Lord of the Ring Twin Towers

VR3 · August 2003

I saw it in VHS.....so not alot of surround action on principle.....

but still LOTS of bass......

danger boy · August 2003

Trey,

why not just watch it on DVD? instead of VHS?

VR3 · August 2003

Well, I saw it 4 days before yall did. My parents video store gets the VHS from a company, and buys the DVD's tuesday morning before they release from Target...

Demiurge · August 2003

A lot of us saw it in theatres.

goingganzo · August 2003

walked out of target with the lotr ttt and a 2 liter of a&w for less than 14.50 also could not rent movie so had to buy it. i guess i am getting all 3 of them in both formats regular and ee.

fireshoes · August 2003

I was having fun at work today with it. Chapter 41 is great. The explosion, the chunks of wall hitting the ground, and the battering ram all have sweet bass.

PETERNG · August 2003

Originally posted by faster100
dead link, whats the ETA?? on it

214 min long, 11/18/03 is the release date...

Synopsis: A new version of the second installment in the epic trilogy! The film includes over 40 minutes of never-before-seen footage incorporated into the film, made especially for this video release. Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship continue their quest to destroy the One Ring and stand against the evil of the dark lord Sauron. The Fellowship has divided and now find themselves taking different paths to defeating Sauron and his allies. Their destinies now lie at two towers - Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupted wizard Saruman waits and Sauron's fortress at Baraddur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor.

MPAARating: PG-13

Disk Count: 4

Languages/Subtitles:
Original Language: English

Audio/Video Features:
2.35:1
Color
2.0 Dolby Surround, 5.1 Dolby Digital EX, 6.1 DTS ES

Product Features:
Commentary/Multi-Audi
Deleted Footage
DVD-ROM Content
Making Of
Production Notes
Production Stills

Special Features:
Four Audio Commentaries by director and writers, the design team, the production tean and the cast featuring more than 30 participants; Adapting the book into a screenplay & planning the film; Designing and inspiration for locations in Middle-earth; Storyboards to pre-visualization; Weta Workshop visit - See sculptors in action as they create the weapons, armor, creatures and miniatures from the film; Atlas of Middle-earth - Tracing the journey of the Fellowship; An interactive map of New Zealand highlighting the location scouting process; Galleries of art and slideshows with commentaries by the artists; Sending actors to battle - preparation for sword fighting; Principal photography - stories from the set; Digital effects including motion capture and "Massive" (a program to create armies of Orcs); "Bigatures" - A close-up look at the detailed miniatures used in the film. Galleries of behind-the-scenes photographs and personal cast photos; Post-production - editing it all together; Sound design demonstration.

Strong Bad · August 2003

Just saw on the news that this is now the highest opening day grossing video release. It sold 3.5 millions units (VHS & DVD) in a single day.

Impressive!

Dr. Spec · August 2003

Watched the first two hours last night before my back gave out. We watched it at -10 (Reference Level is 00).

I agree with danger, the DD-EX mix on the surrounds was just so-so. I was hoping for much more surround action.

The DD bass mix was impressive and that was expected. Big bass hits in the first two hours were:

1) The first showing of the eye of Sauron.
2) The first wing flap of the Ring Wraith flyer (rattled the entire room).
3) The closing of the gates at Mordor.
4) The horse stomp at the Orc fight.

I'm sure there were others, like the Ent stomping around was pretty deep/strong.

So far, I like the movie much more at home than the first time in the theater. It seems less frenetic, and Gollum hasn't been nearly as distracting as I remembered. An hour left to go, pretty much the Helm's Deep battle.

I liked the extras and it's very encouraging to hear the actors and director say that the Return of the King is better than the first two combined. That's simply hard to believe and is somewhat hype, but if that's even partially true, I'll take it!

Doc

kberg · August 2003

I broke down and rented this last night for a buck (had a coupon). Only watched about half last night - seems that perhaps the reason for much less surround was because this part doesn't call for as much of it as the first - just a thought. Also thought the DD was ok, but nothing spectacular overall, at least so far.

sterling bug · August 2003

I was going to wait for the extended edition like I did last year but I just could not control myself. Last night we were at Walmart and I just had to have it, especially for only $14.87. Watched the segment on The Return of the King and what they did show got me excited for December. This will be one awesome movie.

hamzahsh · August 2003

About a year ago I was reading one of the PDFs at www.dolby.com and they were recommending increase of +3db attenuation in your A/V receiver for both L/R surround channels to get the proper calibration. The +3db is only for consumer A/V receivers not for theater processors.

