 |
The Lord Of The Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy: Special Extended DVD Edition (12 Discs)The extended editions of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings present the greatest trilogy in film history in the most ambitious sets in DVD history. In bringing J.R.R. Tolkien's nearly unfilmable work to the screen, Jackson benefited from extraordinary special effects, evocative New Zealand locales, and an exceptionally well-chosen cast, but most of all from his own adaptation with co-writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, preserving Tolkien's vision and often his very words, but also making logical changes to accommodate the medium of film. While purists complained about these changes and about characters and scenes left out of the films, the almost two additional hours of material in the extended editions (about 11 hours total) help appease them by delving more deeply into Tolkien's music, the characters, and loose ends that enrich the story, such as an explanation of the Faramir-Denethor relationship, and the appearance of the Mouth of Sauron at the gates of Mordor. In addition, the extended editions offer more bridge material between the films, further confirming that the trilogy is really one long film presented in three pieces (which is why it's the greatest trilogy ever--there's no weak link). The scene of Galadriel's gifts to the Fellowship added to the first film proves significant over the course of the story, while the new Faramir scene at the end of the second film helps set up the third and the new Saruman scene at the beginning of the third film helps conclude the plot of the second.
To top it all off, the extended editions offer four discs per film: two for the longer movie, plus four commentary tracks and stupendous DTS 6.1 ES sound; and two for the bonus material, which covers just about everything from script creation to special effects. The argument was that fans would need both versions because the bonus material is completely different, but the features on the theatrical releases are so vastly inferior that the only reason a fan would need them would be if they wanted to watch the shorter versions they saw in theaters (the last of which, The Return of the King, merely won 12 Oscars). The LOTR extended editions without exception have set the DVD standard by providing a richer film experience that pulls the three films together and further embraces Tolkien's world, a reference-quality home theater experience, and generous, intelligent, and engrossing bonus features. --David Horiuchi ... Read More » |
Average User Rating: 80% (119 Reviews) | |
| 5 / 5 | Absoluelty incredible, and stunning value.
PEF "PEF" (Norfolk, UK) - 8 January 2005 I bought the original two disc version of The Fellowship of the Ring and was both miffed when the extended version came out, and disappointed at the paltry extras. I resolved to wait until this version, the complete extended version, came out before buying any more. So I've been waiting nearly two years but, boy, was it worth the wait. There's not much I can add about the films; the extended versions are incredible, SO much better than the original versions, and stunning on a good TV/surround system. The films are so moving that I've found myself moved to tears at times by the sheer power and beauty of them, and I'm not usually prone to gushing over DVD's. However I wanted to add that the two discs of extras with each film are equally stunning. They manage to be different for each film, and I've watched, transfixed as they take you through the incredible scale of the productions and the sheer love and craftsmanship that went into making these films. Really, forty-five quid for these 12 DVD's represents incredible (yes I know I've used that word about 5 times) value, you really will want to watch all of them. Buy it now! |
| 5 / 5 | Very, very good .. but ...
Quirkycat (Glasgow, Scotland) - 16 January 2005 First of all I should start by saying this box set is very good value, and any LotR's fan should buy it. It is much better than the theatrical version; all the little gaps have been filled and the whole film seems to flow more. It doesn't even seem that much longer than the normal one, and doesn't drag or get boring. don't get me wrong, I LOVED these films and I would recommend them to anyone! That said, I still think they left out a lot of detail they could have included. The friendship between Legolas and Gimli is still not really shown; we don't see the part where they agree to visit Fanghorn and the Glittering Caves, for example. I did like the bit about the hobbits at the beginning; it was warm and cheerful and funny, and explained a bit more why they love their home so much. The bonus features were really good too; the behind the scenes footage takes you on the journey the actors made, and is funny besides. I haven't seen half of it yet; a treat for later! So, if you liked the films - which I did - then this set is for you. It is more deep, clear and the extras are AMAZING! Peter Jackson lovingly crafted these films from the books as well as anyone could. The battle scenes are better than I expected, because they are much more immeditate and exciting in the films. However, I have to say that the books are still better because the details not included in the films are very worth reading; the flight through the Old Forest, for example, and meeting the Elves in the Shire. |
| 5 / 5 | WARNING: check Part 2 of Return of the King on receipt
Simon Dismore (London, United Kingdom) - 22 August 2007 As soon as you receive your extended-edition box set from Amazon, I suggest you check that the second disc of Return of the King plays correctly. Mine is labelled "Part 2" but actually contains the German version of the Appendices Part 6 disc. I imagine someone messed up the duplication as others have reported this problem but so far not on Amazon.co.uk. I hope this advice helps prevent the disbelief and disappointment that I have just experienced. />POSTSCRIPT: Both Amazon and the UK distributors responded quickly and courteously to solve this for me, so no complaints there.... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | Best film in the last 10 years.
