If you haven't been embroiled in the debate over the revised color timing that graces the new Extended Edition release of Fellowship of the Ring, be grateful. The differences in color and contrast between the extended cut's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer and its theatrical cut presentation are slight but somewhat unmistakable; the differences in color and contrast between the EE's presentation and that of its 2002 Extended Edition DVD counterpart are as well. Shadows are darker, saturation has been dampened in key scenes (the Council of Elrond, in particular), crush is now more problematic than before, and greens and cyans, though already heavily at play in the film's original palette, have been slightly intensified throughout, in some cases during sequences that once featured very little green or cyan at all. In fact, all objective analyses show that a blanket tint is present (to some degree) over the course of the entire film. It isn't always apparent -- reds are still red, blues are still blue, they're just different shades of red and blue -- but it is there. Any ensuing debate, though, needs to center on film revisionism, and nothing more. Both Peter Jackson and director of photography Andrew Lesnie have confirmed that the new color grade was intentional and was created under their supervision. To those who are upset by these changes in principle, to those who believe a film should remain untouched, I sympathize and, I have to say, I agree to some extent. I would simply remind you that this is Peter Jackson's extended cut; he has always made it clear that his extended cuts are not his Director's Cuts, nor the versions of the films he considers canon or sacrosanct. They are meant to supplement, not supplant, the theatrical cuts. Lest we forget, the extended editions have been an exercise in revisionism since their inception. The fact that the color changes weren't made to the 2010 theatrical version -- effectively preserving Jackson's original vision -- should take some of the sting out of the issue.
To those who are pleased with these changes, there is absolutely no harm in raising the question of why Fellowship's palette is suddenly being changed or, more importantly, why a blanket tint -- however obvious or imperceptible it might be -- has been added to the film. It is admittedly odd at times, especially when key shots from Fellowship appear again in The Two Towers and The Return of the King without the green/cyan tint. (The flashback to Boromir's death in The Return of the King isn't affected by the tint; other flashbacks follow suit.) Thankfully, the obvious answer -- Jackson is in the unique position to see The Fellowship of the Ring in the context of the Hobbit films and adjusted the FOTR palette to bring it in line with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey -- is now confirmed, as the Blu-ray presentation of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey exhibits strikingly similar (albeit more refined and precisely implemented) color grading. For me, any lingering doubt has been officially quashed.
Rhaegar, despite wounding Robert, was struck down with a massive blow from Robert's warhammer, which scattered the rubies encrusted in Rhaegar's armor under the water. Rhaegar died with Lyanna Stark's name on his lips.
Finally saw the battle of the five Armies, maybe because I had low expectations I quite liked it. It had a lot less filler and wasted time ( except for every single scene with that Alfrid shithead ). It was the shortest of the 3 films and was much appreciated.
Still, I will probably not buy it...afterall I have the original trilogy to buy on Bluray anyways.
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"Robert was never the same after he put on that crown. Some men are like swords, made for fighting. Hang them up and they go to rust.” -DN
So I went back and watched the films and in retrospect I have been a bit overly harsh, the effects are quite good, the actors are amazing and give it their all, yes the films have serious pacing issues and way too much bloat, but I would not call them bad. But not in the same league as the original trilogy, but certainly not the trainwrecks of the Star Wars prequels were. They also has massive expectations to live up to and the originals are sooo damn good
I will certainly check out the 3 and 4 hours fan edits and see how they stack up.
I wonder what is next. I never read "The Simarillion" so I have no idea how developed it was at Tolkiens death.
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"Robert was never the same after he put on that crown. Some men are like swords, made for fighting. Hang them up and they go to rust.” -DN
So I went back and watched the films and in retrospect I have been a bit overly harsh, the effects are quite good, the actors are amazing and give it their all, yes the films have serious pacing issues and way too much bloat, but I would not call them bad. But not in the same league as the original trilogy, but certainly not the trainwrecks of the Star Wars prequels were. They also has massive expectations to live up to and the originals are sooo damn good
Oh shit Don, slowly blink your eyes twice if Al is pointing a gun at you.
Morse code: "Send help...Al, has a shotgun up my ass".....
If I would give both trilogies a score, I would give TLOTR a 9.5 and The Hobbit trilogy a 6.5
Don, I am in the same boat. Around a 6 is where I'd put The Hobbit. Now if only you and Al could reconsider the Star Wars prequels wouldn't life be wonderful?
-- Edited by TormundsWoman on Friday 27th of February 2015 05:26:31 PM
If it wasn't for your delicious avatar i would be very upset with you for kidnapping and forcing Don to give praise to The Hobbit, Al. As it is, i'm just mildly annoyed.
Ok, watched the third movie yesterday and it really is a good movie, i would give it a 8 out of 10. But still doesn't justify making it a trilogy, i mean 2 movies max but definitely not 3.
Surprisingly honest behind the scene featurettte, the cast and crew talk about the many issues behind the scenes that caused the Hobbit series to be a hot mess:
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"Robert was never the same after he put on that crown. Some men are like swords, made for fighting. Hang them up and they go to rust.” -DN
Wow. They winged most of the preparation. Start from scratch for a different director (PJ), short perp time that basically gave them no prep time for fully revised scripts, storyboards, anything! And I heard so many "we had/ I had to wing it". No doubt it happens when shooting but to bring the whole production to a halt or give hours of 1.5 hour lunch between takes at actors because they don't even know how the scene is supposed to look like. Just wow.
No surprise there, that was pretty obvious from watching this tripe. By far the worst movie trilogy ever made (yes, even worse than Big Momma's House).
I RENTED IT. 
Lyanna! I got a VHS player and the first three eps of Star Wars on tapes. I refuse to buy DVDs for those. It's just not right.
that would of saved those movies IMO.