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

[Pagey123]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

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.

I'm one of those guys that can always say, "You know what, that was a clever/brilliant idea," but I'm never the guy that thinks of the idea.

I'm also the guy that says, "By god, you're right! There is some horrible visual artifacting going there," but can't see it on my own 99% of the time.

I'm still not sure if these are good or bad qualities.

[Vertizontal]

Originally Posted by RustinCohle

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

These discussions are both a blessing and curse for people like me...I do enjoy and respect guys with gifted eyes that spot things I normally don't (ahem, Geoffs great point about Gandalf looking like 16 bit Street Fighter Gandalf with that simple circle cast shadow in the HD pic lol) but then I can't un-see that stuff and need to remind myself to be grateful I still retain a joe six pack ability to just enjoy movies without being hyper critical.

[Pagey123]

Originally Posted by Vertizontal

These discussions are both a blessing and curse for people like me...I do enjoy and respect guys with gifted eyes that spot things I normally don't (ahem, Geoffs great point about Gandalf looking like 16 bit Street Fighter Gandalf with that simple circle cast shadow in the HD pic lol) but then I can't un-see that stuff and need to remind myself to be grateful of that fact and still retain that joe six pack ability to just enjoy movies without being hyper critical.

Exactly! Put me down for one of these, too, but make mine a double please!

[OutOfBoose]

Originally Posted by Panama Jack

Then why are you even still posting in this thread if you've already decided you're never going to actually watch the discs? I'm genuinely sincerely asking.

I meant in the sense that I'm not gonna buy the discs to watch them to see if there's DNR or not (since it was the point of discussion). I already see it's there and it varies from shot to shot. Every review I read mentions DNR. So anyone saying it's not there (or the grain is intact) is either in denial or simply lying.

I'm definitely not gonna get it for full price paired with extended. I'll wait if there is a separate theatrical release. Or major discount for the current set. And if eventually I get it, I'm getting it mostly for superior colors and HDR. Despite my mixed impressions.

And to answer you question why I'm still here - I love LOTR and curious of other people's impressions regardless if they like it or not. And more technical info by knowledgeable people is always a pleasure to read.

[RustinCohle]

Originally Posted by Vertizontal

These discussions are both a blessing and curse for people like me...I do enjoy and respect guys with gifted eyes that spot things I normally don't (ahem, Geoffs great point about Gandalf looking like 16 bit Street Fighter Gandalf with that simple circle cast shadow in the HD pic lol) but then I can't un-see that stuff and need to remind myself to be grateful I still retain a joe six pack ability to just enjoy movies without being hyper critical.

I avoid most of these threads for exactly that. I just like to see packaging pictures. I don't always like to be made aware of when you can see a boom mic hanging in the corner of the frame that they forgot to take out lol.

[Pieter V]

Some quick audio differences I noticed on Fellowship EE Part 2 iTunes version.

[Show spoiler]
-Crebain crows when they are heading back to Orthanc. You will hear more cracking sounds and whoosing effects.

More wind effects when they are stuck in the snow, as Saruman tries to cut off their way.

-More falling walls noise after the water creature destroys the door entry.

-Cave troll battle

-Aggressive Balrog roar in rears before they are heading to the bridge

-Horn of Gondor. First it was only in the left surround speaker. Now it's split on both.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Vertizontal

These discussions are both a blessing and curse for people like me...I do enjoy and respect guys with gifted eyes that spot things I normally don't (ahem, Geoffs great point about Gandalf looking like 16 bit Street Fighter Gandalf with that simple circle cast shadow in the HD pic lol) but then I can't un-see that stuff and need to remind myself to be grateful of that fact and still retain that joe six pack ability to just enjoy movies without being hyper critical.

