Slashdot Mirror
Extra Scenes in FotR Special Edition DVD
gdr writes "Lights Out Entertainment have an article on the extra scenes that will be in the Fellowship of the Ring special edition DVD. It will be nice to have the relationship between elves and dwarves fleshed out a bit. I'm not sure the final battle scene really needs to be any longer." There are quite a few bits mentioned for the extra 30
minutes of footage that I'm looking forward to seeing. Just be careful to
buy the November 12 release and not the august release if you want the extra
mojo. I'll be waiting.
When is this coming to Europe? Or is it a simultaneous region 1/2 release?
superblog.org: all your favourite blogs on o
Will they have more minute-long shots of them walking? I really don't think their was enough in the original version.
So close and yet so far from the world's perfect ID number
He knows I won't be able to resist the lure of the August release, particularly when I see the display in the window of Sam Goody. Although I want to be strong, want to wait for the November release, we all know it's not going to happen. I'm going to buy both. And I'll hate myself for it.
--
E_NOSIG
I heard the battlescene that was supposed to be extended was the battle with Sauron at the beginning. I heard it was to be, not only elongated, but a lot more gory, giving the movie an "R" rating.
This is just heresay, though.
Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
Awww MAN, I got into that Blockbuster deal where you get 10 free rentals if you pay $24.95 for FoTR. But its the August release! Whats the big difference between the two?
Well, it sure seemed like a good deal at the time
-Montag
While some films benefit to an extent (Aliens being one), on the whole most of the "extra" material was usually cut because it adds nothing to the film anyway. If I like a film I'll buy the DVD regardless of the extra footage. I think behind-the-scenes material is often more important, although it's usually something you'll only watch once anyway.
Any DVDs that force me to watch adverts are taken straight back for a refund as "broken" by the way - hopefully other people do this as well...
Code, Hardware, stuff like that.
How many of us LoTR compulsives will end up buying BOTH?
I know I can't wait until November....
Don't anthropomorphize computers, they don't like it.
Gotta love those Malaysians!
That the full "collection" will be at least 12 DVDs? And wouldn't you expect 2-4 more with the full set of "never to be seen before" details? Is this set ging to retail around $200 or so?
Talk about a marketing coup! They'll get people to buy this movie at least twice, and some of them three times.
I demand a million helicopters and a DOLLAR!
Waiting? Hell, I'm going to be buying both releases. Sure will beat the cheap divx ;) version running around the net.
I just can't wait for the protest rallies against the Two Towers!
I am glad this wasn't made into one of the inane, witless summer movies we in the U.S. have been subjected to all season. The book and material was treated with respect and dignity, with the core concepts and philosophy of Tolkien's works left intact. I, personally, would have watched (many times) a blow by blow, scene by scene translation of the book into film, but I don't think such a treatment would have been successful, commercially. All in all, PJ made the right decisions about what to keep, what to change, and what to discard entirely (Bombadil).
Trolls: The high-tech version of those morons that scrawl obscenities in public bathrooms.
Actually, all the extra stuff thats coming out on the first Lord of the Rings DVD is NOT going to be on the huge November one. So if you are a hardcore fan, you need to get both. Over on www.moviepoopshoot.com they interviewed the guy creating both DVDs, and he said that they are doing this for a reason. True hardcore fans will get both sets to view ALL the extras. In other words, they have a shitload of stuff that people can see, and they will milk all the money out of us fans as they can get.
I want both, of course.
I have august pre-ordered, and am hinting that my family buy me the special collectors edition, the extended one with the argornath book-ends.
I can only hope.
"A new introduction of loyal Hobbit Sam Gamgee"
You should have listened to what Homer said on The Simpsons DVD FAQ page... ;-)
"Versatile" discs are no different from a regular disc. They just put the word "versatile" on so they can charge more.
Excellence: Moderate (mostly affected by comments on your karma)
Whoo Hoo! She's handing out .gif's! Hope the Celeborn guy isn't in them.
Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
I'm holding out for the 24-Disc box set of the trilogy when they release it in 2007. $395 might sound like a lot of money, but it will probably take a month to watch it all, so that's a lot of entertainment! I'm looking forward to the full 10-hour commentary tracks by each member of the Fellowship, Bilbo, Gollum, Mojo Jojo, Liv Tyler, Natalie Portman, the director, the producer, and the key grip. Wooooooooo!
"I am a cipher, a cipher, wrapped in an enigma, smothered in secret sauce" -Jimmy James
I was extremely glad they cut out the Tom Bombadil scenes from the book. It was the most boring and meaningless section of the entire trilogy and it would have died on screen. Seeing the hobbits get sucked in by the trees would be neat, but I can live without that.
I think I'll rent Fellowship when it comes out in August and then buy it in November. It's a great movie and one of the best book to movie adaptations I've ever seen.
OddManIn: A Game of guns and game theory.
More than more scenes i would like if they included some important facts about "The Hobbit", like how Bilbo really found the ring or some stuuf of the battle (If it can be called a battle) versus the Lonely Mountain Dragon (Smaug was the name?), or the final battle of dwarfs, elves and humans versus goblins, orcs and wolfs.
Anyway, the DVD is a must =)
Sigs are for morons... Wait a minute...
> It will be nice to have the relationship between elves and dwarves fleshed out a bit.
d00d! I don't think that's the kind of cut scenes they're talking about!
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Right on. I read through the whole trilogy immediately before seeing the flick, and throughout the whole movie (even though it was, what, ~3hours long?), it kind of felt rushed. There seemed to be a lot of CHARACTER missing from the characters. The fellowship spent so much time getting right through the story that it all came up a bit thin in comparison to the books. 'course, I didn't read through the first book in three hours, either...
Try my nuts to your fist style!
And also:
I wonder how many people will actually watch the two extra discs. Regardless, its worth the wait if you ask me.
Heard so much hype and blah blah blah. Titanic was another movie which people touted about. Am glad I never watched that junk of 3.5 hrs !!!
it looks like the re-added scenes are ones which just make the details of the book stand out. not big plot-benders of course, but the things that really give a bit more depth, a little more insight. i'm looking forward to downloading the divx rip of it (poor college kid here...) :P
It may take only one ring to rule them all, but it takes four disks to watch it.
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more, Or close the wall up with our American dead!
Anyone get a mirror before the ISP suspended the page? The ISP for that sight intervenes with a 'Suspended' web page and no details.
As a rock-in-roll Physicist once said, No matter where you go, there you are.
Man, I've spoken to crack fiends who sound more self-empowered with respect to their vices. :)
... I mean, shit, where's the self control?
.. I wanna hear how somebody can justify that kind of sentiment. And how does this factor into the power of the boycott when consumers themselves admit being unable to control their spending habits?
