LOTR: Return Of The King

[John Holmes]

BOY-O-Boy!!! This is such a fantastic film! Those of you with front projection will be in for a real treat. The size of the battles are staggering. Even larger scale than the previous film. This was the best 3 hrs ever spent in my HT. And I must say, this is how you close a trilogy (Lucas are you listening?)

This is one film that I'm sorry I missed at the big screen.

[David Meek]

John, this is definitely one of those films that should be seen on a 50' screen. If it ever comes back around, give it a viewing - you'll be glad you did. I'm going to rent it ocassionally just to tide me over until the Extended Cut is released in November. Yeah!
;zx

[Burke Strickland]

A great DVD of a great movie!

John -- Glad you are enjoying Return of the King in your home theater. The movie was spectacular at the commercial theater, and echoing David's remarks, if it comes back "to a theater near you", it is worth the effort to see it at your local cineplex. But it is also sensational on DVD. I've already watched it straight through and was mesmerized once again -- the time seems to pass very quickly even though the movie is over three hours long.

The DVD's video is darn good, with no visible "edge enhancement", solid, saturated colors, and crisp detail. If the picture is very good, the sound is truly awesome. The sub gets quite a work-out without being overly obtrusive. In other words, there is good balance all across the audio spectrum, and the bass blends well with the rest of the soundtrack. Some of the surround effects are spine jinglingly creepy. (That's a GOOD thing.) :>) Definitely a system-demo-quality disc. It's hard to imagine how the Extended Edition's audio quality will improve on this one.

I'm going to rent it ocassionally just to tide me over until the Extended Cut is released in November.

Depending on how often "occasionally" is, you might want to consider buying it at Target's release week price of $14.99. With a free pack of batteries (a $5 value) the effective price is even lower. Or go to Best Buy and pay $15.99 for the same deal with the batteries plus a "free" Entertainment Weekly magazine chock-full-o coverage of Lord of the Rings. (I took a pass on the "free" magazine -- just something else to recycle, IMO. It's written at a fifth-grader's comprehension level and duplicates stuff you've seen elsewhere a zillion times.)

[Shane Martin]

It's hard to imagine how the Extended Edition's audio quality will improve on this one.

They always do though...

I personally can wait for the extended. I doubt I will even rent it once until that date. I've done it twice before w/o issue so far.. I can do it again.. Plus there are more movies coming out to tide(pun intended) me over.

[John Holmes]

You can bet gentlemen, I will be there if it gets a second go round at theaters.

And Burke, you are right on the money about the sound. Balanced is the perfect descriptive. And very detailed. This was one of those true gems on DVD. I agree, I don't know how they will get any better than this(video or sound) on the next releases.

[Brandon B]

While I am pretty impressed with the video quality they pulled off cramming 200 minutes onto a single disc, I did see a lot that will probably see improvement with the EE. Particularly on panning shots, you could tell this was a maxed out disk compared to the previous 2 EE's.

Full agreement that the sound was great. I'll like it even better when I can crank the system on the weekend.

BB

[Dean McManis]

I was also surprised how good this DVD looked and sounded for being able to fit it on one dual layer DVD! :T I played this to a packed house on the big screen and had a room full of happy viewers by the end of this epic film.

Ironically, I didn't buy the movie on DVD yet. My friends did and brought it by. Seeing that I have the other two LOTR movies on DVD, getting the 3rd one is inevitable (especially looking so good), but I will have to see if I'm going to hold out for the extended edition or not.

-Dean.

[David Meek]

Dean, have you seen the Extended versions of the first two installments? The extra footage is very worthwhile in both cases, making for much better movies - especially The Two Towers. Plus, the better PQ/SQ doesn't hurt.

[Burke Strickland]

...have you seen the Extended versions of the first two installments? The extra footage is very worthwhile in both cases, making for much better movies - especially The Two Towers.

