The Return of the King

Starring:Orson Bean, Theodore Bikel, William Conrad, John Huston, Roddy McDowall, Brother Theodore, Paul Frees, Don Messick, John Stephenson, Casey Kasem, Sonny Melendrez, Nellie Bellflower, Glenn Yarbrough
Director: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The extended editions of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings present the greatest trilogy in film history in the most ambitious sets in DVD history. In bringing J.R.R. Tolkien's nearly unfilmable work to the screen, Jackson benefited from extraordinary special effects, evocative New Zealand locales, and an exceptionally well-chosen cast, but most of all from his own adaptation with co-writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, preserving Tolkien's vision and often his very words, but also making logical changes to accommodate the medium of film. While purists complained about these changes and about characters and scenes left out of the films, the almost two additional hours of material in the extended editions (about 11 hours total) help appease them by delving more deeply into Tolkien's music, the characters, and loose ends that enrich the story, such as an explanation of the Faramir-Denethor relationship, and the appearance of the Mouth of Sauron at the gates of Mordor. In addition, the extended editions offer more bridge material between the films, further confirming that the trilogy is really one long film presented in three pieces (which is why it's the greatest trilogy ever--there's no weak link). The scene of Galadriel's gifts to the Fellowship added to the first film proves significant over the course of the story, while the new Faramir scene at the end of the second film helps set up the third and the new Saruman scene at the beginning of the third film helps conclude the plot of the second.

To top it all off, the extended editions offer four discs per film: two for the longer movie, plus four commentary tracks and stupendous DTS 6.1 ES sound; and two for the bonus material, which covers just about everything from script creation to special effects. The argument was that fans would need both versions because the bonus material is completely different, but the features on the theatrical releases are so vastly inferior that the only reason a fan would need them would be if they wanted to watch the shorter versions they saw in theaters (the last of which, The Return of the King, merely won 11 Oscars). The LOTR extended editions without exception have set the DVD standard by providing a richer film experience that pulls the three films together and further embraces Tolkien's world, a reference-quality home theater experience, and generous, intelligent, and engrossing bonus features. --David Horiuchi

Description

This critically acclaimed epic trilogy follows the quest undertaken by the hobbit, Frodo Baggins, and his fellowship of companions to save Middle-earth by destroying the One Ring and defeating the evil forces of the Dark Lord Sauron. With new and extended scenes carefully added back into the film, the 12-disc set also includes hours of bonus features.

Customer Reviews:

Good Buy.......2007-07-03

Awesome collection of this masterpiece, lord of the rings set as all available behind the scenes and extra we want, and the movie with extended version, what more can you want?

A masterpiece that will go down in history.......2007-07-01

There is a reason why these 3 films got Best Picture nominations (and a win) 3 years in a row as well as winning 11 Oscars in its final year. THESE FILMS ARE AMAZING. Return of the King is the best followed by Fellowship and then Two Towers, but all get 5 stars, placing it as one of the best films ever made. The extended scenes are not really useful but some (like Saruman in "King") are good. The special features makes paying the extra price worth it. Excellent films

I Wish Amazon Has 10 stars to select!.......2007-06-27

The title says it all. This movie trilogy deserve more than 5 stars and this trilogy is the greatest, the best etc etc movie ever made by one of the greatest director.

Miss this kind of movie so much. Hope the will be more from Peter Jackson

A jewel in your shelf.......2007-06-26

this is one of the best products in the dvd market out there. Don't miss the chance to get one before they are gone like the collectors editions with the polystone figures. Which are not in stock anymore.

Pretty slick.......2007-06-25

So far we've watched the first movie. The extra footage is great and holds true to the books. I would recommend this for any fan of LOTR.

The Librarian - Return to King Solomon's Mines

Average customer rating:

Too Funny
librarian/return toking solomons minees
returned to amozon as zone 1 dvd waiting for refund
DVD of Return to King Solomon's Mines
The Librarian

The Librarian - Return to King Solomon's Mines
Starring: Gabrielle Anwar , Jane Curtin , Olympia Dukakis , Robert Foxworth , and Bob Newhart
Director: Jonathan Frakes
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000IJ7A24
Release Date: 2006-12-19

Amazon.com

Only one film under his belt, and already Flynn Carsen (Noah Wylie) is talking like Indiana Jones. "Relax," he tells a companion before daringly retrieving an ancient artifact before it can be used for evil. "This kind of stuff happens to me all the time." A character of modest charms (much like this made-for-cable movie), Carsen is not your typical movie action hero. His brain serves him better than his brawn. Early on, his knowledge of vegetation plays a key role in a cliff-jumping escape from pursuing bad guys. Carsen, for those just tuning in, is a librarian at the Metropolitan Library, which secretly houses history's mythic artifacts, including the sword Excalibur, and the Shroud of Turin. The fate of the world is once again in Carsen's hands when a map to the legendary King Solomon's Mines is stolen. Carsen embarks on another fantastic global adventure, with stops in Casablanca (with inevitable references to the Humphrey Bogart classic) and Kenya. This time, he has new female companionship, Emily (Gabrielle Anwar), a beautiful archaeologist who can match the much-educated Carsen degree for degree. Reprising their roles from the first film are Olympia Dukakis as Flynn's meddling mother, who tries to fix him up with his third cousin ("You'll have plenty to talk about"), Jane Curtin as flinty library administrator, Charlene ("Save your receipts"), and Bob Newhart as his mentor, Judson. Savvy viewers will see plot twists and character revelations coming from a mile away, but that is all part of the fun, as are the hokey special effects and knowing humor ("There's always a secret passage," Carsen observes while navigating a catacomb). Who know if there will ever be another Indiana Jones movie. Until then, The Librarian is worth checking out, especially on DVD, where it can be enjoyed without intrusive commercial interruption. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

Too Funny.......2007-06-10

I love this movie, I have the first one too. I saw them on TNT, and I was so glad when they put them on DVD. I had my Dad watch them, and he loved them too, they are just too funny. And who hates Noah Wyle. :)

librarian/return toking solomons minees.......2007-06-10

excelent movie just as good as the first very enjoyable for all

returned to amozon as zone 1 dvd waiting for refund.......2007-06-04

no email to tell me what is going on with my returns all items listed

DVD of Return to King Solomon's Mines.......2007-05-17

What can I say? The DVD was as advertised, works fine and arrived on time, no problem!