Personally, I have very little respect for the franchise slut. It's one thing to be a fan, but to flat out say, "I dont want to buy two, but I know I will cave and do it."
This isn't flamebait
"Old man yells at systemd"
"BOOO, MPAA sucks, give us back our rights! Its disgusting how senators get bribed"
"OOh, shiny DVD's"
If you're in a movie, your obvious choice is, "Let's hunt some orc."
;))
Why?
No one wants to sit through a rather lengthy movie listening to Legolas and Gimli bitching at each other for entire scenes. Okay, no one aside from Tolkien fans.
That's the important thing - Tolkien fans, die hard fans, that is, aren't that numerous anymore. Hell, I'm having a hard time finding 'Frodo Lives!' graffiti of late. As a result (Of the lack of die hard fans, not lack of graffiti!), Jackson had to make the movie more 'action packed'.
Frankly, by doing so, I believe he betrayed Tolkien's vision. Tolkien was never about action. If anyone remembers Ebert's review of FotR, he pointed out that LotR was more a travelogue than anything else. He was right.
But you know something? Jackson never promised us Tolkien's vision. He only offered us his own interpretation. I think that's the sole reason I don't hate the movie(s). (Well, that, and he managed to make the Balrog not suck terribly much.
EXCLUSIVE: Fellowship Of The Ring Special Edition DVD pictures & info! Find out what's in that extra 30 minutes!!!
Sunday, July 7, 2002 2:37AM PDT - by Brian
We've got some exclusive pictures and information on what will be included on the special extended 4-disc edition of Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring DVD hitting store shelves November 12th!
Here's what we found out from our friends at Newline:
On November 12th, 2002 Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring will be released as a 4-disc special extended edition DVD which will integrate approximately 30 minutes of extra footage never-before seen, into the original theatrical release. Check out some exclusive info we found about about what's being included:
What can viewers expect from the 3 and a half hour immersion into Middle Earth??? WE'VE GOT THE ANSWERS!!! Here's what's to be expected...check out the stills!!! (Click to enlarge)
Galadriel's Gif-Giving Scene. As the elves prepare to leave Lothlorien, Elf Queen Galadriel bestows a special gift upon each of the nine members of the Fellowship.
Bilbo Baggins writing a journal entry entitled "Concerning Hobbits," which serves as a history of the Hobbits and their bucolic lifestyle.
A new introduction of loyal Hobbit Sam Gamgee.
More footage from the Green Dragon Inn, with Peregrin "Pippin" Took, and Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck happily singing Hobbit songs.
Sam & Frodo witnessing the stately Exodus of the Elves on the road to Bree.
Aragorn singing an Elvish ballad that adds back story to the implications of his love for Arwen
Aragorn beside his mother's grave in Rivendell.
An extended sequence of the Fellowship's departure from Rivendell.
Pre-battle scenes in the Mines Of Moria, explaining how the dwarves came to be in the mines.
Character material delving into the complicated relationship between elves and dwarves.
Additional footage from the Fellowship's climatic battle scene.
Lord Of The Rings DVD Special Edition pictures Lord Of The Rings DVD Special Edition pictures
Lord Of The Rings DVD Special Edition pictures Lord Of The Rings DVD Special Edition pictures
Lord Of The Rings DVD Special Edition pictures
Composer Howard Shore has returned with his Academy Award winning score and recorded 50 minutes of new music with the London Philharmonic for the special extended edition set!
Weta Digital has returned and contributed all new effects shots for the deleted scenes.
In addition to the 3 and a half hour feature, presented on 2 discs, the set will include 2 MORE discs packed with features not on the August release of the disc! This is includes production team commentaries, production documentaries, & interactive featurettes covering the film adaptation from "book to vision" and "from vision to reality"!
LOL, envy is sad really
Am I the only one who thinks they could have spent
2 more minutes talking about the 'Sword Of Elendil'? They show the sword in the preface cutting the hand of Sauron, and then they show Boromir doing his 'Still Sharp(e)' shtick. I think a quick scene with Elrond presenting the re-forged sword 'Anduril' to Aragorn would have been a worthy plot addition ('The sword that was broken goes to war'). To me, its part of the 'Aragorn claims his birthright' story within the story.
"We were half way to Rivendell when the drugs began to take hold."
-- Hunter S. Tolkien
Fortuitous that they call themselves "LightsOut Entertainment" only to suffer from a good slashdotting after posting a LOTR article.
It's stupid marketing tactics like this that help cause widespread piracy. Releasing "special editions" they will trigger a simple buyers tactic.
;-) rip.
Lots of people on this board are mentioning how they cannot resist the August release, and will likely buy both. On the otherhand, how many of these people will in fact say "fuck it" and not hit the stores to get the August release, but rather hit Gnutella? People don't want to double their costs to get 30 minutes of extra footage, so they will end up buying the movie once. That once will be the November release. In the meantime, they'll settle for a high quality DiVX
Then, the MPAA will bitch and moan about how they're so fucked by piracy. Meanwhile, they were the catalyst by teasing the consumers.
Why bother.
It will be nice to have the relationship between elves and dwarves fleshed out a bit Sure if you're into that kind of thing... Elves and dwarves in the flesh! Must be the scenes dropped to keep it from an R rating...
You basically got 10 rentals and a DVD for the price of 5 rentals, and you're complaining? That's a great deal. I've already preordered my SE version of FotR and still went for that deal when I saw it at blockbuster. Why? There's no overlap. The extra's included on the standard version are completly different from the extras on the SE. So, if you want the complete collection you have to get both. Now stop whining and go out and preorder the SE too.
I've read reports that state that the extras found on the first (2-disc) release will not be available on the second (4-disc) release, and vice versa. Hell, the 4-disc version won't even contain the theatrical version of the movie, but (from what I've read) the 30-minute extended version only. So I'm planning on buying both anyway.
For those of you who see this as purely a money grab, it's not. Look at the other options New Line had:
New Line did their best to give its customers a choice and opportunity to get what they want.
AJS
Sorry, Taco, it looks like you have to buy both releases, anyway. The two will offer disjoint viewing experiences.
Didn't this happen in the book? Doesn't Frodo offer the ring to all three of the bearers of the elven (elvish?) rings even though he doesn't know that they are ring-bearers? Doesn't it seem like this is an important detail that has been left out? He certainly offers it to the other two in the movie. Some would argue that he offers it to Aragorn as well, though I think he was asking if Aragorn would take it by force. In any case it didn't strike me as an offer as much as a query.
The council of Elrond was the one part of the movie that I didn't care for. I am not sure why this was. Maybe because in the context of the movie you don't know who the participants are.
