The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)

Amazon.com

The extended editions of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings present the greatest trilogy in film history in the most ambitious sets in DVD history. In bringing J.R.R. Tolkien's nearly unfilmable work to the screen, Jackson benefited from extraordinary special effects, evocative New Zealand locales, and an exceptionally well-chosen cast, but most of all from his own adaptation with co-writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, preserving Tolkien's vision and often his very words, but also making logical changes to accommodate the medium of film. While purists complained about these changes and about characters and scenes left out of the films, the almost two additional hours of material in the extended editions (about 11 hours total) help appease them by delving more deeply into Tolkien's music, the characters, and loose ends that enrich the story, such as an explanation of the Faramir-Denethor relationship, and the appearance of the Mouth of Sauron at the gates of Mordor. In addition, the extended editions offer more bridge material between the films, further confirming that the trilogy is really one long film presented in three pieces (which is why it's the greatest trilogy ever--there's no weak link). The scene of Galadriel's gifts to the Fellowship added to the first film proves significant over the course of the story, while the new Faramir scene at the end of the second film helps set up the third and the new Saruman scene at the beginning of the third film helps conclude the plot of the second.

To top it all off, the extended editions offer four discs per film: two for the longer movie, plus four commentary tracks and stupendous DTS 6.1 ES sound; and two for the bonus material, which covers just about everything from script creation to special effects. The argument was that fans would need both versions because the bonus material is completely different, but the features on the theatrical releases are so vastly inferior that the only reason a fan would need them would be if they wanted to watch the shorter versions they saw in theaters (the last of which, The Return of the King, merely won 11 Oscars). The LOTR extended editions without exception have set the DVD standard by providing a richer film experience that pulls the three films together and further embraces Tolkien's world, a reference-quality home theater experience, and generous, intelligent, and engrossing bonus features. --David Horiuchi

Description

This critically acclaimed epic trilogy follows the quest undertaken by the hobbit, Frodo Baggins, and his fellowship of companions to save Middle-earth by destroying the One Ring and defeating the evil forces of the Dark Lord Sauron. With new and extended scenes carefully added back into the film, the 12-disc set also includes hours of bonus features.

Customer Reviews:

in short "astounding!".......2007-09-09

firstly i must say one thing,this dvd collection rocks!i have never seen such a grnd packaging!plus it has been extended,if you think thatby seeing the original versions you know a lot then think again!only thing is that it has only english as its viewing language

Repeat watchability.......2007-09-07

I think that is the highest praise you can give a movie is if you want to watch it over and over again. We must watch one of these at least 8 times a year. My husband likes to pull them out to watch when we fold laundry together. He calls it "Lord of the Laundry". And the extras are wonderful, if a little long. For the Tolkien enthusiast this is the only version to have!

Flawless, perfect, historic -- really, what is there to say?.......2007-08-30

NOTE: If you haven't seen the movies, there may be slight spoilers below in the description of the three movies. Nothing particular, though.

I am of the opinion that the Lord of the Rings film trilogy is one of the best films (all right, film collections) ever made, if not THE best. Everything you could ask for in a movie -- acting, special effects, great dialogue that's heart-lifting but somehow always stops short of being cheesy, emotional depth, storytelling, characters so real you KNOW them, faithfulness to one of the best books of all time -- it's all there, and not only is it great, it's flawless. Perfect. It does what many people thought was impossible -- does justice to the book that really "made" the fantasy genre, the book many people call the best of the 20th century.

Ah, did I forget to mention the music? Howard Shore proved that he's one of the best composers of the age with the soundtracks for Lord of the Rings. He's captured everything, from the simple and happiness-loving hobbits in "Concerning Hobbits" to the tension and edge-of-your-seat drama of "Shelob's Lair" and "The End of All Things" to the heartbreaking yet happy (is that even POSSIBLE?) "The Grey Havens". No matter how much I like or dislike a movie, I think from now on I will buy any soundtrack by Howard Shore.

The Extended version is THE version to have -- really, if you're at all a fan of the book or even the movies alone, you have to have the Extended Versions. The wonderful thing about the LOTR movies is that the theatrical editions stand by themselves perfectly understandably, and yet the Extended Versions don't seem boring or extraneous. To the contrary, they simply enrich the world, add to the tapestry, and satisfy obsessive fans who wanted to see EVERY scene.

The first movie, FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, introduces you to Middle-earth, its races and its characters. It shows you frodo Baggins, a young hobbit who has just inherited his uncle Bilbo's magic ring, only to find that this ring has the power to, in the wrong hands, overthrow all that is good in the world. With eight other companions, Frodo begins his journey toward Mount Doom, the volcano where the Ring must be destroyed.

The second movie is THE TWO TOWERS. After parting with the other members of the Fellowship, Frodo and Sam begin to make their way toward Mordor. At the same time, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli track the orcs that have kidnapped the hobbits Merry and Pippin. Merry and Pippin, though, manage to rescue themselves and fall straight into the path of Treebeard the Ent. It is up to Merry and Pippin to convince the Ents to rise up against the evil wizard Saruman in his stronghold of Isengard.

The third movie, RETURN OF THE KING, is the best, in my opinion -- and, apparently, in the opinion of the people who give out Academy Awards, since ROTK won eleven of them. It involves Pippin and Merry in Gondor and Rohan serving their respective lords, Aragorn's path of self-discovery that leads him to eventually take up his place as King of Gondor, and Frodo, Sam, and Gollum's arduous journey to Mordor, to destroy the Ring.

