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

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by nolfoc

so the Extended Editions are the superior then? how much of a difference is their really? is it noticeably different?

It's a vexed question, nolfoc.

Simply put: the EEs are a different transfer and are noticeably better visually. All three benefit in both sound and image by being spread over two discs, which allows them to have higher bitrates.

Films 2 and 3 in the EE set are superb. Sparkling transfers.

There's some controversy over film 1 in the EE set. Both Jackson and Lesnie (the cinematographer) were unhappy with the way the film looked in the cinema, and did some colour palette manipulation in the transfer for the EE set. Many people are bothered by the overall greenish tint it has acquired and the loss of shadow detail; others claim they can't see anything different. I guess how much you see is subjective.

So bottom line: without question the EE set has better transfers of the films than the "Theatrical" set, but they're also different versions of the films. It's your choice which you prefer, and whether the colour manipulations in Fellowship bother you.

There's no evidence either way whether we'll ever see new remasters.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by nolfoc

so the Extended Editions are the superior then? how much of a difference is their really? is it noticeably different?

There are three camps on this TE/EE tint/darkening topic:

(1) Those who don't notice a difference at all between the two, which I find rather incredible. Anyway, fine.

(2) Those who do notice the tint and darkening, but don't mind it, and that's great, too. I would imagine most people fall into this category.

(3) Those who do notice the tint and darkening, and do mind, such as myself (despite the increase in detail in the EE). The tint I can handle, but the darkening bothers me to the extent that I will not watch the EE again.

My advise would be to rent or borrow both editions and judge for yourself, because in the end your opinion is the only one that matters. If you are not used to watching the Fellowship TE frequently you may not care. I prefer the brighter TE picture, but that's me.

What is troublesome here is the fact that people who are in any of the three categories claim that their opinion trumps all of the others, everybody else is just flat out wrong, and if you don't agree with them, they are going to pound their opinion into your head over, and over, and over, until you see it their way... period! If the amount of effort put into this discussion had been invested in international diplomacy, there might have been world peace by now. I am far more interested in the story and would much rather discuss it, but this topic just won't seem to go away.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

What is troublesome here is the fact that people who are in any of the three categories claim that their opinion trumps all of the others, everybody else is just flat out wrong, and if you don't agree with them, they are going to pound their opinion into your head over, and over, and over, until you see it their way... period! If the amount of effort put into this discussion had been invested in international diplomacy, there might have been world peace by now. I am far more interested in the story and would much rather discuss it, but this topic just won't seem to go away.

I tried to be even-handed on the matter, Bob. And I only really mentioned it because ... well, it's hard not to when someone specifically asks which transfer is better.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

I tried to be even-handed on the matter, Bob. And I only really mentioned it because ... well, it's hard not to when someone specifically asks which transfer is better.

You have been one of the most balanced commentators, MacEachaidh! I have not detected animosity or (the usual not-so-subtle) sarcasm in any of your posts. I always thought that eventually the discussion would eventually turn to how well the tinted/darkened Fellowship EE (yes, I said it!) integrates with the color scheme of The Hobbit, which many people have speculated (and seems rather obvious to me) was the purpose of the alteration in the first place.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

You have been one of the most balanced commentators, MacEachaidh! I have not detected animosity or (the usual not-so-subtle) sarcasm in any of your posts.

Thanks mate! I do try to discuss, not barrack (as we say down here) for a particular team. (I know you folk say "root" for a team, but that has a whoooole different meaning for us! )

I always thought that eventually the discussion would eventually turn to how well the tinted/darkened Fellowship EE (yes, I said it!) integrates with the color scheme of The Hobbit, which many people have speculated (and seems rather obvious to me) was the purpose of the alteration in the first place.

Oh, really? I hadn't heard that idea. Though I think it immediately raises the question of why, if it was intentional visual coding to show both stories take place in the same Middle Earth, Jackson didn't modify all three LotR films the same way? Or have I misunderstood?

[frogmort]

Of all the movies in my collection, the only one that has its own seperate setting is FotR EE. I have named that setting FotG. The black bars for this setting are brighter, with an overall raised contrast setting, and slightly more red and less green than for any other movie that I've ever owned, but after many hours of "eyeballing" this setting, it looks pretty danged good. The only real problems and side-effects are the brownish looking reds, the flat yet bleached out whites, and the dismally dark looking bright scenes, especially the bright sunlit scenes.

As amazingly detailed as this newer transfer is, it's just too dark green.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Oh, really? I hadn't heard that idea. Though I think it immediately raises the question of why, if it was intentional visual coding to show both stories take place in the same Middle Earth, Jackson didn't modify all three LotR films the same way? Or have I misunderstood?

You raise a question that I think that most of us are also wondering about. Perhaps Jackson only modified Fellowship because the TE had the most unbalanced color of the three LotR films. The Two Towers and Return of the King were more consistent, color-wise, and therefore maybe Jackson thought they needed the least amount of tampering. Also, if all six (eventual) films are to be played in the order as they occur in the story, it would seem to make the most sense (in my mind) to have Fellowship look similar to the Hobbit movies which it will follow chronologically. If so, that's fine, but I wish he hadn't darkened it. Anyway, this is just speculation, but time will tell.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by frogmort

The only real problems and side-effects are the brownish looking reds, the flat yet bleached out whites, and the dismally dark looking bright scenes, especially the bright sunlit scenes.

