LotR: Return of the King, extended version (spoilers!)

[Kylearan]

Hi,

I got the extended version of LotR: Return of the King last week and finally managed to actually watch it. Very nice! The cut-out scenes (48 minutes!) added a lot to the movie, more than the "extensions" to the two previous versions, IMHO. It's *really long* now, though...

Below are some purely subjective comments from me.

Warning! Spoilers!



* Saruman's fate is resolved: Nice. His speech, and the power of his words, was well done. I'm not sure if I like the flashy fireballs that followed (can't remember that something similar happened in the books), but it's fine with me that Saruman dies in Orthanc and not, as in the books, later in the Shire. But I've already spoken with some die-hard Tolkien fanatics who are very upset about that...

* Gandalf explains the story of the White Tree and the fall of Gondor: Would have been good in the original movie, as it would have prevented some confusion for people that haven't read the books (like, my wife ).

* Sam playing the tough guy, warning Gollum: "If anything happens to Frodo, you've me to answer to. ... No more Stinker. You're gone. Got it?" Hmmm...that doesn't sound like the Sam from the books to me. Too threatening, too mean.

* The Path of the Dead was much expanded, and rightly so. The army of the dead plays a very important part, so recruiting them was really worth the extra screen time. I even liked the nearly-buried-under-thousands-of-skulls scene, despite it being a bit too much Hollywood-like.

* Corsairs of Umbar: "Prepare to be boarded!" - "By you and whose army?" Nice scene, including some comic relief (Gimli making Legolas shooting a Corsair instead of a warning shot. Er...a comic relief scene based on someone being killed, even if it's a bad guy? Hm, never mind... ), and sure filling a gap in the story of the cinematic version, re: what happened to the Corsairs.

* The Witch-king of Angmar confronting Gandalf: Argh. This is the only really, really stupid scene in the movie! We hates it. The witch-king draws his flaming sword, Gandalf's staff is shattered, and he lies on the floor, helpless. The witch-king raises his sword to kill him, and...hears the horns of the Rohirrim. And then he flies away without finishing off his most dangerous enemy?!? WTF? Why have the evil ones always to be depicted as sooo stupid?!? :mad:

* Houses of healing: A scene for the fans, showing how Eowyn and Faramir get to know and love each other. Didn't have to be in the cinematic version, but makes a great extra scene in the extended one. I like it.

* Aragorn showing himself to Sauron in the Palantir: Yay! Makes a lot of sense. Explains *why* Sauron fell for the bait at Morannon, even if the challenging army was so small: The heir of Isildur carrying Anduril has appeared! Thanks Peter. Should have been in the cinematic version, IMHO.

* Frodo and Sam disguised as orcs, walking some way in company of orcs, and later tossing away the orcish armor: In the cinema, it looked like Frodo and Sam just teleported over the fields to Mount Doom, so that gap in the story is filled now. But, honestly, I find the Frodo-and-Sam part a bit boring and long-stretched, both in the movie, and even more so in the books...

* In the scene where Frodo lies bound in the Orc tower and the orcs fight for his possessions, the extended version shows an orc running off with Frodo's mithril shirt which I don't think happened in the cinematic version. Didn't look very important at first, but then...the Mouth of Sauron, Mordor's #1 diplomat, appears before the gates of Morannon, showing the coat to Aragorn et al. Yes!!! Thanks Peter! Love the Mouth, love that scene.

* Several more comic relief scenes with Gimli: I guess those who liked the other ones will like them as well, and those who think poor Gimli is mistreated in these scenes will hate them. Well, I liked the scenes overall, but thought at least some jokes should have been at the expense of Legolas. And an *elf* beating a *dwarf* in a drinking game?!? That would have been the perfect moment for Peter to let the dwarf win, after all the falling-from-horse and fearing-the-dead scenes! Ah well.

* And at last, a big "Hooray!" to Peter for *not* expanding the good-bye scenes at the end. They were long enough in the cinematic version, thank you very much!


All in all, this was the best extended version of all the three parts. I hope I'll find the time to see it again soon...

