Rating: 
Summary: Frodo and Gang are number one in my book!
Review: I noted another reviewer commented on Frodo's wimpiness.Let me say #1. Who cares - look at him, he is adorable. And #2 c'mon, he's a hobbit. What? They're supposed to be brave? This movie really transports the viewer there. I found myself not wanting it to end. And that is where the Platinum Series Extended Edition was perfect. Not only was the movie that much more long and enjoyable, but important parts left out of the original motion picture could be seen. This really helped me understand the story and get to know and love the quirkiness of each character. The cast and crew commentaries were insightful and interesting. If you like pure entertainment and can appreciate it for being just that - then run (with your fingers and keyboard), don't walk to Amazon.com and buy this gem for your DVD library.
Rating: 
Summary: There's a reason why directors edit.
Review: I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan and even waited to purchase this special edition (4-disc) version of the film. Now I'm eager to buy the widescreen theatrical version. The theatrical release was (in my eyes) flawless. This new version is riddled with flaws and pieces that just don't sit well. There are just too many great scenes that just didn't, and don't, fit in the film and deserved to be edited out. The new intro would be great except the king puts on the ring, becomes invisible, stumbles into the river and drops the ring. But if he was wearing the ring, how could it have slipped off? There's a later scene that begs the question just how big is the shire? And why are Merry and Pippin so far out into the shire in this version? There are also a few night--> day--> night and day--> night--> day sequences that really take a beautiful piece of work and make it look like it was quickly and poorly pieced together. Most of the extra footage was blended in seamlessly. However, there are a few scenes, (not many, maybe five, which in total add up to five minutes) like the ones listed above, that really take away from the overall impact of the film. I'm happy with it, but in some instances we're shown that less is more. All in all, most of the reedited pieces are astonishing; however, some of scenes (even though on their own are powerful) should be featured seperately on either another disc or menu option.
Rating:
Summary: Just Fun!
Review: Maybe its an ageless classic just to us fans. Perhaps it is just incomprehensible to those who have never enjoyed the books or even just day dreamed a little. 9 characters and a landscape with personality does make for a LOOOOONG movie. However, the length gives you the feeling of the journey and of that special world invented so many decades ago. I absolutely enjoyed this set, the statues and all the extras in this set - lots and lots of extra material. Since I don't have cable or watch TV much, I'd never seen this stuff before (I guess some of it had been shown on TV before) and enjoyed crawling out of my neolithic cave to see all of it. The extended version is wonderful and, I think, more true to the original story. However, I am glad that this was not as it was shown in the theater - I was very happy to take a break at the first half after Mr. Elrond's board meeting (the slowest chapter in the book, too!). I went and got some tea and enjoyed part two after a nice intermission. The statues are going to be installed in my pond - right over the miniature waterfall (now if only I can get it to scale). Hmmm...should I make some little white boats?
Rating:
Summary: Thank you Peter Jackson, cast and crew
Review: A release specifically for LotR fans, and brilliant! I loved the theatrical release, and initially assumed I would not like this version. But I love it! The additional line of dialogue here, scene there, etc., just adds so much to the experience! The additional appendices are fascinating -- a real accomplishment, since usually additional stuff is really boring. Not so here. This is how DVDs should be made! A must-have for any DVD library. In my library, I have the extended release and the theatrical release sitting side by side!
Rating: 
Summary: The Fellowship...
