Suffering without LOTR until Nov. (1 Viewer)

[Brenton]

Quote:

True, but who here thinks that he is intentionally making the Extended Cut worse? If neither is his "preferred" version, then that means that they are equally good. So if I like what I saw on the Extended Preview, that probably means that I will like the Extended Edition better.

 

[Jason_Els]

Gentlemen! Please!

LOTR:FOTR is a very special circumstance when it comes to theatrical vs. director's cut.

PJ was obligated to turn in films at 3 hours and no longer. There is no disputing this.

PJ has stated he does not like director's cuts because they are revisionist and make people believe that they weren't done the way the director wanted during the theatrical release. PJ is happy with what he released given the time restraint.

What the 3.5 (and the possible 4+ -hour that may come in 2004) version will include are parts of the story that should have been in to begin with but could not. These are not add-ons that were suddenly created in retrospect. They were planned for, shot, edited, and a legitimate part of the story as written by Tolkien and adapted to PJ's vision. PJ stated during the filming that he planned for the DVDs to have more footage than the theatrical release would allow. We know this because some fans who work on the production at various levels have told us. Fans bombarded PJ and New Line with that particular request from the very beginning. There is a tacit and implied understanding between PJ and the hardcore fans (like me) that the DVD versions would have the extra footage precisely because it belongs as part of the story. These are also premium versions for fans who will pay pretty much whatever is asked. In the end I expect to have 4 versions of FOTR.

From what we know of the additional footage it appears that it focuses on events in Lothlorien, the departure of the elves, more character development, deeper explanation of the Last Alliance, the reforging of Narsil, and the friendship between Legolas and Gimli. All of these events are part of the story; a few of these are essential to fully understanding future events. It is possible some of the footage could make the film jump to an R-rating.

PJ had to walk a tightrope over various chasms beginning with the ruins of previous attempts to film this to uncaring studios, to rabid fans who would make or break the series, to introducing billions of uninitiated people to a bogglingly complex world, and finally, to make a great movie. Minor and various problems aside, he succeeded. Part of that success is creating the full vision of Middle Earth. To get that vision in its fullness, the extra footage is needed.

FOTR is a dual film in that the two versions were planned from the beginning and both are legitimate. Please do not mistake the additional footage for throw-away add-ins. With the current version you get more of PJ's vision of a theatrical release. With the extended editions you will get more of Tolkien's vision as told by PJ. The story will be richer and more of what you saw in the film will have meaning.

Given the success of this series (providing the others meet expectations), we could well see the extended versions in theatrical release.

 

[GlennH]

It is possible some of the footage could make the film jump to an R-rating.

If you're talking about just FOTR, it did not. The Extended Edition has already been rated PG-13. And I think it would be a mistake to cross the line to R on any of the versions. It isn't necessary.

 

[Jon Mercer]

WOOHOO!! My beautiful wife got tired of me whining about this and went out and bought it for me!! I love that woman! No more suffering for me. Still waiting breathlessly for the 5 disc set though.

 

[Qui-Gon John]

Well that is how my original receipt from Blockbuster reads. I just hope the REBATE GURU's won't say, "hey you used a $22.99 coupon so you really didn't buy the theatrical version".
Oy vey, they sure are making people go through a lot to get 5 lousy dollars.
:frowning:

 

[Jonathan Perregaux]

Dear Jon,

Tell your beautiful wife that I, too, am whining about this.

Regards and yours truly,
Jonathan

 

[Jon Mercer]

Jonathan - I'll mention it to her but I don't think she's going to care too much simply cause she won't have to listen to your whining like she did mine
Though the common name might help.

 

[Jonathan Perregaux]

Jon:

Give her my phone number and then she can listen to me whine!

I kid, I kid...

 

[Sean Bryan]

From what we know of the additional footage it appears that it focuses on events in Lothlorien, the departure of the elves, more character development, deeper explanation of the Last Alliance, the reforging of Narsil, and the friendship between Legolas and Gimli. All of these events are part of the story; a few of these are essential to fully understanding future events. It is possible some of the footage could make the film jump to an R-rating.

Just to be anal (and also to do something other than my actual job):

Glenn already pointed out that the EE of FOTR will not get an R rating. I just wanted to point out that I do not believe it has ever been suggested that we will see the reforging of Narsil in the EE of FOTR. If anything, the question is whether we will see Narsil reforged sometime during TTT or at the beginning of ROTK (as has been more strongly rumored).

Ok, back to pretending that I'm working. (George Costanza would be proud!)

 

[MichaelG]

My girlfriend wants to watch this movie everyday. We have watches this 3 times so far and I said NO last night at 10pm because I had to get up early today for work. Very glad I went ahead and got this version, I will also be getting the extended version as well, but this the two disc is definately worth a purchase now.

 

[Andrew Grall]

I gave in...
For $15.99 at Best Buy and a $5 rebate coupon for the 4-disc edition, I had to do it.
So, on Friday... Well, Best Buy was having their preferred customer weekend. Unfortunately, they no longer seem to consider me a preferred customer as I have not received coupons for their past 2 weekends. (Must have been that letter to corporate... )
Well, I found a scan on the internet of their 10% off DVDs coupon and printed it out. It says no photocopies and apparently not for sale items, but I thought it was worth a shot.
I handed it to the cashier as I checked out asking, "Can I use this?" Not only did she use it, but she accidentally took 10% off TWICE! So, I really got a bargain...
Now I just have to find time to watch it!

 

[Neil Joseph]

As much as I wanted the 4 disk, there was no way I could pass up on the 2 disk, plus I just have to be able to experience the movie as it was theatrically. It is so nice to finally enjoy it.