Rating: 
Summary: The first (and perhaps only ever) great fantasy epic
Review: The Lord of the Rings trilogy is by far a collection of five-star films that have (hopefully) set the pace for all future fantasy films. In the past fantasy films fell into one of two categories:Category 1 -- Good, but too light (not serious enough):
Examples being movies like "Willow," "The Princess Bride" and "The NeverEnding Story." While these are very enjoyable films, they are more adventure-like fantasy than they are epic dramas. And others (such as "Labyrinth" or "Legend") although still enjoyable, made the genre even less respectable by using silly costuming and childish humor. Category 2 -- Flat-out stupid:
Three words: "Dungeons & Dragons" The Lord of the Rings trilogy consists of fantasy movies made the way fantasy movies were supposed to be. Gone is the notion that the fantasy genre is for kids, or that comic relief and cheesy characters are needed to make the movie bearable. The Lord of the Rings is an epic drama. It has the majesty and dramatic tone of "Braveheart" or "Gladiator," only set in the context of Tolkein's masterful tale of Middle Earth. Let us hope that Hollywood studios and film execs have learned their lesson--you CAN make a big-budget, high-quality, dramatic fantasy film and still make a lot of money. Let us give credit to New Line Cinema for going out on a limb to make the LOTR movies. And let us all hail Peter Jackson, cast, and crew for pulling off the film accomplishment of a lifetime. I only hope that future fantasy films can at least try to come close to the extravagant perfection of The Lord of the Rings. Having said all this, the Extended Versions are EVEN BETTER! Usually when watching the "deleted scenes" on various DVDs I say to myself, "well I can see why they deleted that scene." Scenes are usually deleted for a good reason. Either they cause the movie to drag on, or do nothing to develop the plot. This is not the case with the new scenes on the extended versions of the LOTR films. These scenes not only help add more clarity to the plot, but they go a long way in further developing the characters--the lack of which was a common criticism of the theatrical release of the first film, The Fellowship of the Ring. Add to this how well done these extra and lengthened scenes have been done. Each scene has been edited smoothly into the movie for a seamless experience. Sounds, special effects, and even additional scoring have been added to ensure the same quality throughout. These extra scenes are not essential, but surely add quite a bit to the films, enough so that I don't even watch the theatrical version anymore, because the extended versions offer so much more enjoyment. The packaging is very well done and with two discs of bonus material, you definitely get your dollar's worth. So, my suggestion is that if you're one of the dozen Americans who don't own any of the LOTR films yet, splurge and get the extended version. I promise that after seeing them you'll realize that you don't need (or even want) the theatrical versions. However, if you're on a tight budget, this box set is a nice way to get three of the best films of all time for a fair price.
Rating:
Summary: Greatest movie ever made.
Review: What defines greatness?
This is an extremely tough question. Greatness is one of those unique words in English that has both qualitative AND quantitative definitions and uses. My personal opinion is that LORD OF THE RINGS, the book by Tolkien, is the single greatest piece of fiction ever written. It also happens to be a fact, much like it's also my opinion that 2 + 2 = 4. The fact of the matter is that no book sold more copies than LotR in the 20th century except the Bible. If popularity contrives greatness, then Tolkien seems to rival Jesus, and that says a lot! However, popularity does not define greatness, it simply tends to be a side-effect of it. The greatest things and people in this world just also happen to be the most popular. Tolkien's *popular* work is *great* because of its themes and values, and more importantly, the way in which the author conveys those themes and values. Tolkien creates a universe and world with a specific history, geography, and population unparalleled by any other fictional world. There is not a single blade of grass that Tolkien mentions that he hasn't traced the lineage of back a thousand generations to the first blade of grass ever born on the shores of Valinor in the first age. I say this with little hyperbole or exaggeration. To virtually the same degree, Jackson has recreated Middle Earth on film, which is an Oscar-worthy task in and of itself. All of this aside, the most important task in making Lord of the Rings into a movie would be the adaptation of Tolkien's execution of themes, a feat which Jackson has also accomplished with only slight variation from the original text. Having read and studied Tolkien thuroughly in all of his chronicles of Middle Earth, published with his authorization and also posthumously, it