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.
You probably saw the edition that came with the statues.
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
My brother got to see the Extended version in the theater in NYC. He posted a review for all at theonering.net. My DVD, according to Amazon, is shipping now.
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.
Is there footage in the extended DVD that isn’t also in the standard DVD as “deleted scenes?”
And you probably missed that DMark said players.
Yes indeedy. Or so I heard.
:smack:
I’m just about finished re-reading TTT. I need the extended version of FOTR. Need it, I tell you!
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…
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.
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.
So… anyone wanna buy the FOTR without the extra 30 minutes? 
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!).
Mine’s sitting at home waiting for me. Half an hour and I’m getting a taxi home 
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?”
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
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.
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.