The Lord of the Rings Trilogy 4K UHD Extended & Theatrical (2001-2003)

[Marv Inc.]

Middle Earth | Behind The Scenes With Peter Jackson | Warner Bros. Entertainment - YouTube

[levcore]

I saw fellowship 4 times theatrically, TTT 3 times theatrically and ROTK 4 times theatrically. I bought the theatrical DVDs and the EE DVDs. I watched all the extras more than once and have listened to the commentaries (all 4 on each) multiple times. That was during my student years. I also picked up the EE Blu Ray set when it came out.

A lot had changed by the time The Hobbit movies came out, i absolutely loved them but i only saw each one once theatrically, although i did buy the theatrical 3D Blu for each and then the EE 3D Blu for each and obviously watched all the extras and listened to the commentaries.

I'll look forward to revisiting these next year when the 6 movie set comes out. Although i just finished rewatching the EE 3D Hobbit movies for the umpteenth time. It's been a few years since i did LOTR.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

BTW, can I just say how awful the iTunes stream looks in comparison to those UHD pics? Completely devoid of any trace of film grain. I mean, you always expect a certain loss of detail, but the iTunes encodes makes the transfers look like a waxy mess.

My apologies for not taking your guys’ advice. On this occasion, you were absolutely right. Wait for the discs.

[philthehip]

Originally Posted by Alwayshappy

Anyone else who ordered the steels from Amazon UK? It has been preparing for dispatch for days now. Same with another separate order I made. Money has been taken a few days ago.

I have talked with Amazon UK via the bot chat then asked to speak to a human. I was passed around with no answers for at least 40 minutes. 3 operators later they couldn't even tell me if they have the items. They seemed pretty evasive too. Lots of "let me check this for you" with no answer forthcoming other than to escalate it as a stuck order and wait 24-48 hours.

[Member-222782]

This set is $10 cheaper on Amazon right now. They're not price matching BB - Target, maybe?

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

BTW, can I just say how awful the iTunes stream looks in comparison to those UHD pics? Completely devoid of any trace of film grain. I mean, you always expect a certain loss of detail, but the iTunes encodes makes the transfers look like a waxy mess.

My apologies for not taking your guys’ advice. On this occasion, you were absolutely right. Wait for the discs.

Don’t agree. What I see on iTunes shows that very thin layer of grain. Obviously not like the discs but it’s definitely there from what I’m seeing. 🤷🏾*♂️

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Alwayshappy

Anyone else who ordered the steels from Amazon UK? It has been preparing for dispatch for days now. Same with another separate order I made. Money has been taken a few days ago.

Nothing here yet, having ordered both steel sets. They've not even sent the Blade 4K that I ordered, so I cancelled that (I can wait for a 2 for £30 offer on that one). No payment taken as yet.

But I got an email at like 4 in the morning that said the LOTR steels were now back in stock, still no sign of dispatch but something's moving at least...though boy are the wheels turning slowly. I think Warners have produced these in the usual amounts for a catalogue UHD title, i.e. not very many, and they've been hammered with orders.

[Pagey123]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Nothing here yet, having ordered both steel sets. They've not even sent the Blade 4K that I ordered, so I cancelled that (I can wait for a 2 for £30 offer on that one). No payment taken as yet.

But I got an email at like 4 in the morning that said the LOTR steels were now back in stock, still no sign of dispatch but something's moving at least...though boy are the wheels turning slowly. I think Warners have produced these in the usual amounts for a catalogue UHD title, i.e. not very many, and they've been hammered with orders.

I used it yesterday, but it's just too much fun NOT to use it again:

Seinfeld The Movie The wheels are in motion - YouTube

[SleazyForWeasley]

USPS is so jacked up in my area. Two packages (one scheduled Monday, one Tuesday) now late and no updated tracking in days. Why do they even bother giving a delivery date if they can't follow-through? We were all supposed to be nice to the USPS during the Election, but it's over now and they need to get their act together. I hope my LOTR steels are in good shape when they arrive.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by James Freeman

Nothing to worry about, there is not one among us that didn't experience LOTR fatigue.
I still rewatch the extended trilogy 2-4 times a year.

This 4k release definitely worth a rewatch, fatigued and unattentive, but still worth the rewatch if only for the correct colors and fixed CG.

