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

[mikematt101]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

For those wanting to compare the new Blu-rays to the 4Ks.

Apologies if this has already been mentioned but what's with the branches in the background of the remastered/4K shots of Gollum, Frodo and Sam that aren't in the old version?

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by mikematt101

Apologies if this has already been mentioned but what's with the branches in the background of the remastered/4K shots of Gollum, Frodo and Sam that aren't in the old version?

They were always there, but either through the color boosting or even some DNR removal, you can actually see them now. I've actually noticed a lot of items I didn't notice before due to the new color grade.

[mikematt101]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

They were always there, but either through the color boosting or even some DNR removal, you can actually see them now. I've actually noticed a lot of items I didn't notice before due to the new color grade.

[HonestJohn]

Originally Posted by mikematt101

Appreciate there's been a raging debate about these remastered blu rays but just trying to decide what I want to do.

I don't have 4K and am not likely to upgrade anytime soon

I don't like DNR but am not massively bothered by it if it's not excessive

I'm not a fan of the green tint on FOTR but I don't find it unwatchable - in fact I don't recall paying much attention to it when I watched it

So, on this basis, do I get both the new Theatrical and Extended editions on blu ray? I'm inclined to at least get the Theatrical as from what I've read the previous versions weren't that great, especially FOTR (I'm not sure I've ever watched the copy I have!) But what about the EE? At the moment I'm thinking about taking the plunge and buying it (and maybe putting the discs in the previous case as it seems like it was better than the new one).

I know ultimately it's down to me to decide what to do, but any thoughts would be welcome.

You sound a lot like me. I hate excessive DNR as in Predator Ultimate Hunter Ed. I can tolerate or totally miss some DNR as I am usually engaged enough in a film not to notice. I purchased the Extended Remastered set solely for The Fellowship of the Ring minus the green tint. I really prefer how it looks without the green gauze over the camera lens. Haven't had a chance to look at Two Towers or Return of the King yet but I'm guessing whatever short comings they may have will not bother me as I'll be too busy climbing Mount Doom again.

[314carpenter]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

[Show spoiler]It's not my mind. These are undisputable facts. If you want a brighter smeary picture then please buy the new BDs, but no one wants to truly do that. Oh, it's awful.

I've accepted who I am eons ago

[Show spoiler] and I wouldn't change anything except maybe where I bought my house.

Cue the AT&T Fiber TV Commercial, 'Accidental Horror' I think I "just need better internet"


Through all of that noise, the only thing I heard you say was

[Show spoiler]

[Captain Keen]

Ok, I’ve had a chance to look at all the new theatrical disks, and I spent the most time on ROTK.

Overall, for the theatricals ONLY, I think this new set is better… but with some major caveats, and for the extended I’d probably take the new FOTR but stick to the old disks regarding TTT and ROTK.

These new transfers are revisionism, and it is what it is. The movies now look like they were shot on an Alexa. The DNR is there, though for the most part it’s admittedly pretty well done. You actually get a boost in detail compared to the old blus, and I would say this is much more Aliens DNR than Predator DNR (Predator UHE is unwatchable imo).

In some ways, watching the new blus feels like turning on the VIVID setting on your television. They are sometimes SO colorful and so lacking in grain that it’s distracting, especially if you know the movies well. But — it does LOOK good. Like, if you showed it to someone who didn’t care about any of this stuff, they’d think it looks good, whereas even people who don’t care have mentioned Predator looking “waxy” and “weird” without knowing why.

You can tell the MO was to make these movies match The Hobbit, and that’s exactly what they did. In the end, I’d take 35mm prints over these new 4K masters, but for blu-ray, these are definitely better than the old, ancient theatrical blu-rays. ROTK no longer feels crammed onto a single disk, even though it is, and the mbps on some scenes is even beyond the old extended blu. Like, the shot of the oliphant falling on the old theatrical disk was about 17 mbps, 29 mbps on the old extended and now it’s 32-32ish mbps on this new theatrical disk. (According to the data from my PlayStation.)

Ultimately, TLDR, a lot of this is going to come down to personal preference, but as disks, these are better than the old ones. It’s absolutely revisionism and there’s no way to deny that, though. Overall I personally prefer these new theatrical disks to the old ones, but it’s not a slam dunk.

Now, one complaint: the new color grading screws up some of the old visual effects. I’m amazed no one caught some of this stuff, especially since these are the versions that were shown on IMAX screens earlier this year and I’m sure it’s even more apparent there. One example: in the big PF battle, you can now see tons of green reflections from greenscreens, especially in close-ups, that just weren’t there before. The sepia tones of the old master must have sapped out those greens, but now it’s almost distracting, and I can’t believe this wasn’t fixed. Look at some of the close-ups of the main rider dude who’s basically a Mad Max character; you see green reflected on his face and behind him on some of the set. Wtf how did no one say “hmm maybe we should fix that”? Even in some of the wide shots you see weird green shimmer on various actors. This was NOT there before, I double checked.

