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

[StingingVelvet]

I'm honestly not the biggest LOTR fan in the world. I like them, but am not a fanboy or anything. So you'd think the theatricals would be for me, but I actually greatly prefer the extended cuts and couldn't watch the theatricals anymore because I would miss the added scenes. I tend to prefer extended cuts in general though, slow pacing doesn't really bother me and I always like more character development.

[ThatOneGuy]

I prefer the extended cuts but there are scenes in them that were definitely not needed. My favorite parts are all the extended scenes for Merry and Pippin, primarily the extended scenes during the whole Elk part involving them.

[Arawn]

Elk part?

[imsounoriginal]

He means Ent part.

[JackKnightStarman]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Do you folks prefer the theatrical or extended editions of the film and why?

I'm considering downgrading from my EE box set for the standard editions as I find the EEs to drag quite a bit.

I know Peter Jackson said the theatrical versions are the definitive versions of the films, but I'm not sure if this comment was made out of marketing than anything else. I know he's gotten a lot of flack, especially for the ending of TTT.

If I want an abbreviated, but quick movie going experience, then the theatricals are the way to go. To some, less is more.

But I, 99 times out of 100, will watch the extendeds. Why? Because these were the first books I asked my mother for after seeing a trailer for the Animated adaption when I was growing up in the late 70's, early 80's, that I read, that wasn't Star Wars at the time. I love the longer, more thought went into approach by Jackson and company. I still can't get enough...

The Hobbit? The theatrical for the first, AUJ, is by far the better of the theatricals. But to be honest, I really feel more is better for this series. The extended versions in this series are shorter, by alot, compared to LoTR. But more is better here.

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[happydood]

From my limited experience, book fans seem to prefer the extended. I know I do, but I also read the book every two years or so. For The Hobbit, I appreciate PJ's vision and in many cases the extended scenes are better than what turned up in the theatricals, but I really love the edit that's making the rounds. Again, book fan.

[imsounoriginal]

I'm a book fan, too, but if I'm watching a movie then I want a movie. The theatricals are movies, the extendeds are a mini-series. Obviously, preferences vary.

But I never liked The Hobbit as a book, so I actually like most/all of the changes to those movies. Adding in material from The Appendices was a brilliant idea.

[Geoff D]

I do prefer the EEs of the Hobbitses, admittedly. But that's more to do with those films being an editorial hodge-podge right from the off, and the added throughline of things like the Dwarven rings, the White Council etc makes it even more LOTR-lite which I appreciate.

[ksmith011]

Probably a shot in the dark but I'm currently looking for a slipcover for the Two Towers EE blu-ray. Let me know if you have one you'd be willing to sell.

[Brian81]

Doea the Canadian box gme with bilingual packaging or disc art?

[Lazy]

I was hoping this was going to be on sale sometime this weekend, doesn't look like it though.

From what i gather though, and i know it differs from person to person, is for LOTR trilogy the theatrical edition is the way to go. While for the hobbit trilogy the extended editions are the way to go. Does that sound about right? By the way, i'm a fan just not a HUGE fan

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Lazy

I was hoping this was going to be on sale sometime this weekend, doesn't look like it though.

From what i gather though, and i know it differs from person to person, is for LOTR trilogy the theatrical edition is the way to go. While for the hobbit trilogy the extended editions are the way to go. Does that sound about right? By the way, i'm a fan just not a HUGE fan

You have it backwards. The LOTR Extended Cuts are, by and large, the better versions since there are whole sequences excised from the theatrical cuts that make sense once you see them in context. The lack of footage in some scenes in ROTK, in particular, is extremely jarring in the theatrical cut. Then you see the new pieces and you go: "oh, so that's what happened to such and such character."

The Hobbit Trilogy, OTOH, is so bloated already, the extended scenes just pad that bloat.

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

You have it backwards. The LOTR Extended Cuts are, by and large, the better versions since there are whole sequences excised from the theatrical cuts that make sense once you see them in context.

The Hobbit Trilogy, OTOH, is so bloated already, the extended scenes just pad that bloat.