So many people have said this already that I know I'm just being redundant, but this trilogy really is one of the best films/film collections ever made. I certainly haven't seen better. It's not the sort of thing that will ever be dated, even when the special effects are old (can't see that happening for a few centuries). It's a classic, like the book was, and I honestly can't think of one way Peter Jackson or New Line could have made it better.

This is one movie collection that deserves far more than five stars.

Rating: Masterpiece

THE BEST.......2007-08-26

For those who are a Lord Of The Rings fan and for who hade read the book, the extended version is the best and the platinum series special, is really beautiful.

Problems with subtitles! Be careful!!!.......2007-08-01

In the product description its said the dvd is region 1 and has 3 languages: english, spanish and portuguese
When I received the product the only subtitle or language option is english.
Now I have a problem with this product.

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)

Average customer rating:

Wish I could give it 10 stars
"No! We need him alive. We need him to talk"
One of my favorites
Return of the King DVD
Excellent Movie

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)
Starring: Viggo Mortensen , and Liv Tyler
Manufacturer: New Line Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000634DCW
Release Date: 2004-12-14

Amazon.com

The greatest trilogy in film history, presented in the most ambitious sets in DVD history, comes to a grand conclusion with the extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Not only is the third and final installment of Peter Jackson's adaptation of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien the longest of the three, but a full 50 minutes of new material pushes the running time to a whopping 4 hours and 10 minutes. The new scenes are welcome, and the bonus features maintain the high bar set by the first two films, The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers.

What's New?

One of the scenes cut from the theatrical release but included here, the resolution of the Saruman storyline, generated a lot of publicity when the movie opened, as actor Christopher Lee complained in the press about losing his only appearance. It's an excellent scene, one Jackson calls "pure Tolkien," and provides better context for Pippin to find the wizard's palantir in the water, but it's not critical to the film. In fact, "valuable but not critical" might sum up the ROTK extended edition. It's evident that Jackson made the right cuts for the theatrical run, but the extra material provides depth and ties up a number of loose ends, and for those sorry to see the trilogy end (and who isn't?) it's a welcome chance to spend another hour in Middle-earth. Some choice moments are Gandalf's (Ian McKellen) confrontation with the Witch King (we find out what happened to the wizard's staff), the chilling Mouth of Sauron at the gates of Mordor, and Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) being mistaken for Orc soldiers. We get to see more of Éowyn (Miranda Otto), both with Aragorn and on the battlefield, even fighting the hideously deformed Orc lieutenant, Gothmog. We also see her in one of the most anticipated new scenes, the Houses of Healing after the battle of the Pelennor Fields. It doesn't present Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) as a savior as the book did, but it shows the initial meeting between Éowyn and Faramir (David Wenham), a relationship that received only a meaningful glance in the theatrical cut.

If you want to completely immerse yourself in Peter Jackson's marvelous and massive achievement, only the extended edition will do.

And for those who complained, no, there are no new endings, not even the scouring of the Shire, which many fans were hoping to see. Nor is there a scene of Denethor (John Noble) with the palantir, which would have better explained both his foresight and his madness. As Jackson notes, when cuts are made, the secondary characters are the first to go, so there is a new scene of Aragorn finding the palantir in Denethor's robes. Another big difference is Aragorn's confrontation with the King of the Dead. In the theatrical version, we didn't know whether the King had accepted Aragorn's offer when the pirate ships pulled into the harbor; here Jackson assumes that viewers have already experienced that tension, and instead has the army of the dead join the battle in an earlier scene (an extended cameo for Jackson). One can debate which is more effective, but that's why the film is available in both versions. If you feel like watching the relatively shorter version you saw in the theaters, you can. If you want to completely immerse yourself in Peter Jackson's marvelous and massive achievement, only the extended edition will do.

How Are the Bonus Features?

To complete the experience, The Return of the King provides the same sprawling set of features as the previous extended editions: four commentary tracks, sharp picture and thrilling sound, and two discs of excellent documentary material far superior to the recycled material in the theatrical edition. Those who have listened to the seven hours of commentary for the first two extended editions may wonder if they need to hear more, but there was no commentary for the earlier ROTK DVD, so it's still entertaining to hear Jackson break down the film (he says the beacon scene is one of his favorites), discuss differences from the book, point out cameos, and poke fun at himself and the extended-edition concept ("So this is the complete full strangulation, never seen before, here exclusively on DVD!"). The documentaries (some lasting 30 minutes or longer) are of their usual outstanding quality, and there's a riveting storyboard/animatic sequence of the climactic scene, which includes a one-on-one battle between Aragorn and Sauron.

One DVD Set to Rule Them All
Peter Jackson's trilogy has set the standard for fantasy films by adapting the Holy Grail of fantasy stories with a combination of fidelity to the original source and his own vision, supplemented by outstanding writing, near-perfect casting, glorious special effects, and evocative New Zealand locales. The extended editions without exception have set the standard for the DVD medium by providing a richer film experience that pulls the three films together and further embraces Tolkien's world, a reference-quality home theater experience, and generous, intelligent, and engrossing bonus features. --David Horiuchi

Description

The WINNER of 11 Academy Awards* including BEST PICTURE is now 50 minutes longer! This extended version of the epic conclusion of The Lord of the Rings trilogy includes new score by Howard Shore and over 350 new digital effects shots.

