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

[JAWS]

Not that one more opinion matters but I took a look at FOTR and ROTK last night and compared them with the EE DVDs. Pretty much what people have been saying about the transfers is true. FOTR is sort of weak. It's better then the Standared DVD but not even close to other titles out there. ROTK is leaps better then the SDVD. The shots of Gondor are amazing.

I thought about waiting for the EE on blu but I love these films and want them in HD. I decided to become familiar again with the Theater cuts and when the EE come out in 2 or 3 years it will be fun seeing all the editions again.

[AKORIS]

I don't think I've seen any posts about this---

does anybody mind that the all the "extras" on this set are on a seperate
disc and in the dvd format instead of blu-ray?

[Batman1980]

With all the money they spent preparing this set for blu-ray and re-mastering it and making the HD audio track, there probably wasn't enough left to go back and re-do the old special features in HD.

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I don't think I've seen any posts about this---

does anybody mind that the all the "extras" on this set are on a seperate
disc and in the dvd format instead of blu-ray?

it bothers me. but what are you gonna do?

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I don't think I've seen any posts about this---

does anybody mind that the all the "extras" on this set are on a seperate
disc and in the dvd format instead of blu-ray?

It doesn't bother me too much. If I was WB, I'd do the same thing. No need to press new BDs for only old standard def features.

I would have preferred they just give us the movie discs and a DC for each, and charge $10 less or something like that.

[petmic10]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I don't think I've seen any posts about this---

does anybody mind that the all the "extras" on this set are on a seperate
disc and in the dvd format instead of blu-ray?

Yes, I thought it was the cheap way out.

It's clear to me they just put this set together to make some
people happy and make a quick buck at the same time. The
proverbial double dip is inevitable. The EE's will be released
eventually and this trilogy will finally get the treatment it
deserves.

This is all speculation on my part.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I don't think I've seen any posts about this---

does anybody mind that the all the "extras" on this set are on a seperate
disc and in the dvd format instead of blu-ray?

Yes. What's the point of including them if they are EXACTLY the same thing that came with the DVDs? An excuse to charge more?

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

It doesn't bother me too much. If I was WB, I'd do the same thing. No need to press new BDs for only old standard def features.

I would have preferred they just give us the movie discs and a DC for each, and charge $10 less or something like that.

I don't think they needed to be a part of this release at all.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I don't think I've seen any posts about this---

does anybody mind that the all the "extras" on this set are on a seperate
disc and in the dvd format instead of blu-ray?

Considering the importance of the release, the special features are an embarrasment.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by petmic10

Yes, I thought it was the cheap way out.

It's clear to me they just put this set together to make some
people happy and make a quick buck at the same time. The
proverbial double dip is inevitable. The EE's will be released
eventually and this trilogy will finally get the treatment it
deserves.
This is all speculation on my part.

If you are wrong, Warner will have Melkor to pay.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by radagast

Yes. What's the point of including them if they are EXACTLY the same thing that came with the DVDs? An excuse to charge more?



I don't think they needed to be a part of this release at all.

There are some people, like me, who never owned any of the releases and are happy to have any special features at all. Why I never owned these on DVD is because I had never seen any of them and rented Fellowship of the Ring to make sure I'd actually want to buy these when they came out on Blu-Ray. I agree with Grand Bob that the amount of special features for a release like this is pretty weak, but again, I'm happy to have any once I buy the set. I can understand why people who own the DVD sets aren't happy, but I agree with Mr. Cinema.

[Todd Smith]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

im well aware of that but it defeats the purpose. i dont want to add additional processing. besides, with everything i use, i just plug and play. the only buttons i need to mess with is power, volume and eject.

OK. My only point is you can get to the same goal for all practical purposes(if your player or receiver does not detect the flag) by just adding in PLIIx or Ultra2. The additional processing is not going to harm the sound. If this bothers you for some reason, or you think the additional processing is going to harm the sound for some reason, get a new player or receiver.

