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

[radagast]

So I spend a few days away from this site to enjoy Christmas. I come back and it seems we are in a Groundhog Day scenario.

Who says Sisyphus is a myth?

[Roy Batty]

Originally Posted by radagast

So I spend a few days away from this site to enjoy Christmas. I come back and it seems we are in a Groundhog Day scenario.

Who says Sisyphus is a myth?

Sisyphus had it easy.

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Who has time to watch the extendeds anyway?

I watch them every couple of months or so. I did a complete run-through a couple of weeks ago, when I finally grabbed them on Blu. I'm very pleased with the results.

[riverbelow]

Having watched all the extended's now once through (for the first time) and the interest about my thoughts as a previously in-the-dark to the Extended's fan..

Short and sharp my verdict is I'll continue watching the Theatricals I'm so used to at this point. For pacing reasons, captivation, and consistency with the Directors final vision. He's on the record that the theatrical are his directors cuts, and the EE are not considered "definitive" releases like with harry potter - merely extended fun. The music score being extended sometimes took me out of the flow.

What I will do is watch the EE discs once a year to keep myself fresh with the movies (and continue my bi-monthly theatrical viewing as usual on Blu). I absolutely love the packaging of the EE's and the uber extensive features you get with the set. So I'm thrilled to have the U.S release of LOTR EE in my collection sitting proud.

[nathan_393]

I keep thinking I need to rewatch these soon and like to watch them around New Year's every year, but I have probably more than 20 unwatched Blus to go through, some of them Christmas gifts... This might have to wait for a more suitable occasion. Maybe Reading Week.

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by riverbelow

Having watched all the extended's now once through (for the first time) and the interest about my thoughts as a previously in-the-dark to the Extended's fan..

Short and sharp my verdict is I'll continue watching the Theatricals I'm so used to at this point. For pacing reasons, captivation, and consistency with the Directors final vision. He's on the record that the theatrical are his directors cuts, and the EE are not considered "definitive" releases like with harry potter - merely extended fun. The music score being extended sometimes took me out of the flow.

What I will do is watch the EE discs once a year to keep myself fresh with the movies (and continue my bi-monthly theatrical viewing as usual on Blu). I absolutely love the packaging of the EE's and the uber extensive features you get with the set. So I'm thrilled to have the U.S release of LOTR EE in my collection sitting proud.

I just watched the Return of the King...whew! That was a marathon! I'm glad I watched the extended editions but I'm sticking with my plan to take them back and keep the theatricals. The video transfers for Two Towers and Return of the King appear to be identical to the theatricals and I actually prefer the transfer of the Theatrical on Fellowship even though it's softer, simply because it doesn't have that odd greenish tint. I completely understand why people love the extended editions since they add more scenes from the Tolkien books but the added scenes add little to nothing. If I had my druthers, I would add back in Sauroman's death and call it a day. The rest is really just filler. I also noticed something odd where the witch king breaks Gandalph's staff. Wouldn't a white wizard mop the floor with him? I remember from the books that White Wizards were damn powerful. Anyway, I totally respect everyone's opinions but it's just my 2 cents.

[frogmort]

Originally Posted by Cook

Eh The Hobbit is a year out and final grading isn't complete. Also if it is wrong as some still believe it is it can't be proven until it is rereleased. If it is wrong it will be corrected. Jackson says its correct and I'll take him on his word. Another thing if peter says its right then by whos standard is it wrong? Only by people's standards who have no idea what peters motivations were and were not involved in the process. This whole thing is one big conspiracy theory. And recall that Jackson never said it was done to match the hobbit. That's speculation. Obviously it was wrong. Peter had his reasons. Personally I dont care. On my calibrated TV it looks great. All the problems i had with the original color grading are gone and i have no problema with the new color grade. Rivendale no longer looks like it is inhabited by the Simpsons and Lothrien isn't bathed in a hideous blue haze. This is just my opinion tho.

Could you please provide a link to where Peter Jackson says that it's correct? As far as I know, he has never ever mentioned anything at all about this situation anywhere.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by frogmort

Could you please provide a link to where Peter Jackson says that it's correct? As far as I know, he has never ever mentioned anything at all about this situation anywhere.

it was PR BS. Warner got him to say that nonsense when the theatricals first were bein released. Since Warner let slip at the exact same time that both theatrical AND extended editions were coming to market, they needed him to boost favour for the theatricals in order to convince everyone to purchase them instead of having everyone just wait for the extended editions.

