Firstly. If I understand it correctly, post-Bag End, Gandalf does not have one single one-on-one conversation with Bilbo, ala the type we saw between Gandalf and Frodo in FOTR (or, indeed, between Gandalf and Thorin in AUJ), apart from the brief exchange over "Sting" (which felt more like a set up for the Gollum scene, and for FOTR, than anything particularly character-building), and the very, very brief exchange on horseback about the dwarves "taking wages" on the chances of Bilbo's arrival (which I still file under "beginning of the film" which was generally good).
Secondly. If I understand it correctly, post-Bag End, Bilbo does not have one single one-on-one conversation with Thorin Oakenshield - and only meaningfully interacts with him during the final "hug" scene.
In fact, post-Bag End, it seems that Bilbo ONLY has meaningful exchanges with Balin (a wonderful and rich moment, IMO, when he narrates Thorin's story to Fili, Kili and Bilbo), Bofur (in the Misty Mountains, as Bilbo is "going back to Rivendell"), Gollum (obviously), and a substantive, yet not-so-meaningful interaction with Fili and Kili before the troll fight.
If this is correct, then I must say that the "thinness" of the film's plot and character development, has a lot to do with the serious lack of meaningful interactions between the main characters, and especially between the main protagonist (Bilbo), and the other leads (Gandalf and Thorin).
In this context, if the 13 minutes of extra footage are devoted primarily to such interactions (and I would say the Bilbo-Elrond bit counts, as the moment at least gives Bilbo a chance to show some of his character, and describe his "place" in the company of dwarves), then a significant flaw in the films might be ameliorated.
I know that Voronwë is going to tell me to jettison such foolish expectations, but I must. hold. on. to. something.
In any event, what say you? Have I missed something, or is this a major issue?
