LotR: RotK - stupid question (maybe)

[Gaith]

So I just re-watched Return of the King this week (the theatrical version, naturally), and was struck by how nonplussed Merry and Pippin were at seeing Gandalf. As far as they know, isn't he still dead? Or did Treebeard hear about his return and tell them in between movies?

 

[Skywalker]

Gandalf met with Treebeard in Fangorn Forest before the Fellowship arrived there. I thought Treebeard said something about it, though maybe I'm thinking of something from the extended edition.

 

[Gaith]

Right, that does vaguely jog my memory of Merry and Pippin gradually realizing that the G-man was back... but yeah, not sure if that was an extended or theatrical bit.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I don't know if it's in the theatrical cut of The Two Towers (I haven't seen it since it was theaters), but there's a scene where Treebeard starts talking about taking them to The White Wizard (to decide what to do with Merry and Pippin) and they begin to freak out, thinking Treebeard is referring to Saruman. Treebeard drops them to the ground and they looked up in shock to see who it is (but we don't see his face).

 

[Skywalker]

I don't know if it's in the theatrical cut of The Two Towers (I haven't seen it since it was theaters), but there's a scene where Treebeard starts talking about taking them to The White Wizard (to decide what to do with Merry and Pippin) and they begin to freak out, thinking Treebeard is referring to Saruman. Treebeard drops them to the ground and they looked up in shock to see who it is (but we don't see his face).

Yeah, that was it! It's been ages since I last watched TTT, couldn't remember it exactly.

 

[KB24]

I was always more surprised that Frodo opens his eyes at the end and is happy to see Gandalf. My first reaction to waking up after all that and seeing a man whom I thought was dead was to think that *I* was dead, too.

 

[Thestral]

I don't know if it's in the theatrical cut of The Two Towers (I haven't seen it since it was theaters), but there's a scene where Treebeard starts talking about taking them to The White Wizard (to decide what to do with Merry and Pippin) and they begin to freak out, thinking Treebeard is referring to Saruman. Treebeard drops them to the ground and they looked up in shock to see who it is (but we don't see his face).

Exactly.

Also, why watch the theatrical cut of RotK? Of any of the three, RotK most needs the additions from the extended cut. Perhaps more than any other movie I know except Kingdom of Heaven.

 

[GNDN]

So I just re-watched Return of the King this week (the theatrical version, naturally)

Curious about that myself. Are you not a fan of the Extended Edition?

Side note: I just noticed that Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Extended Edition Event will be playing in a theater near me on June 14, with TTT a week later, and presumably TRotK after that. Is this a nationwide screening? I hadn't heard anything about it.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I am actually not a fan of the extended editions as a whole. Some of the details and history are cool, especially for a universe as well-imagined as this, but the theatrical editions were well-paced while still giving us hints as to the scope of the world, whereas many , but not all, the new scenes simply felt new, and they stopped the film dead and just had us wait longer to get on with the story. As cool as it was, for example, to see Sauruman in the third film, his scene stopped the film dead in it's tracks in terms of pacing and momentum.

 

[Skywalker]

I prefer the Extended Editions as a whole, but I thought the last two, especially Return of the King, added in some things that really didn't need to be there. WTF was the point of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli escaping an avalanche of skulls? The original ending to that scene was far more suspenseful.

 

[Kegg]

One reason I like the extended versions is I can pretty much make a week out of the saga: Watch one part of a film per day, so that's six days of Lord of the Rings.

Speaking of, been a couple of years since I've bothered. I'll probably crack open the trilogy again sometime before the Hobbit comes out.

The extended version of Return of the Kings is the only one I have any issues with, that said (the mountain of skulls, the earlier ghost reveal, and Aragorn slicing off the Mouth of Sauron's head don't sit that well with me).

 

[Skywalker]

One reason I like the extended versions is I can pretty much make a week out of the saga: Watch one part of a film per week, so that's six days of Lord of the Rings.

Which is, in a sort of manner, actually more appropriate than watching it in three parts, since Tolkien had written LOTR as one book divided into six parts.

 

[KB24]

Yes some theaters are doing a limited extended edition theatrical run. For quick viewing there is the theatrical, yes, but if I'm going to sit down and watch LOTR, it is going to be the extended editions. There are a few things that are pure flash, but otherwise I like the extra time and treats that are inserted into the film.

Now, I don't know why there isn't a sf or fantasy or book television network that hasn't gotten the rights to air the extended as if it were a miniseries with 12 or 13 1 hour installments. I wonder what the ratings or prices and all would be?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I only ever watched the extended cuts, on DVD, and am now waiting to get the extended cut blu-rays.

Aside from that, I read the books when I was much younger and they were a fairly slow read, so the extended version movies don't give me too much trouble.

 

[Gaith]

I don't know if it's in the theatrical cut of The Two Towers (I haven't seen it since it was theaters), but there's a scene where Treebeard starts talking about taking them to The White Wizard (to decide what to do with Merry and Pippin) and they begin to freak out, thinking Treebeard is referring to Saruman. Treebeard drops them to the ground and they looked up in shock to see who it is (but we don't see his face).

That rings a bell... was that a theatrical or extended scene?

I was always more surprised that Frodo opens his eyes at the end and is happy to see Gandalf. My first reaction to waking up after all that and seeing a man whom I thought was dead was to think that *I* was dead, too.

Hadn't thought of that, but you're right! He should totally spazz out! Or maybe he just figured he was in Elysium or wherever, and if Gandalf was there too it couldn't be too bad.

 

[Skywalker]

I don't know if it's in the theatrical cut of The Two Towers (I haven't seen it since it was theaters), but there's a scene where Treebeard starts talking about taking them to The White Wizard (to decide what to do with Merry and Pippin) and they begin to freak out, thinking Treebeard is referring to Saruman. Treebeard drops them to the ground and they looked up in shock to see who it is (but we don't see his face).

That rings a bell... was that a theatrical or extended scene?

It was definitely in the theatrical cut. I remember seeing it now.

 

[Gaith]

Ah, good. No need to bother with either the extended TTT or RotK, then. Fellowship, I'm not %100 sure, but my best guess is extended; I caught the theatrical in theatres again a few years back and it felt like nonstop sword-clanging action.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

One reason I like the extended versions is I can pretty much make a week out of the saga: Watch one part of a film per day, so that's six days of Lord of the Rings.

Speaking of, been a couple of years since I've bothered. I'll probably crack open the trilogy again sometime before the Hobbit comes out.

The extended version of Return of the Kings is the only one I have any issues with, that said (the mountain of skulls, the earlier ghost reveal, and Aragorn slicing off the Mouth of Sauron's head don't sit that well with me).

I pretty much agree with all of this, including the few parts of the extended version of Return of the King (especially The Mouth Sauron bit) and I would also add the presence of the ghosts at Pelennor Fields and how they systematically destroyed everything in sight.

 

[Distorted Humor]

I actually think that in RoTK does better in the extended edition as the regular one is too "Twitchy" in the sense it never has a breather.

 

[Thestral]

^ Agreed. Plus if you have any interest in some of the secondary characters - specifically Faramir and Eowyn.