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

[Fighter]

Is it worth it to wait for two more years for the EE if you are a true fan? Hell no, I say dump your DVD versions and get the bd...I'm telling you, it's worth it...for the audio alone

[petmic10]

Originally Posted by Ken Brown

The tone in here has drifted into somewhat hostile territory (especially over the last two or three dozen pages). I don't think anyone is saying the release shouldn't or can't be enjoyed, just that they're personally distracted by some of the problems. Each person's viewing is subjective, as is yours. Your opinion may be in the majority, but it shouldn't be used to belittle another person's impressions anymore than theirs should be used to belittle yours.

Just to repeat myself ad nauseum, I felt 'FotR's transfer could be better, but I also think its flaws shouldn't prevent anyone from buying and enjoying this release. Suffice to say, not everyone has to devote themselves to one camp or the other.

Judging PQ and AQ isn't an exact science, and there is no absolute right and wrong answer in the debate (at least not with the facts anyone has on hand). I'll be viewing an original theatrical print of 'FotR' in two weeks, and I'll report back my findings then (and even update my review, if necessary).

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this ongoing discussion, but try and keep it civil, gentlemen. It's getting a bit unruly here and there

The voice of reason.

[blu2]

Originally Posted by deeman54

im double dipping without thinking twice. Whats 60 bucks, most people spend that crap on cheeseburgers and crap.

You're exactly the sort of consumer WB had in mind. (Nothing wrong with your decision of course)

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by mredman

How can you be fine watching the DVD's for LOTR when the DVD's are HORRIBLE compared to the blu rays?

Like Greg, I too am waiting for the EE's.
I don't care how good the PQ is, I'd rather watch the extended cut in 480p than watch the theatric cut in 1080p. I can't bear to watch the theatric cut of 'Return of the King', in particular: half of my favorite scenes are EE scenes. The theatric cut runs like a crude TV-edit, to me; I don't like it.
I just gave these a rent to check out the quality, I won't be buying them.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by blu2

You're exactly the sort of consumer WB had in mind. (Nothing wrong with your decision of course)

not really im just a fan with a little money to spend thats all. You buy cheeseburgers and ill by stuff with value, get it.

[42041]

Originally Posted by deeman54

Whats 60 bucks, most people spend that crap on cheeseburgers and crap.

cheeseburgers, or 3+ other movies I could buy room-for-improvement is what netflix is for.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by deeman54

im double dipping without thinking twice. Whats 60 bucks, most people spend that crap on cheeseburgers and crap.

Originally Posted by blu2

You're exactly the sort of consumer WB had in mind. (Nothing wrong with your decision of course)

For better or worse, that's just how this market works.
LotR is one of the few titles out there with enormous double-dip potential, (especially regarding the cult-following for the extended cuts). WB would be foolish to pass up the opportunity to market separate releases. It doesn't make them evil or greedy, it makes them sensible and practical. They are a for-profit business, if they didn't exploit the opportunity, that would be irresponsible to their shareholders. It's a competitive business, and major studios are going under, (Miramax is done, now it's just a Disney-owned catalogue, New Line is done as far as having any independent management or property, and MGM has so much debt that they can't even get a qualifying offer at auction).

The whole "they owe everything to the fans because the fans make them rich" argument is painfully naive. It runs on the false belief that "big, rich corporations" don't have money problems of their own. We little people have problems with mortgages and utility bills, problems with thousands of dollars; those guys have multibillion-dollar dilemmas, I wouldn't want that kind of responsibility.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by 42041

cheeseburgers, or 3+ other movies I could buy room-for-improvement is what netflix is for.

Nope, never, i don't do netflix, i need the hard copy, and im just a fan i can buy the movie 6,000 times if i want. Its my money and all you can do is talk. So talk, someone is listening to you. LOL.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

For better or worse, that's just how this market works.
LotR is one of the few titles out there with enormous double-dip potential, (especially regarding the cult-following for the extended cuts). WB would be foolish to pass up the opportunity to market separate releases. It doesn't make them evil or greedy, it makes them sensible and practical. They are a for-profit business, if they didn't exploit the opportunity, that would be irresponsible to their shareholders. It's a competitive business, and major studios are going under, (Miramax is done, now it's just a Disney-owned catalogue, New Line is done as far as having any independent management or property, and MGM has so much debt that they can't even get a qualifying offer at auction).

The whole "they owe everything to the fans because the fans make them rich" argument is painfully naive. It runs on the false belief that "big, rich corporations" don't have money problems of their own. We little people have problems with mortgages and utility bills, problems with thousands of dollars; those guys have multibillion-dollar dilemmas, I wouldn't want that kind of responsibility.

agreed, look at what James Cameron is doing with AVATAR.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by deeman54

agreed, look at what James Cameron is doing with AVATAR.