[Todd Smith]

Originally Posted by DIGITALBATH

I am using a PS3 and an Onkyo TX-SR605. The display on the PS3 reads DTS-MA 6.1 and sound is output through all speakers on my 7.1 system.

This probably goes without saying, but the PS3 does recognize these ES flags. My PS3 does the same as yours, but if I bitstream from my BD30 I only get a 5.1 signal (I am using a Onkyo as well). Personally I just use the BD30 and apply PLIIx.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by Russell_L

I believe both Target and BB are charging 59.99 this week.

Thanks Russell, I just went and picked it up at Target. I'll share some thoughts about the packaging since I obviously haven't had time to spin the discs. Extras generally are not important to me, and I've seen most of the extras for these films anyway. So the first thing I did with the packaging was to remove the Blu-rays and artwork from the larger case, remove the digital copy DVDs and artwork from the smaller case, and swap them so I have only the three blu-rays self-contained with the relevant artwork in the smaller case. This will be the only case from this set that's going on my shelf to save space.

Now I just need to find about 26 hours to watch these three, Mad Men 3, Yojimbo and Sanjura. Having just been out of town for two weeks, I'm behind on my viewing!

[jw]

just watched FOTR, very impressed with PQ, Of course there were weak parts but man the audio was more than enough compensation for that. Definitely worth the view

[Grand Bob]

I thought this interview with Richard Taylor that was published today was interesting:
http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2010/04...99-on-blu-ray/
It looks like he was not connected to any great extent with the BD transfer. I thought at least he would have viewed the final product!

[DaViD Boulet]

Yes. What's the point of including them if they are EXACTLY the same thing that came with the DVDs? An excuse to charge more?

no, an excuse to get rid of your DVD copies by selling them or giving them to friends/family without worrying that you're sacrificing special features in the process.

We knew this was simple "get it out" blu-ray set, so including the existing SE material on the existing pressed bonus DVDs makes good sense as it means that this new blu-ray set can *replace* the DVD set that was already on the shelf.

[dborgill]

Well, after reading and posting for several weeks, I finally got to sit down at watch FOTR last night. First, my setup:

- 55" Sony Bravia A3000 1080p SXRD
- Marantz Receiver (DTS-HD track)
- Sony PS3

I had my sound cranked and ready for action. At first I thought the picture was a bit soft, then when Sauron gets his digits chopped off and there was the close up of Isildur and the ring, I was getting excited with the sharpness and detail. NOW WE ARE TALKING! Then... the Shire came. The ultimate diss to ANY Blu-Ray. My WIFE said, "Ummm... are you sure this is Blu-ray?!" -- OUCH! My thoughts exactly. I thought the entire Shire and Bag End area was a mess. The rest of the movie was pure ups and down video wise. I give it 3/5.. barely.

Audio on the other hand.. PERFECTION. I give it 5/5 easily. Dialogue, music and sound effects were all perfectly balanced.

Watching Two Towers tonight...

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

just watched FOTR, very impressed with PQ, Of course there were weak parts but man the audio was more than enough compensation for that. Definitely worth the view

jwbbud and I agree for once, this transfer was far beyond what I expected it to be, based on initial reviews. Can't wait to see it all after work and then one each again over upcoming weekends with my father.

[dborgill]

Stormwcrow. I am glad you enjoyed the transfer.

I rented FOTR and glad I did. I didn't think the video transfer was of high enough quality to pay $$$ for

I agree 100% with Ken Brown's review on FOTR... but super excited about watching TTT tonight..

[jonmoz]

As Todd says you have to use your recievers,processing to get 6.1 or 7.1 depending on your system,as a Dts 6.1 es matrix is only in effect a 5.1 signal,like the Dolby digital 5.1 ex system as released on The lord of the rings Dvd's.

For the true 6.1 version it has to be encoded as Dts 6.1 es discrete,like the Terminator skynet edition which shows up as 6.1 on my Onkyo reciever.

As for the extra processing,all your reciever is doing is taking sound from your left and right rear speakers,and outputing it to one or two rear effect speakers.