Are the Lord of the Rings: Extended Editions that much better or am I just tripping?
- Thread starter Soapbox Killer
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Always a bit confused seeing so much love for FOTR EE these days. People always appreciated some additional scenes, but for years the theatrical version has been considered as having some of the best pacing. EE ruins that for that movie in particular, imo. I actually liked FOTR the least for years because I kept watching the EE, and I always fell asleep. Watched the TE for the first time since 2002 a couple years back, and I was wide awake the whole time. The pacing is waaaaay better, and I finally understood why FOTR was so loved compared to the other two. For me, it might have went from my least favorite to most favorite by dropping the EE, lol.
TT EE is way better, imo. Neutral on ROTK TE vs EE
TT EE is way better, imo. Neutral on ROTK TE vs EE
This is it for me. There are a few scenes that I love and definitely add to the films but overall the EE are definitely worse overall.
If you love the movies give it a shot. His style isn't for everyone and they are quite beefy books but I love them.
Yeah, I don't remember what the theatrical versions even are, I don't think I've seen them since the original run in theaters in the early 2000s.
I love whatever the extended version is.
Well, now I'm intrigued...
I love whatever the extended version is.
Well, now I'm intrigued...
This so much. I really dislike the ROTK EE because of this. It also doesn't help that the special effects with the skulls are so laughably bad, then it ruins any suspense for later in the movie.
Really I don't like the EE of any of the movies all that much, I guess the Two Towers EE was at least okay. The Fellowship of the Ring EE ruined the pacing of the movie and didn't really add much to it. I think the best way to experience the movies is to find fan edits that add back in some of the EE scenes but not all of them (I think it was the Kerr/Hal9000 cut?). Like the beginning of the ROTK EE is much better than the theatrical edition due to wrapping up Saruman's story, but after that section I mostly prefer the theatrical edition. Another stupid scene that didn't happen in the books is that the Witch King breaks Gandalf's staff in the EE, yet Gandalf is seen with his staff at the end of the movie?
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I feel like EE is mainly for fans on a rewatch. If my partner wanted to watch the LOTR movies (she hasn't), we'd watch theatrical
The next level of fan will then decide which version for third and subsequent watches, but we aren't all there
The next level of fan will then decide which version for third and subsequent watches, but we aren't all there
I was seriously disappointed in the extened editions after hearing praise everywhere. Thought their pacing downright sucked and almost all additional scenes did little for me.
Theatrical any day of the week.
Theatrical any day of the week.
Can't ever go back from the EEs. I love all of the extra scenes too much to not want to see them.
Same thing with The Hobbit trilogy, the BoFA in particular. It's the only way to know what happens to the Arkenstone, one of the key pieces of the plot. That and Thorin's funeral not being part of the theatrical cut is worse than Saruman not being in RoTK.
Same thing with The Hobbit trilogy, the BoFA in particular. It's the only way to know what happens to the Arkenstone, one of the key pieces of the plot. That and Thorin's funeral not being part of the theatrical cut is worse than Saruman not being in RoTK.
Extended Editions are much WORSE movies. Thank fucking god for editing.
I can only watch Extended Edition scenes on YouTube, trying to watch it as movies is fucking rough.
I can only watch Extended Edition scenes on YouTube, trying to watch it as movies is fucking rough.
I don't mind them, there's a lot of good stuff added, but every time I've rewatched the movies I still find myself preferring the theatrical cuts, they just move so much better. FOTR/TTT EE at least still mostly work but ROTK EE is the only one that fully breaks down for me, not only destroying any notion of pacing but going so far down the rabbit hole that I feel myself actively not caring about some of the additional scenes.
They absolutely still mean a lot to me, though. The EE DVDs coming out in the summer was just as big a part of the entire experience as the next movie every winter. Christ, and the appendices!! GOAT BTS material.
They absolutely still mean a lot to me, though. The EE DVDs coming out in the summer was just as big a part of the entire experience as the next movie every winter. Christ, and the appendices!! GOAT BTS material.
Having rewatched them recently, I've come to the conclusion that I don't like them. Fellowship is alright, because you don't feel it in that movie. TT is a mixed bag. Some things I like, others I don't. RotK imo is definitely worse. It becomes sooo long and none of the scenes are great additions. I hate the Mouth of Sauron especially, because it feels like an SNL skit.
Also, I have to swap discs in the Extended Edition's in the middle. That is really the nail in the coffin. Weirdly I don't mind the Hobbit EEs.