Anyhow, imagine Agent Smith with two rings of power! Both his own ring and the one ring. I am sure that he would beat up on Keanu if he had both of them.
Lasers Controlled Games!
If it makes you feel any better, go to Blockbuster and buy a 10 rental card (1 rental/week for 10 weeks) and get the DVD for VHS for free. The cost is $26 with tax. Not a bad deal..... helps to justify buying the August version.
He's simply pointing out the typical Slashdot modus operandi.
One minute everyone here is boo-hooing and raging about the MPAA...the next, someone posts an article about the latest "must-have" Anime DVD.
I'd extend that further, too....I remember when DIVX (the DVD-wannabe) was still around, just the MENTION of it would get people wailing and gnashing their teeth. DVD was a saintly intervention from God Himself (according to Slashdotters). Of course, DVD is full of idiocies itself (like region encoding, CSS, Macrovision, etc)...but Slashdotters don't care about THAT...just gimme my Anime DVDs.
What the hell would she be doing giving commentary for LotR? Just because she was in Aussieland at the same time doesn't mean Jackson condescended to get her words(or mug) on record. In fact, Elijah Wood said something about her being rather aloof and bitchy to all the LotR people.
;)
Tell you what. My girlfriend is going to be living two floors above Ms. "Portman" next year. I'll ask her if she's on video for LotR at all
Let the universe of discourse be wombats...
I'm really looking forward to the addition of the footage they shot of Steven Tyler and Aerosmith as the elf Gildor and his companions moving into the West....
I believe the scene was cut due to Tyler's complaining that in the end, it was "just too Zeppelin" for them.
Rumors also of a Gildor-singing-to-a-weeping-Arwen number ala the Armageddon music video... Wow, I mean I could barely control myself the first time, how am I supposed to even begin to do so now? Gonna make sure I've got plenty of tissues for that one...
Peter Jackson. bless you...
Not only does God definitely play dice, but He sometimes confuses us by throwing them where they can't be seen. -Hawking
If you are a huge fan of the movie, I think that buying both wouldn't be a bad idea. You see, the November edition is the extended edition. I keep wondering if it's going to include the theatre edition (like T2: Ultimite Edition) but from what I have read out there, it looks like it won't have seamless branching. I would like to be able to watch both. The August edition will be the theatre, and the editing choices will be that for theatre. It will have a quicker pace, although less detail. Sometime I may want to watch that edition. Some days, when I have more time, I may want to delve deeper in the story so I will pop in the November Extended edition. Apparently both are good, but they are different and I would like both. Those are my reasons for buying both.
In general, though, it seems as if most national anthems are overly florid and/or pretentious. A good example is the anthem of the old Soviet Union: Kind of ironic, in view of historical events. But you can say the same of 'Deutschland Uber Alles', and probably dozens more anthems whose singers were overtaken by history. I wonder how future generations will judge the U.S.'s anthem.
Hopefully they mean "The Last Battle" which is the big one shown at the begining of the movie. I.E. the last *great* battle. This is how it was refered to in the books.
For the people complaining about Tom Bombadil, he wasn't really NEEDED in a movie version. The enigma of Tom is that he represented the *reader*. He was a safety net of sorts for the reader, a character of goodness who could remained unharmed by the evils in Middle-earth, even from Sauron et al.
Here is a great analysis of Tom
"I would say that 99 per cent of what my father has written about his own life is false." - L. Ron Hubbard Jr.
of course the real reason to get the Nov release is the DTS soundtrack that it will boast! The Balrog never sounded so good!
"We shall party like the Greeks of old! You know the ones I mean." - HedonismBot
Oh, so sorry. Please go back to Armageddon and the Dungeon and Dragons movie. I think they're more your speed.
I hope one of the extra features is the movie adaptation of National Lampoon's Bored the the Rings. I want to follow Dildo Bugger, Spam, Goodgulf and Arrowroot in their adventures against Sorhed.
I think this was changed from the book, and Aragorn doesn't wield Narsil/Anduril yet in FOTR, and it has not yet been reforged.
Pan and Scan? Ugh, the mere thought of watching the golden brainchild of PJ on the screen in a dibilitating format like Pan & Scan inspires my gastrointestinal track to display a scene of impressive disgust.
If you are thinking about buying this film and haven't seen it yet (what are the chances?), please, please.....make sure you get the Letterboxed format (widescreen). It's good for you, it's good for the world. This is not one of those movies that will look good any other way.br>
The Mines of Moria in P&S? I shudder.
Blog,Twitter
There should be a petition for keeping the original title, just so the petition against the title gets beaten properly to the ground.
There is. Shortly after news of this petition got out I saw a link somewhere and signed the 'Petition to Ignore the Petition to Change the Name of the Two Towers'.
At least I know where my towel is.
C'mon, people. Yell about the MPAA all week until they have a movie you want to watch and then you don't even ask why the "special edition" features aren't on the "regular" edition. SUCKERS!
Carpe Deez
i disagree...i like option #3...under option #4, i have to buy 2 seperate packages to get everything...the "regular" release should be a sub-set of the "special" release...if you use option #3, there should be no bitching as long as you know *ahead of time* (as we do here) that there will be a regular and a special edition...that way, the people who just want the movie and aren't hard-core fans can just buy the regular theatrical version...meanwhile, those who are hardcore fans, can buy the more costly special edition, and not miss anything from the regular release...the way new line is doing is with different bonus material over the two sets is nothing more then a way to make more money off the movie...cause they know hard-core fans want everything, and will probably buy both sets...
so, basically let's see, if i want *everything* from the entire series i'll probably have to buy FOTR regular, FOTR special edition, TT regular, TT special ed., ROTK regular, ROTK special ed., then probably a box set special edition of all 3 movies...i'll end up having like 25+ lord of the rings DVDs by the time i'm through...jeez, that's out of hand...i'll need a special storage unit just for them..
atleast that's one thing Lucas is doing right with the original star wars trilogy...he could easily release eps 4,5,6 on DVD right now, just as they are...then re-release another DVD speical edition later...but instead they're gonna work on the DVD, and anything he wants to change, and any special feautres...that's the way to do it...not release version after version...
"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true." - Homer Simpson
Tom Bombadil - how can they leave that out the damn movie ?
The Barrow wights (spelling ?) - hello ! - this is where Frodo gets his freaking sword from - how they could of skipped out this, I just don't know !
Those are the two most glaring omissions from the film, there's plenty others as well, but not quite so 'show stopping'
Don't get me wrong, I think the movie was pretty much as good as a commercial release is going to get - pity about the casting of Elrond tho - the baddie from the Matrix - WTF ?
A slashdotting - you get the stick first and then the carrot !
