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

[Ulisez]

Originally Posted by PondaBaba

did you get through your watch of these discs? any further overall thoughts you said you might make more comments on? I am thinking of picking up 2010 theatrical version of the trilogy and then a copy of these 2021 remastered versions of the extended editions (which i believe are the same as the remastered theatrical versions and doesn't for e.g. have the green tint in fotr, but both still have some differences in colour grading for certain shots/scenes/elements etc. compared to the previous releases). Am interested in experiencing both.

Hey, sorry for the late reply. I did watch the rest of the trilogy with these Remastered Blu-rays.

Two Towers did have some DNR issues but nothing that screamed Gladiator disappearing arrows, it looked more like the film was shot on a digital camera than film.

Return of the King looked beautiful, it's the centerpiece of the remastered Blu-rays.

However, I will say several years I picked up the original Theatrical Two Towers Blu-ray and saw a little bit of fit the DNR was far worse on that version, especially when it gets into the Battle of Helms Deep than what you see on the Remastered version. I sold it for some cash.

In all I'll say the Remastered versions looked great, I would pick them up instead of the original Blu-rays unless you want to get the special features that come on those original discs.

[PondaBaba]

Originally Posted by Ulisez

Hey, sorry for the late reply. I did watch the rest of the trilogy with these Remastered Blu-rays.

Two Towers did have some DNR issues but nothing that screamed Gladiator disappearing arrows, it looked more like the film was shot on a digital camera than film.

Return of the King looked beautiful, it's the centerpiece of the remastered Blu-rays.

However, I will say several years I picked up the original Theatrical Two Towers Blu-ray and saw a little bit of fit the DNR was far worse on that version, especially when it gets into the Battle of Helms Deep than what you see on the Remastered version. I sold it for some cash.

In all I'll say the Remastered versions looked great, I would pick them up instead of the original Blu-rays unless you want to get the special features that come on those original discs.

No problem! And thanks for the reply, to be honest I can't even remember what issues there are for what releases or what release is what etc. now. I wish there was a quick-look catalogue/comparison chart (that's less in depth/thorough than some of the comparison sites I've seen linked on here, which are *very* thorough) because I will spend hours going through a few threads here for films etc. I'm interested in to try and get an understanding of what's what (and in particular what to avoid) and then come to a conclusion as to whats going to be the best buy for me and add them to my 'wanted' list here.

But without a quick-look comparison chart and without the inclination to re-read all the threads again, a week after doing the research I'm not going to remember why I put a particular edition of a release in the wanted list! So I can't even remember what the issue with the Theatrical editions we're referring to were now ha, but definitely extras would be one reason I want to get them (there's a possibility I might prefer them to EE too, they were what I watched last year after reading up on the pros and cons of each after not having seen either EE or TT for probably 15 years, will definitely look to watch the EE's next time though)

[Rolling Dice]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Hey guys sorry for the confusion and I'm trying to read my way backwards to get the context, but wouldn't any "newly remastered" blu-rays merely be 1080p downconversions of the 4K masters used for the 4K release? In other words... just get the 4K discs (which bring HDR and 4K res)? Or are these "remastered blu-rays" something separate entirely that don't leverage the new 4K masters?

Thanks!

I'd like to know, too... Are the remastered BDs worth it, compared to the UHDs?

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by Rolling Dice

I'd like to know, too... Are the remastered BDs worth it, compared to the UHDs?

The master is the same. If you have a 4K setup, I don't see the point.

But they are definitely an upgrade over the previous Blu-ray releases.

[Rolling Dice]

Originally Posted by Roonan

The master is the same. If you have a 4K setup, I don't see the point.

But they are definitely an upgrade over the previous Blu-ray releases.

The UHDs are way too expensive, whereas the BDs are much cheaper. I wouldn't mind the price if the UHDs were reference quality, which they obviously aren't. Since I only own the EE DVDs and the theatrical remastered BDs are dirt cheap, I was considering buying them if they're worth it.

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by Rolling Dice

Since I only own the EE DVDs and the theatrical remastered BDs are dirt cheap, I was considering buying them if they're worth it.

I did, and I don't regret it at all.

[Rolling Dice]

Originally Posted by Roonan

I did, and I don't regret it at all.

The remastered BDs, or the UHDs?

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by Rolling Dice

The remastered BDs, or the UHDs?

The remastered BDs of the theatrical cuts.

