Rating: 
Summary: The Road Goes Ever On.....
Review: Since I was little I have been reading The Hobbit and the Trilogy and wished for it to become a movie. One was so that others knew what I was speaking of when I mentioned Ringwraiths. Now my dream has come true.
As a Tolkien fan, I did realize that the movie does differ from the book in many areas, but the quintessential elements of the story were portrayed to such exactness that the only way I could be happier then to watch this masterpiece come to life, was becoming a hobbit, and being in the movie as well.
This first installment just gives you a taste for what is about to happen to our poor, broken fellowship. I love the extended because it conveys more background information that will be useful in the upcoming installments.
I believe that the first version of the movie was marvelous, but for those of you who have an unquenchable thirst for Tolkien, the extended version is the way to go.
The special features lets you in on how much effort was put into this film as long with hints to some things that only the readers of the books will understand, but all in all it is suited for everyone.
And so the Road goes on and on, down from the door where it began, Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can.
Rating: 
Summary: Lord of the Rings? More like Bored of the Rings!
Review: I'm a big movie buff, I've seen Citizen Cane and I love Castleblanca, but I can not see why this film has gotten so much attention! It bills itself as a historical drama, but none of the history books I've looked through mentioned any great war or things like Hobbits or Elves. And talk about a long movie! They think we need another half an hour? ...I recomend Pearl Harbor, it's a much more historically acurate and the love story is more believable.
Rating:
Summary: KES Evenstar
Review: This is absolutely stunning. It had many parts closer to the book that I just drooled over. I'm so happy!
I'm so happy! It is even better than the original version. It's twice as good! In the original version they didn't show enough of Legolas' personality (smiling, interacting with Merry and Pippin, and eating with pleasure.) This version also shows the elven prejudice against dwarves, the miserable trip for Aragorn and the hobbits, and it has hilarious extras of the actors. This has a lot more character development,
like with legolas and gimli becoming allies instead of enemies. The cut scenes are the best!
Rating:
Summary: Greatest DVD of all time!
Review: In what has to be the greatest DVD box set ever produced for a single film, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition takes a great film and lovingly improves it to a phenomenal level of perfection. Upon first viewing the theatrical version on it's opening day of release, I was immediately in love with the first film of this trilogy. The expertise and care in adapting the wonderful Tolkien book into film was amazing, producing one of the best adaptations of all time. It made me fall in love with movies all over again, like Star Wars did for me at a young age. After a few months of digesting it and seeing it repeatedly, I decided that it had to take top spot as my favorite film. Each time after viewing it, I couldn't bare to watch anything else for days since it would pale in comparison to Fellowship. Well, I now found a film that squashes that theatrical version: The Extended Edition. The addition of 30 extra minutes is seamlessly woven back into the fabric of this masterpiece with a new orchestrated score. And the results are amazing. There are no big action scenes added, nothing that changes the plot, just simple character development that makes the world of Middle Earth come even more alive. The film's so authentic and detailed it seems like this place must exist somewhere on Earth. Smaller characters such as Merry, Pippin, Legolas and Gimli are further fleshed out, and the inclusion of Frodo and Sam witnessing of a group of wood elves on their way to leave Middle Earth forever gives the film a stronger sense of melancholy. It proves early in this story that Middle Earth will not be the same ever again. Such small inclusions really pack an additional wallop in the audience's emotional involvement. So much so I can't imagine ever watching the theatrical version again. What makes this so special is that often when an excellent film is expanded for the home video market, the added material is usually better left out. Longer versions of movies such as Star Wars, Apocalypse Now Redux and Star Trek: The Motion Picture (excluding the recent director's cut) only hurt the film. But this Fellowship edition provides the shinning example of how an extended version can be far and away superior to the original. I rarely include discussion on special features in my reviews, but here I cannot avoid it. This DVD's special features surpasses anything ever done in the short history of DVD. There are hours and hours of additional viewing, exploring every step of the movie's creation. Everything from the history of J.R.R. Tolkien to post production is extensively covered here. The production of this trilogy is the most documented filmmaking experience in history, and the DVD takes full advantage of it. With almost 30 hours of extras, you'll feel like you were on set with director Peter Jackson for the four years that went into making The Fellowship of the Rings. For anyone that enjoyed the theatrical version of Fellowship and those looking for an extensive study on what goes into making a major motion picture, this DVD is an absolute must-buy. You will not be disappointed. This gets my all-time highest recommendation.
Rating: 
Summary: Gets Better After Watching it the 3rd Time
Review: So at first I lothed this movie. But after watching it three times I rather enjoy it
-Mary
Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing
Review: I had not read the Lord of the Ring's trilogy until the summer before this movie was released in the theatres. I went through the books quickly and found myself at the theatre four times to watch this film. I have never spent so much time in a movie theatre for one film in my life! Plus I've watched the DVD 3 times at home.
I love this film. Each time I watch it I truly escape to another world. Although Tolkiens books do have more wonderful detail, the movies do them excellent justice. You get emotionally attached to the characters and follow it as if you were in the movie yourself. Even my fiancée loves this film and has sat through it at home a couple times herself.
The cinematography, the special effects and the amazing actions and battle scenes. Unlike anything else ever seen. The DVD is worth every penny and these books should be a standard for every 8-9 year old to get them hooked don reading.
Amazing film, looking forward to the next.
Rating:
Summary: A great film made better.