Ryan - H.M.H. "Come & Go" (Birmingham England) - 25 September 2006 People can be really disappointed when books are transferred into films, but that is not the case here. This film is amazing; it deserves more than 14 Academic Awards (for the trilogy). The acting is great, the graphics and landscapes are great, the plot and script are great, and the films in themselves are pretty much impossible to hate. I think that this was a brilliant film even compared to the books; it did not spoil the reputation of the books, but boosted the selling's of the written trilogy. The case comes in a very attractive box; it looks good and feels good, it looks very good on any video shelf. The box is big and bulky though; it would haft to be to fit ALL 12 DVD's in. There are the 2 discs for every films basic stuff such as the extended movies themselves, audio commentary's and stupendous DTS 6.1 ES sound. The next two discs on each separate movie have absolutely masses of extras on them - deleted scenes, image gallery, trailers and the developing of special effects, behind the scenes, and script creation, are some of the around 200 extras. There is 9 hours of film, and plus the extended editions the three films add up to almost 11 hours. Plus there is around another 48 hours of extras. You will never, ever, watch every feature on every disc. The films: 1 - ***** The Fellowship of the Ring. Starts off with Cate Blanchett / the white elfish queen narrating the history of the ring. How the elves and men defeated Mordor, but the ring had lived thanks to the greed of men. And then how Golem picked it up, and then Bilbo. The film then cuts to the present. People under the age of ten might like the 2nd two films better because of the wars, and they may think that is boring because there is a load of talking. But this is my favourite. Bilbo's birthday celebration will make you smile [...] There are some amazing special effects, most notably the troll and the belrock. The film is excellent, creating suspense when the ring wraiths are chasing them or the feel of darkness when they are in the woods of the elves. Masterpiece. 2 - The Two Towers. **** To be honest my least favourite the films. The best bit in this film which was my personal favourite was the Ents. The battle of Helms Deep was good, but not as good as the other films Moria and Minas Tirith. The path of Frodo was in my opinion quite dull, and so was Gandalf's. Doesn't stop it from being a damn good film though. 3 - The Return Of The King. ***** Looks wonderful. The landscapes and graphics are the best I have seen in a film, especially the battle scenes - simply stunning. Frodo and Sam's path has become far more exciting and so has Gandalfs. This film is not at all dull, even though it does stretch over 3 hours. Outstanding acting - the actors have improved in this film, I'm not saying they were ever anywhere near bad. The ending does stretch on a little, but it is true to the book. The extended scenes are good for the first two films, but not for the 3rd. Buy these films. They are amazing and the extra discs will keep you occupied for a very long time. Everything from the music to the acting is excellent. The most noticeable actors are Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Ian Mckellen, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Sean Bean, Viggo Mortesen, Sean Astin, Christopher Lee and Hugo Weaving. An excellent cast. 10/10... Read Full Review » |
| 3 / 5 | All that glitters is not gold (sic)
R. Carmichael (London) - 9 August 2006 I get the strong impression that people who wildly praise Jackson's LOTRs have been seduced by his evil technical genius. It amazes me still to think how Jackson's trilogy did not offend a lot more Tolkien fans. Check out the sometimes overlooked 1970s animated version by Bakshi. Ultimately it is hard to compare the Bakshi with the Jackson results, live-action is certainly the preferred medium, but given what they could have achieved, Jackson's is more flawed, and Bakshi's intentions, at least, rather good. But given what gold Jackson had to work with he should have wrought something far more beautiful. LOTRs is already written in a way highly sympathetic to cinema. Jackson's rewrites are patronising and lose far far more than they gain. Jackson did not set out to make Tolkien's LOTR as a respectful film-maker fan would, he made 'Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings' and stamped his influence all