But what people have to keep in mind here - this ain't a dig at you - is that some folks are perfickly capable of both watching and scrutinising at the same time. I love movies as an art form, they're my favourite thing and although I've made it my mission to peek behind the curtain as much as possible that only strengthens my appreciation, that I can compartmentalise that knowledge and still get sucked into the story. I cry at the end of Apollo 13 every damned time, and that's not just because the compression on the UHD is so shonky

[Jpapp25]

Watched the extended cut of Fellowship last night and somehow it was even better than I remember. This is my favorite trilogy released in my lifetime (OT Star Wars will always be my first) but wow did I forget how good the first film is. The camera tricks and use of so many different cinematic technologies to really turn scenes like when Arwen is being chased by the ring wraiths on horseback into this epic chase with the use of cuts and music reminds me of why I love cinema and film. I was tempted to just stay up all night and finish off the trilogy (a younger me would have done this without question) but decided to wait. The entire time I was watching it I just had that feeling of "I love this film, I love these characters" and just lost myself in the the unfolding narrative.


Regarding packaging, I received the best buy steelbook set and it came with a few dings and a spine slash, but this isn't a set I will ever sell and the blemishes give it some character.

The audio in atmos was really good and encompassing. Lows seem good and give the sound more fullness. In some atmos mixes I've watched the dialog can be hit or miss from the center channel depending on the mix but for the most part I had no issues hearing characters or spoken dialog. The PQ looks good to my eyes so far but I on first pass I haven't really been paying attention for defects and really have just noticed the extra detail in the costumes and backgrounds like the forests and mountains. Really happy with the first watch of FotR and have only started TT, but it seems great so far.

[Alan B]

[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.

To go back to this again, that shot seems strangely familar in terms of a side by side comparison, even the bit with the door seems to trigger a memory. Did they change it from DVD to Blu-ray, only to have now undone the change for the 4K? lol

[Vertizontal]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

But what people have to keep in mind here - this ain't a dig at you - is that some folks are perfickly capable of both watching and scrutinising at the same time. I love movies as an art form, they're my favourite thing and although I've made it my mission to peek behind the curtain as much as possible that only strengthens my appreciation, that I can compartmentalise that knowledge and still get sucked into the story. I cry at the end of Apollo 13 every damned time, and that's not just because the compression on the UHD is so shonky

I knew that just based on your reviews (yep, I look forward to them ), you have a pure joy of the entire craft, story telling to the methods used to spit it out. And hacks like some of us NEED people like you (and a few others here) so when I point out to friends that the fly on the chair in the background is now facing the opposite direction when the camera returns to center it's MY catch and not something I read on a forum (yeah, I do that ).

[James Freeman]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

To go back to this again, that shot seems strangely familar in terms of a side by side comparison, even the bit with the door seems to trigger a memory. Did they change it from DVD to Blu-ray, only to have now undone the change for the 4K? lol

No, they fixed it for the 4k release.

[bradnoyes]

Has anyone redeemed the digital copies? I almost always sell mine but if these include the special features I may hang onto them.

[KMFDMvsEnya]

I redeemed my codes at Movies Anywhere and The Hobbit Trilogy appears to have most if not all the extras, whereas The LOTR Trilogy only has 2-3 extras.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by KMFDMvsEnya

I redeemed my codes at Movies Anywhere and The Hobbit Trilogy appears to have most if not all the extras, whereas The LOTR Trilogy only has 2-3 extras.

Sounds like a good reason to keep the EE BD set then.

[James Freeman]

I am really terribly sorry for this but here:

[thorthefifth]

Originally Posted by James Freeman

I am really terribly sorry for this but here:

[Show spoiler]

How dare you!

[Mierzwiak]

Still better than the attack of the elvish clones in BOTFA :P

[ClassicCraig]

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?

It's still there. I had never noticed it before last night.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by KMFDMvsEnya

I redeemed my codes at Movies Anywhere and The Hobbit Trilogy appears to have most if not all the extras, whereas The LOTR Trilogy only has 2-3 extras.

On iTunes, the EE’s of the six films have all the Appendices and the Costa Botes documentaries. For the Hobbit theatricals, you get the bonus features that were featured on the theatrical Blu-Ray release.