I saw the Extended Edition in Chicago on Tuesday. While the pass said to arrive early, there were plenty of empty seats. The epic-masterpiece-now-ten-times-better was shown in the McClurg Court Theater located downtown. It is large space, and it still contained the digital projector installed for Attack of the Clones, so it was perfect for this event. New Line definitely made all of us feel like a group of friends rather than a group of sardines because they didn’t overbook the space, and we each got a free drink and popcorn.
Plenty of people will write in about the movie, and there are detailed descriptions out there now about what makes the Extended Edition remarkable. In a few words, it comes down to this: New Line took one of the greatest films ever and perhaps made it THE greatest film ever. You decide when you get the DVD. Having watched the theatrical release DVD countless times, my mouth opened in awe when I saw the extensions, the additions, and other changes (there are MANY tiny changes, even ones that people have not reported — for example, new music has in some cases been placed behind what seem to be unaltered sequences).
The additional aspects of character development that we see in this version will undoubtedly make a huge impact on our experience in seeing TTT.
Simeon
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Even though I have never posted to a web site before, I felt that I needed to since I was lucky enough to attend last nights preview in Dallas. What a movie!!! The extra scenes were magnificent and really made the movie very smooth. Unlike the attempts by Gorge Lucas, the scenes had meaning and were not just there for the sake of being there. My wife, who went just because I won, even spoke all the way home on how much better the movie was (which I didn’t think was possible at first, but am in complete agreement).
It was much more in line with the book, which should please even the most rigid Tolkien thinker.
I would also like to mention how professional the whole experience was. All of the winners, movie staff and promotional people were pleasant and we even got free soda and popcorn (which the rules of the contest stated was not included).
I hope the response that New Line gets may influence decisions for “The Return of the King” run time and they understand that more may be better in the long run.
Bravos all the way around and enjoy it next week. You will!!!
Edwin
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Melissa writes:
This is an excerpt from a Times article on LoTR and Harry Potter:
The competition between Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter- the sibling rivals of the AOL Time Warner entertainment family- is intense. Last year’s Fellowship of the Ring, the first of three J.R.R. Tolkien-based movies to be released by the company’s New Line division, came in second at the box office behind Harry Potter. Unlike Potter, however, it ended up on numerous cities’ best-of-the-year lists and revieved 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture (The Sorcerer’s Stone recieved only three.)
This time it’s widely assumed in Hollywood that Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, set for release on Dec.18, will outgross Chamber of Secrets. Potter mania seems to have quieted a bit, in part because Rowling hasn’t published a book in two years.
The article also says that the third Harry Potter movie, Prisoner of Azbaban, won’t come out until 2004. That means that Return of the King will get all the views in 2003!
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Switz here again. Now that I have had a chance to reflect at length about the extended version (and have gotten some sleep), let me share some additional details. SPOILERS!?!Everything kicked off with the TT trailer. Audience went crazy!!
In the prologue, we see Isuldur put on the ring, roll down the river embankment, and then the ring slips off (of its own accord?) into the water, he is shot in back.
After prologue, Bilbo is sitting writing “Concerning Hobbits” and there is much dialogue (some directly from books) about hobbits and their lifestyle. Also Sackville-Bagginses get mentioned. Then cut to Frodo sitting under tree reading when he hears Gandalf.
There were things inserted into the birthday party scene: Bilbo and Frodo dodging the Sackville-Bagginses, Bilbo telling Frodo why he took Frodo in after his parents died.
Additional footage at tavern (can’t remember name) in Hobbiton after Bilbo has left, Merry and Pip singing, everyone having grand old time. Sam makes some comment about another hobbit “flirting” with Rosie as he and Frodo are leaving.
Trip to Bree has some minor additions, but my memory tells me things at Prancing Pony pretty much the same.
Trip to Weathertop takes longer, but I don’t recall exact details, or dialogue. (Sorry) Flight to the Ford seems pretty much unchanged.
Rivendell opening unchanged. Boromir and Aragorn have additional dialogue (“Who are you?” “A friend of Gandalf the Grey.”, additional dialogue between Arwen and Aragorn, dialogue between Aragorn and Elrond about Aragorn’s mother and also about Arwen, Boromir talks about his dream to the council, Fellowship shown getting ready to depart (Arwen and other elves in scene, she with sort of teary eyes), Frodo leads them out of Rivendell, says to Gandalf “Which way, right or left?” (got big laugh).
Moria gate scene is extended. Gandalf tries more passwords. Watcher scene seemed a bit longer, more action (?). Once in Moria, much more dialogue: discussion of dwarves mining, show veins of mithril. Somewhere in here, Pip does something foolish. Gandalf reprimands him, but I don’t recall details. Reference to Smeagol is made by Gandalf in Moria scene after Frodo spies Gollum.
Fight with cave troll longer, Boromir get airlifted and slammed into wall, Sam seen doing more fighting as are Merry and Pippin. And Legolas seems to have more screen time as well. Flight to bridge of Khazad-dum seemed same, Balrog scenes maybe a bit longer, fall of Gandalf unchanged, as is scene outside Moria.
