Rating: Summary: Extended = Better Review: I saw the first one, loved it (I was blown away by the extended version). I saw the second one in theatures and thought it was "so so". When I got the extended version of the second one, I saw that it flowed and was AWESOME. The third I am positive will be great, for I liked it better than the second one, and the extended will surely make it better.
Rating: Summary: An amazing cinematic accomplishment Review: I think these films have done an EXCELLENT job of capturing the essence of Tolkien's writings. Once I read the Silmarillion I was completely drawn in. Vividly imaginitive and truly epic story-telling. The films stay true to these themes even with the changes done in the story! I really don't mind them. The Extended DVDs are a must for any fan of Tolkien! I'm anxious to get the third one! For me the Return of the King is THE best film ever made.
Rating: Summary: The final chapter to the amazing "LORD OF THE RINGS" Review: I went to see "The Return of the King" with my family and it was completely breath-taking. I could not believe how good it was and saw it an additional 3 times. I heard it was coming out May 25th, and now I saw the extended version, and this is what I think about it...I know Saruman was blown out in the theatrical version (The Scouring of the Shire could and has to be in the extended). If it isn't, that's ok, but it would make a perfect ending to a perfect story. Even my dad said Saruman was robbed out of The Return of the King. Anyway, there would probably be more seens with Aragorn, Heir to Gondor, and of The Paths of the Dead. That scene was awesome in the theatrical, but more could be added. And at the Pelennor Fields, there MUST be more scenes of that, it's the biggest battle in all of Middle Earth! Those are pretty much the main things I would like, but there could be a few more like more Mt. Doom or Mordor (they don't show that much in the theatrical), more Samwise since he is DA BOMB! And there can be more scenes of Minas Tirith as well. I'm not saying if that stuff ain't in the extended version, I wouldn't love it, but if they HAPPENED to put that stuff in, OMG it would the ultimate movie of our time (like it already isn't) lol :P
Rating: Summary: Where did everyone go? Review: In the theatrical version, we don't know what happened to Sarumon. I won't spoil it for you but the book doesn't dismiss him so easily. Also, will Eowyn find a new lover now that she knows Aragorn is taken? And what happens to the rest of the fellowship? And one thing that might not be in the extended version is when the black gates open at the last fight scene, they meet someone they did not expect. All will be revealed on DVD.
Rating: Summary: Tolkien's story, Jackson's movie Review: It's interesting how the ultimate movie fan reviewed LOTR:ROTK as if Peter Jackson wrote the story. Yeah, he wrote the screenplay, and he did change quite a bit to make it more dramatic for the silver screen, but this story was written 60 years before Jackson started developing it for the screen. And as much as I love the books (I've read them a couple dozen times), I gotta tell ya, Jackson made some great changes. I did think that the Battle of Helm's Deep in LOTR:TTT went on a bit long, but his addition of the elves added depth and tragedy that the book did not have. Jackson fleshed out characters that Tolkien had left as two dimensional (such as Boromir) and made them even better. Aragorn became a lot more accessable and human, and Gandalf had humor and humanity. But the ending of the third movie was the ending of the third book, only more concise, dramatic, and emotional. Jackson did a fabulous job with this epic story. I don't think that anyone else could have done a better job. I can't wait for the extended release of The Return of the King.
Rating: Summary: Latest Details On ROTK: Extended Edition Review: Not sure why there's such a vacuum of information available here on ROTK- the platinum extended edition release. Its no secret that Peter Jackson has finished the version - and that it contains a whopping 65 minutes of additional footage that was cut from the theatrical version, putting the final movie at four hours and ten minutes. Awesome! Apparently there was some rumor that New Line Cinema was going to cheap out on the special effects for the extended release version - and go with a cut-rate American outfit instead of the New Zealand firm they've worked with on the prior two films - but this was just that - a rumor, as far as I've been able to obtain. New Scenes from the book to appear in the extended release version include the following: Confrontation with Saruman at Isengaard in which the Palantir is acquired (tossed out tower by Wormtongue), Parley with the Mouth of Sauron outside the Black Gates, Merry pledging his swoord and allegiance to Theoden, Sam and Frodo, disguised in Orc garb, marching with (and then escaping from) Orc Troop in Mordor, Eowyn and Faramir meet in the Houses of Healing in Gondor, and finally, a scene in which Aragorn reveals himself to Sauron in the Palantir. All in all, good stuff. The only liberty it sounds Jackson has taken with the material is that Saruman is killed in the confrontation at Isengaard - falls to his death from the tower - rather than simply cast from the order, stripped of his power and humiliated by Gandolph, as the book. We can certainly live with that, can't we?
Rating: Summary: the best trilogy ever Review: Peter Jackson really did a great job with adapting the LotR-books to the big screen. And the extended DVD-versions are just wonderful! The extras are terrific! I'm looking forward to buy the extended version of RotK.