Since then I've increased the +3db increase in surrounds and wow! what a difference I can hear my surrounds as good as mains or my center. In other words timbre matching sound channel to channel. Before I was missing a lot of detail but by the increase of +3db I got perfect sound in every DVD movie that I've watched better than theaters.

Please do yourself a favour and try it and I'm sure you'll hear the difference. DOLBY DIGITAL EX rocks!

Dr. Spec · August 2003

Thanks Ham, I'll give it a try. But it makes one wonder why they just didn't master the surround channels a bit louder on the DVD instead of making us do it?

hamzahsh · August 2003

Originally posted by Dr. Spec
Thanks Ham, I'll give it a try. But it makes one wonder why they just didn't master the surround channels a bit louder on the DVD instead of making us do it?

That's a good question Doc, I can't really tell how good or bad is the mixing 'cause I haven't watched it on DVD yet. Sound engineers must have a reason for that, I don't know but the +3db setting goes for all the DD content for their consumer counterparts.

There are DVDs with less aggressive surround tracks so I gess this TTT is the lemon as opposed to EE. I'm waiting to get the EE anyways and I know the difference between this DD EX vs EE DD EX would be a lot better in other words less compressed and more aggressive. The +3db goes for all DD content. The DTS tracks are orginally +6db louder by the Sound engineers and less compressed.

Whereas, Dolby Digital tracks on D-VHS movies blows away all the DTS tracks on DVDs. Almost no compression at all.
Same goes with 1080i or 720p video HD transfer.

We are waiting for HD-DVDs! aren't we?

One of the reasons I can assume this TTT is on single dual layer DVD and the EE would be on 2 dual layer DVDs. You can expect better video and better sound on TTT-EE DVD.

Loud & Clear · August 2003

The wing flaps were very impressive in my room, they made the concrete vibrate under my feet; neato.

All in all I'd have to say that the soundtrack didn't stand up to FOTR. Perhaps the suggestion to turn up the surrounds via the receiver is a workaround. The craving for ROTK is great.

I'd like to briefly touch on a point that's become too great a burden for me to bear alone anymore: Has anyone else noticed the similarity between 'The Eye of Sauron,' and a ****? Ok, assuming that it isn't just me, does anyone think that the decision to cast Sir Ian McKellen, who is ****, in the role of 'Gandolph' wasn't entirely based on his remarkable thespian resume? In other words, would Gandolph's authentic disgust for 'The Eye of Sauron' be critical to the film's success, and if so, wouldn't presenting a **** man with a vaginal image be a sneaky way of eliciting that response? How else can you explain Sir Ian McKellen's resounding abhorrence, his palpable, visceral and completely organic expression of horror when faced with it? Even Ian isn't that great an actor, no one is (for proof, I urge you to view FOTR, and witness for yourself the unmitigated despair on Gandolph's face after his first glance at the eye). Potentially, and I say potentially because I'm not sure of this, but a great casting manuever may have been made here.

polkatese · August 2003

Doc,

So far, I like the movie much more at home than the first time in the theater. It seems less frenetic, and Gollum hasn't been nearly as distracting as I remembered. An hour left to go, pretty much the Helm's Deep battle.

I wasn't the only one! yes, Doc, I remembered when I watched it in the cinema it felt I was being subjected to Gollum's whines forever, but not last night...

Dr. Spec · August 2003

Originally posted by Loud & Clear
I'd like to briefly touch on a point that's become too great a burden for me to bear alone anymore: Has anyone else noticed the similarity between 'The Eye of Sauron,' and a ****? Ok, assuming that it isn't just me, does anyone think that the decision to cast Sir Ian McKellen, who is ****, in the role of 'Gandolph' wasn't entirely based on his remarkable thespian resume? In other words, would Gandolph's authentic disgust for 'The Eye of Sauron' be critical to the film's success, and if so, wouldn't presenting a **** man with a vaginal image be a sneaky way of eliciting that response? How else can you explain Sir Ian McKellen's resounding abhorrence, his palpable, visceral and completely organic expression of horror when faced with it? Even Ian isn't that great an actor, no one is (for proof, I urge you to view FOTR, and witness for yourself the unmitigated despair on Gandolph's face after his first glance at the eye). Potentially, and I say potentially because I'm not sure of this, but a great casting manuever may have been made here.

