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

[Petra_Kalbrain]

The "definitive" version of the LOTR trilogy is entirely subjective to the viewer.

Personally, I will never watch the theatrical cuts ever again. For me, they are a complete and utter waste of time. However, if others prefer the theatricals, they are welcome to watch them... just not with me in the room!

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

EDIT: Never mind. I've had this exact same conversation too many time before. Time for me to let it go.

[mzupeman]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Sometimes; sometimes not.

What is it about the version that was released to cinemas because it couldn't be completed within a studio-imposed timeframe (Jackson's King Kong or any number of others), or because of commercial or studio-imposed limits on running time (Aliens, The Abyss or Dances with Wolves, or any number of others), or because of autocratic decisions by producers (Mimic or Alien3, or any number of others) that makes those versions definitive?

In this case, the theatrical cut is the diretor's cut. He's said so himself. The EE's were pretty much done for the fans.

[Goldengirl]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

The "definitive" version of the LOTR trilogy is entirely subjective to the viewer.

Personally, I will never watch the theatrical cuts ever again. For me, they are a complete and utter waste of time. However, if others prefer the theatricals, they are welcome to watch them... just not with me in the room!

This to the 100th power.

[Fayth]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth5929

Let's just throw these films in the trash, obviously they suck and are not true to the books, so they need to be burned and PJ beaten in front of his family for creating such an abomination.

/sarcasm

As far as I can tell we have been talking about one scene that we find disgraceful, not about the whole set of movies or even the extended editions as a whole... I quite enjoy the movies, even though I have several gripes that go beyond the Gandalf vs Witch King scene.

[threefiftyrocket]

Well, here is my opinion on this...

As much as I love Tolkien and his masterful story (thank you Grand Bob and Radagast over the last year or so really helping me understand it more), I really do have issues with some of the changes made. Some of it I don't have issues with, because some (maybe even a majority) of specific things in his books will not translate well to film. So......

As many issues I have with the films, they are still my favorite films of all time. ALL TIME!!! Yes, that includes the Theatrical Versions. I PREFER the Extended Versions, but I respect Peter Jackson enough to say that if the TE's are his preferred version, then they need to be respected as well.

I always remind those that bash the Theatrical cuts that they are the versions that won 18 Oscars (I know thats not always a valid unit of measurement but hey, its still true). They have their validity, so I am happy with them. And in SOME respects, they are actually better (pacing at times, for instance).

But all in all, the problems that I have with the films I can keep saying that its just an interpretation. It is film, it is not another novel, it CAN be different. And with all of the flaws that these films may have, they are still brilliant works of cinema that I can still enjoy, again and again and again...

[Sephiroth5929]

Originally Posted by threefiftyrocket

Well, here is my opinion on this...

As much as I love Tolkien and his masterful story (thank you Grand Bob and Radagast over the last year or so really helping me understand it more), I really do have issues with some of the changes made. Some of it I don't have issues with, because some (maybe even a majority) of specific things in his books will not translate well to film. So......

As many issues I have with the films, they are still my favorite films of all time. ALL TIME!!! Yes, that includes the Theatrical Versions. I PREFER the Extended Versions, but I respect Peter Jackson enough to say that if the TE's are his preferred version, then they need to be respected as well.

I always remind those that bash the Theatrical cuts that they are the versions that won 18 Oscars (I know thats not always a valid unit of measurement but hey, its still true). They have their validity, so I am happy with them. And in SOME respects, they are actually better (pacing at times, for instance).

But all in all, the problems that I have with the films I can keep saying that its just an interpretation. It is film, it is not another novel, it CAN be different. And with all of the flaws that these films may have, they are still brilliant works of cinema that I can still enjoy, again and again and again...

This.

I'm not a Tolkien historian, but I enjoy the films for what they are. I only have the fellowship EE, but I have the TE's of all the films. They are great and entertaining.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by El_Jay

Seriously, some people wouldn't have been satisfied by anything short of a page-for-page recreation of the book. We're lucky it was even faithful at all. Studios have shown time and time again that they owe the source material nothing.

Wrong. The irony is that the much maligned animated version that R. Bakshi did a long time ago is MORE faithful in the story line in areas that PJ was not. And those scenes in the Bakshi version work BETTER than PJ's version.

Page for page is not what's needed. Leave Bombadil out if you need to. Just lose the Hollywoodish rubbish changes to the story line.

Originally Posted by Fayth

As far as I can tell we have been talking about one scene that we find disgraceful, not about the whole set of movies or even the extended editions as a whole... I quite enjoy the movies, even though I have several gripes that go beyond the Gandalf vs Witch King scene.

