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

[James Freeman]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

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

Yes, also more color in the HD characters.
That's a green screen or CG charaters over a close up of Moria miniature.

I think they desaturated and softened the CG models to match the miniature sharpness and blend better.

The 4k image does look more coherent, while the HD version looks like what I would do in Microsoft Paint with the scissors tool.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Pagey123

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

Yeah, I'm not after stirring up the murder-hornet's nest or anything like that, declaring it to be THE WORST THING EVAR, I'm simply calling it as I'm seeing it. And I think we've established by now that some of the VFX shots have suffered a wee bit in the transition to 4K, for whatever reasons, which is nothing unusual for older VFX.

[edit]
And I see the replies have treated this comment in the spirit it was intended, so I thank y'all for that.

[rewak]

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.

My regular 4K set now says it'll be delivered tomorrow and they've taken payment, but that's after I complained about the release day delay so maybe they marked my order to dispatch ASAP.

Originally Posted by 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/

The bot is useless, say "Connect me to someone" and it'll put you straight over to a real human (or a better bot, not sure which!)

[wjasoncul]

Sorry if this has been brought up already but it felt like the goof where Aragorn's bow hits the camera when he says "Into the wild" doesn't seem to be pronounced any more. I watched it several times and didn't see the bump. I just looked at my HDX Vudu copy and it's still there. Did they "clean that up"?

[Pagey123]

Originally Posted by rewak

My regular 4K set now says it'll be delivered tomorrow and they've taken payment, but that's after I complained about the release day delay so maybe they marked my order to dispatch ASAP.



The bot is useless, say "Connect me to someone" and it'll put you straight over to a real human (or a better bot, not sure which!)

I was being facetious about the bots. But the linked article is worth a read, as are the comments. I always imagined Orwellian Nightmare Tech (TM) being brought to me by governments; turns out it will first be developed and deployed by the private corporations, then confiscated by the governments of the world! But, if you consider it rationally, this makes much more sense, as it will be first developed and used to "drive efficiencies and synergies" and other MBA babble speak.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by bizzle

Is this one of those cases where if I don't buy now I may never see it at this price again? Is this pretty much sold out in big box stores?

No telling if it is a permanent price drop, or just an indication they're trying to move unsold units in stock, or both.

[MattJ1991]

Question for you all. Is there 100% confirmation that all the extras from the Extended Edition Blu-rays will be in the upcoming box set? I want to sell my EE set now while it still has value, but only if I can still watch the Appendix features in the upcoming set. Watching those making of features has become a near annual tradition along with the films themselves.

[Psycho666]

Originally Posted by James Freeman

Yes, also more color in the HD characters.
That's a green screen or CG charaters over a close up of Moria miniature.

I think they desaturated and softened the CG models to match the miniature sharpness and blend better.

The 4k image does look more coherent, while the HD version looks like what I would do in Microsoft Paint with the scissors tool.

Yeah, I'm no expect but in the HD version the characters look too in focus compared to their immediate surroundings. Whereas in the new 4K version they have the same slightly out of focus look as their immediate surrounds and a better match.

[Alwayshappy]

Originally Posted by r9800pro

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!

Happy for you of course, but it's weird that some were sent days ago, while others are still waiting. I pre-ordered weeks ago.

[Geoff D]

Here's one for you lucky devils who own it: When Gandalf sits down at the kitchen table in Bag End right near the start of FOTR, does the foreground element (the table being a two-piece motion controlled forced perspective rig) still wobble when he knocks it with his knee?

[James Freeman]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Here's one for you lucky devils who own it: When Gandalf sits down at the kitchen table in Bag End right near the start of FOTR, does the foreground element (the table being a two-piece motion controlled forced perspective rig) still wobble when he knocks it with his knee?

Yep.
They would not dare to fix that, that's a hidden gem.

[ek79]

Originally Posted by AreaFive

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.

Definitely. Here, I prefer what PJ did in the 4K.

[James Freeman]

btw Geoff D, you are right, TTT has some nasty movement artifacts in some scenes.
Look on the left side of Theoden's face.
That's a halo from the NEXT frame, he is moving to the left.

[Mcfly88]

What versions do the digital codes redeem, do you get both the theatrical and extended?

[DOULG1VEN]

Just finished watching the first disc of the EE of Fellowship. HDR is amazing, when Arwen first appeared I was blinded even on my OLED. The battle on weathertop with the torch was another delight to watch. I didn't find a single offensive CGI scene or even effect that stuck out. Comparing these to the star wars prequels that were shot during the size time period is a night and day difference...

I will say that I didn't notice grain. I had to really REALLY look for it to find it. Especially after watching The Matrix a few days ago, which was an excellent transfer, and full of grain. which made this movie look like it was shot more digitally than on 35mm. Still - I am not saying that really as a negative thing, as there isn't a bad DNR botch or soft shots throughout. It's very very detailed. I loved every minute and am very pleased with how it looks.

[RustinCohle]

Man..some of you guys are intense. Looking for tiny specs of things "wrong".

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by James Freeman

btw Geoff D, you are right, TTT has some nasty movement artifacts in some scenes.
Look on the left side of Theoden's face.
That's a halo from the NEXT frame, he is moving to the left.

Yep, that's exactly what I've been talking about for years on TTT, those smeary temporal artefacts. In case anyone's wondering: no, that effect will not be on the camera negative, so I'm guessing that any shots which still have that artefact must be 2K upscales becuz VFX or whatever.

[thorthefifth]

Originally Posted by Mcfly88

What versions do the digital codes redeem, do you get both the theatrical and extended?

Yeah, you get both. The one code redeems them all and in the darkness, binds them.

[jvonl]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I feel similarly. I saw all three theatrically and watched the DVDs of both cuts many times and grew tired of them until the EE BDs were released. Since that release I've watched all three maybe 3-4 times, but it's been over a years since I've seen them so I am excited to see them again on UHD.

You should be. You won't be disappointed! Enjoy!

[3eccaTron]

Originally Posted by wjasoncul

Sorry if this has been brought up already but it felt like the goof where Aragorn's bow hits the camera when he says "Into the wild" doesn't seem to be pronounced any more. I watched it several times and didn't see the bump. I just looked at my HDX Vudu copy and it's still there. Did they "clean that up"?

I noticed this also. It seems they stabilized the shot digitally.