Was the new content in the new FotR DVD good?

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » November 13, 2002, 4:15 pm

yes we are all fantasy dorks.

but take a step back and answer if you really think the extra footage makes the movie better.

i'm curious cause i bought the one in August not knowing about this one, and i was kinda put off by that. not that $40 is that much, but i'm not necessarily the kind of guy who has to have every copy of every movie etc.

anyways, thoughts plz =)

KilornCloudwalker · Post by **KilornCloudwalker** » November 13, 2002, 4:56 pm

One of the best DVDs I have seen, content and presentation-wise. And I read they are doing all 3 movies in standard and special format with new material for each DVD, so there is not a bunch of overlap in the special edition content. I'm impressed with it...

Could live without the book ends tho...

WTS Dorky LOTR Bookends! 10k OBO!

Post by **Xouqoa** » November 13, 2002, 5:02 pm

Very nicely done DVD, one of the best I own. You get the extended version of the movie with the deleted scenes re-cut in. This includes (among other things) a more indepth look at Hobbit society at the beginning of the movie by Bilbo as he begins his book, and the gift scene where Galadriel presents items to the Fellowship. The latter is definately important down the road since some of them are key items in the story later, I have no idea why they cut it in the first place.

You also get 4 full length audio commentary tracks, with like the Director and Producers, most of the cast, the sound effect guys, and the visual effect guys. (I think that's the break down, I'd have to look again to be sure.)

Oh yeah, all that is just on the two movie discs. I haven't even had a chance to look at the two supplementary discs yet.

If you buy the gift set, you also get a fifth disc that contains the National Geographic special, which is really good if I remember correctly. As an added bonus, you also get a free pass to go see The Two Towers, so that alone is worth about $10 in most parts of the country.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » November 13, 2002, 5:11 pm

I thought it was pretty fucking low to release a standard version and then not hype a re-release of a special version 6 months later until it is almost out. I understand that movie studios need to make money, but misdirection in order to get people to buy a movie two times is pretty harsh. I will probably not buy the new special edition even though I want it.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » November 13, 2002, 5:14 pm

http://dvdverdict.com/reviews/fotrse.shtml

Following are some of the key additions included in the Extended Edition. (This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Identifying every frame of new footage would require more fortitude than this reviewer -- or the average Verdict patron -- possesses. So please be gentle with the "You missed this scene!" e-mails.)

• The prologue has been filled out with additional sequences that make it clearer how the One Ring passed from Isildur, who captured it following Sauron's destruction, to the creature Gollum, and eventually to Bilbo Baggins.

• A new introductory sequence shows Bilbo (Ian Holm, Alien) writing his book about his adventures, a work touched on in passing in the theatrical release. This sequence also offers an interesting snapshot of everyday life among the Shire Hobbits, including the only images in the film of Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin, Rudy) plying his trade -- gardening.

• Scenes are added to Bilbo's birthday party, involving Bilbo's consternation at the arrival of some out-of-town relatives. This sequence helps establish the relationship between cousins Bilbo and Frodo (Elijah Wood, The Faculty), whose first onscreen interaction in the theatrical release comes much later, in the Rivendell sequence.

• A scene in the local pub at Hobbiton demonstrates the camaraderie between Frodo, Sam, Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), as they sing, dance, and quaff suds.

• As they leave the Shire on their journey, Frodo and Sam catch a glimpse of a caravan of Elves departing Middle-Earth. Elrond (Hugo Weaving, The Matrix) alludes to this exodus in the Rivendell sequence.

• The journey of Strider (Viggo Mortensen, A Perfect Murder) and the Hobbits from Bree to Rivendell is greatly expanded, affording early insight into the developing relationship between Frodo and Strider/Aragorn.

• Additional dialogue has been included in the Council sequence that results in the formation of the Fellowship of the Ring.

• While in Rivendell, Aragorn visits his mother's gravesite.

• At the conclusion of the Rivendell sequence, Elrond and Arwen (Liv Tyler, One Night at McCool's) bid farewell to the Fellowship.

• New footage has been added to the battle with the Orcs and the Cave-troll in Moria.

• Significant material has been added to the Lothlorien sequence. The character of Galadriel (Cate Blanchett, The Gift), in particular, receives more face-time and dialogue. A scene in which Galadriel gives gifts to each of the Fellowship members has been restored.

• Aragorn and Boromir (Sean Bean, GoldenEye) spot Gollum shadowing the Fellowship from Lothlorien.

