I saw LOTR Extended Version last night

[jsc1953]

...and I just want to say thank you, Peter Jackson.

I can see why the cuts were made; and I can see why LOTR geeks like me will love the extended version. So it's a win-win situation, as they say.

What struck and delighted me was all the names of People, Places and Things that are only mentioned in the additional scenes. This is probably one reason why these scenes were deleted in the first place--TMI for the novice viewer. But here's a list (from memory--I undoubtedly missed some) of names in the new footage;

The Gaffer
Sackville-Bagginses
wood-elves
Grey Havens
Imladris
Isildur's Bane
Thorin
Celeborn
Galadhrim
Caras Galadhon
Thranduil
Morgoth
Noldorin
Valinor

Don't ask me about the bonus features--I haven't gotten to disk 3 yet. :)

[jsc1953]

Forgot one: Smeagol

[Munch]

Mine's in the mail! Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait, can't wait...

And TTT comes out in just over a month!

:wets himself:

[jsc1953]

Forgot another: Beren and Luthien.

[Avalonian]

Still no mention of Glamdring (Gandalf's sword) in the new cut? Dammit.

Still, I'm glad Smeagol got in. Was it his whole story, or just his name?

I'm looking forward to seeing this... *pant, pant*

[jsc1953]

No Glamdring.

Smeagol: It's during Gandalf & Frodo's dialog in Moria (the "many that die deserve life" scene). Gandalf refers to him as Smeagol, and says that was his name before the Ring drove him mad.

Still no battle cry of the dwarves. I wanna hear Gimli yell "barak Khazad!" and go medieval on some orcs--hopefully they'll work it into Helm's Deep.

We do get to see Lurtz lick the blood (his own) off a knife. Ewww.

[teela brown]

Mine's shipping tomorrow (I'm told). I hope it arrives before I go to see The Two Towers. jsc1953, your comments about FOTE jibe with every other review I've read, so I'm really looking forward to watching it. I wish PJ would be allowed to leave the films long and unedited for the first release!

[Jerevan Somerville]

Actually, I did miss dear Lobelia Sackville-Baggins in the original film version -- her name, her theft of Bilbo's spoon collection, her general busy-bodiness. There's just something archetypal about her character.

The OP shouldn't feel the LOTR geek because of an appreciation for the whole cloth of Tolkein's work. After all, the book did come first!

[N9IWP]

I got mine saturday, but am waiting for a group viewing.
I did look for my name in the credits (charter members of the fan club) and watched the TT preview Easter Egg (on disc 2, navigate to chapter 48 {so it is showing in the center}, then select the right column oif chapter numbers and go down past 48. Two towers will show. select this to see teh TT preview that was attached towards the end of the run of FOTR)

[porcupine]

:green with envy:

This may be the DVD that convinces me to finally get a DVD player.

[jsc1953]

Avalonian: lots of discussion of Glamdring on the bonus features disk (I watched disk 3 last night). There's not a lot there that isn't already known to the serious fan who's been tracking the filming for the past 5 years. But the sheer size and scope of the production, and level of fanaticism shown by the filmmakers, is truly, deeply, impressive.

Jerevan: I bear the title of Tolkien geek proudly. :)

More names from the additional footage: Nenya. Elessar.

[Ol'Gaffer]

Oooh, oooh, oooh. It's almost here!!

::jumps up and down::

::does a little dance::

::sits on floor and pouts::

I'm not moving until my copy arrives.



jsc1953 - I am sooooooo jealous! Tolkien geeks unite!

[Jerevan Somerville]

Originally posted by jsc1953
Jerevan: I bear the title of Tolkien geek proudly. [/B]
Oh well, then, have at it!

:D

[I am Sparticus]

Mine came yesterday and I watched it last night. Four hours of bliss. Very well done. Much better sense of narrative. I could have used another half hour.

[Chronos]

Whoa, they put Galadriel's ring back in? Cool.

And I'm almost certain that Lobelia was in the theatrical release... Remember a shrill femal voice outside of Bag End, and Bilbo telling Gandalf "I'm not at home"? Who do you think he was trying to avoid, there?

And yeah, you can bet I'm going to buy it.

[gobear]

I'm heading out to the Pentagon City Best Buy to pick LOTR after work; it's on sale for $24.99. My bf and I will watch it tonight after Buffy!

