The Lord Of The Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Widescreen Edition) (2003)

Hopefully the extended version of the third will also be a big improvement, much needed as important parts of the story are absent in the theatrical relase of Return of the King. Unfortunately Peter Jackson added a Hollywood passionate love story to the film that was contrary to the more virtuous actions of the characters in the book. By twisting the story around, the film substituted feelings and passion for Tolkien's characters' charity, honor, and duty.

The extended "Fellowship of the Ring" is one of the best movies ever made. Hopefully the extended "Return of the King" will live up to that standard by flowing more smoothly and reflecting Tolkien a little better.

In short, save your money and time for the better trilogy, or if you haven't seen the first 2, buy the separate extended versions and wait for the third.

While Jackson is being lauded for his amazing battle scenes, there is so much more to the books--and the films--than that. Considering Tolkien wrote the books decades ago, even the female characters, though few, are strong in their own right, rather than passive victims to be rescued. And, yes, Peter Jackson made some changes, but kept true to Tolkien's conception. A previous reviewer's correcting of Jackson's "changes" are themselves not completely accurate:

1. The time constraints of a movie are exceedingly different from the pacing of a book. Jackson did give proportionately more time to the love between Aragorn and Arwen than the book does, but it is not true that in the book it is "almost nonexistent". Try reading Tolkien more thoroughly. The appendices are almost a third of the last book, and add a lot of information.

And speaking of book/movie comparisons, the time spent on special effect battle scenes in the movies far surpasses the space given to battle scenes in the books. We're not hearing a lot of complaining about that, but if you haven't read the books and are intrigued by Tolkien's world, you'll find much to love in the full works.

2.The same reviewer claims that Eowyn's slaying of the king of the Nazgul was politically correct cuteness on Jackson's part. Not true. Read the scene in the book again. It did matter that she was a woman, and while Merry's help was invaluable, the final mortal blow was Eowyn's:

" 'Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!'
'But no living man am I! You look upon a woman.'
The Ringwraith made no answer, and was silent, as if in sudden doubt....Then tottering, struggling up, with her last strength she drove her sword between crown and mantle, as the great shoulders bowed before her after being stabbed behind the knee by Merry. The sword broke sparkling into many shards. The crown rolled away with a clang. Eowyn fell forward upon her fallen foe."

Scenes in the book are certainly open to interpretation. But there's a lot of evidence for Jackson's correct interpretation of this scene.

All in all, wonderful--books and films, both.

In December, the final extended version of the trilogy will be released, and just look how incredible it will be compared to the theaterical cut:

From THE DIGITAL BITS: "In other DVD release news, Entertainment Weekly magazine posted a short blurb in their June 19th issue about what we can expect on the forthcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Special Extended DVD Edition (which arrives in December - street date TBA). Look for the film to be a whopping 49 minute longer, complete with more than 300 new FX shots completed just for this release. Among the new scenes you'll see will be Gandalf facing down the Witch King at Minas Tirith, the Mouth of Sauron taunting Aragorn and company at the Black Gates, Aragorn tending to Eowyn at the House of Healing, and Gandalf's final confrontation with the wizard Saruman. You'll also get more audio commentaries from everyone involved, two discs worth of exclusive, in-depth documentaries and (we've heard) a pretty funny Easter egg or two. Look for the 4-disc set's faux leather slipcase to be blue. We'll post further details as they become available."

The directors extended versions are much more fullfilling and tell the story better than the theatrical cuts!