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

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

But it also deviates in many ways as well; instead of Glorfindel meeting the fellowship on the way to Rivendell, Bakshi insert Legolas, etc. Also, the Bakshi version ends with the battle of Helms Deep.

Bakshi wanted to do part 2 to finish the story but wasn't allowed to. It was never meant to end like that. That is part of the reason that the people who did the animated Hobbit also did the Return of the King in the same animated style.

Even though Glorfindel was taken out, Bakshi got it right in these places, where Jackson deviated from the book:

1) Merry and Pippin insisting on coming with Frodo and Sam because of their loyalty to Frodo.
2) 17 years passing from Bilbo's disappearance to Frodo's fleeing the Shire.
3) Frodo alone on the Elvish horse when being chased by the Ringwraiths right before Rivendel.
4) Bilbo attendance at the Council of Elrond.
5) Aragorn's fear of Moria and warning to Gandalf.
6) Lady Galadriel not being an Elvish witch but being a powerful Elf queen who also possessed one of the three Elvish rings of power.

There may be more, but that is what comes to mind at the moment.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

This is why buying this set is a problem. For me, The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition is a masterpiece. Pure perfection.
It doesn't matter which version of Fellowship I watch. It's just that good.

I have two minor quibbles with the Fellowship EE that most people probably wouldn't notice, and it involves the music. The first happens at the very beginning of the Shire sequence, when Bilbo is at Bag End - and the "Fellowship Theme" is inserted when there is no fellowship yet. It is first heard more appropriately in the TE when the journey of the fellowship has actually begun. The second is when the fellowship leaves Lothlorien, right before The Great River; part of the section is where Galadriel says "May it be a light to you in dark places". The music in the TE fits the scene perfectly - heavenly music to fit Tolkien's conception of Paradise, which is what Lothlorien is. The EE music by contrast is "watered down" and fairly humdrum. It also would have been nice if the gifts given to the travelers in the EE were the same as stated in the book, especially Sam's box of magic soil, although the Gimli sequence was good.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

That is correct, and also because Bakshi burnt himself out on it. I saw the Bakshi version when it was first run, and even back then he got an earful from Tolkien purists who didn't embrace his interpretation. You can imagine the eggshells that Jackson and Co. were walking on during their entire production!

Ironically, I thought Bakshi's version did a better job than Jackson's of getting the "feel" or "atmosphere" of the story at the very beginning.

There were plenty of Tolkien purists, myself included, who very very disappointed at the many of the story changes.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

Instead of watching them all at one shot, I watch half a movie a day; that way it spreads the experience out over six days and makes it much more enjoyable.

Of course. I never read the books in one sitting.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by radagast

Bakshi wanted to do part 2 to finish the story but wasn't allowed to. It was never meant to end like that. That is part of the reason that the people who did the animated Hobbit also did the Return of the King in the same animated style.

Even though Glorfindel was taken out, Bakshi got it right in these places, where Jackson deviated from the book:

1) Merry and Pippin insisting on coming with Frodo and Sam because of their loyalty to Frodo.
2) 17 years passing from Bilbo's disappearance to Frodo's fleeing the Shire.
3) Frodo alone on the Elvish horse when being chased by the Ringwraiths right before Rivendel.
4) Bilbo attendance at the Council of Elrond.
5) Aragorn's fear of Moria and warning to Gandalf.
6) Lady Galadriel not being an Elvish witch but being a powerful Elf queen who also possessed one of the three Elvish rings of power.

There may be more, but that is what comes to mind at the moment.

All true, and Bakshi did a good job considering what he was up against, but the major thing that bothered me was the "flavor" of his portrayal. I wasn't sure who his target audience was supposed to be, but he wavers unevenly between being too "cutesy", especially with the hobbits who take on an almost Japanese characteristic animation with the big googly eyes - and dark terror, with his portrayal of the Ringwraiths and orcs, which he spends too much time dwelling on, IMO, and of course the copious amounts of blood when the orcs get shredded. Although rotoscoping was effectively used, I think he could have developed the story more evenly and effectively. I have the DVD and still enjoy watching it, however.

[saprano]

16 bit dolby truhd 5.1 audio, warner really sucks ass. i though new line took over their transfers again?

Dont expect perfect PQ ether, warner is incapable of making reference PQ.

Dont think i'll be buying this again.

(I really hate that damn studio)

[GoodToGo]

Amazon UK has this up for pre-order!

[radagast]

Originally Posted by jumpman

you don't need the boromir flashback. You don't need the corsair ships sequence that features peter jackson's cameo. You don't need the drinking game between legolas and gimli in return of the king.

Yet, you really need that scene where aragorn reveals himself to sauron with the palantir.

yes!!!

[Batman1980]

Not sure why you guys attack Jackson so much. If it weren't for him we wouldn't even have the movies. Not sure anyone else would've tried as hard as he did to get those movies made and then have the sense to make all 3 back to back. Did he stick to the books? No and I'm glad he didn't, those suckers are LONG and Tolkien is one of the worst ramblers I've ever read.