[Avalonian]

Originally posted by gobear
I'm heading out to the Pentagon City Best Buy to pick LOTR after work; it's on sale for $24.99. My bf and I will watch it tonight after Buffy!

Damn... I might just have to go buy it tonight at that price.

Money? What's that? *laugh*

[Homebrew]

I've got it in my gubby little hands right now. But I don't have DVD software on my 'puter at work. So I can't even sneak a peek.

[Johnny L.A.]

Mine was shipped today. It's been on order forever! But I wanted the Argonath bookends. :D

[DMark]

Originally posted by porcupine
:green with envy:

This may be the DVD that convinces me to finally get a DVD player.

Saw a HUGE stack of new DVD players at WallMart over the weekend - $58 each!

So for those of you who have seen the extended version - are there just longer scenes of what was in the original release, or totally new scenes. (I hope that question makes sense...)

[I am Sparticus]

Originally posted by DMark


Saw a HUGE stack of new DVD players at WallMart over the weekend - $58 each!

So for those of you who have seen the extended version - are there just longer scenes of what was in the original release, or totally new scenes. (I hope that question makes sense...)

Both. As someone who has read the books a number of times and again earlier this year after a long absence, I found the extended scenes, and the new scenes gave a lot more Middle Earth flavor. Had I been the director/producer, it would have been a lot more faithful to the books (such as every line of dialogue and six three hour movies), but as a practical movie this is excellent in stretching the envelope of Hollywood (Wellingtonwood?) faithfulness to a monster epic. I strongly recommend the extended version.

[Johnny L.A.]

Saw a HUGE stack of new DVD players at WallMart over the weekend - $58 each!
You probably saw the edition that came with the statues.

[5 time champ]

I guess I am going have to run out now and buy the Extended Version.

::5 Time Champ runs out the door, thinking it would be easier to just email PJ his VISA card account number:::o

[av8rmike]

My brother got to see the Extended version in the theater in NYC. He posted a review for all at theonering.net (http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1036655890). My DVD, according to Amazon, is shipping now.

[Dangerosa]

Is now a good time to say I've owned it for over a month. Well, my husband has. Studio shipped it to him as a pre-release DVD. Nice to have someone around "in the business."

And I haven't watched it. No time. Two small children who I don't want to watch anything that scary. And I value sleep too much to put it in after bedtime.

[Fiver]

Is there footage in the extended DVD that isn't also in the standard DVD as "deleted scenes?"

[Fiver]

Originally posted by Johnny L.A.

You probably saw the edition that came with the statues.

And you probably missed that DMark said players.

[Smeghead]

Originally posted by Fiver
Is there footage in the extended DVD that isn't also in the standard DVD as "deleted scenes?"

Yes indeedy. Or so I heard.

[Johnny L.A.]

And you probably missed that DMark said players.
:smack:

[dantheman]

I'm just about finished re-reading TTT. I need the extended version of FOTR. Need it, I tell you!

[slortar]

Got it yesterday and watched. Very, very cool. The audio and video transfer are frighteningly sharp. The extended scenes work very well. This is what a director's cut *should* be.


And Rosie Cotton is HOT. Great, now I'm even more of a freak...add "hobbit porn" to my list of fetishes...

[jsc1953]

The Argonath bookends are extremely cool, by the way. Hefty--they feel as if they're made of stone, not plaster.

I wasn't aware that the standard DVD has "deleted scenes"?

Another addition to the list of stuff in the extended scenes: lembas.

[Hello Again]

There is definately additional material above and beyond what was included in "Deleted scenes" on the first DVD. There's about 30 minutes extra... at most the "deleted scenes" were about 7-10 minutes. Most importantly, the scenes are part of the movie as opposed to something you watch afterwards.

I was left with admiration at how adroitly the editing of the theatrical release was handled... they truly cut what was "extra" and left what was necessary.

Scenes I particularly liked: Haldir trying to keep the Fellowship out of Lothlorien... Bar scene at the pub in Hobbiton... extended "traveling" sequence between Bree and Weathertop... new opening scene with Bilbo working on "There and Back Again"... Boromir describing his dream to the Council at Rivendell.

[dantheman]

So... anyone wanna buy the FOTR without the extra 30 minutes? :)

[Munch]

Hello Again, is the new intro before or after the rundown of the history of the ring narrated by Galadriel? Also, do you rate it above or below the intro of Frodo reading by the tree? IMO, that intro is absolutely perfect, setting the complete tone of what the Shire is.

