LOTR Extended Edition coming to Blu at last

[Eric W.]

http://www.amazon.com/The-Lord-of-the-R ... B0026L7H20



Date isn't locked down but if the preorder is already set to go like this it's going to happen this year. Amazon is cautiously saying 2011 or 2012 but quite frankly, there's no reason for them to sit on this until 2012. I'd say it's a strong bet it makes it this year.

$84 for all that is a no brainer IMO at least.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/ ... nt_fb_link

Trailer.

[Paul MacLean]

After repeat viewings, trying to keep an open mind, and sincerely trying to like these movies (since I love fantasy and particularly love Tolkien's story), I have to say I remain unmoved by the Lord of the Rings films, and nothing in them works for me.

You have this wonderful narrative (albeit sometimes mangled by the filmmakers), but the productions have the schlocky feel of The Sword and the Sorcerer or Dungeons & Dragons or an Uwe Boll film.

[Eric W.]

After repeat viewings, trying to keep an open mind, and sincerely trying to like these movies (since I love fantasy and particularly love Tolkien's story), I have to say I remain unmoved by the Lord of the Rings films, and nothing in them works for me.

I have mixed feelings about some of it myself. They're still good movies, though, on their own merits.

I haven't watched these that many times...I think watched the DVD EEs exactly one time and before that it was the 1 time to the theater for each entry so when I finally get this that'll be exactly the 3rd time I've ever seen these.

It'll be worth it for me. And that'll probably be the last time I watch them until I'm on a holodeck or something.

These things are certainly better movies than so much of the rest of the dreck we've been getting.

[John Johnson]

Reportedly, this limited deluxe set will include nine special features DVDs with "over 26 hours of spellbinding behind-the-moviemaking material including the rare Costa Botes documentaries."

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5974

[mkaroly]

Well, that's an easy purchase for me. I'll be buying this without question.

[AndyDursin]

Let's see...3 LORD OF THE RINGS movies with extras for $83...or 6 STAR WARS movies with extras for $89?

I think Warners is overpricing this one.

[Eric W.]

Let's see...3 LORD OF THE RINGS movies with extras for $83...or 6 STAR WARS movies with extras for $89?

I think Warners is overpricing this one.

Got a point.

[AndyDursin]

I'm sure it'll come down at some point probably sooner than later too.

[John Johnson]

The highly-anticipated Blu-ray release of the extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy doesn't have an official announcement yet, but retailers are revealing further release details, including special features and number of discs. Also, according to Canadian retailer Futureshop, it will come out on June 28.

Amazon has put up a useful comparison table summarizing the contents present in all previous DVD editions, the BD of the Theatrical Editions released a year ago and the upcoming Extended trilogy on Blu-ray.

Reportedly, the box set will consist of 15 discs in total, most of them DVDs for the special features: in all likelihood, they will include the six discs from the extended-edition DVDs plus the three discs from the theatrical and extended limited-edition DVD set released in 2006.

Digital copies will be available online.

Special features will reportedly include:

The Fellowship of the Ring
Commentaries:
Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens
Design team
Production/post-production team
Ten actors, including Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen
Easter egg: MTV Movie Award Spoof (The Council of Elrod)
Costa Botes Documentary: The Fellowship of the Ring: Behind the Scenes (on DVD)
The Appendices (on DVD)
Part 1: From Book to Vision
Peter Jackson introduction
J.R.R. Tolkien: Creator of Middle Earth
From Book to Script
Visualizing the Story
Designing and Building Middle Earth
Middle Earth atlas interactive
Part 2: From Vision to Reality
Elijah Wood introduction
Filming The Fellowship of the Ring
Visual effects
Post-production: Putting it all together
Digital Grading
Sound and music
The Road Goes Ever On...

The Two Towers
Commentaries:
Writer-director Peter Jackson and writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens
Design team
Production/post-production team
Sixteen cast members, including Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, John Rhys-Davies, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Bernard Hill, and Miranda Otto
Easter Egg: MTV Movie Awards clip (Gollum accepting award)
Costa Botes documentary: The Two Towers: Behind the Scenes (on DVD)
The Appendices (on DVD)
Part 3: The Journey Continues
Peter Jackson introduction
J.R.R. Tolkien: Origin of Middle Earth
From Book to Script: Finding a Story
Designing and Building Middle-Earth
Gollum
Middle-Earth Atlas interactive
New Zealand as Middle Earth (map with video location)
Part 4: The Battle for Middle Earth
Elijah Wood introduction
Filming The Two Towers
Visual effects
Editorial: Refining the Story
Music and Sound
The Battle for Helm's Deep is Over

The Return of the King
Commentaries:
Writer-director Peter Jackson and writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens
Design team
Production/post-production team
Costa Botes documentary: The Return of the King: Behind the Scenes (on DVD)
The Appendices (on DVD)
Part 5: The War of the Ring
Peter Jackson Intro
J.R.R. Tolkien: The Legacy of Middle-earth
From Book to Script
Designing and Building Middle-earth
Home of the Horse Lords
Middle-earth Atlas: Tracing the Journeys of the Fellowship: interactive map
New Zealand as Middle-earth: interactive map with on-location footage
Part 6: The Passing of an Age
Elijah Wood/Sean Astin/Billy Boyd/Dominic Monaghan intro
Filming The Return of the King
Visual Effects
Post Production: Journey's End
The Passing of an Age
Cameron Duncan

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=6027

[Eric W.]

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/warner ... mmer-23381



June 28

[mkaroly]

I just got mine in the mail today...gorgeous packaging. Can't wait to sit down and go through all these again. I liked your BR DVD reviews for The Aisle Seat homepage Andy.

[AndyDursin]

Thanks Michael! It's a really nice set...just unfortunate they didn't put the extras in HD too (or put them on a Blu-Ray disc to save on packaging).

[Eric W.]

Looking forward to digging into mine here soon as well.

[Monterey Jack]

I'm waiting for an inevitable price drop (probably right before Christmas). If I could get the Alien Anthology for $35, this'll be under $50 within six months.

[mkaroly]

Just watched FELLOWSHIP....there is a different tint to the film as Andy said...it is greener, but I don't think it's really htat big of a deal. It gives some of the scenes a more other-worldly look.

For me this film still holds up...very enjoyable. Ian McKellan did a fantastic job. The one thing that bothers me is a continuity thing: Gandalf's beard. In the scene in which he and Frodo are together as they approach Moria his beard is way too brown based on the previous scenes. The beard keeps changing color...lol...thank goodness he became Gandalf the White so they could resolve the color issue.

The film looks great on BR - crystal clear (almost too good; the background scene at Bilbo's birthday party as he gives his speech looks very much like a projection shot). Music is still great; the Bridge of Khazad-Dum sequence is still really thrilling and powerful. For me the one scene I enjoyed most this time around was Boromir's death scene- he and Viggo did a wonderful job. I love the whole honor thing ("You fought with honor.") It's a really moving scene and Shore's music hits the nail right on the head for stuff like that. I'm listening to the end credit music as I type this (as the LOTR Society members list passes by on the credits), and I still can't get enough of this score. Well done.