Lord of the Rings Theatrical Question

[ObiTrentKenobi]

So... I'm picking up the LOTR theatrical blurays individually, and they say that there is a DVD with a few bonus features; my question is...

Do these theatrical blurays have any special features that ARE NOT in the DVD extended releases from years back?? Because I already own all 3 extended edition DVD sets that i won't ever be getting rid of.

thanks!

(no comments needed like "why not get the extended versions on blu?" Because I will triple dip when they properly do the video transfer for the extended versions. I like having all versions of my favorite films)

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by ObiTrentKenobi

So... I'm picking up the LOTR theatrical blurays individually, and they say that there is a DVD with a few bonus features; my question is...

Do these theatrical blurays have any special features that ARE NOT in the DVD extended releases from years back?? Because I already own all 3 extended edition DVD sets that i won't ever be getting rid of.

I am 99% sure that there is zero crossover in special features between the theatrical BDs/DVDs and the extended edition BDs/DVDs, meaning that, if you want your hands on every bonus feature possible, you need the trilogy in both theatrical and extended versions.

[Grand Bob]

The special features on the theatrical Blu-rays and Extended DVD's are different.

Special Features on the Theatrical Blu-rays:

Disc 1 The Fellowship of the Ring Feature
Trailers: "The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest" Game Trailer, "The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy Supertrailer
Disc 2 Welcome to Middle-Earth: Houghton Mifflin In-Store Special
Quest for the Ring: FOX TV Special
A Passage to Middle-Earth: SCI-FI Channel Special
Finding Hobbiton
Hobbiton Comes Alive
Believing the World of Bree
Ringwraiths: The Fallen Kings
Rivendell: The Elven Refuge
Languages of Middle-Earth
Two Wizards
Music of Middle-Earth
Enya "May it Be" Music Video
Special Extended DVD Edition Preview
Behind the Scenes Preview of "The Two Towers"
Disc 3 The Two Towers Feature
Trailers; "The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest" Game Trailer, "The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy Supertrailer
Disc 4 On the Set "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" - Starz Encore Special
Return to Middle-Earth: WB Special
"The Long and Short of It" A Short Film Directed by Sean Astin
The Making of "The Long and Short of It"
Forces of Darkness
Designing the Sounds of Middle-Earth
Edoras: The Rohan Capital
Creatures of Middle-Earth
Gandalf the White
Arms and Armor
The Battle of Helm's Deep
Emiliana Torrini "Gollum's Song" Music Video
Special Extended DVD Edition Preview
Behind the Scenes Preview of "The Return of the King"
Disc 5 The Return of the King Feature
Trailers: "The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy Supertrailer, "The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest" Game Trailer
Disc 6 The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision
A Filmaker's journey: Making "The Return of the King"
National Geographic Special - "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
Aragorn's Destiny, Minas Tirith: Captial of Gondor
The Battle of Pelennor Fields, Samwise the Brave
Eowyn: White Lady of Rohan, Digital Horse Doubles
Heart/Frodo, Every Path, Test, Aragorn, Time, Every Step, Sword, Decided
Special Extended DVD Edition Preview

Special Features on the Extended DVD's:

Fellowship of the Ring:

DISCS 3-4: The Appendices
Two discs with hours of original content including multiple documentaries and design/photo galleries with thousands of images to give viewers an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
DISC 3: "From Book to Vision":
Adapting the book into a screenplay & planning the film
Designing and building Middle-earth
Storyboards to pre-visualization
Weta Workshop visit: An up-close look at the weapons, armor, creatures, and miniatures from the film
An interactive map of Middle-earth tracing the journey of the Fellowship
An interactive map of New Zealand highlighting the location scouting process
Galleries of art and slideshows with commentaries by the artists
Guided tour of the wardrobe department
Footage from early meetings, moving storyboards, and pre-visualization reels
DISC 4: "From Vision to Reality":
Bringing the characters to life
A day in the life of a hobbit
Principal photography: Stories from the set
Scale: Creating the illusion of size
Galleries of behind-the-scenes photographs and personal cast photos
Editorial and visual effects multi-angle progressions
Sound design demonstration

The Two Towers:

