The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended Edition) (2001-2003)

[Grand Bob]

The discussion here lately about actual story-related material had me reminiscing about the EE's when they were first released and what extra scenes I was expecting. Although at first disappointed that Nimrodel was not included, I was relieved to see that Jackson added the gift-giving scene in Lothlorien, as the TE portrayed Lothlorien as a frightening (or at least forbidding place), when in fact it was the closest thing to "heaven" in Middle-earth. I would have preferred to see the actual gifts that were given, especially Sam's. However, IMO, Cate Blanchett's best work in the movie production was her interaction with Viggo Mortinsen in the gift-giving sequence. She WAS Galadriel in that scene, which although subtle, to my mind was an incredibly difficult acting task.

When I saw in the Return of the King EE booklet that the Paths of the Dead sequence had been extended, I became optimistic that Jackson had included a particular scene where Aragorn (followed by the Dead) finds the body of Baldor (heir to the throne of Rohan) lying at a door in a cave. I was hoping the extended screenplay would match the scene in the book:

"Aragorn did not touch him, but after gazing silently for a while he rose and sighed, 'Hither shall the flowers of simbelmyne come never until world's end,' he murmured. 'Nine mounds and seven there are green with grass, and through all the long years he has lain at this door that he could not unlock. Whither does it lead? Why would he pass? None shall ever know!
'For that is not my errand!' he cried, turning back and speaking to the whispering darkness behind. 'Keep your hoards and your secrets hidden in the Accursed Years! Speed only we ask. Let us pass, and then come!...'

That could have been a powerful scene, but of course it did not appear in the movie. However, other scenes exceeded my expectations, for example, near the end of the film when the eagles rescue Frodo and Sam from Mt. Doom. The cinematography was superb in all three movies, but that surreal musical/visual moment was probably my favorite scene from Return of the King.

[Madness91]

Originally Posted by kemcha

Giving the way Peter Jackson's films were released as "Extended Editions", I'm expecting to see "The Hobbit" released as theatrical editions and then as Extended Editions. Because New Line and MGM are going to want to soak the home video releases for all they are worth.

It's a given that there will be an 3d or extended edition release... He is just too meticulous and shoots far more material than he needs for a theatrical release.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

The reason I believe there will be extended editions of both Hobbit films is because of the fact that the studio will need to have the films runnings at under 2hrs 20mins in order to maximize the number of showings in a day of theatre operation. They forced the time restraints on all 3 of the original LOTR trilogy theatrical runs even given the huge success they showed at the box office. It is likely that Jackson has a 2.5 to 3 hour film in mind for each of these while filming. So, there will be plenty of material which he won't be able to get in under the studio runtime restraints that he will be able to insert into home video later on.

[gettodamoofies]

^ Why would you think the studio would impose a 2hr 20min run time for these films? They certainly didn't have a problem with 3 hour plus run times for the LOTR films and that was back when they were a gamble (at least FOTR was). 10 years on and Jackson has proven his ability with the LOTR trilogy and the films have earned plenty of $$$ at the box office regardless of run time.

Like Christopher Nolan, Jackson has proven himself capable of steering a franchise to critical and financial success. After all the wrangling over rights with MGM etc I highly doubt Jackson would allow himself to be dictated to regarding run time. Like LOTR I would expect an approx 3 hour run time for theatricals and 3.5 hour plus run times for extended editions.

We'll see how it all plays out but I think like LOTR Jackson will make the theatricals exactly how he wants them to be - his "director's cut" so to speak. The extendeds would once again be for the big fans. There's no reason Jackson needs (or will be forced) to make a cut of the films that's anything other than what his vision is. Jackson has far more clout in Hollywood now than he did when he kicked off on his LOTR journey.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by atexp80

^ Why would you think the studio would impose a 2hr 20min run time for these films? They certainly didn't have a problem with 3 hour plus run times for the LOTR films and that was back when they were a gamble (at least FOTR was). 10 years on and Jackson has proven his ability with the LOTR trilogy and the films have earned plenty of $$$ at the box office regardless of run time.

Like Christopher Nolan, Jackson has proven himself capable of steering a franchise to critical and financial success. After all the wrangling over rights with MGM etc I highly doubt Jackson would allow himself to be dictated to regarding run time. Like LOTR I would expect an approx 3 hour run time for theatricals and 3.5 hour plus run times for extended editions.

We'll see how it all plays out but I think like LOTR Jackson will make the theatricals exactly how he wants them to be - his "director's cut" so to speak. The extendeds would once again be for the big fans. There's no reason Jackson needs (or will be forced) to make a cut of the films that's anything other than what his vision is. Jackson has far more clout in Hollywood now than he did when he kicked off on his LOTR journey.

Lovely Bones... nuff said
district 9 ....again, nuff said

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Madness91

It's a given that there will be an 3d or extended edition release... He is just too meticulous and shoots far more material than he needs for a theatrical release.