I guess the place where the darkening starts to affect me is during the Shire scenes at the beginning, when Gandalf rolls into Hobbiton. The brightness and colors of the TE add to the fantasy-like aspect of the location, whereas the EE takes the mood down a notch, making The Shire more of an ordinary place. Similarly, at Rivendell, many people have a problem with the reddish hue infused into that location. I thought that was the whole idea in the first place, since Jackson is trying to reinforce the concept that this is the Elves autumn of their sojourn in Middle-earth, and will soon be leaving to return to Elvenhome. Again, the EE neutralizes that idea, not to mention that the darkening makes the film less interesting in general, despite the improvement in detail. But as stated previously, this is just an opinion. Most people would probably gladly trade the darkening for detail, and that's OK. It's just not my cup of tea.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

[nolfoc]

Thanks for the input everybody.. i dont really rent movies anymore so i probably will have to think about this for a little bit.. if the PQ is not all that much different then i probably will just pick up the TE.. I don't know how much replay value the EE will have for me.. I enjoy these movies but dont love them, and a added 30-40 mins to each may bore the hell out of me!

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by nolfoc

Thanks for the input everybody.. i dont really rent movies anymore so i probably will have to think about this for a little bit.. if the PQ is not all that much different then i probably will just pick up the TE.. I don't know how much replay value the EE will have for me.. I enjoy these movies but dont love them, and a added 30-40 mins to each may bore the hell out of me!

I'm not trying to make your decision more difficult, but both versions of Fellowship have their own problems. The extended has the green tint that you've been told about, but the theatrical has lots of DNR in some scenes (especially when Gandhalf visits Bilbo at the beginning). But just so you know, WalMart is selling the extended set for about $45 and each theatrical version for about $8 in USD, so even buying both would only come to about $75.

[Ugly Pig]

Originally Posted by nolfoc

if the PQ is not all that much different then i probably will just pick up the TE..

But the quality is very different, at least for Fellowship... and I'm not talking about the "green tint". It's so much sharper and clearer than the TE.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Ugly Pig

But the quality is very different, at least for Fellowship... and I'm not talking about the "green tint". It's so much sharper and clearer than the TE.

I concur with this statement. It seems like the EE is the lesser of two evils... in most cases (referring to the neverending green tint debate).

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by nolfoc

Thanks for the input everybody.. i dont really rent movies anymore so i probably will have to think about this for a little bit.. if the PQ is not all that much different then i probably will just pick up the TE.. I don't know how much replay value the EE will have for me.. I enjoy these movies but dont love them, and a added 30-40 mins to each may bore the hell out of me!

I think the extra material helps...ever notice in the theatrical cut of The Two Towers that Frodo somehow knows Gollum's name? Well, that's because of a scene in Moria in Fellowship that was trimmed down, where Gandalf tells Frodo about Gollum. It's restored in the Extended Edition, and helps the overall story make more sense. Many of the Extended Edition scenes aren't mere indulgences, they give more drama, more pathos, more information, and for me, the Extended Editions are more entertaining as a result.

[insomniac013]

I got both Theatrical and Extended Edition box sets on Blu Ray and Extended looks A LOT better.

Really, the only reason i got the Theatrical set was because i want all special features and both cuts of the films. (Plus the theatricals are a bit nostalgic since i saw them first in theaters)

If you only want to buy one set though, Extended is the one to get.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by frogmort

Of all the movies in my collection, the only one that has its own seperate setting is FotR EE.

Just saw the latest photos of your home theater. Whatever version of Fellowship you are watching must look great on that new projection screen! My nephew just got the new Sharp 90" LED, so we watched Return of the King EE. That movie was made for a big screen, whether at a movie theater or home theater.

[5th Of November]

Originally Posted by nolfoc

Thanks for the input everybody.. i dont really rent movies anymore so i probably will have to think about this for a little bit.. if the PQ is not all that much different then i probably will just pick up the TE.. I don't know how much replay value the EE will have for me.. I enjoy these movies but dont love them, and a added 30-40 mins to each may bore the hell out of me!

If you don't already love the theatrical versions, the extended editions probably aren't going to change your opinion. The EE's look better, but they also take longer to watch. You can get the individual theatrical releases at Walmart right now for $9.96 each. You can also get the EE box set, which includes special features, for $44.96. My store had a cardboard display setup in anticipation of The Hobbit being released on Tuesday.

If I were you, I'd just get the theatrical releases. If you decide to buy The Hobbit, you probably won't want the extended editions of those either. If you're a casual viewer of the series, just stick with the theatricals.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by 5th Of November

If I were you, I'd just get the theatrical releases. If you decide to buy The Hobbit, you probably won't want the extended editions of those either. If you're a casual viewer of the series, just stick with the theatricals.

After watching the Extended cuts, I've never watched the theatrical cuts again. Ever. They just sit on the shelf, gathering immense amounts of dust.

[mzupeman]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

After watching the Extended cuts, I've never watched the theatrical cuts again. Ever. They just sit on the shelf, gathering immense amounts of dust.

I have watched the theatricals one after purchasing them... i just find the EE to be so, so much better. They flesh out every character and event so much more. Every time I watch LOTR now, it's the EE's or bust.

[5th Of November]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

After watching the Extended cuts, I've never watched the theatrical cuts again. Ever. They just sit on the shelf, gathering immense amounts of dust.

I get that. I loved the theatrical versions, which lead me to buying the EE box set. I'm just suggesting that since he doesn't already love the theatricals, he probably won't love the EE's. Renting would be the only way for him to decide which set he really wants. For a casual viewer, I wouldn't buy the EE's just because they look better.