I just finished watching the EE and was very impressed. This was my least favorite theatrical release and the only one that I saw only once in the theatre. It might just be my favorite now, or a very close second to FotR (strange because TTT was my favorite book.)
Now I can’t quite put my finger on all the differences. I recognized a lot from the book that was in this version but not the theatrical version (Frodo and Sam dressed as orcs, for instance) but since it’s been a year since I’ve seen it, I couldn’t quite put my finger on every little detail.
It did seem like they cut out a few things, and I have to say that this was a GOOD thing if I’m not mistaken. The Arwen story seemed downplayed (could be me just zoning out during those parts), the ending seemed to wrap up quicker (could’ve just seemed longer in the theatre because my ass was sore by that time), and the eye of Sauron didn’t do that STUPID flashlight thing when the ring was destroyed (this one I’m sure about, and very very glad about.)
So, what else? I’m sure some of you geeks (;)) have the dope.
Here’s a review which lists all the new scenes on the DVD. I don’t think anything was removed, aside from a couple lines which don’t make sense with the new footage (such as Gandalf telling Treebeard to guard Saruman) and perhaps an alternate take or two.
I think the screen size is also a difference to take into account. For example, in the climactic sequence at the Cracks of Doom, when the ring is melting into the lava, I thought it was a wonderful bit that the metal of the ring was gone but the letters remained for a second afterwards and then disappeared. On the TV screen (and we have a fairly large TV), that was not distinguishable.
OTOH, I found the mismatch of the hobbit-actors with their small-sized doubles was much less noticable on the small screen than it was on the large screen.
I thought the extended scenes were mostly wonderful, although I could have done without the comedy of Gimli blowing away the smoky handsin the paths of the dead. OTOH, the avalanche of skulls was non-Tolkienian but very cool.
Y’know, typing “spoiler” tags is getting tedious, I’m going to amend the title of the thread.
On the one hand, I could have done without Gimli farting, and the whole drinking contest. And I agree with you, Dex, about the blowing smoke.
On the other hand, the extended battle scenes of Pellenor fields were marvelous.
On the gripping hand, having Denethor trek all the way to Rath Dinen for his funeral pyre, then run a good half-mile while in flames to jump off the cliff seemed a little silly.
And I did have the passing thought that the extra Eowyn scenes really made her look like a gal on the rebound.
In the opinion of people reading this thread, how do the extensions in this one compare with the extensions in the other two?
I thought many of the extensions in the other two (especially TT) were not good. (In particular I’m thinking of the scene where Aragorn is trying Eowyn (sp?)'s stew. Dumb dumb dumb.)
Do others think the other two extended editions were better or worse than their theatrical releases? And how does the third extended edition compare on this account?
See, I think the EEs for the other two didn’t really add any more meat to the story but they did offer more chances to see the characters as real people in quiet moments. The stew moment, for example, while somewhat cliche comedy, offered a glimpse into Aragorn’s past and Eowyn’s growing infatuation with him. If you’re looking for scenes that directly advanced the storyline then the extended cuts really didn’t offer that much. I, on the other hand, found them valuable and interesting.
Plus the Appendices just owned.
Return of the King, on the other hand, seemed to offer moments that did affect the storyline itself. For example, the encounter with Saruman seemed much more effective in advancing the build-up to Minas Tirith. Also the added Eowyn time in the Golden Hall at Edoras gave more flesh to the bare-bones love triangle exposed in the theatrical version.
I just watched the extended version last night, and at the end, when Gandalf and company are departing, he says to the hobbits, “and so we come to the end of our Fellowship” (or something like that). In the theatre and subsequent DVD release, he said “friendship” instead of “fellowship”. At least, I’m pretty sure he did. Not a major change, but I always thought the “friendship” line added some extra finality to the moment, which in turn made it a bit more poignant.