My extended version arrives in the mail today (it left a Decatur, IL hub center yesterday at 8:22am - man I love package tracking!).

[yojimbo]

Mine's sitting at home waiting for me. Half an hour and I'm getting a taxi home ;)

[jsc1953]

Rosie IS hot...funniest new line was in the Green Dragon pub scene. Another hobbit (Ted Sandyman?) hits on Rosie; Frodo tells Sam "don't worry, Rosie knows an idiot when she sees one." Sam looks worried. "She does?"

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

Pippin's reaction to Lembas was so appropriate!

I didn't care for how they made Isildur look sneaky by having him duck out in the middle of a fight.

But otherwise I approve of the additions!

QtM

[Hello Again]

Hm. The "new opening" does come after the narration. Sorry if that wasn't clear. As far as which I preferred.. well, remember, they didn't take anything away. The scenes of Frodo reading, etc, still exist, they just come later. As Bilbo is writing "on hobbits" in his book it forms a sort of narration so that a great deal more of daily Hobbiton life (and 111 party set up) is shown. Bilbo's relationship to Frodo is much more clear and it is explicitly stated that Frodo's parents are dead, and that Frodo lives with Bilbo.

Basically a greater level of detail is offered. That said, I also liked the original beginning. So, you know. They're different.

[Hanna]

I just got it, haven't watched it yet. I'm waiting for dark. The bookends are really nice. I like the trading cards too - now I want the whole set. :)

[Tim R. Mortiss]

Originally posted by slortar
...Rosie Cotton is HOT. Great, now I'm even more of a freak...add "hobbit porn" to my list of fetishes...

A pervy hobbit fancier? Welcome to the club. Rosie was indeed fetching in her brief scenes in the original version. By the by, I bought MY first DVD player for the original DVD release. Best Buy, here I come for the bigger, longer, uncut version....Timmy

[Engywook]

Amazon dropped my copy on my desk at work today. Too important to trust to having it delivered at home. It is already... precious to me.

One thing interesting thing I did notice... Anybody take a careful look at the map of Middle Earth? It is not the same as the version that comes with the books. Slight differences... Minas Tirith is further from Ephel Duath and up against a different mountain range. No Old Forest. A few other things nudged around a bit.

Or am I just getting senile?

[Anubis]

Is Tom in there?


Mewantee, mewantee, MEWANTEE! But me can't havee yet, mum forbids us to buy anything for ourselves between November 1st and Christmas, and she probably won't buy it for the heck of it, she hates DVD's for some reason. (her old geezerness showing)

[Hello Again]

Unless I am really far off base, Bombadil was written out from the get-go and never even cast.

Sorry to crush hopes, dreams, etc.

[Anubis]

No hopes, dreams, etc, just wondering.

[Typo]

I wonder just how nice I'd have to be to my husband to talk him into purchasing the player and the DVD AND allowing the TV to be preempted for a while. (He thought the movie - his first exposure to Tolkien - was "pretty good," and we do have the VHS.)

$58 players, you say? And there's an edition available with bookends/statues? Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?

"All I want for Christmas are the DVDs, the DVDs, oh the DVDs!"

Darn you guys for awakening my Tolkien madness!

[dantheman]

I finished rereading TTT today... and you know what? I think those who haven't read the books or who aren't really into the story as a whole are going to be disappointed if the TTT movie follows the book's ending.

These movies have to appeal not only to those who have read the books but also to those who haven't and won't. The first movie did a great job of telling the story without making it seem too complex for nonfans to grasp. But the ending of the TTT book would surely put nonfans off if it's followed in the movie ...

[cher3]

dantheman Peter Jackson is already on record as saying that TTT will not end where it does in the book. For one thing, it wouldn't give Frodo and Sam enough to do in ROTK. He's saving some of the big stuff at the end of TTT for the last movie.

[dantheman]

Well yeeha! Heck, in TTT they don't show up till the book's half over. Yeeha.

[Avalonian]

I get the impression the the movie version of TTT mixes the plotlines more, while the book clearly seperated Frodo and Sam's part of the journey from the others'. But that's just an impression.

I'm a little disappointed that Shelob supposedly will not be in the second film. I was looking forward to that almost as much as I was looking forward to the Balrog in the first one... have to wait until ROTK for it, I guess.

