The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended Edition) (2001-2003)

[oaguirre]

Originally Posted by Parasite68

Ever since I saw FOTR EE at the theater last week, Ive been noticing a green tint on everything!

I hope this clears up in time for the blurays next week!

It's the Green Lantern effect!

[Velmeran]

Originally Posted by Parasite68

Less than a year ago, the theatrical versions came out with no word when the EE's would be released...

Actually, less than a year ago we had numerous statements regarding the release of the EE's.

They weren't going to be coming out until just before the first Hobbit film.
However due to countless delays The Hobbit didn't start filming as originally anticipated and thus the EE's were released early.

[Parasite68]

Originally Posted by oaguirre

It's the Green Lantern effect!

The Green Lantern's release looks awfully yellow... Anyone else see this?

[Parasite68]

Originally Posted by Velmeran

Actually, less than a year ago we had numerous statements regarding the release of the EE's.

They weren't going to be coming out until just before the first Hobbit film.
However due to countless delays The Hobbit didn't start filming as originally anticipated and thus the EE's were released early.

Right... Exactly... It was all BS... They're coming out now with enhanced color timings set by Peter Jackson that everybody now hates based on screen shots and internet videos... Then, just before the Hobbit is released, they'll re-release it again with a tagline of "you complained and we listened... The extended editions the way they were meant to bee seen!"... Mark my words... It's coming!

[WorkShed]

Originally Posted by Farid

I just don't get it. It's SO obvious that the Fellowship has a vast amount of green splattered all over it. Can't they at least try to get an official response from the studio?!

At this point in time, I'm seriously considering the Theatrical BDs.

I have the theatrical BDs and despite the complaining, they aren't bad. It's not like the first third of the new Predator (which I felt looked better later on) where there's almost no detail. It is a big step up from DVD and a worthwhile release. Also, it has the trailers (including the Super Trailer) in HD. Thankfully, I got those on Black Friday for $8 each and haven't regretted it since.

[Cowboy]

What if Jakson came out and said "Thats the way I want them". Would that end the debate?

[Velmeran]

Originally Posted by Parasite68

Right... Exactly... It was all BS... They're coming out now with enhanced color timings set by Peter Jackson that everybody now hates based on screen shots and internet videos... Then, just before the Hobbit is released, they'll re-release it again with a tagline of "you complained and we listened... The extended editions the way they were meant to bee seen!"... Mark my words... It's coming!

Doubtful.

Also, most people don't mind the new color timings (assuming the overall green tint overlay is an error, and not intentional.)

There's only a few I've heard complain about the new timings (saying it makes a few places look dull -- but again that could be due to the overlay being an error).

There is a decent (but still small) group who don't like the new timings, purely from a film revision standpoint.

Originally Posted by Cowboy

What if Jakson came out and said "Thats the way I want them". Would that end the debate?

No, it would just shift the entire debate to a film revision standpoint. Gone would be the debates on if it's intentional or not, gone would be the debate on how prevalent the issue is.

[Roy Batty]

Originally Posted by Parasite68

They're coming out now with enhanced color timings set by Peter Jackson that everybody now hates based on screen shots and internet videos...

While I am one of those who "hate" the new transfer (at least, according to the screencaps), it's better nonetheless to stick to the facts.

Not "everybody" hates it, quite the opposite, I am afraid.

On this very same thread there have been several posters who are perfectly ok with the green push, and, in any case, this board community is just a small sample of the small hardcore part of the customer base who cares enough to follow the news and read reviews.

But, most likely, the vast majority of potential buyers are not aware at all of this controversy, and they couldn't care less if they were. They won't even notice it.

[Ken Brown]

Originally Posted by Farid

Can't they at least try to get an official response from the studio?!(

It's not for lack of trying. I've made calls, sent e-mails, climbed ladders, rattled windows, etc. There's simply no official response to be had at the moment. I have stopped short of badgering anyone, though, as I assume have others. No one would benefit from that!