I agree that the extra footage in both Extended Editions (EEs) that we have so far is worthwhile. The narrative and the characterizations of "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers" are enriched by the additions, which are seamlessly integrated on the EE DVDs. However, technically the EEs of the first two movies in the trilogy are also "theatrical cuts" since both played in a limited number of commercial theaters prior to the release of "Return of the King" last December. (I'm sure glad I went to a showing of each!) But it is probably better to leave the "theatrical cut" vs "extended edition" nomenclature alone to avoid confusion. :>)

Although the additions do make for better movies in both cases, I think the additions to "The Two Towers" were perhaps more to satisfy fans of the book by including many of Tolkien's rich details that got left out for timing and pacing in the theatrical version, rather than being absolutely essential to the movie's story. That doesn't mean I don't prefer the EE to the theatrical cut. If you have the time to watch the EE, there are some character development scenes in the EE that make a few of the characters' actions more fully motivated in "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King". But I don't have any qualms about showing the theatrical release of "The Two Towers" as being a good representation of Peter Jackson's craft and an adequate telling of the story if time available to watch it is an issue.

On the other hand, I believe that if the EE of "The Fellowship of the Ring" had been the original theatrical release, at least in LA at Oscar qualifying time, it would have creamed "A Beautiful Mind" at that year's Oscars and we would have seen two Best Picture trophies for the trilogy instead of just the one for "Return of the King". (I don't think it would have made any difference if "The Two Towers" EE had been the original release. That just wasn't the trilogy's year at the Oscars.)

The EE of "Fellowship" is really that much better than the theatrical cut, IMO. The background of the Hobbits in general and the background and personalities some characters are more fully developed, and much of what follows in "The Two Towers" makes more sense having the extra details which are presented in the first movie EE. I have both versions of both movies on DVD, by the way. I doubt the "theatrical cut" of "The Fellowship of the Ring" will ever get played again, by me anyway. The higher quality video and sound on the EE DVD contribute to that of course.

Burke

[Kingdaddy]

So it seems unanimous here, everybody thought it was a great film; well then, I'm not about to say what I really thought. I will say that the sound and picture were first rate, technically well done, but didn't at least one of you want to FF a bit toward the end, man I had to sit on my remote hand.

[John Holmes]

Kingdaddy,

I never felt the need to fast foward. But, we are all entitled to our likes and dislikes. The beauty of life so to speak.

I would be interested in your views on the film none the less. Good or bad, we like to talk movies! :T

[David Meek]

So it seems unanimous here, everybody thought it was a great film; well then, I'm not about to say what I really thought. I will say that the sound and picture were first rate, technically well done, but didn't at least one of you want to FF a bit toward the end, man I had to sit on my remote hand.

Shoot yeah Daddy-o, say what you thought! :blah: We like all kinds of opinions on movies - even negative ones (have you read my Van Helsing review?).

[Kingdaddy]

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Lord of the Rings “The Return of the King”

I waited a long time to see this movie; I purposely did not see it at the Theaters because I wanted to enjoy it in my own home with much better seating and sound. I was even somewhat giddy the day of the DVD release. I immediately went to a nearby store (Target) to buy the movie after work, planning my whole night around this movie. The other two I already own, and have somewhat enjoyed, mainly because this trilogy has done a good job of building up to a climax that has peaked my interest more then any other movie to date. I was already accustom to the multi faceted plot line and jumping from one part of the story to the next with such long intervals that you almost forget what is going on with Frodo. These long breaks between the separate character development makes these movies very hard to enjoy, so I was expecting this to be difficult from the start, I had my most patient and open attitude in place for the long haul. Even with low expectations, I was still interested enough to see the ring finally destroyed and all things concluded.

Now for the actual movie experience the only word that I can think of that properly describes and sums up this movie is Obesity, complete over indulgence of everything that can make a movie great.