Also, I remember that in the books the Orcs and Goblins seemed to have their own society and culture. In the movie they look diseased, and not capable of having a society.
Eat at Joe's.
That'll be 1 disk. Plus a free demo of the 7GB new AOL
-- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
For those of you who want to be "franchise sluts" but don't want to pay twice, go take a Kia for a test drive and get the theatrical copy for free!
KIA Partners With The Lord Of The Rings
"Individuals who test-drive the new Kia Sorento or any Kia model between August and October, 2002 will receive by mail a free copy of the "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" home video or DVD courtesy of Kia."
"TK-421, why aren't you at your post?"
I am SO GLAD someone else saw the shadow of Sharpe in that scene!!!! :) But I don't think I can ever see Bean without seeing Sharpe, no matter what the role.
I don't deny that they are milking it, they're the owners of a ridiculously lucrative franchise. But they are at least trying to do right by the fans.
AJS
I have a feeling they may have been saving the Sword of Anduril bit for The Two Towers... you know, when he actually goes to war.
I could be wrong, it's just a hunch.
Doesn't this imply that the full "collection" will be at least 12 DVDs? . . . Is this set going to retail around $200 or so?
The Extended Edition can be pre-ordered on Amazon for $25.99. So I assume that you'll be able to get four disc sets of each film of th trilogy for a total just under $80.
Of course, if you really, really must have every edition available, you could get the Gift Set version of each film, plus a likely compendium complete trilogy gift pack edition, which at around $60 each for each film and maybe $100 plus for the trilogy could set you back over $300, but I expect there is a lot of repeated footage included and the only possible reason to buy all of them is for collecting and not actual viewing. For example the only additional footage available in the FotR gift set is on the National Geographic DVD which can be bought seperately for $21.49 the additional $11.50 cost is for figurines and gift cards. And since the National Geographic disc is in full screen format, I don't think it is for cinemaphiles. Just lots of pics of New Zealand.
Work for Change & GET PAID!
Dude, Captain Typho as Ugluk and Chuckie (from Child's Play) as Wormtounge. That's gonna be cool.
Oh, and Sam's real daughter playing his daughter.
-Peter
PS: Like others, I'm pissed about the lack of Bombadil. Here's a question, how is Jackson going to get rid of Gandalf so that the Hobbits have to deal with "The Scouring of the Shire" on their own . . . ?
-P
I will be purchasing both versions of the movie, if for no other reason than I want to see the version of Fellowship that I saw in the theater.
While I am glad there will be some extra footage and other good stuff added to the November disc, I have been disappointed by "special editions" in the past. The Phantom Menace DVD, for instance (save your wisecracks), adds a lot of footage that I don't care for -- and there's no way to see the version I saw in the theater, save watching it on VHS (which I shouldn't have to do after shelling out the cash I did for the DVD).
Similarly, the Aliens Special Edition adds a lot of footage that's cool, but I feel it mars the pacing of the film and isn't necessary -- but there's no option to get rid of it and watch the film in its original form. (Unlike, for example, the Terminator 2 Ultimate Edition, which has an option to watch both versions.)
I have very fond memories of watching Fellowship in the theater, and while I am excited about the prospect of new footage, I don't really know what it's going to entail or how good it's going to be. And I want to be able to recreate the theater experience if I want to -- so I will be purchasing both, just in case.
If it turns out I have no use for the first DVD after November, I can always give it away or sell it on the cheap. It's less than the cost of one evening dining out. No big deal.
I'll be buying all 12 edition that will eventually be released...
1. FotR standard issue (Aug 02)
2. FotR Deluxe issue (Dec 02)
3. FotR/TT standard issue (Aug 03)
4. FotR/TT Deluxe Box set (Dec 03)
5. 3DVD standard issue box set (Aug 04)
6. 6DVD Deluxe box set (Dec 04)
7. 8DVD Super Deluxe Box Anniversary edition with poster of Arwen in sexy pose (best seller). (Aug 05)
8. 10DVD Super Duper Deluxe Box Post Anniversary Christmas edition with plush Frodo and Sam as Santa and helper elf edition (other PC holiday editions available) (Dec 06)
9. The Hobbit DVD release (Aug 07)
10. The Whole Sebang (9&10) Platinum boxed edition with cloth map of Middle Earth. (Dec 07)
11. The Whole Sebang on the new Holographic Cellular media discs (they're right around the corner, right?) with special talking Gandalf christmas tree ornament (other PC friendly designs available)(Dec 08)
12. The Whole Shebang 20th Anniversary edition including new digitally created interview with Tolkien in holographic simulation and Arwen Poster reprint.(Aug 21)
-- If god wanted me to have a sig, he'd have given me a sense of humor.
Perhaps this scene you lament for will be in the extended exit from Rivendell.
quit bitching about an anthem biotch. get a fucking life
If you're going to buy both the theatrical and special editions, then you also need to buy The Fellowship of the Ring - Turnip Edition.
This consists of an entirely and lovingly blank DVD disc with "LotR - Turnip" carefully written on it in exquisite marker pen by a skilled writer (me). It is an extremely limited edition, there being only one - and it's YOURS for the bargain, once-only price of $500!
Fans! Fanatics! Don't miss out. Mail me now and be first in the queue to own this unique souvenir.
Ade_
/
Big Bubbles (no troubles) - what sucks, who sucks and you suck
Not MAKE any special features and just release the same movie in the theaters that they release on DVD. Because that's the latest craze, every DVD has to have special features. Wow a cast biography and behind the scenes photos. Uhm, how underwhelming.
I can't believe that they can't just allow the user to set an option to watch either the theatrical version or the extended version. We're talking about DVD here not VHS.
I'm watching my James Bond "The World is not Enough" DVD, a little icon flashes in the upper right hand corner, I press a button on my remote. Bingo, I get to see extra behind the scenes footage. Why not make the DVD with an option to turn on all the extra footage? Then release all the "Behind the scenes" extras on a separate DVD for $19.95 US? The people that want to watch the theatrical release can, the people that want to watch the full movie with the extras can.
Because they want to suck as much money out of us as they can. I doubt that, for me at least, there will be anything extra on the first release that I'll care about so now I'll be waiting for the 2nd one.
"For a successful technology, honesty must take precedence over public relations for nature cannot be fooled." -Feynman
I'm debating on putting off buying EITHER of the upcoming releases. I can't help but believe that once all three movies have come out that there will be the "Complete Lord Of The Rings Boxed Set" with all the stuff you'll already have plus 2-4 dics of never-before-seen footage and extras and such, along with a collector's box, 100-page booklet, etc, etc... making any earlier purchases a waste of my money.
- In hell, treason is the work of angels.
