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

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

Trust me, you have no idea what it was like to be on the outside during the Rings vs. Wars heyday between 2001-2005. I was in the outside looking in on that debate...still am.

Really? Did you ever catch any of the Rings vs. Potter crap? I will never forget the day when I actually heard a Potter fan complain that...

Gandalf was a ripoff of Dumbledor.

That's right. Gandalf, a character written about in the 1930's was a ripoff of other stories with a wizard, first written about in 1997.

[threefiftyrocket]

Originally Posted by radagast

Really? Did you ever catch any of the Rings vs. Potter crap? I will never forget the day when I actually heard a Potter fan complain that...

Gandalf was a ripoff of Dumbledor.

That's right. Gandalf, a character written about in the 1930's was a ripoff of other stories with a wizard, first written about in 1997.

That reminds of of a Tween I heard say once that Lestat wasn't a REAL vampire because we all know Vampires sparkle in the sunlight...



Oh yeah, and it totally makes me want to watch "The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers." Great South Park episode...

[Velmeran]

Originally Posted by radagast

Really? Did you ever catch any of the Rings vs. Potter crap? I will never forget the day when I actually heard a Potter fan complain that...

Gandalf was a ripoff of Dumbledor.

That's right. Gandalf, a character written about in the 1930's was a ripoff of other stories with a wizard, first written about in 1997.

You think that's bad? My 3rd year of college I was taking a 400 level class: Major Authors: Tolkien, Lewis and Rowling. I was pretty much the only non-English Lit Major in the class (was in there because I was doing a Creative Writing minor and needed 1 more upper level class for it).

So in that class we started off with Tolkien and The Hobbit and LotR. Next we jumped to Lewis and TCoN (with some Mere Christianity and Screwtape letters mixed in after LWW, class shifted a little heavy on theology for a couple weeks...) and then to Rowling and the first 4 HP books.

Now, I feel I need to preface and say that I have enjoyed the HP books, but at that time (and still to this day) I don't know how anyone can put JK Rowling in the same company as Tolkien and Lewis.

So we get get into PoA and there are 4-5 students in the class who start lauding the praise on Rowling and ripping into Tolkien for basically copying her ideas (oh, they also spent a good deal of time criticizing the character names Tolkien used as being un-original and too similar to those used by others).

Nearly walked out of that class at that point.

[JamesKurtovich]

I can't wait for these. The DVD PQ is pretty bad compared with other trilogies like SW, so I can't wait to see the upgrade.

I also heard that FOTR got remastered, is that true?

[threefiftyrocket]

Originally Posted by JamesKurtovich

I can't wait for these. The DVD PQ is pretty bad compared with other trilogies like SW, so I can't wait to see the upgrade.

I also heard that FOTR got remastered, is that true?

Yes, they actually took this from the original 2k digital master so it should look better than the TE did on BD...

Originally Posted by Velmeran

So we get get into PoA and there are 4-5 students in the class who start lauding the praise on Rowling and ripping into Tolkien for basically copying her ideas (oh, they also spent a good deal of time criticizing the character names Tolkien used as being un-original and too similar to those used by others).

I don't think I can type : rotfl: enough in response to this...

[Jhouston]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

I also like both of them. Lord of the Rings, of course started as a literary obsession many years ago, so I was elated when Jackson finally made the movies (despite the "dumbing-down" instances from the book), even more so when additional footage was incorporated in the EE's. The first Star Wars movie was released at difficult time in my life, I had just dropped out of college (Ohio State), was living in my car (a beat-up Buick Skylark which I parked at a metropolitan park), and apparently had no future. Star Wars, which I saw many times in 1977, was my escape from reality that summer, and has held a special place for me ever since. I will always look at Lord of the Rings and Star Wars as being "more than movies".

Not to mention Jimmy Carter was the president

[Duffy12]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Been reading the books of Tolkien since I was a tiny little lad back in the mid 70's and been reading them once a year since.