No.
I think aside from "The Hobbit: An Ubnexpected Journey" which does not add much the Extended Edition are far superior on all the middle earth films.

The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies are heads and shoulders above the Theatrical versions.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Lope de Aguirre

No.
I think aside from "The Hobbit: An Ubnexpected Journey" which does not add much the Extended Edition are far superior on all the middle earth films.

The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies are heads and shoulders above the Theatrical versions.

Coming from someone extremely disappointed in the joyless mess of The Hobbit Trilogy and who, mostly, enjoyed the LOTR Trilogy (yes, there are a few rough patches, but nothing that complex is without its flaws), I think padding a pig isn't necessarily a good thing.

I agree with Peter Jackson that on The Hobbit, he just didn't know what the hell he was doing.

[rexcrk]

Originally Posted by Lope de Aguirre

No.
I think aside from "The Hobbit: An Ubnexpected Journey" which does not add much the Extended Edition are far superior on all the middle earth films.

The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies are heads and shoulders above the Theatrical versions.

Seriously. I can't wait until the internet gets over the "hate boner" for the Hobbit movies.

All six movies are amazing and you gotta go for the extended editions of each movie. Especially Battle of the Five Armies, the one that's most essential.

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by rexcrk

Seriously. I can't wait until the internet gets over the "hate boner" for the Hobbit movies.

All six movies are amazing and you gotta go for the extended editions of each movie. Especially Battle of the Five Armies, the one that's most essential.

Yeah I love The Hobbit movies.
Especially Unexpected Journey and Desolation of Smaug.

I wish all 6 movies were more serious and believable like Fellowship of the Ring (the imo by far best of all 6 films) but Two Towers and Return of the King were already pretty goofy and silly.

I actually prefer the first two Hobbit films over TT + ROTK.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by rexcrk

Seriously. I can't wait until the internet gets over the "hate boner" for the Hobbit movies.

All six movies are amazing and you gotta go for the extended editions of each movie. Especially Battle of the Five Armies, the one that's most essential.

The "hate boner" as you put it is a legitimate beef with the quality of The Hobbit movies. A true slip from Jackson's work on LOTR.

[Captain Flint]

Originally Posted by rexcrk

Seriously. I can't wait until the internet gets over the "hate boner" for the Hobbit movies.

All six movies are amazing and you gotta go for the extended editions of each movie. Especially Battle of the Five Armies, the one that's most essential.

They'll get over it eventually and they'll start fawning over the Hobbit trilogy. The internet goes in cycles. I'm already seeing a ton of hate over the LOTR EE trilogy. This time next year they'll be gushing over both trilogies then they'll be back to hating them the year after. Nothing is more schizophrenic than the internet.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

Coming from someone extremely disappointed in the joyless mess of The Hobbit Trilogy and who, mostly, enjoyed the LOTR Trilogy (yes, there are a few rough patches, but nothing that complex is without its flaws), I think padding a pig isn't necessarily a good thing.

I agree with Peter Jackson that on The Hobbit, he just didn't know what the hell he was doing.

If you hate a movie then obviously you're not going to like an extended version of that movie. If you liked the Hobbit movies well enough then the extended are probably going to be the better versions. For clarity I only think the Hobbit movies are okay, not great, but I do think the extendeds are better. And they are very much better for LotR IMO.

Also you shouldn't repeat the very misleading blog headlines that Jackson said he didn't know what he was doing on those movies. It's very out of context. The context of that bonus feature was that they struggled a bit in the beginning but then came together and did it well.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

If you hate a movie then obviously you're not going to like an extended version of that movie. If you liked the Hobbit movies well enough then the extended are probably going to be the better versions. For clarity I only think the Hobbit movies are okay, not great, but I do think the extendeds are better. And they are very much better for LotR IMO.

Also you shouldn't repeat the very misleading blog headlines that Jackson said he didn't know what he was doing on those movies. It's very out of context. The context of that bonus feature was that they struggled a bit in the beginning but then came together and did it well.

That's the spin, yes, but if you watch the final product... Jackson never got over his not knowing what the hell he was doing phase.