LOTR BluRay Extended Cut?

 No.

 The *speculation* is that the LOTR EE's are being saved for a release in conjunction with "The Hobbit Part 1", which is scheduled for 2012.



 

If they are waiting for that release then the studio releasing the Theatrical Edition Blu-ray is going to lose a lot of money because not many fans are going to buy this upcoming TE release. I know that, at last count, Amazon had a total of [2,199] one star ratings for this upcoming release. There were [155] four stars but only because people didn't know this wasn't the EE release and that they were reviewing the movie and not the BR release version.

New Line is going to lose a lot of money with this release because nobody is going to buy it. Most everyone who is aware of this release is also aware of the hosing that LotR received over the later DVD release of the EE. I just don't see New Line coming out ahead with this release.

You're nuts if you think the Theatrical Version Blu-rays aren't going to sell.  

For one thing, there was no "hosing" of the initial DVD release because of the later Extended Editions.  In fact, New Line was quite open and honest about their plans to follow up the initial Theatrical Version DVD release with an Extended Edition.  It didn't stop the Theatrical versions from selling quite well on DVD, and it won't stop them from doing the same on Blu-ray.

 Just for the record, I'll be waiting for the EE's. 

I purchased the theatrical DVDs when they first came out and, of course, the EE's as well.
The theatrical versions have not been taken off the shelf *one time* since their EE counterparts were released.

And the EE'S still look "pretty good" upscaled on my system.
BOTTOM LINE: I can wait ...
 

My understanding is that The Hobbit is on hold indefinitely because of The MGM break up.

Honestly I haven't watched either the Theatrical or EE cuts of the Lord of the Rings films since I got first got them. I won't be spending more money on blu-rays of films I don't watch.

Doug

I didn't say that they wouldn't sell any copies. I'm sure they will. I just don't think New Line will sell enough copies to pull in a profit.

Why?

Because 99% of consumers who are thinking about buying the Blu-ray version have, undoubtedly, watched or have purchased the DVD versions. They're simply not going to purchase this upcoming release when they know it's not the Extended Edition. Because fans were hosed before by new Line in announcing the EE version after the theatrical version was released and purchased by consumers.

I actually thought the EE of Fellowship was better than the theatrical cut. But I can't say the same of the other two. Two Towers its a toss up. The EE doesn't really add anything but it doesn't hurt the movie either. Return of the King is not so good in the EE. The middle section of the film DRAGS. I found my self looking at my watch wondering when they were going to get on with it.  I find the Theatrical cut to be a much better film. My understanding is that the theatrical cuts are Peter Jackson's preferred cuts of all three films.

Doug

I think everyone was aware that the extended cuts were coming when the theatricals were released on DVD. New Line announced as much. I remember knowing full well that there were extended versions coming when I bought them the first time on DVD.

Doug

And I just think you're wrong.  You seem to be putting a lot of stock in the Amazon "reviews" and in the fans' reaction to the release.  But neither of those groups is representative of the buying public at all.  Besides, how many copies do you think they need to sell "to pull in a profit"?  It's not like they're re-making the films from scratch.  There's nothing new on the Blu-rays, just new HD transfers of existing material. 



Again, this is simply false.  New Line announced that an Extended Edition was coming before the first movie was released on DVD, and did the same for both sequels.

Wow. What a complete crock.

I don't even know what to say about the first 2 lines of this paragraph, as they are apparently based on your amazing ability to read the minds of everybody who ever saw the DVDs. I'll leave the debunking of this to those more qualified, like James Randi or Penn & Teller. 

But the final line is absolutely, completely, and demonstrably 100% FALSE. As others have mentioned, New Line most certainly DID announce the EE plans for FotR prior to the release of the theatrical version. Here's the proof, from the Digital Bits archive:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocentsa53.html

Scroll down to the section headed (EARLY UPDATE - 3/27/02 - 12:01 AM PST). There Bill Hunt details New Line's FotR DVD launch event on March 26, 2002, where they announce the theatrical DVD release date of 8/6/02, and the EE DVD release date of 11/12/02. As you can see, NL not only announced the dates but the complete details of the contents. It was clear even at this early date that was no duplicated material between the two sets. So, not only DID New Line pre-announce their full FotR DVD plans, they gave fans almost FIVE MONTHS lead time in which to make their purchasing decision. 