I mean look, they fixed Moria's door for us, even if it's a super dark scene and almost invisible.

Is it me, or is there slightly more detail on the teeny tiny figures in the HD?

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Is it me, or is there slightly more detail on the teeny tiny figures in the HD?

It ain’t you.

[Pagey123]

Oh my...you'll unleash the Pickers of Nits (TM), you mad kitty!

[Alwayshappy]

Originally Posted by philthehip

I have talked with Amazon UK via the bot chat then asked to speak to a human. I was passed around with no answers for at least 40 minutes. 3 operators later they couldn't even tell me if they have the items. They seemed pretty evasive too. Lots of "let me check this for you" with no answer forthcoming other than to escalate it as a stuck order and wait 24-48 hours.

Doesn't sound promising. I tried to get rid of the bot chat, but never got the option. Guess I'll just have to wait and see. It's strange that I have the same issue with that season of Grey's Anatomy, which isn't exactly a limited edition. Don't know what's going on over there. Usually my pre orders are shipped on sunday or monday (when it releases on monday).

[moreorless]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I watched all three movies in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy three times at the theater for each one and countless times at home on DVD back in the early 2000s when they were released.

For the past 15 years, though, I have suffered from "Middle Earth fatigue", and have not felt remotely inclined to revisit them.

(This is one reason why I was not impressed with The Hobbit films in the slightest.)

I have lately had a hankering to return to these first The Lord of the Rings movies, though, so the 4K set is timely.

I admit I'v suffered a bit from the same, I probably saw the three films combined 20+ times at the cinema in the days of cheaper tickets but by the end of the decade I was definitely a bit fatigued. Since then my memory is I'v only watched the EE's 2 maybe 3 times.

The Hobbit films did arguably come out at a bad time in that regard, when the hype around Jackson Tolkien had died off a bit but the films hadn't been around long enough to really play to nostalgia strongly. Of course if he'd delayed any longer he wouldn't have been able to use a lot of the original cast.

I would say colour timing wise you have a similar kind of effect to the Matrix UHD in that your so used to seeing global colour filters that peoples faces having some pink in them really stands out, especially in these days of toning skin towards orange so often.

Honestly grain wise LOTR to me is not something I strongly associate with a "filmic" look. It was never heavily grainy and I always got the sense Jackson was trying to avoid association with the history of the medium, not shooting anamorphic for example so no "blockbuster flare" or characteristic look to the bokeh.

[Pagey123]

For those of you chatting with the Amazon bots, worry not: it's part of the master plan.

https://arstechnica.com/information-...-and-machines/

[Kaonashi]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Is it me, or is there slightly more detail on the teeny tiny figures in the HD?

Definitely more colour detail, looks like they feathered off the edges too to work with the new backdrop.

[AreaFive]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Is it me, or is there slightly more detail on the teeny tiny figures in the HD?

Good catch. It's also worth noting that they are "popping out" from the background much less in the 4K version. They look more natural in the environment.

[r9800pro]

Originally Posted by Alwayshappy

Anyone else who ordered the steels from Amazon UK? It has been preparing for dispatch for days now. Same with another separate order I made. Money has been taken a few days ago.

My LOTR steelbooks shipped 2 days ago and were supposed to arrive today via DHL to me but there is the usual 1 day delay to get to my city. Should arrive tomorrow morning.

On the other hand, The Hobbit steelbooks order was preparing for dispatch then showed Not Yet Dispatched despite charging my credit card for days already!

[Scottishguy]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Is it me, or is there slightly more detail on the teeny tiny figures in the HD?

The tiny figures looked fine to me in the UHD. I doubt he tried to soften, or tweak them. As you can now clearly see all the child doubles they used.

[philthehip]

Originally Posted by Alwayshappy

Doesn't sound promising. I tried to get rid of the bot chat, but never got the option. Guess I'll just have to wait and see. It's strange that I have the same issue with that season of Grey's Anatomy, which isn't exactly a limited edition. Don't know what's going on over there. Usually my pre orders are shipped on sunday or monday (when it releases on monday).

When the bot process is over you can type in the box at the bottom. Type " I want to talk with a human" and it will connect you.