[jibucha]

Hello

It's unclear to me whether this has already been posted, but this is the official release date for the Lord of the Rings.

April, 6, 2010.

Disc Set is 9-discs and retail is for $99.98; the original theatrical versions. The set also will include digital copies of each film and have BD Live access.

Thank You

[Stlsports]

Special extended DVD edition preview. That sounds weird. Is it not a preview of the Blu Ray EE? I mean who needs a preview of the DVD version of the EE. I'm confused.

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

The first happens at the very beginning of the Shire sequence, when Bilbo is at Bag End - and the "Fellowship Theme" is inserted when there is no fellowship yet.

It's inserted because the title shows up at that moment. Sounds appropriate to me.

Originally Posted by saprano

16 bit dolby truhd 5.1 audio, warner really sucks ass. i though new line took over their transfers again?

Dont expect perfect PQ ether, warner is incapable of making reference PQ.

Dont think i'll be buying this again.

(I really hate that damn studio)

What's bad about TrueHD? And your comment about about the PQ their releases have is just plain stupid. Have you seen The Wizard of Oz?

[42041]

If the movie was mixed in 5.1, why would the blu-ray be 7.1?

[geomon]

Originally Posted by Stlsports

Special extended DVD edition preview. That sounds weird. Is it not a preview of the Blu Ray EE? I mean who needs a preview of the DVD version of the EE. I'm confused.

That's because the special features disc is repackaged from the original DVD release.

[Grand Bob]

[QUOTE=KubrickFan;2650520]It's inserted because the title shows up at that moment. Sounds appropriate to me.

With the TE, the music begins with "The Shire", which is right for the scene. "The Fellowship" theme, at the beginning of the EE, should have (IMO) made its appearance with the formation of the fellowship, as was done with the TE. A minor point for sure, but for movies as detail-oriented as these were, it sticks out.

[Nielsb90]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

Not sure why you guys attack Jackson so much. If it weren't for him we wouldn't even have the movies. Not sure anyone else would've tried as hard as he did to get those movies made and then have the sense to make all 3 back to back. Did he stick to the books? No and I'm glad he didn't, those suckers are LONG and Tolkien is one of the worst ramblers I've ever read.

+1! I've read the books, and if the movies were made like that more people would hate the movies and wish they were like Peter Jacksons versions..

Btw. why did they choose Peter Jackson? I love Braindead and Bad Taste but they don't really qualify for the LoTR job?

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Nielsb90

+1! I've read the books, and if the movies were made like that more people would hate the movies and wish they were like Peter Jacksons versions..

Btw. why did they choose Peter Jackson? I love Braindead and Bad Taste but they don't really qualify for the LoTR job?

New Line didn't pick Peter Jackson, he basically went from studio to studio for I think 10 years trying to get financing for the movies. It was the fledgling studio NL that took a chance on him and I'm sure they're glad they did. Jackson seems to be one of the best at dramatic epics and he truly delivered with these 3 excellent movies. Can't wait to see what he does with the Hobbit films.

[Jumpman]

There could've been a middle ground between Tolkien and Jackson on the last two films just as he found that balance in The Fellowship of the Ring. That's why that film is so damn good.

With Towers and King, when Jackson rears his head, the films tend to take step down in quality. When he sticks to the essence of Tolkien, the films soar.

For some reason, Jackson couldn't continue that great balance he found in Fellowship with the last two films. And, it shows.

And as an aside, having just watched Two Towers extended edition for the first time in 2 years, I think I might have to get these theatricals. That ending is just all kinds of bad. It has no flow, no rhythm. It off balances the whole second half of the film.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

New Line didn't pick Peter Jackson, he basically went from studio to studio for I think 10 years trying to get financing for the movies. It was the fledgling studio NL that took a chance on him and I'm sure they're glad they did. Jackson seems to be one of the best at dramatic epics and he truly delivered with these 3 excellent movies. Can't wait to see what he does with the Hobbit films.

More importantly if Guillermo is the right man for the job, which he seems to be.
One of my favourite directors...

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

Not sure why you guys attack Jackson so much. If it weren't for him we wouldn't even have the movies. Not sure anyone else would've tried as hard as he did to get those movies made and then have the sense to make all 3 back to back. Did he stick to the books? No and I'm glad he didn't, those suckers are LONG and Tolkien is one of the worst ramblers I've ever read.

That's your opinion. I might add that I am convinced you are in the minority about the books. That having been said, Jackson could have stuck to the story much better than he did and still had great movies (better movies as far as I'm concerned). The books are not for those with a short attention span who are a part of the MTV world. It's an adventure that takes place over a long period of time and Tolkien brilliantly captured the feel of those who were in the quest, even the drudgery of it.
It seems more real like history than it does fantasy.