Greetings — Quickbeam here. This is my honest opinion of this whole DVD business. What exactly is New Line providing the fans by bringing out this huge 4-Disc DVD of Fellowship right on the heels of the regular edition? It comes down to the simple ethics of educating your consumers on exactly WHAT they are buying from you. Agree? Disagree? Read on: [More]
Day: October 21, 2002
Greetings — Quickbeam here.
I have to take a moment to comment on all this DVD craziness.
Most people around here are shouting to the rafters with joy. They are wildly happy that the new Extended Version DVD of The Fellowship of the Ring is about to come out. Rave reviews are springing up all over the Net; and on major DVD websites like The Digital Bits [click here] we see praise like this from editor Bill Hunt: “Its overall presentation quality, breadth and depth of content and thoughtful attention to virtually every detail is unsurpassed in any other DVD release to date.” That’s pretty strong praise!
But others are whining that the “bait and switch” routine is pulling extra dollars out of their pockets and in general making a big stink. I’ve seen articles in the L.A. Times [click here] where consumers and LOTR fans are portrayed as annoyed — even shocked that New Line should “undercut their customers” like that. Over-the-top entertainment writer Glenn Lovell had a colossal hissy-fit in the Boston Globe online edition [click here]. He nearly burst a vein when he found out in August that his new 2-Disc DVD was just a regular edition. In his view, New Line Cinema is “shameless” and “consumed by greed.”
Settle down, Glenn. Please.
I’m going to say some things here that may sound suspicious. I promise you I am not a studio brown-noser trying to score points with the people behind the scenes. I am so not interested in that. I have nothing to gain here. So if I sound like I am rushing to the defense of a big corporation, well, it’s not really that simple. I am a huge DVD enthusiast — with a collection of hundreds of movies. I love everything about the digital format and just want to clear up the air. I’m telling you this as an informed consumer.
New Line is not really “ripping us off,” as so many claim. I truly see the reason in this, and I also sense the careful hand of Peter Jackson, trying to do that little extra something for us. Releasing separate DVD editions makes perfect sense….
…. as long as we are told AHEAD OF TIME!
The keys here are the economics of the market…. and more importantly the information that includes you, the consumer, in what is going on.
Consider what it would look like if New Line released a full 6-disc Giant-Goliath, Super-Duper, Mega-Deluxe Edition DVD with both versions of the film and endless hours of supplements. That retail package would be so costly to produce and distribute it would of course be very costly for consumers to buy. We’re talking upwards of $80 where most people usually spend $19.99 for a new DVD title on sale. Yes, I look for those sales! Few of us, including me, would be able to buy this item within their regular “entertainment budget.” I’m a working class Joe just like the rest of you.
Breaking these DVDs down into separate releases seems to satisfy all of us. There’s the regular movie fans who just want to own “that cool fantasy flick” they saw in theatres. Then, of course, there’s us. We are toughest to please…. and want all the juicy bits of creativity that P.J. and WETA can show us. We are the true connoisseurs. So he went back to make that 4-Disc set with all that extra footage for us. Really, he made it with us in mind: to feed the “high-end appetite” of true Tolkien fans. I’m not going to buy that regular edition, I know that film and have experienced enough of it. This Extended version is what I really want. I am now free to choose.
Do I sound like an educated consumer? Well, I am. And that’s because New Line actually told us ahead of time there will be different editions!! Yeah, it is totally surprising, considering the way most studios treat the home video consumer.
Look, if you want to be really mad, why don’t you get mad at Paramount? They totally suck. Look at what they did with the Star Trek movies on DVD: releasing each film with a pedestrian regular DVD (most of them awful transfers, not even anamorphic widescreen) then coming back just a couple of years later to give us “real special director’s editions.” Now THAT is something worth complaining about. Now I have to go back and re-purchase all my Star Trek if I want the clean, restored, anamorphic discs with all the goodies. I hate Paramount for that. That is truly “double-dipping.” I’m even more angry with Warner Bros. They just made me go out and get the new Amadeus Director’s Cut, which beats by a mile that crappy old DVD they had released. Oh, don’t get me started on Disney. They’re the worst.
It is highly unusual for New Line Cinema to have a big press release and spread the word through all the Tolkien fan sites that we have a choice. Pick one. Pick the other. At least we were honestly told early on. So why on earth are all these people bitching and moaning? Of course the studio is making a boat-load of money off these titles. So what? You can still put your money on what you like best. There was no surprise here…. the information was readily available. I think we should say “Thank you New Line” for the courtesy!
But especially we should remember that P.J. wanted to do it this way. Again it feels like he’s putting forth a lot of extra effort just to please his fans.