Here's the deal. I understand some folks only want the EEs on Blu. That's fine, it's absolutely your choice. Don't buy the theatricals. Peter Jackson has said multiple times that he wants to do an uber hi-def box of the LotR EEs, when he has time. The EEs will come, it will just take a little time (PJ is kinda busy right now, prepping 2 new multi-picture franchises).

But please, that's no reason to badmouth the theatricals, and falsely accuse New Line of "hosing" the fans. You do know Star Wars fans would KILL to have the original theatrical releases of the original trilogy on Blu? Why do the LotR theatricals get so little respect from some quarters? These are the films that millions of people thrilled to in theaters across the globe. These are the films that made $3 billion dollars worldwide. These are the films that were almost universally acclaimed by critics, and which won 17 Oscars out of 30 total nominations. These films made cinematic history, and Warner/New Line made absolutely the proper decision to get them out on Blu-Ray first.

The general public (meaning those people outside the hard core fanbase) know and like the theatrical versions. You know, the ones that made billions of $$ worldwide theatrically, and that far outsold the EEs on DVD.

You don't even seem aware of basic facts. 
Consumers were informed then well ahead of time regarding the EEs and the same is now. I know that whining is an internet sport, but please...

Quote:
Everyone else has done a comprehensive job of destroying the demonstrably false assertions made in your posts, but it's also worth pointing out that the above is part of a concerted effort by people at the various HT forums (AVS, HDD, even some here) to punch up the bad reviews of the release.  Most of them are from people who know it's not the EE release, but are pretending they don't because they don't like the idea of no EE.  These are not the average/mainstream consumer reviews (since obviously they won't have it for two more weeks), but part of a directed campaign of a minority.
Edited by Jesse Blacklow - 3/17/10 at 10:10am

Quote:
This.  A thousand times, this!

And there's actual sales data to back this up.  Weekly sales of the TEs of "The Two Towers" were actually higher than sales of the EE after the EE was only out for a week, even though the TE hadn't been on the chart for 2 entire months.  A 3.5-month-old release beating out a 1-week-old release--in an industry where fall-offs are extremely quick, along the lines of 2-4 weeks--of the same film (on top of the high sales volume from the initial sales) in the middle of the biggest buying season of the year is pretty tough to argue against.  In fact, it blows the arguments that consumers are "simply not going to purchase this upcoming release when they know it's not the Extended Edition" and that "New Line is going to lose a lot of money with this release because nobody is going to buy it" out of the water.

Sterling work, Jesse. 

It is correct that the Blu-ray editions of LORD OF THE RINGS will be a huge seller.  People have waited for this a long time and want to have it.  I actually was one of the ones that did not purchase the theatrical editions and waited for the extended editions.  I have a problem with the double dipping, which I do to much of anyway.  I for one will not be purchasing the trilogy on Blu-ray in anticipation of the extended versions coming out.  I have done the same thing with KING KONG and PEARL HARBOR.  I have the extended directors cut on both of them as a standard DVD and do not want to go back to something less with the Blu-ray of just the theatrical cut.  I also will pass on ARMAGEDDON when it arrives on Blu-ray since I have the Criterion extended edition.  I am just tired of getting double dipped, and even tripled dipped.  I am happy to see that Criterion has announced THE LEOPARD on Blu-ray with both the international and the US versions on it.  Now that is the way to go.

FYI, the King Kong Blu-ray has both versions via seamless branching.

I did not know that.  I picked up the Blu-ray a couple of times and did not see it listed that way.  Must have missed it.  Thanks for the heads up, I will go by today and take a look.

You *do* realize that the Criterion extended edition of "Armageddon" is non-anamorphic, right?
Or did I miss something?!!!   

If Allen believes the additional material in the director's cut of Armageddon is more important than the significant increase in resolution that Blu-ray offers over DVD, then I don't think the comparatively meager increase in resolution of an anamorphic DVD over a non-anamorphic one will make much of a difference to him.

I have ordered the TEs, even though I have them on DVD. Why? Because they are great films and although I found the EEs interesting, I (or my guests) simply don't have time to sit through 4 hour movies. I don't have a problem buying the EEs later either, and I would rather wait until the director gets to release what he wants than have a version released now and reissued later. The Theatrical versions are just that, and that is what I and my friends will enjoy watching. If that isn't what you want, wait for what you do want.

I don't like double dipping, but in this case New Line has not been sneaky about any of this. It was known well in advance of the original DVD release that the EEs were coming later, and the same goes for the BRs.

