The Lord of the Rings on DVD & VHS Lord of the Rings is the kind of high stakes Hollywood gamble that will be talked about for years. In a major departure from the modern cinematic formulae of sex, action and violence wrapped up in a happy ending, 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy represents a return to cinema's roots in a updated version of the serialized adventure which has each episode ending in a cliffhanger. New Line Cinema committed over US$270 million to the production of 'The Lord of the Rings' movie trilogy and director Peter Jackson spent over 274 days in a marathon shoot beginning October 11, 1999 through December 22, 2000 of the three movies. To quote the studio, "When the Trilogy is complete, Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will have spent a decade of their life working on 'The Lord of the Rings'." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 'The Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition' opens to reveal four discs overflowing with special features including commentaries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Celebration at the success of 'The Lord of the Rings' cinematic achievements was as much the focus of the Lord of The Ring DVD/VHS release party on 26 March 02 as the films themselves. Sure 'The Lord of the Rings' didn't win all the Academy Awards they had hoped, but wasn't four enough to excited about? If you were a dedicated Tolkien fan, you would probably have already meet them at the private post-Oscar party held at the Tolkien Society, where Peter Jackson, Frances Walsh, Ian McKellen, Richard Taylor, and friends were the toast of adoring fans. It'll be a regular event ahead of the next two Academy Awards.
Peter Jackson told the assembled via recorded message that he'd rushed back to his production company Weta in Wellington to continue with post-production work on 'The Two Towers'. It was followed by the premiere of the trailer for 'The Two Towers'. A few days later, Richard Taylor, Academy Award winner for make-up and visual effects, arrived home to much fanfare mostly from the assembled Weta staff including his heavily pregnant partner Tania Rodger. Standing Hobbit-like amidst the crew was renowned Tolkien illustrator Alan Lee, who along with all the assembled Weta Digital and Workshop staff whom had worked on the film trilogy, received miniature Oscar trophies from Richard who declared, "they deserved the real thing as much as I did." New Line's excitement over The Lord of the Rings is good news for video fans, because New Line Home Entertainment is matching their unprecedented movie gamble with a similar one for the DVD and VHS release of 'The Lord of the Rings'. "We're positioning 'The Fellowship of the Ring' release as a five-month event, leading up to 'The Two Towers' debut on December 18", said Stephen Einhorn, president of New Line's Home Entertainment division. The release plan's two-part strategy and timing contrasts to other video and DVD releases which generally offer only a one or two-disk set, released on one date. Here's a breakdown of what has been announced so far about the three releases. Since the 'Extended Version' is still in post-production New Line Home Entertainment did not release all the features which will appear on it, or in their 'Limited Edition Gift Set'. See below for our recommendation. Please email us any updates on the video releases. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 6 - Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Theatrical Version) PG-13 Don't be misled - the August 6th release is a Special Edition, but is being called the 'Theatrical Version' to distinguish it from the recut November releases. The VHS edition will be only available as full-frame, while the DVD editions will be available in separate 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and 1.33:1 full-frame editions in double-DVD sets includes the main feature, and a second disc with over two hours of special features and extra content. Both DVD editions feature Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and Dolby 2.0 audio, and include the following additional content: • Three in-depth Lord of the Rings Documentaries: 'Welcome to Middle-earth' (Houghton Mifflin), 'The Quest for the Ring' (Fox Network) and 'A Passage to Middle-earth' (premiered on SCI-FI Channel) • 15 Featurettes originally created for LordofTheRings.net which explore locales and cultures of Middle-earth including interviews with cast and crew • 'Exclusive Early Look' 10-minute preview of The Twin Towers with Peter Jackson, including behind-the-scenes footage not available elsewhere • Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers TV Spot and Trailers • Preview of the Extended Version DVD • Original Lord of the Rings theatrical trailers and TV spots • Enya's 'May It Be' music video • Preview of the Electronic Arts' Lord of the Rings Video Game • Exclusive DVD-ROM online content Retailers will start accepting orders for the 'Theatrical Version' from 12 April 02. Recommended U.S. list price (MSRP) for the 'Theatrical Version' of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' on DVD is $29.95 and VHS is $22.94, but expect to see it heavily-discounted for pre-order online and in chain stores for around $20 and $15 respectively (prices in US$). Worldwide video release dates are expected to be five months in advance of 'The Two Towers' debut in those markets, which may differ in some regions. November 12 - Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Version  The 'extended version' of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' is an entirely new cut of the movie which contain more scenes including Galadriel's gift-giving to the Fellowship, and expanded Fellowship character development including these. Peter Jackson and Weta Digital have gone back and recut 'The Fellowship of the Ring' which on the 'Extended Version' will feature around 30 minutes of additional footage, effects, newly scored by Howard Shore and recut into the storyline. Apparently the 'Extended' cut wasn't quite bloody enough to merit an adult 'R' rating as initially feared as it was assigned a 'PG-13' rating even with the inclusion of a quite graphic 30-second battle scene towards the end.Peter Jackson, who is a huge fan of DVD, began recording the commentary tracks for the Extended Version just before the 2002 Academy Awards. Even New Line is treating the 'Extended Version' as "an entirely different film", which won't include the theatrical cut of the movie on the DVD, even though technically possible. List price (MSRP) for the 'Extended Version' DVD is $39.95 and VHS $34.95, so they should retail