Much too hasty,
Another great chance to see your favorite LOTR on the small screen this week! [More]
To get more information, use the sites I use like the ones below. Simply find a movie or actor you want to see, go to one of the sites below and see if the film is playing in your area. mydigiguide.com, tv-now.com and IMDB.com
Note: These are films that are listed as being on TV THIS WEEK ONLY, this is NOT a list of all the films the cast has done
Cast List
- Viggo Mortensen
- Liv Tyler
- Ian Holm
- Sean Bean
- Ian Mune
- Martyn Sanderson
- David Weatherley
- Marton Csokas
- Taea Hartwell
- John Noble
- Alexandra Astin
- Peter McKenzie
- Hugo Weaving
- Karl Urban
- Miranda Otto
- Noel Appleby
- David Wenham
- Cameron Rhodes
- Elijah Wood
- Cate Blanchett
- Bruce Hopkins
- Ian McKellen
- Mark Ferguson
- John Rhys-Davies
- Andy Serkis
- Stephen Ure
- Craig Parker
- John Leigh
- Timothy Bartlett
- Harry Sinclair
- Orlando Bloom
- Lawrence Makoare
- Robbie Magasiva
- Ray Henwood
- Dominic Monaghan
- Robyn Malcolm
- Bruce Spence
- Megan Edwards
- Billy Boyd
- Sarah McLeod
- Sean Astin
- Christopher Lee
- Sala Baker
- Brian Sergent
- Bernard Hill
- Nathaniel Lees
- Brad Dourif
- Howard Shore
- Jim Rygiel
- Peter Jackson
Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
28 Days (2000)
Psycho (1998)
Albino Alligator (1996)
Crimson Tide (1995)
Crew, The (1994)
Ruby Cairo (1993)
Young Americans, The (1993)
Boiling Point (1993)
Young Guns II (1990)
Witness (1985)
Purple Rose of Cairo, The (1985)
Swing Shift (1984)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Liv Tyler (Arwen)
One Night at McCool’s (2001)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Dr. T & the Women (2000)
Cookie’s Fortune (1999)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Ian Holm (Bilbo)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Bless the Child (2000)
Simon Magus (1999/I)
Fifth Element, The (1997)
Big Night (1996)
S.O.S. Titanic (1979) (TV)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Sean Bean (Boromir)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Essex Boys (2000)
Field, The (1990)
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Ian Mune (Bounder)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
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Martyn Sanderson (Bree Gatekeeper)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Last Tattoo, The (1994)
Ned Kelly (1970)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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David Weatherly (Barliman Butterbur)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
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Marton Csokas (Celeborn)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Monkey’s Mask, The (2000)
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Taea Hartwell (Child Hobbit)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Frighteners, The (1996)
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John Noble (Denethor)
Monkey’s Mask, The (2000)
Virtual Nightmare (2000)
Airtight (1999) (TV)
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Alexandra Astin (Elanor Gamgee)
No listings this week
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Peter McKenzie (Elendil)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
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Hugo Weaving (Elrond)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Strange Planet (1999)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Karl Urban (Eomer)
Price of Milk, The (2000)
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Miranda Otto (Eowyn)
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Jack Bull, The (1999) (TV)
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Noel Appleby (Everard Proudfoot)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
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David Wenham (Faramir)
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Boys, The (1997/I)
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Cameron Rhodes (Farmer Maggot)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
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Elijah Wood (Frodo)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
War, The (1994)
Radio Flyer (1992)
Forever Young (1992)
Avalon (1990)
Internal Affairs (1990)
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Cate Blanchett (Galadriel)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Shipping News, The (2001)
Gift, The (2000)
Man Who Cried, The (2000)
Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Bruce Hopkins (Gamling)
No listings this week
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Ian McKellen (Gandalf)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Shipping News, The (2001)
Gift, The (2000)
Man Who Cried, The (2000)
Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Mark Ferguson (Gil-Galad)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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John Rhhys-Davies (Gimli)
Scorcher (2002)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Great White Hype, The (1996)
Stargate (1994)
Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing (1992) (TV)
Seventh Coin, The (1992)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam (1987) (TV)
Firewalker (1986)
Sadat (1983) (TV)
Victor/Victoria (1982)
Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1982)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, A (1979)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Andy Serkis (Gollum)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
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Stephen Ure (Gorbag)
No listings this week
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Craig Parker (Haldir)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
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John Leigh (Hama)
Atomic Twister (2002) (TV)
Frighteners, The (1996)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Timothy Bartlett (Hobbit)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Harry Sinclair (Isildur)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Price of Milk, The (2000)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Orlando Bloom (Legolas)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Black Hawk Down (2001)
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Lawrence Makoare (Lurtz)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
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Robbie Magasiva (Mahur)
No listings this week