Review: I didn't think they could improve the theatrical release - but they did. The thirty minutes of extra fotage here add insight in to the characters and extra storyline, cunningly woven in seamlessly to the rest of the movie with full digital effects and new music. Nitpicky fans who complained of things being left out will be happy - there is now more talk of Isildur's shattered blade, an argument with the elves at Lothlorien, Gandalf uttering the tongue of Mordor at the council, and a whole lot more. The theatrical release was excellent, but this is better. Did I forget to mention the TWO WHOLE DISCS of extras? Everything but the sink in the set bathroom is here. Highly, highly, highly informative. Peter Jackson, you are the man. Oh, I read one review complaining of FOTR's lack of a Best Picture Oscar. Fear not, the Academy is waiting. In two years, when Return of the King is up, Peter Jackson will have his Oscars. They'll give it to the last installment, but it will really be for all three. Trust me, it will win. A franchise that is bringing in this much money can't loose. Money does it (look at Titanic). I digress. Get this version. Even if you have the other Theatrical release DVD, this one is worth owning as well - there are no repetive extras, and there are new commentaries. The studio did a good job of making it worth your while to own both without feeling cheated.
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Summary: A New Fan
Review: I was just slightly familiar with Tolkien and his writings. My only knowlege of Middle Earth came from the cartoon version of
"The Hobbit", and I found that film un-watchable. However, I knew there was a huge fan base for Tolkien and his stories of the rings, so when the movie was released, last year, I wasn't surprised by the incredible box office results, but I had no interest in seeing it. When it was released on DVD it was sans DTS, which is important to me. It usually indicates that another version, especially of such a blockbuster will be re-released, with dts, at a later date. However, my daughter purchased a copy and loaned it to me to watch. I was absolutely blown away. I probably watched it four times in one week. It immediatly went on my top ten of all time. Now this. Re-released with never before seen footage AND DTS 6.1 ES. The sound is as good as any DVD that's ever been released. Heaven. The movie is longer but what an epic. The additional scenes add to the movie as opposed to just extra "stuff." It's interesting to see all the influences this story has had on previous films, especially George Lucas and his Star Wars sagas, which, it appears to me, have become special effects displays.
George Lucas is no Tolkien or even a Jackson ( that's Peter not Michael.) If you've seen it and liked it than this version is a must. I can't wait for the "Two Towers".
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!! Special Edition is the best DVD of 2002!
Review: If you thought 'The Fellowship of the Ring' theatrical version was wonderful, wait until you see this!! I love J.R.R. Tolkien's books and the movie is one of my favorite films of all time, but this Special Extended Edition is even better! More character development, more humor, more references to the book and more backstory. The great thing about this version is that, instead of tacking in irrelevant deleted scenes to the DVD, the scenes were completely integrated into the original version of the movie with additional music composed by Howard Shore. What you get is a much fuller and more fulfilling version of the film and changes the focus from being Frodo-centric to a layered story of Middle Earth and it's creatures. There are sprinklings of added footage all over the film. Sometimes if you blink you'll actually miss it. Everyone in the Fellowship has added scenes but the characters who receive the biggest boost are Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett). You see more of Aragorn's backstory as well as a warmer, more endearing side to his character. While Galadriel appeared fearsome and grave in the original version, the elven queen is kindly and compassionate in this one. My favorite new scenes are: the 4 hobbit heroes in the Green Dragon Inn - having fun and a good brew with their fellow hobbits (new characters such as Gaffer Gamgee and Ted Sandyman are also introduced); Elrond and Aragorn in Gilraen's (Aragorn's mothers) grave; and a warm and endearing scene in Lothlorien with Gimli and Galadriel as well as Aragorn and Galadriel. Of all the locations, the Shire and Lothlorien get the biggest boost. The gift-giving scene is back in and we see and hear more of Lord Celeborn (Marton Csokas) and Haldir. All this and we haven't even began to look at the fantastic extra features and documentaries!!! There are too many to mention (20+ hours of extras!). In fact, I would suggest that you take in these behind-the-scenes documentaries a handful at a time as there is a LOT of information to absorb. My favorites are the features "The Fellowship of the Cast," "A Day in the Life of a Hobbit" and "Cameras of Middle Earth" in disk 4. They show loads of cast and crew interviews (many of them candid and funny - esp. those with Dom Monaghan, Viggo, Sean Bean and Billy Boyd) as well as informative (and sometimes hilarious) behind-the-scenes footage. And don't forget to locate the 2 easter eggs as well - the MTV movie awards spoof of the Council of Elrond and the fan trailer of "The Two Towers." If you plan to own only one DVD this year and especially if you are a "Lord of the Rings" fan, you MUST get your hands on this DVD. It is an absolute gem! Even if you own the theatrical version of the Fellowship DVD, this one is a must have. Both DVDs are completely different - in the movie version as as well as extra content. This truly is a wonderful Christmas present from Peter Jackson and New Line to the fans and one that you will keep coming back to in years to come!
Rating:
Summary: The Star Wars of this Generation
Review: Watching the LOTR for the first time I decided I could not wait another year to find out what happens next. I quickly bought the Hobbit and LOTR and read them in about a month. I never could put them down. This movie is just breathtaking. Everything about it is so awe-inspiring. It's a great shame that it did not win Best Picture...it truly was. It is an epic film. I love all the behind the scenes information on this Edition. The best part of it all for me is the extra 30 minutes of deleted and extended scenes. It's wonderful. You won't be sorry to buy this!
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