|
The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Widescreen Edition)
All orders are processed securely through Amazon.com
Usually ships in 24 hours
Alternative Suppliers
New From $2.17, Used From $0.01
See Alternative Suppliers New & Used
AC-3;
Anamorphic;
Closed-captioned;
Color;
Dolby;
Dubbed;
DVD-Video;
Subtitled;
Widescreen;
NTSC;
;
Product Description
-------------------
Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films gave "double-dipping"--releasing a DVD then releasing an improved version shortly afterward--a good name by offering both a better film and stupendous extras in the Extended Editions. This "triple-dip" 2006 Limited Edition falls far short of that standard but is still of interest to devoted and casual fans. What do you get?
Both the theatrical and extended versions of The Return of the King are on one double-sided disc. The versions use seamless branching, meaning that the scenes that are common to both versions are stored on the disc only once. If you choose to watch the extended version, the disc "branches" out to the added or extended scenes. What does this mean to the viewer? Not much. The viewing experience is the same because the branching is imperceptible. But because both versions of the film don't have to be stored on the disc in their entirety (which would be seven and half hours total), both versions together fit on two sides of one disc. The downside is that whichever version you watch, you have to flip over the disc halfway through; the film breaks at the same spot it did on the Extended Edition, right after the entrance of the wolf-head battering ram. Also lost are the meager features included on the theatrical edition, plus the four commentary tracks, two discs of bonus features, and DTS 6.1 ES sound from the four-disc Extended Edition. What's new?
The second disc has an 112-minute documentary directed by Costa Botes, who was personally selected by Peter Jackson. Rather than the formal documentary structure of other editions, it consists of off-the-cuff interviews and random bits of behind-the-scenes action and special-effects work: The charge of the Rohan, the horses, the Mumakils, the lava of Mount Doom, and the burning of the ring. You'll also see Ian McKellen flubbing his lines and conducting the crowning ceremony in a flowery wig. It's entertaining, but because there's no structure (there are chapters, but no menu or chapter listing), it's not as convenient to watch, and go back to, as a documentary broken up into bite-size pieces. Note: New Line Home Entertainment couldn't release this material on its own à la the King Kong Production Diaries due to contractual restrictions. Bottom line: Do I need this edition?
This Limited Edition combination of theatrical and extended versions plus new documentary seems likely to appeal to two camps. One is the devoted fan, who already owns both editions but has to have everything LOTR. The other is the casual fan who liked the movie in theaters, heard good things about the Extended Edition, and doesn't need a ton of bonus material. This edition is attractively priced for that buyer, and the packaging is quite handsome. In between is the devoted fan who already owns both editions but doesn't feel the need to watch more bonus material. When watching the whole movie, that fan will always choose the Extended Edition, but keeps the theatrical edition for (1) watching with guests, (2) the music video, or (3) the convenience of skimming through favorite scenes without having to change discs. That fan can safely skip this edition, as can home-theater fans who love DTS. --David Horiuchi
|
Fans of film and fantasy have had the pleasure of seeing one of the all time classic tales brought forth from the page to the screen. The story of first Bilbo and then Frodo Baggins has captured the imagination of readers for years now. But the translation to screen was slow in coming. An animated version directed by Ralph Bakshi came out in the seventies and was not adopted by the fans. Until Peter Jackson took the bull by the reigns and turned this unfilmable project into the mega success it was, it looked like all hope was lost.
And now, the final chapter in the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy arrives. The wait was more than worth it. The story of a ring of power that had to be destroyed started with THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, where a group of beings from Middle Earth joined together to accomplish this task. THE TWO TOWERS took us further down that same journey, featuring the tremendous battle of Helm's Deep. THE RETURN OF THE KING takes what was best of both previous films and pulls it all together.
The story picks up with Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) still making the dangerous trek to Mordor in an attempt to destroy the ring of power and save Middle Earth. Still in their company is Gollum (Andy Sirkis), longing to possess the ring once more and plotting against the pair as they near their destination.
The other members of the Fellowship have now reached the fallen tower of Saruman The White (Christopher Lee) and found Merry and Pippin (Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd). In counsel with Theoden (Bernard Hill), Gandalf the wizard (Ian McKellan) and Aragorn (Vigo Mortensen) warn of the coming danger. Finding an orb that connects Merry to the evil Sauron, Gandalf and Merry travel to Minas Trith to warn of the danger and organize an army to protect the rest of Middle Earth from the oncoming attacks of Sauron and his legions of orcs. Instead they find the steward of Minas Trith refusing to surrender the throne to the true king, Aragorn.