Much put back in Lothlorien. Haldir tells them they may not proceed any further, they’re up in trees, he says something to Frodo about great evil, Haldir and Aragorn have a conversation in Elvish (Aragorn obviously trying to plead Frodo’s case and their need for assistance), additional dialogue with Celeborn and Galadriel talking to fellowship, mor dialogue between Boromir and Aragorn about Minas Tirith, mirror scene longer (Galadriel shows Frodo Nenya), gift-giving scene (everyone gets cape, bow for Legolas, daggers for Merry and Pip, rope for Sam (and he asks for a dagger, too!), don’t recall Boromir’s gift, Aragorn and Galadriel have talk about Arwen, Gimli asks for nothing (get hair from Galadriel), light of Earendil for Frodo.
I think there is additional dialogue between Frodo and Boromir after landing. Also, I think there may have been a few more sentences between Frodo and Aragorn about the ring. Fight at end is longer. Legolas shoots off six arrows in rapid succession, instead of only 3 in the original cut. More action with Aragorn and Gimli as well.
Merry and Pip seem more aggressive, Boromir fights longer to keep Merry and Pippin safe before being shot.
That’s about all I can remember. Some additional general impressions that I have from heard dialogue (but can’t remember placement): one gets a better feeling for the animosity the elves have for dwarves from some things that Legolas says, instead of just Haldir’s comments and the animosity that comes from Gimli. Merry and Pippin start to change, beginning to realize that they must defend themselves and Frodo, losing their innocence.
Again, my comment from last night that this should have been the theater release still holds true. Again, I applaud New Line for having the guts to allow Peter to film all three movies at once (quite a gamble without knowing what the return would be), but I wish they had gone out on the limb just a bit further to have allowed the release of this longer version. As it stands right now, except for those of us last night who won the Moviefone contest and some other specially invited people, everyone will be watching this spectacular visual sight on a small TV screen. And the digital clarity was absolutely fabulous. Maybe we need to start a campaign to have New Line put the extended version into some theaters to afford everyone the opportunity for the big screen experience. Or is there some long range plan to have a “Day with LOTR” and book a theater and show all 3 extended versions (because TT is coming in at around 2:45 so there will probably be an extended version DVD also!), at once, with potty and dinner breaks between each?
Thanks to everyone at TORN (that’s how I found out about the Moviefone/AOL contest). Keep up the great work.
— Switz
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Simpetarwen writes:
I went out to get the PlayStation Magazine for the TTT DVD game thanks to your posting on TORn and found this on the newsstand as well:
PocketGames Winter issue (on newsstands until Jan 1, 2003) – cover article “LOTR:TTT World-exclusive First Review – Every tough level mapped & boss strategies outlined!”
There is a full review of the Electronic Arts Game Boy Advance LOTR:TTT game (p.51-54), which includes a run-down of the 5 character-warriors for the game (with mention of a mysterious sixth character), a very brief review of the upcoming film as well as previous animated films and the books.
The best though is (in their own words) “an enormous, chokingly comprehensive walkthrough of TTT.” They aren’t kidding either! There are seventeen (17) pages (pages 78 to 95) of character studies, artifact descriptions, screen shots for the world maps with map keys identifying significant concerns, and a tremendous discussion of “game-breaking strategies”.
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Hi!
I had one of the most enjoyable experiences ever last night! I want to thank New Line Cinema and Moviefone SO MUCH!!!!! I was a lucky winner of the special extended edition sweepstakes in Chicago.
I arrived at the theater two hours early, and there wasn’t an elf, hobbit, mortal, or spirit in line! I was the first one there. But my guest and I decided to walk around a while, and when we came back there was someone else in line. They were joking about how this was probably all a big hoax, and the theater people would probably just stick us in front of a little TV screen and pop in the video! Thankfully, it was so much better than that.
The line really started filling shortly before 5, and at 5 we were allowed inside the theater, and finally out of the freezing cold! Meanwhile, “White Oleander” viewers were allowed in upon arrival. Argh….
Once in the theater, a lady and her husband in front of us started chatting and she was also a die-hard Rings fan, and I asked everyone I met there last night if they visited theonering.net regularly, and everyone said yes! This lady said she lives on the site. So do I 🙂 We talked with her for a long time which was really nice, and helped the hour till show time go by fast.
Finally, there was movement on the screen. Everyone in the theater errupted with clapping, yelling, and shouts of “Frodo lives!” …The following preview has been aproved for all adiences… you got it! We saw the new Two Towers trailor!!!!!! And this screen we saw it on was massive! Huge! Monstrous!!!!! It was brilliant. I had tears in my eyes by the end of the preview alone. Everyone was cheering at the end of it, too. Then the movie began.
The extended edition seems so much different than the theatrical release! There’s not only man new scenes, but there’s also great one-liners added in. And there’s so many more comical lines/scenes. My favorite is when the fellowship is leaving Rivendell, and Elrond informs them none of them must go further than they will. They say, “We await the Ringbearer,” and let Frodo go first. When he starts leaving, he pauses and asks, “Mordor, Gandalf. Is it left or right?” Gandalf replies, “Left.” Great stuff! There’s so much more hilarious stuff like that! Especially with Pippin. All in all, this movie was so awesome, and it was magnificent seeing it on the big screen. Tolkien fans will love the movie even more after seeing this. So buy it the day it comes out (as if you weren’t going to already)!!
~girloftheShire
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