The Lord of the Rings Trilogy 4K UHD Extended & Theatrical (2001-2003)

[Alister_M]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Yes, Return is the only one that feels bloated to me. I also hate how

[Show spoiler]they killed off the surprise aspect regarding the Army of the Dead joining in with the EE.

The surprise isn't really needed though, I always figured the EE was designed for people who've already seen the theatrical cuts. I definitely wouldn't recommend watching the EE first time round for anyone who still hasn't seen it.


BTW, for those asking questions about LOTR versions and HFR Hobbitses:

"According to preliminary information, Warner plans to release in the summer of next year, more specifically on June 25, 2020. In addition, each of the Extended Cuts to land on 4K Blu-ray!"

"Furthermore, we must not forget that the 3D presentation of the hobbit films with HFR (High Frame Rate) has gone in the cinema. Means that twice as many frames per second, 48 instead of 24, are available. For the 4K 2D Blu-ray Warner will certainly decide for the 24p version - or not?"

So yeah, probably won't be HFR, simply because there's no existing spec for it. They could maybe fudge it with 60fps, but that's likely to introduce all sorts of frame artefacts.

[tcripe]

Originally Posted by LoSouL

I keep forgetting about it, but every time someone reminds me I get excited for it. Amazon originals are pretty slept on relative to Netflix imo but this one should get some big views and marketing.

I actually watched The Boys and Carnival Row recently and was surprised by their quality. Amazon is stepping up their game!

[-shadow-]

Considering all the Cg in the film, I assume that the films will be upscaled?

[LoSouL]

Originally Posted by tcripe

I actually watched The Boys and Carnival Row recently and was surprised by their quality. Amazon is stepping up their game!

Check out Good Omens and Too Old To Die Young too. And Electric Dreams if you like Black Mirror.

Too Old can be a little esoteric, but it's from the director of Drive, and if you like indie films and crime, you can probably dig it. That series and Dark Crystal rocked my world this year.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Alister_M

The surprise isn't really needed though, I always figured the EE was designed for people who've already seen the theatrical cuts. I definitely wouldn't recommend watching the EE first time round for anyone who still hasn't seen it.

True. But there is just that element of it I like.

[zetruz]

Originally Posted by ROSS.T.G.

I never could get into these but I might have to tag in with this set.

I know these are wildly popular. Happy for fans.

I recommend the theatricals for a first-time viewer. The pacing is infinitely better. I prefer the extended versions for the extra fun, but IMO they're worse films.

[StrayButler91]

Originally Posted by Alister_M

Roadshow probably won't even bother. Useless pricks.

To be fair, they did bring us those fancy expensive collectors editions from a few years back. Remains to be seen if they do bother, and how closely they release them compared to the US. Tis anybody’s guess.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by zetruz

I recommend the theatricals for a first-time viewer. The pacing is infinitely better. I prefer the extended versions for the extra fun, but IMO they're worse films.

I agree with this, but I will say having zero knowledge of anything related to these on my first time viewing (as I never read the books), Fellowship Extended filled in a lot for me and how I fell in love with these.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

True. But there is just that element of it I like.

Same here dude, I HATE the spoiling of that reveal in the EE. But then as I treat them as far more "leisurely" versions of the films and spread them out over several nights for viewing it kind of softens the blow. They may be better adaptations by dint of just including moar stuff but they're not better films, as said above, because of how storytelling devices like that are summarily dispensed with for the sake of dotting a few i's.

It's still not as anticlimactic as the book though, where Aragorn asks the dead king to fulfil his oath and he basically says "oh alright then".

[Batman90]

Originally Posted by The Dark Shape

Glad that they're coming. I'll pre-order if it's EEs and wait it out if they repeat the Blu-ray strategy of TCs first. I've never been able to sit through the theatrical versions since the extended cuts hit - they feel incomplete, and weirdly the pacing is generally worse.

Same thing with me. My brother in law didn’t know the EE’s Existed until 3 years ago when I was watching them.

