Rating: 
Summary: Exceptional viewing
Review: This DVD set was a joy to watch. The documentaries are amazing and will, in my opinion, answer every "How on earth did they do that?" you could possibly have. I especially enjoyed hearing the cast commentary while the extended version of the movie played in the background. Their exclamations of surprise and pleasure at the scenes now included, plus their behind-the-scenes stories made me feel like I'd watched a home movie with close personal friends. I'd recommend this set to anyone who loves movies and Tolkien. And if I knew how to send a thank you card to Peter Jackson, I'd do it!
Rating: 
Summary: bored of the rings?
Review: Is it just me who doesn't get what all the fuss is about? Personally I never liked the books, all three where over long and full of flat 2D characters, in that sense you could say that this has been a faithful adaptation, As its way way over long and goes nowhere, they could have ended the film about an hour or so before hand and still finished the story in the same place. Yes we all know the special effects in this movie were fantastic, as they where, but I've never thought that special FX made a movie only enhanced it. On watching this movie I could not help but feel that a lot of viewers, namely the ones who write the reviews that start with things like "dazzling CGI" or "breathtaking FX" where so transfixed by the Computer imagery that they didn't notice the story line was paper thin and the acting was almost nonexistent. In my eyes this is no master piece or a classic as some other reviewers have said, Its a very weak film with some good effects. I believe time will tell on this movie as it did on Titanic.
Rating:
Summary: What can I add but wow!!
Review: Yes - this DVD is as good as everyone says. For the first time ever the extra material is as good as the film, and I have watched it all from start to finish a bunch of times. The movie is more evenly paced, with crucial scenes added in. Love it, love it, love it, and I can't wait for the next one...go PJ and NZ!!
Rating:
Summary: True Art, True Masterpiece, Very Fine Acting
Review: Bravo to the great master Tolkien and to all those who have followed, and have so carefully and lovingly transformed his literary masterpiece into a cinematic masterpiece. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens, Howard Shore, WETA, the entire heretofore unsung but spectacular cast, the artists, EVERYBODY who did this incredible work!! I love you all. God bless you for what you've given us!
Rating:
Summary: A Sinner Repents
Review: God loves a sinner come to his way of understanding and hopefully Peter Jackson will be as kind to me. After viewing the movie in theater on its initial release I was not overly impressed and ho-hummed the film. I was bothered by the fast pace and scant character introduction having no familiarity with Tolkien's work. I Was not keen on the director's fast edits during fight scenes (I make it akin to showing a dancer only from the waist up it just isn't the same as seeing the whole hog if you pardon the expression). So when the DVD was released I didn't think twice and didn't buy it. Then friend's of mine who did told me how marvelous they thought the film and so I began to wonder. When I heard that the extended edition was to be released I decided I would wait for it. It was well worth the wait. Much of my criticism seemed to wilt away with a re-edited edition restoring the film to its original concept. I am now awed by the technical and artistic vision brought to this work by a director and ensemble in fine form. Christopher Lee never looked so menacing, Ian McKellen so pensive and Liv Tyler so breathtakingly beautiful. Having now read the first two books of the trilogy I can avow that Jackson has done more that pay homage to Tolkien I believe he has excelled him as a storyteller. I can't think of higher praise than that.
Rating:
Summary: This is it for LOTR Fans
Review: This version reveals and explains so much more than the lesser. It is a shame and a crime that they had to remove so much for the theater. At least in these days that extended versions are available so that the complete works of the cast does not go unseen for years. This is a must. "You cannot pass...." this up! Espeicially if you've read the books.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, of course
Review: So many others have reviewed this DVD...it's excellent. The packaging, the material, it's all top notch and worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: Could it get any better?
Review: I'll be brief. I loved the theatrical version of TFOTR. Now that I've seen the extended version, I hate the theatrical one. Can't ever watch it again. The extended version adds so much to the story. Makes it almost like watching a completely different movie. Don't waste your money on the lesser version. Buy this one and you won't be disapointed. 'Nuff said.
Rating:
Summary: get those 6.1 amps now
Review: There have already been so many reviews and discussions about this vervion of LOTR that I have nothing else to add. I mearly want to point out that for those of us who purchased 6.1 receivers for our home entertainment systems, this is the movie to get. Under sound selections you will find DTS EX. And that is what you want to be able to find each and every movie you purchase (naturally you won't). But if you ever wanted to show off your sound system, this is the movie to do it with.
Rating:
Summary: Great content but slightly let down by the Argonath booksend
Review: I think everything that needs to be said has been said about the extended version of FOTR... it's possibly the greatest movie ever, perhaps until the EE of The Two Towers comes out or, gasp, The Return Of The King?
However that is not saying that this package is perfect. First of all, the National Geographic DVD is pretty badly made (unexpectedly). Practically all questions posed at the back of the case (which hinted at a great Disc) went unanswered and the one-hour disc appeared to me like just a collection of excerpts from various other programs put together for a fast buck (or two).
Secondly, the finish of the Argonath bookends leaves much to be desired. I must say the bookends are what tempted me so much to get this Collector's Gift Set but the finished product loses much detail (on faces, hands, etc. possibly from a careless casting process) and has quite a bit of casting residue on the body.
I am not a TCG player but the 3 cards in the set do look pretty cool.
All taken into consideration, I still can't bring myself to rating this any lower than 5 stars due to the sheer superiority of the DVD (minus that sorry excuse of a NatGeo DVD) content.
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