becomes apparent to me that unfaltering hope in the face of certain doom and the ultimate triumph of good over evil are the most important themes to Tolkien. He also expresses his belief that no one is beyond redemption, even though it might not be their final choice. However, I believe this to be a corrilary to his theme of the triumph of good over evil. The elves are perhaps the best manifestation of unfaltering hope in the face of certain doom. Those individuals who are the wisest in any world have also lived the hardest lives and made the most mistakes. Thusly, the elves are the wisest race in Tolkien's world, because their race, ancient beyond the reckoning of years, whose members have eternal youth and can never fall prey to hunger or disease, has historically made tremendous and irreversable mistakes with the most dire consequences. They have the ability to leave Middle-Earth forever, and go to an eternal Shangri-la granted to them by the Gods (which many of them do), and yet the eldest and wisest of this race stay until the end, be it an end of ruin or replinishment. Galadriel says at some point in the books that the elves are fighting "the long defeat" because it seems that all their efforts to fight Sauron and eternal evil will end in vain... And yet they stay until that end arrives, because they realize the importance of hope. The triumph of good over evil is a much harder theme to grasp and pin-down in Tolkien, but I think I have a good way to express it. It would seem that Tolkien creates a dichotomy between the Ring-bearer(s) and Sauron as the forces of good vs. the forces of evil. The Ring is a part of Sauron, and it is thusly considered a part of that evil branch. The One Ring is the most powerful object in the world and will eventually corrupt any who keep it. However, the dichotomy is not between Frodo and Sauron, it is between the *fellowship* and *the ring.* This is important to note, because Sauron never even takes physical form in the Trilogy, only his will (or "The Eye of Sauron," which is a crippled center of energy, not a body) is present. When all power is placed in the hands of one person, that person will eventually become evil. Even Sauron was not always evil if you trace his history back through the millennia. This is very important, because, even though the fellowship "breaks" in the sense that they split apart, it never *dies*. Frodo, while he is indeed the ring-bearer, NEVER would have accomplished ANY of his goals without the help of the fellowship...they are absolutely 100% codependant. What do you have against the fellowship of many? You have *ONE* Dark Lord on his Dark throne...you have *ONE* Ring to rule them all... There are many other themes and motifs that riddle Tolkien's book, but these, I feel, are two of the most important. Allow me to iterate this very fully: Jackson's movie is NOT the exact same as Tolkien's book. He deviates in several places from Tolkien, and changes things. The movie is an ADAPTATION, not a translation. However, an adaptation sticks as close to the translation as it can. Jackson accomplishes most or all of Tolkien's themes in the same world, with most of the same characters, and via most of the same methods that Tolkien uses. Jackson's cinematography, script-writing, and directing abilities are pretty unparalleled by any other director I've seen. "Proficient" is a severe understatement and doesn't give Jackson the credit he deserves. No movie is perfect. And there are definitely plenty of movies with better acting, writing, and cinematography. But these things alone do NOT define greatness...*that* is something highly esoteric. Greatness in any work of art is defined by the methods that the artist uses to covnvey his or her themes. Tolkien's work is the greatest piece of fiction ever written because of this, and Jackson's work, while not exactly the same, is pretty darn close to Tolkien in spirit. It's soul is the soul of Middle-Earth. This is not an opinion, it's a statement of fact: Lord of the Rings is the greatest movie ever made.
Rating:
Summary: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is a MASTERPIECE!!!!
Review: All I have to say is that I have never seen anything like it. From the time I saw the beginning of the first movie til when I finally saw the end of the last movie I could not help but fall in love with these movies. Peter Jackson did what I dont think any other could do. He took J.R.R Tolkien's vision and made it his own. The battle sequences are the greatest battle sequences I have ever seen, especially in The Return of the King. They are very long movies but who cares when the movies are so good, its a good thing they are long becuase you can actully understand more what it going on. The acting in the Return of the King should have had at least some nominations. Sean Astin gave one of the best performances I have ever seen. I recommend buying the trilogy in a heartbeat. The trilogy is far better than just one of the single films by itself. These movies are AMAZING!