[LoSouL]

I think you get wayyyyy more character, worldbuilding and thematic resonance out of the EE's. I'm a very intuitive person so I'm never "lost" in movies or "need" extra long cuts, but as an example, I felt like I never really got as much out of the Steward of Gondor and his tragic sons until I finally saw the EE's.

So it's not really just superfluous nerdcore fanservice imo, or even making up for any deficiency in the theatricals, just a grander way to see them. The pace does essentially become a six movie miniseries rather than a trilogy though, and yeah, I would definitely recommend the theatrical releases to a first time viewer. At least learn to like them before you love them.

However, depending on the person's media age and perspective, I could possibly recommend the EE's as a first time viewing to someone who binges high concept, high production TV series.

[Yautja_Warrior]

Hopefully both Theatrical and Extended cuts get a 4k release, day one buy for me.

I would love it if they could fit the extended cuts on one 100GB disc instead of having to change the disc halfway through.

[Farerb]

Originally Posted by Yautja_Warrior

Hopefully both Theatrical and Extended cuts get a 4k release, day one buy for me.

I would love it if they could fit the extended cuts on one 100GB disc instead of having to change the disc halfway through.

The EE are edited to be in two parts from the beginning so I don't see that happening, especially with RotK which is approximately 4.5 hours.

[Yautja_Warrior]

Originally Posted by farerb

The EE are edited to be in two parts from the beginning so I don't see that happening, especially with RotK which is approximately 4.5 hours.

I can dream can't I ?

It would just be nice to have the option of a 1 disc version for those lazy days when you can't be arsed to get up and change the disc halfway through, plus it takes you out of the experience for a short time.

[nekromantik]

not sure I will pick this up.
loved the films when they came out but now I cant see myself watching the EEs anytime soon. Guess the BDs will do lol

[Gretiem]

Can't wait!

[RICKBONDOO7]

Finally !! In 4K they should look Amazing !!

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by LoSouL

I think you get wayyyyy more character, worldbuilding and thematic resonance out of the EE's. I'm a very intuitive person so I'm never "lost" in movies or "need" extra long cuts, but as an example, I felt like I never really got as much out of the Steward of Gondor and his tragic sons until I finally saw the EE's.

So it's not really just superfluous nerdcore fanservice imo, or even making up for any deficiency in the theatricals, just a grander way to see them. The pace does essentially become a six movie miniseries rather than a trilogy though, and yeah, I would definitely recommend the theatrical releases to a first time viewer. At least learn to like them before you love them.

However, depending on the person's media age and perspective, I could possibly recommend the EE's as a first time viewing to someone who binges high concept, high production TV series.

That's where the 'mini series' approach really starts to take hold with the EEs, in Two Towers I mean, because they really did deconstruct the editing of the theatrical and put the EE back together in a different way. The whole flashback to Boromir is the kind of thing that doesn't help the pacing of the movie, it would've killed the theatrical dead at that point, but in the 'grander' EE where time is not a pressure those diversions are less intrusive and actually make it feel more episodic, in a good way ("Previously on Lord of the Rings" ).

One complaint that people always seem to have is how ROTK has all those endings upon endings upon endings, in the theatrical it really did seem like overkill but when watching the EEs it doesn't feel so out of place to me because those cuts do so much meandering as it is.

[XavierTheaterPotato]

*Sadly stares at the EEs of the Hobbit and LOTR Trilogy on Shelf*

I ain't going be happy to see the price of the Extended Edition UHDs of all six films, there goes my wallet yet again. I'm excited.

"For my Wallet." *Runs into battle*

[Vangeli]

Tbh I originally wanted a single disc EE so I can have all the discs in a steelbook without needing to stack them, but two UHDs for the EE, one UHD for Theatrical, tossing out the movies on standard Blu-ray and hopefully only one condensed bonus Blu-ray, for a total of four discs, completely works for me.

Won’t work for Hobbitses though, as the 3D discs are split AND there’s three bonus Blu-ray’s for each already so a UHD + 3D set would have too many discs for a proper steelbook. Would definitely have to omit 3D and probably have to omit one of the cuts too, if I want all the bonus discs.