FOTR: Extended Edition Discussion - Page 2

Amazon.com has it for 25.99 and Deep Discount DVD has it for $25.98.

That is, unless you are referring to the 4-disc set with the Argonath statues and Natl. Geographic disc. For $29.99, that would CERTAINLY be a good deal.

Nick, that was a great review and I look forward to my own copy next week, which I have had pre-ordered since May.

Tuesday November 12, I command you to happen NOW! Amazon.com, bend the so-called "laws" of space-time, and ship this gem into the past!

Damn fine work there, Kommissar Nick. This is my stroke too.

Well kids, I just got back from the digital screening of this.

This is a superior cut of the film in almost every conceivable way.

The one thing I would have left alone and that I have to disagree with Nick on is the "Concerning Hobbits" segment. Not that I don't think it's wonderfully done, but I find myself preferring the original version. It conveys just as much of what the hobbits are all about as Bilbo's voice-over does but in a much more organic way. And on a purely aesthetic level, the gorgeous reveal of the Hill (and Howard Shore's soaring string arrangement that accompanies it) is altered so that it doesn't have the same impact.

But dear lord everything else that's in this version is pure mithril, and every bit of it is character character character. Boromir's story arc is strengthened, Aragorn's self-doubt is greatly highlighted, the Legolas/Gimli relationship is given much more of a foundation, and the influence Gandalf has on Frodo is shown more so that Frodo's final decision, with Gandalf's "So do all who live to see such times" still echoing in his mind, has an even greater impact.

And the Lothlorien scenes are completely transformed now. I was a fan of them in the original, but this is just absolute magic. A lengthier introduction, more Celeborn, and the gift-giving. What more could a die-hard Tolkien fan ask for?

Add to that references to Thorin, Beren and Luthien, Bilbo's trolls, and Nenya (Galadriel's ring) and you can color me one happy camper.

While I understand Jackson and company's desire to keep things under the three hour limit, I honestly think this is the version that should have been released. Would the film really have made less money if there were fewer showings during the day? You don't make over $300 million dollars simply because being under three hours got you an extra show or two. It sure didn't hurt Titanic any, and this version doesn't have many of the "problems" some critics saw with the released version, which could have translated to even more good word of mouth.

Suffice it to say that, were the new DVD to have this version on it and nothing else, I'd be buying it in a heartbeat. It'd be worth it just to hear Ian McKellen doing the Ring verse in the Black Speech. If you loved the original version, this is a little slice of heaven. If you didn't like the original, this may actually change your mind.

Wow! Moriarty's done a GREAT review. He hits on all the reasons why I love the movie beyond speech, and for once there's someone else besides me defending that beautiful cave troll.

LOL! Is she still alive? She looked very old in Braindead(Dead Alive).

She's got to be the actress that played Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, right?

Way to take one for the team, Nick. Sitting through all that so we don't have to. Good man, good man.

I'll gush for the review. It's a good read, and thorough.

I'm glad the gift-giving in Lothlorien is included in the extra-long version, as it ought to come up a few times in the next couple of movies, depending on how close the script is to the books in that respect. I was surprised it wasn't included in the original release.

Viggo Sings. Hmm.

My sentiments exactly!

Forget who makes the best sales on Tuesday. This is what we should be taking bets on.

I repeat:

Any Atlanta area Chewer who gets this, including Nick,

If you'd be willing to part with it for one week, lend it to me. I'll take the utmost care of it and look at it with an open mind as best I can.

Hopefully, more than once, in fact.

You get it back the next weekend along with my FINAL thoughts on the film.

I'm really glad to see you thought they actually improved upon the exposition, which has the potential to be the most boring part of the story. I thought they did a great job the first time round, and to hear they improved upon it, well...

And like I said in the thread for my preview of the sucker...if you don't like this Micah I will go ahead and buy a DVD for you.

heh...was I distracted when I was viewing this film wondering if Micah would like it or not?

