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

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

One additional thought regarding the different edits. One of the things I really loved in the Extended Cut of Return of the King was the scene between Aragorn and Eowyn in Edoras at the beginning of the film. RotK is such a massive epic with big set pieces that I rather liked getting some more quiet, intimate moments like that one. It clearly didn't have a place in the Theatrical Cut, but it's one of the things that's really great about having an additional fleshed out version of the film.

[The Fallen Deity]

I think that one of the best added scenes was the flashback scene with Boromir & Faramir in TTT.

It makes Boromir come across as a more nicer person and you realise how strong they're brotherly bond was and makes it more emotional when Faramir knows that he's dead.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

I think that one of the best added scenes was the flashback scene with Boromir & Faramir in TTT.

It makes Boromir come across as a more nicer person and you realise how strong they're brotherly bond was and makes it more emotional when Faramir knows that he's dead.

That's one of my favorite scenes in the whole trilogy, period.

Sean Bean made such an impression in Fellowship that I remember really missing him in The Two Towers. The film gains so much by having his presence in that scene. Also, as you say, it gives more emotional resonance to Faramir's arc.

The Boromir-Faramir-Denethor family dynamic is the biggest argument in favor of the Extended Cuts. It just adds an entirely different dimension to the story.

-----

I spent some time watching RotK with the Post Production audio commentary, and it's really reawakened in me just how amazing this film project turned out. So many people working on the production were so passionate and dedicated to the work, and the results are as stunning to me now as they were back when the films were released. You just really have to take your hat off to all the people involved.

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

That's one of my favorite scenes in the whole trilogy, period.

Sean Bean made such an impression in Fellowship that I remember really missing him in The Two Towers. The film gains so much by having his presence in that scene. Also, as you say, it gives more emotional resonance to Faramir's arc.

The Boromir-Faramir-Denethor family dynamic is the biggest argument in favor of the Extended Cuts. It just adds an entirely different dimension to the story.

I couldn't agree more. That addition is the main reason why I prefer the EE of Two Towers over the theatrical. Without it, Faramir doesn't have enough of a backstory, in my opinion.

[Cabanon]

man all this talk makes me wanna buy the set and watch it but I dont wanan buy it and double-dip later if there's a 3D version comming up in the future.

[BaerGriggs]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

One additional thought regarding the different edits. One of the things I really loved in the Extended Cut of Return of the King was the scene between Aragorn and Eowyn in Edoras at the beginning of the film. RotK is such a massive epic with big set pieces that I rather liked getting some more quiet, intimate moments like that one. It clearly didn't have a place in the Theatrical Cut, but it's one of the things that's really great about having an additional fleshed out version of the film.

I agree, that's a great added scene. It's the little things that are added in the EE's that matter the most to me. For example, the dialogue between Legolas and Gimli when they are leaving Edoras in Return of the King; where Gimli says that he wishes that he could have 100 Dwarf warriors in the upcoming battle, and Legolas says that he fears the war has already reached the northern Dwarven kingdoms. Not a long scene at all but I greatly appreciated that they added that short piece into the EE because there was actually a battle in the north at the time of the War of the Ring.

And I wholeheartedly agree all that was said about the added Faramir/Boromir scenes. Probably my favorite completely new scene that was added to the EE's.

[Constitution 101]

Originally Posted by BaerGriggs

I enjoy both the theatrical and the extended editions of these movies, but I admit I like watching the EE's much more. I love both the books and movies but I never really got too upset about any changes Jackson made. I can't really explain it, but I have a really hard time criticizing Jackson's work on the movies...I completely understand people's complaints about how they're too bloated, but I never complain about movies being too long, and more film time in Middle-Earth is always a plus to me. I've said before, I think Tolkien would have hated any film adaptation of his books because much of the nuance in his writing is extremely hard to put on the big screen. Just like Game of Thrones and other book->films, I just view the book and movie as separate entities and enjoy them equally.

Ditto. More film time of Middle-Earth, even mediocre, is still better. It's not something we've had before, so I'll definitely take it.

[2awesome4apossum]

Originally Posted by Constitution 101

Ditto. More film time of Middle-Earth, even mediocre, is still better. It's not something we've had before, so I'll definitely take it.

