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Lord of The Rings DVD, Now or Later? 389

Posted by CmdrTaco from the stuff-to-consider dept.
Entropy_ah writes "As many of us know, the Lord of The Rings: Fellowship of The Ring DVD was released Aug. 6. It is a 2 Disk version of the movie with a few added goodies. However, New Line Home Entertainment is going to release an extended 4 disk version and a DVD gift set on November 12th. The Kanas City Star has an article discussing the merits of each addition and touches on the issue of this being an attempt by the movie companies to gouge as much money from die-hard fans as possible." I'm waiting, but I definitely find this whole mess frustrating.
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Lord of The Rings DVD, Now or Later? More

Lord of The Rings DVD, Now or Later?

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  • What about waiting for another 2 years ? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Pelops ( 454213 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:22AM (#4045199)

    Well i think i will wait that the 2 others movies will be released to have a nice box with all three together.

    No need to buy something now, when we know they will do a nice collector edition later.

    Pelops

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by account_deleted ( 4530225 )
      Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • My thoughts exactly. I plan on waiting until all three can be released in a set, possibly matching my "big red" collector's edition of the book. I mean, how neat would it be to mix the old with the new by putting the DVDs in a leather case? I'd gladly pay at least $100 if it had 4 discs in it (3 movies, one features disc). Make it match the collector's edition book, and I'd pay another $50.

  • Movie is for keeps, extras just for peeps... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by izx ( 460892 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:23AM (#4045202)
    The movie is what the collector lusts after... the extras (documentaries, trailers, etc) don't have too much repeat value, IMHO. Get the first edition ASAP, and rent, or borrow the special edition from a friend who chose to wait for it (for the extras).

  • But both of course (Score:2, Informative)

    by mrgrey ( 319015 )
    Why have only one copy of LoTR? I can't wait till next month, so I bought the 2 DVD set. Next month when the 4 DVD version comes out I'll get that too.

  • My idea... (Score:5, Funny)

    by lsoth ( 446686 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:23AM (#4045206) Journal
    I didn't like this whole mess either! I think I found a good solution though. I did buy the 2-disc set and watched all the material. When the 4-disc set comes out I will purchase that one as well and give the 2-disc set to my parents :)

    Happy parents = better loot in the will

    • Re:Our idea... (Score:3, Interesting)

      by anticypher ( 48312 )
      Friends next door have bought the first one, and came over last night to watch it on our huge screen. Impressive. Now we don't need to go out and buy our own copy, if we want to see it again (probably not for another month or so), we'll just borrow it again.

      We are waiting until the 4 disk set comes out, and we'll buy that version. Between the two of us, we'll have both versions, and can swap as needed.

      All of us are waiting for a couple of years from now, after all the films have been released, WETA finishes all the CGI SFX, and Peter Jackson makes the final extra-long directors cut. That will probably be a 7 or more DVD set. Showings will then be day long affairs with a couple of meals between films, lots of drinks, and regular bathroom breaks.

      the AC

  • What's the big deal? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Dalroth ( 85450 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:25AM (#4045211) Homepage Journal
    Honestly, what's the big deal? We all know about it already. It's not like they released the regular edition now and surprised us with the expanded edition a month later. We KNOW and HAVE KNOWN for awhile now they are going to release the expanded edition later in the year. The fact that they've been VERY upfront about this has been a breath of fresh air.

    Honestly, if you really can't wait, there's this thing called a VIDEO RENTAL STORE! Go rent it (but please, rent from something OTHER than Blockbuster if at all possible).
    • What's wrong with Blockbuster?

      On a more on topic note, I didn't really understand what all the complaining was about on releasing multiple versions. But your comment clarified the issue, it isn't so much releasing multiple versions, it's letting people know you are planning on doing that.

      • Re:What's the big deal? (Score:4, Informative)

        by e40 ( 448424 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @10:02AM (#4045501) Journal

        Blockbuster is so powerful (ie, they purchase so many videos) they force the editing of movies to their standards (whatever those are). The last straw for me was the Bad Lieutenant [imdb.com]. The scene in which he rapes the nun was removed. I saw him go into the classroom and immediately exit the room. It wasn't until months later when I was discussing it with a friend who had seen the theatrical release that I discovered the scene had been removed, and badly.

