Rating: 
Summary: The greatest DVD release EVER.
Review: I've never met him, but Peter Jackson must love his fans more than any director in the world. He certainly loves his subject matter. With this 4 DVD set Jackson and Co. have given us what could very well be the most comprehensive DVD release ever made. Like the movie itself, it is a labor of love, and it comes through.I bought the first DVD release, and at the time I was whining about the studio targeting weak willed fans (like myself) who would buy both versions like helpless crack-heads, or more accurately, like ring craving Gollums. Watching them both side by side, you can tell that one is a studio release while the other is a director's release. While Jackson may be avoiding the term "director's cut" like the plague, I can't think of a more accurate description. Jackson put a ton of work into the extended version amassed a plethora of special features then wrapped it in a beautiful package and released it at a modest price. The extended version of the movie is very nice. It's hard to say it makes the movie better, because it was already one of the greatest movies ever made, but it does give you more of the same. More greatness can't be a bad thing. I know a lot of chowder heads that actually didn't like Fellowship because it was too long. Doubtless these individuals would be better served watching Adam Sandler movies or taking a little nappy. If they didn't like it before they will probably loathe it now. The additional footage does slow the pace down some what, but anyone who ever read the books knows that the pace was never as frantic as portrayed in the film. I think fans of the books will be best served by the extended cut. There are details now included that many crybaby purists can now wipe their eyes and stop sniveling about. I thought the movie was fantastic as it was. I actually know someone that complained about Bill the Pony not being featured more. BILL THE PONY!! I kid you not. Frankly if Bill and Tom Bombadil have to be sacrificed to make room for what IS included it was not in vain. I'll admit that I haven't completely explored all the features on this disk, but anyone claiming to have done so this soon after the release is either lying to you or fooling themselves. It is an incredible amount of information. I've watched quite a few of the documentaries and they are excellent. Some of the more technical ones, like the one on digital grading are very interesting, but it's the ones with the cast and crew telling stories that I found most interesting and down right entertaining. One of the things that everyone in the cast talks about is how there was as much Fellowship off the screen as on, and you can really tell. Some of the stories and behind the scenes stuff is laugh out loud funny. You can tell everyone had a good time making the movies and usually when people are having a good time; it comes through in their work. I'm usually not interested in the off screen hijinks of movie stars, but the cool thing about this cast is that many of them aren't really stars and some are actually new to film making. They lack a pretentiousness and snootiness that they hopefully will never pick up with their inevitable fame and fortune. The history of the books and the author was also pretty interesting even if it's been better told elsewhere. The huge gift set comes with the National geographic special on the Lord of the Rings and it's pretty comprehensive. I've only seen snippets of it, but I have every intention of owning it. The documentaries do go into the themes of the book and Tolkien's dislike of allegory. The books are meant to be timeless belonging to no particular age or social situation. Undoubtedly this is their greatest strength and one that Jackson has gone to great lengths to translate. It's wonderful to think we have TWO MORE movies to go. There is so much information and entertainment wrapped up in this first Expanded Edition set that I can't fathom having all three on my shelf. While I'm not surprised that the first film was snubbed at the Oscars, nor will I be surprised when the other two are snubbed for best picture, I think time will show these movies to be the greatest single cinematic piece ever created. We are watching history in the making.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Films Just Got Better...