• The battle at Amon Hen has been expanded and re-edited.

I thought it was pretty fucking low to release a standard version and then not hype a re-release of a special version 6 months later until it is almost out. I understand that movie studios need to make money, but misdirection in order to get people to buy a movie two times is pretty harsh.

Eh? It was three months and most people knew than an extended version was in the works. Normally I hate double-dipping but I think they tried screwing the customers as little as possible in this case. For one thing, it's not just adding more features and calling it a Ultimate Edition (thx Universal, greedy bastards). They actually readded scenes, did effects and scored new music.

They also added a rebate coupon with the initial DVD which was low-priced. The 2-dics DVD was $15.99 at Best Buy when it came out. Subtract $5 or $10, depending on which version of the Extended you are buying, and the 2-disc ends up costing you a whopping $5.99 or $10.99. If you watched it two times in the past three months, grats, you just paid what it would cost you to rent it.

Post by **Xouqoa** » November 13, 2002, 5:16 pm

kyoukan type-R wrote:I thought it was pretty fucking low to release a standard version and then not hype a re-release of a special version 6 months later until it is almost out. I understand that movie studios need to make money, but misdirection in order to get people to buy a movie two times is pretty harsh. I will probably not buy the new special edition even though I want it.

Hmm, they announced way long ago that the special extended edition would be coming out before The Two Towers, and I think there was even a release date posted on the site when the original DVD was released. Sure, not everyone would know that, but I think most of the people interested in purchasing the extended version of the film would have either read about it or heard about it. That's the reason I held off buying the original version.. I had to rent it from Blockbuster once though to get my fix.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » November 13, 2002, 5:20 pm

kyoukan type-R wrote:I thought it was pretty fucking low to release a standard version and then not hype a re-release of a special version 6 months later until it is almost out. I understand that movie studios need to make money, but misdirection in order to get people to buy a movie two times is pretty harsh. I will probably not buy the new special edition even though I want it.

that is kind of where 'm at. maybe they announced it, i just feel like they should have released them at the same time.

i didnt go out of the way to research that another one was coming out, and i didnt find out till it was too late, and i read it here.

it was announced sure, but it wasnt at all hyped. i do feel kind of used in that respect. but i may buckle and buy it,....hence the poll

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » November 13, 2002, 5:24 pm

Wait for triple pack-12 DVD set at the end of the series! $149.00

It will include a little doll similar to the Firona dolly.

Post by **Xouqoa** » November 13, 2002, 5:28 pm

I think the reason it was delayed so long is that they had to re-cut that version of the film, re-do the sound, get all the special stuff compiled, package printed, bookends produced, and get it all done while trying to finish The Two Towers at the same time.

That's my guess anyway, I don't think it's some crazy scheme to extort money, but maybe it is!

Trek · Post by **Trek** » November 14, 2002, 2:26 am

It was announced ahead of time for sure, I'm not even online much anymore and I knew it was on it's way before the first DVD release.

For me it was worth the wait, Like Xou I held out for this version. Most of the new stuff added to the overall movie IMO. The 2 disks of supplimental stuff is around 6 hours long, some of it is actually interesting.

I didn't buy the bookend version, but for my money, this 4 disk set is more then worth the money.

Drolgin Steingrinder · November 14, 2002, 6:28 am

One of the best quality DVDs put out to date. Is it worth it? I think it's pricey as hell (especially over here on the mainland

), so I guess it depends on how die-hard a fan of LOTR you are.

If Tom Bombadil had been in the DVD, it would have been worth it without a doubt, though!

Neost · Post by **Neost** » November 14, 2002, 10:59 am

This release has a two-fold purpose.

Added footage than any typical LoTR fan will want to see, even the ones who couldn't wait a few months to get the DVD and bought the first release.

Publicity for the 2nd movie due out in less than a month. This is a way to maybe bring in more movie-goers who might have passed on this movie.

And it was announced. The announcement for the extended version was made about the same time as the release date for the theatrical version. I bought the first one because I didn't want to wait, and I bought the extended version for the new footage. Maybe I'm a fool, but it was worth it and I can afford it so what the hell?

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » November 14, 2002, 11:15 am

Drolgin Steingrinder wrote: If Tom Bombadil had been in the DVD, it would have been worth it without a doubt, though!

That would have made the movie complete. I agree totally.

