Got tickets to see the trilogy just today, thanks to the good offices of my dear Char and Simon. So, those two, i, and two other friends will be attending this 12-hr geekfest on 16 December.
In other news, Simon is a prat.
My god… Apparently the powers that be at new line cinema have decided to grant my fondest wish about LOTR: Theatrical, all-day marathon of the extended versions of the first two movies, followed immediately by the first screening of The Return of the King.
Only downside? No theatres in Edmonton on that list yet… Who wants to start lobbying with me? I’m so all over that!
(via MeFi)
I’m tired…
But happy - mostly. Went out last night and saw The Two Towers at ~12:05 AM, which would have been a wiser thing to do if i had only, say, not had to work at 8 this morning, and thus gotten only one hour of sleep. The movie was fscking amazing. I will be the first to admit that it didn’t have the visceral thrill to it that FOTR did, simply because FOTR was unburdened by raised expectations. I fully expect, for myself, that subsequent viewings will, as was the case with the first installment, smooth out the rough spots that i noticed. And, of course, i can’t wait for the extended DVD 
The night ended on a bit of a down note, though, which was too bad - i really hate getting in serious scraps with Char, especially ones that lead to the sort of bad feelings spurred by this one. I’m not really gonna go into details, but… Well, it’s not that bad - we’re not breaking up or anything - but it was… unpleasant.
Greetings, again. i have returned from Middle Earth, in a manner of speaking, and i must say, it’s a hell of a trip. The extended edition of the DVD is everything it was billed to be, and more. There were scenes placed back into the movie that, when i first saw it in the theatre, i knew belonged in the movie. There was a generally more calmly-paced feel to the movie. And, by the end, i was just so damn happy to see more of it.
I think more than half of the DVD chapter segments have footage added to them. In addition, there are a few extra scenes, and two, at least, that are completely changed by the new footage.
The first thing you’ll notice is the new introduction - You get to see Isildur put on the ring to hide from the Orcs, and you see it betray him. Much better setup. This is followed by an extended intro to the Shire, where Bilbo reads “On Hobbits” while we get a tour of the Shire’s people. Another thing that i missed from the book was the Sackville-Bagginses. Not anymore… Shortly before Frodo leaves the Shire, there is more added footage of Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin partying at the Green Dragon - some singing, some ale… It’s all good.
Enroute to Rivendell is where the first of the truly important scenes (to me) got added. Frodo and Sam see Elves, as the Elves make their way west to the Grey Havens and the Sea.
More is added to Aragorn’s character, as well - the party is shown in the marshes, complaining about midges as Aragorn leads them. Frodo’s line “he would look fairer and feel fouler” to describe Aragorn is, i think, one that should have been left.
At Rivendell, Boromir is given more personality - you see why he wants the ring more clearly. There’s more here, but to tell the truth, it’s best experienced by surprise.
Moria…
Yeah.
And then there was Lothlorien. To anyone who’s read the book, this is where the DVD pays off. I would tell more, but truly, it’s worth seeing on your own.
Basically, the upshot of all of this is that the DVD was worth every penny. Categorically, clearly, and completely an improvement over the amazing original.
Plus, the Argonath bookends are nifty
It’s HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE!!!!! Yes, this is what you think it is.
So, 35 more minutes…
w00t!
(and, yes, i know this is a smaller posting than i should be wasting time with, but, well, i have a movie to watch- i think i’m allowed to be brief)
Amazon.ca just sent me word that there’s a little something has been shipped at long last. Gawd DAMN, i’m looking forward to this one… It’ll be here late next week, and i swear, i’m just about drooling