The Official Return of the King Discussion Thread

[BlackRavyyn]

So I finally saw the movie on New Year's which is later then the first time I saw the other two.

Just to clarify some things. For one, Christopher Lee's footage was cut our BEFORE he was bitching about it. Jackson thought the final scene with Sauron wasn't important to the rest of the movie and will leave it in the extended version (that's going to be 4 hours isn't it?). Also there was several glaring missing scenes but I have heard that the whole scene when Frodo and Sam return to the Shire to see "someone" has changed it, won't be added to the movie as it is in the book.

And the romance of Faramir and Eowyn appears likely in that scene with Aragorn so oh well, it's an afterthought.

I loved the beginning, the scene where Merry and Pippin are welcoming the others to Isengard and the battle scenes were phenomenal!! I nearly lost it a couple of times but I thought it got a bit mushy. Kudos to Sean Astin, great performance and once again, great CG work on a lot of stuff that didn't appear fake.

Of the three, I prefered the first for wow factor, the second for the battle of Helm's Deep and the third for the characters. Still, the Balrog is the ultimate creation by the team that made this movie with Minas Tirith a close second.

[Marbear]

Originally Posted by BlackRavyyn So I finally saw the movie on New Year's which is later then the first time I saw the other two. Just to clarify some things. For one, Christopher Lee's footage was cut our BEFORE he was bitching about it. Jackson thought the final scene with Sauron wasn't important to the rest of the movie and will leave it in the extended version (that's going to be 4 hours isn't it?). Also there was several glaring missing scenes but I have heard that the whole scene when Frodo and Sam return to the Shire to see "someone" has changed it, won't be added to the movie as it is in the book. And the romance of Faramir and Eowyn appears likely in that scene with Aragorn so oh well, it's an afterthought. I loved the beginning, the scene where Merry and Pippin are welcoming the others to Isengard and the battle scenes were phenomenal!! I nearly lost it a couple of times but I thought it got a bit mushy. Kudos to Sean Astin, great performance and once again, great CG work on a lot of stuff that didn't appear fake. Of the three, I prefered the first for wow factor, the second for the battle of Helm's Deep and the third for the characters. Still, the Balrog is the ultimate creation by the team that made this movie with Minas Tirith a close second.

The Scourging of the Shire was not filmed and therefore won't be included in the extended version. I think Peter Jackson's reasoning for it was that he didn't want to start an entirely new storyline at the end of the movie and I agree. Saruman will still have a part in the extended version, and it will be just showing what happens to him, whatever that might be since Jackson has to make it up because of cutting the shire parts.

Oh and the Houses of Healing scenes (Faramir and Eowyn's story) is in the extended version.

I read a few interviews with Peter Jackson and he basically said what he cut out and what will be added back and the extended version will run close to 5 hours in total.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Originally Posted by Marbear Oh and the Houses of Healing scenes (Faramir and Eowyn's story) is in the extended version. I read a few interviews with Peter Jackson and he basically said what he cut out and what will be added back and the extended version will run close to 5 hours in total.

Christ, I wish he could just release the full version in the cinema. I know alot of people would like to see the film as it should be, and in the cinema setting.

For example, watching The Two Towers in the cinema was an amazing experience, but I was kind of underwhelmed when I watched it in the summer again on DVD (also having read the books too).

But I got the extended edition for Christmas, and it's like a new film. The bits that are added in make the film appear more seamless, less rushed and pad out the story nicely. If Return of the King has an even greater amount to be added back in, chances are it'll be sensational. Not that it wasn't great already.

[Marbear]

Originally Posted by El Capitano Gatisto Christ, I wish he could just release the full version in the cinema. I know alot of people would like to see the film as it should be, and in the cinema setting. For example, watching The Two Towers in the cinema was an amazing experience, but I was kind of underwhelmed when I watched it in the summer again on DVD (also having read the books too). But I got the extended edition for Christmas, and it's like a new film. The bits that are added in make the film appear more seamless, less rushed and pad out the story nicely. If Return of the King has an even greater amount to be added back in, chances are it'll be sensational. Not that it wasn't great already.

I feel the same way. I guess the people at New Line Cinemas felt otherwise though. I would have gladly sat through a five hour movie if that was how it was supposed to be. Watching the cut-up version and then waiting for the actual "extended" version sucks.