I see the books and the movie as two different things so I don't go crazy over some of the changes but if I were to pick two things that I do not like with the movie are these :

1 - Gandalf vs Witch-king of Angmar. Overall I love everything that was done with the extented scenes and I prefer watching them over the theatricals but that scene is just wrong for me. No way in my mind Gandalf would be this weak looking facing the Witch-king and plus being save by the bell (the arrival of the Rohirrim on the field) which take's the Witch-king away, we are left to believed that he was about to wipe the floor with Gandalf, lame and weak in my opinion.

2 - The depiction of Denethor. I do not blame John Noble (who I find is a very good actor) but Jackson and his team. They turn Denethor from a noble confuse and twisted mind to some sort of maniac with not clue For me that was the worst part of the movies, I wish they would have done that in a different way.

The rest I can live with. Some of the changes are alright, not terrible. Would I wish that they stuck closer to the book, the purist in me would say yes but nothing was a deal breaker for me.

Those were two of my most anticipated scenes that I was looking forward to seeing in RotK, and obviously they ended up bothering me 'big time'.
Why oh why could they not at least have had Denethor glance over to a cloak covered pedestal with a lump under it when he mentions- knowing other goings on?


Plus I also agree that- Arwen at the ford being really awful. I actually have to advert my eyes and drown out the phrase when she says- "Come and claim him!"

But I am really surprised that no one has mention Sam's banishment on the winding stair yet.


These changes that they made is one of the reasons that I would LOVE to see somebody else tackle this same story about ten years from now.

[Falaskan]

reading this thread really makes me want to watch these movies again, but I sold the extended trilogy (thinking the blu-rays would be out sooner) and will never watch the theatrical versions again. Only a month now to wait!

[horizonline]

The last time I saw these was 2008 on DVD.

[Constitution 101]

I read a book called "Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth" right BEFORE I read the trilogy. It made a HUGE difference in the way you read the books. You're able to see the lens thru which Tolkien saw the world. Truly a genius IMHO.

[Gannet]

Originally Posted by Velmeran

So we get get into PoA and there are 4-5 students in the class who start lauding the praise on Rowling and ripping into Tolkien for basically copying her ideas (oh, they also spent a good deal of time criticizing the character names Tolkien used as being un-original and too similar to those used by others).

Nearly walked out of that class at that point.

Your class probably had a participation grade and those people were probably talking just to pad their grades. You should have just taken bowling.

[Steve]

I'm glad to finally see the extended versions getting released on blu. I passed on the theatrical versions because I knew these would be coming eventually and now I'm glad I did.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Velmeran

So we get get into PoA and there are 4-5 students in the class who start lauding the praise on Rowling and ripping into Tolkien for basically copying her ideas (oh, they also spent a good deal of time criticizing the character names Tolkien used as being un-original and too similar to those used by others).

Nearly walked out of that class at that point.

You mean the instructor let that go with no correction? Really. Since Tolkien died in 1973, that was quite a feat for him to copy Rowling, since Fellowship of the Ring was published in 1954, eleven years before she was born.

Originally Posted by Constitution 101

I read a book called "Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth" right BEFORE I read the trilogy. It made a HUGE difference in the way you read the books. You're able to see the lens thru which Tolkien saw the world. Truly a genius IMHO.

That book has been on my curiosity list. Now I am going to have to get it and read it.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

But I am really surprised that no one has mention Sam's banishment on the winding stair yet.


These changes that they made is one of the reasons that I would LOVE to see somebody else tackle this same story about ten years from now.

It hasn't been mentioned because there are too many to list. And it only causes anger from the folks that like the movies better than the books. But you and I and a few others here know better, right?