All those giving one star to the TEs on Amazon aren't doing any good, their reviews are meaningless. If someone actually had the product and felt it was disappointing due to technical reasons (and NOT for being the TEs), then a lower star review would be useful, but simply posting low marks because the product isn't the one you want is childish.

You did not miss anything, but it is the only directror's cut.

I agree with you, New Line has not been sneaky about this release nor were they with the standard DVD release.  I knew that the EE would be six to eight months from from the release of the TE and I just choose to wait and I will do so again. As you said, it is all in what the consumer wants.  I am certainly not complaining for the the films should look stunning on Blu-ray.

I thought it was great that New Line offered theater cash and a coupon for the release of the EEs, as well as a nice EE slip case via the by mail promotion.

kemcha has an opinion like everyone else.  He's been destroyed so let's move on.

I will not be buying the TEs in Blu-Ray.  I have the EEs and they will hold me over until the complete saga is release on BR in 5 years.

The rumors are false. I haven't been destroyed. Obviously I'm not the only person who thinks that New Line is releasing the wrong version. While I would have loved to have purchased this release, the fact that it isn't the Extended Edition ... let's just say that I won't be purchasing this release.

Just by reading the comments on Amazon, you can see that an overwhelming number of fans of this trilogy have expressed their resentment over New Line's decision to not release the EE version. While some copies may end up selling, New Line should have gauged public reaction to see what version would sell better and then to just release that version.

Fact is, New Line was sneaky about this release because they have not addressed the issue of whether they plan on releasing the EE version on Blu-ray. My guess is that they'll how the TE does with pre-orders and sales before deciding. 

How are they the "wrong" versions? Isn't it just possible that some people, the director included, prefer the theatrical cuts of the films?

There seems to be this notion that just because something is longer its better. I can think of several films that disprove that idea.

Doug

Quote:
The problem isn't whether or not you're the only one who feels that it's the "wrong" version (which is a valid opinion).  It's that you're projecting said opinion as fact by claiming that the vast majority of consumers are "simply not going to purchase this upcoming release when they know it's not the Extended Edition" and that "New Line is going to lose a lot of money with this release because nobody is going to buy it".  This has been proven false.


They did gauge public reaction.  It's called actual sales data, and I posted it above, showing that even 3.5 months after the TEs were released, they had higher weekly sales than the just-released EEs, even though the EEs were a new release in the middle of the biggest buying season of the year. Your claims over "overwhelming" number of fans is equally unsourced, and easily proven false by the same sales numbers.




Now you're just deliberately parroting blatant misinformation. I spent all of 3 minutes searching and came up with the following links dating as far back as 2008:
Digital Bits Rumor Mill, November 2008

Blu-ray.com, June 2009

Collider.com Interview with Peter Jackson, July 2009

Home Media Magazine, December 2009

Given your discounting of the sales data in favor of your own biases, your repeated unwillingness to engage in even the minimum of research, and your insistence on refusing to provide any evidence for your theories, I have to wonder what your goal in this thread is.  It's borderline-trolling at this point.
Edited by Jesse Blacklow - 3/19/10 at 6:57am

Jesse, I'm not disagreeing with you. But, I can tell you, as far as my personal observations are concerned and from talking with other online fans about this release that the majority of fans  that I've talked to on various online communities that they have no plans on buying a "watered down" version of Lord of the Rings. Despite your stance, the TE version is watered down, when you compare the TE version with the EE version.


Actual Sales Data? I don't recall Michigan ever being involved in this. It's easy for a studio to claim these numbers when they don't take the actual surveys nationwide. The problem is that these type of survey's or reports are only taken in Hollywood or New York. Pardon me for saying, that that misaligns those survey reports toward the positive side of the subject matter of the topic they are being designed for.

Online retailers and the reviews being posted to their site by online fans are more than their weight in gold. It's obvious that fans are upset and that they won't be supporting this release.

My personal views? I think it's shameful on New Line. The economy and high unemployment, fans are not going to buy this release if they know that the Extended Edition is coming out soon. Considering that fans are going to pay anywhere from $70-100 for the TE version, consumers are going to weigh an important fact: Price. That's what it's going to come down to. I know that I'll be passing on this release.

Taken from the Amazon reviews page: http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-Picture-Theatrical-Editions/product-reviews/B000X9FLKM/ref=cm_cr_pr_recent?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

Some of the comments?