An Unexpected Journey is rated PG-13. The Extended Edition pushes this slightly further. The violence is slightly more intense (Goblin decapitations are held on screen a fraction of a second longer). The "burial contracts" joke implies death more bluntly than the theatrical cut. Generally, the Extended Edition is recommended for ages 12+, whereas the theatrical is fine for 10+.
This is a contentious point. The theatrical cut is tighter and moves at a brisker pace—critical for younger viewers or those unfamiliar with Tolkien’s slower, more descriptive style. However, for anyone reading this article, the answer is likely . The extended cut restores the novel’s sense of time and journey . You feel the weeks passing as the company leaves Rivendell and climbs into the mountains. The added songs and silly moments (like the dwarves cleaning dishes) are essential to the book’s soul. The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition Online