I agree with the sentiment, because I assumed you could never have "too much" Middle-earth on film. That said, the version of Fellowship I usually watch is the theatrical, because it has a nice rhythm to it, and it's easy to get through in a single sitting, so I opt for the shorter option. You're also not missing anything important like you would with the next two films' theatrical cuts.

However, my breaking point was "The Desolation of Smaug." I can forgive some of the sillier scenes, like the barrel scene, or like that opening flashback at the Pracing Pony, which was already recalled for us in the first movie. (Some scenes are cool if they're talked about first and *then* shown, but conversation scenes usually aren't one of them unless there's some kind of reveal.) And forget whether or not it's "true" to the source material, I've never seen a Romeo+Juliet love triangle feel as weak as the one with Tauriel. But it was the "chase" (if you can even call it that) with Smaug at the end that pushed me over the edge. When you put everything together, it lasted about 30 minutes. That's a long time to go without a lick of dramatic tension, just for a few cool shots of Erebor in action.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by 2awesome4apossum

or like that opening flashback at the Pracing Pony, which was already recalled for us in the first movie. (Some scenes are cool if they're talked about first and *then* shown, but conversation scenes usually aren't one of them unless there's some kind of reveal.)

I'm not going to comment on issues related to The Hobbit (since this isn't the thread for that anyway), but I will say that I rather loved the Prancing Pony scene. It reminded me so much of The Fellowship of the Ring (and not just because of the location).

[saprano]

Can the digital copies be used with UV?

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by saprano

Can the digital copies be used with UV?

No. The set was released before UV was commonplace. I actually got the HDX VUDU copies for a dollar as these are titles I want to be able to watch anywhere.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

No. The set was released before UV was commonplace. I actually got the HDX VUDU copies for a dollar as these are titles I want to be able to watch anywhere.

Damn that sucks. Yeah I wanted to add it to my UV collection so I can watch it anytime. I only watched FSOTR since I bought it and I'm trying to find the time to watch the rest. 4 hours is pretty damn long.

[Blu Jedi Master]

Originally Posted by saprano

Can the digital copies be used with UV?

If you want UV you have to buy the individual Extended versions of the movies.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by Blu Jedi Master

If you want UV you have to buy the individual Extended versions of the movies.

How much are they?

[MifuneFan]

If you have the extended DVD's you can get UV copies for them for $5 a movie at Vudu. If you transfer 10 DVD's to UV, it gets cut down to $2.50 a movie. I did this with my LOTR extended discs. Alternatively if you have a Blu-ray drive, I believe you can also get UV copies with the BD discs if you have those, for $2 each (and again half that with 10 transfers)

http://www.vudu.com/in_home_disc_to_digital.html

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

If you have the extended DVD's you can get UV copies for them for $5 a movie at Vudu. If you transfer 10 DVD's to UV, it gets cut down to $2.50 a movie. I did this with my LOTR extended discs. Alternatively if you have a Blu-ray drive, I believe you can also get UV copies with the BD discs if you have those, for $2 each (and again half that with 10 transfers)

http://www.vudu.com/in_home_disc_to_digital.html

Exactly. That's how I got them for $1 each.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

I don't know if this has been brought up before, but has anyone else noticed that The Two Towers is slightly windowboxed?

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

I don't know if this has been brought up before, but has anyone else noticed that The Two Towers is slightly windowboxed?

I'm not sure if it's windowboxed but the framing is definitely slightly different to previous transfers.

There's some good caps-a-holic pics which show the differences.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

I'm not sure if it's windowboxed but the framing is definitely slightly different to previous transfers.

There's some good caps-a-holic pics which show the differences.

There's thin black lines on the sides of the image - moreso on the right side.

[Geoff D]

It's got a slight tickle down the sides, yeah. Most folks won't even notice though because they've got the overscan on.

Speaking of TTT, look at this screen grab which illustrates how shitty the noise reduction was in the DI. Check out Samwise, he's horribly smeary, and just how many fingers does he have on his right hand??

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergl...ss=0#vergleich

A lot of the movie looks like that, over-processed mush. Andrew Lesnie said that they had a lot of trouble with the DI until PJ managed to get the right combo of sharpening and noise reduction. They fixed it in time for ROTK, and the completed DI for Fellowship looks incredible in terms of fine filmic detail, but TTT is a bit of dog at times.