Fredonia Coldheart · November 14, 2002, 11:21 am

It was well worth the wait but I do have one problem with the extended scene giving the gifts ...

Where is the box of dirt? I was very happy to see they put in the gifts but was very disappointed that they left one of the most important ones out.

KilornCloudwalker · Post by **KilornCloudwalker** » November 14, 2002, 1:16 pm

Okay... I'll bite. Who is Tom Bombadil and what would his inclusion in this film have added?

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » November 14, 2002, 1:35 pm

Tom Bombadil is Tolkien's prophecy about Tom Jones. Bring nothing to the world except a few songs.(I haven't read Return of the King yet so I can't say for sure)

Tom was a character in the book that the Director felt didn't bring enough to the story to include him in the picture. When they didn't include songs/poems in the pic, Ole Tom was essentially out of a job since from what I recall reading the book, other than helping the hobbits out of a small jam didn't contribute much.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » November 14, 2002, 1:48 pm

it's a neat side story when they meet him, but not at all part of the central plot, so it can be removed easily.

it is basically the first time the hobbits face some adversity at the beginning of their journey.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » November 14, 2002, 2:34 pm

i don't have the dvd yet, but i agree....

Tom Bombadil was possibly my favorite non-main character in the whole series

Adex_Xeda · Post by **Adex_Xeda** » November 14, 2002, 5:59 pm

Tom was the oldest of living elves? that migrated to middle earth from the west.

He was master of a his own woods and had a knockout wife named Goldberry.

The books say that Tom was on par with characters such as Gandalf in power, in the book he was the only powerful character that actually handled the ring and it didn't tempt or twist him one bit. In the book he actually played with it and then casually tossed it back at Frodo. It didnt' have any power over him.

The books also highlight that Elrond and the gang considered giving the ring to Tom for safekeeping because of his power to resist it, but later decided against that option.

Tom in the book was a youthful and energetic character but in the same was timeless. He and Goldberry were very interesting characters.

In the first book Tom rescues the hobbits from a disgruntled treant when they were in route to Rivendale. (totally ommitted in the movie.) The recued hobbits hang out at his place a while and then set off from Rivendale but get sucked into some undead caves soon after. They sing this magic song or something and Tom Bombidil, the Archetype of a bard came rapid fire blazing to their location to save them.

Yea, look at Tom like the ultimate bard, jumping around, singing well, and flat out timeless.

He was master of his own little world and didnt' care for things outside it too much.

KilornCloudwalker · Post by **KilornCloudwalker** » November 14, 2002, 6:35 pm

Sounds interesting..maybe one day I'll actually try to trudge through a Tolkien book again. It's been years since I last attempted and was bored to tears, but tastes change as ya grow...so we'll see.

I was just glad to see them made into a movie finally and by someone who can direct and loves the material. I liked the movie a lot and enjoyed the story with it. Just had a lot of trouble getting interested in the books.. Tolkien's writing is very dry and lifeless to me... and he runs on and on and on.. JMHO

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » November 14, 2002, 6:45 pm

certainly he takes an epistomological approach (smart word -> detail oriented) which i can see being offputting, but i think it contributes greatly to the quality of the books. it is like Moby Dick in that regard. ALl sorts of chapters on the ins and outs of whaling, and the biology of the animals. But it is this depth of development that in the end makes LotR great in my opinion. MOreover, i would argue that his writing is not dry at all - certainly not compared to Melville anyway

- and is often lively and extremely rich.

I think LotR because of its genre, doesnt receive the accolades that it deserves. I think in general people dismiss fantasy writing at large, which in the majority of cases is probably warrented, but not in this one.

I do know that they had a course on the books at the Univ of Miami where some of LotR was taught (in combination with some other fantasy/mythological themed works), but in the 4 years that I was there, it offered like once at a time that I couldnt take it.

KilornCloudwalker · Post by **KilornCloudwalker** » November 14, 2002, 7:01 pm

Not to hijack this thread completely, but I enjoy fantasy writing very much...I loved Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorean series...and my favorite series is Joel Rosenberg's Guardians of the Flame. They flow better to me and were not bogged down with pages of beautiful, but long-winded descriptions. I respect Tolkien for being the father of fantasy literature...just have never developed a taste for his writing style... same with Jordan, whom I saw as a Tolkien clone in many respects...

/shrug

VeeshanVault

Was the new content in the new FotR DVD good?

Was the extra footage in the new LotR DVD worth the expense?

Was the new content in the new FotR DVD good?