The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies - Extended Edition (2D + 3D)

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

Oh yeah, I know it doesn't just end at "prequel trilogies, digital and CGI". But I mean, to me it often feels like people get so hung up on the similarities between the two that they forget about all the differences that exist as well.

You make a good point that Jackson having the groundwork laid out for him re: the story he's telling in these movies certainly makes a big difference. In that respect you have to give Lucas some credit; he had to build his universe from the ground up so he had some much bigger stumbling blocks along the way. Chances are Jackson would mess up more than he did in spots if he was writing it all from scratch, by himself. That's also the thing though, Jackson had the good sense to leave most of the writing process to others while Lucas insisted on (mostly) doing it himself.

Indeed, filmmaking in general can be a very chaotic and spontaneous process. Jackson's productions are far from unique in that regard, it's just that he's more honest than many others are, and once again, huge props to him for that. It's much more interesting than the usual "it was great, everyone was great" fluff that's typical of special features for contemporary films.

That's yet another difference between the two, Jackson has some actual appreciation for the historical value and legacy of his films, and the contributions of his cast and crew (like mentioning he has too much respect for Ian Holm to be completely comfortable with the idea of replacing him with Martin Freeman in the prologue for Fellowship, unlike Lucas who was all too happy to erase people's work and pretend it never existed).

Agreed on all points MG. Jackson's got a sense of what film history really means and I think that stems from his childhood fascination with not just movies but movie-making itself. Whereas Lucas was the opposite, he wasn't interested in movies at all when he was a kid, he was into his cars and didn't care about much else.

I'll give Lucas all the credit in the world for the technical achievements that he pioneered which changed the face of movie-making (not just CG but non-linear editing, digital cameras etc) and the three American classics that he directed (THX, Graffiti and Star Wars) but he disappeared up his own Sarlacc years ago. IMO his split with Marcia cost us seeing how far Lucas could've gone as a filmmaker as she always grounded his work, much like how Jackson's wife (and Philippa Boyens) does the same for him. Heck, who's to say Lucas wouldn't have had his own ROTK-style landslide of Oscars if he'd carried on directing with her to back him up? (Yes, I know Star Wars won 7 but they were all technical, I'm talking about the big kahunas.) But it wasn't to be.

[MechaGodzilla]

Agreed. I have a lot of respect for Lucas for his accomplishments, both technical and artistic. I tend to be in the "Lucas has given me more than he's taken away" camp in that regard and I'm not completely comfortable with *****ing about him yet again as it's been done to death at this point and people frequently cross the line from healthy criticism into something more closely resembling bullying, which isn't okay.

That said, there are definitely decisions of his that are worthy of criticism and he brought it on himself in the case of trying to erase the original versions of the OT from history. He could've avoided so much crap and been on good terms with everyone if he'd just been able to make multiple versions of his films available, like Spielberg, Scott, Cameron, Jackson, etc. do. But nope, stubborn Lucas is stubborn.

[r9800pro]

Originally Posted by chip75

Always order first and ask for refunds later with Amazon. Especially if it's limited.

I was placing an order earlier and the item went OOS when I was adding other items in my basket.

I always do that myself and not a single time they let me down.

[BlueAngel7]

I'm definitely going to watch all six extended editions back to back once TBotFA is released. It just has to be done!

[Brightstar]

Originally Posted by BlueAngel7

I'm definitely going to watch all six extended editions back to back once TBotFA is released. It just has to be done!

its not going to be easy watching all six EE back to back

[Rincewind78]

Originally Posted by BlueAngel7

I'm definitely going to watch all six extended editions back to back once TBotFA is released. It just has to be done!

Hats off to you for even thinking about it!!

I only ever tried all 3 LotR EE editions in one day - and that was hard
It was RotK - the last 30 mins is an absolute killer at such a late hour after such a long watching session

But saying that, I am looking forward to seeing all 3 EE Hobbits in 1 day

[Geoff D]

I'm definitely going to watch the three Hobbit EEs but not in a day, I'll spread them out over consecutive nights (I did the same thing with the theatrical versions when I got Five Armies earlier this year). Might as well follow them up with the LOTR EEs.

[Brightstar]

I would still like to see what they will give us for the middle earth Ultimate Edition box set ? if it happens

[Rixx]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Thanks, but I think the statues are 'orrible, I don't want a gift set just for the sake of it! But those lickle coins are a nice little add-on and for an extra few quid, why not? I'll just have to wait it out, see if any more stock appears from cancellations or whatever.

Coin set pre-order is up on Zavvi for £35 and they have it listed as an exclusive. This might just be a typing error as they usually list as Zavvi Exclusive, but on the other hand Amazon also has a history of putting up pre-orders for other shops exclusives.

http://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/the-hob.../11174049.html

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Rixx

Coin set pre-order is up on Zavvi for £35 and they have it listed as an exclusive. This might just be a typing error as they usually list as Zavvi Exclusive, but on the other hand Amazon also has a history of putting up pre-orders for other shops exclusives.

http://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/the-hob.../11174049.html

Thanks but £35 is too much for a couple of coins on top. I should've ordered the amazon one, I should've ordered the amazon one, I should've ordered the amazon one (don't mind me, I'm just writing out my lines for being such a doofus).

[Buddy Ackerman]

BBFC haven't yet rated the film but the extras have recently been rated so it should be soon. However that gets rated, the set will be a 15 certificate same as DoS due to one of the extras.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Buddy Ackerman

BBFC haven't yet rated the film but the extras have recently been rated so it should be soon. However that gets rated, the set will be a 15 certificate same as DoS due to one of the extras.

Even though the US extended is rated R it'd surprise me if the BBFC raised it from a 12, they're usually quite lenient with such 'fantasy violence' as this. Maybe if it's really bloody - as in red red kroovy bloody and not just black Orc's blood - then it'll go up, but it won't be any more than a 15 and that'll tie with the extras anyway as you say.

[Harwin123]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Maybe if it's really bloody - as in red red kroovy bloody and not just black Orc's blood - then it'll go up

It's weird how a change of colour make all that difference. what a crazy world.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Harwin123

It's weird how a change of colour make all that difference. what a crazy world.

Psycho would have never been made in colour ... all that swirling red. Imagine if Ash's or Bishop's innards had been red liquid and not white!

[Hintermann]

Originally Posted by BlueAngel7

I'm definitely going to watch all six extended editions back to back once TBotFA is released. It just has to be done!

My sister-in-law and I saw all 3 extended editions of LOTR one Sunday back to back (well, we stopped between films for fluids in and out) and ended up with a rather heavy head at the end of the day.

We are planning to to the same thing with TH. I have the first 2 EEs and am waiting for the Five Armies.

[Geoff D]

Why did you go and mention fluids in and out? Now I have a very specific mental picture of what went on between films.

[Pieter V]

[Buddy Ackerman]

Still waiting for the BBFC to rate the film itself, just out of curiosity to see if the film gets the 15 certificate. Doesn't make a bit of difference, given a couple of the extras already bump the set up to a 15, I'm just interested to see if the BBFC are more lenient than the MPAA's R rating.

[Pieter V]

Time to bump this topic.

[Sky_Captain]

Giggity.