Rating: 
Summary: One of the best movies ever made
Review: The extended cut of The Fellowship validates the DVD format. You can't put together this kind of package on VHS (especially when you consider all the special audio tracks). The filmmakers have made the most of the digital format, using just about every option on a standard DVD player.The film itself is fantastic. The extended version is superior to the theatrical release. And the documentaries are overwhelming --- in a good way. If you want to know how to make a blockbuster movie, watch closely. There's so much to watch and learn, it takes days to absorb it all. Special effects that appear on screen for 10 seconds are given 10 minutes of explanation (like the big rigs). They even spend half an hour on just the *sound* of the movie. It's worthwhile to remember how risky the Lord of the Rings project was. After filming all three movies at once (more or less), the first film had to be a blockbuster or the whole project would've been turned into a salvage operation. The DVDs would have been quick-and-dirty attempts to recoup lost millions. But thanks to the success of the first film, the filmmakers could justify this lavish 4-disc set. My favorite moments: The extended Council of Elrond, the early design drawings, the canoe stories, the construction of the Shire, and the biographical documentary about JRR Tolkien. The only things I didn't like: The color grading is over-done in Lothlorien (why is the forest so blue?), when the elves and the Fellowship stand on a ridge looking at Lothlorien in the distance they are looking at a painting, and I never understood the difference between orcs and uruk-hai. (Do they ever fight orcs, or are they always fighting uruks?) But these minor problems don't hold the DVD back from a five-star rating. If this extended cut of The Fellowship of the Ring doesn't rate five stars, nothing does. Buy it and see for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Movie Becomes Better
Review: The Extended DVD Edition of Lord of the Rings takes everything that was great about the theatrical version and makes it better. The addition of Bilbo's trolls, the trek through the marshes, and the gift giving of Lady Galadriel had me reeling with delight. And the introduction (after the prologue), whew, it's completely redone... and the result is fantastic. Bilbo's voice-over Concerning Hobbits is glorious. The Extended Edition of The Fellowship moves at a much better pace than the theatrical version. The theatrical version just moved a little to fast; like when Aragorn and the hobbits leave Bree, they arrive at Weathertop in no time. There are many other added scenes, and I appreciated all of them.
The technical specifications of this DVD are astounding. The DTS 6.1 sound mix is a work out for my home theater, and since the feature is now stretched over two DVDs, the picture quality is slightly better than the theatrical version DVD. The appendices are a feast. I got lost in endless amount of interviews with cast and crew members, and the insight on the making of the film is remarkable.
It's safe to say that anybody with a DVD player should own this DVD set. The beautiful casing justifies the greatness of The Fellowship of the Ring. I'm sure an extended edition of The Two Towers will be out later this year... I can't wait!
Rating:
Summary: Just Goes to Show You
Review: The extended DVD is the perfect example of what is wrong with Hollywood. Because big-money producers and studios don't have any real courage, a masterpiece was truncated, and the result was the loss of the Best Picture Oscar for 2001. I have no doubt that if the extended DVD version had been the one that opened December 18, 2001, Peter Jackson would have been rewarded with the first of possibly three straight Oscars. Shame on you New Line Cinema. Have some guts!
Rating:
Summary: Extended DVD - Worth the wait!!!
