Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Theatrical Versions) - April 6, 2010

[Jeremiah]

Originally Posted by heyjune

I hope this movie looks better than many sites are saying. I joined this site when I read the review!

Welcome to the family!

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by radagast

I held it in my hand tonight at Walmart.

Sweet! According to UPS tracking, my copy made it from Michigan to Illinois today.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

I'm really excited to get these this Tuesday. I've been getting myself in the perfect mindset for the Theatrical Versions by watching all the old teasers, character-focused TV spots, etc. It reminds me of how much I really do miss 2001-2003. Somehow I doubt that the release of the Hobbit films will be able to replicate those blissful memories, no matter how good the films turn out to be.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by gregmasciola

And don't the theatrical editions leave out quite a bit of the backstory of Faramir's relationship with Boromir & their father? That's one of my favorite sub-plots of the movies.

That's not from the book. Boyens and Walsh made all of that up, unfortunately. Their Denethor comes across as some sort of psychopathic parent on the order of Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest. Tolkien's Denethor is a noble man who is suffering from despair -- he's looked into his Palantir and saw a fleet of black ships from the South and all of Sauron's forces from the East. Using hopelessness channeled through the Palantir, Sauron cracks his mind like a walnut.

In short, in the real novel, Denethor doesn't try to kill Faramir because he's angry that Faramir lives while Boromir died. Tolkien wasn't writing Ordinary People. Denethor is simply driven mad by Sauron via the Palantir, and Tolkien is making a statement against hopelessness.

[ShockWave]

I am going to enjoy my 60 dollars for hours to come! I have always planned to buy both editions. Can't wait!

[thelittleprince]

I'll wait for the extended editions in 3D.

[The_Basterd]

Will have this have this inside the packaging?
I want the packaging of the second. Do you think it will be inside that box with the collectible sword?

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

That's not from the book. Boyens and Walsh made all of that up, unfortunately. Their Denethor comes across as some sort of psychopathic parent on the order of Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest. Tolkien's Denethor is a noble man who is suffering from despair -- he's looked into his Palantir and saw a fleet of black ships from the South and all of Sauron's forces from the East. Using hopelessness channeled through the Palantir, Sauron cracks his mind like a walnut.

In short, in the real novel, Denethor doesn't try to kill Faramir because he's angry that Faramir lives while Boromir died. Tolkien wasn't writing Ordinary People. Denethor is simply driven mad by Sauron via the Palantir, and Tolkien is making a statement against hopelessness.

Thanks for that info. I'm actually in the process of reading the book (haven't gotten far yet), so I'm looking forward to reading the stuff that wasn't in the movies. What you said just makes me want to keep reading it.

[RyRyMcNizzy13]

Originally Posted by The_Basterd

Will have this have this inside the packaging?
I want the packaging of the second. Do you think it will be inside that box with the collectible sword?

yeah i'm pretty sure. i bet anything Stinky Dinkins gets it day 1. hes in here far too much and hes starting to get suspect hahhaha

[rpruthee]

Originally Posted by radagast

I held it in my hand tonight at Walmart.

Damm the PQ and AQ. I just need the ring. Does it come with a ring?

[mrpink134]

Well I have the set already I picked it up today, Its not a bad as people made it out to be. I'm happy I bought the set. IMO Eric.exe screen caps make it look alot worse then what it really is. Trust me you will enjoy the set

[_Bolt_]

I'm sure there are, but does anyone have pictures of the individual boxes? I don't feel like sifting through 350 pages, and I was wondering if they're slim boxes, and the cover art

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by _Bolt_

I'm sure there are, but does anyone have pictures of the individual boxes? I don't feel like sifting through 350 pages, and I was wondering if they're slim boxes, and the cover art

The movies are in one box.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by _Bolt_

I'm sure there are, but does anyone have pictures of the individual boxes? I don't feel like sifting through 350 pages, and I was wondering if they're slim boxes, and the cover art

Originally Posted by Diesel

The movies are in one box.

He means the cases. The films come in 2 cases, both inside a box. 1 case holds 6 discs and the other case holds the 3 digital copies.

[_Bolt_]

So its kind of like the heroes box? Or more fitting, like the EE boxes?

Or is it like planet earth?

[jonmoz]

My Lotr boxset arrived on wednesday,and it comes in a cardboard sleeve,inside this are two blu-ray cases,one slightly thicker than normal,in the normal sized case are the three digital copys,and the other thicker case houses all three movies,and the three special feature discs,one for each movie.

When you see pictures of the outer cardboard sleeve on the internet,it appears quite bland,but when you see it in the flesh there is a cool shine to it,an almost holographic quality which looks very nice indeed.

As for the picture quality it's very good,as i said in a previous post yesterday,i compared the "Fellowship" Blu-ray to my Dvd version,the dvd version i upscaled to 1080p/24fps,and the Blu-ray won hands down,i have also thought the sound on the Dvd was always a little overcooked and always needed toning down a little,so i am glad to report the "Dts master audio soundtrack" not only is a lot better in quality,but far more refined.

As the reviews of these discs regarding the picture quality,it always surprises me when we belive a poor review like "Hidef-digest",but not a good one like "The digital bits".

As i said in a previous post i am glad i made up my own mind,and have to side with "The digital bits" review on this one.

[DIRTY MONEY]

Originally Posted by thelittleprince

I'll wait for the extended editions in 3D.

Where was this announce?

[ThereWillBeBud]

Picked mine up Thursday. Gonna devote my weekend to it, although I did throw in RotK to see the Rohirrim charge. It was beautiful

[david.carroll01]

Just preordered this on Bestbuy.com. don't forget BCB, just checked it's at 5%-8%. It's supposed to release tomorrow, there's no picture yet but for $6~ each not a bad price and if it's a mistake maybe they'll still honor it. I got free shipping for being a premier reward zone member

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by gregmasciola

Thanks for that info. I'm actually in the process of reading the book (haven't gotten far yet), so I'm looking forward to reading the stuff that wasn't in the movies. What you said just makes me want to keep reading it.

Well, get ready for LOTS of alterations that drive literature fans a bit nutso. I find it interesting that the art directors Howe and Lee have more insight into the novel, while Boyens and Walsh tend to treat it like a exploitation melodrama. How many characters have a fake death sequence - thought dead, come back to life to fight again? Even Aragorn is dragged over a cliff and is resurrected by....how again, exactly? His horse, Brego, kisses him? It's like Equus crossed with Snow White.

The most successful adaptation is Fellowship, and it is Fellowship, not Return of the King, that is the best of the series. The profound deviations from the source material create more problems than they solve in The Two Towers and Return of the King, although there is no arguing that all three are among the best works of raw cinema of the last decade. These are likely the best adaptations of the novel we are ever going to get. We'll just have to suffer through the annoying contrivances of Boyens and Walsh until the end of our days.