The Librarian.......2007-05-13

This is the best Drama/Comedy that I have watch in a long long time.

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)

Average customer rating:

LOTR
Great DVD!
Brilliant Film!!!!
The Best of the Three
Gotta Have All 3

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)
Starring: Viggo Mortensen , and Liv Tyler
Manufacturer: New Line Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000634DCW
Release Date: 2004-12-14

Amazon.com

The greatest trilogy in film history, presented in the most ambitious sets in DVD history, comes to a grand conclusion with the extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Not only is the third and final installment of Peter Jackson's adaptation of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien the longest of the three, but a full 50 minutes of new material pushes the running time to a whopping 4 hours and 10 minutes. The new scenes are welcome, and the bonus features maintain the high bar set by the first two films, The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers.

What's New?

One of the scenes cut from the theatrical release but included here, the resolution of the Saruman storyline, generated a lot of publicity when the movie opened, as actor Christopher Lee complained in the press about losing his only appearance. It's an excellent scene, one Jackson calls "pure Tolkien," and provides better context for Pippin to find the wizard's palantir in the water, but it's not critical to the film. In fact, "valuable but not critical" might sum up the ROTK extended edition. It's evident that Jackson made the right cuts for the theatrical run, but the extra material provides depth and ties up a number of loose ends, and for those sorry to see the trilogy end (and who isn't?) it's a welcome chance to spend another hour in Middle-earth. Some choice moments are Gandalf's (Ian McKellen) confrontation with the Witch King (we find out what happened to the wizard's staff), the chilling Mouth of Sauron at the gates of Mordor, and Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) being mistaken for Orc soldiers. We get to see more of Éowyn (Miranda Otto), both with Aragorn and on the battlefield, even fighting the hideously deformed Orc lieutenant, Gothmog. We also see her in one of the most anticipated new scenes, the Houses of Healing after the battle of the Pelennor Fields. It doesn't present Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) as a savior as the book did, but it shows the initial meeting between Éowyn and Faramir (David Wenham), a relationship that received only a meaningful glance in the theatrical cut.

If you want to completely immerse yourself in Peter Jackson's marvelous and massive achievement, only the extended edition will do.

And for those who complained, no, there are no new endings, not even the scouring of the Shire, which many fans were hoping to see. Nor is there a scene of Denethor (John Noble) with the palantir, which would have better explained both his foresight and his madness. As Jackson notes, when cuts are made, the secondary characters are the first to go, so there is a new scene of Aragorn finding the palantir in Denethor's robes. Another big difference is Aragorn's confrontation with the King of the Dead. In the theatrical version, we didn't know whether the King had accepted Aragorn's offer when the pirate ships pulled into the harbor; here Jackson assumes that viewers have already experienced that tension, and instead has the army of the dead join the battle in an earlier scene (an extended cameo for Jackson). One can debate which is more effective, but that's why the film is available in both versions. If you feel like watching the relatively shorter version you saw in the theaters, you can. If you want to completely immerse yourself in Peter Jackson's marvelous and massive achievement, only the extended edition will do.

How Are the Bonus Features?

To complete the experience, The Return of the King provides the same sprawling set of features as the previous extended editions: four commentary tracks, sharp picture and thrilling sound, and two discs of excellent documentary material far superior to the recycled material in the theatrical edition. Those who have listened to the seven hours of commentary for the first two extended editions may wonder if they need to hear more, but there was no commentary for the earlier ROTK DVD, so it's still entertaining to hear Jackson break down the film (he says the beacon scene is one of his favorites), discuss differences from the book, point out cameos, and poke fun at himself and the extended-edition concept ("So this is the complete full strangulation, never seen before, here exclusively on DVD!"). The documentaries (some lasting 30 minutes or longer) are of their usual outstanding quality, and there's a riveting storyboard/animatic sequence of the climactic scene, which includes a one-on-one battle between Aragorn and Sauron.

One DVD Set to Rule Them All
Peter Jackson's trilogy has set the standard for fantasy films by adapting the Holy Grail of fantasy stories with a combination of fidelity to the original source and his own vision, supplemented by outstanding writing, near-perfect casting, glorious special effects, and evocative New Zealand locales. The extended editions without exception have set the standard for the DVD medium by providing a richer film experience that pulls the three films together and further embraces Tolkien's world, a reference-quality home theater experience, and generous, intelligent, and engrossing bonus features. --David Horiuchi

Description

The WINNER of 11 Academy Awards* including BEST PICTURE is now 50 minutes longer! This extended version of the epic conclusion of The Lord of the Rings trilogy includes new score by Howard Shore and over 350 new digital effects shots.

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes
Audio Commentary
DVD ROM Features
Documentaries
Easter Eggs

Customer Reviews:

LOTR.......2007-06-27

This was the completion to my LOTR collection. Great buy and even better to watch.

Great DVD!.......2007-06-27

This is the best option to have the Lord of The Rings. Maybe it looks simple outside, but is luxurious inside, very complete, very nice design in everything.
It has Spanish subtitles, and includes an interactive map of the Middle Earth or at least the part of the jorney covered in this DVD.

Brilliant Film!!!!.......2007-06-26

this product is a truly experience in dvd. Extras, comentaries, galleries, etc A lot really. Where to begin? well you better buy it to find out.

The Best of the Three.......2007-05-13

Clearly the BEST movie of the three in the series. I had originally purchased the extended version sets together and, like an idiot sent one of the appendices to Netflix by accident. The appendices were so good and contained so much information about the making of the movie that I was pretty distraught about it. Netflix sent me a credit of twenty dollars, so I purchased this single set to make mine whole again. I would have done the same thing if I had not received any credit, it (the movie) is that good.

Gotta Have All 3.......2007-04-27

the ring trilogy is the ultimate battle between good and evil...and the same struggle within, that we all must face...
...some have criticized these films for not measuring up to the written novels...well i would have to agree with them, but i think it is unfair to "compare something to itself"...they give it like one star?
i mean, come on now...if these same people had not read the books, they would not have been let down...that is only because the books are just too damn good, no movie could ever measure up to them.
...i read these books in middle school in the 80's...loved all of them...the movies do a great job bringing the books to life...the only thing they need to do now is make one more movie out of the first book, "The Hobbit"...they only touched on it for a second or two in the films.
these 3 are my favorite movies of all time.
there's only one thing that sucks about that:
it takes me a whole day to watch all 3...it is hard to find the time.