Remember too that Jackson had a lot of income at stake with these sales figures as well. Had he not told that little white lie, he would have potentially lost millions. It's only ever been mentioned once by him and in a fleeting singular sentence. Had it been really important to him, he would have expunged on the topic and he would have repeated it through several sources at greater length than one mention which was something along the lines of "the theatricals are my directors cuts."

The extendeds were treated with such care and so much extra time was invested by PJ that it is my firm belief that he really wanted to have the extended versions as the only versions. Warner would have none of it though as the lengths of these films would have eaten up the number of showings per business day and hindered box office results as a result. He was strong-armed into the theatricals for business reasons and held at gunpoint to peddle the theatrical home releases.

Of course... that's all just an opinion.

[nathan_393]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

it was PR BS. Warner got him to say that nonsense when the theatricals first were bein released. Since Warner let slip at the exact same time that both theatrical AND extended editions were coming to market, they needed him to boost favour for the theatricals in order to convince everyone to purchase them instead of having everyone just wait for the extended editions.

Remember too that Jackson had a lot of income at stake with these sales figures as well. Had he not told that little white lie, he would have potentially lost millions. It's only ever been mentioned once by him and in a fleeting singular sentence. Had it been really important to him, he would have expunged on the topic and he would have repeated it through several sources at greater length than one mention which was something along the lines of "the theatricals are my directors cuts."

The extendeds were treated with such care and so much extra time was invested by PJ that it is my firm belief that he really wanted to have the extended versions as the only versions. Warner would have none of it though as the lengths of these films would have eaten up the number of showings per business day and hindered box office results as a result. He was strong-armed into the theatricals for business reasons and held at gunpoint to peddle the theatrical home releases.

Of course... that's all just an opinion.

Although I found your post interesting and more informed than my own knowledge on the subject, I believe the poster you quoted was looking for evidence that Jackson endorsed the EE Blu-rays, particularly the colour change in FOTR.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by nathan_393

Although I found your post interesting and more informed than my own knowledge on the subject, I believe the poster you quoted was looking for evidence that Jackson endorsed the EE Blu-rays, particularly the colour change in FOTR.

No. There was definitely a statement in which they stated they prefer the theatricals because they are Peter Jackson's preferred definitive versions of the film. Someone else asked for proof of such a thing in the form of a link to a quote. I was simply rationalizing the entire scenario for both of them.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Yes, yes yes, and yes yes yes. Who has time to watch the extendeds anyway?

Like an extra hour and change (not counting the 20 minutes of extra credits) is really going to affect your time?

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

No. There was definitely a statement in which they stated they prefer the theatricals because they are Peter Jackson's preferred definitive versions of the film. Someone else asked for proof of such a thing in the form of a link to a quote. I was simply rationalizing the entire scenario for both of them.

No, they were talking about the color changes on FOTR, not the cut of the film.

[frogmort]

Originally Posted by nathan_393

Although I found your post interesting and more informed than my own knowledge on the subject, I believe the poster you quoted was looking for evidence that Jackson endorsed the EE Blu-rays, particularly the colour change in FOTR.

Yes, you are correct. The person I quoted was talking about the color timing, and said that Peter Jackson said that it was correct. I asked for a link to where Jackson said this.

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

No. There was definitely a statement in which they stated they prefer the theatricals because they are Peter Jackson's preferred definitive versions of the film. Someone else asked for proof of such a thing in the form of a link to a quote. I was simply rationalizing the entire scenario for both of them.

No. The person I quoted was refering to the color timing. Some other people were comparing the theatrical vs. extended, but not the person I quoted, and not me. It's all good.

[frogmort]

Originally Posted by retablo

No, they were talking about the color changes on FOTR, not the cut of the film.

Thank you. I'm not exactly sure how he got that from either Cook's post that I quoted, or my response.

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by retablo

Like an extra hour and change (not counting the 20 minutes of extra credits) is really going to affect your time?

Just what I wanted to say. If you can spare 9 hours, you can probably spare 10 & 1/2.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

I watch them every couple of months or so. I did a complete run-through a couple of weeks ago, when I finally grabbed them on Blu. I'm very pleased with the results.

Did you get that 1080p display yet?

[riverbelow]

No offence to that dude who used an opinion to argue fact. But you are bordering delusional.