Micah's a bigger guy than any of us because of his resolution to give the film a second chance.

Micah....I must be the only one that did not know this....but you actually did NOT like FOTR ? Well...let's hear it for Micah for sucking it up and agreeing to watch a free copy of FOTR Extended Edition...I couldn't resist on this one Micah....te he he he....

How could you see through my ruse, Kelvin?!

I thought my master plan to act as if I didn't like the film irregardless of harassment and frustration from those who did for months on end and then to play on the pity of those who would loan me a copy of the DVD was airtight.

I was this close to getting away with it...

Good one Micah....actually although I loved FOTR...my wife truly did not like it...oh well...movies have different appeal to different people. wink

I don't think I've ever creamed the way I've creamed after reading Nick's excellent review. I think that I came on the wall just like Philip Seymour Hoffman! Wonderful job, sire!

For a "stream of consciousness" review, I beg to differ. It flowed like a champ.

The Gimli/Guile ref was pure genius! And, okay, so a gay Hobbit joke was inevitable, but the matching purse and shoes caption was comedy gold.

I can't wait to see this extended cut.

I've been looking at my LOTR DVD all week wanting to watch it because of all this new hype but have decided to wait until I can see the extended cut.

Damn it!

The Concerning Hobbits intro and the gift-giving scene made me grin like crazy. So awesome...

Nick, I can't believe I forgot to ask this -- how is the split into two discs handled? Where does Disc 1 end? And is it an abrupt cut, a fade-out, what?

Disc One ends at the Council of Elrond just after Pippin says 'Where are we going then?'

It's a surprisingly abrupt cut to black, where a card says to continue on disc two.

It's mine!!!!!!!!

There is Good to great stuff on the extended cut. I've only watched it once, and on first viewing, I DON'T believe it's a superior cut. But that's not to say it's an inferior cut. The supplementary disc's editing chapter touches upon this, but what the theatrical cut really represents is a "Frodo-centric" version of the film. Anything that was not directly related to Frodo and the ring, was usually what was cut from the theatrical release. And on just one viewing, I felt the new cut definitely adds quite a few riches (Journey between lands feels meatier, Hobbit life given more screen time, Lothlorien is definitely improved upon in a big way, closer ties to the novel), but also gives up a little bit of the focused intensity of Frodo's emotional journey. So while the movie gains a more epic quality with these new scenes, it also sacrifices some of the intimate by by doing so. The same Frodo scenes from the theatrical are still present, but the focus is not as PURE. All IMHO of course.

Some comments on the extended cut:

-The Isildur expansion in the prologue is excellent. Shouldn't have been cut from the theatrical.

-"Concerning Hobbits" is well narrated by Ian Holm, and is fine on it's own as a set piece, but I prefer the way the Shire is introduced in the theatrical cut. To me, this Hobbit prologue is a really good deleted scene. Although I am a little biased here due to the fact that I've always found the theatrical's method of opening FOTR to be sublime, masterful, and perfect. How do you top that? You can't in my book, and this is a major reason why I'm glad I own the theatrical cut as well.

-Green Dragon Inn scene is cool, especially for more Rosie Cotton (Total babe!) and getting the Hobbits' POV of the outside world.

-Beautiful scene of Sam/Frodo observing Elves departing for the West. The music is haunting. It really hits home the melancholy "fading" quality of Middle Earth in the third age.

-Aragorn singing about Beren and Luthien is an excellent Viggo moment. Aragorn's sensitive side being showcased is always a good thing.

-Lothlorien is improved upon in so many ways. Haldir actually becomes COOL. Martin Csokas' Celeborn is a real character now. Gimli's adoration of Galadriel is probably up there as one of the best moments of the whole extended cut. And Galadriel shows Nenya (COOL!).

-Important to note that not only are there added scenes to this extended cut, PJ actually uses brand new takes of existing scenes from the theatrical. It's a little weird experiencing moments you know by heart with different emphasis and intonation on the actor's part. I'm sure I'll get used to it on repeated viewings.

