Rating: 
Summary: This version should have hit theaters!
Review: Wow. I saw the original version several times in the theater, then many more times at home on DVD. However, I probably won't watch the first version again. The extended version is so much more balanced and developed, it's just so amazing what a bit of dialogue here, a short scene there will do for character development and plot.
There are enough extra features included to impress anyone in this set, what with four discs included, two just for bonus features. It seemed to me the sound has been tweaked up a bit(or two!) I was continually turning my volume down on my sound system for fear of offending the neighbors! The new chapter, "Concerning Hobbits", and the "Gift-Giving" sequence were my favorite new parts, and really, I can't see why they were cut in the first place. Thankfully, Peter Jackson put what little magic that was cut out back in, and made his masterpiece one for the ages.
I must say, if this version were shown theatrically, instead of the shorter version, it probably would have won the oscar for best picture. What most people had negative about the film was the lack of character development. This version has it. Although I'll likely never watch it again, I'll keep my shorter version on DVD, but I'll watch this extended one from now on!
Rating:
Summary: Improves on perfection. 10 stars.
Review: Wow. On November 5, 2002 I went to an advance theatrical screening of the extended edition of Fellowship of the Rings. This was the same edition that appears on this DVD, with the extra 30 minutes of footage.
Wow.
It was AWESOME. I was amazed at how the extra footage improved on perfection. The extra 30 minutes footage was divided into a minute here, thirty seconds there, to a significant extension of the Shire and Lothlorien. For vaguge details, see below:
[VAGUE SPOILER WARNING]
The extra footage developed the relationships between Gimli & Legolas, Aragorn & Boromir, Frodo & Sam, and Arwen & Aragorn. That last bit really changed the way I felt about Arwen/Liv Tyler. She rocks. The character is so much better now, and I'm glad Jackson chose her instead of Glorfindel as the bearer of the wounded Frodo.
Also, significantly, the additional footage showed some signifant plot points that were just plain missing from the first cut (I won't go into details, but if you read the book and remember Lothlorien you'll know what I mean).
But best of all was the extra characterization; the characters of the Fellowship were developed and they became people; Legolas and Gimli instead of just Iconic Blustery Dwarf and Iconic Graceful Elf, Haldir instead of Suspicious Lothlorien Guard, Boromir instead of Doomed Patriotic Man, Aragorn instead of Gloomy Ranger. The 30 minutes developed not only characters, but also places and history: Lothlorien and Gondor are much more developed.
The special edition is SO MUCH BETTER. But, remarkably, the special edition also showed just how good the first cut is. Meaning, even without the 30 minutes, the first cut ably conveyed the majesty and vital plot points of Tolkien's book, and even included a LOT of character development for Gandalf, Frodo, and Sam and background info on the Shire, Imladris, Isengard, Mordor, Moria and Middle Earth.
Wow. I still get chills, just thinking about the movie.
If you liked Fellowship of the Rings, you'll *love* this special edition.
Rating:
Summary: The version for True Tolkien fans -and best DVD ever made?
