I enjoyed the Extended Version a lot, and for a reason…
When the original theatrical version of “Fellowship” came out, I thought it was what I call Damn Good Movie. Then, when the extended version of “Fellowship” was released, my opinion changed dramatically…it went from being a Damn Good Movie to being one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.
Now, as for as “The Two Towers” goes, I didn’t care for the theatrical version. It was what I usually call “Whatever”. It was too choppy and too unbalanced to really get into; just when I got interested in one storyline, it would abruptly cut away to another. Some scenes seemed too long (Helm’s Deep) and others seemed too short (all the Ent scenes).
The Extended Version has fixed most of those narrative flaws for me. The film still has problems, but there’s less of them, and this version elevates the film from being Whatever to being a Damn Good Movie.
In my mind, it’s the only version of “Two Towers” worth spending the time to watch, whereas I can still enjoy the shorter version of “Fellowship” whenever I catch it on cable. I miss the extra scenes, of course, but the lack of them doesn’t ruin the movie for me.
This thread also makes me wonder about the fate of the theatrical cut of Return Of The King.
Judging by the theatrical releases of the first two installments, it’s obvious they’ve got a 3-hour limit to work with. Acceptable. Most people get bored after a 2 hour movie, much less 3. Plus it’s probably written in their contracts so there’s not much they can do.
So far, Jackson is 1 for 1 with these short versions. “Fellowship” was great, “Two Towers” was a hacked-up mess. I’m hoping that “Return Of The King” follows the former and not the latter; I really don’t want to spend my ticket money, see a unsatisfying movie, and then have to wait a year for the superior version.
(unrelated) Here’s a cynical opinion regarding how these releases are handled…they seem to fear referring to these Extended versions as “Director’s Cut’s”. Yet the Extended Versions get all the commentary tracks, the fantastic extra features, and the cool packaging, while the theatrical cuts just get standard extras…I think they shy away from using that term because they don’t want people to think of the Extended Version as the “preferred” version, just an “alternate” version. And they want you to buy both of them.
And since the theatrical version comes out some months before the exteded version, I won’t be able to help myself, dammit!
I see what you mean, and I don’t really disagree that there was never much of a connection between Faramir and Sam in the film. I am glad that they put in the bit about the sewers though. In the theatrical cut one of Faramir’s men came up and said “The orcs have taken the eastern shore,” or some such. I was wondering how the hell they were suddenly across the Anduin. Then when Faramir lets them go, they somehow cross the Great River again! At least the sewer makes (contrived) sense out of their being on the western shore. (Although why a sewer would run from one side of a river to the other is certainly a mystery to me.)
The Two Towers wasnt a hacked up movie. In fact its a damn fine movie, sure some of it is not as smooth as it could have been, but they didnt do a bad job. Its certainly no worse then the theatrical version of FOTR… I put it to you this way, after seeing the Theatrical version, did you leave the cinema saying ‘it was good but it was hacked to pieces’ no, probably not…
Regarding the length of ROTK, Jackson said he was told for the first two not to leave them run over 3 hours, I think both come in at around 3.10ish(inclusive of credits) this time hes been told not to go over 3 and a half hours*, so going by the last two the film would probably run for about 3 hours 40, eek… In saying that though, I read the newsweek article on ROTK and I think they have the time as being 3.12, dont know if that includes credits or not though.
Dont know where I read/heard that, could have been in the appendices of the movies, or more than likely in a magazine somewhere, or maybe at TORN or the Ringbearer.
Delly, I’m certain that the early Newsweek review of ROTK states the running time somewhere, but I don’t have time to read it through again right now to be sure. At any rate, it is full of praise for ROTK and rates it as a strong contender for the Academy Award for best picture – it’s a good read.
I’m not trying to be contrary, but that’s exactly what I thought coming out of it. I went with a friend who had never read the books, and I could feel his frustration. I’ve seen both premieres with him, and I try to view it as someone who has never read the books. FOTR did a perfect job in the theatrical version. TTT was horrendous in that regard.