DISCS 3-4: The Appendices:
Two discs with hours of original content including multiple documentaries and design/photo galleries with thousands of images to give viewers an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
DISC 3:
Adapting the book into a screenplay & planning the film
Designing and inspiration for locations in Middle-earth
Storyboards to pre-visualization
Weta Workshop visit: See sculptors in action as they create weapons, armor, creatures, and miniatures from the film
Atlas of Middle-earth tracing the journey of the Fellowship
An interactive map of New Zealand highlighting the location scouting process
Galleries of art and slideshows with commentaries by the artists
DISC 4:
Sending the actors into battle: sword fighting
Principal photography: Stories from the set
Digital effects including motion capture and the computer program to create the armies of Orcs
Bigatures: a close-up look at the miniatures
Galleries of behind-the-scenes photographs and personal cast photos
Post-Production: editing it all together
Sound design demonstration
DVD-ROM Content: Includes access to exclusive online features

Return of the King:

DISCS 3-4: The Appendices:
Disc Three: The Appendices Part Five - The War of the Ring
Peter Jackson Intro
J.R.R. Tolkien: The Legacy of Middle-earth
From Book to Script:
From Book to Script: Forging the Final Chapter
Abandoned Concept: Aragorn Battles Sauron
Designing and Building Middle-earth
Designing Middle-earth
Big-atures
Weta Workshop
Costume Design
Design Galleries 2,123 images
The Peoples of Middle-earth (galleries with docent audio)
The Realms of Middle-earth (galleries with docent audio)
Miniatures (galleries with docent audio)
Home of the Horse Lords
Middle-earth Atlas: Tracing the Journeys of the Fellowship: interactive map
New Zealand as Middle-earth: interactive map with on-location footage
Disc Four: The Appendices Part Six - The Passing of an Age
Elijah Wood/Sean Astin/Billy Boyd/Dominic Monaghan intro
Filming The Return of the King
Cameras in Middle-earth
Production Photos (gallery) - 69 images
Visual Effects
Weta Digital
The Mûmakil Battle: demonstration/interactive feature
Post Production: Journey's End
Editorial: Completing the Trilogy
Music for Middle-earth
The Soundscapes of Middle-earth
The End of All Things

The Passing of an Age
Cameron Duncan
Cameron Duncan: The Inspiration for "Into the West"
"DFK6498" short film
"Strike Zone" short film
Easter eggs: Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn interview Peter Jackson (2004 MTV Movie Awards), Dominic Monaghan interviews Elijah Wood posing as a German journalist
All four discs are DVD-ROM enabled, featuring a link to lordoftherings.net and access to exclusive online features

[chip75]

I'm pretty sure Filmmaker is correct, the special features on the theatricals aren't on the extended versions. I think they wanted the two to be completely separate.

The special features discs with the theatricals are the exact same ones that were with the DVD versions as well. So if you were just after the extras you could probably pick the DVD's up for very little.

[tyler2tall147]

I can confirm that the special features discs from the theatrical bluray trilogy are the exact same discs from the original theatrical dvd releases.

[ObiTrentKenobi]

Thanks for the replies. I believe that answers the question.

[Yojimbo68]

I'm not a huge fan of Lucas as of late but at least he's not milking fans with two Blu-Ray versions of the Star Wars films...(Yeah, I want the original trilogy cuts too, but that ain't gonna happen.) Both cuts should be included on ONE set. And it should have happened on the first release. Having both cuts available seperately is fine for those who might want just the theatrical or just the extended. My two cents..

[ObiTrentKenobi]

Agreed.

I think it is rediculous to release something in the theater, have fans pay a good amount of money to see it, but then never release the same cut of it to home video so the fans can enjoy it the way they did in the theater. It's outrageous. Even though I keep buying them!

Jackson is doing something similar, he caught on to what Lucas did. I think the green/teal tints to the Extended Edition blurays were intentional, so that some people buy the theatrical editions - some wait for the extended - some buy both. But then those that bought only the extendeds hate the color tweaks done to the film (also its reported to have crushed blacks and lower fidelity picture) so they either buy the theatricals or wait for a NEW extended release. I realise it is a scam - and I will play it only to a certain extent...

BTW: Anybody have the special features 2nd Disc DVD that either came with the Two Towers theatrical DVD or Bluray release for up for grabs or a trade? I know some people don't care about the special features - but as i've said, I OCD over certain things in my bluray collection. I bought a Two Towers theatrical Bluray release from a discount shop that doesn't do refunds or exchanges once it's opened and it came with the wrong 2nd disc. (it came with the Digital Copy disc instead of the special features DVD!!!). I thought about telling Warner about it, but then they'll say deal with the store you bought it from.