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes
Audio Commentary
DVD ROM Features
Documentaries
Easter Eggs

Customer Reviews:

Wish I could give it 10 stars.......2007-08-22

This is my favorite film. Probably ever. It is an absolute MUST for any movie lover in general. Along with the other 2 films of course. The platinum edition is pretty damn sweet. I loved the intertwined extended/deleted scenes. I wish other directors did that more often. Yes the movie is 4 hours but for people who love movies and love great movies, it shouldnt matter how long a film is. If it was 6 hours, I would still watch it without complain. I cannot gush enough about this movie. Peter Jackson created a masterpiece that noone could possibly match. At least not anytime soon.
His attention to every detail is evident in this movie. The acting is wonderful, I even stopped cringing at Elijah Wood's acting after this film. And I absolutely adore the score to this. I own the soundtrack to all 3 films. I love them all. I dont own many other soundtracks but this is a must for anyone. I could go on and on.

"No! We need him alive. We need him to talk".......2007-08-09

Why has it taken me three and a half years to review this movie on Amazon? Because it's taken me that long to decide whether I like it or not.

My initial reaction to "The Return of the King" was one of disappointment. Not only was there no way it could have lived up completely to the hype in advance of the release of the third film in the most acclaimed film trilogy ever, but many of the specific decisions Peter Jackson made with respect to this film, both in the scripting process and in the editing room, seemed calculated to infuriate die-hard fans of the book, the films' core constituency. Certainly the most controversial example was the omission of Christopher Lee's Saruman from the Theatrical Edition.

In this Extended Edition the Saruman scene is, of course, restored to its place in the film, but turns out not to be as satisfying as one might have hoped. The manner of Saruman's death is certainly not faithful to the book, and the scene is indeed, as the filmmakers have said to explain their controversial decision to cut it, a structural encumbrance on the front of the movie. One is left to wonder whether "The Return of the King" may have been better off without the scene after all.

This is a recurring pattern with the additional scenes in the Extended Edition. Each of the new scenes most anticipated by fans of the book proves to be so far inferior to its book equivalent that the film was probably better off without it in the first place. The Extended Edition gives us a Gandalf/Witch King confrontation which is harmful rather than helpful to Gandalf's character and a Mouth of Sauron scene which is profoundly untrue to Tolkien's philosophy of warfare. Of the three Extended Editions, "The Return of the King" has been the most poorly received by Tolkien fandom, probably deservedly so.

But away from the hype of its release, the film as a whole can be seen to be an awesome piece of work. Not quite as perfect a literary adaptation as "The Fellowship of the Ring" or as cinematically compelling as "The Two Towers", "Return" nonetheless provides a powerfully emotional climax to a film trilogy fully worthy of Tolkien's beloved epic. The climactic scenes of the story may not live up to one's imagination of them in reading the book -- how could they? -- but they are more memorable than anything in the vast majority of the movies I have seen.

"The Return of the King" will always be my third favorite of Jackson's "Rings" trilogy, but that still makes it one of the greatest fantasy films of all time.

One of my favorites.......2007-07-30

Amazingly creative, scary, and inspirational. Wonderful story full of drama, moral examples, and deep meaning. It's hard to add to 622 reviews. It's not for the faint of heart.

Return of the King DVD.......2007-07-30

Great movie. THe series is just awesome and this last movie is wonderful and suspenseful.

Excellent Movie.......2007-07-26

This is an excellent movie. That is why I bought it. The theatrical version of this movie made you say, "Wow, what a great movie." The extended version raised the bar to, "Oh WOW!! What a totally awesome, AMAZING movie!" That is all.

The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Collection must have
"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here..."
awesome movie
The ring
Purchased out of curiosity

The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Viggo Mortensen , and Peter Jackson
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001VL0K2
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

As the triumphant start of a trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring leaves you begging for more. By necessity, Peter Jackson's ambitious epic compresses J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings, but this robust adaptation maintains reverent allegiance to Tolkien's creation, instantly qualifying as one of the greatest fantasy films ever made. At 178 minutes, it's long enough to establish the myriad inhabitants of Middle-earth, the legendary Rings of Power, and the fellowship of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and humans--led by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the brave hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood)--who must battle terrifying forces of evil on their perilous journey to destroy the One Ring in the land of Mordor. Superbly paced, the film is both epic and intimate, offering astonishing special effects and production design while emphasizing the emotional intensity of Frodo's adventure, and ends on a perfect note of heroic loyalty and rich anticipation.

After the breaking of the Fellowship, Frodo and Sam journey to Mordor with the creature Gollum as their guide in The Two Towers. Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) join in the defense of the people of Rohan, who are the first target in the eradication of the race of Men by the renegade wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee) and the dark lord Sauron. Fantastic creatures, astounding visual effects, and a climactic battle at the fortress of Helm's Deep make The Two Towers a worthy successor to The Fellowship of the Ring, grander in scale but retaining the story's emotional intimacy.

