Lord of the Rings: Revisited

Demiurge

Ended up staying in most of the day today and sat there in front of my DVD collection for about 30 minutes trying to figure out what I wanted to watch. Finally I pulled out the Extended Edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. I'm glad I did. I know these movies aren't all that old yet, but boy oh boy are they all masterpieces. I only had time for the first one today, but I plan on watching the other 2 throughout the week.

I don't know how it is for everyone else, but I really captured a lot more of the film by going back and watching them again. Admitedly once I saw them in the theatres I only watched the EE versions one time when I bought them and then they sat on the rack with the rest of the movies.

I'm not sure if there's a point to this thread exactly, but one thing I wanted to mention is that there really are a lack of films like this that truly are an epic adventure. I really wish there were more, and I wish there were also more books like this to boot. I'm sure a lot of it is a testament to how great of a director Peter Jackson is as well. I really hope he tries to do more along these lines, adapting these stories from other books like it. I also hope he makes them epics. I have not seen King Kong yet, but from what I hear it's a great film as well.

So, have any of you gone back to watch these all again?

lanion

I watch the extended editions a few times a year. There will probobly be requisite LOTR marathons for every home theatre upgrade I buy into... they are truly excellent movies.

aaharvel

I watch them off and on.

Two Towers gets the most viewings. It's my fav. of the trilogy.

lanion

Two Towers is my favorite too.... its odd, since Peter Jackson often refers to it like it was a failure in the directors commentary.

MacLeod

Funny you should bring this up. I recently re-watched all three of them the last several days myself and was thinking the same thing. These movies are simply flawless.

They hold a little extra magic for me cause I grew up playing D&D and reading D&D books and to finally see Orcs and Dwarves come alive on screen is just too cool.

MrBuhl

I have both the extended and the theatrical versions of all three - although I think the FOTR is the best, followed by ROTK and then TTW a close third. It really is just an amazing job of filmaking. It's interesting to have both versions, I recommend it if you have the opportunity. They flow differently in each case, some better, some worse.

MacLeod

I dont have FOTR on DVD yet. I dont know why. I think because it was on Encore about 5000000 times and when Id go out looking for a DVD to buy Id always skip over it. I really need to get that one tho.

aaharvel

Mr. Buhl, how is the Two Towers S.E.?

and is it worth upgrading the other two as well?

Demiurge

MrBuhl wrote:

I have both the extended and the theatrical versions of all three - although I think the FOTR is the best, followed by ROTK and then TTW a close third. It really is just an amazing job of filmaking. It's interesting to have both versions, I recommend it if you have the opportunity. They flow differently in each case, some better, some worse.

I actually owned the first 2 when they came out, but ebayed them. I think I never sat through either of them to the end, though.

Demiurge

MacLeod wrote:

I dont have FOTR on DVD yet. I dont know why. I think because it was on Encore about 5000000 times and when Id go out looking for a DVD to buy Id always skip over it. I really need to get that one tho.

Don't know if you have kids, or are planning on it, but it would be worth it to have the whole set. Much like I always remember the books, I plan on reading them to my kids someday too. Eventually they'll get to check out the movies too. In a way I think kids might get the same thing out of them that I did out of the Neverending Story back in the day.

lanion

The Two Towers S.E. gets a big upgrade... more so than Fellowship for sure. Although, I don't remember specifics too well since I havn't watched the theatrical version of the two towers since it was in theatres...

Shizelbs

I've gone back and rewatched all of them again. I love those movies. The only problem is I really hate to get interrupted when I watch them; these 3 movies in particular too. They are truly great.

MrBuhl

aaharvel wrote:

Mr. Buhl, how is the Two Towers S.E.?

and is it worth upgrading the other two as well?

They are all worth upgrading, I think the TT has the most missing from the story without the extended though. Fellowship is good both ways but I think flows better in the Theatrical Version.

mldennison

the more the better, i say go with the special editions of all of them.

karpiel666

They are great movies I just wish he hadent "altered" the story quite as much.

MrBuhl

karpiel666 wrote:

They are great movies I just wish he hadent "altered" the story quite as much.

This is the perfect argument for owning the Extended versions as well, they are much more true to the books...

MrNightly

MrBuhl wrote:

This is the perfect argument for owning the Extended versions as well, they are much more true to the books...

Hmm, i only own the originals, none of the S.E. ones. You are making me second guess myself, that the originals are complete. I heard that there is over 2 hours of extra footage!! Is that true?! And is that 2 hours for all 3 dvd's, or 2 hours apiece!?!

And you are right, they are an absolute masterpiece. IMO, the best triolgy to ever be produced! (And that's saying something coming from me, who's the biggest Star Wars Fan EVER!!!)

