But the cooking scene does help develop the characters somewhat. The funeral scene doesn't really add anything. It's a much tighter cut just going from Theoden asking, "Where is my son?" to him & Gandalf talking outside the tomb.
Lord of the Rings films. Theatrical or Extended Edition
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But the cooking scene does help develop the characters somewhat. The funeral scene doesn't really add anything. It's a much tighter cut just going from Theoden asking, "Where is my son?" to him & Gandalf talking outside the tomb.
I'd have to re-watch the EE FOTR to be sure, but I think I agree. The first and only time I finished the EE ROTK, I immediately vowed to stick to the theatrical from then on. Good grief, did it drag! And while I thought the TTT EE was better the first time I saw the extended, I just saw it again and got bored too often. So it's TE TTT from here on out. The last time I saw the TE FOTR, however, I thought it had too many action beats, so I'll have to tentatively say EE FOTR, pending further review.
Mordor yes. We should start ROTK deeply afraid for the fates of our heroes, but we've just seen two massive good guy victories (Helm's Deep and Isengard) at the end of TTT. To pile on another victory in Saruman's super-easy death starts the EE off on a terrible note. I completely understand why they didn't film the Scouring of the Shire, but not showing Saruman in the TE ROTK was far better than his lame-o EE death.
One Extended Addition line that I hated, and I mean hated, was Gandalf's remark in the Mines of Moria (which I don't remember exaclty the quote) which was soemthing about the mithral armor vest given to Bilbo from Thoren: "What I didn't tell him was that it was worth more than the Shire."
WTF! I mean, in the end, the Shire is what the hobbits are fighting for. There is monetary value for a rich, un ique culture. I have no idea why the screenwriters would ever write that line, and I don't why McKellin would have read it.
WTF! I mean, in the end, the Shire is what the hobbits are fighting for. There is monetary value for a rich, un ique culture. I have no idea why the screenwriters would ever write that line, and I don't why McKellin would have read it.
The extended editions are superior and provide a more epic story-telling experience. They enhance the motivations of the characters and provide more glimpses into the LOTR world.
Having said that, if the wife and I have a couple of hours to watch a movie in the evening we usually pop in the theatrical version. I'd also recommend first time viewers see the theatrical releases first. The pacing is a little better and 3 1/2-4 hour running times are intimidating. The extended/reintroduced scenes are all great and add depth to the story, and none of them feel out of place, but they're also not necessary to understand the story. I'll mirror what someone else said earlier in the thread that I think the extended editions are more interesting and easier to watch if you've seen the theatrical releases first and enjoyed them.
Having said that, if the wife and I have a couple of hours to watch a movie in the evening we usually pop in the theatrical version. I'd also recommend first time viewers see the theatrical releases first. The pacing is a little better and 3 1/2-4 hour running times are intimidating. The extended/reintroduced scenes are all great and add depth to the story, and none of them feel out of place, but they're also not necessary to understand the story. I'll mirror what someone else said earlier in the thread that I think the extended editions are more interesting and easier to watch if you've seen the theatrical releases first and enjoyed them.
S
Stone_Cold_Sisko
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I actually think the theatrical Fellowship is a better film.
The additions don't add much, and in some cases meander. Most of those scenes evoke a "I can see why that was cut" response from me. Meanwhile, the theatrical version's flow and pacing is better, sharper, and the "introduction to Hobbiton" in the Theatrical version is better, while the EE's version (focusing on Bilbo) is more fanservice to the books than the right decision for the film.
For Two Towers and Return of the King, i think Extended Versions are by far better. The additions really illuminate things neglected in the theatrical films.
edit: ha i just realized this is an old thread, and 2 years ago I also commented on this. Sounds like I generally feel the same way but my opinions have solidified.
The additions don't add much, and in some cases meander. Most of those scenes evoke a "I can see why that was cut" response from me. Meanwhile, the theatrical version's flow and pacing is better, sharper, and the "introduction to Hobbiton" in the Theatrical version is better, while the EE's version (focusing on Bilbo) is more fanservice to the books than the right decision for the film.
For Two Towers and Return of the King, i think Extended Versions are by far better. The additions really illuminate things neglected in the theatrical films.
edit: ha i just realized this is an old thread, and 2 years ago I also commented on this. Sounds like I generally feel the same way but my opinions have solidified.