Also, I have to swap discs in the Extended Edition's in the middle. That is really the nail in the coffin. Weirdly I don't mind the Hobbit EEs.
I think the quality is entirely there in the extra content, and the scenes were cut for time rather than not adding to the movies or not living up to the excellence of the overall package
I haven't seen the theatrical cuts in like 15 years.
Then again, when I do a rewatch I'm going for the full LOTR experience, pacing be damned. But if I was introducing someone to LOTR who isn't really into fantasy epics, then I would probably dig around my DVD box for the theatrical versions. The EEs especially ROTK are a bit bloated and have some unnecessary fan service (ie. some of Gimili's jokes) that throw off the tone of the movie. So LOTR newbs should always go theatrical first. If they dig the series, then they can go EE and never look back.
Then again, when I do a rewatch I'm going for the full LOTR experience, pacing be damned. But if I was introducing someone to LOTR who isn't really into fantasy epics, then I would probably dig around my DVD box for the theatrical versions. The EEs especially ROTK are a bit bloated and have some unnecessary fan service (ie. some of Gimili's jokes) that throw off the tone of the movie. So LOTR newbs should always go theatrical first. If they dig the series, then they can go EE and never look back.
Gandalf losing to the Witch King kinda ruins RotK EE for me.
Can't even remember the extra scenes in the Two Towers. Or really even FotR.
All in all, the theatrical editions were better edited and had less Jackson-isms. I probably need to rewatch the trilogy.
Can't even remember the extra scenes in the Two Towers. Or really even FotR.
All in all, the theatrical editions were better edited and had less Jackson-isms. I probably need to rewatch the trilogy.
I've only seen Two Towers extended and I think it's a terrible version of the film. It turns it into such a joyless dirge, even if there's that one cool Boromir scene
Sometimes omissions aren't a bad thing if it ends up flowing better. I can't judge the other two one way or the other. I have the 4k box that has both the theatrical and standards so I could watch these other 2 as an exercise at some point I guess
I guess my take is if I wanted unadulterated LOTR I would re-read the actual books, I have these as well. Adaptations should involve some compromise to make them work, and the lack of compromise in the TTT EE makes the film a worse film. As someone said, the additions undercut other things. These are narratives that are supposed to be digestible in single sitting as well, unlike the books which you read in chapters over time
Sometimes omissions aren't a bad thing if it ends up flowing better. I can't judge the other two one way or the other. I have the 4k box that has both the theatrical and standards so I could watch these other 2 as an exercise at some point I guess
I guess my take is if I wanted unadulterated LOTR I would re-read the actual books, I have these as well. Adaptations should involve some compromise to make them work, and the lack of compromise in the TTT EE makes the film a worse film. As someone said, the additions undercut other things. These are narratives that are supposed to be digestible in single sitting as well, unlike the books which you read in chapters over time
For me it goes like this:
Fellowship of the Ring: Extended all day. The additional world building fits perfectly into the story.
Two Towers: Theatrical. The original version is totally fine, but the most of the extra scenes in the Extended version drag and hurts the pacing of the film.
Return of the King: I can go either way. There are a couple of scenes that I feel are necessary to the story, but overall there is a lot added to an already long film. I can understand people sticking with the theatrical here.
Personally I always watch the Extended versions when I revisit the trilogy.
Fellowship of the Ring: Extended all day. The additional world building fits perfectly into the story.
Two Towers: Theatrical. The original version is totally fine, but the most of the extra scenes in the Extended version drag and hurts the pacing of the film.
Return of the King: I can go either way. There are a couple of scenes that I feel are necessary to the story, but overall there is a lot added to an already long film. I can understand people sticking with the theatrical here.
Personally I always watch the Extended versions when I revisit the trilogy.
Extended editions are just the movies to me. Haven't seen the theatrical editions since theatres.
The Two Towers Extended has my favorite scene in the entire trilogy.
You are one of the Dúnedain...
www.youtube.com
You are one of the Dúnedain...
The Dunedain -The Two Towers
The Rohan people are still walking around the lakes. Gimli rides on a horse led by Eowyn GIMLI:It's true, you don't see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they ...
www.youtube.com
This was me. Watched them all in the theater. Went to watch them again much later and realized I honestly don't care about LotR. I didn't make it halfway through the first movie at home. Haven't seen any of them a second time to this day.
Maybe one day.
I don't really care for the debate as such - the theatricals are what you watch first. If you liked the theatricals (i.e. if you have a functioning brain) you then watch the extended. You likely won't return to the theatricals after watching the extendeds, except to spread the holy texts to all of your friends and family.