I can agree with this.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by threefiftyrocket

Well, here is my opinion on this...

As much as I love Tolkien and his masterful story (thank you Grand Bob and Radagast over the last year or so really helping me understand it more), I really do have issues with some of the changes made. Some of it I don't have issues with, because some (maybe even a majority) of specific things in his books will not translate well to film. So......

As many issues I have with the films, they are still my favorite films of all time. ALL TIME!!! Yes, that includes the Theatrical Versions. I PREFER the Extended Versions, but I respect Peter Jackson enough to say that if the TE's are his preferred version, then they need to be respected as well.

I always remind those that bash the Theatrical cuts that they are the versions that won 18 Oscars (I know thats not always a valid unit of measurement but hey, its still true). They have their validity, so I am happy with them. And in SOME respects, they are actually better (pacing at times, for instance).

But all in all, the problems that I have with the films I can keep saying that its just an interpretation. It is film, it is not another novel, it CAN be different. And with all of the flaws that these films may have, they are still brilliant works of cinema that I can still enjoy, again and again and again...

I can agree with this as well.

I would sum up my feelings thus: They are great movies. But they could have been MUCH better.

[Uxi]

I like the EE better than the theatrical but am hoping for another take in a few years that has a proud and confident Aragorn wielding Anduril throughout the trilogy. Would have loved to see the scene of him putting Anduril down before Hama and proclaiming that death would fall upon any who touch Elendil's sword but his lawful Heir.

Would still like to see a different (and better) take on the Balrog, too if not a proper confrontation between Gandalf and the Witch King at the Gate of Minas Tirith.

[Fariz]

just came from Canada, C$50 including shipping



and found Saruman on pawn shop, only $1,5 perfect match

[greg_achen]

I saw The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert last night and I was absolutely blown away. Experiencing the film with a live orchestra is something I will never forget. It reinforced why I consider the score for these films to be some of the best music EVER composed for films.

There were so many goosebump inducing moments and I am a little embarrassed to admit that I got a little teary eyed after Gandalf fell at the Bridge of Khazad Dum. The female soloist had such a hauntingly beautiful voice, it still gets to me just thinking about it.

If any of you have the chance to go see this, I know it's rather expensive, but trust me, it is money well spent. I look forward to The Two Towers next year.

[El_Jay]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth5929

Let's just throw these films in the trash, obviously they suck and are not true to the books, so they need to be burned and PJ beaten in front of his family for creating such an abomination.

/sarcasm

Let's just be more melodramatic, absurd, and extremist, shall we?

/notsarcasmatall

[rocks off]

Originally Posted by Fariz

just came from Canada, C$50 including shipping



and found Saruman on pawn shop, only $1,5 perfect match

Lucky. I live in Canada and mine won't even SHIP for another 2 weeks.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by El_Jay

Let's just be more melodramatic, absurd, and extremist, shall we?

/notsarcasmatall

Ummm ... El_Jay, isn't that what Sephiroth was actually saying too?

[nathan_393]

Originally Posted by rocks off

Lucky. I live in Canada and mine won't even SHIP for another 2 weeks.

I don't know who you're ordering from but I'm not sure I'd order from them again if I were you. That's unacceptable shipping time.

[rocks off]

Originally Posted by nathan_393

I don't know who you're ordering from but I'm not sure I'd order from them again if I were you. That's unacceptable shipping time.

It's from Amazon.ca. I'm not surprised that it will take this long, as it was a 1-day only sale for $45, so they ran out of stock quickly and that's why they can't fulfill orders until the next few weeks.

[horizonline]

Originally Posted by Uxi

I like the EE better than the theatrical but am hoping for another take in a few years that has a proud and confident Aragorn wielding Anduril throughout the trilogy. Would have loved to see the scene of him putting Anduril down before Hama and proclaiming that death would fall upon any who touch Elendil's sword but his lawful Heir.

Would still like to see a different (and better) take on the Balrog, too if not a proper confrontation between Gandalf and the Witch King at the Gate of Minas Tirith.

Can I please say this one thing? If they wanted the books to match the movies, why didn't they hire a writer to do it for them, and why did they change the screenplay?

[Troy73]

Originally Posted by horizonline

Can I please say this one thing? If they wanted the books to match the movies, why didn't they hire a writer to do it for them, and why did they change the screenplay?

Wow! That post actually had something to do with the topic.......are you feeling okay?

[NYorker]

I'll always look at the theatrical editions very fondly, and they did win all those oscars. But after watching the EE, I just can't go back.