: - )

wake.

The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

awesome movie
The ring
Purchased out of curiosity
Outstanding! Outstanding! Outstanding!
Better than expected

The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Viggo Mortensen , and Peter Jackson
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001VL0K2
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

As the triumphant start of a trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring leaves you begging for more. By necessity, Peter Jackson's ambitious epic compresses J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings, but this robust adaptation maintains reverent allegiance to Tolkien's creation, instantly qualifying as one of the greatest fantasy films ever made. At 178 minutes, it's long enough to establish the myriad inhabitants of Middle-earth, the legendary Rings of Power, and the fellowship of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and humans--led by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the brave hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood)--who must battle terrifying forces of evil on their perilous journey to destroy the One Ring in the land of Mordor. Superbly paced, the film is both epic and intimate, offering astonishing special effects and production design while emphasizing the emotional intensity of Frodo's adventure, and ends on a perfect note of heroic loyalty and rich anticipation.

After the breaking of the Fellowship, Frodo and Sam journey to Mordor with the creature Gollum as their guide in The Two Towers. Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) join in the defense of the people of Rohan, who are the first target in the eradication of the race of Men by the renegade wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee) and the dark lord Sauron. Fantastic creatures, astounding visual effects, and a climactic battle at the fortress of Helm's Deep make The Two Towers a worthy successor to The Fellowship of the Ring, grander in scale but retaining the story's emotional intimacy.

With The Return of the King, the greatest fantasy epic in film history draws to a grand and glorious conclusion. The trilogy could never fully satisfy those who remain exclusively loyal to Tolkien's expansive literature, but as a showcase for physical and technical craftsmanship it is unsurpassed in pure scale and ambition, setting milestone after cinematic milestone as Frodo and Sam continue their mission to Mordor to destroy the soul-corrupting One Ring. While the heir to the kingdom of Men, Aragorn, endures the massive battle at Minas Tirith with the allegiance of Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf, Frodo and Sam must survive the schizoid deceptions of Gollum, who remains utterly convincing as a hybrid of performance (by Andy Serkis) and subtly nuanced computer animation. Jackson and cowriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have much ground to cover; that they do so with intense pacing and epic sweep is impressive enough, but by investing greater depth and consequence in the actions of fellow hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), they ensure that The Return of the King maintains the trilogy's emphasis on intimate fellowship and remains faithful to Tolkien's overall vision. By ending the LOTR trilogy with noble integrity and faith in the power of imaginative storytelling, The Return of the King, like its predecessors, will stand as an adventure for the ages. --Jeff Shannon and David Horiuchi

Description

Customer Reviews:

awesome movie.......2007-06-12

really great movie. once you start you cant stop watching untill you finish them all.

The ring.......2007-06-02

I think this is one of the best movies made and the game is a whole lot of fun.

Purchased out of curiosity.......2007-05-18

Purchased b/c it was a great deal! And had never seen them. NOT as good as Harry Potter thought. I think they are a bit dragged out, but really good stories. Lots of fighting and blood....I could do w/o half of it.

Outstanding! Outstanding! Outstanding!.......2007-05-14

This is a excellent trilogy set of The Lord Of The Rings! Peter Jackson did a outstanding job of making these 3 films. Wish I could give it more stars than 5, because it keeps you excited and wanting more!

Better than expected.......2007-05-14

I recently hooked up my home entertainment sytem, and started puchasing my favorite movies. I have collected quite a few so far, and i must say that this trilogy is by far the best sounding i have come across. You can definetly see that a lot of attention was paid to detail.

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
LOR Return of the King
Just a couple of questions
Going Down Down Down in a Ring of Fire
LOTR only 5 stars

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Sean Astin , John Rhys-Davies , Brad Dourif , Bernard Hill , and Ian Holm
Director: Peter Jackson
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005JKZY
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

With The Return of the King, the greatest fantasy epic in film history draws to a grand and glorious conclusion. Director Peter Jackson's awe-inspiring adaptation of the Tolkien classic The Lord of the Rings could never fully satisfy those who remain exclusively loyal to Tolkien's expansive literature, but as a showcase for physical and technical craftsmanship it is unsurpassed in pure scale and ambition, setting milestone after cinematic milestone as the brave yet charmingly innocent Hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood) continues his mission to Mordor, where he is destined to destroy the soul-corrupting One Ring of Power in the molten lava of Mount Doom. While the heir to the kingdom of Men, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), endures the massive battle at Minas Tirith with the allegiance of the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) and the great wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Frodo and stalwart companion Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) must survive the schizoid deceptions of Gollum, who remains utterly convincing as a hybrid of performance (by Andy Serkis) and subtly nuanced computer animation.

Jackson and cowriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have much ground to cover; that they do so with intense pacing and epic sweep is impressive enough, but by investing greater depth and consequence in the actions of fellow Hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), they ensure that The Return of the King maintains the trilogy's emphasis on intimate fellowship. While several major characters appear only briefly, and one (Christopher Lee's evil wizard, Saruman) was relegated entirely to the extended-version DVD, Jackson is to be commended for his editorial acumen; like Legolas the archer, his aim as a filmmaker is consistently true, and he remains faithful to Tolkien's overall vision. If Return suffers from too many endings, as some critic suggested, it's only because the epic's conclusion is so loyally inclusive of the actors--most notably Astin--who gave it such strength to begin with. By ending the LOTR trilogy with noble integrity and faith in the power of imaginative storytelling, The Return of the King, like its predecessors, will stand as an adventure for the ages. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The final battle for Middle-earth begins. Frodo and Sam, led by Gollum, continue their dangerous mission toward the fires of Mount Doom in order to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn struggles to fulfill his legacy as he leads his outnumbered followers against the growing power of the Dark Lord Sauron, so that the Ring-bearer may complete his quest.