You said it, chief.
A cash-cow like LotR or Avatar comes along once a decade at best; it would be foolish not to flog it for all it's worth... especially considering how many movies actually lose a ton of money.

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by deeman54

well just don't purchase it. You are titled to your opinion. If it seemed crappy spend your money on something else worth watching.

Seems like he spent the $60, watched it and was not impressed.
Too late to ask for a refund and selling it can be a hassle(sell it, obtain money, get box/packing material, drive to post office, buy postage then ship it).

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by Monkey

Ok, so I've read some comments about how the Balrog scene is much better in the Two Towers than it is in FotR. Well I don't have the blu-ray's but I compared the DVD's. My observation is that the scene is better on the Two Towers DVD compared to the FotR DVD.

You mean to tell us you have been proping up this blu-ray release and you have not seen it?

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by deeman54

LOL, wow it seems that you don't have anytime on your hands brother. You show the same will and drive to down play them. Look at the review board 40 people have reviewed it, out of those 40 35 says nothings wrong with it but someone is trying their best to downplay them. Stop trying because in all actually your opinion doesn't matter. but please state it because thats what the site is for. But don't put endless energy to try to prove someone wrong. There is a small percent that don't like the release and are trying very hard to get other to agree with them. Just chill.

I wouldn't consider 30-40% a small percentage.

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by Adam.C

same here. There are few films that are epic (LOTR/ Star Wars/Indie films). When these are release on blu, you just gotta have it if you are a BIG fan. Or just continue to watch it on subpar DVD

If you are a fan of the movies, the DVD will be just fine & adequate for many viewings for many years to come. The story is the same and DVD is not that bad if you have a 50" or less screen/TV with a good upconverter.

Not every BIG fan goes out & buys every little trinket, lunch box & underwear with the LOTR stamped on it.
Some people have a high level of standards and expectations.

The whole purpose of blu-ray is a dramatic increase in PQ.
TTT and ROTK delivered. FOTR did not.

Do yourself a favor and watch the last 30 minutes of ROTK then pop in FOTR.
You will see a dramatic difference in lack of a good HD PQ.
This may be due to the source or bad transfer.
Looks like we may find out in several weeks.

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by Adam.C

If you can watch it in HD why would you watch it in SD

Because if you own the DVD's, it's free, not $60.
Oh, and if they have cable, they can watch it in HD too. Just need to watch the schedule.

[42041]

Originally Posted by HDPlasma

This may be due to the source or bad transfer.
Looks like we may find out in several weeks.

What do you mean? The 35mm screening?

The 35mm prints for this movie have always been sub-optimal and won't really represent how good it *could* look on home video (given some investment of time/money). Before digital intermediates, super35 had a reputation for being an inferior format since making anamorphic prints involved an additional lab step where the image had to be optically squeezed, which degrades quality (compounded with the additional graininess due to the smaller negative), and that's just for regular movies. When you add in the fact that most of the movie WAS scanned into digital, then printed back onto film and cut in with the normal negative, you're getting a relatively low quality print due to all the generation loss involved.

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by Fighter

Is it worth it to wait for two more years for the EE if you are a true fan? Hell no, I say dump your DVD versions and get the bd...I'm telling you, it's worth it...for the audio alone

Most people do not have the capability/equipment to enjoy HD audio.
You're lucky if they have a HTiB and not using their TV speakers.


Some people believe if they have a HTiB that they can enjoy the lossless audio because it says so on the back cover. I've had to explain to many people how lossless audio works and that it requires the right equipment to decode/receive it.

[raygendreau]

Originally Posted by deeman54

hey how about the Helms deep horn. Me and my wife both looked at each other like what the hell. That shit was definitely hi def, blu ray, lossless perfection. We turned at each other like

After reading the last few pages of the thread I decided to put on my hockey mask and shin guards before posting.

I thought the QE2 was coming through the window when that horn blew.

Did anyone know that the Beatles planned to make a LOTR movie?
There are some interesting comparisons of J.R.R's vision and Jackson's movie here as well.

http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/C/Janet....flattening.htm

As for me, I'm starting to have nightmares about Dwarf women with beards. Oh, the hrrr the hrrr

Guess I'll have to watch Chuck reruns for awhile.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by HDPlasma

I wouldn't consider 30-40% a small percentage.

I don't think that was his point.
I think his point was that there are some haters posting on this topic who have long since crossed the line between stating their opinion and trying to badger everyone into following their opinion, that those people have formed a loud, outspoken minority, and those people are making themselves look very bad.

Don't be one of them.

[blu2]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

You said it, chief.
A cash-cow like LotR or Avatar comes along once a decade at best; it would be foolish not to flog it for all it's worth... especially considering how many movies actually lose a ton of money.

Clearly there is a market that is happy to indulge the studios so who am I to argue. Enjoy the discs and I'll just catch up when the EE's are out.