        I later read that "they" edit out objectionable content. I really don't know where the editing takes place, since the article I read didn't specify.

    • Honestly, what's the big deal? We all know about it already.

      Indeed WE all know about it. I've got a mate who's just as passionate about LOTR as I am. Both he and I agree that the November release is the one to have.

      But my mate's wife has ordered him a copy of the August DVD and he'll be getting it as a birthday suprise. She doesn't know about the three seperate releases, she just sees the DVD is to be launched, knows her husband is a LOTR fan, so thinks she's doing something nice.

      IMHO I think the release schedule is going to annoy people more than it's going to generate money. However, I think the main effect is going to be hype. Let's face it the advertising for FOTR was 90% self generating hype. So why should we expect the next two films to be any different.

  • It'll Be A Couple of Years for Me (Score:5, Funny)

    by crawling_chaos ( 23007 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:26AM (#4045212) Homepage
    Not until the 35-disk set with all three movies, including the Director's Cut, the Producer's Cut, and the Gaffer's cut comes out will I even consider buying a LOTR DVD set. If I really decide I need to see it again, there's always NetFlix.
  • ...are you buying the DVD for the movie or for the extras? I just got the Aug. 6th release because I wanted a copy of the movie. I don't need a National Geographic special or extra footage inserted into the movie. I liked what I saw in the theater well enough, and that's what I wanted to get. Plus it was free.

    If you feel that these extra things are for you, then wait. It's not like if you change your mind the version that just came out will be out of print. If you absolutely *have* to watch Lord of the Rings right now but want to wait to buy the super-duper special version, JUST RENT IT.
    • I find that the power of the DVD format is wasted on most movies. Frequently the extra content are a few lame scenes that didn't get any CG and aren't worth the film they were recorded on (yes, there are some exceptions, but I'm not enough of a fan boy to care!)

      Really, the best things are 1) the crisper picture and 2) the ability to fast forward almost instantaneously.

      Infact reason 2 is why exercise videos on DVD are super-fantastic! Just want to do Abs? Go to the Abs chapter! Work out too hard? skip to the cool down. And frequently there are a la carte options where you do one piece, it brings you back to the menu,then you quickly pick your next piece without resting too much between exercises.

      At least, thats what I keep telling myself when my wife says "I just bought the 23 dvd workout set!" (don't laugh. its real! [cathe.com] check out the quantity discount packages!)

  • I bought it now. (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Ravagin ( 100668 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:30AM (#4045226)
    Because I actually just want to, you know, watch the damn movie.

    Guess I'm a bad American consumer or something, but if in November I have a hankering for that deleted footage, I'll rent the "specialer" edition. But realy, I just want to watch the movie! Sheesh. Newfangeld technology... shoulda kept my betamax....

    (...but what about the "custom bookends"?)
    • Because I actually just want to, you know, watch the damn movie.

      Well, you should have done what I did, then. I bought a copy of the movie for $11USD from a Malaysian site. The transfer wasn't perfect, but it keeps me from rushing out to get version 1.00 of the "official release". I'll wait for version 1.3 to buy the real release -- or maybe I'll buy it for the likely price of $20 at the site I bought the first movie.

      • Oh, yeah, you da man. Steal that movie! Justify everything the MPAA say about people! Rip off the people who made it! I worship you like a god!
    • I've seen the current Fellowship of the Rings on widescreen DVD.

      All I can say is that the picture quality is top-notch (only marred by occasional edge enhancement) and the sound quality is just flat-out SUPERB. You definitely want a quality surround-sound setup to really enjoy this movie at home.

      Besides, this release is what Director Peter Jackson personally intended as the Director's Cut of the movie.

  • it's not the end of the world (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Ryunosuke ( 576755 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:31AM (#4045229) Homepage
    I just bought the first release disc, so i could replace my vcds. I plan to replace the 2 disc set with the 5 disc box when that comes out. I don't feel put out, or like I've been ripped off at all. I mean, $15 to buy a disc I'll be watching til November isn't so bad. It'll sell on Ebay for $20 to people that have no idea there's a $30 set, or an $80 box. My father just bought the 2 disc set also, and he's fine with not buying the box this fall. My sister however says she wants the box as I do. Everyone's happy (except those who like to complain I guess).