DVD Features:
3D Animated Menus
DVD ROM Features:Exclusive online content Link to www.lordoftherings.net
Documentaries:3 in-depth programs that reveal the secrets behind the production of this epic adventure, including: "The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision" (23:05) "A Filmmaker's Journey: Making The Return of The King" (28:30) National Geographic Special (45:57)
Featurette:6 featurettes --Aragorn's Destiny (3:25) --Minas Tirith: Capital of Gondor (3:10) --The Battle of Pelennor Fields (2:14) --Samwise the Brave (4:32) --Eowyn: White Lady of Rohan (3:45) --Digital Horse Doubles (4:35)
Other:2-DISC SET The Battle For Middle Eath Continues--Video Games from EA (3:00)
TV Spot
Theatrical Trailer:Original Theatrical Trailers "The Lord of The Rings" Trilogy Supertrailer (6:45)

Customer Reviews:

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.......2007-05-15

I love this triology and purchasing this DVD completes my collection. Thanks for having it at a good price!

LOR Return of the King.......2007-02-09

Wonderful sequel.
Just as good as origonal, perhaps better.
Revisit most of your favorite charactors.
Even with some of the not so cutting edge effects, this adventure movie delivers outstanding entertainment value.

Just a couple of questions.......2007-01-26

Great film, but I have some questions: 1) How come Frodo's mithril shirt stopped the cave troll's spear pretty neatly in Fellowship - yet the spider stabbed him in the gut in the third installment without too much effort at all? And he was definitely wearing the shirt because the orcs later take it from him..and...2)How is it that Gandalf could send in the eagles to a)save himself from Isengard and b) fly Frodo & Sam OUT of Mordor, but he doesn't use the eagles to simply fly the two hobbits INTO Mordor in the first place, and save alot of tedious walking (I know because then there'd be no story!). There's alot to be said for air superiority. One more thing...Isildur with his sword and armor takes the ring from Sauron like how many THOUSANDS of years before this story takes place, and these people are STILL walking around with the same swords and armor??? What kind of stagnant culture is this?.....one of these brilliant wizards certainly could have come up with gunpowder, at least, in a thousand or so yrs.....just some thoughts...

Going Down Down Down in a Ring of Fire.......2007-01-05

I spent the equivalent of a full day's waking-hours in front of my big screen TV this past winter break with just the 2 sets of the four Harry Potter movies and the three Lord of the Rings movies.

I am NOT a couch potato.

Well, at least it was time well spent. Finally...some movies that really make the grade. I've been hard-pressed to find a good 5-star movie that I haven't seen. And here I've had these two sets of films that have been out there all this time that that for whatever reason I've had an aversion to. Silly me.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was movie making at its best. Especially considering that the movie had very high standards to live up to after more than 50 years of building such a loyal, cult following of the classic J.R.R. Tolkien book.

Hobbits, Elves, Men, Dwarves, Wizards, Orcs all co-surviving, albeit without much harmony, in Middle Earth. And all lust for the great Ring of Power made by the Dark Lord Sauron. But only little Frodo Baggins controls its Destiny. Thus is the 9-hour epic saga of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003).

There is a terrific list of A-list actors giving A-list performances. It's a long one: Therefore, most notably you have Elijah Wood as Frodo, Sean Astin as Sam, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Andy Serkis as Gollum (what a performance!), Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, Orlando Bloom as Legolas Greenleaf and John Rhys-Davies as Gimli. I know. I know....How could I not mention Christopher Lee, Liv Tyler and all the others??? Well, that's the point. The whole cast was awesome. Even the no-names that played Orcs.

Kudos to Director Peter Jackson for going beyond the Hollywood standard of 120 minutes to tell each chapter of the story. Jackson kept a lot of the character development that usually isn't transferred from novel to movie adaptation. And Jackson was a master not just at directing his cast, but at getting the special effects perfect. The Lord of the Rings movie adaptation will be as classic as the novel because of Jackson.

If you somehow missed these movies as I did until recently for whatever crazy reason, I hope that my little review has encouraged you to add them to your cart. As for Harry Potter...well that's another review entirely, of course.

Frodo Lives!

LOTR only 5 stars.......2007-01-04

OK, but buy the 6 star version -
The extended 6 movie disc + 6 production disc set .
Watch ALL 12 discs . . . they are the TRUE platinum version , this is only gold.

The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

awesome movie
The ring
Purchased out of curiosity
Outstanding! Outstanding! Outstanding!
Better than expected

The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0001VL0KC
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

awesome movie.......2007-06-12

really great movie. once you start you cant stop watching untill you finish them all.

The ring.......2007-06-02

I think this is one of the best movies made and the game is a whole lot of fun.

Purchased out of curiosity.......2007-05-18

Outstanding! Outstanding! Outstanding!.......2007-05-14

Better than expected.......2007-05-14

The Return of Jafar/Aladdin and the King of Thieves (Aladdin 2 & 3 Collection)

Average customer rating:

Three Stars Because...
Two Great Movies!
Sweet Combos
Some of the best Disney sequels---
the return of robin williams

The Return of Jafar/Aladdin and the King of Thieves (Aladdin 2 & 3 Collection)
Starring: Jonathan Freeman , Gilbert Gottfried , Jason Alexander , Scott Weinger , and Linda Larkin
Director: Tad Stones , Alan Zaslove , and Toby Shelton
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0002YLCGK
Release Date: 2005-01-18

Amazon.com

The Return of Jafar, the 1994, direct-to-video follow-up to Aladdin (it's actually four episodes of the Aladdin television program, back-to-back) is a wash-out compared to the Robin Williams-driven animation feature that kicked off the franchise. The story partially involves the villainous Jafar's parrot--Iago--trying to leave his master and befriend Aladdin and Jasmine. Williams is nowhere to be found, unfortunately; the genie's voice is provided by Dan Castellaneta, and the difference shows. --Tom Keogh

Robin Williams returns as the voice of the hyperactive genie in Aladdin and the King of Thieves, the second direct-to-video sequel to Disney's hit animated feature. Aladdin, the street beggar turned Prince, risks all to find his father among the cutthroat 40 thieves and joins his quest to find a Midas-like stone that turns everything it touches into gold. A significant cut above most made-for-video animation, this energetic adventure largely leaves Princess Jasmine and the genie behind for a father-and-son quest. Guest voice Jerry Orbach suggests Sean Connery with his thick-as-molasses delivery as the master thief Sa'luk and, despite his limited screen time, Williams once again delights with his wild flights of fantasy as the big blue Genie. A rousing tale full of last-minute escapes and spectacular, kid-sized thrills that even parents will find entertaining. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Aladdin's thrilling adventure continues with ALADDIN: THE RETURN OF JAFAR and ALADDIN AND THE KING OF THIEVES -- together for the first time on DVD in the ALADDIN II & III COLLECTION. This exciting two-movie set features two times the magic, two times the fun, and all your favorite characters!