This was without a doubt the most difficult time I have ever had watching a movie. I had to set on my remote hand to keep from FF or skipping a scene or two to finally see closure, I was in anguish the way a fat person would be after they had gorged them selves for hours on there favorite food and was now about to throw-up, it was beyond sickening and painful. I have never in my life wanted a movie to end so badly, but I knew if I could not sit through the first time I would never again be able to even try. So I forced this anguish upon my self thinking I might miss some killer plot revelation or a tidbit of dialog magic that would make the pain go away. But the pain just increases with every dragging moment of this overstuffed WAY TOO LONG MOVIE. They could have cut an hour off this film and made it almost watchable, my GOD man, if I were in a theater for 3 ½ hours watching this thing from beginning to end I would have to leave or commit suicide. Even after the Ring was finally destroyed, it just would not end, it kept going on and on, I felt like the Malcolm McDowell in Clockwork Orange with the eyelid holding mechanism on, tied to a seat, I just had to make it through the ordeal alive. What were there 2 or 3 climaxes, 2 or 3 fight or die speeches before how many epic battle scenes? Count how many times Frodo and Sam gaze into one another’s eyes with a heart felt scene to show the burden of the ring barer, I thought they were going to kiss sometimes. How many times did Frodo fall down and was helped up, it’s like a bad soap opera, they broke every rule in the Hollywood recipe for success book, yet they somehow got away with it.

Is this what the future of popular movies has come to, the second highest grossing movie of all time and so much action, dialog, battle scenes and special effects that you’re nearly immune by the end. Less then two hours into the movie I was so sick of the incredible sound track amazing cinematography and cool special effects. I don’t know if I ever want to see an action movie again, Total Obesity, way, way, way too much of everything, 3 ½ hours, 200minutes, nearly a quarter of a day, my GOD, there should be a law against this. The worst part is that everybody seems to hold this movie up as a masterpiece of story telling, a monumental superlative conclusion to the greatest trilogy of all time, I would rather watch Weekend at Bernie’s 100 times in a row then to have to sit through this movie again.

[Burke Strickland]

Kingdaddy -

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the movie. It would be a boring world if we all liked exactly the same things in exactly the same way.

With that reaction to the theatrical cut of "Return of the King", you're gonna just LOVE the Extended Edition DVD with nearly an hour of additional footage seamlessly integrated into the narrative. :>)

Burke

[Roxus]

Not only that, but he's lucky they didn't even shoot the Scouring of the Shire for the end. Though I suspect they shot some of it for the scene when Frodo was looking into the Galadriel's mirror.

[John Holmes]

Kingdaddy,

I really appreciate your opinion. Too many times, people just want to "fit in". I think it's great that there are still those who are honest about what their likes and dislikes are.

As for me, I enjoyed the heck out of this film and will be buying the extended version set when it hits the streets. I didn't mind the length of the films in this trilogy because, if you read a good book, you tend to get a ton of detail. Most movies lack this detail which is why, people tend to say "the book was better". But again...just my opinion. :T

[Kingdaddy]

Thanks for not throwing rocks, I posted this very similar review over at AVS forums and nearly got lynched, some of the regulars got down right livid, then I made an even bigger mistake of maligning Liv Tyler by calling her a fat lesbian. Not that she is fat in the film but it's been well published and photographed that she has a tendency to chub up between movies and lean toward relationships with women. I immediately posted that I was only joking, and had nothing against Liv, but it was too late. Anyway I was just trying to express my extreme discontent of Aragorn choosing Arwen instead of Galadriel; it just didn't seem to fit into where the movie was going. They spent a lot of time building up the relationship between Aragorn and Galadriel while Arwen all but faded out of the entire movie, only to find at the end he suddenly has no interest in Galadriel at all, and up pops Arwen only after she finds she will get a son out of the deal. Just didn't make since to build up to this for nothing. The whole usage of Arwen in this last installment just seemed spliced in, like an afterthought. I really tried to like this movie, but they kept building up to a major battle and climax only to do it all over again 20 minutes later, it’s like a rollercoaster that wont stop, sure it’s fun for the first 10 laps but then it becomes tiring.