I'm really looking forward to the full three movies shown as a whole, with extra material thrown in. Maybe in 2004-5. This is doable because all most of the human filming was done at one time. Jackson has already taken some liberties with re-arranging the books chronology for better dramatic filming. He could also make a "kosher cut" to follow the books as closely as possible with the film material. I'd expect the combined cut to be a 12 hout miniseries.
Jackson has reportedly altered the Anduril plotline in order to extend the "Aragorn's birthright' subplot more evenly through the films. From what I've seen in various rumor reports, Narsil will be reforged in TTT or RoTK, most likely at Arwen's insistence. This plot change would provide a plausible reason for Arwen's character to appear in the second movie if it happens in TTT (some of the brief scenes in the TTT trailer seem to reinforce this). My guess is that it will be delivered to him before the battle of Helm's Deep. A group of Elves from Lorien take part (and sacrifice their lives) in the battle. I would hazard another guess that they're the ones who deliver Anduril to Aragorn, possibly replacing the sons of Elrond and the Rangers who arrive after the battle in the book.
nice, that solves my problem, now i can get both versions...
but, won't this just lead to a bunch of geeks with no intention of buying a KIA coming to test drive just to get the DVD? i know that's what i'm gonna do...there's gotta be some sort of catch or fine print associated with it...
"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true." - Homer Simpson
The Sword of Elendil is reforged at Rivendell before the fellowships departs; 'The Sword of Elendil was forged anew by Elven smiths...' (Book Two, Chapter III, FOTR).
When the Fellowship leaves Rivendell, Aragorn has the sword Anduril; 'Aragorn had Anduril, but no other weapon...' (Book Two, Chapter III, FOTR).
So are you saying that in FOTR: The Movie, that Anduril has not yet been reforged? It clearly has in the book, which was my original point.
maybe not the super duper deluxe boxed set with postcards, but I'd rather wait until each November and get the extended version rather than get it early in August.
However, this time I'm getting the theatrical release - at Blockbuster. I haven't seen anyone mention this yet (although I haven't read all comments), but Blockbuster is having a deal with a 10 rental card for $25 (that's $2.50 a rental compared to the normal $4, but it's 10 rentals in 10 weeks, 1 each week, miss a week and you lose).
Now, if you rent once a week, that's a good deal - except buy purchasing the card you get a copy of the FOTR - on video or DVD. That will probably be close to the cost itself. I made sure to ask "Ok, so this RESERVES a copy for me, right?", and then when I bought it they asked "Video or DVD? Pan and scan or letterbox?"
Of course, I don't have the DVD in hand, yet, but it seems like a great deal.
Stupid sexy Flanders.
It's even available on one of Tom's tapes.
Here's a question, how is Jackson going to get rid of Gandalf so that the Hobbits have to deal with "The Scouring of the Shire" on their own . . . ?
huh? not sure what you mean here...in the book Gandalf basically just tells them that he won't be going back to the Shire with them...and i believe he makes some reference to the fact that the they'll have to deal with anything that's going on there themselves...why would it be any different in the movie???
"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true." - Homer Simpson
So somebody else did this...
Considering rentals are typically $4, it's quite a good deal. If you rent movies every week, anyway - I don't. But since there's so many movies I haven't seen, it's pretty good timing.
And I was happily surprised when I bought the card - "VHS or DVD? Pan and scan or letterbox? Ok, your copy is reserved!"
Stupid sexy Flanders.
I think there's tons of stuff you just wouldn't understand if you didn't read the book.
My Mom borrowed my copy of the Hobbit, just for background information, before seeing the movie. She won't take on the LOTR, but it was a good introduction for the movie.
At least she understood that LOTS of time was passing. What in the movie seemed to take a month or so was like six or seven. You just didn't get that from the movie, but she understood it having read the Hobbit.
Stupid sexy Flanders.
. . . but it costs a lot to re-edit the film, pay those working on the edit, choosing the scenes, re-mixing the music, et al. It's not just cost of burning each DVD that New Line/AOL-TW has to worry about.
That said, I think they are milking the fans of the movie for all they got. And why? The first movie made $800 mil and all three costs $350 mil. And that's before the DVD release!!!
Am I the only one who finds it interesting that November 12th is the same day book 10 in The Wheel of Time Series is being released?
Nobody seems to ask why the regular editions special features aren't on the special edition. There is a place for special editions to exist, and this is it exactly, but it makes no sense to cut things out of the special edition. (well, no common sense, I guess it makes marketing sense, which is completely different, and evil)
Science may someday discover what faith has always known.
According to IMDB, the original cut "ran four hours and thirty minutes." If this is truely the case, I'd like to get my hands on all of that extra footage and see what else we missed. Sure would be nice if Tom Bombadil was in there somewhere.
Beware, Nugget is watching... See?
Come on, Episodes 4,5,6 are the reigning king of milking the consumers. The countless VHS releases... lets see we had (starting in the middle somewhere)
1. Came out, marketed as "Last time to get the original series"
2. Couple years later, we got the "remastered" version. Again, marketed very heavily, anda gain, as the "Last time" to get something or another. This was the biggest push.
3. And of course, a couple of years later, out comes the version with a couple of extra scenes.
They got everyone who remotely wanted it too buy it over a few years (with the priuce eventually dropping to the "why not" range"), then come out with the extra scenes version in order to milk all the hard core fans for another copy.
Wrong example to prove a point here.
PK
Engineers arn't boring people, we just get excited about boring things.
you're right...i had forgotten about the "Digitally Remastered" versions"...i was only thinking about the "original" and the "special edition" when i posted...yeah, so i guess they did milk some with eps 4,5,6 already...atleast they were only VHS, and didn't cost as much as DVD...
which brings up another good point...did Lucas start all this "special edition" insanity when he re-released eps 4,5,6 to the theaters, and in VHS form as the "sepcial edition"...i can't remember it being widespread before that...
"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true." - Homer Simpson
anyone catch the recent southpark episode with lucas reinventing his movies?
realistically, it should not be different to have the extended version and theatrical version on the same disc. just used a different table of contents for the version you want to see.
i personally don't care about the making of, biographies etc, i just like seeing deleted scenes. the extra stuff is nice to have, but not nearly as interesting to me as extra movie footage, espescially when it is integrated with the film itself.
Bring back the old version of slashdot.
So there I was in Blockbuster Friday, preordering a copy of the August release. I was a happy guy, I even got a cool poster with it.
Now I see this! Damn you evil movie studio! You were watching weren't you? You know I just spent $28 on the first release and you are also probably just as secure in the knowledge that I will spend the money again on the SE. BASTARDS!
The Extended Edition can be pre-ordered on Amazon for $25.99. So I assume that you'll be able to get four disc sets of each film of the trilogy for a total just under $80.