3D release, obviously. Extended release...pure speculation at this point.

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

The reason I believe there will be extended editions of both Hobbit films is because of the fact that the studio will need to have the films runnings at under 2hrs 20mins in order to maximize the number of showings in a day of theatre operation. They forced the time restraints on all 3 of the original LOTR trilogy theatrical runs even given the huge success they showed at the box office. It is likely that Jackson has a 2.5 to 3 hour film in mind for each of these while filming. So, there will be plenty of material which he won't be able to get in under the studio runtime restraints that he will be able to insert into home video later on.

Originally Posted by atexp80

^ Why would you think the studio would impose a 2hr 20min run time for these films? They certainly didn't have a problem with 3 hour plus run times for the LOTR films and that was back when they were a gamble (at least FOTR was). 10 years on and Jackson has proven his ability with the LOTR trilogy and the films have earned plenty of $$$ at the box office regardless of run time.

Like Christopher Nolan, Jackson has proven himself capable of steering a franchise to critical and financial success. After all the wrangling over rights with MGM etc I highly doubt Jackson would allow himself to be dictated to regarding run time. Like LOTR I would expect an approx 3 hour run time for theatricals and 3.5 hour plus run times for extended editions.

We'll see how it all plays out but I think like LOTR Jackson will make the theatricals exactly how he wants them to be - his "director's cut" so to speak. The extendeds would once again be for the big fans. There's no reason Jackson needs (or will be forced) to make a cut of the films that's anything other than what his vision is. Jackson has far more clout in Hollywood now than he did when he kicked off on his LOTR journey.

OK. Fine. If it doesn't happen there shouldn't be any anger or disappointment.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by atexp80

^ Why would you think the studio would impose a 2hr 20min run time for these films?

Did you even read my post completely? I answered your question before you even asked it.

The studios force reduced runtimes on theatrical presentation to fall within a specification that allows for maximum presentations with the operating hours of theatres. I remember reading how the studios kept putting more pressure on Jackson to cut out more and more material before it opened because it was running too long. At one point I think the magazine I was reading said that at 3 mins ove the studio's demanded max runtime they would lose 7 viewings per week. And the studios were having none of that.

They will force a runtime on these films and the director/editor will comply. It will be in their contract which was finalized before production began. And studios don't like anything longer than about 2hrs 20mins. It gets tough to manage screenings and therefore reduces revenue potential.

I'm fairly positive there will be stuff that Jackson wants people to see that he won't be able to put in the theatrical cut. He will also be too proud of said material to leave it all as deleted scenes on the home media release. It is my confident prediction that The Hobbit films will both see extended cuts on Blu-ray.

[Starmartyr]

I kind of hate to open this can of worms - and I'm not sure if this has been discussed as of yet - but while watching the Hobbit trailer the other night, suddenly a thought occurred to me. Anyone else worried that Peter Jackson might pull a Lucas and start messing with LOTR for the sake of 'continuity'?

In particular I'm thinking of those scenes where it shows Ian Holm as Bilbo in his first encounter with Gollum.

I for one sure hope not or it will be 'Original Trilogy-Gate' all over again...

[threefiftyrocket]

Originally Posted by Starmartyr

I kind of hate to open this can of worms - and I'm not sure if this has been discussed as of yet - but while watching the Hobbit trailer the other night, suddenly a thought occurred to me. Anyone else worried that Peter Jackson might pull a Lucas and start messing with LOTR for the sake of 'continuity'?

In particular I'm thinking of those scenes where it shows Ian Holm as Bilbo in his first encounter with Gollum.

I for one sure hope not or it will be 'Original Trilogy-Gate' all over again...

I agree... I'm already kinda irritated at the color timing change... if he starts changing scenes I just will not like that at all... but then again Tolkien himself went back and changed The Hobbit after writing LotR, he said that the Riddles in the Dark chapter would never have happened the way it originally did, so he changed it...

[Starmartyr]

Originally Posted by threefiftyrocket

I agree... I'm already kinda irritated at the color timing change... if he starts changing scenes I just will not like that at all... but then again Tolkien himself went back and changed The Hobbit after writing LotR, he said that the Riddles in the Dark chapter would never have happened the way it originally did, so he changed it...

I don't care about the color change personally, I could care less, but the whole rearranging stuff and inserting and deleting scenes every time there is a release is ridiculous.

But, I did not know that Tolkien did that. Interesting.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Starmartyr

I don't care about the color change personally, I could care less, but the whole rearranging stuff and inserting and deleting scenes every time there is a release is ridiculous.

But, I did not know that Tolkien did that. Interesting.

Couldn't.

[threefiftyrocket]

Originally Posted by Starmartyr

I don't care about the color change personally, I could care less, but the whole rearranging stuff and inserting and deleting scenes every time there is a release is ridiculous.