Gold Jerry, GOLD!

McKellen is ****? He's got a wife and grandchildren. Maybe bi would be a more accurate term? Certainly many **** men have fathered children, so the two are not mutually exclusive. Nevertheless.....perhaps the eye of Sauron could shed some light on this.

Loud & Clear · August 2003

Doc, are you sure he's married with children? The bio below makes no mention of such a thing, but I suppose it could be wrong.

McKellen Bio

Dr. Spec · August 2003

Anyway, I finished watching TTT. The DD mix grew on me, and seemed just fine that last hour.

The sound effects were excellent and the bass was outstanding on the black powder explosion, the rocks falls afterwards, and the battering ram. The PB2+ took it all in stride, shaking the room with extreme prejudice but still staying ultra clean at all times.

Overall, a much better movie at home. Even Sam's speech at the end didn't seem nearly as trite. My opinion of this movie is now higher and it gets the thumbs up without reservation as a great transitional movie and a quality HT experience. I can only imagine how much better the EE version will be with fleshed out scenes and story lines and the DTS 6.1 Discrete mix. Bring on November!

Doc

Airplay355 · August 2003

hey doc, in the dead swamp, when frodo is looking into the water and the person opens his eyes or whatever, how deep is the bass there? im not a good frequency estimater but i kept playing that scene over and over because it sounded cool.

what would you consider to be the deepest bass scene in the movie?

Dr. Spec · August 2003

It would be just a guesstimate seeing as I don't have an RTA, but I don't think there is anything extremely deep in this movie - most of the powerful bass seems to be in the 25-30 Hz region, including that scene. The Daredevil bar fight scene had much deeper bass in comparison.

avelanchefan · August 2003

Wow I thought there was a ton of deep bass in the movie.

My highlight is any scene with the RingWraiths flying on those dragon things. There flapping wings are pretty intense.

hamzahsh · August 2003

When I watched the movie in the theater the black powder explosion sounded deep but there is nothing really deep compare to FOTR as Doc said. Which is full of deep bass.

I'm sure the EE of TTT would have a longer Helm's Deep battle so we could enjoy more black powder explosions.

My best chapter of the movie is when orks ride on their wolf-like animals. The chapter is full of surrounds and my F/X 1000's would get some workout.

Black powder explosions is my favourite though and the breaking of wall.

hamzahsh · August 2003

Doc, did you try +3db increase in your F/X 1000s and CS245i. I want to know if you've noticed any difference yet?

Dr. Spec · August 2003

Originally posted by avelanchefan
Wow I thought there was a ton of deep bass in the movie.

My highlight is any scene with the RingWraiths flying on those dragon things. There flapping wings are pretty intense.

Don't get me wrong here guys - TTT is a bass head's wet dream.

It has VERY strong content in the 25 Hz and above range and is most impressive. Like FOTR, the bass in TTT is below the true capability of most average subwoofers.

Remember, the ring drop in FOTR is centered almost exactly at 25 Hz. Although the bridge of Khazad dum and the Balrog fight have some brief subsonic content, most of FOTR is above 20 Hz.

TTT just doesn't troll in the subsonic region like a few other DVDs out there, but it really doesn't need to; it's awesome.

Ham, I bumped up the side and rear channels 2 clicks and it was much better, thanks for the tip!

Doc

Airplay355 · August 2003

i am very pleased to say my rti150s performed better then the average subwoofer then

i wish i owned the movie, but i think i will wait to get the EE version, probably for christmas, and get the EE version of FOTR too.

IMO, the first movie is better, but i guess its hard to make a good transition movie as many people have said. gollum was very irritating, and reminded me of jar jar binx. it also seems like the CGI in the first movie was more carefully done. the mordarian wolves, or whatever they are stuck out to me, they didnt seem to blend into the backround as well as everything else. but oh well, that is one hell of a good movie.

i thought of something though, if the ring can drive you crazy, as it did to gollum and is starting to do to frodo, why dont they just pass it to different people before it has a chance to make them insane?

VR3 · August 2003

FOTR and TT are different movies. FOTR is more of a story packed movie where as TT is action packed. 2 different styles, both have their place and both are overall great movies. I enjoy them both, as I like both types of movies.

I think the Ring choses who takes it, and who dosnt (as they showed in the first movie)

Airplay355 · August 2003

o ok, that kinda makes sense...i cant wait for the next one, im dieing just to see the trailer

Lord of the Ring Twin Towers

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