Customer Reviews:

Three Stars Because..........2007-06-27

...they were two brilliant films with real good plot lines and amazing songs. Neither of them were quite as good as the first one but they were close enough.

Two Great Movies!.......2007-01-04

First off, I don't know why everyone doesn't like the movie "The Return of Jafar". In my opinion it's better than "King of Thieves", and a pretty good sequel, for the fantastic movie "Aladdin". I'm going start off by discussing "The Return of Jafar". First, the story, then the songs, then animation, and lastly, characters.

Well, the story is pretty much what everyone expects it to be. Jafar and Iago escape from the lamp and Jafar seeks revenge on Aladdin. Typical. Not that it's bad or anything, it's just that we all expect that.

The songs don't measure up at all to "A Whole New World", "Prince Ali", or "One Jump Ahead", but they're not terrible at the same time. Some can get pretty annoying, like the one that Jafar sings. But some are good and memorable such as "Forget About Love". I found that song beautiful at the end, and humorous at the beginning. Overall they are just average.

The animation was nothing special. The characters look sort of different, and the animation made their facial expressions look a little odd, and their mouths don't really match up to some of the words they're saying. Nothing great about it.

The characters were basically the same from the original. What I want to talk about is the voices. As you probably know, Robin Williams doesn't return for the voice of the Genie, which everyone hates, but I don't think it wrecks the whole movie. Jonathan Freeman returns for Jafar, and that's about it.

Well, now "Aladdin and the King of Thieves". I don't want to say as much.

The story wasn't as interesting to me, because Jafar is dead now, but it involves the forty thieves, and Aladdin finding his long last father who is actually *Spoiler* the leader of the thieves. Interesting.

The songs were better than the Return of Jafar, but they still don't add up the soundtrack of the original. But I did love "Thin Air".

The animation was definitely better than the second one. Not much more to say about that.

The characters were pretty much the same, except for the thieves probably, and the all-seeing oracle. And Robin Williams returns for the voice of the Genie! I bet you all rejoicing about this!

Well, overall I still like the original best, but Return of Jafar and King of Thieves are worthy sequels for Aladdin. And out of those two, I do prefer Return of Jafar, but King of Thieves is still great too. I would buy these movies, if you liked the first Aladdin. Hope this helped!

Sweet Combos.......2006-11-07

I just love it. I try my very best to collect most Disney movies for my son and I end up enjoying them myself. This set of movies are awesome. Let's just say that HILARIOUS is not the word.

Some of the best Disney sequels---.......2006-03-04

A lot of the other reviewers have been rather harsh on what are, ultimately, cartoons. Not that I dismiss these as solely "kid movies" -- but they aren't live action, and such cutting criticism is unwarranted. Movie sequels almost never live up to the originals, and certain qualities always suffer -- in animated films, the depth of the art is the first thing to go. There's no reason that a movie can't still be enjoyable in spite of that, though.

I do think, however, that these movies need to be considered separately. Return of Jafar is, in fact, little better than an extended episode of the TV show. Not that I think there's really anything wrong with this, but it does show -- the animation quality and the vocal acting simply aren't up to movie standard. The plotline, while amusing, is a little flat. There isn't a lot of dimension to any of the characters, and I feel Jasmine most cheated. From the independant, strong, and charismatic heroine of the original film, she becomes far too girly and weak in this sequel. I confess, though, I wasn't as bothered by the lack of Robin Williams here as many reviewers seem to have been. I think there's more to fault with the script than with Dan Castellaneta's skills. For all its flaws, though, this movie is still entertaining, and far from painful to watch. It's a cut above a lot of Disney sequels, that's for sure, and while casual viewers may not delight in it, for a hardcore Aladdin fan like me, it's a fun addition to the saga.

Aladdin and the King of Thieves approaches the quality of the original film. The animation is much closer to feature film standard -- there are still corners cut, most notably in backgrounds and crowd scenes, but the use of shadows, the subtleties of colour and movement, and the expressions of the characters are all of high quality. Where this film really wins out, though, is in the heart -- the story has real emotion to it, and the characters regain the depth they had in the original. Jasmine, it should be noted, returns to her strong and active self, and the new addition to the cast, Cassim, is enchanting (helped in no small part by the vocal acting of John Rhys-Davies, who is doing his best Sean Connery impersonation here). The plotline is not only interesting, with a return to rollicking adventure, but rather touching as well, and the script regains some of the wit and dynamic of the original. This is by far the better of the two sequels, a true joy to watch.

Ultimately, though, these are both far and away the best of the Disney sequels -- certainly much superior to the DTV ones being put out today, as Disney feels compelled to milk every movie it ever made for secondary material. Getting Return of Jafar and King of Thieves together in this set is definitely the best value -- and definitely worth the purchase!

the return of robin williams.......2005-10-08

Aladdin was a great movie for all ages. The sequals had a hard time living up to it.

The Return of Jafar lost me when Robin Williams didn't return as the the lovable guinie. He is what made the first so great. It has a good story line but just wasn't the same.

With Aladdin and the King of Thieves, I did enjoy the return of Robin Williams, but it is just hard for any movie sequal to keep the magic in it.

