I’m not going to go through this review as I usually do. You understand the story that a hobbit was chosen to go throw a ring down the fiery pits of Mount Doom, so that Sauron’s forces can be stopped in their plight to destroy everything good on Middle Earth.
If you’re not familiar with the story then you need to purchase these because you truly won’t understand why we’re reviewing aspects of this movie that we’re reviewing.
Anyway, there are three important things that people want to know about LOTR on Blu-ray. They are broken down as such:
– Does it look great on Blu-ray?
– Extended or Regular?
– Features any better?
Just beautiful enough for the shire
First, you should know that the Blu-ray upgrade from film to HD is improved. There are moments, such as in the The Two Towers when Gandalf and crew are riding to Rohan to speak to Théoden, where there is some minor graininess that appears in the background and foreground shots. It’s nothing that a little bit of a clean-up job could correct, but regretfully it’s there. There are these types of moments and there are moments where the picture just simply looks stunning. For example, when the great battle of Gondor erupts, the white of the castle, the dark shadows caused by the oncoming storm and the gigantic army raiding the gates is nothing less than high quality eye candy.
It varies here and there in quality, but for the most part it’s still a stunning upgrade from the DVD version.
Now, you might be asking yourself, “Did you try on multiple televisions?” The answer is a resounding ‘yes’. I tried it on two 52″ Samsung televisions (one that was manufactured in 2007 and the other in 2009). I tried it on a Hyundai set that only shows 720p. I tried it on a 52″ Sony television and I tried it on a 23″ 1080p monitor. The results pointed to the same thing, it’s not perfect, but it’s much better than the DVD you probably have in your library.
Again, there are artifacts and then there are some simply gorgeous moments that will make you proud that Peter Jackson’s crew had wonderful ideas and settings for the story.
Shifting gears, just slightly, the audio from Howard Shore is hauntingly captivating for the ears. Between visuals and audio, I think that Warner got the audio perfect. If you are lucky enough to have a high-end audio system that sports some HD qualities then you’re in for a treat. Now, this isn’t only for music, but the sound effects as well. The great battle at Gondor is going to give you goosebumps and probably give your neighbors reason to call the police (as they may fear that you’re life/lives are in danger). Yes, it’s that good.
So rest at ease, you get an HD upgrade with these epic films.
Extension for the extended
Ah, the one burning question from fans/lovers of LOTR: Is the Blu-ray going to be the extended versions or the original theatrical releases?
Regretfully you only get the theatrical releases.
I know, I know it’s tough to deal with. I understand that there is some slight disappointment at the absence of additional content that really drives home the books on film. I get it and I would love to give you a hug saying it’s going to be okay.
Fact is this, if you’re a huge fan of the books (like the guy reading the books over and over again each summer) then you’re going to probably begrudgingly purchase these. Keep in mind that there isn’t anything wrong with doing this. As a Star Wars fanatic I completely feel your pain and say, “Take it like an Orc!” You will purchase these and when WB probably (just guessing here) brings out the extended Blu-rays closer to the release of The Hobbit then you’ll purchase those as well.
With that out of the way, for those of you that simply don’t give a hoot about the extended versions, like yours truly, and that can’t spare more than three hours for a film, like yours truly, then have at these! These original theatrical releases still give you a damn good story and you won’t lose anything in the process.
I’ve sat through Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet in the theater and my ass simply can’t take another go around like that.
Not to say that when the extended versions do reach Blu-ray that I won’t want to review them (because I do! Ignore the previous sentence, Warner Home Video! Ignore it!).
Do you really need anymore features than this?
It has been awhile since I’ve seen a shit load of features on a Blu-ray release like this. You get about everything you would ever want out of these features. You have a complete process breakdown of each movie. You get a ton of footage that includes short films and features from Starz. You even get National Geographic features! Now, you’re going to probably not like the fact that they’re in SD and on DVDs, but why should you care? The purpose of a feature is to be an ‘add-on’ for the films. I could careless if they’re in SD or HD, though HD would be nice.
I know that you’ve seen some, if not most, of these as well. With that said, the features are good, but not great. I still think that there’s plenty to be had here and for first time LOTR moviegoers this is going to be simply gold.
Here’s what you’re looking accompanying each film:
The Fellowship of the Ring
• Welcome to Middle-earth: Houghton Mifflin In-Store Special
• Quest for the Ring: FOX TV Special
• A Passage to Middle-earth: SCI-FI Channel Special
• lordoftherings.net Featurettes
◦ Finding Hobbiton
◦ Hobbiton Comes Alive
◦ Believing the World of Bree
◦ Ringwraiths: The Fallen Kings
◦ Rivendell: The Elven Refuge
◦ Languages of Middle-earth
◦ Two Wizards
◦ Music of Middle-earth
◦ Elijah Wood
◦ Viggo Mortensen
◦ Orlando Bloom
◦ Cate Blanchett
◦ Liv Tyler
◦ Ian McKellen
◦ Weathertop: The Windy Hill
• TV Spots
◦ MTV
◦ Fellowship
◦ Top Ten/AFI
◦ Phenomenon
• Academy Nomination
• Epic Oscar
• Enya ”May It Be” Music Video
• Special Extended DVD Edition Preview
• Behind the Scenes Preview of ”The Two Towers”
The Two Towers
• On the Set “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”
• Starz Encore Special:Return to Middle-earth: WB Special
• ”The Long and Short of It” A Short Film Directed by Sean Astin
• The Making of ”The Long and Short of It”
• lordoftherings.net Featurettes
◦ Forces of Darkness
◦ Designing the Sounds of Middle-earth
◦ Edoras: The Rohan Capital
◦ Creatures of Middle-earth
◦ Gandalf the White
◦ Arms and Armor
◦ The Battle of Helm’s Deep
◦ Bringing Gollum to Life
• TV Spots
◦ New Power
◦ Another
◦ Event
◦ Dream
◦ Darkness
◦ Return
◦ Strike
◦ Countdown
◦ One World Review
◦ The Wait is Over
◦ Review B/Golden Globes
◦ Gollum
◦ Supreme Review
◦ Review A/Globe
◦ Good Top 10
◦ Top 10 Review
• Emiliana Torrini ”Gollum’s Song” Music Video
• Special Extended DVD Edition Preview
• Behind the Scenes Preview of ”The Return of the King”
The Return of the King
• The Quest Fulfilled: A Director’s Vision
• A Filmmaker’s Journey: Making “The Return of the King”
• National Geographic Special – “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
• lordoftherings.net Featurettes
◦ Aragorn’s Destiny
◦ Minas Tirith: Capital of Gondor
◦ The Battle of Pelennor Fields
◦ Samwise the Brave
◦ Èowyn: White Lady of Rohan
◦ Digital Horse Doubles
◦ Two Theatrical Trailers
◦ TV Spots
◦ Heart/Frodo
◦ Every Path
◦ Test
◦ Aragorn
◦ Time
◦ Every Step
◦ Sword
◦ Decided
◦ Time Review
◦ Decided Review
◦ Step Golden Globes
◦ Globe Nominations
◦ New Epic Globe