Review: Wow. This is easily the best DVD ever made. This movie does an amazing job of bringing Tolkien to life on the big screen. Not everything is perfect, and true fans will probably find something to complain about, but overall you won't be disappointed. This film is a very faithful adaption with fine acting, visuals straight from Tolkien's favorite artists, and dialoge right of the books. This special extended version is definitely the best version. This is the film for those of you who loved the books, who were annoyed at the changes and insane pacing of the theatrical release. The 30 extra minutes of material aren't just a few deleted scenes here and there, but actually hundreds of extra shots and scenes, ranging from a few seconds to 4-5 minutes long. The additions aren't perfect, but mostly good. You'll find a longer, warmer intro to the Shire, the passing of Elves as Frodo flees the Riders, the gifts of Galadriel, and so on. Better yet, many important scenes are given just a little extra time, so that you can enjoy and even understand them better. Match this with some of the best DVD extras you'll ever find. A total of 4 commentary tracks, plus 2 discs of extras covering every conceivable topic - how did they make hobbits so convincingly small? Included is a wonderful documentary on Tolkien himself, and the history of this project as the director struggled to get it financed. There is a map of Middle Earth and the journey of the Fellowship, plus another map of New Zealand and which locations were used. Wonderful special effects montages take you through the multiple layors without having to click through a million still images (although those are still there). Even the still images, which I usually hate and avoid, give us information and tell a story. And the whole thing comes wrapped in a cover that reminds me of my old hardback edition of the book itself. As an interesting touch, the movie chapter names match the chapter names in the books. Perfect in every way, I strongly recommend anyone that owns a DVD player to buy this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: An Epic Masterpiece
Review: Wow. When I first went to see this film, I was thinking a cheesy movie with horrible effects and bad acting. How wrong I was. Not a single cast or crew member doesn't deserve an Academy Award. Peter Jackson, whose other films have been so-so, has put himself on a level of superiourity and excellence along with the works of Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Billy Wilder. I don't know what more to marvel at, the lush and beautiful scenery, or the over-the-top special effects. Even at this film running a little long, I was still craving more. This amazing film has inspired me to read the epic trilogy, which is a first of my family. I eagerly await the dvds (both the 2-disc and the 4-disc edition coming in November). If I were going into heaven and I could only bring one film, I would certainly bring this one. Bravo!!!
Rating:
Summary: WOW, WOW, WOW !!!!!!!
Review: wow....i think that this is the best film i've seen so far in my life!!
The cast includes ELIJAH WOOD, ORLANDO BLOOM, BILLY BOYD, DOMINIC MONAGHAN, SEAN ASTIN, SEAN BEAN, VIGGO MORTENSEN, IAN MCKELLEN and many, many more amazing names!
Dominic monaghan who plays Merry, like me also lives in England, Stockport which i am very excited about- i could meet him!!! hahahaha in my dreams!
My biggest crush is ELIJAH WOOD who plays the staring role FRODO!! Hes got the most gorgeous eyes ever in the history of middle earth!!!
The book, in my opinion is one that no-one should miss!Especially if you have seen the fellowship of the ring and cant wait for the next film (the two towers) to come out, to see what happens in the next part of the dangerous journey!
This film includes romance, action, comedy, and war...a bit of everything really!
DONT MISS IT!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Astounding is an understatement
Review: WOW
This is the best adaptation of a book (and film) that I have ever seen. Although Peter Jackson left out/changed a few parts form the book (like Tom Bombadil and the Barrow-Wright), they were for the better. To all of the whiners out there that wanted a complete, word for word rendition of the book- it simply can't be done in a film. Jackson expertly edited the script to include what was needed for the story. (and yes, I have read the trilogy five times over)
What Peter Jackson did show on film was incredible. It was almost exactly what I had pictured when I read the books, from the scenery (New Zealand is beautiful) to the creatures and the characters. The actors in this film were nothing short of AMAZING (and when I say amazing, I mean that there simply could not have been a better cast). All of the hobbits played their roles to perfection, as did Ian McKellan (Gandalf), Sean Bean (Boromir), John Rhy-Davies (Gimli), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), and Christopher Lee (Saruman). However, I must say that my favorite actor is now Viggo Mortensen after I saw him in his role as Aragorn. I could write another 1,000 words on how great of a performance his was, but I will leave it at a few words in saying that he deserved an Oscar (and I have been a theatre actor and studied acting for years).
In addition to the visuals, the soundtrack deeply evokes the the spirit of the story and of Middle Earth. It's soudntracks I've heard in a long, long time.
In all, this is an extraordinary film, especially in the extended edition with the 30 additional minutes seemlessly added.
To come to a point, what makes this movie great is that both the casual movie goer and the diehard Tolkien fan can love it. (I'll be back when the Two Tower's comes out on DVD! It's also incredible, although a bit less accurate to the book.)