[Captain Keen]

Ok, I’m giving Two Towers a closer look now, and there’s A LOT of smearing. Way worse than the old version, which admittedly had a lot of DNR baked in. This is much more noticeable, though, especially on the big tracking shots outdoors. Close-ups mostly look fine.

Did anyone see this in IMAX in February? What did these 4K versions look like on a big screen? It’s nice to see special effects fixed (like the clipping rock in the opening as Gandalf and the Balrog plunge into the water) but the smearing is pretty bad and I can’t imagine that looked good on a big IMAX screen? Anyone see the trilogy in IMAX…?

[mikematt101]

Another question - I'm assuming the UK versions still have player generated subtitles for when someone is speaking Elvish, etc, but what about the US versions, do they have subtitles in the original format (if there's a technical term please enlighten me)?

[Randy Miller III]

Originally Posted by mikematt101

Another question - I'm assuming the UK versions still have player generated subtitles for when someone is speaking Elvish, etc, but what about the US versions, do they have subtitles in the original format (if there's a technical term please enlighten me)?

Elvish dialogue is shown with proper burned-in subtitles, not player-generated ones.

[mikematt101]

Originally Posted by Randy Miller III

Elvish dialogue is shown with proper burned-in subtitles, not player-generated ones.

Thanks. And does anyone know if the BDs are A-locked?

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by mikematt101

Thanks. And does anyone know if the BDs are A-locked?

Warner titles are always region free.

[mikematt101]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Warner titles are always region free.

Thought so but thought it wise to check before buying.

[Nick Michalak]

I've been watching the original theatrical cut Blu-Rays this week after picking up the set for $20 at Half Price Books. The compression on those old discs is really substandard. Doesn't look representative of the HD format much at all. I haven't even tried to watch the old DVDs on my 4K TV yet. I kinda want to get the 4K set, but it seems everything is a trade-off from one release to the next. Regardless, I only want to watch the extended editions moving forward, and I'm well aware of the Fellowship green tint issue.

And yes, I saw all three films in the theatre multiple times back in the day. I didn't even buy the theatrical cuts at the time because I knew the extended versions were coming months later. Those have been my preferred versions, and watching the theatrical cuts again I just constantly feel the absence of the extra scenes and footage so badly. I'm not even watching ROTK until I break out the extended editions.

[Jumpman]

I swear, I kick myself once a year for not getting that 6 Film Limited Collector’s Edition from 2016 when they had it for $99.

To me, that’s still the most complete version of the Middle Earth Saga, even without the theatrical cuts.

[jstxanothrxstory]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

I swear, I kick myself once a year for not getting that 6 Film Limited Collector’s Edition from 2016 when they had it for $99.

To me, that’s still the most complete version of the Middle Earth Saga, even without the theatrical cuts.

If you're fine having it in standard packaging, the UK version is only £44:


There's also a new one coming out on Tuesday with the Remastered Blu-Rays.

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by Nick Michalak

...watching the theatrical cuts again I just constantly feel the absence of the extra scenes and footage so badly.

That's pretty much how I feel. Some scenes I could do without, but the theatricals feel more like edited for TV versions to me. I'm tempted to do my own fan edit and get rid of some extended scenes I don't care about, but that would probably only get rid of a few minutes per movie, so I'm not sure if it's worth the time.

[Nick Michalak]

Originally Posted by gregmasciola

That's pretty much how I feel. Some scenes I could do without, but the theatricals feel more like edited for TV versions to me. I'm tempted to do my own fan edit and get rid of some extended scenes I don't care about, but that would probably only get rid of a few minutes per movie, so I'm not sure if it's worth the time.

Edited for TV is how I have been describing them. There are some superfluous scenes like Merry & Pippin playing around in Fangorn, but all those little scenes otherwise add so much nuance.

[Neonxeon]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

I swear, I kick myself once a year for not getting that 6 Film Limited Collector’s Edition from 2016 when they had it for $99.

To me, that’s still the most complete version of the Middle Earth Saga, even without the theatrical cuts.

As soon as the new middle earth collection was announced without any of the extras, I went straight to ebay and pulled the trigger on an unopened copy of that set for $112. I feel like I got away with theft. The only thing I wish that set came with was a slot for the theatrical editions.

[Mikezilla3k]

Originally Posted by jstxanothrxstory

If you're fine having it in standard packaging, the UK version is only £44:


There's also a new one coming out on Tuesday with the Remastered Blu-Rays.

It is worth noting that both have the Appendices DVDs in PAL so you might not be able to play them in the US on TV.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by Mikezilla3k

It is worth noting that both have the Appendices DVDs in PAL so you might not be able to play them in the US on TV.

The Blu’s are region free, right?