Demiurge

I don't know the total of extra footage, but it is a lot. I think ROTK gets a whole extra half hour or more.

The thing I like about it is that it flows well into the story (in my opinion), lots of 'Directors Cuts' actually have a much more 'grainy' looking film where they spliced back in what was cut. The sound is better and so is the PQ, IMO.

DTS!

MrNightly

What about the Special 4 disc edition or whatever it is, that each one has? Is that what you guys are talking about here? Or are you only talking about the 2 disc edition?

MrBuhl

MrNightly wrote:

What about the Special 4 disc edition or whatever it is, that each one has? Is that what you guys are talking about here? Or are you only talking about the 2 disc edition?

All of the movies were intended from the beginning to have an extended and a theatrical version - all of the Extended (the Special Edition) have at least 30 minutes of extra footage that was cut out to keep the movies to a "shorter" 3-3.5 hour movie theater friendly format - some of the extendeds are out over 4 hours I think. Basically he adds back in footage that hit the cutting room floor that was more true to the books - but might not be totally essential to the flow in theater. They really are MUCH more complete - but marathons to watch! :eek:

MrBuhl

MrNightly wrote:

Hmm, i only own the originals, none of the S.E. ones. You are making me second guess myself, that the originals are complete. I heard that there is over 2 hours of extra footage!! Is that true?! And is that 2 hours for all 3 dvd's, or 2 hours apiece!?!

And you are right, they are an absolute masterpiece. IMO, the best triolgy to ever be produced! (And that's saying something coming from me, who's the biggest Star Wars Fan EVER!!!)

+17 on the Star Wars fan here - saw Empire 26 times in the theaters... (but I worked in one so it was free).

You really should check out the extended - they are 30min or so longer in each case but more complete tellings...

lanion

The extended editions are really just better in every way, unless you hate length. Faramir becomes a *very* different character in the extended edition because you get a big flashback scene of him back in gondor with Boromir and Denethor... it makes him much much more sympathetic.
There is only 1 added scene that I don't like very much, which is Aragorn tasting Eowyns cooking... they shouldn't be allowed to make fun of Eowyn.

gregure

I agree that the Extended versions are better on all three.
Personally, I still like FOTR the best, and feel that Extended version added the most to the film experience w/o disrupting the flow too much. The added stuff in TT was more about fleshing out some subplots from the book glossed over in the theatrical cut, and ROTK added over an hour, with some scenes that were sorely missed for fans of the book (Gandalf confronts Saruman, Gandalf confronts the Witch King, etc).
If you're a fan of the books at all, it's a good investment. The first two discs are film, second two are bonus features, and they're all very interesting-there isn't anything you don't know about the making of these films after viewing all this material. The transfers are first rate, and the EE's are the only version to offer DTS-ES.
For those who keep asking, running times are as follows:
FOTR: 3.5 hrs
TT: 3.75 hrs.
ROTK 4.25 hrs.

amulford

I too have both versions of all three. I prefer the SE's personally, but I have also read the trilogy at least 10 times. They have more info you don't get in the TV's, and if you are a fan of the books, IMO, it makes it more enjoyable.

The cinametography and soundtrack are outstanding in all three. I have to pull these out for a re-watch...

BIZILL

i effed up and never watched part one first and never read the books. started with tt and thought it was good, but i missed so many underlying premises in the movie that would have probably made it exceptional. i go on then to watch rotk. perhaps i should have a lotr night and start from part one, aye?

Ron-P

FOTR: 3.5 hrs
TT: 3.75 hrs.
ROTK 4.25 hrs.

Two friends of mine want to pick a Saturday and do a LotR marathon. Freaks I tell'ya, freaks. No way and no amount of free food and beer will get me to do that.

I must get back and watch these again as well. Some of the best film making ever.

lanion

It is better than watching a season of 24 in one sitting, which I have done twice

Ron-P

Even if I could pull it off my front projector couldn't. It specifically states not to run it for over 8 hours at a time.

Demiurge

BIZILL wrote:

i effed up and never watched part one first and never read the books. started with tt and thought it was good, but i missed so many underlying premises in the movie that would have probably made it exceptional. i go on then to watch rotk. perhaps i should have a lotr night and start from part one, aye?

Definitely.

BIZILL

Ron-P wrote:

Even if I could pull it off my front projector couldn't. It specifically states not to run it for over 8 hours at a time.

waaaaaaaaaaaaaa? i could never buy one if that were the case. maybe my rptv dictates the same, but i ignore warnings.

Ron-P

waaaaaaaaaaaaaa? i could never buy one if that were the case. maybe my rptv dictates the same, but i ignore warnings.

I believe RPTV's are fine. I think it has to do with the high temp. the bulb reaches inside the PJ and the damage it could cause to the lcd panels. I only use it for movies so it's really no big deal.