Rating:
Summary: Greatest epic of all time? Probably.
Review: Yeah it's long - it's VERY long - but the beginning of the great Lord of the Rings trilogy couldn't be told in a better style. I would, however, like to respond to the rumors that the movie is faithful to the book. I don't think so...after all, there are many differences between the two. For example, did you know that in the book, after Gandalf left Frodo alone at the Shire to study the lore behind the One Ring, that he was gone for 17 years before returning for good? There are other differences as well, such as the Willow in the Old Forest, Tom Bombadil, and the Barrow Downs being left out of the movie. Also, Arwen did NOT take Frodo to Rivendell like the movie, he was escorted there by Glorfindel, who makes no appearance in the movie at all. But aside from a few nitpicky things like that, this is a fascinating adaptation of the JRRT classic. You can't go wrong, as long as you have a little imagination inside you.
Rating: 
Summary: ok
Review: Yeah, all criticisms of the changes made to the book in this movie aside, it was pretty good. Most of the actors were well chosen (except maybe Elrond) and I would have liked to have seen Glorfindel, but all in all I was satisfied (my brother, who has read the books about a million times, hated it but watched it several times anyway) In particular i liked Liv Tyler as Arwen, and the CG and costumes are all very well done. Some of the scenes could have been done better (in particular the council of Elrond) but like I said I did enjoy this and its about as good as you could do with condensing the book into 3 hours. But Gimli didnt kick enough ... in Moria and Legolas didnt fire arrows nearly fast enough
Rating:
Summary: Kicks "Beautiful Minds"
Review: Yeah, this movie is the best I've seen in a long time. Harry Potter was good, but LOTR rocked! For someone who hadn't read the books before seeing the movie (where have I been living?!) I thought it ruled. Seen it twice and gonna see it again this weekend. First off, Peter Jackson is brilliant. Mad props to him. No one could have pulled this project off more perfectly. Also, Elijah Wood was fantastic (not just in looks but in acting as well!) Perfect as Frodo. The rest of the cast rocked to. It was good to see John Rhys- Davies in another monster movie (Indiana Jones rocked too). Mckellen, Astin, Morteson, Lee, Tyler, Blanchett, everyone was great. A visually stunning film, its gonna kill at the Oscars. 13 nominations- its just incredible. It is everything that anyone could hope for in a movie. It's groundbreaking. Not as groundbreaking as Star Wars was when it first was released, but its high up there. It was good to see Christopher Lee as Saruman, someone who is also in Star Wars E2- bridging the divide. Anywho, I shouldn't give this film a 5 star rating- it truly deserves a perfect 10- perfectly executed, great acting, amazing effects, beautiful to watch- bottom line- SEE IT! When its released on VHS and DVD go get it! But after myself of course- I'll be the first in line to buy it. LOTR rocks!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The best movie I have yet seen
Review: Years in the making by people devoted to utter quality, Tolkien's beloved, multilayered epic is THE fantasy, the fantasy upon which every fantasy written since then is based! And many are recognizing that the sheer scope and quality of this movie is enough to take your breath away. After a prologue giving us insights into how the Ring came to be and how it came into Bilbo's hands, we get to see the exquisite village of Hobbiton and glimpses of the hobbits' peaceful existance, where the angelic wizard (by angelic I mean he really is, not that he acts like one) Gandalf arrives for Bilbo Baggins' eleventy-first birthday party. Bilbo's party goes off with a few hitches -- the most major of which is when he uses his magical Ring to vanish from the party. Gandalf manages to convince Bilbo -- whose personality is being swamped by the Ring -- to leave it in young cousin Frodo's keeping. He becomes convinced that it is the One Ring, the pure evil force of the Dark Lord Sauron. And now the Nazgul (Black Riders) arrive in the Shire, hunting for the hobbit carrying the Ring. Frodo leaves the Shire with his faithful gardener and friend Samwise Gamgee, and they also end up picking up his cousins Merry and Pippin along the way. But fun and games are