Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Theatrical Versions) - April 6, 2010

[Monkey]

Originally Posted by HDPlasma
Considering that most people have a 42" or less TV, the difference between blu-ray and an upconverted DVD is not that much substancial.
Especially on newer DVD releases. On catalog releases, the slight increase in PQ can be seen.

Then factor in most people sit 8 feet or further away from the TV and use their TV speakers for audio, a $60 purchase for a catalog movie doesn't look appealing.
Don't forget that 720p Plasma are being pushed by stores still for those who want a big screen at a low price and most 32" or less TV's are 720p.

I watched FOTR on my 120" projector and 52" TV and on the 52", I can tolerate the PQ issues since I sit 7 feet away. On my projector, I sit 11 feet away and the PQ issues become distracting

My grandma totally agrees!

[Show spoiler]her vision is 20/200. when she is driving the old Dart

[Witch King of Angmar]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

They went to Valinor, pretty much a haven for immortals, elves don't die. I guess they felt Sauron was about to come to power and didn't want to oppose him. No, the Elves did not reinforce the Rohirrim at Helm's Deep.

Ok answer this question quickly :

Can lord elrond(or anyother powerful elf) kill witch king?

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by teracore

Ok answer this question quickly :

Can lord elrond(or anyother powerful elf) kill witch king?

I honestly don't know if any of the Elves with a Ring could've killed the Witch-King of Angmar, not sure that ever came up in the books.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by radagast

Hey! Come back over to the LOTR group and discuss it with us.

Been trying to drop off a few posts in there, but I can only get onto the site during the day....night time = crazy kid time. So much so, that I no longer will have time to watch these this weekend, despite having warned my wife months ago to keep this weekend open..... The set has been sitting on my shelf, teasing me since Tuesday.....

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Yes they did. (In the movie at least )

The Battle for Helm's Deep is a lot longer than it seems to be, I think the Uruk-Hai sieged it for 4 days and nights before Gandalf and Eomer saved Theoden and his people with a huge force of Rohirrim. The Elves never came, I'm pretty sure they didn't want to get involved.

[kurtlingle]

Originally Posted by DIGITALBATH

I have gotten so much more help and and information from this site compared to AVS, it's astounding. Most of the people on that site are worthless a-holes that won't answer a question, but they're quick to criticize when you're wrong about something. The people on here are awesome and have given me a lot of good advice and insight, and they were cool about it.

I have gotten good info on AVS, but it certainly can be a madhouse! That's why I like blu-ray.com - if you ask a dumb question (once) then people usually answer it (politely). Over at AVS you can get jumped on for asking a question (that's already been answered before).

AVS was really bad for blu-folk back in the day. They even drove away blu-insiders (but we have them here) like Penton-man and Paidgeek.

3 cheers for blu-ray.com!!!

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

The Battle for Helm's Deep is a lot longer than it seems to be, I think the Uruk-Hai sieged it for 4 days and nights before Gandalf and Eomer saved Theoden and his people with a huge force of Rohirrim. The Elves never came, I'm pretty sure they didn't want to get involved.

Which is strange considering the threat the forces of Sauron would eventualy impose on even their lands, if he continued to expand his power. Perhaps they knew that "their" time had come to an end and the "beginning" of man was now here?

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

The Battle for Helm's Deep is a lot longer than it seems to be, I think the Uruk-Hai sieged it for 4 days and nights before Gandalf and Eomer saved Theoden and his people with a huge force of Rohirrim. The Elves never came, I'm pretty sure they didn't want to get involved.

If you look in the appendices in the back of ROTK, there is a timeline for events during LOTR. In there you see that both Rivendell and Lorien are attacked by Sauron's forces more than once. The Elves were busy.

I didn't like how Theoden complained about Gondor not helping Rohan when Saruman's forces were attacking them. First, did they request help? 2nd, Gondor was having it's own issues with Sauron's orcs.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

The Battle for Helm's Deep is a lot longer than it seems to be, I think the Uruk-Hai sieged it for 4 days and nights before Gandalf and Eomer saved Theoden and his people with a huge force of Rohirrim. The Elves never came, I'm pretty sure they didn't want to get involved.

Ok, but in the movie the Elves obviously came to Helm's Deep.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by teracore

Ok answer this question quickly :

Can lord elrond(or anyother powerful elf) kill witch king?

