RotK Extended Edition possibly 5 hours long?

[Dark Jezter]

In November 2004 we'll see the RotK EE. In November 2005 I would bet that we'll see a box set of all 3 movies that are even longer then the extended versions we have now.

Since they're already calling them Platinum Collector's Editions the 3 move box set will be the Titanium Ultimate Collector's Gift Set that contains not only the 3 movies but 40 DVD's of interviews, specials, ect with little statues of the 9 members of the Fellowship and the 9 Nazgul along with minitures of Orthanc, Barad-Dur, Minas Tirith and Minas Morgul. It'll probably sell for $349.95

And you know something? I'd buy that too. That's how bad I am.

I doubt very much that will happen. I can't recall the source, but Peter Jackson has stated that he will not go back and release "super extended editions" that contain even more deleted scenes.

If you have the Extended Edition DVDs, you can rest assured that you have seen everything there is to see, and you won't have to worry about new editions coming out in a few years with new scenes added.

 

[Umbran]

The amount of material "left on the cutting room floor" often rivals in length what made it into the final film.

Yes, and as you can see from watching the "deleted scenes" on most DVDs that have them, that material that ends up on the floor ends up there for a reason - it isn't very good.

So, I'll be the one to voice the heresy that more is not necessarily better. Yes, there's a few things I'd like to see put back into RotK, but I doubt it amounts to an extra 2 hours.

 

[Bass Puppet]

I've enjoyed the EE on both FotR and TTT so I have no doubt that this will be even better than the Theatrical Release. From what I have read on these threads (and others) that half the stuff that we didn't like about RotK will be added. I don't understand how some people who spend hours on end reading, say that adding more to the film won't necessarily be a good thing. Yes, I know, Cinema and Novels are two different worlds, but lets be real, these movies were based off of books.

 

[Umbran]

I don't understand how some people who spend hours on end reading, say that adding more to the film won't necessarily be a good thing.

Well, for example, much of the extra footage shot for any given film are the scenes that are already there, from different angles. Repetition is boring. Or, for another (admittedly absurd) example, say they did a 15 minute section of Aragorns teeth. Putting that in would be boring.

Being based on a good book does not ensure that every inch of film is good. Some parts of the bok are less than spectacular themselves. And sometimes the actors just don't get the delivery right. Or the scene as a whole just doesn't work cinematically.

If they have stuff to fill in the story, and that stuff is as good as what we saw on screen, then cool. But I'm sure not interested in extra footage merely for the sake of extra footage.

 

[Endur]

I disagree with this. The Two Towers was a much better movie with the deleted scenes. I'm certain that ROTK will also be better.

A non-Peter Jackson example of a movie that was much better with the deleted scenes is "Gladiator". The original cut out many scenes that featured other actors and kept in all of the Russell Crowe scenes. The editing basically butchered most of the politics that was going on in the Roman senate. When those scenes are restored, the movie makes much more sense.

Film editing is an art, and sometimes the deleted film are materials that should be deleted, and sometimes its not.

Yes, and as you can see from watching the "deleted scenes" on most DVDs that have them, that material that ends up on the floor ends up there for a reason - it isn't very good.

 

[Umbran]

I disagree with this.

Did you miss the word "most" in there. There's always exceptions. Unless you intend to say that yes, the stuff that get's edited out is always good - but then we should all be prayign for an Extended Edition of teh D&D movie, as the added material woudl make it better and longher, rather than just longer

I don't doubt that there's occasions where some edited material is good, and makes the DVD cut a better story. However, somehow I doubt that nearly an entire extra film of good RotK material that can be slapped back in hit the cutting room floor. I just don't think that sounds reasonable.

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

A fate worse than death

Remember folks, that the original company Peter Jackson signed up with demanded he produce a single, 2 hour film, to cover the entirety of LOTR.
LOTR - FOTR, TTT, ROTK - in 2 hours?
There are some places even my warped imagination won't go, and that's one of them.

New Line was more reasonable ... they wanted two 2 hour films. Another place my imagination does not want to go.
Then, they upped it to three 2 hour films. Still as horrible as Mordor, but at least I can imagine the disaster, and shudder at it.

Finally, New Line upped it to three 3 hour films, and we got LOTR. Crammed, rushed, theatrical LOTR, but at least it WAS Lord of the Rings.

You do realize they could make six full length feature films out of Peter Jackson's material, don't you?
Each of these films would be well over 2 hours long.
A great deal of footage was not included in the Extended Versions on DVD, and by this I'm referring to worthwhile footage like the Company battling the Orcs outside Lothlorien.
Add that in, and I think we have our six films.
Heck, add in the Old Forest, Tom Bombadil, and the Barrow-Downs, and the first of the six films would be 3 hours long again!

 

[Michael Morris]

Tolkien's Lord of the Rings will never see film. It can only be done as a miniseries - I envision a 12 3 hour episodes a 'la Band of Brothers on HBO. Until then, Peter Jackson came as close as is possible given the medium.

BTW, Episodes In my mind.

1. The One is Found
2. The Journey to Rivendell
3. The Fellowship of the Ring
4. The Ring Goes South
   
5. The Tower of Isengard
6. The Defense of Rohan
7. The Taming of Smeagol
8. The Marshalling of Hosts
   
9. The Tower of Cirith Ungol
10. The Battle of the Pellanor Fields
11. The Return of the King
12. The Journey Home

That's s draft I won't put further thought into, cause even if it comes about I won't be at the helm.

 

[Umbran]

A great deal of footage was not included in the Extended Versions on DVD, and by this I'm referring to worthwhile footage like the Company battling the Orcs outside Lothlorien.

Perhaps. I don't know about you, but I don't watch the movies for fight scenes that don't advance the plot. A fight with orc outside Lothlorien would be exactly that. If the thing is to be longer, it should have more story, not merely more footage.

Heck, add in the Old Forest, Tom Bombadil, and the Barrow-Downs, and the first of the six films would be 3 hours long again!

Well, now you're going into a different issue. Sure Tolkien put in enough material to have lots more footage, but Jackson didn't shoot all of it. You can't put back in things that were never shot.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

Perhaps a bit off topic, but the only thing I miss - or wish was part of the EEs - was out takes. Goofs and line flubs and Viggo accidently killing stunt men, that sort of thing.