    I also own two copies of the hobbit (a 2nd and 7th editions) as well as 3 complete sets of the other books (2nd, 4th, and uh ... 7th? editions). Besides, if they *only* released the 4 or 5 disc box, we'd be without watching a dvd-quality lotr til November ... and I couldn't wait that long.

    Buy now, and sell it to a used dvd store, or on ebay when the other comes out. Trust me, it's not the end of the world.

  • It's all about choices (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Innominate Recreant ( 557409 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:31AM (#4045230)
    I bought the 2-disc set on the 6th. Why? Because it had value to me. I wanted to see the film again, and it was worth the 20 bucks to me to own a copy of it.

    When the 4-disc set comes out in November (or whenever), I'll decide if the extra content is worth whatever they're charging for it. If it is, I'll buy it. If it's not, I won't.

    Why are veryone's knickers in a twist about this. It's a very simple equation.

    • The equation isn't so simple... (Score:4, Interesting)

      by Colz Grigor ( 126123 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @12:42PM (#4046336) Homepage
      Call me quirky because I come from a finance background and I read SlashDot...

      The value equation for you may be:
      Pay $20 now for the access to the content.
      Evaluate the November version to see if the additional footage is worth an incremental $30.
      _If_ you decide it's worth it, the total outlay is $50.

      For me, the equation is:
      Avoid being shunned by my friends for not having access to FotR content between August and November. (Opportunity cost)
      Buy November version.
      Total outlay: $30 + the opportunity cost of having not owned access to the content for three months.

      The difference in cost, and thus the debate, is this: from my perspective is three months of not being able to view the content worth $20? from your perspective is the additional footage worth $30? ::Colz Grigor
      • That's a sociological perspective, not a finance perspective. A finance perspective would be the missed opportunity cost of what that $20 could have been invested in for 3 months, and at what rate of return.

        However, we are purchasing this asset for entertainment rather than investment, so our rate of return will either be zero (for no purchase) or a negative number. If we buy it and hold onto it, then we will lose 100% of the cost. On the other hand, we could try and sell it on eBay in late October, and (provided you got a good price on it), figure that the value has depreciated 20%; we could then take the residual value of our 2-disc set and apply it to the purchase of the 4-disc set.

        THAT'S the finance perpective. :-D
    • I bought the 2-disc set on the 6th as well. Why? Because it's not my birthday and no one else is gonna buy it for me!

      I'm not in any big rush to buy the 4-disc set. That goes on my Christmas list and someone will end up buying it for me.

      So might as well lay out the $16 hard earned bucks at Wal-Mart for the 2-disc set. Hell, that means for one full week I have to skip the Venti Mochachino and just drink regular coffee from the street vendor. It's a sacrifice I can live with!

  • I think it's a little of both. I think we have a case where the studios realize they can make a lot of money from releasing not one, but three versions of the video staggered across several months. And the DVD has been hyped more than that XXX movie. (I don't get the big deal - I've been watching XXX for years now, and Vin Diesel didn't show up once.)

    On the other hand, if you look what they're doing, it makes sense that it's taking awhile for the last "extra bits" to be finished - as the article states, all new music is being composed, the formerly shot scenes have to be put into the movie in a way that they add to it, not just go "Oh, and here's another 5 minutes here", and so on.

    Personally - I have the $40 version reserved (though after reading more about the $70 version, I am leaning - no, I will be strong, I don't need the extra National Geographic special (I don't give a crap about the bookends - I want the extra video)), and I'm debating doing other things (like trading in 3 old DVD's for the free movie at my local Software Etc, taking a Kia test, drive, etc) to get the current one free.
  • Personally, I could give a flying futz about extras like behind the scenes footage, commentary tracks, and that sort of thing. I can't be alone in this view. I know a lot of people like em, but I don't find them interesting, plain and simple.

    Extended movie however: I'm there. I can't wait for the extra 30 minutes of footage. I can see it now; 2 years from now, all 3 LotR DVDs are out w/ extended footage. Sit down on the couch with a funsize bag of funions & a couple 2L bottles of Vanilla Coke, and have a nice 12 hour LotR marathon!