The rest of the Fellowship wait for a sign from Minas Trith which comes but perhaps too late as the legions of Sauron are upon them. As they prepare for battle, Aragorn leaves them in an attempt to round up more warriors since they are currently outnumbered. The ghosts of fallen defenders of the crown are called upon to pay off the oath they took to do so.
All of the pieces are placed on the board and we watch as the battle of Minas Trith begins. It is an amazing sight to see as creatures that cannot exist ridden by other creatures that cannot be attack. Flying dragons ridden by frightful leaders, orcs in battle gear raging against the walls of Minas Trith and mobile towers set to allow easy access to the walled city are brought forth and made believable.
All the while, Frodo, Sam and Gollum are nearing the dark lands. The treachery of Gollum is seen by Sam but Frodo continues to defend him, putting the trio at peril. It isn't until near the films end that what it intends for Frodo is revealed.
All of these stories meld into one another easily, creating a tale that is not near as complicated to follow as one would think. The storytelling done here makes it seem real, pulls the viewer into the action and makes you care about each and every character. Even side characters are developed enough that you worry about the outcome of each one.
To reveal the end would be more than just offering a spoiler to readers. The fact is that not everyone comes home by films end. Heroes are revealed, romances are fulfilled and the journey DOES end, sad but true. And it does so with style.
While the two previous films have been overlooked at award ceremonies, to do so now would simply be spiteful in the face of its success. This movie delivers what all have waited for and expected.
As I watched form beginning to end, I felt the same feeling that came over me as I watched the earlier films. We live in a world where heroes are torn down on a daily basis. The good deeds done by those we were brought up to respect are overlooked in an effort by one group or another trying to push forth their own agenda by making them look bad. Take Thomas Jefferson for example. All of his accomplishments have been overlooked in favor of his having a slave as a mistress. This is how we treat heroes today.
But not in fiction, or at least some of it. The lessons of life, the unwanted but sometimes unavoidable task at hand of going to battle, sacrificing oneself for the good of the rest, attempting to actually achieve something without the playing field made level, all of these are depicted in this story. Admiration for these characters, people who find their destinies linked, who have to do all that they can to save their way of life, is felt from the first frame to the last.
Epic films of the past have marveled audiences for decades. The chariot race from BEN-HUR, the desert sands from LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, the demolition of the bridge in BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, have been used to mark film history in both quality and esteem. It is time that these films received the recognition that they deserve as well.
In my 50 years on Earth, I have seen tons of movies. Rarely have I had the chance to see a movie, no a series of movies, that have captured my imagination so well. No time have I seen a series of films (including STAR WARS) that have made me long for the next chapter. These movies are made to be seen on a big screen. Thank goodness big screen TVs have arrived in the nick of time.;
[Rating: 5 Stars]
Rare is the movie that one can say has everything. Hollywood used to produce these during the 1960's; classics like Ben-Hur, Cleopatra, Spartacus, and The Ten Commandments. But even these pale to the 4.5 hour epic that is Return of the King. The latter has everything; comedy, romance, action, suspense, drama, a great soundtrack, incredible cinematography, unrivaled special effects, a grand cast, and of course; a happy ending. Unlike other epic movies, this one contains numerous scenes that are of a climactic quality; whether it be the Ring's destruction; the triumphant charge of the Rohirrim on Pelennor Fields, the lighting of the torches from Gondor to Rohan, or even Faramir's charge at the behest of his father. The entire movie makes for an incredible emotional roller coaster. And unlike its two predecessors; this one did get Best Picture, along with 10 other Oscars; all of which were well deserved.
Now that I have heaped the praise, lets point out what could have been improved. First and foremost; for the length of the movie; it leaves out a lot of important material from the book. Better for the story and for the critics to include everything from the book, and brake it up into two separate movies. Conclude the first one with the death of Theoden, and include Sharky's (Saruman) conquest of the shire.
A second letdown was Faramir's defense of Osgiliath during the invasion of Sauron's army. It was portrayed very poorly. From the Fellowship of the Ring up to this point, one gets the feeling that Boromir was the swordsman who preferred intimate conflict while Faramir was the archer who'd rather act from afar. Yet when Faramir prepares his men to repel the Orc amphibious invasion, he has his men take up swords and fight on ground level. A more appropriate defense would be for the men to take refuge on the rooftops and decimate the invading orcs with arrows; nearly all the Gondorian soldiers had bows and arrows. They would have lasted a lot longer, and might have even repulsed the invasion.
The third major failing was Aragorn's triumphant entry onto Pelennor Fields with the Army of the Dead. It seems as if the orcs just line up to be killed by Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. This contrasts greatly with every previous battle scene where the orcs are quite vicious and skilled in combat.
|