Supplementary highlights:

The jewel of the first disc has to be the documentary on Richard Taylor and Weta. Put's a smile on your face seeing what a gargantuan task they acomplished.

-Very cool alternate take on the prologue in storyboard form. It includes a narrator and music/sound fx. Very powerful even in this primitive state.

-Seeing PJ act out the role of Bilbo in a test run for the Bag End scenes, is priceless.

-The documentary on BIG miniatures is a stand out. The detail on the models is astounding.

-The actor's recollections are spot on. You really feel the comradeship. And Christopher Lee rules.

All in all, it's definitely a great disc!

Now on to those commentaries

Can't really argue with that timing, but I probably would have waited until after that shot of the Fellowship walking between those two big rocks.

I'm gonna order this tonight, but right now i'm listening to "The Breaking of the Fellowship" and I have tears in my eyes. This is one of the best tracks from a film i've ever heard, continues to amaze me each time I listen to it. When those drums kick in at the 3:54 mark or so....God. All I see is Sam and Frodo coming up on Mordor. That's a classic scene if there ever was one.

Can't wait to get this set and dig in.

At first view, I wasn't sure about which cut I preferred. But after another two views, this cut is INFINITELY better.

And the scene of Aragorn at his mother's grave is beautiful.

Wow! This appeared in the shops here in Ireland YESTERDAY. Guess who snapped it up.

The movie is now more beautiful than ever. It's a real character piece. I especially love the singsong in the pub and the passing of the wood-elves. The new improved Lothlorien is great. Galadriel is now nicer and not such a mysterious elf bint. Gimli's much more noble, not such a bumbler. Haldir's still a strangely chubby elf. This cut emphasizes the entire Fellowship rather than mainly Frodo.

It's absolutely a better cut, but I'm still getting used to it. I hope the un-enamoured such as mikah find improvement here. If not, there's probably nothing more that can be done for you.

Yes, I'm actually so pathetic that I scanned the fan club credits picking out cast members...

Maybe I imagined it, but it seemed a few smaller changes had been made to...

a. special effects - enhanced?
b. sound effects - a little more punch?
c. dialog - a couple of lines redubbed?

Perhaps not, but the battle in the prologue didn't seem as murky this time.

The wealth of documentaries is awe-inspiring. After seeing the terrific Fellowship Of The Cast, Billy Boyd is my new favourite. Fuggin' hysterical. Even Elijah Wood came off pretty well.

I'm not even half-way through this "new devilry".

Mine shipped from Amazon today!

Damnit mine hasnt

I can't get over how great John Rhys-Davies plays his moment with Galadriel. He's so in awe of her, he can't even make eye contact. And his humbled voice is perfect. It's just such a touching moment. One of my favorite scenes in the whole film now. On the commentary track, Davies said he was able to play the scene easily because he felt the same way when he met Julie Christie for the first time. He said she was so beautiful, it made him ashamed of his own inadequate looks. Not that he thinks he's ugly, but that she was so perfect a specimen of beauty, to be in her presence was to feel ugly.

And all this time I thought he was deftly recreating his encounter with Mister Katanga...

Changed my handle/sig/location to reflect the recent LOTR hype. Although I think i've used it before at some point....

Also just ordered the 4-disc set AND Episode 2 at Amazon.......gonna be a great DVD week.

One of the best things about this new cut is that it now really does seem as though they've travelled far. It's become a genuinely expansive epic in itself.

These comments are in regards to the theatrical version, which I just finished watching. Took me three days, but I got through it. Unlike most of you, this is only the fourth time I've seen the movie in its entierty. I'd forgotten just how magnficent it was.

You know what's great about this movie?

The little things.

Like for instance, in the Mines right before the Orcs attack, Boromir does a little sword flip that I just now noticed. That's so cool.