J.R.R. Tolkien Animated Films Set (The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings/The Return of the King)

Average customer rating:

LOVE IT
A must for all Tolkien - Fans!!
Tolkien package benefit
Better than most say.
The Origins

J.R.R. Tolkien Animated Films Set (The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings/The Return of the King)
Starring: Orson Bean , Richard Boone , Hans Conried , John Huston , and Otto Preminger
Director: Jules Bass , and Arthur Rankin Jr.
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005UM49
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Amazon.com

The Hobbit
The J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy classic set in Middle-earth was adapted into this excellent 1978 animated feature first broadcast on television. Codirectors Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., working from a script by Romeo Muller, are faithful to Tolkien's story and for that alone they get big points. The vocal cast can't be improved upon: Orson Bean is perfect as Bilbo Baggins, the timorous hobbit who grows brave on his adventure with the wizard Gandalf (John Huston). Otto Preminger is the voice of Elvenking, Richard Boone is Smaug, Hans Conried is Thorin, and Brother Theodore is very effective as the weird Gollum. Terrific for kids and adults alike. --Tom Keogh

The Lord of the Rings
Although it was ultimately overshadowed by Peter Jackson's live-action Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ralph Bakshi's animated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classic is not without charms of its own. A target of derision from intolerant fans, this ambitious 1978 production is nevertheless a respectably loyal attempt to animate the first half of Tolkien's trilogy, beginning with the hobbit Frodo's inheritance of the One Ring of power from Bilbo Baggins, and ending with the wizard Gandalf's triumph over the evil army of Orcs. While the dialogue is literate and superbly voiced by a prestigious cast (including John Hurt as Aragorn), Leonard Roseman's accomplished score effectively matches the ominous atmosphere that Bakshi's animation creates and sustains. Bakshi's lamentable decision to combine traditional cel animation with "rotoscoped" (i.e., meticulously traced) live-action footage is jarringly distracting and aesthetically disastrous, but when judged by its narrative content, this Lord of the Rings deserves more credit than it typically receives. --Jeff Shannon

The Return of the King
The creative team behind 1978's impressive animation feature based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit returns with this 1980 entry drawn from Tolkien's famous Lord of the Rings trilogy. It's good work all around, and not at all the kind of feature-length cartoon that reduces good books to treacle. Orson Bean returns as the voice of Bilbo Baggins as well as that of the trilogy's hero, Frodo. John Huston is commanding again as the voice of the wizard Gandalf, and also in the vocal cast are William Conrad, Paul Frees, and Roddy McDowall. --Tom Keogh

Description

Animated versions of three Tolkien classics: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Return of the King.

Customer Reviews:

LOVE IT.......2007-03-09

I love it wish they would of made more of them. They didnt get the two towers in there or the fellowship of the guys that i wanted to make it. Rankin and Bass. but the other fellowship is decent also.

A must for all Tolkien - Fans!!.......2006-11-15

I only can recommand this package to all Tolkien - Fans. It is a nice alternate version of 2/3 of the ring and it includes the only movie adaption of the hobbit so far. (I really hope we get one from Jackson in the near future!!!)

SPIDER-MAN_from_Austria

Tolkien package benefit.......2006-07-02

I have every version of the film adaptations of J.R.R.Tolkien's works. I especially liked having all three of the animated films together. I was a bit disappointed with the packageing. They come in three separate DVDs. (more likely to get splayed around my collection and be harder to find when I want them) And each uses that half sort of clamshell sleeve that I find harder to open and because of the cardboard front flap less secure for the DVD inside. Otherwise, it is the charming, generally more accurate as films go movies you will love however they come. Also, for what you are getting, I thought the price was pretty decent.

Better than most say........2006-03-17

I love these DVD's. There is plenty to nit-pick about and believe me I've got a list. But, don't let that stop you from seeing them. Just don't expect to see something of the same caliber as the Peter Jackson films (I've got a list of nit-picks for them too but, I LOVE them as well.)

As some of you know, two separate teams made these films. "The Hobbit" and "The Return of the King" was made by one and "The Lord of the Rings" was made by another. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. I love them both for different reasons.

The thing I like the most about "The Lord of the Rings" DVD is the way the characters interact and appear to have genuine love and affection for one another. Like, when Gandalf gave Frodo a quick little meep to the nose when they were talking in Rivendell. It was after Frodo awoke and while he was lying in bed talking to Gandalf, who was pacing to and fro, if you're not quick you'll miss it.^_^

The things that bug me the most about "The Lord..." are designs of some of the other characters. The Balrog is, well, lame. Treebeard is awful, except for the charming touch of having leaves flying out of his mouth while he talks. ^_^

The best things about "The Hobbit" and "...the King" is the breathtaking landscapes and backgrounds. I just about cried on the first frame of "The Hobbit" opening on a gorgeous painting of the inside of Bag End. And the music, moving and funny. My favorite song from these films is the one with the words "It's so easy not to try..."

My number one gripe about "The Hobbit" and "...the King" are those wood elves. Yikes! I can't imagine our fair Legolas being of those `orcish' looking creatures. Good grief!

Well, there's tons more I could yammer on about. But, I end it here. See these DVD's. Forgive their shortcomings and enjoy what's right about them.

The Origins.......2006-03-04

When I first watched these videos, I was a child. They were airing on TV. I was excited about the movie remake of this story, but I was disappointed that the movie did not include the full 'origin' of the story, instead replacing it with bits and pieces. I would highly recommend this set to anyone who would like to see the original beginning of the story, "The Hobbit". The Hobbit truely sets the stage for the entire series, and these animations don't disappoint. I would suggest that just because they are animated, using primitive technology by todays standards, don't misjudge them. They are highly creative and respectable, and an excellent story to boot!.

Average customer rating:

Remarkable Acting - Unremarkable Story
Tender and Mature
the wedding night
Very Under-Rated
Very touching story

The Wedding Night
Starring: Gary Cooper , Anna Sten , Ralph Bellamy , Helen Vinson , and Sig Ruman
Director: King Vidor
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B000NIBUTO
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

One of the lesser-known satisfactions in Gary Cooper's career is this 1935 King Vidor film, an offbeat blend of romance, comedy, and tragedy. It begins in screwball territory: Cooper plays a novelist whose partying ways have stalled his career and made his new manuscript unpublishable. He and wife Helen Vinson like the high life (any resemblance to Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald is probably intentional), and she doesn't stick around while he tries to write a new book in a quiet Connecticut country house. The isolation puts him into proximity with a heartfelt young immigrant girl (Anna Sten), whose Polish community provides a subject for his new book.