  • I wish other companies would follow their lead... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Wdomburg ( 141264 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:34AM (#4045245)
    It doesn't bother me that there are going to be three different versions of the DVD set, or that they released the most basic first. I can always rent it for a few dollars to tide me over.

    What bothers me is studios putting our a regular edition, a special edition, a collectors edition, a platinum edition, a you'd perform oral sex on your own father to own this edition... Each time without announcing that they're going to put out a more definitive package in the future.

    I'm happy to wait to blow $70 on a DVD set. I'd be unhappy if I paid $30 now, and then $70 later because I didn't know there was going to be a new edition.
  • an attempt by the movie companies to gouge as much money from die-hard fans

    A fool and his money something something. "Gouging" my ass.

  • Step 1

    1) Purchase DVD
    2) Open and Watch DVD, handle carefully
    3) Find friend at record store who shrinkwraps used cds
    4) Shrinkwrap DVD
    5) Sell as new on EBAY or give as gift to peripheral relative at Christmas.

    Congratulations, you have successfully rented a movie.

  • Must exercise restraint (Score:5, Informative)

    by Schnapple ( 262314 ) <tomkidd&gmail,com> on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:42AM (#4045257) Homepage
    Yeah, it's really weird to see LOTR on DVD in stores and know that it doesn't mean anything, since I'm one of the ones who wants the extra-long version. I almost want to go out and inform the total strangers I see picking up the 2-disc version "NO! There is another...", but a few things occured to me. First, most of the time I see some mom picking up the full screen version, which says to me that not only is she not "hardcore" about LOTR (the movie) but she's not even serious about movies or DVD or else she'd get the widescreen version. Her 12-year old at the house won't care. Second is that pretty much anyone who would be the kind to want the 4-disc set would also be the kind to know about it enough to wait on it. The casual consumer not only doesn't know about the extended set, but they probably won't care, especially given the pricetag it will carry.

    But to clarify some things the article skipped:

    1. The 2-disc and 4-disc set have completely different extras. The 4-disc set does not have the same extras as the 2-disc "and more", it has its own set. Even if you're reading this and you wish you had held off you're not screwed since it's not as if you'll be buying the same extras again.
    2. I haven't seen it myself, but as I understand it the extras on the 2-disc set are more or less a commercial for the 4-disc set, so you're not missing much by holding off
    3. There's already a DVD in stores called National Geographic Beyond the Movie: LOTR FOTR for $20 or less. I believe the $80 boxed set version has this DVD with some extra stuff on it but it's still possible to get it now.
    4. The $80 boxed set also has bookends (the packaging of the 4-disc set is designed to look like an old book) of those "stop in the name of love" statues in the movie. That's part of the reason why not only will it be expensive but huge.
    So the verdict is - buy whichever you want, buy both, rent one for now and watch the hell out of the other one over Christmas before you go see The Two Towers in theaters. No matter what, you win.
    • You're right there is a long ad for the November release. However, there is also a nice extra on disc 2 that shows an extended preview about TTT. You see PJ driving around, the Helms Deep set, and a genuinely interesting bit with Andy Sirkis in motion capture mode for Gollum scenes.

      Not one whit about the Ents, though.

    • Extras of the 2disc set (Score:4, Informative)

      by acroyear ( 5882 ) <jws-slashdot@javaclientcookbook.net> on Saturday August 10, 2002 @09:34AM (#4045404) Homepage Journal
      Aside from the preview of Two Towers (and video game), and a 2 min preview of the november set, everything on the second disc of FotR has been seen before. It has 3 long specials, one developed by the book licensees, one for E! (I think), and one for Sci-Fi channel. Then is has about 20 or so mini-pieces developed for the official web page (lordoftherings.net).

      None of the features on disc 2 talk about the computer animation work to any extensive detail...that's the sort of stuff that will be in the november release. This release is more on the characters and actors and "what's it like being part of this huge project" and all that kind of guff, all used to promote the film without revealing too much (since much was shown originally before the movie's theater release).

