DVD Review HTF REVIEW: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Ext. Ed.) (merged w/"PQ and SQ" thread) (1 Viewer)

[Beast]

I'm hoping Gollum accepting his MTV movie award is an easter egg on the set. Where he uses the F-word enough to make the commen sailor blush. Just like the 'Council of Elrond' scene from the MTV movie awards the previous year was on the first one.

 

[MartinTeller]

It is. It's mentioned in the Digital Bits review.

 

[Beast]

Ah, good. I haven't checked out the review over on the Bits yet. I haven't seen any other of the reviews mention it either. Thanks for the heads up, Martin. Off to DB's to read their review.

 

[Bill Crosthwait]

Just Pre-ordered...I can't wait

 

[Steve Christou]

Wow! The size of those documentaries! It's going to take ages to watch all that!
Great review Michael and another must have epic DVD for me!

 

[EnricoE]

and they still dropping the trailers on the 4 disc set i will not buy the theatrical cut just to get the trailers.

not good mr. jackson

 

[Dan Rudolph]

I also think this should be getting a maximum extreme recommendation. Will buy this first day when the stores open.

 

[MartinTeller]

You will notice that the theatrical cut extras are almost all promotional stuff -- trailers, featurettes from the websites, and specials that aired on TV to hype the movie. The features on the extended cut are much more oriented to behind-the-scenes material. It was the same thing with Fellowship. I, for one, appreciate the concept and am very glad there's no overlap between the sets.

 

[Dome Vongvises]

Like previously, I'll probably be getting the fanboy gift set.

I love giftsets.

 

[Bill Burns]

There are scenes in this film so painterly, moments that achieve such a timeless beauty ... I was left in awe in the theatre, wishing only that it were longer.

Now it is. I enjoyed the first film, and might edge its quality into the "great" category (I think a few of the takes are somewhat clunky and poor, particularly in the EE, though I wouldn't want to part with the scenes themselves -- I only wish delivery had been improved a bit), but not so here (to be very vague so as to avoid spoilers, only a scene of a father standing over a grave, and his monologue, struck me as "conventional" in the theatrical cut of The Two Towers ... one scene in a three hour film! And still a touching scene, but a sentiment expressed in like terms in countless films before it) ... The Two Towers is an exceptional achievement in visual storytelling and strong narrative writing, and even the music (and specifically its use, rather than the music itself), I thought, was improved over the already impressive first film, which, to place things in context, even if not the equal of the second nevertheless left me in tears for the sheer majesty of certain sequences.

And so ... I can't wait for this EE to hit retailers. I, alas, missed my opportunity to buy a ticket to the showing of both EE's and the third film in a one day theatrical marathon in December (did those ever sell out quickly), but a personal marathon of both EE sets prior to the theatrical release of the third film is certainly in order (as will be the marathon DVD showing of all three EEs, assuming an extended cut is prepared for The Return of the King -- I assume it will be, for the sake of consistency if nothing else). The forty-three minutes of new material for The Two Towers is, for me, one of the most anticipated viewing experiences of the year, and I should add that while moments of the theatrical version strike me as timless works of visual art, unrivaled in recent cinema ... the trailer for The Return of the King absolutely knocked the wind out of me. Is this a movie, or a vision? My goodness.

Peter Jackson may well be a name one day thought of in the same breath as Speilberg and Lucas -- the latter particularly for the way in which his Weta digital workshop is remaking the face of modern cinematic CGI, and both men for the means by which he achieves unparalleled financial success (and a reworking of the way studios think of financial revenues, I'd dare say -- I haven't checked recently, but it seems I recall one or both of these films are already counted among the top ten most profitable theatrical releases of all time, and perhaps one is in the top five? The theatrical EE showings may up that still further) while nevertheless pursuing a cinematic vision (art), a financial success best assured by his consistent dedication, in tandem with his artistic voice, to crowd-pleasing entertainment and promotional savvy (commercialism). He's a one man filmmaking wonder. I can't wait to see what he does with Kong.

It's a good time to be alive, a good time to be a movie-goer ... and, on November 18th, a very good time to own a DVD player. Thanks for the review, Michael. By the way ...

When it comes to trilogies, when they’re over with it’s usually the second film, which will tell the history for the series. If the second film is weak then it could make the first film look bad or it could make people less interested in the final chapter.