[Witch King of Angmar]

Originally Posted by radagast

Here are a few that come to mind. I may add more as I think of them:

1) Gandalf vs. Balrog (in FOTR and TTT)
2) The Grey Havens at the very end.
3) Treebeard
4) The attack on Isengard by the Ents
5) Gandalf revealing his return to Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli
6) The Watcher in the Lake
7) The depiction of Gollum (not a scene, I know)
8) Legolas shooting several orcs in a few seconds (the extended FOTR has Legolas firing more arrows than the TE shows) during the battle in which Frodo leaves the fellowship
9) Gandalf "healing" Theoden (different from the book, but acceptable)
10) Sam rescuing Frodo
11) Shelob (I wish the phial had been used by Sam more in accordance with the book)
12) Gandalf rescuing Faramir from the Ringwraiths
13) Eowyn and Merry vs. The Witch-King

nice, please post more of your favorite scenes from movies.

[Max_Genus]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Been reading the books of Tolkien since I was a tiny little lad back in the mid 70's and reading them once a year since.

I see the books and the movie as two different things so I don't go crazy over some of the changes but if I were to pick two things that I do not like with the movie are these :

1 - Gandalf vs Witch-king of Angmar. Overall I love everything that was done with the extented scenes and I prefer watching them over the theatricals but that scene is just wrong for me. No way in my mind Gandalf would be this weak looking facing the Witch-king and plus being save by the bell (the arrival of the Rohirrim on the field) which take's the Witch-king away, we are left to believed that he was about to wipe the floor with Gandalf, lame and weak in my opinion.

2 - The depiction of Denethor. I do not blame John Noble (who I find is a very good actor) but Jackson and his team. They turn Denethor from a noble confuse and twisted mind to some sort of maniac with not clue For me that was the worst part of the movies, I wish they would have done that in a different way.

The rest I can live with. Some of the changes are alright, not terrible. Would I wish that they stuck closer to the book, the purist in me would say yes but nothing was a deal breaker for me.

My biggest issue with the films is Frodo showing The Ring to the Witch-king at Osgiliath. To me that would have presented a "Game Over" scenario.

I can forgive/deal with all of the other instances of artistic license (to varying degrees ).

Anyway, if someone else has mentioned the following, please forgive. I just stumbled over a page at Best Buy's site showing an exclusive extended editions BD bundle that appears to include character chess pieces:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Lord+Of+...128&id=2216778

List Price: $134.98... "Our Price" $119.99

Only a small photo showing 6 pieces in front of the enlarged box, also showing 6 pieces behind a window.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by Max_Genus

My biggest issue with the films is Frodo showing The Ring to the Witch-king at Osgiliath. To me that would have presented a "Game Over" scenario.
I can forgive/deal with all of the other instances of artistic license (to varying degrees ).

Of course, Frodo never went to Osgiliath in the first place, nor would have Faramir have taken him there, but like Radagast said, there are too many similar instances like this to address. Hopefully, Duffy's post is correct where he said that perhaps a more accurate version will be produced some day, but for now, this is the best that we have. We'll take it.

[Duffy12]

Hey guys, just curious, as long as we are talking about Jackson's version and his take on the films...


did anybody feel that BOTH the Balrog and Oliphants were way too large and should have been brought down in size a bit?

[Constitution 101]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

Hey guys, just curious, as long as we are talking about Jackson's version and his take on the films...


did anybody feel that BOTH the Balrog and Oliphants were way too large and should have been brought down in size a bit?

Not at all. Gandalf stated he hadn't been tested against things like that b4. It follows the Balrog should've been physically menacing, not just due to it's being from "shadow" alone.

[frogmort]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

Hey guys, just curious, as long as we are talking about Jackson's version and his take on the films...


did anybody feel that BOTH the Balrog and Oliphants were way too large and should have been brought down in size a bit?

If I'm not mistaken, the Oliphants were described as having small houses on their backs, so maybe they should have been a little bigger.

To me, the Balrog is probably one of the most "true to the book" iconic images in all three movies, even the dialoge is pretty much verbatim.

I would asume that a "demonic" Maia(like the Balrog) would show off by making himself as big and impressive as he possibly could, while an "angelic" Maia(like Gandalf) would be as reserved as he could.