Peter Jackson is his own person. He is not a corporate puppet. He defies studios on the record in his special features. And comes across as a man who cares deeply about displaying a quality product, even home video - and circumventing business interests when art is involved. So if the tint was not intentional I believe he would done something about it. Like reference the gladiator scandal as a template for the studio to correct it.

And as far as what the directors cuts are...

If he says the theatricals (which were all put up for oscars and ROTK won) are the definitive release/directors cuts of the films, you cannot use un sourced opinion to refute that! Why not simply take his word, as a show of respect if nothing else.

Prove something to the counter and your opinion could hold some weight over RECORDED sources = ie Fact. Reality.

p.s If anyone wants to label me a jackson fanboy or something. I do love the movies but I've followed this thread, its sourced links, and read the unsourced opinion and seen the release and I agree with the stance that it isn't exactly a travesty of a disc, and it seems likely it was intended to move away from the red of the fellowship council scene or at worst the monitors he greenlit the transfer on wasnt calibrated to notice the push.

[MacEachaidh]

riverbelow,
If Jackson had just wanted to diminish the red cast of the Council scene, he wouldn't have had to put a teal shift through the entire movie to do it.

And I agree that he's shown himself as someone who "cares deeply about displaying a quality product", but if that's so, why would you even imagine that he would greenlight a transfer on an uncalibrated monitor?!! Are you really suggesting someone else mucked it up, and Jackson and Lesnie simply didn't spot it?

I seriously doubt either of those is the reason for the The Teal.


(BTW, have you got a reference for Jackson claiming the TEs were the "definitive" release? Are you sure of the context and intent of such a statement?)

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

riverbelow,
If Jackson had just wanted to diminish the red cast of the Council scene, he wouldn't have had to put a teal shift through the entire movie to do it.

And I agree that he's shown himself as someone who "cares deeply about displaying a quality product", but if that's so, why would you even imagine that he would greenlight a transfer on an uncalibrated monitor?!! Are you really suggesting someone else mucked it up, and Jackson and Lesnie simply didn't spot it?

I seriously doubt either of those is the reason for the The Teal.


(BTW, have you got a reference for Jackson claiming the TEs were the "definitive" release? Are you sure of the context and intent of such a statement?)

I've read several times that Peter Jackson said the Theatrical cuts are the true versions and the extended are for the hardcore fans.

[raygendreau]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

riverbelow,
If Jackson had just wanted to diminish the red cast of the Council scene, he wouldn't have had to put a teal shift through the entire movie to do it.

And I agree that he's shown himself as someone who "cares deeply about displaying a quality product", but if that's so, why would you even imagine that he would greenlight a transfer on an uncalibrated monitor?!! Are you really suggesting someone else mucked it up, and Jackson and Lesnie simply didn't spot it?

I seriously doubt either of those is the reason for the The Teal.


(BTW, have you got a reference for Jackson claiming the TEs were the "definitive" release? Are you sure of the context and intent of such a statement?)

Q: What's the definitive version of these films?

JACKSON: The theatrical versions are the definitive versions. I regard the extended cuts as being a novelty for the fans that really want to see the extra material.

http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/445/445262p4.html

I believe you can find a similar statement somewhere in the supplemental material with the Extended Edition BDs. I remember seeing it and he is the one that says it, no one is quoting him. If you aren't satisfied with the above, I'll see if I can find it.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Welcome to the debate which died 3 months ago.

If the so-called "tint" is that noticeable, your TV is probably too heavily calibrated towards a particular colour. It has been stated by many that a quick and small adjustment fixed the issue with FOTR while still preserving the colour of all other content presented on that display.

The theatrical editions don't even hold a candle to the extended editions. I will NEVER watch the theatrical edition of any of the trilogy EVER again. I'd recommend watching the entire series of extended films before returning the set. The additions to the other two films are far more prevalant than those added in FOTR and the image of the other two have nothing in them to complain about.

Not so fast on the theatrical editions being bad. The Two Towers TE is actually paced much better than the EE and is a perfect film. I'd agree that Fellowship and King are better in their EE editions but even King has some scenes that are just wasteful. People should try them all out and see who they think. IMO, only the EE of the Fellowship is a must watch. I'm telling ya, the other two, especially Towers are very good theatrically. Some scenes added are good and some are pointless and kill the pacing. Less is more and in this case it applies sometimes!