I can't think of any competing trilogy wrapping up this year to which this could possibly apply, any of which I've seen the first two but not yet the third, and from those first two might conclude something similar ... oh, wait ....

 

[EnricoE]

will the canadian dvd the same set as the us dvd exept for the including of the french track and the alliance logo? i mean they will not re-encode the entire feature just for the french track

 

[Joe Woj]

Michael great review!

Could you be so kind as to post the complete chapter listings for both discs 1 and 2? I'm curious to know where exactly each new scene is put back in...

 

[oscar_merkx]

Joe

I believe that the Bits' review lets you know this

 

[Geoff_D]

This is one awesome set. I've only watched about two hours of features so far, and yet if that was it extras-wise I'd still be totally satisfied. There's an honesty to each interviewee which you see so rarely these days, and given Two Towers was more of a struggle than Fellowship to make, this makes the Two Towers extras more satisfying than those on Fellowship:EE IMO. No sign of Ian McKellen so far, which is a shame, but the Gollum documentary (on the 'regular' EE) is top class and worth the money on it's own. The footage of Andy Serkis's screen test in particular is absolutely electrifying. And I haven't even watched the extended movie yet - I can't wait!

 

[Joe Woj]

No I'm talking about the actual "Chapter Listings" not just the descriptions of the new scenes. I double checked bits and didnt see those listed anywhere

1. Foundations of Stone
2. The Taming of Sméagol
3. The Uruk-hai
4. The Three Hunters
5. The Burning of the Westfold
6. The Banishment of Eomer
7. Etc Etc...

 

[Kenneth Cummings]

Great review, even so the extra on this disc do get boring over time, meaning only certain sections of the documentary are worth watching. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind two disc of documentary, but some of this stuff get boring after a while.

 

[Michael Elliott]

Could you be so kind as to post the complete chapter listings for both discs 1 and 2? I'm curious to know where exactly each new scene is put back in...

I hope this is what you want:

Disc 1:

New scenes: Chapters 2, 7, 16, 17, 19, 21, 24, 25
Extended scenes: Chapters 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 15, 20, 26, 30

Disc 2:

New Scenes: Chapters 32, 41, 47, 61, 62, 63, 64, 68
Extended Scenes: Chapters 31, 33, 35, 40, 42, 45, 49, 53, 56

The insert has a listing of all of this as well as a "map" that will direct you through the extras.


I appreciate all the kind feedback. I also apologize for not being able to give a more detailed review but I'm really not familiar with these films. I hadn't seen this one or the first film until a week ago so I certainly wasn't ready for this mammoth set.

If anyone has any more direct question about the set I'll certainly try to answer them.

 

[Aaryn Chan]

Could've let another reviewer do the review for you..

 

[Joe Woj]

If anyone has any more direct question about the set I'll certainly try to answer them.

Well if it's not too much of a pain I wouldnt mind hearing what the actual names of the new chapters are called

 

[Bryant Trew]

Michael,

I got my hands on a copy early, and just finished watching the discs. The picture quality is indeed the best I have ever seen. It's so good that I was shocked to see that DVD was capable of a picture of this quality, AND it really did lower my need for hi-def DVD. I mean, if all DVDs looked this quality, I really could wait another 5-7 years for greater resolution. Without prompting, even my wife mentioned that the picture was so clear. And trust me, when my wife notices a difference in something with my home theater, it really must be significant!

Kudos on the DTS soundtrack. The first version had a lot boomier bass, especially in the Ring Wraith fly-by scene in the swamp. But, I never really took notice of the music in that version. In the extended edition the music is fully-articulated, and the score really does get under your skin - especially during the final battle.

As for the extended footage, well the movie now really IS long as hell, but overall I'd have to say that you get a MUCH better feeling for the breadth of the story.

I haven't gone through the extras yet, but the picture quality has set such a milestone for the format that I would give it disc of the year for that reason alone. Viewers will be pleasantly shocked to see that DVD is capable of such clarity. Almost makes me look at all my other DVDs with scorn to be honest.

One very minor gripe - my case came with a manufacturing flaw. The bottom spots where you place your fingers to grab the disc aren't shaved down. It makes it very difficult to grab them. I compared to FotR case, and all four spots are shaved.