The only statement made about it was made by Glorfindel. And contrary to what was said in the movie, it was not that no mortal man could kill the Witch-King. Glorfindel said that the Witch-King's end would not come about by a mortal man. If Merry (a hobbit) and Eowyn (a human woman) could kill the Witch-King, then I would think that Elrond could kill him, too. In the books, Glorfindel is the one who comes across Aragorn and the hobbits on their way to Rivendell (not Arwen). He confronted 3 Ringwraiths and they fled.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by radagast

The only statement made about it was made by Glorfindel. And contrary to what was said in the movie, it was not that no mortal man could kill the Witch-King. Glorfindel said that the Witch-King's end would not come about by a mortal man. If Merry (a hobbit) and Eowyn (a human woman) could kill the Witch-King, then I would think that Elrond could kill him, too. In the books, Glorfindel is the one who comes across Aragorn and the hobbits on their way to Rivendell (not Arwen). He confronted 3 Ringwraiths and they fled.

Not sure why they changed that to Arwen or made it 8 instead of 3. Not to mention I think they made her part in the movies MUCH bigger than her part in the novels.

[Russell_L]

Originally Posted by Gremal

I watched FotR last night on my 60 inch kuro at a seating distance of about 10'. The picture wasn't reference quality but it had good--sometimes excellent--detail, depth and clarity. Compared to the NTSC versions, it was a revelation. I would have no problem rating the video a 4, although I don't fault Ken for his rating and I see what he was describing in some scenes. My own interpretation is those problems were with the source material.

I also decided I enjoy the theater cut better than the extended edition, which I recently sold on ebay. I didn't feel like I was missing anything without the extended scenes and even without them my friend couldn't make it through the whole film and she stopped watching when Frodo was meeting with Galandriel. The theatrical versions are the most important releases from a mass market perspective and look fantastic in 1080p. The extended editions are for hardcore fans willing to sit through another half-hour on average of already for long films. I enjoyed the novelty of the extended cuts on DVD just to see what had been left on the editing room floor but the novelty quickly wore off.

This new set is not deserving of the criticism it is getting. This is a release of great importance and I couldn't be happier to enjoy it on my system. Jackson's interpretation and direction bugs me at times and I never got over some of the casting choices--these are far from my favorite films--but there is no denying the effort and success that went into LotR. Having watched and thoroughly enjoyed FotR, it's hard to see what all the whining is about.

+1

Nice writeup, Greg, and I agree 100%. Still haven't had a chance to make it beyond the first hour of FOTR, but perhaps this weekend. (Though Episode 7 of 'Mad Men - Season 3' is strongly beckoning.........)

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Thanks for the responses, please see my follow-ups.

1. Actually, they did not leave at the time that was depicted in the movie, and for good reason. The Elves of Rivendell, Lothlorien, and Mirkwood (where Legolas was from) had plenty of problems of their own. About the same time (March 15) that Minas Tirith was being attacked, the Elves of Lothlorien and Mirkwood were also attacked. Lothlorien was attacked three times (March 11, 15, 22), but with the power of Galadriel's Elven ring could not have been defeated, unless Sauron had come. Thranduil (Legolas' dad) was attacked on March 15, and was victorious. Also, the Lonely Mountain of "The Hobbit" fame was attacked March 15-17, and the Dwarves and Men of Dale were also victorious, with the loss of their leaders King Dain and King Brand. After the Ring was destroyed, the Elves started leaving Middle-earth en masse.

2. Valinor, or paradise, was the abode of the Valar and Maiar (angelic powers) and Elves. It WAS heaven, in a manner of speaking, as the spirits of at least the Elves who "died" resided there at the Halls of Mandos to await the next stage of their existence. As far as Men are concerned, we are not completely sure what happens after they die, since death for Men is considered a "gift" of freedom from bondage from the worldly material realm. However, one man, Beren, did return from death in the First Age, and was permitted to live out a "normal" earthly existence with his wife Luthien; they were ancestors of Elrond and Aragorn.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

1. Actually, they did not leave at the time that was depicted in the movie, and for good reason. The Elves of Rivendell, Lothlorien, and Mirkwood (where Legolas was from) had plenty of problems of their own. About the same time (March 15) that Minas Tirith was being attacked, the Elves of Lothlorien and Mirkwood were also attacked. Lothlorien was attacked three times (March 11, 15, 22), but with the power of Galadriel's Elven ring could not have been defeated, unless Sauron had come. Thranduil (Legolas' dad) was attacked on March 15, and was victorious. Also, the Lonely Mountain of "The Hobbit" fame was attacked March 15-17, and the Dwarves and Men of Dale were also victorious, with the loss of their leaders King Dain and King Brand. After the Ring was destroyed, the Elves started leaving Middle-earth en masse.

