Rating: 
Summary: This is definitely a "must-have" edition!
Review: When I first viewed "The Fellowship of the Ring" in the theater, I was in awe at how awesome this film was. However, I only saw it twice in the theather within the first weekend it was out. So I didn't see it again until I bought the theatrical version on DVD the following August - about 8 months later.I watched it tons of times on DVD when I bought it, and was extremely looking forward to this Extended Edition for three months straight. When November 2002 finally rolled around, I picked up my copy of the Extended Edition. Upon my first viewing, I was a little let down. One must realize that since I thought of the theatrical release as a perfect movie, I found it hard to accept some of my favorite scenes changed around. Different takes or extended versions of already existing scenes, and new stuff added in to places I thought started off great(such as the intro to the Shire) - I found to be quite jarring. I did, however, enjoy some of the new parts added in right from my first viewing of this edition - such as the gift givings, new background on Aragorn, Gollum floating with the log on the river, and others. So I wasn't entirely let down. After a while, I got entirely used to the new version of the film, and love it much more than the theatrical version. Now, when I watch the original, I feel like I'm watching an "Edited for Television" version. It feels rushed. This extended edition give you a better understanding of the story as a whole, fleshing out certain scenes to give them more depth and meaning. And certain scenes help other scenes in "The Two Towers" sequel make more sense - like Frodo swiping his elvish cloak over both himself and Sam to camoflauge into the ground at the Black Gate, the lembas bread, Gollum being burned by the rope around his neck, etc. This is the version of "The Fellowship of the Ring" that you want to buy. Don't settle for the "edited for theater" version. Settle for the version that we all were meant to see. There's 30 minutes of extra footage! Plus tons of great bonus material! The only down side to this edition is that the film is split onto the first two discs. But that's such a tiny detail that's not worth griping over when you get so much more of the film! And it's all great stuff!
Rating:
Summary: ONE RING TO FIND THEM ALL- ONE RING TO FIND THEM
Review: When I first walked into the theatre I didn't feel like watching
a three-hour movie about a ring! But after the film started-I was wrong! The lord of the rings is about a powerful ring that was created
by an evil ringwraith and now it must be destroyed or the ring
wraiths will enslave and darken middle earth forever! There were alot of monsters and fight scenes which were the best.
And of course there were also some comedy scenes like in the battle scenes. My favorite part was when Arwen made the horses out of water to
stop the ringwraiths from capturing Frodo and getting the ring! I liked all the characters-but my favorite were the ringwraiths
of course. IF YOU WANT HIM-COME AND CLAIM HIM!
Rating:
Summary: And i thought i had seen it all
Review: When I first went to go see the "Fellowship" in the movie theater, i was as impressed as all the other people. i couldn't wait for it to come out on DVD. (though seeing it on the big screen is still the best, especially the opening "Last Alliance of Men and Elves" battle) i immediately went out and bought it and i wore it out. When i heard about the extended version, i immediately started saving up for it. and it was definetly worth the wait. A 30 minutes more than the original plus hours and hours of extras. this 4 set DVD is amazing. And then you get the National Geographic DVD to go with it. Nobody can go wrong by getting this.
Rating:
Summary: The best movie I've seen in a long time!
Review: When I first went to see this movie I was doubtful. I had not read any of the books, and first thought that the film seemed far too long. After seeing the film though, I was absolutely overjoyed. Everything about it was great. I have now read all the books, and see what an amazing job the film did of recreating Middle-Earth and everything in it. Director Peter Jackson did a wonderful job, and all of the cast was very well chosen. All the actors seemed as if this was the part that they were meant to play. I reccommend this film to everyone, if you have read the books or not. I can't wait for the DVD to come out, and be able to watch this film again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Ditto what everyone else has said...
Review: When I found out that this special edition had more footage than the theater release, I thought, "Hooray! Now maybe Sean Bean will get more screen time!!!" (I admit it--I'm addicted to him!) Well--not only did I get more Boromir in the movie, I also got lots of "behind the scenes" material with Sean Bean in it! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......... Seriously, though...this is a fantastic edition of the movie, with some extended scenes, some new scenes, and some changed scenes. This is the version that should have been shown in theaters (darn short-attention span culture!). And the appendices are great, too--I especially enjoyed the "Fellowship of the Cast", "Cameras in Middle-Earth", and "Sound and Music" featurettes. And, may I say again, there is more Sean Bean in this version. (Drool!)