      The one saving grace -- this 2disc is CHEAP...I've seen numbers as low as $16.95 (walmart, best buy), provided you get it within the next week or so. I got mine free from blockbuster for buying a 10-week rental-a-week card before the release.

      • The one saving grace -- this 2disc is CHEAP...I've seen numbers as low as $16.95 (walmart, best buy), provided you get it within the next week or so.

        Indeed. I picked up the widescreen DVD at Wal Mart on Thursday for $14.83, plus tax. I was planning on waiting for the extended version myself, but that price was too good to pass up...

      • I have the 2 disc set, and while I wouldn't recommend paying full price if you're going to buy the 4 disc (the extras suck), you can find some awesome deals. The Blockbuster near me was giving it away free with some promotion (pre-buy ten rentals for $25), so it was hard to turn down-- and, of course, it was really fun running home and watching the movie again. :)
    • I got the 2 disc set a couple days ago. (It was a gift) First, they deserve some credit for doing this above board. A lot of companies would have just released the 2 disc set, let everyone buy it, and only then annouce the new one.

      Anyway, the 2 disc set is light on extras. It has the Fox TV special, the Sci-Fi channel special, and a set of vignettes that seem cut from both of those. Then it's got ads for the 4 disc set and a videogame. So you are right, if you hold off, the biggest thing you are missing is not seeing the movie for a few months.

      (Well, it also has a short preview to the Two Towers, but I presume that will hit TV soon.)

  • Well for me it was now big deal. I paid 30 dollars for 10 rentals at blockbuster and i got LOTR dvd for free. Blockbuster DVD rentals are around 3.50 or so, so paying 30 bucks for 1 DVD rental per week for 10 weeks made sense to begin with, plus i got my free LOTR on August 6th. I'm not out any money and I will buy the 4 disc set for the extra video.

    Plus, the preview footage of the two towers was cool. The movie had my wife biting her fingernails (first time she saw it, i saw it in theaters) so i thought that was pretty good for someone who never had read the books.

  • Rental (Score:2, Insightful)

    by LlamaDragon ( 97577 )
    My plan is to rent both versions and decide which one I prefer to own. The wife is worried that the extra footage won't be up to snuff and will make the extend-o version lower quality all around. I'm hoping that it will add more depth and detail.

    So I guess they suck a few extra bucks out of me, but I'm sure as hell not buying two copies of the same freakin' movie.

    ~LD

  • duh (Score:2)

    by nzhavok ( 254960 )
    if your not really a fan then buy Now

    if you are a fan then buy now and november!. Yes they are milking you, yes it sucks they didn't release them both at the same time, yes you are going to have to buy them both if you have to ask the question. It's not really much of a choice.

  • Let's analyse this logically (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:44AM (#4045264)
    Truth table of the thead title:

    Now Later Now OR Later
    1 1 1
    1 0 1
    0 1 1
    0 0 0

    So, I'm the top row, so my answer is "yes".

  • It's funny... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Schnapple ( 262314 ) <tomkidd&gmail,com> on Saturday August 10, 2002 @08:49AM (#4045278) Homepage
    ...but this is the exactt opposite of how we treat other directors when they fool with their movies. Speilberg will release his extended-only version of E.T. on DVD and the only way to get the original version is to buy an $80 boxed set this October. Many people (myself included) complained, since it's entirely possible they could have done seamless branching and included both on one DVD. Whenever Lucas gets around to releasing the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD, word is he'll not only be placing the "Special Edition" cuts only on DVD but even adding actors from the new trilogy in (Jar-Jar in ANH, Amidala in ROTJ). This, in addition to not releasing the original versions of the movies (again, preferrably in a seamless branching mode) because "they don't exist to him anymore".

    And yet, all the geeks who go out to buy the 4-disc set and not the 2-disc (myself included) will just be reinforcing the notion that you can "add all the shit you want, they don't want the original version" (the original cut will not be available via branching). Granted, since opening sales of the LOTR DVD outsold the previous winner, Harry Potter, they might not get to say that after all.

    • Re:It's funny... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by buffy ( 8100 ) <buffy@par[ ]t.net ['ape' in gap]> on Saturday August 10, 2002 @10:48AM (#4045637) Homepage
      You're comparing apples to oranges. ET, Star Wars...these all were the original product.