Review: The extended DVD version of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings was well worth the wait. JRR Tolkien fans and the general public will welcome the extended and new scenes added to movie. Why? Because they provide more depth into the story as well as it explains more of the plot... and will leave you looking forward for the next two movies. Audiences will welcome Bilbo's explanation concerning Hobbits and life in the Shire; the purpose of the mines of Moria; the extended Council of Elrond and the Farewell to Lórien. A great plot, superb direction, outstanding special effects and great cast will keep you nailed to your seat for the 3 ½ hours of this extended edition. The verdict: Excellent. A true masterpiece that will last for decades to come. Although this movie doesn't stick 100% to the book, you have to realize that movies from books are not meant to be literal adaptations. Let me repeat that: movies are adaptations, which means they cannot be literal; movies are slow way for conveying information, and things not so relevant to the main plot had to be left out (I'm talking about Tom Bombadil and other subplots found in the book). In this sense, director Peter Jackson came up with a fantastic masterpiece that will draw you into the world of Middle-Earth, its marvels and dangers. Their 4 - 5 years of work are finally paying off. The special and CG effects, besides outstanding, play a major role on the film. This does not mean actors are dwarfed (no pun intended!) in any way by these. The roles played by Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey, Elijah Wood as the charismatic Frodo Baggins and Sean Astin as the unconditional, will-follow-you-to-the-end-of-the-world friend Samwise Gamgee, reveal perhaps one of the books' main theme: the true value of friendship. If you watch this movie, read between the lines and you'll find at the end that this is not a fantasy story. It is about true friendship, about the perils of addiction, about putting the common good above your personal comfort -even if it implies risking your life or never returning home-, and the loss of moral values in the world.
Rating: 
Summary: Superb presentation
Review: The Extended Edition certainly sets a new standard in DVD presentation. Some of the many documentaries are of considerable interest, especially the National Geographic one. The movie has been re-edited with additional footage. But honestly, would anyone want this film to be longer?
Rating:
Summary: One DVD set to rule them all!
Review: The Extended Edition DVD set of this remarkable modern classic has something for all the fans to enjoy, i would like to say that this director's cut is better than the theatrical release with more scenes added and character devolpment. The Extras on this DVD set are phenomenal, they show you how the movie was made in the first of the trilogy and how Peter Jackson gave up 5 years of his life creating his lifelong dream of putting "Lord of the Rings" into a live-action movie, There's even a couple of hidden suprises on the DVD set, four audio commentaries, Still Photos and more to please the DVD owner. If your a fan of DVD, then own this set and it would be a definite collector's item for you DVD collectors.
Rating:
Summary: Best just got better!
Review: The Extended Edition is a must for anyone who loved the books and the theatrical release. Every character benefitted from additional dialog and scenes. Much of the additional material consists of a sentence here or an extra camera angle there. These little bits really flesh out the characters. The character that benefitted most from the recutting of the film was Celeborn. He got one line in the theatrical release. In the EE he is a completely fleshed out character. Now I can appreciate Martin Csokas' portrayal! I sorely missed the Galadriel gift-giving scene in the theatrical release. I was so happy to see it in the EE. Jackson's interpretation is brilliant and moving! I have yet to dive into the extra features. From what others have said, I know I will be busy for a lOOoog time!
Rating:
Summary: Finally! And worth all the wait!
Review: The extended edition is amazing, DVDs often throw together some bonus footage, but this edition has in-film bonus scenes and extended scenes that appeal most to the readers of the Tolkien who were sorry to see some scenes not make the cut. If you're a reader and already bought the dvd, BUY THIS ONE TOO it's definately worth it. On the two bonus discs are included all the usuals: interviews; behind the scenes 'making-of' shots; directorial, cast, and production crew commentary voice-overs; and tons of information detailing how the brilliant Peter Jackson took an idea to storyboard, to camera, to film and the hundreds of tricks it took to make Middle-earth real. I very whole-heartedly recommend this for anybody who enjoyed the movie and INSIST it for those who are literary fans of Tolkien.
Rating:
Summary: Marvelous!
Review: The extended edition is great! It makes you wonder why Peter Jackson did not bring this version to the screen in the first place. Plus there are loads and loads of extras! This is a great deal and every rabid Tolkien fan should snap this one up.
Rating:
Summary: Extended edition--essential to understanding Two Towers
Review: The extended edition of the Fellowship of the Rings is not only packed with fascinating behind the scenes extras--and witty commentary by the cast, but it contains a boatload of extra scenes that are necessary to understand the plot in the Two Towers. For die-hard Tolkien fans, the only problem is that it just isn't humanly possible to pack any more of Tolkien's masterpiece into a single film.
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