With The Return of the King, the greatest fantasy epic in film history draws to a grand and glorious conclusion. The trilogy could never fully satisfy those who remain exclusively loyal to Tolkien's expansive literature, but as a showcase for physical and technical craftsmanship it is unsurpassed in pure scale and ambition, setting milestone after cinematic milestone as Frodo and Sam continue their mission to Mordor to destroy the soul-corrupting One Ring. While the heir to the kingdom of Men, Aragorn, endures the massive battle at Minas Tirith with the allegiance of Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf, Frodo and Sam must survive the schizoid deceptions of Gollum, who remains utterly convincing as a hybrid of performance (by Andy Serkis) and subtly nuanced computer animation. Jackson and cowriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have much ground to cover; that they do so with intense pacing and epic sweep is impressive enough, but by investing greater depth and consequence in the actions of fellow hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), they ensure that The Return of the King maintains the trilogy's emphasis on intimate fellowship and remains faithful to Tolkien's overall vision. By ending the LOTR trilogy with noble integrity and faith in the power of imaginative storytelling, The Return of the King, like its predecessors, will stand as an adventure for the ages. --Jeff Shannon and David Horiuchi

Description

Customer Reviews:

Collection must have.......2007-08-28

Having the three movies plus all bonus material contained on the extra dvd's is definitelly a must have for LOTR lovers like me. You really get a full understanding about the movie, and everything regarding to Tolkien's books. I recommend everybody to get this, soon I'm getting the extended version dvd's with scenes never showed on the original movies.

"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here...".......2007-07-20

Follow in "The Lord of the Rings" creator's (J.R.R. Tolkien's) footsteps. Project a malevolent universe. Invent a world and animate it with creatures in conflict. Make the conflict a battle between good and evil, but don't identify clearly the moral value or purpose of either side. In fact, remove morality's essence altogether by eliminating the power of choice for your characters. Emphasize the corruptibility of men. Glamorize the supernatural. Dwell interminably on the preparations for and the wreaking of violence and destruction, on the fragility of hope and happiness. Name the scene of action: Middle-earth. Sound like an environment you'd care to envision? Would you "live" there? If so, fate alone will decide its survival and your own. You can visit this predetermined "paradise" by watching/enduring/suffering Peter Jackson's elaborately filmed adaptation of Tolkien's epic trilogy, which concludes with "The Return of the King."

I hold it is true that what is not worth contemplating in life is not worth contemplating in art. For its dismaying lack of meaningful moral definition, its pervasive pictorial ugliness, the quantity of its scenes of mind-numbing graphic violence, and its minimizing of the value of happiness, "The Lord of the Rings" films--including this one--ought to be shunned and damned.

awesome movie.......2007-06-12

really great movie. once you start you cant stop watching untill you finish them all.

The ring.......2007-06-02

I think this is one of the best movies made and the game is a whole lot of fun.

Purchased out of curiosity.......2007-05-18

Purchased b/c it was a great deal! And had never seen them. NOT as good as Harry Potter thought. I think they are a bit dragged out, but really good stories. Lots of fighting and blood....I could do w/o half of it.

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

I'd give it 3.5 stars If it was an option
"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here..."
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
LOR Return of the King
Just a couple of questions

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Sean Astin , John Rhys-Davies , Brad Dourif , Bernard Hill , and Ian Holm
Director: Peter Jackson
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JKZY
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

With The Return of the King, the greatest fantasy epic in film history draws to a grand and glorious conclusion. Director Peter Jackson's awe-inspiring adaptation of the Tolkien classic The Lord of the Rings could never fully satisfy those who remain exclusively loyal to Tolkien's expansive literature, but as a showcase for physical and technical craftsmanship it is unsurpassed in pure scale and ambition, setting milestone after cinematic milestone as the brave yet charmingly innocent Hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood) continues his mission to Mordor, where he is destined to destroy the soul-corrupting One Ring of Power in the molten lava of Mount Doom. While the heir to the kingdom of Men, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), endures the massive battle at Minas Tirith with the allegiance of the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) and the great wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Frodo and stalwart companion Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) must survive the schizoid deceptions of Gollum, who remains utterly convincing as a hybrid of performance (by Andy Serkis) and subtly nuanced computer animation.

Jackson and cowriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have much ground to cover; that they do so with intense pacing and epic sweep is impressive enough, but by investing greater depth and consequence in the actions of fellow Hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), they ensure that The Return of the King maintains the trilogy's emphasis on intimate fellowship. While several major characters appear only briefly, and one (Christopher Lee's evil wizard, Saruman) was relegated entirely to the extended-version DVD, Jackson is to be commended for his editorial acumen; like Legolas the archer, his aim as a filmmaker is consistently true, and he remains faithful to Tolkien's overall vision. If Return suffers from too many endings, as some critic suggested, it's only because the epic's conclusion is so loyally inclusive of the actors--most notably Astin--who gave it such strength to begin with. By ending the LOTR trilogy with noble integrity and faith in the power of imaginative storytelling, The Return of the King, like its predecessors, will stand as an adventure for the ages. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The final battle for Middle-earth begins. Frodo and Sam, led by Gollum, continue their dangerous mission toward the fires of Mount Doom in order to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn struggles to fulfill his legacy as he leads his outnumbered followers against the growing power of the Dark Lord Sauron, so that the Ring-bearer may complete his quest.