Call me an optimist, but I'm convinced it will be addressed at some point, and the intention vs. error question will be answered, even if only in a neat-n-tidy official statement. Jackson will either say "all is well, it looks exactly as it should" or Warner will say "whoops, here's how to go about getting your free replacement discs"

What we will not see is a complete and indefinite silence on the matter from both parties. Mark my words. Eternal silence would look bad for everyone involved, Jackson especially. Based on the attention the issue is getting online, I have a feeling the "burning green question" would haunt Q&A's, Facebook discussions and man-on-the-street run-ins for the rest of poor PJ's life

[Ken Brown]

Originally Posted by Cowboy

What if Jakson came out and said "Thats the way I want them". Would that end the debate?

That would end the intention vs. error debate, at least officially. A small group of people would maintain that Jackson was lying, and be unsatisfied regardless of what he said. Others would begin to debate film revisionism, and buy or avoid buying the set according to principle. Most fans, though, would simply accept Jackson at his word and try to see the merit in any intentional changes he made to the palette of the film.

[kristoffer]

Originally Posted by Cowboy

What if Jakson came out and said "Thats the way I want them". Would that end the debate?

Yes I think so.

[Velmeran]

Originally Posted by Ken Brown

It's not for lack of trying. I've made calls, sent e-mails, climbed ladders, rattled windows, etc. There's simply no official response to be had at the moment. I have stopped short of badgering anyone, though, as I assume have others. No one would benefit from that!

From a PR perspective Ken, would it make sense to avoid answering the question until after the product's release? Or do you feel the continued silence would do more harm than good?

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by Cowboy

What if Jakson came out and said "Thats the way I want them". Would that end the debate?

Depends what debate you're talking about. If you're talking about the debate whether Peter Jackson approved it and/or isn't concerned about the new color timing, sure. It would be confusing though... why he would intentionally make things that were once clearly off-white (and were meant to be so) like credits, a transition screen, and even the title a sickly solid green would seem very odd. I guess it wouldn't end the debate about how aesthetically unappealing it is or isn't, or the debate about how important it is or isn't to preserve the film as it was originally presented.

It's even odder that Bill Hunt almost immediately received confirmation from sources very close to the production that these were personally approved by the man himself and Leslie, yet neither that source nor any other source has come out and and addressed the situation in any way.

[Velmeran]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

It's even odder that Bill Hunt almost immediately received confirmation from sources very close to the production that these were personally approved by the man himself and Leslie, yet neither that source nor any other source has come out and and addressed the situation in any way.

Well early on, weren't we just looking for confirmation that a new color grade in general had taken place?

My guess is that was the confirmation Bill Hunt received; and given that ultimately that isn't a secret (onering.net had info about it, it was in the pre-movie introduction last week) I would think it would have been easy to get confirmation on that.

Getting someone to confirm, or deny, a possible problem -- lots harder. ((Or at least in the job I'm in, we can't release any statements without having legal verify them. In addition as soon as we acknowledge there is a problem, were obligated to fix it. The same holds true typically for most companies.))

[WorkShed]

Originally Posted by Velmeran

From a PR perspective Ken, would it make sense to avoid answering the question until after the product's release? Or do you feel the continued silence would do more harm than good?

Unless WBHV decides that they need to do an immediate replacement and delay the release, while recalling all the discs currently in retailer distribution; silence is the way for the studio to go. I would be surprised if they said anything about the release being botched.

I do think it'll turn into a yellow barcode situation like Gladiatior in a couple of months (hopefully not years) and there would be an exchange. If Matrix Revolutions got an exchange for what was seen as a minor glitch by some, there's no reason for this to not get an exchange.

Originally Posted by Velmeran

Getting someone to confirm, or deny, a possible problem -- lots harder. ((Or at least in the job I'm in, we can't release any statements without having legal verify them. In addition as soon as we acknowledge there is a problem, were obligated to fix it. The same holds true typically for most companies.))

That makes a hell of a lot of sense. I'm sure all the number-crunchers are smashing through calculators to figure out if it would be worth it. The fact that they've been absolutely silent about it pretty much tells me they know they screwed up, now they're just trying to figure out how to spin it.

