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

[easyrider]

I've decided to buy locally here in Australia mainly due to the separate case for each movie. However, I have to wait until the Australian release date of 15 April

[johnsmeets]

Originally Posted by billzfan

Anyone want to write a review in here that got them early and watched them?

That,s not possible
Only the reviewers from blu ray.com can do that

[jonmoz]

Sounds a good idea to me,i will do an amateur review of the "Fellowship" as this seems to be the movie causing most concern.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

Viewing something with a discerning eye is a good thing in my book. By nitpicking the HD broadcast, as a viewer, you have a frame of reference as to what's acceptable / unacceptable between this source and the Blu-ray offering, so that when you wish to view any installment in the trilogy at a later date, you can choose the better of the two sources, then view it unencumbered (i.e. not worrying about the technical details). Think of it as a one-time chore that makes things more enjoyable in the long run.

Not everybody thinks this way. If a story is engaging enough, most people would be interested in the story and not whether they can see the actor's skin pores. The quality of the picture, sound, special fx etc. enhances that enjoyment. It is distracting when these things may be noticeably bad, but some DNR in a spot in the movie, isn't going to make it so bad as to have most people stop paying attention to the story, when the rest of the time the PQ is impressive.

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

I think thats the problem, people wanted and excpected such a high profile release to blow them away, not just be pleased by it.

If a BR has moments where the PQ is great, then in the places it's average isn't going to take away from the enjoyment of when it's great. In fact, it may be that way on purpose to emphasize certain moments in the movie.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by MarkWM

On Good Friday I spotted a few on the shelves at BestBuy. I believe somebody else said that their local Wallyworld had them out already.

Good luck.

Go back and read what I have said. I am a part time employee at Walmart some evenings. I went in and pulled one out of the back. I work in electronics there. I had an associate friend ring it up to see if it was blocked in the system until Tuesday. It wasn't. We also had early editions of the Sunday paper which had the price at Fry's. So my associate friend price matched it to Fry's and I got it for Fry's price. Someone walking into Wal-mart would not be able to do that.

[micks_address]

Yep have watched the Fellowship twice now.. (my wife wants to watch trilogy with me and was away thursday when i got the set.)


I'll say again.. at 40" this is excellent.... maybe on50/ 60" plus there's problems... if people are saying this has been DNR'd to death i have to say i see no signs of 'waxiness' of peoples faces in close ups....

i think a lot of the issues raised are probably down to the camera's chosen and the Digital post film process... i think a lot of the hating is down to the fact these arent the extended editions.. which i would love... so i think some people are going to view these in anger already - knowing that Warner are screwing us with a double dip..

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

I think thats the problem, people wanted and excpected such a high profile release to blow them away, not just be pleased by it.

[Swearengen]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

But, if the Gladiator discussion is any indicator, the people who want to see problems will see problems. Some people refuse to go into it with an open mind and judge for themselves whether they like it or not. I was guilty of that with Gladiator until today. I was pleasantly surprised.

But there WERE problems! There WERE problems with Fifth Element, Gangs of New York and Gladiator. Why else would we, the audience, be given new remastered versions of them, and even replacement programs? Because the studios acknowledged, that the problems was in fact very much present and the new versions of Fifth Element and Gangs of New York was MUCH better, than the first release.

It's a healty process. Consumers are not pacified entities, but critical when it comes to HD. Why should we buy into the whole HD "thingy", if we get mediocre transfers of huge blockbusters, that in some respect are looking worse than their DVD conterparts, because of pointless digital manipulation that compromises the directors intentions?

The discussion is a neverending story about cons and pros of any given title, where critic is raised due to screenshots and reviews. I bet that LOTR WILL be given a new transfer. Maybe not for the EE release, but definetely in 2 or 3 years and the result will probably be night and day.

About Gladiator. The current BD release is a travesty on a projector, but watchable on a 40" flatscreen TV, sitting more than 2 meters away. I bet the new release will be mindblowing and we shouldn't be satisfied with anything else, when it comes to grandeur style cinematography by Ridley Scott, even though the movie it self is quite ordinary in substance.

[robertc88]

Originally Posted by micks_address

Yep have watched the Fellowship twice now.. (my wife wants to watch trilogy with me and was away thursday when i got the set.)


I'll say again.. at 40" this is excellent.... maybe on50/ 60" plus there's problems... if people are saying this has been DNR'd to death i have to say i see no signs of 'waxiness' of peoples faces in close ups....

i think a lot of the issues raised are probably down to the camera's chosen and the Digital post film process... i think a lot of the hating is down to the fact these arent the extended editions.. which i would love... so i think some people are going to view these in anger already - knowing that Warner are screwing us with a double dip..

Well I have two smallish displays, one a plasma and the other a LCD.

I don't think from what I've read that the whole thing is DNR'd. I'm as anxious to watch this movie on BD as anyone but it will not be done without a rental. I don't know if BV stores will have these individually to view. If not, it comes down to when Netflix sends it to me.

If me likes, then it comes down to a good price before I pull the trigger.