If you think Cooper was a merely the High Noon guy, a lanky Western hero, this is one of the movies (among many) that dispel the idea: his utter naturalness is a gold standard for a certain kind of movie-star acting. Directing him on the set the first day, Vidor worried about the star's mumbling and forgetfulness with dialogue. "Imagine my amazement," Vidor later wrote, "when I watched our first day's work on the screen and observed and heard a performance that overflowed with charm and personality." Anna Sten was another issue: the Russian actress had been brought to the U.S. with great fanfare by producer Samuel Goldwyn, because he wanted to have his own foreign Garbo/Dietrich under contract. Her cool presence failed to generate audience interest, and Goldwyn gave up on her after The Wedding Night. She's a problem, but Cooper keeps it going, and the movie itself is unexpectedly warm. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Remarkable Acting - Unremarkable Story.......2007-07-04

I wasn't too impressed with the story of this one: A Manhattan writer named Tony (Gary Cooper), who made a splash with his first novel, is suffering from a long dry spell. Running out of cash, he and his wife head off to rural Connecticut where they can reside in his old family home rent-free. The writer gets inspiration for a new novel from his Polish neighbors. He also seems to fall in love at first sight with the Poles' daughter, Manya (Anna Sten). Tony's wife soon heads back to New York City out of boredom, leaving the writer to become more entangled with the Polish girl.

The acting is what makes this film worth watching: Gary Cooper, as usual, has a tremendous screen presence and Anna Sten is surprisingly good. I say "surprisingly" because she has often been accused of giving a "cold" performance that turned people off. It is hard to see why Hollywood gave up on her so quickly (this was her first and last major film). Not only did she possess a highly alluring beauty, but she was excellent in the role of Manya. [Looking at the other Amazon reviews, it seems that most of you out there agree with me on this last point.]

Tender and Mature.......2007-06-18

This tender and mature film from director King Vidor is one of the great forgotten films of the 1930's. There is a sensitive and romantic light hanging over every frame, as though Vidor turned the lamplight low, letting its warm, soft glow set the mood for a rich story of tragic love.

Alfred Newman's lovely score and Gregg Toland's photography gave Anna Sten a chance to truly shine opposite Gary Cooper. Her Manya is sweet and endearing, and it is sad that Goldwyn misused her by trying to make her into another Garbo. She is both funny and charming, and with a gift for conveying emotion on the inside while attempting to mask her feelings.

Edwin Knoff's original story of a writer in need of more inspiration and a lot less boozing returning to his country home in Connecticut has real depth. It doesn't opt for easy answers to lives gone astray. Love's redeeming power, and our connection to the earth, themes running through many of Vidor's works, are important elements in Edith Fitzgerald's screenplay.

Gary Cooper is quite wonderful as the writer who can't get published anymore returning to his home, his New York wife in tow. Helen Vinson lends great support as his wife Dory, and makes her sympathetic even when she leaves Tony (Cooper) and returns to the city for a time. It will prove to be a huge mistake, bringing about tragedy.

Tony finds both solice and inspiration in his lovely Polish neighbor, Manya (Anna Sten). Her gentle presence gives birth to "Earth's Return," a novel he reads to her by the fire. Her smile and gentle laughter is soothing to his soul, and soon there is a deep and unspoken love blooming.

Standing in their way, however, is her traditional Polish family, who have arranged a marriage for her, and his returning wife, who really loves Tony but is not sure how to hang on to him. This is a rich and mature film of a man adrift and the love which brings his soul back to life, with tragic consequences. Filled with warmth and humor, there is a something real about it. A farewell reminiscent of the final scene in Borzage's "Three Comrades" is not soon forgotten.

This is a lovely film from the 1930's which has the maturity of foreign films made decades later. Perhaps only when "The Stranger's Return" and "H.M. Pullman Esq." find a release, will King Vidor's standing as an important figure in American film finally be realized. A tender masterpiece.

the wedding night.......2007-06-03

an author with writers block finds more than he bargained for when he has to go to the country to escape his out of control city life-style. he finds that he has other problems when he falls for a local girl. one of them is how to tell his wife about her.. it isn't easy. and thereby hangs the tale.

Very Under-Rated.......2007-05-18

Over the years, I have repeatedly read that Anna Sten was not highly thought of as an actress. Perhaps something happened with that mysetery known as timing. If "The Wedding Night" is an example of her acting, the mid 1930s American audiences missed something. I think she is superb in this role and has a wonderful doomed chemistry with Gary Cooper. The film itself has a terrific look, as do a number of Goldwyn's films from this period. They appear like handsome leather bound novels in motion. Ralph Bellamy turns in his usual superb performance and captures the essence of these Polish immigrants as a pragmatic people. It's easy to dismiss them as cold and humorless but, to be fair, they most likely, as other immigrants of that time, came from countries where they knew only hardship and had to fight to survive. This clash of cultures leaves the viewer frustrated along with the characters, as the screenplay intends, and "The Wedding Night" elicits a very rewarding viewing experience.

Very touching story.......2007-03-15

This is not one of Cooper's most well known films but it is a very good one and deserves more attention. Cooper is an author who has run out of money and ideas so he and his wife retreat to an old family farm in Connecticut. There he meets Anna Sten who is the daughter of Polish immigrants that run a tobacco farm. She breaks his writer's block and he decides to write a story about her hard working family. Meanwhile his wife has decided to go back to New York city as farm life is not for her. Cooper and Sten fall in love but unlike movies of today there is no graphic sex scene as they do not consumate their feelings. Instead their love is shown very cleverly and sensually through glances that last a little too long and sweet gestures like Anna cooking for him and taking care of him. Her father however has plans for her to marry Frederik played by a young Ralph Bellamy. Frederik discovers that Sten and Cooper are in love but decides to marry her anyway because of the land and house he will get as part of her dowry. This movie has an unhappy ending but it is very fitting for the piece and only adds to it's depth and realism.

On top of this being a very good film it's also a chance to see a young and very handsome Gary Cooper. Anna Sten was quite beautiful also but this was her last major picture as for some reason she just did not "catch on" with the movie public. She is very good in this film however and you won't be disappointed if you check it out.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Theatrical and Extended Limited Edition)

Average customer rating:

Who bought this?
Lord of the Rings, The Best Movie Ever!
lord of rings
Wonderful!
Wonderful Trilogy

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Theatrical and Extended Limited Edition)
Starring: Lord of the Rings 3pak
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - The Complete Recordings
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - The Complete Recordings

ASIN: B000GTLR2A
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Amazon.com

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 trilogy 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 all three films--The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King--are on three double-sided discs. 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 six or seven hours total for each film), 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. 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 Editions.