Review: I am a Tolkien zealot (as I like to put it), and though I loved "The Fellowship of the Ring" when it hit theaters last year, I had my share of problems with it, being the die-hard fanatic that I am. Some of these were liberties taken by the filmmakers that could not, and cannot, be reversed (Arwen instead of Glorfindel, Aragorn's leaving of Anduril in Rivendell, etc.). However, this extended "director's cut" has fixed quite a few of the earlier edit's annoyances. Though I loved the original film despite the occasional niggle, this expanded version FEELS more like Tolkien. The pace is less rushed (even though the first film was very long itself), and there are considerably more character moments. Gimli and Boromir are the most notable improvements. Boromir was always excellently developed (even more so now), but Gimli, as a character, was very weak. In fact, Gimli's portrayal as seen by the original cut was a severe disappointment, as Gimli is one of my favorite characters, and he had been reduced to a surly complainer who seemed to lack all but the most basic of emotions. Now, however, Gimli feels more like Gimli, thanks to his moments with Galadriel and Haldir in Lothlorien. One of the best new scenes, however, involves Sam and Frodo, as they spy a troupe of Elves departing Middle Earth. Almost every second of added footage is completely worthwhile. This stuff isn't just for fans of the novels, though - the added scenes make for a more coherent and heartfelt picture (and a slightly more violent one as well). My only real beef with the extended version is that it spans the course of TWO discs, which brings with it the annoyance of exchanging when one has ended. Add to this new and improved Fellowship a whole horde of previously unseen features and you have the ultimate Fellowship of the Ring presentation. Tolkien fans and fans of the films should not pass this one up under any circumstances.
Rating:
Summary: The ultimate edition of the film superior to theatrical vers
Review: I can't pretend to have seen all the extras on this deluxe DVD edition of The Fellowship of the Ring. What I can comment on is the extended version of the movie. The original release was a brilliant diamond with minor flaws. The new, improved version is looks like the same diamond but on closer inspection the flaws aren't there. The extension of some scenes and addition of others makes Tolkien's rich fantasy allows for deeper character and plot developments. Additionally, some of the characters are given a richer back story that enables to understand their movitations better. The difference is like looking through a microscope adjusted for the first time to the proper focus; we were aware that something was there all along but now can distinguish what we're looking at. All of this adds to a richer understanding of this classic fantasy as a film. The transfer appears nearly flawless and is one of the sharpest I've seen (the only transfers I can think of that are comparable in clarity, color and sharpness are Toy Story 1 & 2, A Bug's Life and Lucas' Star Wars: Attack of the Clones). Peter Jackson's commentary is illuminating and interesting in all the right places. More importantly, their interesting even in the most mundane scene. His explanation doesn't demystifying the film. They actually underline the difficulty of his task in taking Tolkien's epic vision squeezing it into a well tailored suit that compliments the material. Enough has been said about the marvelous effects and acting (and it is a crime this film didn't win more Academy Awards but then that's nothing new). I can't really say anything any better than what has been stated before. I have stuck my big toe into the pool of extras and they are tremendous and interesting. Even if you don't watch the documentaries again (or for the first time), you'll be digging this version of the film out to enjoy again and again. The packaging is quite nice although a bit flimsy. I would have like to have seen more added to the booklet but most of what's important is on the discs. It's not noted anywhere (that I can recall) but the first editions of this boxed set include a free "ticket" to The Two Towers.
Rating:
Summary: A richer experience
Review: First off, I am *not* one of those people who has read the entire set of Lost Tales published after Tolkien's passing. I also have only read "The Silmarillion" once. I am not, I hope, to be considered a fanboy. But I have seen the theatrical version of "Fellowship of the Ring" at least three times, and the extended version once. I am still working on the commentary tracks as I write this. FOTR:SE is a must-see for anyone interested in good storytelling and this particular genre. The additional scenes had the effect of giving the story truly balanced pacing. This rhythm made the film feel surprisingly shorter than the original theatrical release. As if that was not enough of a pleasant surprise, the characterizations are richer and more understandable. I understand why Peter Jackson elected to shorten the theatrical release to 3 hours, but I strongly insist that it made for an inferior film to the masterpiece of the extended version. This set has the character of being many things for many potential customers. The bargain hunter will realize its value immediately since once is getting up to 5 DVD discs for a street price of $... The audiophile will lose his/her mind when deciding to use Dolby 5.1 EX, DTS 6.1 or regular Dolby Surround Sound. The film student will have over 14 hours of commentary to listen to and explore. And the collector will get a set of nice bookends in the surprisingly well made recreation of the Argonath in miniature. And if these are not reasons enough, the initial set I received (with unexpected alacrity from Amazon.com, I might add) has a coupon good for one free admission to "The Two Towers" if you catch it within its first two weeks at the theater! One can make all the noise in the world about features, but what about quality? That has, so far, been indisputably superb. The audio commentaries I have heard so far are very atypical of the Hollywood DVD commentary track. Usually, these tracks feel drawn out, boring, uninspired, tedious or at least superfluous. Not this time. What a relief it is that the production values of the film evidently were passed along to this astonishing DVD collection. "The Fellowship of the Ring: SE" set is not a mere labor of love. It is, rather, a labor of intelligence and passion both. Those of you who purchased the DVD back in August of 2002 when it first appeared should take heart that the overlap between that DVD and this one is surprisingly small. So yes, you can own them both and not feel that you have the same film twice. Instead, you can feel positive about having two editions of a fine piece of classic storytelling.
