Time in US Version)
0:01:59.0 Min. (Time in Canadian Version)

In the US version, the dwarves are fighting three trolls; in the Canadian version, Gandalf and the dwarves are running through a forest.

Difference: 2 Frames (US version is longer)



Scene 8 Intertitle change
0:02:29.4 Min. (Time in US Version)
0:02:28.6 Min. (Time in Canadian Version)

The US Version shows "December 14, 2012"; the Canadian version just shows "December 14". Also, the logos of IMAX 3D and RealD are swapped around.

No time difference