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

[Blu-Jawa]

I would like both verson's on the blu-ray with 2 blu-ray disc's for each film. 6 disc set. and maybe a seventh blu-ray with all the extra's.

[Polyh3dron]

I wish New Line would have been able to get these out before WB took them over. I can't stand how amateur these WB releases are. The menus always suck and they use lossy audio way too often.

[Turnda643]

very happy to hear there's a probable release date. But yet, Iam nervous to see what we get!!

[SkillzthatKillz]

idk i dont think WB is dumb enough to **** up this BD release...i think they would do a very good transfer and include at least 5.1 HD audio(hopefully 7.1) and they would almost certainly release the EE, as those are considered the definitive versions of the films. they know that if they release a high profile trilogy like this and its of the highest quality that it can do a lot for the BD format and thus make those greedy bastards richer in the long run

[wildphantom]

I'm not too worried about them potentially releasing just the theatrical versions.

I think we'll get both cuts via seamless branching.

However, what I think they WILL do is release the films seperately over the course of next year.

Fellowship first, followed a few months later by Towers, and then ultimately Return of the King.
I'm hoping they'll lavish them with the features and treatment they deserve, but we might not see that box set until ROTK appears maybe next Xmas?

I'd be well happy with that.
One at a time - with both cuts and Fellowship maybe at Easter? Who knows?

If they did do the unthinkable and actually release just the theatrical versions , well I couldn't justify it. I'd be happy upscaling my DVDs until the extendeds came out. Surely Warners wouldn't be that stupid??!!

The theatrical versions just don't exist to me now. Especially Two Towers, where the extended cut made the film SOOOO much better than it already was.

[wildphantom]

Adding to what I just said.....

They'll make more money releasing them apart.

Who would buy them separately if the box set came out straight away? Nobody.

A boxset would inevitably be cheaper than buying them all separately and Warners know it. They'll milk us for all they're worth. Which is fine, providing they get the releases right FIRST TIME

[davcole]

While i'm sure the extended versions of FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING and THE TWO TOWERS can fit on a BD-50, I have my doubts about RETURN OF THE KING.

What are your thoughts if the extended versions were released over 2 discs?

[Kyo28]

For me it's extended cut or bust.

I already bought the movies once on DVD in their extended cut versions (4-disc edition each) and now I would have to buy a cut-down version of those movies on Blu-ray? No way!

I'll wait it out untill they release extended cuts.

[bhampton]

I'll buy both versions but I really like the theatrical versions.

It's nice to watch the complete film like I saw it back in the movie theater.

(And,.. I don't like all of the fluff they added to make the extended versions.)

-Brian

[billypoe]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I'll buy both versions but I really like the theatrical versions.

It's nice to watch the complete film like I saw it back in the movie theater.

(And,.. I don't like all of the fluff they added to make the extended versions.)

-Brian

Over 90% of that "fluff" was material from the original source. The only added scenes I did not care for was the drinking game and the Witch King breaking Gandalf's staff.

[billypoe]

Originally Posted by the Bass Mechanic

I bought both versions of the DVD's, and was glad I did. The 2 versions are different takes on the story, the extended editions did not just add footage to the 'Theatrical Cut' version, scenes were changed completly with footage that worked with the shorter version of scene totaly replaced in some cases. It was the same thing with the extras; almost none of the extras on the 2-disc 'theatrical cut' versions were used in the 4-disc ' Special Extended Edition' DVDs. I never felt that buying the 2-disc versions was a waste, as having both gives me more extras than with either version alone. When I host my 'Memorial Day' LOTR marthon each year, we watch the 'Theatrical Cut' of "Fellowship of the Ring" up to where Gandalf knocks on the door of Bag End, then switch to the 'Extended Edition', and we use the 'Theatrical Cut' of "Two Towers", and then use the "Extended Edition" of "Return of the King"

The ideal thing would be to release the Blu-rays with both versions on the discs, and allow us to select either version, and even edit together which version to use on a scene-by-scene basis via seamless branching. I know that might not happen, at least not a first, but it would be nice. What is more likely to happen is for them to release a Blu-ray version of the 'Theatrical Cut' DVDs first, the release the 'Extended Editions's later (or even right before the "Hobbit" movie(s)!!!), THEN maybe release a "Penultimate" version with both versions, all the extras & deleted scenes in the vault, and user selectable "editing" of the scenes. As long as they don't keep releasing another "better" version perennualy, I'll be happy with a "basic" version soon-ish in 2009, as long as they let us know about the other version(s) coming down the line (they did let us know when the 2-disc DVDs came out, that the 4-disc versions would be out soon after).