-Kylearan

[WarBlade]

* The Path of the Dead was much expanded, and rightly so. The army of the dead plays a very important part, so recruiting them was really worth the extra screen time. I even liked the nearly-buried-under-thousands-of-skulls scene, despite it being a bit too much Hollywood-like.

I was never a huge fan of this sequence in the theatrical cut, preferring instead the unseen voices in the darkness of the book, but I love the fact that Legolas' little observation on the subject got back in here. I could have done without the skull avalanche though.

* Corsairs of Umbar: "Prepare to be boarded!" - "By you and whose army?"

Ugh! Lame gag. Hated the line. Quietly mumbled the obvious reply along with Mortensen. *sigh*

Nice scene, including some comic relief (Gimli making Legolas shooting a Corsair instead of a warning shot. Er...a comic relief scene based on someone being killed, even if it's a bad guy?

AKA the director himself.

Maybe he'll get a framed arrow to put next to his carrot.

* The Witch-king of Angmar confronting Gandalf: Argh. This is the only really, really stupid scene in the movie! We hates it. The witch-king draws his flaming sword, Gandalf's staff is shattered, and he lies on the floor, helpless. The witch-king raises his sword to kill him, and...hears the horns of the Rohirrim. And then he flies away without finishing off his most dangerous enemy?!? WTF? Why have the evil ones always to be depicted as sooo stupid?!? :mad:

I actually think this is a minor problem compared to Frodo holding up The One Ring to a Nazgul at Osgiliath only for Sauron to fall for the old hobbit with the Palantir decoy trick and thinking it was really at Edoras shortly to be whisked away to Minas Tirith. How could Sauron the Deciever possibly be duped into thinking it was with Pippen when he would have had a Nazgul's reported sighting at Osgiliath?

As for Gandalf versus the Witch King - Nah. You know Gandalf is too sneaky. It was a ruse. A RUSE I TELL YA!

[ShadowHM]

It still bothers me that Merry is unscathed by his attack on the Witch-King. Eowyn is grievously injured by her attack on him, but Merry recovers virtually immediately.

I agree with Kylearan about the gratuitous scene with Gandalf and the Witch-King and with War-Blade about the scene in the Two Towers with Frodo and the Nazgul at Osgiliath. (I just watched that again, and still loved hearing Sam say "We aren't supposed to be here!')

And, yes, WarBlade - I know I said the extended version was to be a Christmas present and I would have to wait to see it. All I can say is - I am weak.

[WarBlade]

It still bothers me that Merry is unscathed by his attack on the Witch-King. Eowyn is grievously injured by her attack on him, but Merry recovers virtually immediately.

Well the extended cut makes it clear that he lies there unconcious for hours until long past nightfall. I find that oddly curious seeing as Eomer finds Eowyn and evidently takes her back to the city. You'd think with all the Rohirrim getting drawn to that little drama someone would have spotted Merry nearby . . .

And, yes, WarBlade - I know I said the extended version was to be a Christmas present and I would have to wait to see it. All I can say is - I am weak.

LOL!

Yes.

Yes you are.

[Kylearan]

Hi,

[Corsair shot "accidentally" by Legolas] AKA the director himself.

Maybe he'll get a framed arrow to put next to his carrot.

*slaps forehead* Ack! I had completely forgotten to look out for Jackson's appearance in this movie, and hadn't recognized him immediately. Thanks for pointing it out!

-Kylearan

[minionman]

I watched it with all four commentaries but still have to see the movie without them.

In general, the extra scenes made it a lot better. I liked it O.K. theatrical but now like what I see a lot special edition.

Battle scenes in Minas Tirith seemed better for some reason, not sure why.

Actor commentary pretty cool, since everyone got mixed together, which I like. Other ones were O.K.

And at last, a big "Hooray!" to Peter for *not* expanding the good-bye scenes at the end. They were long enough in the cinematic version, thank you very much!

Agree as high a percent as I can go.

[Occhidiangela]

The extra scene was silly, but a good giggle.
The TT extra scene, with Gollum, was much funnier, but I unfortunately watched it with the kids at the video controls. A bit rough on the language meter.
Extra scene in FOTR was a hoot, and completely inappropriate for young'ns. I still giggled at it. Who would have thought Buffy was a elf?

Occhi