      Peter Jackson and crew have an difficult challenge in the making of the LOTR movies--they are NOT the original product. They are a rendition of the original printed materials--books that are remarkable in their depth and detail. That is one of the reasons so many people have fallen in love with the story.

      A commerical movie is bound by time, and of course, stuff has to be cut out. The 4-disc set allows Jackson to meet the demand of so many viewers to see the additional content that only true Tolkien lovers would appreciate.

      One of the extras on the 2-disc set includes a "behind the scenes" preview of The Towers, which include interview bits with Jackson. He expresses a dislike for the term "Director's Cut" since it implies that the original theatrical edition is not what the Director wanted to portray. In the case of FOTR, this is not the case. The 4-disc set is a Special Edition, to statisfy the needs of all the Tolkien fans in the world to simply see more of that world, and the visual development of the characters within.

      Given that they spent the time to capture all this stuff, and that there is obviously a commercial demand to see it, I think that the decision to present the additional edition is smart. I also don't think Jackson and crew are stupid--they know the types of cricism that they may recieve for the two editions, and are more than going to make up for it in content.

      If you're not a Tolkien fan who has repeatedly read the books, and seen the first movie several times (gads, just calculate the amount of time you've probably spent) then simply don't buy it.

      Just my $0.02.

    • Re:It's funny... (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Fjord ( 99230 )
      I feel this is two different situations. The reason I'm waiting for the November release is because the theatrical release and the 2-disc version is not the original. The original was cut by 30 minutes so that theaters could fit more showings in per day. The one on the 4-disc version is the original.

      To me the 2-disc version has little value (the extras aren't worth a whole lot to me), since I've a) seen that version of the movie already and b) it isn't the orginal.

  • How about never? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by noahm ( 4459 )
    You have no right to complain about the MPAA and DVD CCA's war against fair use if you're willing to fund them. I for one will never buy a DVD that gives money to the MPAA. It is not worth it. My rights are more important than my entertainment. It's unfortunate that so many of the Slashdot crowd does not practice what it preaches.

    noah

  • Oh well.. (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Kid Zero ( 4866 )
    not like I can afford either. I'm just hoping I can see Two Towers this December.
  • Release a "normal" DVD first, then release an "enhanced" or "Special edition" version months later.

    Its very similar to the technique for VHS release. Sell the first release very high and then later release a consumer version priced $15-$30.

    This is really targeted to the suckers and rental chains. They need to meet demand early on. Later, after the rental stores have run through their initial rental wave a cheaper version comes out for purchase.

    Quite simple actually.
  • It's one of the rare movies that are really worth buying twice. So I've really no problems with 2 editions thing.
  • The main conspiracy theory in the paper is:

    "Of course, there's also the theory, proposed by the cynics among us, that the movie companies are using this sort of release pattern to entice movie fans to buy both the basic package to watch now and the more complete special edition a few months later."

    It isn't going to fly for one reason, who the hell would buy a 4 disk set of 'super troopers' after you bought the first one? How about 'hey arnold: the movie', or even 'haloween: resurrection'? I didn't think so. As soon as the greedy start filling the shelves with the 9th edition of 'master of disguise', the landfill owners will be licking thier lips and fighting over who gets to bury the millions of unsold copies. Enough money will be lost to stop the practice almost for good.

    The movies that do come out with multiple editions will be the ones that actually benefit from the additions. The industry is still feeling out what it can and can't do, and the only way to do that is to fall flat on it's face a few times, and they are doing it. Unlike the moribund record industry, I think the movie people can and do learn, and have been making an honest effort to produce stuff we want at fairly reasonable prices. DeCSS aside, they learn quick.

    I still have a little faith in the capatilistic system. Whatever happens, we won't know for a year or 2, it will take that long for trends to become clear.

    -Charlie
  • so I usually won't pay extra for "gold" edition collector tins, an interview with someone who's uncle did CG work, or DVD games. Usually they charge a small fortune for these extras. All I really want is a clean copy of the movie.

    Walmart has the "basic" DVD version for under $16USD right now... $80 perhaps for all three movies seems pricy, but one movie + bonus tracks? Count me out.