[Burke Strickland]

Hey Kingdaddy -

Maybe your experience at that other forum is a lesson in "it's not what you say, but how you say it"?

Your previous lengthy critique and your explanation of your "extreme discontent of Aragorn choosing Arwen instead of Galadriel; it just didn't seem to fit into where the movie was going" and discussion that follows comes across as a reasonable reaction to what you saw on screen. Even if others disagree, there's nothing there to be offended about. That kind of critique adds another dimension to the discussion.

But some folks just don't "get" that some things are intended to be jokes, regardless of whether they are subtle or a "slap in the face" -- especially in a printed medium where there are no vocal clues or body language. Besides that, as you’ve probably recognized already, unless she plays a character that fits the description or is in a porn flick, calling an actress a "fat lesbian" comes across as rather extreme.

Even if you tried to make it clear to others that you were joking when you first said it, they could see it as more of an unwarranted personal attack than a reasoned critical response. Especially when some feel she's the hottest babe currently acting on the silver screen (and that what she does off screen is her own business). So you may well have hit one of their "hot" buttons. :>)

There's a big difference between a passionate analysis based on reaction to the movie and pejorative "name calling". I'm glad we got the discussion that puts your thoughts in the context of what you saw on screen. That kind of discussion is always welcome, even when staking out an unpopular position.

Burke

[Kingdaddy]

Hey Kingdaddy -

Maybe your experience at that other forum is a lesson in "it's not what you say, but how you say it"? Burke

Boy ain't that the truth, I opened my mouth and inserted my foot big time, I'll never make that mistake again, it took about 300 words worth of apologies and some embarrassing backpedaling to calm things down.

I have only recently started posting on the movie boards, usually I hang out with the DIY and HT crowd, and all my reading has led me to believe that for the most part, movie and music boards are very laid back and casual, no bickering and big headed thread crappers like the cable or propeller head boards. This lulled me into a false sense of security, and after reading many strongly worded threads from some of the regulars I made the big mistake of thinking I could just jump in where I'm not known with all the attitude and veracity of a regular member of the clique.

I do very much like this entire forum, I post over at the DIY and Club Halo site from time to time and this seems like a group of very level headed reasonable adults with thick skin, my kind of place. Thanks for the kind welcome I've received so far, it's been a pleasure hanging out here.

Cheers
KD

[Roxus]

Anyway I was just trying to express my extreme discontent of Aragorn choosing Arwen instead of Galadriel; it just didn't seem to fit into where the movie was going

You meant Eowyn right ?
Galadriel (Cate Blanchett's character) was married to (I forget his name) the King of the wood Elves, and being Elves, have prolly been married for centuries.

And if you did mean Eowyn, your problem is actually with JRR Tolkien himself, since Peter Jackson would have become Public Enemy Number 2 (behind Osama Bin Ladin himself) if he'd changed the story line that drastically.

[Kingdaddy]

You meant Eowyn right ?

Yea, I think I got them mixed up, I looked them up on IMDB and by the pictures and Galadriel, looked like the character I was thinking of. I don’t know really it's confusing, I meant the girl that killed the king on the dragon that couldn’t be killed by any man, that’s the girl I meant.

[Jariten]

okay...

maybe it's already being asked...

are they going to come put with a boxed set of the Lord of the rings?

:Z

[George Bellefontaine]

Watched my copy last night. Pretty amazing flick all right. Only fault I found was in the endings. There were too many. Now as for the sound, well holy moley !

[David Meek]

okay...
maybe it's already being asked...
are they going to come put with a boxed set of the Lord of the rings?
:Z

It's already out there. Here's Amazon's offering.

These are the theatrical versions of the films. The Extended version of The Return Of The King won't be out until November - along with the Extended box set.

[Jariten]

Hi David!


Okay !!
so I'll have to be patient and get the Extended Box Set ^_^


Thanks for the info!!

I'll be on the lookout....

:T