Also, I've heard people saying that Jackson would be on board for whatever WB tells him. This wouldn't be further from the truth. He's pitching them TWO guaranteed blockbusters that will sell a lot of 3D tickets (they're both being shot in 3D at 48 fps). If anything WB wants to make Jackson happy. Sure, WB is the one writing the checks, but The Hobbit is one of the few solid things the studio has going for them outside of The Dark Knight Rises. Man of Steel is pretty play-it-by-ear since Superman Returns wasn't received favorably, as was their hopeful cash cow Green Lantern looking like it might not even make its production and marketing budget back domestically. Also, don't forget that Harry Potter ends next month. WB needs a couple of huge wins.

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by Karl Murks

I agree that in that scene it's far less intrusive but Rivendell is supposed to have a red hue. The green cancels much of that out, making the image look dull and flat. Even without any reference my brain just wants to tell me that something is missing here.

About the rest of your images, logically a green tint in predominantly green scenes is not going to change much.

But that still doesn't change that there's several scenes where it's immensely intrusive. For me it's not so much the snow on the mountains that's the most objectionable but everything from Hobbiton. The tone of that sequence is completely obliterated by the green. It was supposed to be a joyful and happy place but now it's all dull and dreary and dark.

I'm with you on all that. Rivendell does look very desaturated and it looks like it's about to rain in the Shire. It's kind of awkward, some scenes that used to be warm now look cold while some that were cold (like when Isildur picks up Sauron's hand with the ring on it) now look warmer. I just meant I hope people don't start pointing out shots like this that seem affected but were already greenish to begin with.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by gregmasciola

I just meant I hope people don't start pointing out shots like this that seem affected but were already greenish to begin with.

The thing is, if the tint is completely consistent scenes that were merely meant to seem "greenish" will now be "greener." It won't have as drastic an effect as it would on a scene with a purposely warm tendency because it was leaning that way to begin with, but that doesn't mean it was meant to have that degree of green bias either.

And the scene in the beginning with Isildur definitely doesn't look warmer.

[Ken Brown]

Originally Posted by Velmeran

From a PR perspective Ken, would it make sense to avoid answering the question until after the product's release? Or do you feel the continued silence would do more harm than good?

It wouldn't primarily be about PR, in my humble opinion. It would mainly be practical. The PR hit would be the same regardless of when a recall/replacement was instituted. However, because all of the sets have already shipped to retail, a pre-release recall (if one were required) would be a nightmare that would only delay the release of the set. Even then, old sets would make it onto shelves, new and old sets would be out in the wild at the same time, and the cost of replacing/fixing all of the sets would skyrocket.

If a replacement program is created after the fact, Warner would only need to press two new discs for each set sold while swapping old still-on-the-shelf sets for newly corrected sets. However, if a pre-release recall is instituted, you have to either scrap every faulty set or open the sealed sets, replace the offending discs, repackage it all and then reship it to retailers. The cost of the latter, in every regard, would be far, far greater.

It's easy to assume Warner is twisting its mustache and looking at profit charts, but the reality would be more akin to people racing around trying to figure out how to fix an issue in the easiest, most cost effective, efficient way possible.

As always, conspiracy theories about Warner doing wrong by the consumer hinges on the idea that everyone in the organization, Jackson and Lesnie included, shares a common desire to pull wool over the eyes of the consumer. It just isn't very probable. Possible? Sure. Probable? No. Jackson loves these films and he loves his fans. I know, I know, someone can debate that ad nauseum. But I don't accept the notion that Jackson would simply accept an error of this nature (if it is indeed an error) and tow the company line. Keep in mind, this is the guy who went after New Line, regardless of what that meant for him being able to eventually helm 'The Hobbit.'

Maybe that's just me and maybe I'll be proven wrong. But I have to believe there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for.

[Toasterlad]

Originally Posted by DarthV

I'll go out on a limb and say that a LOT of people will buy and watch this set and absolutely love it. Why? Without some sort of reference of true white, most won't notice the new color timing.

I think this is very true. I doubt I would have picked up on anything myself if I hadn't stumbled across the controversy here...but now that I have, I can't UNKNOW about the flaw. But I'm glad I found out and cancelled my order: I'd rather wait and hope that a corrected copy is coming out than watch a flawed copy and not realize what I was missing.

That being said, I'd love to see bright white snow and blue skies

As would I. As would I.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by Ken Brown

But I have to believe there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for.

At what point in this thread do we all get to jump around on the bed together?


I'll start taking off my shirt now in preparation.