Review: I have got to hand it to director Peter Jackson. It is quite an undertaking to bring author J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved Lord Of The Rings saga to life on the big screen. Sure, there have been a number of filmed adaptations over the years, but none have reached this level of quality or scrutiny. When I first saw the film in theaters late in 2001, I thought--wow--this is probably gonna make a great DVD. I avoided the first DVD release, because very early on, (while the film was still in theaters) I heard news on the web, that a more extensive release was due before the 2nd installment was to hit movie theaters. Of course, that has now come to pass, with New Line's Platinum Series. The four disc set breaks down this way: Disc 1-has part one of the extended cut of the film. This version of the film, supervised by Jackson, incorporates 30 minutes of additional footage. Composer Howard Shore created new music for these new scenes as well. There are no less than 4 commentary tracks to choose from. More than 30 folks who worked in front of, and behind the camera, on the picture, contributed their thoughts. I would think that number is some kind of DVD commentary record, in terms of participants. Disc 2-has part two of the extended cut of the film. The 4 commentary tracks continue. For the most part, each track provides both unique insight and a few facinating tid-bits about the film. The track featuring actors, Elijah Wood, (Frodo), Sir Ian McKellan, (Gandalf) Liv Tyler (Arwen), Sean Bean (Boromir), John Rhys-Davies (Gimli), Billy Boyd (Peregrin), Dominic Monaghan (Meriadoc), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), the great Christopher Lee (Saruman the White), and Sean Astin (Samwise ), is the most fun of the commentaries (but the others have merits as well). A few of the added scenes seem like mere padding, but a good majority of them, help make things a bit more interesting. For non-fans, this cut may seem too long, but if you stick with it, its worthwhile Disc 3-Six solid documentaries cover the original book of Tolkien's, and the pre-production process. A look at the film's costumes, creatures, models, weapons and armor that takes viewers on a comprehensive look at how things took shape before filmming began A cool interactive pre-production photo gallery, complete with comments from the artists, and hundreds of images. The film's locales of Middle Earth are outlined on an interactive--very helpful, if you happen to be a RINGS neo-phyte. Topping off the third disc is a storyboard to film comparisons of key sequences in the film. Disc 4-concentrates itself with the production of the film. 11 documentaries highlight this part of the process. Post-production, film editing, music, sound design, marketing, and the film's final release are also examined at length. Rounding out the last disc, are multiple galleries of behind the scences stills, and a gaggle-full of exclusive DVD-ROM content. The film is very well made, and tells the first part of Tolkien's epic, in style. The action and effects are well executed. The best thing about this film is how the books characters are brought to life by a talented cast. Frodo's unlikely journey that will save Middle Earth has begun... The 4 DVD set is highly recommended, especially for fans of this version, with this many quality supplements as extras, you shouldn't be disappointed. For all others, the price tag of the set, may be a bit steep, Therefore, I recommend renting the previous double DVD set first, see what you think, then you can go from there. 4 and a half stars.
Rating:
Summary: Why DVD's Were Invented
Review: For those who love LOTR, you need no convincing that the extended edition of "The Fellowship of the Ring" is worth owning. (I appreciated that the studio announced ahead of time that there would be two DVD editions. Usually we end up finding out about the "special" edition after we've already bought the regular one.) The added footage and 6 hours worth of making of features are a fan's dream. What comes across as you watch the documentaries is how much effort and detail went into the making of this movie. From the director to the prop builders, it was clearly a labor of love. All that passion translates to the screen to make this a wonderfully enjoyable film. Congratulations and thanks to the filmakers for a job well done.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant film, superb DVD's
Review: I am a lifelong fan of the "The Lord of the Rings" and as such, I'm sure I wasn't alone in fearing that a film adaptation would ruin the magic of the story. I needn't have worried, as Peter Jackson's first installment "The Fellowship of the Ring" does a remarkable job of transferring Tolkien's work to the big screen. Yes, Tom Bombadil is absent, and Arwen is given a greater role to offer something for female fans, but the essence (along with almost all of the substance) is there. In the "Extended Edition" the viewer is treated to an additional half hour of footage. There is more exposition on Hobbits at the beginning of the film, the battle against the goblins and cave troll in Moria was extended, and a few other vignettes were added. However, what long time fans will be most pleased to see is Galadriel's gift giving scene. The whole scene is beautifully conceived and executed, and Sam, and particularly Gimli reveal new aspects of their personalities through it. Now for the specifics of this set: Discs 1 & 2 comprise the film and commentaries. For those of you who haven't seen the film yet, the director, Peter Jackson, chose his native land of New Zealand as the location of Middle Earth. I can't imagine that he could have made a better choice. While there is a great deal of CGI in this film, for the most part it is used to supplement, rather than replace, the landscape. For instance, a ruin might be inserted to imbue with history an otherwise gorgeous, but perhaps disconnected, landscape. As a result, the cinematography has a feeling of being