But, I did not know that Tolkien did that. Interesting.

Yup, initially after Bilbo asked Gollum about what he had in his pocket, and he couldn't answer, Gollum just led him to the exit. He didn't plan on getting his "birthday present" and killing him. Once you know about it, it makes a bit of sense, the rest of the book is really light hearted, but Riddles in the Dark has a much darker tone, more along the lines of LotR. If you go back and read the book, pay close attention and you will see it.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by threefiftyrocket

Yup, initially after Bilbo asked Gollum about what he had in his pocket, and he couldn't answer, Gollum just led him to the exit. He didn't plan on getting his "birthday present" and killing him. Once you know about it, it makes a bit of sense, the rest of the book is really light hearted, but Riddles in the Dark has a much darker tone, more along the lines of LotR. If you go back and read the book, pay close attention and you will see it.

That is a nice tidbit of info......thanks!

[threefiftyrocket]

Originally Posted by Fors*

That is a nice tidbit of info......thanks!

shonuff, have to give credit where credit is due though, I didn't know until Grand Bob pointed it out. Looked it up on the ol' 'net and its a pretty interesting read!

[gettodamoofies]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Did you even read my post completely? I answered your question before you even asked it.

Yes I did and you said a run time of 2 hours and 20 minutes. My response was pointing out that even without the status that Jackson holds now he was still able to get run times longer than that for the LOTR trilogy. You are stating that a studio will hold Jackson to a run time that they weren't even capable of holding him to when he hadn't directed a billion dollar franchise and wasn't the winner of Academy Awards.

Anyway, I believe this thread is about LOTR: Extended Editions. The only thing I'm kind of hoping will happen when the two Hobbit films have been released is that we'll get either a complete collection or at the very least a collection of extended editions for all five films. It'd be great to have a complete set such as that.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by threefiftyrocket

I agree... I'm already kinda irritated at the color timing change... if he starts changing scenes I just will not like that at all... but then again Tolkien himself went back and changed The Hobbit after writing LotR, he said that the Riddles in the Dark chapter would never have happened the way it originally did, so he changed it...

Tolkien decided at one point to completely re-write The Hobbit to make it in the same tone as LOTR. He got through a few chapters before he stopped, because he didn't want to ruin The Hobbit. I have the chapters in one of my books.

But like the moderator said, this is off topic.

[threefiftyrocket]

Originally Posted by atexp80

Yes I did and you said a run time of 2 hours and 20 minutes. My response was pointing out that even without the status that Jackson holds now he was still able to get run times longer than that for the LOTR trilogy. You are stating that a studio will hold Jackson to a run time that they weren't even capable of holding him to when he hadn't directed a billion dollar franchise and wasn't the winner of Academy Awards.

Anyway, I believe this thread is about LOTR: Extended Editions. The only thing I'm kind of hoping will happen when the two Hobbit films have been released is that we'll get either a complete collection or at the very least a collection of extended editions for all five films. It'd be great to have a complete set such as that.

Originally Posted by radagast

Tolkien decided at one point to completely re-write The Hobbit to make it in the same tone as LOTR. He got through a few chapters before he stopped, because he didn't want to ruin The Hobbit. I have the chapters in one of my books.

But like the moderator said, this is off topic.

apologies...

[Starmartyr]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Couldn't.

Right! I thought that didn't look right. And I've read much of the debate about 'could' or 'couldn't' care less, and yes 'couldn't' makes much more sense. Grammar police win!!

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Did you even read my post completely? I answered your question before you even asked it.

The studios force reduced runtimes on theatrical presentation to fall within a specification that allows for maximum presentations with the operating hours of theatres. I remember reading how the studios kept putting more pressure on Jackson to cut out more and more material before it opened because it was running too long. At one point I think the magazine I was reading said that at 3 mins ove the studio's demanded max runtime they would lose 7 viewings per week. And the studios were having none of that.

They will force a runtime on these films and the director/editor will comply. It will be in their contract which was finalized before production began. And studios don't like anything longer than about 2hrs 20mins. It gets tough to manage screenings and therefore reduces revenue potential.

I'm fairly positive there will be stuff that Jackson wants people to see that he won't be able to put in the theatrical cut. He will also be too proud of said material to leave it all as deleted scenes on the home media release. It is my confident prediction that The Hobbit films will both see extended cuts on Blu-ray.

By that argument, then the studios would've imposed this phantom 2 hour 20 min runtime for the original trilogy as well, which they didn't. And given the success of the original trilogy, they will have no problem with a 3 hour film. I assume, given Jackson's success with the originals, that he has final cut on these, which means the studio can't impose anything.

[frogmort]

I could care less about the color/contrast changes to Fellowship, actually quite a bit less, as I care a great deal!