2. Valinor, or paradise, was the abode of the Valar and Maiar (angelic powers) and Elves. It WAS heaven, in a manner of speaking, as the spirits of at least the Elves who "died" resided there at the Halls of Mandos to await the next stage of their existence. As far as Men are concerned, we are not completely sure what happens after they die, since death for Men is considered a "gift" of freedom from bondage from the worldly material realm. However, one man, Beren, did return from death in the First Age, and was permitted to live out a "normal" earthly existence with his wife Luthien; they were ancestors of Elrond and Aragorn.

But Luthien had to give up her "immortality" as an elf, and live with the life expectancy of man in order to "live happily ever after" with Beren, right?

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by teracore

Aragorn speaking quenya at helms deep was bit weird/funny.

Since Aragorn grew up in Rivendell and had been adopted by Elrond, he spoke Elvish fluently. An issue that seems to be lost with Theoden and Denethor is that Aragorn, who is 87 years old at the time of this story, has fought in wars in the service of their fathers, Thengel of Rohan and Ecthelion II of Gondor.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by Fors*

But Luthien had to give up her "immortality" as an elf, and live with the life expectancy of man in order to "live happily ever after" with Beren, right?

Correct, so after they lived out their earthly existence on the island of Tol Galen in Ossiriand, they both inherited "the gift of men". That is what Aragorn is singing about in the extended edition of "Fellowship" when Frodo questions him in the Midgewater Marshes.

[Fors*]

I forget if this was in the movie (been almost 2 years since I have seen these), but I know from just reading this in the book, that at Helms Deep, the men from the caves arrived too late to fight, as the Dunlendings had surrendered and the orcs who ran into the woods were already routed and killed there. Did this same thing happen in the movie, or was it not included at all?

Thanks for the above reply Grand Bob.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by Fors*

I forget if this was in the movie (been almost 2 years since I have seen these), but I know from just reading this in the book, that at Helms Deep, the men from the caves arrived too late to fight, as the Dunlendings had surrendered and the orcs who ran into the woods were already routed and killed there. Did this same thing happen in the movie, or was it not included at all?

Thanks for the above reply Grand Bob.

The only thing we see in the movie is the force from the Hornburg confronting the orcs as Erkenbrand's forces (summoned by Gandalf) attack at dawn. In the extended edition, we see the orcs retreat into the Huorn wood, where they are all killed.

[Witch King of Angmar]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

1. Actually, they did not leave at the time that was depicted in the movie, and for good reason. The Elves of Rivendell, Lothlorien, and Mirkwood (where Legolas was from) had plenty of problems of their own. About the same time (March 15) that Minas Tirith was being attacked, the Elves of Lothlorien and Mirkwood were also attacked. Lothlorien was attacked three times (March 11, 15, 22), but with the power of Galadriel's Elven ring could not have been defeated, unless Sauron had come. Thranduil (Legolas' dad) was attacked on March 15, and was victorious. Also, the Lonely Mountain of "The Hobbit" fame was attacked March 15-17, and the Dwarves and Men of Dale were also victorious, with the loss of their leaders King Dain and King Brand. After the Ring was destroyed, the Elves started leaving Middle-earth en masse.

.

Was sauron still powerful without the ring?

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

Since Aragorn grew up in Rivendell and had been adopted by Elrond, he spoke Elvish fluently. An issue that seems to be lost with Theoden and Denethor is that Aragorn, who is 87 years old at the time of this story, has fought in wars in the service of their fathers, Thengel of Rohan and Ecthelion II of Gondor.

Yep I know all this. What I was saying that he sounds more badass when he speaks english.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

The only thing we see in the movie is the force from the Hornburg confronting the orcs as Erkenbrand's forces (summoned by Gandalf) attack at dawn. In the extended edition, we see the orcs retreat into the Huorn wood, where they are all killed.

It has been so long since I have seen the movie, I thought I had forgotten that part. There weren't any Huorns (Ents) shown at Helms Deep in the movie either, right?