The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Full Screen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Keep your theatrical version copy, also
Review: I bought the original, theatrical version of this dvd when it came out, because I loved the movie so much I knew that I couldn't wait for the extended version. I expected the extended version to have everything on the original version, but there are a few omissions. In the scene where Frodo and Sam are beginning their journey out of the Shire, and Frodo quotes something Bilbo said about not knowing where you'll wind up once you step out your door, the original version segued to a shot of Sam crouching before a fire, with a long pipe hanging out of his mouth. The new extended version segues to a new scene, so you don't get that nice little shot. Then, in the scene where Gimli is stopped by the Elves before entering Lothlorien, the extended version cuts off the part where he says that they should turn back because of the danger. These might be minor quibbles in light of all the new and extended scenes (which do add to the enjoyment, generally) but these omissions kind of bother me, and make me wish I hadn't already sold my copy of the theatrical version.

Rating:
Summary: Worth buying, but see original version as well.
Review: I bought this DVD at a store and I can honestly say that it was worth every penny. However, this extended version of the film differs greatly from the theatrical version. It's still the same movie, but added scenes and even changes in line delivery make it seem completely different. If anyone here has not seen the film yet, I advise you see the theatrical version first before checking this one out. It will help you to apprecriate the movie even more.

Rating:
Summary: If you're a LOR fan,buy this DVD
Review: I bought this DVD set because a friend of mine recommended it.There are 4 DVD's altogether-2 are about the making of the film and have interviews with the actors,and 2 are the film itself.This is where the extended edition part comes in.There is an additional 30 minutes of film which was edited out of both the VHS version and the regular DVD version which is included in the extended version.This 30 minutes provides a lot more explanation of both the characters and the story.If you watch the regular DVD version and you have questions about some of the characters, or the story then they'll be answered for you.Be warned though!This Extended Version probably isn't for everyone.It's almost double the cost of the regular DVD and a movie that was already over 2 hours long becomes a little over 3 hours in length.It may not be for everybody.

Rating:
Summary: Buy the "Extended Version"
Review: I bought this DVD when it first came out in 2002 and then towards the holiday season of 2002 an "Extended Version" was released with around 30 minutes more added to the movie. Sure, the "Extended Version" costs more, but if you want to see more of the story then there's only one choice here, unfortunately. It would have been nice of the packaging commitee to include both the original theatrical version and the "Extended Version" in a single set (like E.T.) but then they would have lost making 2 sales to every fan. But now that the "Extended Version" and the "Shortened Version" are out, well, who wants the "Shortened Version"? Buyer beware: there are 2 versions of this film available, this one is the short straw.

Rating:
Summary: A very nice DVD
Review: I bought this for my husband who loved my sister's DVD. I had a difficult time following the movie but I have 3 kids & had trouble sitting for 3 1/2 hours @ one time, but it prompted me to read the book which is very good as well. Now that I know what is going on I really like the movie also & my husband was more happy with this DVD than anything I've gotten him in 11 years of marriage. My kids, age 9 1/2, 3 1/2, & 1 1/2 like it also, but it would scare a lot of kids.They did real justice to the book though.

Rating:
Summary: Much better than I would have guessed!
Review: I bought this movie with reserves as to how goo di thought it would be but it really proved me wrong. There hasn't been a good fantasy series or movie for that matter in quite sometime and the LOTR has filled a much needed void. With Harry Potter also out we have lots to cheer about with good movies. The only reason I gave this movie 4 stars is because I felt some of the casting was a bit weak particularly with Strider. He doesn't do a bad job but he just isn't as convincing of a leathal fighter.

Rating:
Summary: Better than "abridged" version
Review: I call the theatrically released version "the abridged version", and this video the unabridged version because it is, well, unabridged!
My favorite parts are when Bilbo is writing the book in Hobbiton (There and Back Again), when Pippin had "Four" (referring to lembas), and everything else.
This is my favorite movie ever, yet I wish it were longer, even though it is already over four-and-a-half hours long *grin Tookishly*, they still could have added Tom Bombadil, the Barrow-downs, and MORE OF THE SHIRE!!!... Other than that, it is the most perfect movie on video (yet).

Rating:
Summary: A great movie
Review: I came into this hating LOTR type movies ( i could never understand how a person could keep so many different names,places, and the plot of the story without going mental).
But after I got out of the theater, i really just wanted to go home and finish the next two parts. Peter Jackson has really made a great picture, and everything is in there without any pointless FX, bad acting, or big problems(oh come on you Tolkien fanatics, skipping 20 pages of the book is not a huge problem).

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent.
Review: I can add very little to the reviews already posted, except to comment that it is obvious that Director Peter Jackson comes from "our" generation; the generation who went through secondary school in the late sixties and early seventies, and whose cultural millieu, for all our lifestyle "differences", is remarkably the same. I recognized characters walking onto the screen before their first lines, and Dwarf- architecture looked, well DWARF. And Elvish sets looked ELVISH -and we forget that although Tolkien used a lot of words, there were not a lot of specific descriptions.
I would like to submit that the famed trilogy could possibly be credited for the success of the Civil Rights movement in the United States (well there is a way to go yet, but the laws are there now). Think of the Fellowship -we have representatives of multiple ehtnic/racial groups, very few of whom seem to get along with each other in Middle Earth, suddenly combining for a common task (not that they don't bristle at each other occasionally, but, hey...), and our suspension of disbelief in the mid-60's allowed us to accept the idea that those "other" people were still people. There's a PhD thesis for somebody there....

Rating:
Summary: Wow, What a great movie!
Review: I can excuse the few deviations from the book because this movie was so strong. It spent a healthy amount of time building the characters which will be needed in future allotments. This movie had great acting and perspective. How hard is it to imagine a halfling, but seeing one is impressive. I would recommend this movie for all adults. I believe it would be hard for younger children to sit through. I hope this movie inspires people to read the books. I'm certainly going to re-re-re-read them.