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Ray Henwood (Man from Rivendell)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Dominic Monaghan (Merry)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
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Robyn Malcolm (Morwen)
No listings this week
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Bruce Spence (Mouth of Sauron)
Queen of the Damned (2002)
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Megan Edwards (Mrs. Proudfoot)
No listings this week
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Billy Boyd (Pippin)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Urban Ghost Story (1998)
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Sarah McLeod (Rosie Cotton)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
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Sean Astin (Sam Gamgee)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Sky Is Falling, The (2000)
Deterrence (1999)
Icebreaker (1999)
Dish Dogs (1998) (V)
Courage Under Fire (1996)
Encino Man (1992)
Memphis Belle (1990)
White Water Summer (1987)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Christopher Lee (Saruman)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994)
Feast at Midnight, A (1994)
Howling II (1985)
Arabian Adventure (1979)
Four Musketeers, The (1974)
Horror Express (1972)
Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)
Oblong Box, The (1969)
Hound of the Baskervilles, The (1959)
Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Sala Baker (Sauron)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
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Brian Sergent (Ted Sandyman)
No listings this week
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Bernard Hill (Theoden)
Scorpion King, The (2002)
Going Off Big Time (2000)
Loss of Sexual Innocence, The (1999)
Restless Natives (1985)
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Nathaniel Lees (Ugluk
No listings this week
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Brad Dourif (Grima Wormtounge)
Silicon Towers (1999)
Color of Night (1994)
Amos & Andrew (1993)
Critters 4 (1991) (V)
Child’s Play 3 (1991)
Exorcist III, The (1990)
Child’s Play 2 (1990)
Mississippi Burning (1988)
Fatal Beauty (1987)
Click here to visit the TORN cast page
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Howard Shore (Composer)
Panic Room (2002)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Cell, The (2000)
Shadow Magic (2000)
Yards, The (2000)
High Fidelity (2000)
Striptease (1996)
White Man’s Burden (1995)
Se7en (1995)
Ed Wood (1994)
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Guilty as Sin (1993)
Sliver (1993)
M. Butterfly (1993)
Prelude to a Kiss (1992)
Single White Female (1992)
Innocent Man, An (1989)
Signs of Life (1989)
She-Devil (1989)
Big (1988)
Moving (1988)
Videodrome (1983)
Scanners (1981)
Brood, The (1979)
Back to Top
Jim Rygiel (SFX)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
102 Dalmatians (2000)
Anna and the King (1999)
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
Multiplicity (1996)
Batman Returns (1992)
Alien³ (1992)
Ghost (1990)
Last Starfighter, The (1984)
Back to Top
Peter Jackson
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Frighteners, The (1996)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Click here to visit his official site
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Now we have a translation of the article about the fans lining up for TTT already. [More] Many thanks to all of you who offered translations.
They’re lining up in Norway already, according tho this article in Norwegian
We have here a translation thanks to Andraax the Mad:
Emil BC Johannessen and Tom Bentzen have moved in outside Colosseum Cinema. With them, they’ve brought a tent, sleeping bags, something to help keep the heat – and an angled sofa. The last one they refused to sit in last year.
– But this year we’re opting for comfort, they laugh. And they might need it. The weather forecast for Wednesday spells heavy snow over Oslo, and sleep will be scarce for the pair, who might now call themselves number one and two in the line, before others join them.
(Photo subtext: Emil BC Johannessen (left) and Tom Bentzen are number one and two in the line for “LOTR – Two Towers”. Sonja Erlenkamp joined them in sympathy, but had to get back to work.)
It will be worse for Sonja Erlenkamp, who lives close to the cinema, and has been circling around for days to see if anyone got there ahead of her. And someone did.
– It’s always best to be number one, two or three. If you’re number four, you’ll get no benefits, says Erlenkamp, dressed from head to toe in Arwenian warclothing.
To the last detail.
– I’ve got Arwen-dresses as well, and I’ve worked hard on the hairpin. Liv Tyler sports one in the movie, but you only catch a glimpse of it, she says and shows us a beautiful, splendidly crafted silver hairpin. Erlenkamp, however, must abandon the fort – she’s got a job to attend to, before she can get in line.
But the point isn’t who you’re supposed to look like, the costumes are meant to say something about “the spirit”.
(Photo subtext: Already slightly tinted on the nose, but tonight they’ll get power for their cooking-plate, cell phones and cassette player with the soundtrack from the first movie)
Experienced liners
Tom Bentzen and Emil BC Johannessen, on the other hand, are experienced movie-liners.
– This will be line number four, says Tom and Emil. The two previous being the “Star Wars”-premieres and the first “Lord Of The Rings”-movie. The Oslo cinematographers weren’t expecting them until the end of the week, but worked up a treat on Monday.
On Monday, number one, two and three were treated to a special showing of the “Two Towers”-trailer. Later today, they’ll get power for their cooking-plate, and an arrangement for lavatorial errands will be worked out.
In addition, the Oslo cinematographers invite them to dinner on Monday night, as a small appreciation of the started effort.
– These are guys who know lines, smiles marketing advisor Tore Gutu. He joined the big Star Wars-line a few years back himself, and experienced a “terrific spirit”.
Confident in Jackson.
The last time Tom and Emil queued up for “LOTR – FOTR”, they were very anxious as to how the movie worked out. This time around, though, they put full trust in director Peter Jackson.
– They all say this movie is bigger and better, says Tom Bentzen with great anticipation. Now he’s going to freeze with his mate for two weeks, until the sale starts 4.november. Then he’ll have to wait another month and a half until the movie premieres 18.december.