  • Rebate (Score:5, Informative)

    by erasmus_ ( 119185 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @09:09AM (#4045333)
    I scanned all of the comments, and no one has mentioned the best reason to buy both the editions, which is what I am going to be doing now. I already had the best set on preorder, and swore that I would not get the normal 2 disk edition. However, when I saw how cheap it was at Circuit City (15.99), I went out and got it.

    To my surprise, there is a $10 rebate in the set for those who puchase the larger set in November, which means I'm only going to be paying $5.99 for this 2-disk edition. I think that's well worth it to hold me over until that released date, and it's only barely cheaper than the rental suggestion that some people have made.

  • Easy solution (Score:3, Informative)

    by danb35 ( 112739 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @09:12AM (#4045337) Homepage
    Just test drive a KIA [kia.com] and get a free copy of the current release. Then buy the extended one, if you want it, in November when it comes out.
  • An "attempt" by the movies companies? Ok, let's take a count: how many of you bought the current DVD vs. how many are waiting.
    Everyone here talks a good game when they're sitting behind their keyboard, but c'mon, 90% of you went and bought it anyway, didn't you.

    Let's have a real /. poll, without the Neal option, and ask 2 simple questions:

    • Did you buy the LoTR DVD now?
    • Are you waiting to purchase the final compilation?
    This is no fucking attempt, wake up, you've been screwed and gouged in more ways than your puny geek brains want to think about. But you, like me, will keep coming back for more. (well, me only if there's more Liv involved.) </rant>
    --furiously awaiting the newline fanboys to mod me down at any second. :)
  • Well, setting aside all the issues about "bilking the consumers" and all that rot, has anyone considered the fact that the reason they're releasing two editions is because the average movie viewer (in America, at least) probably wouldn't be willing to sit through a four hour movie? I mean, hell, I heard enough people gripe about the length as it was! (Of course, not having read the books, they didn't understand that they were lucky that the story was even able to be compressed into three hours...)

    Just my $.02...
  • But the main reason i'm holding out is that i cant afford to blow any cash right now...I dont know that i'm going to spring for the one with the bookends and all that stuff, but i do want to see the 30 minutes of extra footage..
  • I was intending to purchase only the November version of the LOTR DVD, until Blockbuster video came out with a nice little deal:
    purchase a 10 week video rental card (1 rental per week, for a max of 10 weeks, expiring in 2 years) for ~$25.00, and get the LOTR DVD for free.

    I would look for deals like this in the near future.

    -d

  • DVD's becoming "Choose your own adventure??" (Score:3, Interesting)

    by dpbsmith ( 263124 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @09:41AM (#4045432) Homepage
    When you go to the movie theatre you vaguely assume that you are seeing "the same" movie as everyone else. But as cineastes know, there are often minor variations in content even during the first run, and major ones on second runs, re-releases, etc. Oklahoma! was filmed concurrently in 35mm and Todd-AO so the two versions actually represent similar but different performances, etc. etc.

    Recently this has all become more _visible_ (in the form of deliberately labeled "special editions," "director's cuts," etc.) There's now so much of this going on I have to wonder whether the whole idea of "a" movie is gradually becoming obsolete.

    Multiple versions of movies are now available to fans within a year of the release. Of course, the variations in the versions are trivial (unless you're a dedicated aficionado...)

    There was a World's Fair where some director, Czech I think, showed a movie in which at ten or eleven decision points, the audience got to vote on what the actors should do. Of course, the plot was engineered to reconverge on the next decision point (so the amount of film that needed to be shot was only 2X, not 1024X or 2048X the running length of the movie).

    I wonder just where these DVD's are going? DVD's supposely offer the ability to choose different camera angles, but I've yet to rent one in which this ability was actually enabled... Are "movies" going to gradually become a participatory experience? Where you have at least the illusion of a trivial degree of participation?

    In the fifties, food companies (supposedly) discovered that housewives did not like complete cake mixes, because it made them feel as if they were being lazy. So they gradually moved to mixes that required adding some ingredients (milk, eggs, etc.), supposedly not because fresh ingredients actually improved the flavor, but because housewives felt they were doing a better job if they had contributed SOMETHING to the process.