grounded, of being "real", that one would never get from a George Lucas effects extravaganza. The film begins with a history of the Ring of Power drawn from not only "The Lord of The Rings" and "The Hobbit" but "The Silmarillion" and other of Tolkien's writings as well. While not true to the form of the novel, it does a superb job of imbuing the rest of the film with a real sense of history. In fact, throughout the film, it is Jackson's ability to ground the film in an alternate reality that makes it so successful. The viewer doesn't feel so much like they are watching fantasy, as they are watching the history of some remote time. I haven't listened to all of the commentary yet (at almost 16 hours, it will take a while) but the pieces I listened two were for the most part interesting and lively, which is surprising considering how dry such features can sometimes be. One thing that struck me is how much passion everyone associated with the project has for it. It really comes across that this was a labor of love, which goes a long way towards explaining why the film was so successful. Discs 3 & 4 are without a doubt the best collection of behind the scenes special features I have ever encountered. From the start, which is an absolutely brilliant history of Tolkien and his works, all the way through to the final post-production tweaks, the viewer is treated to an in depth, but never dull, look at the creation of Middle Earth. I rarely watch of the behind the scenes footage on other discs because it has a tendency to be dry and geared towards the real film nut. In this instance though, there is enough substance to satisfy even the most voracious film historian, while not being overwhelming to the layperson. Furthermore, all of the features are always firmly rooted in the context of "The Fellowship of the Ring"; the documentary never strays into theoretical jargon or technical challenges. Rather it focuses on how the film was made, and the obstacles that were overcome. In addition to the Tolkien biography that I already mentioned (and which is the best I have seen anywhere) I particularly enjoyed the features on the cast and the costumes. The cast feature does a remarkable job of showing how the primary actors really gelled into a real life fellowship of their own. And the costume feature is absolutely brilliant, as I shows the overwhelming volume of costumes, and particularly armor, that was required the make Middle Earth come alive. Finally, there is a National Geographic documentary on Tolkien and "The Lord of the Rings" included, although it is separate from the boxed set. It's actually a pretty good documentary in and of itself, but it is really overwhelmed by Discs 3 & 4. There is no possible way that they could have covered the length and breadth of Middle Earth to the same degree. That said, there are some interesting moments, particularly, Tolkien's fascination with the Finnish epic, "The Kalevala". "The Fellowship of the Ring" is the superb first installment of what is destined to be a classic trilogy of films. While not always exact in its correlation to the book, it nonetheless does an excellent job of capturing the key components of Tolkien's work: honor, duty, and above all, friendship. At the same time, the DVD's really raise the bar for what constitutes "special features". Aside from spectacular picture and sound, there are hours of fascinating features that should answer just about any question you could come up with about the film or its production.
Rating:
Summary: You've GOT to See THIS!!!!
Review: I love the original version of Lord of the Rings! An Excellent movie!
When I heard about the extended version, I thought, oops, another lousy director's cut!
I was quite surprised by this one! If you've watched Lord of the Rings as much as I have, there are bits and pieces that don't make sense, or that feel unexplained. Well, this version fills in the blanks!
For example; At the end of the movie, the remaining members of the Fellowship are all wearing capes with the same Leaf clasp. Arogorn and the Hobbits have new daggars, and Legolith has a new bow. Where did they get them? Why did they get them?
There are a number of new scenes that make the film more energetic, more informative, and more enjoyable. And that's not to mention the wealth of information that's contained in the two "Making of" DVD's!
This is a set well worth having!
Rating:
Summary: Thank goodness they invented DVD, no more Liv.
Review: If you have seen this movie you know it is a very fine production. This new DVD makes it even better. In addition to having some added material and all the documentories you can stomach it supports DTS, my favorite audio format. Most people have no idea why this is so wonderful, I would invite you over for a screening on my surround sound system so you could begin to understand, but I don't know you. So either go get your own system or take the movie to a really high end A/V store and have them demonstrate for you. The sound is incredible and the movie is even better with the added material. If you have been waiting for this version to come out like me, you should not hesitate it is really worth the extra cash.
Finally I have to say that thanks to DVD you and I no longer have to sit through those few terrible scenes in this movie where Liv proves once and for all that she is without a doubt the worst actress in the history of cinema, one touch of the chapter skip button and she is banished from the screen. How did Jackson manage to write her into all 3 movies when her character is not even mentioned in the Two Towers book? Oh well, it is a long movie I will need a bathroom break at some point, no better time than while Liv reads her lines off the q-cards.
Rating:
Summary: Added Scenes Make it Even Better!
Review: I thought the original DVD release was amazing. This is even better! The scenes that were added/re-inserted really add to the story. Also, the extras are HUGE (Two full discs)!
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