Rating: Summary: Well.....................I can't wait! Review: Return of the King was great! But then, I missed some crucial scenes that I would love to see.Here are a few I hope make it onto this final version: The House of Healing where Aragorn heals Eowyn,Faramir,and Merry. A point that was missing that was a link to Jesus parrell in Aragorn. Faramir and Eowyn have to fall in love onscreen! I really would like to see the part when they are on the top of the tower in the sun when the glad tiding arrive that Sauron is gone.Then she melts for Faramir! Then I would like to see the battle for the black fleet where Aragorn with the Dead army takes it over.Peter Jackson as a pirate! In the book Frodo gets mistaken for an orc and has to march with Saurons army.He can barely walk he is so weak. That was a part missing. Sarumans death! They were silly not to show it in the TTT. Even though it will differ from the book it will be a cool scene. The Mouth of Sauron was missing at the Black gates.He needs to come onto the screen.I'm actually glad PJ will add a duel between him and Aragorn! Then some minor stuff sounds good like Arwens song,Gandalfs confrontation with the witchking,and more paths of the dead. I don't know whatwill be in store,but a hour more should cover a lot of plot twists!
Rating: Summary: Be blown away Review: The 'Shire' scene everyone is talking about will not be in the extended edition because Jackson didn't ever like that part of the book and so didn't film it. :-( That's sad and all, but the extended edition is still going to blow everyone away. Rumors abound about what will be on there, but if we know Jackson he'll not only put the usual "The Making of", "commentaries", and extra scenes in and THEN throw in something special for those who wait for this end-of-the-series wow. It certainly is taking long enough to get this up for pre-order. This, the last and greatest movie in the trilogy, is one DVD worth waiting for.
Rating: Summary: Truly loving the story means knowing the history... Review: The Lord of the Rings, probably the greatest movie in 40 years, original work of JRR Tolkien, movie version by Peter Jackson, is completed in this final movie. The Elven civilization stands on the brink of destruction. While immortal beings they suffer from the "world weariness" and the only thing sustaining them and their works are the Three Rings of Power. But the Three are bound up with the power of the One. If Sauron gets his Ring back, then the Three will become corrupted and the last defenses will fall. But if they succeed, and the One Ring destroyed, the Three will die too. The Elves are doomed either way, but they fight on. Their only real hope is to evacuate back to Heaven in the True West. While the Elves hold Sauron back on the magic/psychic plane, it falls on the last cultural offspring of Elven-teaching, the human empire of Gondor, to hold Mordor and the hordes of the east back militarily. The Gondorian Empire, once the most powerful force on Earth has decayed over the millennia to a kind of proud, venerable, but increasingly impotent Byzantium. If Gondor falls, so falls the World. But Sauron has already beaten the forces of good all the way back to the heartland and the ancient capital, Minas Tirith the White City! There, the High Kings of old ruled. But the old royal line passed away a thousand years ago and Gondor has since been under the control of the Ruling Stewards, who are none too keen on giving up the throne for the "last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship." That means Aragorn, last survivor of the old royal bloodline of Numenor, and heir to the crown. Since the Elves are doomed to depart the world whether the war is won or lost it is vital that Minas Tirith survive and hold back the tide, not only for the sake of the Free Peoples of the world and because it is the last bastion of law and order, of art, skill and technology, but more importantly Gondor will be the last civilization to be taught the "true" religion, the perception of the Blessed Realm in the Uttermost West. In fact the White Tree of Gondor is a sapling of the original Silver Tree of Heaven...and the last physical link to the divine. Knowing the history increases the beauty and potency of the films...to know what is REALLY at stake: the loss of the wisdom and awareness of heaven, the threat of the establishment of a demonic empire. As Denethor, Ruling Steward of Gondor, prepares for the war that will almost certainly end his nation, our heros return from victory over the fallen Wizard Saruman. As they and the people of Rohan rest and ready for the next stage of the war Pippin sneaks a look at the recovered Palantir of Isengard and comes face to face with the utter horror of Sauron, who had corrupted the seeing-stone network long ago. Gandalf and Pippin ride to Minas Tirith to assist and give warning while Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas help King Theoden muster the full strength of Rohan to ride to the defense of the White City. Gandalf and Pippin come to the capital and find Denethor in a kind of proud despair. Grief from the loss of his eldest son, Boromir, and knowledge from the Palantir of the White Tower about the awesome power of Sauron and the horror facing the certain doom of his civilization and all it's works was driving him to madness. Gandalf is forced to gradually assume command of the defense of the City. Frodo, Gollum, and Sam (who is the true hero of the tale) continue to make their way into Mordor. They face the rocky mountains of Mordor, horror of Minas Morgul, the treachery of Gollum, and the dreadfulness of Shelob before they finally enter the Black Land. Their final enemies on the trek to Mount Doom are deadly thirst and hunger, the growing weight of the Ring and the sleepless watch of the Lidless Eye of Sauron. The forces of Evil have come to the City. The Great Gates of Gondor are broken and enemies poor under the archway that no enemy had ever passed before. Hope is lost... But there are forces at work besides the will of Evil. And they have not totally forgotten or abandoned the World...and that is an encouraging thought. Nothing can prepare you for the climax and the bittersweet epilogue...
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