I agree with Stone_Cold_Sisko... The theatrical cut of FOTR is close to perfection. But TTT and ROTK just have too much story, and suffer the most from the theatrical cuts need for a shorter runtime.
My ideal LOTR trilogy showing:
FOTR:TE
TTT:EE
ROTK:EE
My ideal LOTR trilogy showing:
FOTR:TE
TTT:EE
ROTK:EE
In both versions, they shold have gotten rid of the ridiculous scene where Galadriel becomes a "dark queen" and she starts spouting evil words in FOTR. It's so jarringly cheesey.
That was a line from the book wasn't it?
It very well might have been. I think it is. That's irrelevant. I think it's an awful line. Judging from the films alone, Jackson stated in the commentary that there were aspects of the book he did not like or for some reason he could not honor for the purposes of creating the best film he could. Surely, as a film, the hobbits are going on this quest to save the Shire, (sure the whole of ME as well but the Shire in particular) so inserting a line that says that a mere shiney vest is somehow more valuable than the Shire, than their very way of life, just strikes me as contradictory to the point of the story.
Yup. I think that it was "the Shire and all its contents", or something similar. Obviously Gandalf would not judge the Shire purely by its monetary value, though.
I just watch the EE and think of it as a six part mini-series (one part for each disc). It's much easier to digest that way and it gets me thinking about it as one big story, instead of three connected films.
I haven't actually watched the theatrical versions since they were in the theater. I don't really remember what's new in the EE anymore.
I haven't actually watched the theatrical versions since they were in the theater. I don't really remember what's new in the EE anymore.
The main issue, I think, is repetition. For every EE scene that expands upon the story (the Lothlorien gifts, Faramir's Osgliliath flashback), there are three or four more that repeat what we already know (hobbits like to eat, Eowyn has a crush on Aragorn, Ents talk slowly), and none that I can recall that are absolutely necessary to understand why the story is moving forward the way that it is.
So while it's certainly nice to see some of the EE scenes in their proper context, for TTT and ROTK at least, the gains are offset by the losses of the repetition.
So while it's certainly nice to see some of the EE scenes in their proper context, for TTT and ROTK at least, the gains are offset by the losses of the repetition.
I've never liked most of Fellowship (Frodo and Sam bore me to tears in these movies, and the opening just drags on forever), but its extended edition makes a lot more sense and ties into the rest of the series. For The Two Towers and The Return of the King, it's the extended editions, every time. I honestly can't get enough of The Two Towers ... even though it seems to be regarded as the red-headed stepchild of the trilogy on the Internet, that's the movie where it feels like everything came together, culminating in the pitch-perfect Battle of Helm's Deep (outside of the hilarious Uruk-Hai running the Olympic Torch sequence).
The FOTR EE is as close to perfection as you can get in a 3+ hour film. Truly epic, well-paced, and deeply moving. It tells a complete story (in terms of character). The others are also superior to the theatrical versions, but I have to say that TTT EE tends to drag, monumentally, through its middle sections (the ones focusing on Aragorn and Arwen).
Hear, hear!
One major negative issues with the EE that I didn't mention is how scenes that got cut into sections (with material added between) killed the original score. While I applaud the producers in having Shore record new material (and bridging material), the bridging material is often nowhere near the quality of the original composition.
Also while I miss many, many things of the EE, TTT and ROTK have material added that I think isn't as strong as the material in the theatrical cuts (its not bad material but just not as strong).
SImply truth is adore both. I tend to watch the Extended by myself, and enjoy the others with friends and families who truly don't want to watch the EE (most have seen them at some point).
And I think each of the EE's should be watched in one setting. I can't stand stopping a film I love, it takes me out of that universe. And why the hell would I want that.
Also while I miss many, many things of the EE, TTT and ROTK have material added that I think isn't as strong as the material in the theatrical cuts (its not bad material but just not as strong).
SImply truth is adore both. I tend to watch the Extended by myself, and enjoy the others with friends and families who truly don't want to watch the EE (most have seen them at some point).
And I think each of the EE's should be watched in one setting. I can't stand stopping a film I love, it takes me out of that universe. And why the hell would I want that.
It is easily my favorite of the three and I love all of them, but EEFOTR is near perfection.Hear, hear!
I'd have to disagree with that. Listening to the Complete Recordings, which are based on the EEs, I think whatever missteps might occur are thoroughly outweighed by the benefits. Shore's additions for the EEs are as organic and as compelling as the original scores.
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