not in the workings for the hobbits -- Frodo is nearly killed in a confrontation with the Black Riders, on their way to Bree. In the inn there, they encounter a mysterious stranger named Strider. Strider takes them to the Elvish citadel of Rivendell, where it is decided that the Ring must be destroyed in the distant, hellish land of Mordor. Frodo volunteers to take the Ring -- but he has only the faintest idea of the dangers, both from the evil creatures and from within the Fellowship that accompanies, that he will have to face... The special effects are overwhelming - an avalanche, a horde of hideously realistic orcs, the rock-faced cave troll that almost squishes Sam, the slippery tentacles of the Watcher in the Water, the "fiery letters" reflected on Frodo's face, Gandalf's horrific confrontation with the monstrous "fire and darkness" Balrog, as the bridge collapses under them. Not all the special effects show -- the hobbits are shrunken down to about four feet tall using special effects, as is Gimli the dwarf. But it's all integral to the plot. Gollum is glimpsed only briefly, but creepily. Only a few of the FX fall flat, like Gwahir the eagle; and the weird swoop-in scene to Saruman on Isengard. Also one shot of Legolas leaping from off of the cave troll. Elijah Wood appears to just EMBODY Frodo, with his wide eyes and slenderer build than the other hobbits; his luminous face will make your heart bleed or your eyes glow, depending on what is happening to Frodo. Sean Astin looks solid and dependable, just how Sam should look; he manages to make Sam loyal and caring for Frodo without making him look dumb or servile. Pippin and Merry star as mild comic relief; by the end of the movie, they are somewhat more mature. Ian McKellen is astoundingly good as Gandalf, mixing Gandalf's sternness and latent power with a sense of humor and a tendency to bump his head; Christopher Lee throws everything into the sinister Saruman. I groaned when I heard that Viggo Mortenson would play Aragorn and Liv Tyler would play Arwen, but they both throw their hearts into it, including the most romantic scene I have ever seen in a movie. You cannot go wrong with John Rhys-Davies, who plays the endearingly crabby Gimli. Sean Bean takes the breath away as Boromir, a man tormented with love for his city and his people, and the desire to use the Ring to save them. His final scene is one of the most touching ones ever shot on film. Orlando Bloom is in a breakout role as elven archer-prince Legolas, where he embodies the right masculine elvishness for the role mingled with some of the best fight scenes since "Phantom Menace." The lighting is astounding good -- sinister and darker for scenes with evil creatures, gritty for travelling scenes, warm for scenes in the Shire, paler and luminous for scenes in Lothlorian. The costumes are great -- mudstained and worn for Aragorn, simple and comfy for the hobbits, fancier but serviceable for Boromir and Legolas (well, they ARE princes!) and more floaty-looking, gauzy gowns for Arwen and Galadriel, as well as Arwen's sleek, immaculate riding outfit. Sets are also great, from the simple earthy stuff of the Shire to the elegant sleekness of the Elves' places, to the decaying former splendor of Moria. The script varies in places from the books, sometimes to provide humor (like Aragorn whacking Pippin in the head with an apple). But this human is often dampened with a follow-up of grimness or fear. For all the fuss about Arwen and orc sidekick Lurtz, neither is really on for long. And often an addition is made to the preexisting material: Frodo's frequent glimpses of the Eye, for example. This is NOT a movie to take children to. Though there is one very low-key kiss and no profanity, there is plenty of violence (very little blood); also, there are some hair-raising scenes, including Galadriel and Bilbo's temptations, Frodo's brushes with the Eye of Sauron, glimpses of torture (but not what happens), and seeing the Ringwraiths both with their black cloaks -- and without. And even when the violence is mild, it can still be disturbing: We don't see Frodo stabbed by a Nazgul, but his agonized expression, choked up "Sam..." and the following scenes where he struggles to survive are very affecting. Peter Jackson clearly poured heart and soul into this film. It is perhaps one of the best ever made. See it. Now.
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