As long as they don't yank us around, I'll buy at least 2 versions of the LOTR trilogy on Blu-ray, but they should limit it to no more than 3 versions, and only if they give us fair warning so that we can plan on which ones we each want to get. 'Nuff said!
TBM
Eric Busch

[drichter33]

Seems that our own desires to get these on BRD has sorta put the cart in front of the horse, as they say.

In fact, if i were a forum administrator I might edit or change the name of this thread as it is completely misleading. 'COMING SOON' not= '2009'

Most I heard was an interview with PJ that 'INDICATED' they could make it out next year.

I anticipate what will happen is the will put out the theatrical BRD versions around the time the Hobbitt comes out, if not sooner. If the theatricals are out by then, the EE's will be the tie in to the hobbit release.

With all the technology this format is supposed to harvest, I dont know why, except for studio greed, they dont put out a complete version that has a pop up or branching feature where you can interject what EE scenes you wish to view.

I agree about the EE of FOTR- I cant go back to theatrical. TTT there are pieces in the beginning and middle I could care less about- its the extra stuff at the end. ROTK has too much stuff I ship through, including the entire end after the ceremony at Minas tirith (in either version)

[Darth Lavender]

Originally Posted by davcole

While i'm sure the extended versions of FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING and THE TWO TOWERS can fit on a BD-50, I have my doubts about RETURN OF THE KING.

What are your thoughts if the extended versions were released over 2 discs?

3 hours of King Kong fit very easily onto a single 30gb disk (with all the European languages, too)
I don't see how 3 hours and 30 minutes could be a problem for a 50gb disk.

For that matter, "Kingdom of Heaven" is supposedly an excellent...
I was going to say 'an excellent release' but its a $40 disk with no extras. So, I'll just say it's a bad joke with excellent image quality. Point is, that fit 190 minutes onto BD50 with the less efficient MPEG2 codec. 210 minutes with a VC1 or AVC should be darn easy.

Having said that, I'd be pretty open to having actual intermissions. Silly that the DVDs didn't have those. The disk-breaks were well placed, but they just needed the actual fade to black to give it a little class.
(And, for those who vehemently oppose intermissions on LotR, even Peter Jackson, on the audio commentaries, encourages people to at least take a break between discs.

[Damoxuk]

For these films hopefulyl WB will have got there head's outta there asses. And do High-Bitrate Encodes with HD Lossless Audio and considering the DVD's had 6.1 tracks nothing less than 7.1 dolby tru-Hd here means' WB are shit simple as

[richieb1971]

I'm not worried about this release. Its not Warners say how it gets released its Peter Jacksons say. Warners bad boys only touch what the directors can't be arsed to do themselves by the sounds of it. I'm sure Peter Jackson will over see all the production values of each movie.

[bhampton]

Quote "Over 90% of that "fluff" was material from the original source. The only added scenes I did not care for was the drinking game and the Witch King breaking Gandalf's staff."

It's been a while since I watched either version (Guess I'm saving up the experience for the eventual HD versions) but... the extended scene I couldn't stand involved singing at a funeral.

You know,... when I saw the movies in the theater, the theater was packed with people that seemed to be loving it. It's not like everyone there was like aw man this sux. The theatrical cuts are good movies. I own both versions on DVD and will give them away when I replace them with both versions on Blu but to me the theatrical cuts will always be the definitive versions because that's the stuff I saw in actual movie theaters,... and it was fun.

It's also fun to be able to see extended scenes but some of that stuff was cut for good reasons and I think the extended cuts are just attempts to milk the series for all it's worth.


=Brian

[GoBlu08]

I would like extended cuts too. I was just saying that whatever version comes out I have to own them.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by drichter33

Seems that our own desires to get these on BRD has sorta put the cart in front of the horse, as they say.

In fact, if i were a forum administrator I might edit or change the name of this thread as it is completely misleading. 'COMING SOON' not= '2009'

Most I heard was an interview with PJ that 'INDICATED' they could make it out next year.

TheDigitalBits.com indicates their sources say 2009 for the films on BD. TheDigitalBits sources tend to be -very- reliable.

[GGX]

Originally Posted by Darth Lavender

3 hours of King Kong fit very easily onto a single 30gb disk (with all the European languages, too)
I don't see how 3 hours and 30 minutes could be a problem for a 50gb disk.

Yes but it filled it to capacity and lacked any sort of lossless audio.

[owa]

I want both versions so I don't care if they release the theatrical or extended versions first.

Edit: It would be great if they can make it so that the disc doesn't have to be swapped in the extended version as long as that they don't sacrifice the PQ/SQ. I see some mentioning that in the last few posts and I remember seeing a discussion on that a while back but don't remember the conclusion. Just putting these comments in an edit while I read the rest of the thread.