over it. For example, in Jackson's `Fellowship of the Ring' the party fight (or surf, in Legolas' case) a cave troll who almost kills Frodo. Bakshi faithfully reproduces the book, in which all that is seen of the cave troll is it's foot, Gandalf advising wisely that they do not try to face it. It is an orc who sticks Frodo with a thrown spear, all of which is reproduced blow for blow by Bakshi. Jackson's preposterous troll-sequence was one of several gratuitous scenes thrown in, i can only imagine, to please 12-year-old boys, or the studio. Some of the many awful manglings of the books are [deep breath]: the way Moria crumbles like the end of a bad Bond film (the cringe-worthy line, "lean forward!", when Aragorn and Frodo, impossibly, cause an 100-ton stone mass to topple forward is just embarassing; Gimli's "You're gonna have to toss me" - and Aragorn subsequently tucking the dwarf under his arm as he is lifted, one-handed, by a rope (cartoon plausability); the boar-like wargs and Aragorn getting dragged off the cliff to highten the romantic tension with Eowyn (although at least here there is a reason -albeit a poor one- for messing about with the book); The Fellowship being voluntarily disbanded by Aragorn (!?) after Boromir's death (again, more faithfully and heroically-rendered by Bakshi); Frodo dismissing Sam from the quest; changing the whole Paths of the Dead section from a host at a hilltop-set obilisk to a chat with a bunch of zombies in a cave; finally, given that Jackson's directing is overlong in many places, it is a truly mind-boggling to omit one of the most thrilling, affecting and cinematic scenes of the trilogy - when Gandalf faces the Lord of the Nazgul entering the gates of Minas Tirith "...under the archway that no enemy ever yet had passed, and all fled before his face. All save one. [...] Gandalf upon Shadowax". In case you think me pedantic, with an overly-fragile ability to suspend disbelief, these changes and childish action sequences affect the tone of the whole film and characterisation also (for character is revealed through actions). Gandalf is not authoritative, impressive and imposing enough - in demeanour or knowledge (for example: making Frodo, not Gandalf, decypher 'speak friend and enter' at Moria - I assume to make Frodo clearly the hero of the film even at this premature stage in the quest; omitting the above Minas Tirith scene with Gandalf further diminishes his character and role - and also robs poor Shadowfax of his finest hour). Given the central place of language and dialect in Tolkien's writings (and his academic career), it is a mystery too, how Jackson has got away with making Gimli Scottish - Scottishness does not exist in Middle Earth and it is pure laziness to use an accent we know in this world instead of making him speak like a dwarf of Middle Earth. Gimli is also played for laughs to an uncomfortable degree eg. changing his chainmail for an overlong hauberk (even though his dwarven armour would have been superior). Jackson uses Elvish but instead of having orcs speak (even a very crudely done) Orcish, they speak like Cockneys - a truly terrible missed opportunity. A previous reviewer criticises the Sam character in Bakshi's film, and he is a bit of an awkward bumbling oaf, but Jackson's Sam lacks the humility and warmth of personality needed in Sam - a much greater fault. The hobbits in Jackson's films are presented in a way that conflates race with age - the hobbits look too young (except Pippin) and, so, too much like human children instead of mature hobbits. Bakshi's animated Aragorn was criticised too, but John Hurt's voice is excellent and he is more faithful to the book once again. Viggo Mortensen - casting's fault,not his - is too young, too short, and too good-looking for weatherbeaten Strider (a spy would "seem fairer and feel fouler"). I won't deny Jackson's LOTR doesn't look good much of the time and the music is an achievement (if, at times a bit self-consciously stirring/shmaltzy). It is also genuinely moving at times. But it is sad that, given that this was probably the only time LOTRs will be made (in my lifetime at least), it was not treated in a more serious/adult manner throughout. Sad too that The Hobbit will be getting the Jackson treatment and that we will not get a vision of Middle Earth from another director (Ridley Scott? Clint Eastwood???).... Read Full Review » |
RRP
£73.49
Release Date
10 December 2004
Price Range
£17.59 - £39.43