Rating: 
Summary: Gift for people who can't wait
Review: I'm not here to review the movies--I'm reviewing the product. While it's great that all three movies are bound together in one set, I'm not sure who this is marketed towards. First off, these editions of the LOTR movies are rendered obsolete once the extended versions are released. Since most fans of the movie will want the release that contains nearly an hour of extra footage, several hours of comprehensive behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a formal "goodbye" and tying up of loose ends from PJ and the cast, this version will probably not appeal to them. There's also a group of fans who buy both the theatrical and extended versions because they can't wait to own the movie, but since they'd already have the theatrical releases of FOTR and TTT, they'd have no interest in re-buying the first two films in a boxed set, and they'd want the standalone ROTK DVD. This means this boxed set is marketed towards the demographic that enjoyed the movies in the theaters, yet aren't interested in the special features or extra scenes. Also, this demographic hasn't been sucked into the films at all, since they haven't bought any of the movies yet. Honestly, this demographic sounds like the people who would rent the films, not buy a boxed set of them. While a box set looks great on your shelf, the problem here is knowing that this set isn't a "final" version and that you'll be missing out on what the release later this year has to offer. Also, it stands to reason that New Line will release an Extended Edition boxed set eventually, and a set like that will, again, render this one obsolete. The only real benefit to this set is the price tag, since tan EE boxed set would probably retail for $100-$120, but then, if you're worried about the price, you're probably a LOTR renter anyway, since you haven't fallen in love with these movies. Bottom line: This might be a good gift for someone who liked the movies in the theaters but never saw them again. Maybe. But I can't see how someone would justify buying this for themselves when they know what's around the corner. The movies get 5 stars but this release only gets 1.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasticaly Touching Trilogy
Review: I suggest definitely reading at least the Hobbit or watching the extra stuff on the DVD's to help appreciate more the trilogy. I loved this trilogy for the look, music, sound, and feel of it all. Also, I enjoyed the commraderie that was displayed between the characters who were against the land of Mordor. Finally, I liked how the trilogy gave me the idea that even though the journey was hard there was always hope.
Rating:
Summary: Applicably Historical Fantastical Great Triology!
Review: I loved this movie for the look, music, sound, and feel of it all. Also, I enjoyed the commaderie that was displayed between the characters who were against the land of Mordor. I liked how the struggle with temptation for the ring was played out. Last, I liked how the triology gave me the idea that even though the journey was hard there was always hope. I suggest definately reading at least the Hobbit or watching the extra stuff on the DVD's to help appreciate more the triology.
Rating:
Summary: Better than Original Star Wars Trilogy, really.
Review: ...Since Peter Jackson didn't drop the ball on film three in the series, but actually topped himself with each installment of his masterwork trilogy. Unlike Star Wars, Godfather, Alien, Matrix, Mad Max, and so many other series that blew it big time at the finish line ...That being said, a real fan of these epic films should skip this particular collection and purchase the Rings Trilogy as individual films in their 4-disc (per film) Special Extended Edition releases. This set is the THEATRICAL release. The Special Extended Edition versions have more footage (footage which actually improves and enriches these cinematic masterpieces). The Special Extended Edition versions have FOUR wonderful and fascinating, full length commentary tracks, many more extras, art galleries, HOURS of goodies, etc., etc. and is well worth the effort. If you get the Theatrical release versions (like this trilogy box set), you're missing out on a lot. In fact, now that the Special Extended Edition versions are available for purchase (Return of the King Special Extended Edition will be out near the end of 2004) I'm surprised that these shorter versions are even available. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and enjoy the ENTIRETY of Peter Jackson's genius by sticking to the Special Extended Editions of this historical and luminous work of cinematic art. And, yes. Amazon.com has them.
Rating:
Summary: 1 movie in 3 parts
Review: THIS IS THE COMPLETE MOVIE, ALL 3 PARTS. THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT, BECAUSE IT IS A SET, LIKE A STEPHEN KING MOVIE ON 3 DIFFERENT NIGHTS, IT IS STILL ONLY 1 MOVIE. YES IT IS A GREAT MOVIE AND I HAVE WAITED FOR THE WHOLE SET IN ONE PACKAGE.
Rating: 
Summary: Might want to wait
Review: While this is a great set, you might want to wait for the extended version set to come out before shelling out so much money. I admit this trilogy is one of th best ever but this fact is so much more apparant when you watch the extended feature dvds. The extra footage only adds to the plot and suspense throughout, while the bonus features describe in detail all of the amazing graphic details and acting secrets that make this trilogy great. So....if you stilll don't own any of the dvds and you don't have time to watch extended versions and extra bonus features, this might be the set for you. BUT, if you want to truly admire the skill and effort put into The Lord of the Rings, you should hold out and buy the extended versions of the three movies, you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: AWSOME!!!
Review: This is "The Lord of all Trilogys!" The Lord of the Rings-The Motion Picture Trilogy is THE boxed-set that you will want to have in your home. I realy like the Fellowship of the Ring and the Return of the King, but I don't like the Two Towers quite as much. Overall, this trilogy rocks and it is worth anything you pay. Buy It!!
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