I love how names and places are interspersed into the dialogue without any formal explanation.

I love the music after Gandalf's "death."

And I love how you can empathize with different characters at different times you watch the movie.

For instance, I always felt the most emotional moments involved Boromir (although Sean Bean gives THE supporting performance of the movie--rivaled only by the other Sean--and should have been nominated in Best Supporting Actor for the scene where he describes the white tower of Gondor in Lothlorian alone). However, this time, watching it, I found myself incredibly moved by moments involving Frodo. The look on his face after Gandalf dies (outside the mines) where the side of his cheek with the tears is obscured as he realizes that he's "the farthest away from home he's ever been," both emotionally and physically, and he's realized that this is the price he's paid for choosing to bear the ring--is amazing. Brilliant, as my roommate likes to say.

Algar, do you have the R2 release or the R1 ? Most of the marketing blurb I've seen for the R2 release seems to list only 2 commentaries and the documentaries are titled completely differently...what gives ? Anyone ?

I have the R2 release.

It seems to have pretty much everything it should. All four commentaries are there, and the documentaries have the same titles I've read in reviews.

The only thing I haven't been able to find is the Easter Egg of the MTV Awards clip. The other one (the Two Towers preview) is there, but I've followed the instructions correctly and still haven't been able to find it. Probably not there.

Ah. Thanks muchly. wink

Fucking pre-release marketing blurb writers. Fuck them up their....you know the rest.

I'm off to HMV.

This version is far superior to the theatrical cut. I can't imagine the editing process of choosing which of the stuff in this version would be cut for the theatrical release.. it would be a god-damned nightmare. That extra 30 minutes is worth it's weight in gold; every single addition worked for me, and for those that haven't read the books this version offers the audience a heckuva lot more information about each character and their motivations. There is a significant amount of hack and slash added during the battle sequences as well, which was very nice indeed. I can't imagine why in the world Isildur's flight into the river was cut from the original release.. those few seconds make so much more sense.

Great stuff, and Dellamorte's home theater setup is FUCKING FANTASTIC to see such a film on. Thanks again man!

I'm checking this out for myself on Wednesday eve., and I'll report on how it sits with me.

Man, you're a trooper for giving it all these shots.

I don't know if you're going to be convinced, Mikah. I think there are two problems with the theatrical cut: the opening feels rushed, and the death of Gandalf the Grey corks the film, with the next forty minutes finding it hard to jump start back. I'd say the first problem is fixed, but the ending still drags a bit. I like the new cut, but I don't know if I like it better.

The supplements are kicking my ass though. Sweet Jebus they're good.

Well, that's the good thing.

I'm not trying to be convinced of anything. I feel no obligation to continue my current dislike for the film, nor do I feel the need to look for signposts that will convert me to the fanatical orthodoxy that currently holds this film on a high, holy pedestal where it must be worshipped constantly.

I'm just going to put it on. Sit back....maybe have some chips and a coke. Watch it up close and free of distraction.

Whatever happens, happens. That's it.

You make it sound like you're going on a date.

In a lot of ways, I am.

And that'll be several cokes Micah. It's a long movie.

What a great week this is gonna be for DVD-watching. I plan on watching:

1. The theatrical cut of LOTR
2. The extended cut of LOTR and ALL the extras
3. 2 of the commentaries on the extended (the one with PJ and the one with the cast)
4. Episode 2 by itself and ALL the extras
5. Episode 2 with commentary

Christ, if I can watch all of that i'll be proud of myself.

But then again I probably won't be getting them both until Thursday since I ordered from Amazon....

Just saw it. I´m in love with this cut. By far superior to the theatrical cut. Suddenly Lothlorien is my favorite scene in the movie. Love Cate Blanchett and John Rhyes Davis! Just perfect.

If you can watch all that you must not plan on sleeping this week. Holy...

Can't wait to give the FOTR: EE set the time it deserves.