Of course, if you really, really must have every edition available, you could get the Gift Set version of each film, plus a likely compendium complete trilogy gift pack edition, which at around $60 each for each film and maybe $100 plus for the trilogy could set you back over $300, but I expect there is a lot of repeated footage included and the only possible reason to buy all of them is for collecting and not actual viewing. For example the only additional footage available in the FotR gift set is on the National Geographic DVD which can be bought separately for $21.49 the additional $11.50 cost is for
figurines and gift cards. And since the National Geographic disc is in full screen format, I don't think it is for cinemaphiles. Just lots of pics of New Zealand.
I am sending you to my amazon.com affiliate account in order to have your cash.
see you later, thanks.
::.. check out some Cell Phone Reviews
Books and movies are two different media, and they don't *literally* translate well... successful film versions of books are almost always substantially different from their original source.
"...the extras on the two releases do not overlap so your not wasting money by buying both editions."
I think we have different concepts of what constitutes "wasting money"...!
The Barrow wights (spelling ?) - hello ! - this is where Frodo gets his freaking sword from -
Actually, Frodo obtained sting from Bilbo while in Rivendell, and the first sword is of no real consequence to the story, other than to set up for Tom Bombadil.
You must keep in mind that the whole Tom Bombadil side-story was written when the FotR was still considered to be a children's book and a sequel to the Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein. In the house of Tom Bombadil was meant to be a momentary diversion, and because of that, Tom does not have any real back story, and is totally irrelevent to the over Lord of the Rings tale.
DRINK DUFF (responsibly) DRINK DUFF (responsibly) DRINK DUFF
my solution to this is thus: :) ) I'll return it as soon as I buy the director's cut in november.
I'm going to rent the "standard" version from netflix as soon as it comes out in august. since I can keep it for as long as I want (no late fees
best of both worlds.
They moved its reforging into The Two Towers.
(which I'm sure will be complained about by some as being too much of a reminder of 9/11. There will probably be a petition to have it renamed "two tall buildings" or "the shadow falls")
Most important events will still be in the movie, but their order is being occasionally adjusted to give them more weight and significance. I don't mind that much as long as they don't screw it up too badly.
I can't wait that long.
Besides, Blockbuster has this kickass promo right now. for $25 you get 10 free rentals plus FOTR on DVD (that's for you to keep). Hell, 10 rentals plus the DVD would normally costs about $60.
[FromTheMorning]
... if he tries anything, sam will kill him.
Hey dude you obviously slept through some serious portions of that movie... most notably, the part beside the river after being chased by orcs, where Frodo has to escape, and Aragorn ad-libs (in classic &$^#&@*#! American fashion)
"Let's go hunt some orc!!" and they all cheer like Rocky extras and take it seriously.
Tollkein rolled over in his grave at that moment, even if he overlooked the others. Un-F*CKING-believable!! If the Aug. DVD has some deletions I'll be more likely to purchase it than otherwise. Else it's the Divx rip as usual for me. I already paid 26 bucks to see the film in the theatre...
Right now, Amazon is offering the first one at $17.97, the second at $25.99. So you can buy either one at a very reasonable price, or all six disks for $44.00.
Let me repeat that for all of you whiners who didn't understand it:
You can buy all six disks, including two full cuts, for only $44.00.
Damn, do I feel ripped off. Especially when the six-disk set of 'The Godfather', "remastered" for the umpteenth time, is $75. Or the single, no-specials, no-restoration DVS of 'Harold and Maude' is $25.50.
Get a clue. Jackson et. al. had to make a decision as to how to package it. They made their decision. As far as I can tell, they decided that they would not force folks to buy duplicate material if they wanted everything, and kept it all *very very cheap*. Looks to me like a damned fine choice.
And if you don't like it, don't buy it.
-- garyZ
People are going to complain no matter what you do. At least in this case they're forewarning people about it. It's not as cheap as those 5-10 year anniversary releases companies are putting out these days with some little featurette or out-takes. If people can't wait a little longer than it was obviously worth it to them to buy the first release.
-- Scientist: You aren't going to leave me here, are you? Boagh! Thump...
I'm a little puzzled why Aragorn wasn't carrying the broken sword as in the book. If nothing else it's a support to his claim of the thrown of Gondor.
I feel that the singing was very intergal to the book as well as the rest of the Genre. It gave a feel for the way that the characters were feeling and would have been great to see and hear, at least during the walking scenes...
Tibbon
tibbon.com
Actually there are several films out that are very long. I think your point should be that you can't make a commercially sucessful film 12 hours long. I know I personally would see a full LotR, but my girlfriend would look at my like I was crazy, she thought it was too long as it was.
There are also several plays that are quite long- some extending into he 18 hour range, and many of them are quite good. It's just that most Amercians don't find it that entertaining to watch anything past 2.5 hours long (which was the main complaint I heard about the film anyway..).
I have personally thought about trying to write a musical about LotR (I would have to get licenscing etc..
Tibbon
tibbon.com
There are many theories about who Tom really is, and one is that Tom is an Ainur, Valar, or Ao himself.
Being a Valar doesn't make sense, because he doesn't care about the ring, and the Ents say that he has been around since before the stars, as well as that he is the oldest thing in the world.
Leaving him out of the movie, is like leaving God out of a Charles Heston movie (religous movie). Just because God doesn't make a Cameo appearance in it, or doesn't fight all the battles and fix everything himself, but rather sits and watches his children- doesn't mean that he isn't important or should be removed in total.
Tibbon
tibbon.com
I guess I'm tending to be pessemistic here, but I have to believe it's a money grab. Really. At best, it's an attempt to balance their fan base with a very lucritive release. Why you couldn't create 2 edits with seamless branching (effectively one movie with bonus material "spliced" in) all under one title is beyond me. And DVDs routinely sell with behind the scenes crap all the time for a negligable increase in price.
I'm betting what they did was the easiest, most profitable thing to do without totally alinating both the passive and hardcore fans. And before I recieve a single fan-boy flame, know that the above is not nessisarily a diss, just that I doubt that they had our best intrests at heart as much as they (or some people here) claim to. When it's all said and done, they have a right to make money and they will... It was an outstanding movie.
You need a FREE iPod Nano
To some extent, I view a director as a conductor. I would not be very happy if I went to an orchestral performance of a Beethoven symphony and discovered that the conductor took it upon himself to cut out major portions of the work.
I know what you're saying, but this happens all the time. Just an example: George Szell and Otto Klemperer both cut a lot out of their (quite famous and popular) recordings of Bruchner's 8th symphony.... In fact, Klemperer said something along the lines that "Bruchner was getting carried away with himself"!