Rating: 
Summary: Breaking of Dreams
Review: When I had heard that The Lord Of the Rings were filmed, I was very impatient of seeing it, as the novel is maybe the best in the 20th century, and Tolkien is surely is one of the most creative human beings of all time. However when I watched this film I was very disappointed. I do not and can not expect the picture to cover all the details of the book, as it would probably should have lasted for 6 hours if it were the case. But I can not understand how a man can dare change the soul of the story and the characters to make it a more marketable in the general public's point of view. Gandalf and Saruman fighting in the tower? Aragorn fighting with 6 ringwraiths at a time? Bilbo Baggins almost attacking Frodo for the ring? Arwen saving Aragorn and Frodo in the forest after a horse chasing with the ringwraiths? Why should LOTR need Liv Tyler as savior. I strongly protest Peter Jackson for being courageous enough to alter the novel to change its inspiring and magical atmosphere into a marketable and cash producing media product. I do not care about the costumes and special effects as I had seen better and as anybody with the big budget can have them nowadays. If you want special effects, watch The Matrix. So I give 5 stars for LOTR but only 2 stars for Peter Jackson only for performance of some actors and the scene for Mines of Moria. Now everybody knows LOTR with the help of movie, but in a deviated and marketable point of view.
Rating:
Summary: The dream has come to life.
Review: When I heard that there were plans to make this hit book into a movie I was very apprehensive as like so many people who had read the story we all have our own feelings and idea of each character. I did not think the film could do the book justice. I was wrong. This film is set to be a classic; it will go down with the like of Star Wars and ET. The story is true to the book and the actors are perfect in the roles they play. (NO big names) You are meeting these actors for the first time and you have no preconceived ideas of what they are like. The special effects are out of this world and the locations are as I imagined them while reading the book.
All in all this film is a MUST see for all who loved the book as well as those who could not get into it. In ending all I can say is: BRING ON THE NEXT ONE!
Rating:
Summary: Ican't wait!!!
Review: When I heard that they were making a Lord of the Rings movie, I wasn't happy. I thought that they would completely change the books. But then I saw the movie and I loved it! While the movie is not entirely faithful to the book, they only made the neccesary changes that would only help the flow of the movie run smoother. They didn't add any weird things like they do in many movies created from books, they just took out a couple scenes. Most notably, the Tom Bombadil one. The costumes and soundtrack are all wonderful, and they both help the already great film. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie, and ended up seeing it eight times in the theatre!
Rating:
Summary: avid tolkien reader well-pleased
Review: When I heard the official news that Tolkien's masterpiece was to be made into three films, I was both thrilled and apprehensive. I had always thought the trilogy would make wonderful films if done right, but I've seen other novels get butchered and hacked and finally only used for source material for the director's whims. So, with excitement and trepidation, I went to the opening night, and was completely enthralled. The opening is incredible, explaining the background for non-readers while not boring the faithful. Right away, one sees the scope and breadth of the setting, as well as the director's faithfullness to the source. The cinematography is top-notch, but since it was filmed in New Zealand, it couldn't help but be beautiful. The casting was truly inspired. Each actor chosen seemed born for the role he/she was chosen for. Special notice for Ian McKellan and Elijah Wood. They were sheer poetry. The special effects were award-winning quality, as there weren't many (if any) shots without effects in one way or another. The sets were top-notch, the script tight and well-thought out, and the direction was wonderful. Some parts of the book were, of course, left out, in order to move the story along better, but the film captures the spirit of the book in a way I haven't seen since Gone With The Wind. Some people have commented on how violent the film is, and how it shouldn't have been done that way. I say, read the book if you really want to see how violent it should be. Some scenes were toned down a bit, one or two others left out, while the rest stayed faithful to the same scenes in the book. Only with a strong sense of danger to the companies well-being can a veiwer feel any concern for them. If it was just a jolly holiday to Mt. Doom, what a dull story it would be! I've read the trilogy many times since high school; it's my very favorite book of all time. I was prepared to either love the movie or hate it as sacrilage. Turns out I love the film. I've recommended it to many friends since my first viewing, and I'm looking forward to the film's release on DVD, so I can return to Middle-Earth whenever I want to, which will be often. This truly was the best film of the year.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST HAVE MUST SEE FILM!!!
Review: When I heard this version was going to be released, I put off buy the theatrical version for it. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!!! The bonus materials a lone are taking me some time to get through and i've watched this fantastic interpretation of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy masterpieces numerous times. This is the way to watch this film. More explanation about the hobbits was lacking from the theatrical version. This version eliminates that missing ingredient. Atleast 6 totally new scenes and 20 extended scenes raise the bar on movie storytelling. Epic Battles and more character interaction and building make this DVD a MUST HAVE for anyone who enjoys PHENOMENAL MOVIE MAKING AND STORYTELLING. The bonus disc with the National Geographic Documentary was very fun and informative to the experience. After watching the documentary and then watching the film, you see EVEN MORE than a normal viewing allows. If you buy only one DVD this year, It HAS TO BE the Extended Edition of "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring".
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