What's new?
Each film has a second disc with a documentary directed by Costa Botes, who was personally selected by Peter Jackson (about five hours for all three documentaries. Rather than the formal documentary structure of other editions, they consist of off-the-cuff interviews with Peter Jackson, Alan Lee, and others, and random bits of behind-the-scenes action and special-effects work. Those who have worked their way through the many hours of bonus content on the other editions might recognize some of this footage, such as the Hobbit actors mocking whichever of them is not around, then greeting him warmly when he shows up. Other things--Liv Tyler riding a fake horse, interviewing the rank-and-file cast members, touring Peter Jackson's trailer, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd clowning around as a framing device, Ian McKellen flubbing his lines and conducting the crowning ceremony in a flowery wig--seem new. And some bits seem geared to those who've watched the other material--for example, some of the visual tricks explained there are only glimpsed without explanation here. They're entertaining, but because there's no structure (there are chapters, but no menu or chapter listing), they're 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 a la the King Kong Production Diaries due to contractual restrictions.

Bottom line: Do I need this trilogy 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 all the previous editions but has to have everything LOTR. The other is the casual fan who liked the movies in theaters, heard good things about the Extended Editions, 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 all the previous editions but doesn't feel the need to watch more bonus material. When watching the movies, that fan will always choose the Extended Editions, but keeps the theatrical editions for (1) watching with guests, (2) the music videos, 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

Description

Disc 1: For the first time, the Theatrical and Extended versions of each film are on one disc! This 2-sided DVD puts both versions of the epic film on one convenient, portable disc. You can choose which version you'd like to see from the main DVD menu.

Disc 2: Each film has a new behind-the-scenes documentary created by filmmaker Costa Botes. Mr. Botes was personally selected by Peter Jackson to capture every moment during production of the trilogy. He had unprecedented access to the cast and crew during staff meetings and down time, training and rehearsals, laughter and arguments.

Mr. Botes created 3 feature-length documentaries using a raw editing style that gives the viewer a complete fly-on-the-wall experience. Here are the types of stories and moments you can expect to find throughout the 3 documentaries (one per film in the trilogy):

Billy Boyd (Pippin) and Dom Monaghan (Merry) are the ultimate comedy duo, hamming it up for the camera. Highlights of their antics include: candid descriptions of how uncomfortable Treebeard's branches could be, hanging out in their trailer with an "inflatable" friend, and more!
When Peter Jackson loses a roll of 3-D film, it's up to everyone to find it. See the lengths that the crew go to uncover the lost photos!
New Zealand means beautiful landscapes and... rain, snow, wind and more! See how frustrating Mother Nature can be when even the most menacing Ringwraiths must huddle under giant umbrellas.
Even the best laid plans can change and the easiest tasks can take longer than expected... cast and crew deal with scene changes, long hours, overtime and additional takes.
Pranks on set? Really? Get a good laugh from Ian McKellan in a "fancy" Gandalf wig, Andy Serkis assessing his Gollum getup, orcs and Uruk-hai doing a little between-take dancing and more!
And, of course, there are things that go wrong…a phone ringing during a scene, forgetting a line or two, and mastering a fight sequence that doesn't even get into the final film!

FAQs
Still have questions about this release? Here are some Frequently Asked Questions from fans.

When Is The Lord of the Rings Going to Be Released in High Definition (Either HD-DVD or Blu-ray)?
The high definition formats that have recently launched offer exceptional picture and sound quality in addition to new interactive bonus feature capabilities. New Line Home Entertainment is committed to the high definition format and is very excited about the idea of releasing the Trilogy in the format. However, New Line is also committed to maximizing the capabilities of the technology to deliver a cutting edge high definition experience. This will take more time as well as the participation of the filmmakers to achieve. It is currently not scheduled for release until, at the earliest, 2008.

I already own both versions of each film. Why doesn't New Line just release the documentaries?
Having unprecedented access to the cast and crew during film production inevitably means that there are some restrictions. In this case, releasing these documentaries unaccompanied by the film would be nearly impossible because of agreements that are in place with the cast and crew. We wanted to make the documentaries available while also giving the fans something they don't have, which is why we included both versions of the film on one disc.

How are these documentaries different from the ones on the special extended DVD editions?
The in-depth documentaries on the Special Extended DVD Editions were custom made for the DVDs using new interviews from the cast and crew incorporated with the behind-the-scenes footage to tell the stories. The Costa Botes documentaries use only creatively edited behind-the-scenes footage to give you, the viewer, a feeling of "being there" in the moment while things are happening. There is no narrative to tell the story, but instead a constantly running series of clips that show the raw moments that make up the day-to-day progress on a large film production.

Do I have to flip the disc over to watch the whole movie?
Yes. Due to space capacities of the DVD format and the use of seamless branching, both the theatrical and extended versions of the film are split in the middle of disc 1, so part 1 of the film is on one side of the disc and the conclusion is on the other.

Customer Reviews:

Who bought this?.......2007-07-03

Lord of the Rings is an excellent trilogy. I must say that Return of the King had to be my faviorte of the lot. Why do I rate this one star? Whats the point of having a two sided dvd? Put the regular movie on one side and the extended movie on the other side. Was that so hard to think of? They probably just needed some extra cash and didnt think of that idea. I bought the Extended editions to look cool for my dvd collection, but I lent the movies to a friend and left with just the cases. I realized that watching a movie and flipping over the dvd halfway thru the movie was stupid. I bought the regular versions instead of these sets. I'll put them in the extended cases so it looks better. Why would anyone want to watch a movie and get up half way thru it to flip it over anyways?

Lord of the Rings, The Best Movie Ever!.......2007-06-28

Handfull and Compact, this set is the best option to get all in one versions of the movie. However the extra stuff is kind of boring.

lord of rings.......2007-05-30

very nice way to have the full set covers are pretty. Box to hold them all together so when you want to have a movie marathon (cause you are stuck in a snow storm and cant leave house), they are all together and easy to find next one.
Did have a little oops and didnt realize the discs are two sided with part 1 on one side and part 2 on other so had the disc upside down and couldnt figure out where the rest was (only did that on fellowship figured it out and was good by towers). All in all great movies very nice way to have them and make sure you read the books too.J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)

Wonderful!.......2007-05-14

A DVD collection you must have! Greatly designed. Beautiful menus and music. The box design is very nice. Worth to collect it!

Wonderful Trilogy.......2007-05-11

What can be written of this marvelous trilogy, directed by newzelander Peter Jackson? Just enjoy each one of the Oscars that these film earned,
theatrical and director's extended cut, on the same disc.

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