The fact of the matter is that PJ just couldn't fit everything in. My favourite part of the FOTR (A Conspiracy Unmasked) was cut, and I was disapointed. PJ needed to get the plot moving along, and skimming and cutting his way to Rivendell was the only way he could do it without tacking another hour onto the movie (not that many of us would complain....) At least PJ was respectful of the material, unlike Klemperer was. I think since TTT and ROTK have more meat on 'em, we'll see less cutting in the next movies.
-Frobozz
Brought to you by the friendly folks at FrobozzCo....
okay flame me if you like but I really do feel Lotr was too long as a movie. as far as films go they can only go so long before you just want the blasted thing to end so you can leave. the pacing was really horrible reminding me much of dragon ball Z with a ton of events that have no relevence to the final outcome. lots and lots of "and they're walking through the woods....and walking....and walking...GLORY SHOT OF THE RING!...and walking....and walking....AND A DRAGON POPS OUT!....and walking....
well you see my point. for a movie I'd have deffinately cut out a lot of the flak. In fact scenes like the snow mountain where the ultimately go back and forget the whole thing have no use whatsoever and should have been cut isntead of wasting time. also the continual "temptations of the ring" are unnecessary. yes the ring is pure evil. yes show us an example but one is enough. we're don't have a learning disorder we can pick it up.
really the best part of the movie was the opening. THat is the one part I'd like to see extended. and perhaps some flashbacks to things that occured in the Hobbit as well. Honestly with a movie that long you could have told the entire LOTR story.
I'm waiting for any Tolkien related story to not bring up this incredibly stupid troll. It was done by Klerck the king of stupid and trolls.
Just drop it!
--->Life is like that sometimes...
There is a scene in LOTR where the Hobbits are walking through a field. In the distance is a house, smoke coming from the chimney, and a man working outside. That's Tom.
I've seen interviews where the filmmakers are asked about Tom, and they reply he is in the film, the Hobbits simply do not stop there...
"Goodness, how did you people live long enough to invent tools?" -Hobbes (the tiger, not the philosopher)
What a bunch of weak-minded pussies we have in this country if they fear even the memory of things. If you people really wanna moarn something we lost that day, I'd suggest doing so for our integrity.
I thought it was amusing that Aragorn didn't kill Boromir on the spot for touching, let alone dropping, his sword when they were in Rivendell. (That certainly wasn't in the book.) Remember, this is the guy who said that no man could touch his sword and live when they were trying to see Theoden and the guard wanted him to leave his sword behind.
Why do pr0n images flash through my mind when I see that?
By not incuding the 1st released special features and the theatrical cut on the special edition DVD they probably expect some people to buy both DVDs. They probably expect some people to buy both because they won't have heard of the special edition until after they buy the theatrical version. Still, I can't be too upset by this. The studio took an incredible risk with these movies. They committed to three movies and after seeing first movie, it looks like the movies will easily surpass my expectations. They deserve to reep the rewards. The only part that bugs me is that I'll have to wait until November for the special edition (this could be due to extra editing/post-production anyway). If Lucas had done this well on TPM and AotC, people wouldn't have been so upset with his "milking".
Who is to say that the extras on the November edition are even complete? PJ and crew are most assuredly busy working on the next two films. It's possible that the August relase is a head-start for those who want the movie ASAP.
These blood sucking Unholywood studios have been planning from the very beginning to squeeze money out of you spineless fans with this extortion schemes. But did anyone listen? NO!!! You would rather let them to treat you like slaves, and that's exactly what the whole 'special edition DVD' marketing does. If you ever wonder why the hell do these studio cut out half of the movie in big screens and how they come up with DMCA/CBCDTA, that's exactly because you fail to resist them when you have a chance, so effectively you are supporting studios who have such terroristic behaviours.
I can't wait that long.
Sheep.
You are right on about the pacing. The books read more like a travel guide than some sort of "epic vision."
There is very little character development, most of the characters seem the same at the end of the story as they did in the begining. There is little dialouge (if you don't count the poems/songs). Face it the first 200 pages of the fellowship of the ring are pretty boring and not much happens at all (i wasn't expecting an action story when i read it though).
however...
the descriptions of the landscapes are exceptional, you can really see the areas the characters traveled and feel like you are there. the problem is though, that you really don't know how the characters feel since tolkien doesn't develop that side of the book enough.
Bring back the old version of slashdot.
While I'm a long time DVD adept and love to purchase the films with the extra features, I rarely get to see them, or see the film again with the commentary audio track. I just don't have the time... do you ? FoTR is probably going to be the exception.
Every action taken by a business is done in order to increase profits. I'm sure the execs at New Line would not let an opportunity like this slip past them; so of course releasing two different editions is a money grab. What else could it possibly be? When Jackson defends releasing two distinct editions, he is merely trying to say that he thinks they did a good job on making two separate editions that will appeal to two separate demographics. I don't think anybody is so naive of American business practices to think that this plan is anything but an obvious (and maybe acceptable) method of increasing profits for New Line.
I havent seen anyone give an answer to this yet... But when they say 2 discs for the movie, does this mean that we'll have to swap out discs in the middle of the show? Sure there it's a long movie, but I was pretty sure you can fit more than 3 hours of DVD on a single disc. My only other thought is that they have one disc for the first half of commentaries, and one for the other. Anyone know?
Obviously, I am a biased, Slashdot-reading LotR geek. I dont pretend to be impartial, as these are some of my favorite books, and I am not trying to say that they are immune to criticism; I have some complaints of my own about the books. But aside from possibly some complaints about pacing, I think the criticsm you have thrown at the books are entirely off base.
I thought we hated the MPAA on Tuesday!
Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
Every single day that passes and I continue to draw breath I see more evidence proving that it will soon be impossible to underestimate the intelligence of the average American.
The people who created or thought it a good idea to sign this ridiculous public display of stupidity are beyond my comprehension.
Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
Ring a Ding Ding!
Ring a Ding Dillo!
Don't want a disk without Tom Bombadillo!!!
"Science is like sex: sometimes something useful comes out, but that is not the reason we are doing it" Richard Feynman
You're sufferring from years of Gary Gygax trying to pretend he didn't "borrow" AD&D elements from Tolkien.
Orcs are twisted, degenerate Elves, and the film is a much more accurate portrait.
but the literary part of me's got to correct your grammar.
"Me's" is not a word. You cannot form a contraction with "has" by simply adding "'s" to the word that should preceed "has."
Sorry, my wife makes the same grammatical mess up all the time, and I'm trying to cure her of the bad colloquial habits which cause other people to not instantly respect her intellect, which (understandibly) ticks her off.
What ticks her off? Your attempts to "cure her" or that people do "not instantly resprect her intellect"?