[robertc88]

Originally Posted by jonmoz

Sounds a good idea to me,i will do an amateur review of the "Fellowship" as this seems to be the movie causing most concern.

I've read what you have posted to date. There isn't enough feedback yet from individuals and I don't just want to make an assumption that since I have a smallish display, I will not be distracted by the PQ. Based upon negative reviews and some low scores, time will tell but I'll take all the opinions posted I can find with similiar equipment as a guage until I get the opportunity to view this movie myself.

[MarkWM]

Originally Posted by radagast

Go back and read what I have said. I am a part time employee at Walmart some evenings. I went in and pulled one out of the back. I work in electronics there. I had an associate friend ring it up to see if it was blocked in the system until Tuesday. It wasn't. We also had early editions of the Sunday paper which had the price at Fry's. So my associate friend price matched it to Fry's and I got it for Fry's price. Someone walking into Wal-mart would not be able to do that.

Then he/she can go to best buy and grab it.

I know Walmart is cheap but your employees discount was more expensive than the Frys price?

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by radagast

If a BR has moments where the PQ is great, then in the places it's average isn't going to take away from the enjoyment of when it's great. In fact, it may be that way on purpose to emphasize certain moments in the movie.

I'm sorry, but in what lala land do you live and where can I get tickets to this place. It's a transfer that whilst not in of itself bad, it is not worthy of these film. (Especially given how much money they will make). I have seen the around an hour of The Two Towers and the varying quality of the transfer is random and takes me out of the film.


Also based on your urgument which basically says the presentation doesn't matter, why bother upgrading from dvd then?

[barvo24]

Originally Posted by kernel_thai

How much was it at Blockbuster?

The price at my Blockbuster was $69.99

[Swearengen]

I've enjoyed movies since watching black and whites on an old CRT screen in the 70'ies. Of course one could enjoy movies, propped with artifacts and even during periods with antenna problems.

But this is the format BD, which is sold to people on the account of "everything has just gotten better" statements. So why dip into a new format, new TV's, new players and more expensive movies, if the slogans are not backed up "put your money where your mouth is"?

Those of you who has followed Gary Tooze and his DVDBeaver along the years, knows his love to movies. Nevertheless, with the introduction of HD, he himself said:

"Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction."

Why? Because it enhances the movie experience and makes one enjoy the whole aspect of a given movie, settings, locale, details and sound and not just the story and the acting. It makes watching a movie an even more enjoyable moment.

Dipping into the format, also makes us, the buyers, able to expect HD quality of the titles we buy (and critizise if left disappointed) and ESPECIALLY those titles, that are flagbearers for the format, titles that get's "stubborn DVD people" to switch to HD. Titles like LOTR.

[demiscy]

apart from the BESTBUY exclusive, is there any other retailer offering one?

[aherron]

Just saw the Target ad and they will be selling the blu for $59.99.And BB ad at $59.99 also.

[QuasidodoJr]

Well, for now the only blu-rays I'm sure I'm going to try to pick up on Tuesday are The Natural and The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. I'll probably wait and pick this set up when I can get it cheap(er) or when I have more funds available.

[jonmoz]

First of all this LOTR boxset is no where near as bad as the initial release of "the fifth element" as this was released very early in the formats life,and the studio's were getting to grips with the Blu-ray format.

Films have very different looks and feels to them depending on how they were shot,and some will be sharper and look better on Blu-ray than others,and while i want every movie to look awsome on Blu-ray,i do not want to think i am watching the same film all the time,i like directors to put their different visions across thats the magic of cinema for me,i mean who will forget the first time they saw "The Matrix" with it's greenish tint.

While i agree the "fellowship" could be sharper,but it has a fantasy tale look and feel to it,and i honestly can't remember it looking any different at the cinema or on Dvd.

As i have said before Blu-ray is only a format,it has no say in how movies were shot,and there will always be some films that look better than others,this will at times be down to a poor transfer and at other times not.

[kernel_thai]

Originally Posted by barvo24

The price at my Blockbuster was $69.99

thanks

Originally Posted by radagast

Go back and read what I have said. I am a part time employee at Walmart some evenings. I went in and pulled one out of the back. I work in electronics there. I had an associate friend ring it up to see if it was blocked in the system until Tuesday. It wasn't. We also had early editions of the Sunday paper which had the price at Fry's. So my associate friend price matched it to Fry's and I got it for Fry's price. Someone walking into Wal-mart would not be able to do that.

Im a little confused at the release date thing. How can WB hold stores to the Tuesday release date when people r already receiving there disks from WBShop? Likewise, if they want to make early arrival a perk for pre-ordering online, then they should give u that right up front. I would have ordered online if anyone would have guaranteed Id have it before Easter. Today would have been the perfect day to watch the whole damn thing

[Diesel]

Getting my copy tomorrow


People are still getting their orders on April 6th from WBShop. Not everybody's order is coming early.

[Darkhawk9587]

Originally Posted by D head

Sweet, Thx..

No problem.