Rating:
Summary: Warning to Mac users!
Review: This movie will NOT work on a Macintosh DVD-ROM drive.
Rating:
Summary: NEVER WATCH THE ORIGINAL AGAIN!
Review: I just finished watching the extended version and it was like watching a whole new film! In every way, this version is superior. The thirty extra minutes are not wasted. The characters are fleshed out, the battles seem more desparate and the agony of the journey both to Rivendale and beyond is made plain. I urge anyone who hasn't already purchased the theater version to skip it and get the extended one instead. Anyone who already has the theater version.....well this one is definately worth forking out the extra dough to get.
Rating:
Summary: 30 min. that add so much
Review: This is the movie that I wanted to see last december when it came out in theaters. I have to admit, being an avid fan of the series, I was terribly disapointed in the characeter development (or lack there of) in the theatrical release of this film. Tolkiens world was much deeper then just action and a story. It was about people and not only their struggle to accomplish their mission, but their inner struggles as well. The bonus footage on this film completes this film. For one, It gives a more in depth description of hobbit life which I think is essential in the movie since in reality, the movie is about them. Boromirs and Aaragons characters are also deeper then they were before. We also get to see the much missed gift giving scene. Over all I thought the movie flowed better then the original release. And, even though it is 30 min. longer it doesn't seem it. This edition is not just for tolkein fans, it is for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: All I can say is...
Review: ...wow. I am absolutely floored by the content, the packaging, the aura of this collection. The 30+ minutes of additional footage are simply amazing and should have stayed in the movie if you ask me. I won't ever watch the 3-hour version again. =) This is truly a masterpiece. Can't wait for The Two Towers!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Keep your theatrical version copy, also
Review: I bought the original, theatrical version of this dvd when it came out, because I loved the movie so much I knew that I couldn't wait for the extended version. I expected the extended version to have everything on the original version, but there are a few omissions. In the scene where Frodo and Sam are beginning their journey out of the Shire, and Frodo quotes something Bilbo said about not knowing where you'll wind up once you step out your door, the original version segued to a shot of Sam crouching before a fire, with a long pipe hanging out of his mouth. The new extended version segues to a new scene, so you don't get that nice little shot. Then, in the scene where Gimli is stopped by the Elves before entering Lothlorien, the extended version cuts off the part where he says that they should turn back because of the danger. These might be minor quibbles in light of all the new and extended scenes (which do add to the enjoyment, generally) but these omissions kind of bother me, and make me wish I hadn't already sold my copy of the theatrical version.
Rating:
Summary: You need this DVD
Review: The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring is the best DVD to have in your collection. I must say that Peter Jackson and his team of filmmakers have surpassed my expectations with this DVD set. They conveyed the story beautifully in the theaters last December. The previous version of the DVD was great for those people who just wanted to see the movie again. THIS DVD set, however, is for the fan. It gives insight into the filmmaking process from the perspective of many of the people who were involved in the making of the film. From cast interviews, fantastic descriptions of the "bigatures" and honest commentaries, this DVD set gives the Lord of the Rings fan all they could ask for and more. This is a "MUST HAVE" addition to any DVD library.
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