Perhaps this is what was meant: The pen is mightier than the sword and he who lives by the pen shall die by the pen.
Weta, the graphics power house behind Peter Jackson, have recently purchased NZ Herald: "[476 systems] at 2.2GHz with four gigabytes of memory each. The 950 processors will be added to 350 existing 1GHz Pentium 3 systems as part of a dedicated "render wall" comprising 22 racks." These will be running Renderman software on RedHat. For all those army sceens in LOTR, Grunt (Guaranteed Rendering of Unlimited Numbers of Things) was used, an in house product by Jon Allitt.
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I think they wanted to flesh out that bit more in the movie(s), something about Aragorn not "being ready" yet to wield the sword. Also, in the book, I got the idea there was just a couple inches broken off, while in the movie, there's barely anything left after the hilt.
I was a bit miffed at this, I can't wait to see the "Flame of the West shine again," hopefully in TTT.
The sons of Elrond only arrive in Return of the King (Book 5, chapter 2), well after the Battle of Helm's Deep. (on the journey to The Paths of the Dead)
I just got the blockbuster special that they're running (at my blockbuster, anyhow).
Pre-order the theatrical (August) release for $24.95, and receive a free 10-week rental card, good for renting one dvd or video per week. (A week starts on sunday, and ends on saturday).
If you rent DVDs a lot, you know they can be about $5 apiece - so basically this means you get 5 free DVD rentals PLUS the theatrical release version, when it comes out.
NICE!
--
Disclaimer: The above statement probably includes half-truths, because real truth is too complicated.
I've waited all my life for these films to be made. I can wait two or three more years to own them together as a set.
These films were (and will continue to be) vastly popular. Special Editions of them will be available easily for the theater lifespans of the trilogy: it makes good accounting sense to the producers.
I look forward to picking them all up, complete as a set, discounted, used, long after all the frenzy dies down.
So many people assume that Frodo was the novels protagonist. But they're wrong (IMHO). It's Sam.
:)
Don't believe me? Read it again
For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled - R Feynman
Hmmm, they say the Galadriel GIF-giving scene is back, which is good. But what of the rest of Lothlórien? Peter Jackson omitted what may be my favorite passage in the whole book:
That is one of the most important bits (IMHO) of character development - it completely redefines Gimli. And if it doesn't show up on the extended DVD, I may never forgive Mr Jackson. (:
"How can you claim that you are anti-crack, while still writing a window manager?" — Metacity README
You are right.. It's tough to fault em for making such a damn good movie. I remember back when I thought D&D the movie was going to be "it". Nope. Not even close. One version will be good enough for me though... I'll just wait until the new cut is slashdotted before making a final decision ;)
You need a FREE iPod Nano
Will they be getting rid of some of those annoying 360-degree vista shots? I have a bad feeling that there will be another 10 of them in the extra footage.
*shudders*
I loved the part of the book about Tom Bombadil.
When I read the book the first time many years ago, and again last year, I had the same feeling about Tom. He seemed like a mystical character that could have been developed into a much bigger, more important role, but that nobody wanted to wait around long enough for him to take their mission seriously. He could have been a hero of dazzling importance and power, but he won't because he can't keep kimself from bursting into giddy non-sensical little songs about EVERYTHING.
Tom Bombadill is going to the bathroom
dombadil bombadil vagisil dillio!
And he's going to take a crapper
Bigger than yonder mountain
dilliel billy-il yankmydil dillio!
The whole time I'm reading his chapter I have this overwhelming mental association between him and the "singing bush" from the Three Amigos movie... kinda prevented me from taking him seriously. :)
Sometimes the best solution to morale problems is just to fire all the unhappy people.
Sheep.
Moron.
[FromTheMorning]
Putting extra scenes on a DVD? Unbelievable! What innovation!
[insert witty comment here]
The way the ring is destroyed in the end is, in my opinion, one of the best aspects of the books. The entire point of that scene is to show that no living being could have the willpower to throw the ring into the fire, so great was its powers of temptation and treachery. (Spoiler ahead, watch yourself folks.) Having Gollum seize the ring from Frodo and then fall into the pit amidst his excitement over being reunited with his precious further refutes your claim about foreshadowing, as it fulfills the predictions Gandalf made way back in the Fellowship of the Ring. Gandalf specifically wanrs Frodo not to kill Gollum, both out of pity and because Gandalf felt that Gollum still had some purpose to fulfill. If Frodo had ignored that advice and killed Gollum, ironically, he would have doomed all of existance to defeat at the hands of Sauron. In my opinion, that scene was very, very well done.
You missed the great irony that makes that scene even more delicious: It is the power of the One Ring that causes Gollum to throw himself into the fire!
If you remember, sometime previously Gollum promised to be good and help the hobbits, and Frodo made him swear on the One Ring. Frodo warned Gollum that the Ring would hold him to his oath, though it would try and twist it, and he later promised, by the power of the One Ring, that he, Frodo, would use the ring to order Gollum to cast himself into the fire if Gollum betrayed them--and Gollum would be helpless to disobey the Ring. It seems clear to me that the One Ring carried out Frodo's command when Gollum attacked Frodo in the pits of Summauth Naur, even though Frodo was no longer wearing the ring--perhaps because of Gollum's oath on the Ring.
---dragoness
It looks like there will be no Ents in the next film.
In the book, after they cross the river in the ferry, they stop at Frodo's new house in Crickhollow, where he was to wait for Gandalf. This is where Sam reveals that there was a conspiracy, and that Merry and Pippin will be coming with them. Because the black riders are after them, they decide to leave that night, going through a hedge into a forest, where the next day (i think) they decide to follow a river, and find an old willow tree (Old Man Willow.) What they don't know, is that the tree is not an ordinary tree, but rather is somewhat "awake." The tree swollows some members of the party (I do not remember who) in cracks when they lean against it to rest. Just then, an old man comes along, named Tom Bombadil, who is the master of the forest, and orders Old Man Willow to let them go. He is not really a man, but a supernatural being of some kind, maybe a Maia (the Balrog was a Maia before becoming evil, as was Sauron IIRC from reading the Silmarilion.) Anyway, they stay with Tom Bombadil for a while at his house, with his wife Goldberry, then set out across the barrow-mounds to Bree. In the barrow-mounds, they get separated, and trapped by a wight, and Tom Bombadil saves them. He then escorts them to as close to Bree as he can get w/o leaving his domain. They meet "Strider" (aka Aragorn, The Dunadain, Elessar, etc) in Bree.
Hey, you're a consumer. That means you have a moral obligation to consume. That's why everythings -- software, electronic gadgets, cars, whatever -- goes through umpteen pointless revisions. So just do your part and buy every revision, "necessary" or not. THAT'S HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS!!!!