Tolkien stuff: extended LOTR and TTT countdown

The extended scenes definitely added a lot to the movie. I really enjoy the new version. I haven't heard yet, but I'm sure there will be a similar release for TTT. Right now I'm just excited to go see the theater version...

 

I loved the extended and new scenes. They didn't seem forced into the movie for the sake of having a kickass DVD, and for the most part they accomplished something. In particular, I liked the gift giving scene (or ANY scene with more Cate Blanchett *sigh*) and the extended scene between Aragorn and Boromir that helped set up Boromir's fall to the ring. Anyway, props to Peter Jackson and I'm counting the days to The Two Towers!

 

Two Towers will have an intermission? How will that work? Do they just take a break in the movie and all the hobbits do a little sing and dance, or do they actually stop the film and everyone gets up and takes a bathroom break?

 

Actually, according to IMDB, the runtime for TTT is 179 minutes (or 2 hours and 59 minutes). Although the idea of intermission would be simply hilarious in a movie theater, it's just not true.

 

I don't think the production company would allow the movie to be over 3 hours. That would reduce the number of showings the movie can have over the course of a day.

I haven't heard anything about an extended DVD of TTT, but I would guess that there will be one released. 3 hours and 50 minutes is probably what Peter Jackson wanted.

 

Ghandi had an intermission. It worked.

Can't wait for TTT.

 

I loved the extended DVD, however, I must add that it really did not add anything significant to the overall movie.

It was more about pleasing the fans of Tolkein, then making the movie better.

The original movie is still just fine for most people.

However, the extended is the one for me.

DaDakota

 

This is a good point. The extended version was great, but it made me appreciate even more how phenomenal a job Peter Jackson and his team did cutting this movie down to under 3 hours. The theatrical release flows wonderfully and you don't feel like you are missing anything. The extra stuff is nice to see, but none of it was necessary.

 

I was hoping they'd actually add complete storylines that were left out of the movie, such as Tom Bombadil, but it's still pretty cool.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Gettysburg had one as well.

 

Gandhi (1982) weighs in with a runtime of 188 minutes. That's only 9 more minutes than The Two Towers and 10 more minutes than The Fellowship of the Ring. Hardly worth an intermission. Hell, the latest Harry Potter movie is 161 minutes long...

Gettysburg (1993) had a runtime of 261 minutes! An intermission there would definitely be needed.

As for LOTR, I thought the extended version of the film was outstanding and better than the theatrical version. Case in point: During the "Lothlorien mirror" scene, Galadriel says, "You are a ring bearer, Frodo. To bear a ring of power is to be alone." That quote made no sense to me until I saw the extended version. In it, after she says that line, we are shown a deleted scene of HER ring of power (and she says a few words about it). Then I understood her previous quote. "Ohhhhh... She's speaking from experience. She is also a ring bearer, and she's alone, too! Gotcha." Call me crazy, but things like that made the viewing experience that much better for me.

 

2hours 59mins includes the credits at the end, and they will be pretty long. I doubt they will have an intermission, it would take away from the whole experience.

I heard that a couple of months ago when Jackson was making the final cuts for TTT, he had nearly 4 hours of footage just from TTT. It's going to be one helluva movie.

 

Um, actually, I was kinda p.o.'d at the extended versionof FOTR. I wanted THAT to be the version I saw in theaters. It added the characterizations and depth that the theater version lacked. But I understand the movie company wanted a manageable length to put into theaters, having just forked out the better part of $400,000,000 (budget for the movies plus advertising, etc).

The beginning with the explanation of hobbits, narrated by Bilbo as he's writing his book, is excellent.

 

I don't anything other than what I saw at the movie, but I do know one thing, I want to see more of the creature at the beginning. That's the creature that wore the ring forever. Now he was interesting. I hope the story goes his way. He's got s story to tell.

 

Ooooh,

Don't get me wrong...I loved the extended bits....the part of the hobbits in the Dragons inn was great.

Also watching the elves as they leave for the west, and the gift giving scene etc....

However, I think that the theatrical release played very well, and is good enough for most people.

DaDakota

 

Then you will be happy to know that a great deal of the second book (at least half) was centered around this character. He will have a large role in the new movie.

 

he will be importent for the rest of the story,maybe more importent than Frodo

when i read the books i was wondering what Tom bombadil has to do with anything,i've heard a lot of critics where quetioning if he should be in the movie,But Tolkien said that there where importent factors why he should be in the books,but i don't know wich there where.it is logic they let him out of the movie because they also have cut the end of the books, the part of the return to the shire.
i wanted the return to the shire in the last movie but i'f heard it will not be in it.

 

1) Re: Extended scenes...I was thrilled beyond description...but being who I am, I will attempt it just the same...The added scenes were so natural, so in the flow, that it made the whole experience akin to watching something you've seen before...but not quite the same, thereby generating curiosity and excitement...It was wonderfulll....Nobody has commented on the "Concerning Hobbits" addition, which to me was beautiful, and made me feel even more like I was watching my youthfull imaginings come alive. All of it was simply one of the best, if not THE best movie experience of my life, and I LOVE movies...

2) arno...Please be carefull what you say...

Also...re: Bombadil..I have always felt that he was important for several reasons, among them being he gives Middle Earth a tangible sense of the ancient texture of Middle Earth...Aside from the Balrog, most of the older history of ME is contained in myth, at least during the trilogy. TB represents the 'good' side of the older ones, which usually equates to power and danger in the trilogy. He is the combination of innocence and immense timeless power which is often represented in most forms of mythology, and Tolkien wanted his world to be above all 3-dimensional..as if you are seeing a slice of time in a continuum, as opposed to something just created as a backdrop for a contemporary story...

I do agree that, while it would have been interesting, omitting TB from the film was pragmatic.

3) DD...I agree...While I think that the extended version would be beneficial to any viewer, it is really suited to readers of the books..I have spoken to many friends who had never read the books who simply loved the original, and I doubt that they would get the same joy out of the added minutes that you or I did.

4) Phi...Yes, he is a very interesting character...The idea of a creature racked with the torment of having hosted The Ring for so long, and been prolonged but, as Biblo says,' stretched thin, almost like butter spread over too much toast' by it is a very captivating story, and one you will see and hear more about...

 

Tom Bombadil is a mysterious person, even Tolkien admitted to not knowing exactly what he has. I have a feeling he was in the book because LOTR was meant to be a childrens book (like The Hobbit), and Tom Bombadil seems to be a character kids can relate to. But LOTR became more than a childrens book, and Tolkien probably thought of no reasons to leave the Tom Bombadil part out.
My guess is that Tom was the spirit of the earth. More than a Maiar or Istari, because when he put the ring on it had no effect on him.


*SPOILER*

I can't wait for the flashback scene where it shows Gollum as Smeagol, taking the One Ring from Deagol.