I even noticed that some revisions were incorporated by Peter Jackson in the theatrical cuts (which are his director's cuts), like for example the shot of Osgiliath in The Two Towers now featuring Minas Tirith, something which had only existed on the extended versions.

[Rolling Dice]

Originally Posted by Roonan

The remastered BDs of the theatrical cuts.

I even noticed that some revisions were incorporated by Peter Jackson in the theatrical cuts (which are his director's cuts), like for example the shot of Osgiliath in The Two Towers now featuring Minas Tirith, something which had only existed on the extended versions.

Have you compared them with the UHDs? DNR aside, I'm also worried about the SFX being more obvious in 4k.

[Roonan]

Only from screencaps posted online. I mean, everything invariably becomes more obvious in 4K, no matter what. This is true for any film. But when I watch a film on Blu-ray I don't pixel hunt or freeze frames looking for flaws, and I have a proper distance from the TV. It's not like looking at a monitor nearby.

[Talal86]

I want to give the theatrical versions a try*, but this thread made choosing which version to go for harder lol. I thought it was between the 4k and the original release, but now the remastered blu rays entered the mix

(the old theatricals/the remastered theatricals/the 4k theatricals)


*I have the 2011 extended boxset, and that's the only the version I watched over the years, but if I'm being honest I can live with shorter versions of these movies, even if just as an alternative from time to time.

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by Talal86

I want to give the theatrical versions a try*, but this thread made choosing which version to go for harder lol. I thought it was between the 4k and the original release, but now the remastered blu rays entered the mix

(the old theatricals/the remastered theatricals/the 4k theatricals)


*I have the 2011 extended boxset, and that's the only the version I watched over the years, but if I'm being honest I can live with shorter versions of these movies, even if just as an alternative from time to time.

I would go with the remastered Blu-Rays.

[Talal86]

Originally Posted by gregmasciola

I would go with the remastered Blu-Rays.

better than the 4k?

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by Talal86

better than the 4k?

Same master only in 1080p.

[Talal86]

Originally Posted by Roonan

Same master only in 1080p.

I know but does the HDR make it worse/better?

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Talal86

I know but does the HDR make it worse/better?

Much better. The trilogy is predominantly earth tones and it makes them look so much better. Please see below:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...8&postcount=49
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...8&postcount=50
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...2&postcount=52
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...4&postcount=53

[ElectricMania]

Edit: So these are just the older theatrical blurays with a new slipcover. It's a 'retro' line that Walmart is doing.
So does anybody have a copy of this set? This art is throwing me off and I'm just curious if there's anything else different about it lol

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-L...3348/#Overview

[mjvmovieman]

The theatrical cuts are so underrated.

[PondaBaba]

Originally Posted by mjvmovieman

The theatrical cuts are so underrated.

agreed, i hadn't watched the trilogy for maybe 15 years until last year, spent a day or two googling which versions to watch and decided on TE and glad i did.

FoR TE in particular is the most perfectly paced film imo.

I know not having seen the EE for at least 15+years maybe means i'm unqualified to support the 'TE's are underrated claim', and they had* been my intended next watch so I can experience them that way and refresh myself and come to an informed conclusion on which i definitely prefer, but just from all discussion i see online and among casual movie fans i talk to IRL, people still sing the EE's praises over the TE's i've found, so am definitely inclined to agree.

I say i had been intending to watch the EE's next, but the TE's are being screened in cinemas near me as we speak, which is unusual as its otherwise always the EE's on (again, given the perceived general sentiment of most, of the cinema's that screen them i think they just assume, and i guess not incorrectly, this is what the audience prefers/demands and so happy to oblige if it means more tickets will be sold), but while I've missed the FotR TE tonight (it was only showing on Sunday just gone and tonight), to be able to catch the TE's in the cinema at some point has been at the top of the wish list since i started going to the cinema regularly so will hopefully make it to TT and RoTK when they come around in the next week or two. It seems like the EE's are fantastic if you're a fan of the books/Tolkein/want to inhabit ME for the maximum time possible, whereas maybe due to pacing etc. the TE are better films/'cinema' is the impression i get

[HD Goofnut]

Nothing ever feels bloated in the extended cuts to me except for some brief bits of ROTK. I have tried a couple times over the years to watch the theatrical cuts and they just feel chopped up compared to the extended cuts. Both FOTR and TTT seem rushed and incomplete in terms of the theatrical cuts once you've seen the extended cuts.