Is Return Of The King Special Edition Out Allready?

[antonkk]

It's not yet in Moscow. What about US?

[Jamie Tate]

Came out two days ago.

[antonkk]

Have you or anyone here got it?

[Jamie Tate]

I think my wife bought it for me so I don't want to spoil her Christmas gift.

[Drew]

I bought it last night but haven't watched it. Maybe in a couple days.

[Vivaldinization]

I bought it, but I need a few days of preparation before I even begin to watch the feature. That movie was long as-is.

That said, I've watched most of the disc 4 documentaries, and they're fascinating as usual. Peter Jackson really has his **** together in thousands of spectacular ways.

[Ed Bishop]

Agreed, the man knows how to make movies, and to do a project of this scope--and pull it off...very impressive indeed!

Haven't picked it up yet, but must, shortly. I do hope Saruman's character was inserted back into the film which was, yes, long 'as-is' in the theater, but I felt, not quite long enough. Pushing him and a certain subplot right out of the movie still seems stupid to me, though probably strictly for reasons of running length.

:ed:

[Oatsdad]

Have you or anyone here got it?

My answer lies here:

http://www.dvdmg.com/returnofthekingextended.shtml

[Emberglow]

Have you or anyone here got it?I got my R2 copy by mail from the UK on Tuesday last (14th December), the same day as two colleagues got their R1s from Canada. I've put my copy aside until I get some time to myself over the Christmas holidays but one of the guys has watched the entire movie AND he's listening to one of the audio commentaries at the moment! He actually records the commentaries onto his MiniDisc and goes about listening to it!! :D

[Beatlelennon65]

I have to watch the first two again so I can get the complete picture. It will probably take me at least 2 days. I may start tonight with the first one. I really want to watch the 3rd one again, but I think it would flow much better if I had a little refresher. 12 hours, gone.

[Tuco]

If you liked the first two, then ROTK will certainly not disappoint. I'm a huge fan of the books, but I also admire what Jackson and team have done. And as David mentioned above, the documentaries are excellent. I actually enjoy watching those as much as the movies themselves.

[Drew]

I watched ROTK Extended Edition last night. Definately improves the pacing of the movie. Probably the best improvement of all the Extended Editions in that regard. I remember seeing images in the teaser trailer that never made it into the theatrical release and now I know where they are.

[GregM]

The edited theatrical release seemed too jumpy in parts, but the extended version is more pleasant to follow. As usual, the production of the box is very nice and there is an offer for a slipcase to house all three extended versions free--you just pay $3 s&H.

Unfortunately, the tracking went screwy on disc 2 and I may have a defective disc. Anyone else encounter this problem?

I'll take a weekend at some point and watch the entire extended series. I'm not a big fan of the acting or directing but there is no doubt about the storytelling, effects and sets that were built. It's easy to get lost in all that.

[Oatsdad]

I watched ROTK Extended Edition last night. Definately improves the pacing of the movie. Probably the best improvement of all the Extended Editions in that regard.

You really think so? I liked it but I thought it was the worst of the three EEs, even though it's probably my favorite of the movies. It's the only one for which the changes often make a negative impact. My review linked above details my opinions, but there are more than a few scenes that I think moderately harm the film in the EE.

Still like it a lot - it'll probably be my pick as DVD of the Year...

[Squealy]

I think all three of the extended editions have scenes that enhance the original versions and scenes that are unnecessary and just make the films longer... I felt the Two Towers was particularly overextended in its DVD version. ROTK has too many variations of the one-character-reassuring-another scene ("A shadow is falling." "Do not lose hope.") And the dialogue becomes very repetitive; how many different ways does Frodo say "It's so heavy!" I think Saruman says "The world of men will fall" in every one of his scenes.

[Drew]

You really think so? I liked it but I thought it was the worst of the three EEs, even though it's probably my favorite of the movies. It's the only one for which the changes often make a negative impact. My review linked above details my opinions, but there are more than a few scenes that I think moderately harm the film in the EE.

Still like it a lot - it'll probably be my pick as DVD of the Year...

Just out of curiousity have your read the books... I think if your an avid fan of the books then the additional footage means more. The Poetic Justice of Merry & Eowyn killing the Witch King is really lost in the theatrical release IMHO. Also the idea that the King has to be a warmaker AND a healer is completely gone. I really wanted to see Sauron's General come out at the Black Gate and show Frodo's dwarf mail. Without that the implications of that final battle scene are somewhat lessened. Of course in the EE you get to see that but Aragorn fixes the problem by killing him (from behind). What a hero.

You also have to understand I'm not the biggest fan of these movies to begin with, and I don't think Peter Jackson is the great moviemaker that many others think he is. I cringed my way thru the climactic scene in the cave where Frodo and Gollum wrestle for the Ring and go off the side of the cliff together. And the Hollywood moment with Frodo hanging on to the edge after his finger was bitten off drives me nuts. I'm sure someone who's seen the Director's commentaries will tell me PJ explains why he made the changes, but I really think they messed with the perfection of Tolkein's story and I just don't care why anymore.

[Squealy]

And the Hollywood moment with Frodo hanging on to the edge after his finger was bitten off drives me nuts. I'm sure someone who's seen the Director's commentaries will tell me PJ explains why he made the changes, but I really think they messed with the perfection of Tolkein's story and I just don't care why anymore.

Though you don't care why I'll tell you - PJ and the writers wanted Frodo to play a more active role in the climax of the story, instead of just lying there as Gollum falls off the edge. They did want to leave it ambiguous as to whether he's just trying to get the Ring back for himself or whether he wants to destroy it after all. I agree though, the hanging off the cliff is a cliche they didn't really need.

I really wanted to see Sauron's General come out at the Black Gate and show Frodo's dwarf mail. Without that the implications of that final battle scene are somewhat lessened.

They cut this from the movie because unlike in the books, you know Frodo is alive when that scene takes place, so the scene loses a lot of its impact.

[Drew]

If director's wanted to leave something ambiguous, then why do they include "director's commentaries"?

[Squealy]

If director's wanted to leave something ambiguous, then why do they include "director's commentaries"?

But they did leave it ambiguous. Their commentary doesn't say one way or the other what Frodo was doing, they just say they made it ambiguous.

[pigmode]

How about an unextended version where they completely cut Liv Tyler out?

[antonkk]

I think all three of the extended editions have scenes that enhance the original versions and scenes that are unnecessary and just make the films longer... I felt the Two Towers was particularly overextended in its DVD version. ROTK has too many variations of the one-character-reassuring-another scene ("A shadow is falling." "Do not lose hope.") And the dialogue becomes very repetitive; how many different ways does Frodo say "It's so heavy!" I think Saruman says "The world of men will fall" in every one of his scenes.

But it IS heavy,trust me! :D

[Tuco]

How about an unextended version where they completely cut Liv Tyler out?

Yeah, I'd rebuy LotR, if she was replaced/removed/morphed. I didn't much care for Hugo as Elrond either.

[Oatsdad]

What's with the anti-Liv sentiment? I thought she was very good in the part...

[guy incognito]

As usual, the production of the box is very nice and there is an offer for a slipcase to house all three extended versions free--you just pay $3 s&H.
My local Best Buy had the entire trilogy (extended versions) in the slipcase for $90.


I think all three of the extended editions have scenes that enhance the original versions and scenes that are unnecessary and just make the films longer...
This may be a silly question, but do the extended DVDs have an option for viewing the films in their theatrical cut when you want to?

[Daniel]

oh my.

its fantastic. just finished it yesterday. the added 50 mins are a real treat!