The commentaries and extra features address all the ‘hacked up’ issues well, I think. They all knew going in that it was going to be the worst received of the films, because they thought so themselves. They did the best with what they had, and did some things to not only make the movie more filmic, but also to link better with the past and future films.
I think as a fully-formed trilogy, TTT (the theatrical cut) will come out in a much better light.
I am confident in saying few people could’ve done a better job. They would’ve all struck the same problems as PJ’s team have, and have to deal with them somehow.
I suppose its because I know the story, and have read the book so many times that if I saw a bit that didnt run smoothly I would fill in the bit in my mind behind it, I guess I forget about those that havent read the book.
However in saying that I still stand by my words in saying that The Two Towers was a damn fine movie.
Funny I didn’t read anyone mentioning the scene where Faramir talks about the dead haradrim being far from home… THAT WAS FANTASTIC ! That is Faramir the wise.
Just for making Faramir closer to the book again makes the Extended version VERY worthwhile. I dare not see the “normal” cut up version again.
I don't remember Faramir saying it... could be Sam. As soon as I have all the extended versions I will probably read the trilogy again. Just to check what and when things are said in the movie.
Aragorn’s bluff is a major plot point. Jackson will have the Saruman stuff in the ‘extended’ DVD stuffs.
La-di-da.
After raking in a trillion+ dollaridus the director is still a tool.
It’s kinda funny to recall Peter Jackson denials - all of which are on usenet - that he’d have anything to do with the Tolkien Movies.
I liked both movies - though he took a shite-load of liberties with TTT. I’ve read the criticism before - so it’s not new nor original - Pippin and Merry suck for comedy or expediting of plot.
It just bums me that PJ hides behind ‘Oh the studios made me do it’ when he certainly knows leaving out certain bits that will be inserted in the ‘extended cut’ DVD is big money.
Actually just hit that part of the book in my rereading yesterday. It was Faramir, preachifying about how the Haradrim aren’t necessarily evil, just led astray and deceived by the Enemy. An excellent point regarding war.
How do you cast for a rock? And what’s a Palantiri as opposed to a Palantir?
Meh. There’s just too much stuff to put into a theatrical version, and even if the extended versions didn’t have ultimately crucial plot points, it’d still be the same big money. So the claim that any particular added bit is making the EEs more money isn’t accurate. I would be extremely suprised if Peter Jackson decided to leave an important scene out of the theatrical version because “it’ll make us more money in the long run if we put it only on the Extended DVD”.
There’s gonna be some Cate-Blanchett 'Previously on:" to start off the movie.
I don’t see how Grima tossing a singular Feanor-made Palantir at Gandalf that clatters(is there a better word for a hard jewel clattering on Numenorean steps?) on said steps.
Oh, I don’t see how that cannot lend itself to some damn fine opening credits and Kate Blanchett over-dubbing.
Mech, I’ve been in agreement with you so far so I will back off from ‘casting a rock’ yet I really think Palantiri (what two or more Palantir are called if they’re together - which has not happened since they were made!).
PJ dithered with the EntMoot and ‘It comes in pints’ Pippin. If I admit to being a purist, Tolkien Geek with no life - am I permitted to be peeved a bit?
If it were a faceted jewel, I’d agree with you, or a jewel on a chain. But the spherical nature of the Palantir really lends itself to one solid resonating bounce, and off it goes.
And yeah, that Entmoot really bit the big one, eh? That, and the fact that Gandalf and Aragorn wanted Theodin to wage open war with Saruman, instead of using Helm’s Deep was unsettling.
Munch - Haldir from Lothlorien wants to smooch you. And hey - it’s kinda neat when the Elves from Lorien show up in Helm’s Deep. They all wear head-gear - which one assumes is (in elven garb) a bit superior to a helm. Alas, our man Haldir dies from a head wound!
A main theme of RoTK is the Palantiri - created by Feanor - and Aragorn’s bluff. And Denethor’s non-bluff.
What Aragorn does is brilliant, original, and essential to the tale of Man’s rise.