DVD Features:
3D Animated Menus
DVD ROM Features:Exclusive online content Link to www.lordoftherings.net
Documentaries:3 in-depth programs that reveal the secrets behind the production of this epic adventure, including: "The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision" (23:05) "A Filmmaker's Journey: Making The Return of The King" (28:30) National Geographic Special (45:57)
Featurette:6 featurettes --Aragorn's Destiny (3:25) --Minas Tirith: Capital of Gondor (3:10) --The Battle of Pelennor Fields (2:14) --Samwise the Brave (4:32) --Eowyn: White Lady of Rohan (3:45) --Digital Horse Doubles (4:35)
Other:2-DISC SET The Battle For Middle Eath Continues--Video Games from EA (3:00)
TV Spot
Theatrical Trailer:Original Theatrical Trailers "The Lord of The Rings" Trilogy Supertrailer (6:45)

Customer Reviews:

I'd give it 3.5 stars If it was an option.......2007-08-03

God Bless Peter Jackson for delivering this epic film (all 3) to us in the first place. That must be said first. But in Return of the King, there is simply some things that must be questioned in the story telling. I know in a film the story must demand certain things, but that speech Aragorn gave to his men was so utterly stupid and embarrassing, it's hard to give the film anything more than a 3.5. I mean, sure, William Wallace pulled it off BRILLIANTLY in Brave Heart, but this speech thing just backfired brutally. He was completely unbelievable. There was no moment likened to when Mel Gibson said, "I AM WILLIAM WALLACE, and I see an army of my country men..."

Come ON. Who thought of this?

Also, why make the oldest wisest creatures in Middle Earth look like a bunch of dumb idiots? The Ents were powerful and wise in Tolkien's stories. They CERTAINLY didn't have to be talked into going to war by a little hobbit. Good lord! And last but not least, Elrond. What they heck is that person in the film supposed to be? Certainly not Elrond, the amazingly wise and brilliant Elrond. Come ON. He was manipulating his daughter blatantly. It was just crazy.

Other than these three seriously horrible things, the film was AMAZING. My fav out of the 3 was Fellowship.

Again, I don't want to sound ungrateful to Peter Jackson for making these films. I just wish some parts of the story could have been more true to the characters.

BJ

"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here...".......2007-07-20

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.......2007-05-15

I love this triology and purchasing this DVD completes my collection. Thanks for having it at a good price!

LOR Return of the King.......2007-02-09

Wonderful sequel.
Just as good as origonal, perhaps better.
Revisit most of your favorite charactors.
Even with some of the not so cutting edge effects, this adventure movie delivers outstanding entertainment value.

Just a couple of questions.......2007-01-26

Great film, but I have some questions: 1) How come Frodo's mithril shirt stopped the cave troll's spear pretty neatly in Fellowship - yet the spider stabbed him in the gut in the third installment without too much effort at all? And he was definitely wearing the shirt because the orcs later take it from him..and...2)How is it that Gandalf could send in the eagles to a)save himself from Isengard and b) fly Frodo & Sam OUT of Mordor, but he doesn't use the eagles to simply fly the two hobbits INTO Mordor in the first place, and save alot of tedious walking (I know because then there'd be no story!). There's alot to be said for air superiority. One more thing...Isildur with his sword and armor takes the ring from Sauron like how many THOUSANDS of years before this story takes place, and these people are STILL walking around with the same swords and armor??? What kind of stagnant culture is this?.....one of these brilliant wizards certainly could have come up with gunpowder, at least, in a thousand or so yrs.....just some thoughts...

The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Collection must have
"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here..."
awesome movie
The ring
Purchased out of curiosity

The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001VL0KC
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Collection must have.......2007-08-28

"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here...".......2007-07-20

awesome movie.......2007-06-12

really great movie. once you start you cant stop watching untill you finish them all.

The ring.......2007-06-02

I think this is one of the best movies made and the game is a whole lot of fun.

Purchased out of curiosity.......2007-05-18

J.R.R. Tolkien Animated Films Set (The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings/The Return of the King)

Average customer rating:

Not very good
LOVE IT
A must for all Tolkien - Fans!!
Tolkien package benefit
Better than most say.

J.R.R. Tolkien Animated Films Set (The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings/The Return of the King)
Starring: Orson Bean , Richard Boone , Hans Conried , John Huston , and Otto Preminger
Director: Arthur Rankin Jr. , and Jules Bass
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005UM49
Release Date: 2001-12-11

Amazon.com

The Hobbit
The J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy classic set in Middle-earth was adapted into this excellent 1978 animated feature first broadcast on television. Codirectors Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., working from a script by Romeo Muller, are faithful to Tolkien's story and for that alone they get big points. The vocal cast can't be improved upon: Orson Bean is perfect as Bilbo Baggins, the timorous hobbit who grows brave on his adventure with the wizard Gandalf (John Huston). Otto Preminger is the voice of Elvenking, Richard Boone is Smaug, Hans Conried is Thorin, and Brother Theodore is very effective as the weird Gollum. Terrific for kids and adults alike. --Tom Keogh

The Lord of the Rings
Although it was ultimately overshadowed by Peter Jackson's live-action Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ralph Bakshi's animated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classic is not without charms of its own. A target of derision from intolerant fans, this ambitious 1978 production is nevertheless a respectably loyal attempt to animate the first half of Tolkien's trilogy, beginning with the hobbit Frodo's inheritance of the One Ring of power from Bilbo Baggins, and ending with the wizard Gandalf's triumph over the evil army of Orcs. While the dialogue is literate and superbly voiced by a prestigious cast (including John Hurt as Aragorn), Leonard Roseman's accomplished score effectively matches the ominous atmosphere that Bakshi's animation creates and sustains. Bakshi's lamentable decision to combine traditional cel animation with "rotoscoped" (i.e., meticulously traced) live-action footage is jarringly distracting and aesthetically disastrous, but when judged by its narrative content, this Lord of the Rings deserves more credit than it typically receives. --Jeff Shannon