I wonder if Jackson will do a "Bored of the Rings" gag reel when he's done with the serious movies. I'd love to see his take in the Ballhog... "dribbling his dark sphere..." :D

[jsc1953]

I believe I've heard somewhere (how's that for a cite?) that TTT will intercut Frodo - Merry & Pippin - 3 hunters back & forth, and not follow Tolkien's Chunk: book 3 Chunk: book 4 structure.

And definitely Shelob's moved to ROTK. But in this one we get Treebeard, the Black Gate opening, and Oliphaunts. ROTK we get Shelob and (pant, pant) flying Nazgul.

[teela brown]

Mr. Pug just called. He couldn't wait for Amazon and bought it today, so it's waiting for me at home. I hope he hasn't watched it already; I was hoping to see it with him tonight!

Someone on my Xmas gift list will get the Amazon one, I guess.

[mnemosyne]

Can I be on your Christmas gift list? And now if someone as a spare DVD player to give to a poor starving student.... :)

[Drastic]

And on top of everything else, they're pretty nifty bookends!

[zephonith]

Originally posted by Drastic
And on top of everything else, they're pretty nifty bookends! My friend broke the hand off one of them today. We superglued it back on though, so I don't think my mother will ever find out :D

[HubZilla]

Originally posted by jsc1953
And definitely Shelob's moved to ROTK. But in this one we get Treebeard, the Black Gate opening, and Oliphaunts.

Some neat little details:


The Black Gate will be opened by Cave Trolls pushing them

Oliphaunts will NOT be mere elephants. Think of mastadons. I saw a picture on a TTT card and people barely come up to their knees. Picture:
http://img-www.theonering.net/images/scrapbook/5031.jpg

[HubZilla]

Originally posted by Drastic
And on top of everything else, they're pretty nifty bookends!

I'm waiting for the bookends that will come with the next movie. Hopefully Orthanc and Barad-Dur!!

[dantheman]

Originally posted by zephonith
My friend broke the hand off one of them today. We superglued it back on though, so I don't think my mother will ever find out :D

Mom always said, "Don't play ball in the house ..."

[Jerevan Somerville]

Originally posted by Chronos
And I'm almost certain that Lobelia was in the theatrical release... Remember a shrill femal voice outside of Bag End, and Bilbo telling Gandalf "I'm not at home"? Who do you think he was trying to avoid, there?
Ah, I do remember that. That's one problem going from book to film: the director can't always tell you everything the narrator does.

But they did leave out the hobbit custom of giving presents to friends on one's own birthday. IIRC, somehow this is how Lobelia ended up with (or stole) the spoon collection...

[jsc1953]

Originally posted by HubZilla


I'm waiting for the bookends that will come with the next movie. Hopefully Orthanc and Barad-Dur!!

What a GREAT idea! From your lips to New Line Marketing's ears!

[teela brown]

Now THAT was a director's cut. It was everything youse guys have been saying it is, and more.

Things I loved in the restored scenes:

The elves walking in the forest, and their singing. It put me in mind of the strange chorale pieces in "2001: A Space Odyssey." Very unearthly and perfectly appropriate for elves.

"Concerning Hobbits" - Lots more funny and endearing footage of hobbits, as well as more of Ian Holm's wonderful voice in the narration.

"At the Green Dragon" - There's a pub I'd like to visit! But they only serve half-pints, I guess.

Now, we all know there's no experience like seeing a film of this magnitude on the big screen. But I'll say this for the DVD - during the cave troll battle in Moria, I was much better able to make out what was going on. On the big screen, that scene was so big and overwhelming and fast it was almost a blur. Now I see all the great choreography going on. Wow!

[Avalonian]

I agree totally with pugluvr... what a difference!

I bought the DVD last night at Best Buy (thanks for the heads-up gobear!), and stayed up far too late watching it. Though I couldn't really afford the time or the money, I must say it was well worth both the cost and the crusty eyes this morning. It's almost a different film!

Probably my favorite "added" scene, in terms of what I felt it added to the story, was the Wood Elves' procession in the forest. It establishes a lot with just a little, and really gives that part of the film a stronger flow. I always felt that the cut that excised it seemed awfully abrupt, even before I was really aware that there was something actually missing! Now I know why I felt that way.

And I love the subtle changes Howard Shore made in the score for some of the added footage. The music is basically the same, but in parts I can hear subtle differences in instrumentation and timing that really improve upon already-great music.

