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Lord of The Rings DVD, Now or Later?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stuff-to-consider dept.

Entropy_ah writes "As many of us know, the Lord of The Rings: Fellowship of The Ring DVD was released Aug. 6. It is a 2 Disk version of the movie with a few added goodies. However, New Line Home Entertainment is going to release an extended 4 disk version and a DVD gift set on November 12th. The Kanas City Star has an article discussing the merits of each addition and touches on the issue of this being an attempt by the movie companies to gouge as much money from die-hard fans as possible." I'm waiting, but I definitely find this whole mess frustrating.

4 of 355 comments (clear)

  1. What's the big deal? by Dalroth · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Honestly, what's the big deal? We all know about it already. It's not like they released the regular edition now and surprised us with the expanded edition a month later. We KNOW and HAVE KNOWN for awhile now they are going to release the expanded edition later in the year. The fact that they've been VERY upfront about this has been a breath of fresh air.

    Honestly, if you really can't wait, there's this thing called a VIDEO RENTAL STORE! Go rent it (but please, rent from something OTHER than Blockbuster if at all possible).

  2. It's all about choices by Innominate+Recreant · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I bought the 2-disc set on the 6th. Why? Because it had value to me. I wanted to see the film again, and it was worth the 20 bucks to me to own a copy of it.

    When the 4-disc set comes out in November (or whenever), I'll decide if the extra content is worth whatever they're charging for it. If it is, I'll buy it. If it's not, I won't.

    Why are veryone's knickers in a twist about this. It's a very simple equation.

  3. It's funny... by Schnapple · · Score: 5, Interesting
    ...but this is the exactt opposite of how we treat other directors when they fool with their movies. Speilberg will release his extended-only version of E.T. on DVD and the only way to get the original version is to buy an $80 boxed set this October. Many people (myself included) complained, since it's entirely possible they could have done seamless branching and included both on one DVD. Whenever Lucas gets around to releasing the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD, word is he'll not only be placing the "Special Edition" cuts only on DVD but even adding actors from the new trilogy in (Jar-Jar in ANH, Amidala in ROTJ). This, in addition to not releasing the original versions of the movies (again, preferrably in a seamless branching mode) because "they don't exist to him anymore".

    And yet, all the geeks who go out to buy the 4-disc set and not the 2-disc (myself included) will just be reinforcing the notion that you can "add all the shit you want, they don't want the original version" (the original cut will not be available via branching). Granted, since opening sales of the LOTR DVD outsold the previous winner, Harry Potter, they might not get to say that after all.

    --

    Schnapple

  4. The equation isn't so simple... by Colz+Grigor · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Call me quirky because I come from a finance background and I read SlashDot...

    The value equation for you may be:
    Pay $20 now for the access to the content.
    Evaluate the November version to see if the additional footage is worth an incremental $30.
    _If_ you decide it's worth it, the total outlay is $50.

    For me, the equation is:
    Avoid being shunned by my friends for not having access to FotR content between August and November. (Opportunity cost)
    Buy November version.
    Total outlay: $30 + the opportunity cost of having not owned access to the content for three months.

    The difference in cost, and thus the debate, is this: from my perspective is three months of not being able to view the content worth $20? from your perspective is the additional footage worth $30? ::Colz Grigor