The Return of the King
The creative team behind 1978's impressive animation feature based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit returns with this 1980 entry drawn from Tolkien's famous Lord of the Rings trilogy. It's good work all around, and not at all the kind of feature-length cartoon that reduces good books to treacle. Orson Bean returns as the voice of Bilbo Baggins as well as that of the trilogy's hero, Frodo. John Huston is commanding again as the voice of the wizard Gandalf, and also in the vocal cast are William Conrad, Paul Frees, and Roddy McDowall. --Tom Keogh

Description

Animated versions of three Tolkien classics: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Return of the King.

Customer Reviews:

Not very good.......2007-09-14

Having read the booiks multiple times since the 70's and adorning the Peter Jackson films, I had to have these to finish my collection, but don't think they are worth it. They don't follow the story, especially in The Hobbit, and the animation is poor to be kind. The one good scene was the "proud feets" quote.

Scott

LOVE IT.......2007-03-09

I love it wish they would of made more of them. They didnt get the two towers in there or the fellowship of the guys that i wanted to make it. Rankin and Bass. but the other fellowship is decent also.

A must for all Tolkien - Fans!!.......2006-11-15

I only can recommand this package to all Tolkien - Fans. It is a nice alternate version of 2/3 of the ring and it includes the only movie adaption of the hobbit so far. (I really hope we get one from Jackson in the near future!!!)

SPIDER-MAN_from_Austria

Tolkien package benefit.......2006-07-02

I have every version of the film adaptations of J.R.R.Tolkien's works. I especially liked having all three of the animated films together. I was a bit disappointed with the packageing. They come in three separate DVDs. (more likely to get splayed around my collection and be harder to find when I want them) And each uses that half sort of clamshell sleeve that I find harder to open and because of the cardboard front flap less secure for the DVD inside. Otherwise, it is the charming, generally more accurate as films go movies you will love however they come. Also, for what you are getting, I thought the price was pretty decent.

Better than most say........2006-03-17

I love these DVD's. There is plenty to nit-pick about and believe me I've got a list. But, don't let that stop you from seeing them. Just don't expect to see something of the same caliber as the Peter Jackson films (I've got a list of nit-picks for them too but, I LOVE them as well.)

As some of you know, two separate teams made these films. "The Hobbit" and "The Return of the King" was made by one and "The Lord of the Rings" was made by another. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. I love them both for different reasons.

The thing I like the most about "The Lord of the Rings" DVD is the way the characters interact and appear to have genuine love and affection for one another. Like, when Gandalf gave Frodo a quick little meep to the nose when they were talking in Rivendell. It was after Frodo awoke and while he was lying in bed talking to Gandalf, who was pacing to and fro, if you're not quick you'll miss it.^_^

The things that bug me the most about "The Lord..." are designs of some of the other characters. The Balrog is, well, lame. Treebeard is awful, except for the charming touch of having leaves flying out of his mouth while he talks. ^_^

The best things about "The Hobbit" and "...the King" is the breathtaking landscapes and backgrounds. I just about cried on the first frame of "The Hobbit" opening on a gorgeous painting of the inside of Bag End. And the music, moving and funny. My favorite song from these films is the one with the words "It's so easy not to try..."

My number one gripe about "The Hobbit" and "...the King" are those wood elves. Yikes! I can't imagine our fair Legolas being of those `orcish' looking creatures. Good grief!

Well, there's tons more I could yammer on about. But, I end it here. See these DVD's. Forgive their shortcomings and enjoy what's right about them.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Theatrical and Extended Limited Edition)

Average customer rating:

Peter Jackson wants your money!
Who bought this?
Lord of the Rings, The Best Movie Ever!
lord of rings
Wonderful!

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Theatrical and Extended Limited Edition)
Starring: Lord of the Rings 3pak
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GTLR2A
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Amazon.com

Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films gave "double-dipping"--releasing a DVD then releasing an improved version shortly afterward--a good name by offering both a better film and stupendous extras in the Extended Editions. This "triple-dip" 2006 Limited Edition trilogy falls far short of that standard but is still of interest to devoted and casual fans.

What do you get?
Both the theatrical and extended versions of all three films--The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King--are on three double-sided discs. The versions use seamless branching, meaning that the scenes that are common to both versions are stored on the disc only once. If you choose to watch the extended version, the disc "branches" out to the added or extended scenes. What does this mean to the viewer? Not much. The viewing experience is the same because the branching is imperceptible. But because both versions of the film don't have to be stored on the disc in their entirety (which would be six or seven hours total for each film), both versions together fit on two sides of one disc. The downside is that whichever version you watch, you have to flip over the disc halfway through; the film breaks at the same spot it did on the Extended Edition. Also lost are the meager features included on the theatrical edition, plus the four commentary tracks, two discs of bonus features, and DTS 6.1 ES sound from the four-disc Extended Editions.