for around $25 and $23 respectively (prices in US$). Expect to see heavy promotion by leading retailers in the lead up to the release of 'The Two Towers' in December. The 'Extended Version' DVD will include the following in addition to that announced for the 'Theatrical Version': • Expanded Edition, DTS Surround Sound • Four audio commentaries by director/writers, design team, production team, and cast featuring over 30 participants • Adapting Tolkien's epic into a screenplay & planning the film • Designing and building Middle-earth • Storyboards to pre-visualization • Weta Workshop visit: An up-close look at weapons, armour, creatures, and miniatures • Atlas of Middle-earth: Tracing the journey of the 'Fellowship' • Interactive map of New Zealand highlighting location scouting • Galleries of art and slideshows with artist's commentaries • Guided tour of wardrobe dept • Footage from early meetings, moving storyboards, and pre-visualization reels • Bringing the characters to life • 'A Day in the Life of a Hobbit' • Principal Photography: Stories from the set • Scale: Creating the illusion of size • Galleries of behind-the-scenes photographs and personal cast photos • and much more... Check here for a listing of differences between the releases. November 12 - Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Limited Edition Gift Set)  If two versions of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' isn't enough, New Line is also planning a 'Limited Edition Gift Set' which includes the four DVD 'Extended Version' with box art packaging designed by Alan Lee, two Argonath bookend statuettes designed by Sideshow Weta, the soundtrack CD, the National Geographic 'Beyond The Movie - The Lord of the Rings' DVD with some newly released extras and Lord of the Rings 'collectible Decipher game cards'. List price for the 'Limited Edition Gift Set' is US$80, and UK£45 in their respective markets. We don't expect that the 'Extended Version' of the DVD will include the Theatrical cut of the film, but that's alright. With everything that is going into the 'Extended Version' it will likely become the preferred cut of the film for most fans. We'll keep you posted as we learn more details for the 'Extended Version' of 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring', and will also post links to online stores when they start taking orders for all the different versions of the DVD and video. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Almost everyone agreed that the four DVD 'Extended Version' really looks like the DVD set to get and everyone involved seems to have focused on making the 'Extended Version' the Ultimate 'The Fellowship of the Ring' experience. (The same goes for the VHS edition except it will lack several important features such as commentary tracks and a host of DVD-only extras.) We suggest you rent the 'Theatrical Version' if you can't wait to see it (again) until November. And if you plan to be the first to see 'The Twin Towers' you might want to book a ticket to Wellington for the world premiere on 14 December 2002! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Differences between Special and Extended Version of 'The Fellowship of the Ring': • Galadriel's gift-giving. As the Fellowship prepare to leave Rivendell, the Elf Queen bestows a special gift upon each. • Extended sequence of Fellowship's departure from Rivendell • Bilbo Baggins writing a journal entry entitled 'Concerning Hobbits'; a history of the Hobbits and their bucolic lifestyle • New introduction of Sam Gamgee • More footage from the Prancing Pony Inn, with Peregrin Pippin Took, and Meriadoc Merry Brandybuck singing Hobbit songs • Sam and Frodo witnessing the stately Exodus of the Elves on the road to Bree • Aragorn singing an Elvish ballad that adds back story to the implications of his love for Arwen • Aragorn beside his mother's grave in Rivendell • Pre-battle scenes in the Mines Of Moria, explaining how the dwarves came to be in the mines • Character material delving into the complicated relationship between elves and dwarves • Additional footage from the Fellowship's climatic battle scene Film Awards (to date):  British Academy Awards - 2002 Won Audience Award - BAFTA Film Award, Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects (Randall William Cook, Alex Funke, Jim Rygiel, Mark Stetson, Richard Taylor), Best Film (Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Tim Sanders), Best Make Up/Hair (Peter King, Peter Owen, Richard Taylor), David Lean Award for Direction - (Peter Jackson); Nominated BAFTA Film Awards, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music (Howard Shore), Best Cinematography (Andrew Lesnie), Best Costume Design (Ngila Dickson), Best Editing (John Gilbert), Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Ian McKellen), Best Production Design (Grant Major), Best Screenplay - Adapted (Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Frances Walsh), Best Sound (Christopher Boyes, Gethin Creagh, David Farmer, Mike Hopkins, Hammond Peek, Michael Semanick, Ethan Van der Ryn). Academy Awards, USA - 2002 Won Oscar, Best Cinematography (Andrew Lesnie), Best Effects - Visual Effects (Randall William Cook, Jim Rygiel, Mark Stetson, Richard Taylor), Best Makeup (Peter Owen, Richard Taylor), Best Music - Original Score (Howard Shore); Nominated Oscar, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ian McKellen), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Dan Hennah, Grant Major (art director)), Best Costume Design (Ngila Dickson, Richard Taylor), Best Director (Peter Jackson), Best Editing (John Gilbert), Best Music, Song (Enya, Roma and Nicky Ryan) - For the song 'May It Be', Best Picture (Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Frances Walsh), Best Sound (Christopher Boyes, Gethin Creagh, Hammond Peek, Michael Semanick), Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published (Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Frances Walsh). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top of Page | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fellowship: Postcards | First Day Covers | Stamp Booklet | Presentation Pack | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Copyright and trademarks notice All images, logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The HTML code and text contained herein this document are copyright 1999, 2001, 2002 Agitprop Associates and are protected under United States and International copyright laws, conventions and agreements. All rights reserved. Website is not affiliated with New Zealand Post, New Line Cinema, WETA Workshop, or any other organization herein mentioned. |