The film as a whole feels a little slower than the theatrical version, which I like. It's not quite as relentless as it was before, and it gives you a little more time to know the characters. The subtle changes in Frodo and Gandalf's first exchange, for example, or even in the way Isildur dies at the beginning really put a different spin on things.

This reminds me of the first time I saw the British version on Legend, after having watched the American version for so long. I like both versions, it's hard to decide which is actually better. I think I'd have to say that, as a fan of the books, the extended version is definitely holds more true to the story and feeling that Tolkien expressed.

Thank you indeed, Mr. Jackson! Only a month left now until Two Towers...

[Princhester]

Is there a scene in the extended version of a whole load of hobbits drinking and singing and dancing in a pub? My aunt was a hobbit extra. The only scene where she thinks she would have been recognised was as above, but it was cut from the original release. She's been hoping it would be put back in in the extended version.

Anybody?

[Princhester]

Actually I've just seen puglvr's post. It seems the answer is yes. And that means I have to buy this.

[CyberPundit]

Wow this must be the greatest DVD ever. The packaging alone was almost enough to justify the purchase. Then four fat dvd's packed with features not to mention the amazing transfer. And all just for 25 bucks. Amazing. I thought it would be a lot more expensive.

BTW someone mentioned trading cards. I didn't find any. Can anyone describe them?

[Hanna]

Originally posted by CyberPundit
And all just for 25 bucks. Amazing. I thought it would be a lot more expensive.

BTW someone mentioned trading cards. I didn't find any. Can anyone describe them?

I got them with the 50 buck version, along with the bookends. It is three cards, looks like it might be part of a game? One is Legolas, one is Aragorn, and the third is Gimli. They are holographic, really nifty!

[CyberPundit]

Yes I found a while back that there was yet another collector's edition. I am wondering whether I would have preferred that. Still the EE was great deal.

[Miss Mapp]

I bought it yesterday afternoon, and watched last night.

When the movie first came out, the two things I thought I would like to see more of were a) the Shire and b) Lorien, so I am very happy at this point.

I loved all the new Shire scenes, especially the opening with Bilbo writing.

I was surprised, however, to see that Lobelia was not the hobbit woman who disapproved of the fireworks. Did anyone else think she was?

My favorite additions to Lorien:


Celeborn got more than one line! He was even mentioned by name.
Sam's extemporaneous poem about Gandalf's fireworks.
The gift-giving, especially Gimli's blustering shyness about asking for a strand of Galadriel's hair.


I don't think anyone's mentioned it before (and sorry if they did and I missed it), but one addition that I also liked was Isildur putting on the ring, and it slipping off his finger, just before his death.

There are so many little things added, some no more than a few seconds long, but they make the movie so much richer and, I imagine, explain a bit more to people who aren't familiar with the story. I'm glad I waited to get this version instead of buying the earlier one.

[Smeghead]

I saw most of my brother's copy last night. I haven't been able to buy it for myself, because my birthday's coming up, blast it.

Who would have thought a three hour movie could need to be fleshed out? But that's what it felt like, and the movie felt so much more complete in this version. F'rinstance, one of my biggest complaints was that the fight scene in the Mines of Moria was really really choppily edited and hard to follow. The restored version was far better, and you could see why they had to edit it so ruthlessly.

I'm already looking forward to seeing the restored DVD version of Helm's Deep.

[Waenara]

I loooved this DVD and the extra footage that they added. It wasn't a "typical" director's cut at all, where they often put back in things that were best cut out. Every little snippet or entire scene added to the story. Tolkien geeks of the world - Unite!

I liked some of the completely new scenes, such as the scene at the Midgewater Marshes and Aragorn singing the lay of Luthien, Aragorn talking to Galadriel about Arwen, and Aragorn talking to Celeborn about the Uruk-Hai. Especially that last one, I thought that it really added to the tension leading up to the Uruk-Hai chase-through-the-woods to Amon Hen. I felt that this wasn't adequately explained in the original theatrical release. "You're being tracked..." Spooky. Also loved the gift-giving scene, although Sam didn't get his box of dirt with a mallorn seed - just the rope.


oh, and
Originally posted by Princhester
Is there a scene in the extended version of a whole load of hobbits drinking and singing and dancing in a pub? My aunt was a hobbit extra. The only scene where she thinks she would have been recognised was as above, but it was cut from the original release. She's been hoping it would be put back in in the extended version.

Anybody?

Yep - the scene at the Green Dragon pub is included. That's the one with the memorable "Rosie knows an idiot when she sees one" quote.