What's new?
Each film has a second disc with a documentary directed by Costa Botes, who was personally selected by Peter Jackson (about five hours for all three documentaries. Rather than the formal documentary structure of other editions, they consist of off-the-cuff interviews with Peter Jackson, Alan Lee, and others, and random bits of behind-the-scenes action and special-effects work. Those who have worked their way through the many hours of bonus content on the other editions might recognize some of this footage, such as the Hobbit actors mocking whichever of them is not around, then greeting him warmly when he shows up. Other things--Liv Tyler riding a fake horse, interviewing the rank-and-file cast members, touring Peter Jackson's trailer, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd clowning around as a framing device, Ian McKellen flubbing his lines and conducting the crowning ceremony in a flowery wig--seem new. And some bits seem geared to those who've watched the other material--for example, some of the visual tricks explained there are only glimpsed without explanation here. They're entertaining, but because there's no structure (there are chapters, but no menu or chapter listing), they're not as convenient to watch, and go back to, as a documentary broken up into bite-size pieces. Note: New Line Home Entertainment couldn't release this material on its own a la the King Kong Production Diaries due to contractual restrictions.

Bottom line: Do I need this trilogy edition?
This Limited Edition combination of theatrical and extended versions plus new documentary seems likely to appeal to two camps. One is the devoted fan, who already owns all the previous editions but has to have everything LOTR. The other is the casual fan who liked the movies in theaters, heard good things about the Extended Editions, and doesn't need a ton of bonus material. This edition is attractively priced for that buyer, and the packaging is quite handsome. In between is the devoted fan who already owns all the previous editions but doesn't feel the need to watch more bonus material. When watching the movies, that fan will always choose the Extended Editions, but keeps the theatrical editions for (1) watching with guests, (2) the music videos, or (3) the convenience of skimming through favorite scenes without having to change discs. That fan can safely skip this edition, as can home-theater fans who love DTS. --David Horiuchi

Description

Disc 1: For the first time, the Theatrical and Extended versions of each film are on one disc! This 2-sided DVD puts both versions of the epic film on one convenient, portable disc. You can choose which version you'd like to see from the main DVD menu.

Disc 2: Each film has a new behind-the-scenes documentary created by filmmaker Costa Botes. Mr. Botes was personally selected by Peter Jackson to capture every moment during production of the trilogy. He had unprecedented access to the cast and crew during staff meetings and down time, training and rehearsals, laughter and arguments.

Mr. Botes created 3 feature-length documentaries using a raw editing style that gives the viewer a complete fly-on-the-wall experience. Here are the types of stories and moments you can expect to find throughout the 3 documentaries (one per film in the trilogy):

Billy Boyd (Pippin) and Dom Monaghan (Merry) are the ultimate comedy duo, hamming it up for the camera. Highlights of their antics include: candid descriptions of how uncomfortable Treebeard's branches could be, hanging out in their trailer with an "inflatable" friend, and more!
When Peter Jackson loses a roll of 3-D film, it's up to everyone to find it. See the lengths that the crew go to uncover the lost photos!
New Zealand means beautiful landscapes and... rain, snow, wind and more! See how frustrating Mother Nature can be when even the most menacing Ringwraiths must huddle under giant umbrellas.
Even the best laid plans can change and the easiest tasks can take longer than expected... cast and crew deal with scene changes, long hours, overtime and additional takes.
Pranks on set? Really? Get a good laugh from Ian McKellan in a "fancy" Gandalf wig, Andy Serkis assessing his Gollum getup, orcs and Uruk-hai doing a little between-take dancing and more!
And, of course, there are things that go wrong…a phone ringing during a scene, forgetting a line or two, and mastering a fight sequence that doesn't even get into the final film!

FAQs
Still have questions about this release? Here are some Frequently Asked Questions from fans.

When Is The Lord of the Rings Going to Be Released in High Definition (Either HD-DVD or Blu-ray)?
The high definition formats that have recently launched offer exceptional picture and sound quality in addition to new interactive bonus feature capabilities. New Line Home Entertainment is committed to the high definition format and is very excited about the idea of releasing the Trilogy in the format. However, New Line is also committed to maximizing the capabilities of the technology to deliver a cutting edge high definition experience. This will take more time as well as the participation of the filmmakers to achieve. It is currently not scheduled for release until, at the earliest, 2008.

I already own both versions of each film. Why doesn't New Line just release the documentaries?
Having unprecedented access to the cast and crew during film production inevitably means that there are some restrictions. In this case, releasing these documentaries unaccompanied by the film would be nearly impossible because of agreements that are in place with the cast and crew. We wanted to make the documentaries available while also giving the fans something they don't have, which is why we included both versions of the film on one disc.

How are these documentaries different from the ones on the special extended DVD editions?
The in-depth documentaries on the Special Extended DVD Editions were custom made for the DVDs using new interviews from the cast and crew incorporated with the behind-the-scenes footage to tell the stories. The Costa Botes documentaries use only creatively edited behind-the-scenes footage to give you, the viewer, a feeling of "being there" in the moment while things are happening. There is no narrative to tell the story, but instead a constantly running series of clips that show the raw moments that make up the day-to-day progress on a large film production.

Do I have to flip the disc over to watch the whole movie?
Yes. Due to space capacities of the DVD format and the use of seamless branching, both the theatrical and extended versions of the film are split in the middle of disc 1, so part 1 of the film is on one side of the disc and the conclusion is on the other.

Customer Reviews:

Peter Jackson wants your money!.......2007-07-09

That's about all I can say about this "new" set. If you don't own any of them yet, I can see getting this set, but other than that???

Who bought this?.......2007-07-03

Lord of the Rings is an excellent trilogy. I must say that Return of the King had to be my faviorte of the lot. Why do I rate this one star? Whats the point of having a two sided dvd? Put the regular movie on one side and the extended movie on the other side. Was that so hard to think of? They probably just needed some extra cash and didnt think of that idea. I bought the Extended editions to look cool for my dvd collection, but I lent the movies to a friend and left with just the cases. I realized that watching a movie and flipping over the dvd halfway thru the movie was stupid. I bought the regular versions instead of these sets. I'll put them in the extended cases so it looks better. Why would anyone want to watch a movie and get up half way thru it to flip it over anyways?

Lord of the Rings, The Best Movie Ever!.......2007-06-28

Handfull and Compact, this set is the best option to get all in one versions of the movie. However the extra stuff is kind of boring.

lord of rings.......2007-05-30

very nice way to have the full set covers are pretty. Box to hold them all together so when you want to have a movie marathon (cause you are stuck in a snow storm and cant leave house), they are all together and easy to find next one.
Did have a little oops and didnt realize the discs are two sided with part 1 on one side and part 2 on other so had the disc upside down and couldnt figure out where the rest was (only did that on fellowship figured it out and was good by towers). All in all great movies very nice way to have them and make sure you read the books too.J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)

Wonderful!.......2007-05-14

A DVD collection you must have! Greatly designed. Beautiful menus and music. The box design is very nice. Worth to collect it!

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

I'd give it 3.5 stars If it was an option
"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here..."
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
LOR Return of the King
Just a couple of questions

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Noel Appleby , Alexandra Astin , Sean Astin , David Aston , and John Bach
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001US8E4
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

Description

DVD Features:
3D Animated Menus
DVD ROM Features:Exclusive online content Link to www.lordoftherings.net
Documentaries:3 in-depth programs that reveal the secrets behind the production of this epic adventure, including: "The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision" (23:05) "A Filmmaker's Journey: Making The Return of The King" (28:30) National Geographic Special (45:57)
Featurette:6 featurettes --Aragorn's Destiny (3:25) --Minas Tirith: Capital of Gondor (3:10) --The Battle of Pelennor Fields (2:14) --Samwise the Brave (4:32) --Eowyn: White Lady of Rohan (3:45) --Digital Horse Doubles (4:35)
Full Screen Version
Other:2-DISC SET The Battle For Middle Eath Continues--Video Games from EA (3:00)
TV Spot
Theatrical Trailer:Original Theatrical Trailers "The Lord of The Rings" Trilogy Supertrailer (6:45)

Customer Reviews:

I'd give it 3.5 stars If it was an option.......2007-08-03

"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here...".......2007-07-20

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.......2007-05-15

I love this triology and purchasing this DVD completes my collection. Thanks for having it at a good price!

LOR Return of the King.......2007-02-09

Just a couple of questions.......2007-01-26

The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Sets the Bar for Fantasy Movies
MST3K Fans Rejoice -- Rifftrax is Here!
"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here..."
A bad adaptation of a great book
Best Lord of the Rings Movie ever!

The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Noel Appleby , Sean Astin , Sala Baker , Sean Bean , and Cate Blanchett
Manufacturer: New Line Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000065U3Q
Release Date: 2002-08-06

Product Description

Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is an epic adventure of good against evil, the power of friendship and individual courage. The saga centers around an unassuming Hobbit named Frodo Baggins who inherits a Ring that would give a dark and powerful lord the power to enslave the world. With a loyal fellowship of elves, dwarves, men and a wizard, Frodo embarks on a heroic quest to destroy the One Ring and pave the way for the emergence of mankind.

System Requirements:
Starring: Elijah Wood, Sir Ian Mc Kellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Christopher Lee, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Liv Tyler, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Hugo Weaving, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd.
Directed By: Peter Jackson.
Running Time: 178 Min., Color.
This film is presented in "Standard" format.
Copyright 2002 Warner Home Video.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

As the triumphant start of a trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring leaves you begging for more. By necessity, Peter Jackson's ambitious epic compresses J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings, but this robust adaptation maintains reverent allegiance to Tolkien's creation, instantly qualifying as one of the greatest fantasy films ever made. At 178 minutes, it's long enough to establish the myriad inhabitants of Middle-earth, the legendary Rings of Power, and the fellowship of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and humans--led by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the brave hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood)--who must battle terrifying forces of evil on their perilous journey to destroy the One Ring in the land of Mordor. Superbly paced, the film is both epic and intimate, offering astonishing special effects and production design while emphasizing the emotional intensity of Frodo's adventure. Ending on a perfect note of heroic loyalty and rich anticipation, this wondrous fantasy continues in The Two Towers (2002). --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Sets the Bar for Fantasy Movies.......2007-09-10

This movie is everything that fantasy should be. What an experience! This a story that has stood the test of time and that has been brilliantly brought to the screen. Worth watching again and again. Don't rent it, own it.

MST3K Fans Rejoice -- Rifftrax is Here!.......2007-08-09

The greatest fantasy epic of all times is at last a RiffTrax! No, not Crossroads - we already did that. And not A