    I dunno, though...

    On the whole, I think I would just prefer to "watch a movie" and assume that for better or for worse the producers have made all the decisions for me, and all that's left for me is to like it or not.

  • Now AND Later (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Tin Weasil ( 246885 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @09:44AM (#4045439) Homepage Journal
    I have children.
    I want my children to view the "PG-13" version of the movie, so I've purchased the current release. I also want to have the extended version, which reportedly will include scenes that would warrant an "R" rating. I'll get that one for myself and allow my children to view it when they are older.

    • Re:Now AND Later (Score:3, Informative)

      by Edgewize ( 262271 )
      The extended release also has a PG-13 rating.

      One of the battle sequences is 30 seconds longer, and those 30 seconds reportedly include another orc decapitation and a little blood. There were rumors that it would be just enough to push it over to an R rating, but in the end, the ratings board decided to let it go at PG-13.

  • Unlike Lucas, at least they aren't being deceptive (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Nitar ( 261628 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @09:47AM (#4045447)
    At least they are telling everybody that there is going to be another edition coming out in November.

    Let us all consider what George Lucas would do in this situation. Release a VHS tape, and claim that there won't be a DVD for 5 years. A few months later, a DVD will come out... surprise! Too bad if you already bought the VHS.

    George Lucas gouges his fans deceptively. At least with Lord of the Rings, they are telling everybody about the special edition in November. That way, if you want to wait for it, you can. They aren't tricking anyone into buying the first version. If you can't wait until November, and you want to see it still, rent it! Or borrow it from somebody!

    I'll personally just buy both.
    • Let us all consider what George Lucas would do in this situation. Release a VHS tape, and claim that there won't be a DVD for 5 years. A few months later, a DVD will come out... surprise! Too bad if you already bought the VHS.

      And Lucas Film has announced they will be releasing AOTC both on DVD in VHS in November, so what's your point?

      Granted the TPM DVD was released many months after the VHS and the original trilogy still isn't available on DVD but in my opinion that's more about spending the time to put out a quality product than trying to rip off the consumer.
      • I think the problem they had was with the news release in april stating -

        The film is being released on VHS videocassette only and is not being released on the DVD format in 2000 or for the foreseeable future.


        Then releasing the DVD in October of the next year. Most people think that a little over a year is forseeable, especially when that includes the time to manufacture the completed product.

  • Why the anger, people? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by gilroy ( 155262 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @09:49AM (#4045458) Homepage Journal
    I really don't understand the rage on slashdot about this. The two sets offer different things and it's entirely possible that for some people, they offer enough value to justify the combined price. (I'll admit to being one of those people.) As has been mentioned, this isn't some underhanded, backroom thing -- "Aha, now that they've bought the lame first version, let's slip out an enhanced one and get their money again!". The producers have been extremely public about the plan. You haven't been "suckered" into buying a disc and then seeing it replaced a few weeks later.


    Believe me, I know the anger people feel. I'm one of the chumps who bought the Tron bare-bones CD virtually the day before Disney announced the two-disc enhanced version. And I'm steamed about that, because the second release is a proper superset of the first -- the entire first release (which was essentially just the movie) is contained in the second.


    But that's not the case here. Not only have I been told, upfront, that there is a later set coming. I also know that the second set is not just a proper superset of the first. The first contains things that the second won't. So my value is not negated.


    For the casual fan (and believe it or not, there are a lot of casual LOTR fans), the August release is what they expect: A faithful reproduction of their moviegoing experience, with some typical extras thrown on as is de rigeur. For the hardcore fan, the November release is what they desire: The extra scenes, some more background, a wealth of detail. And the really, truly diehard fanatic can simply consider this a single, 6-disc set that happens to be released in two parts but has all the things a diehard fanatic would want: the theatrical movie, a "director's cut", a Two Towers preview, behind-the-scenes footage, background detail, audio commentary.


    To my eye, these guys are the first in Hollywood to realize that the DVD market is not homogenous -- to not treat everyone as the lowest common demographic. They're giving people options rather than making one dictatorial decision. I think it's a development we should applaud, not attack.


    (Aside: Note that what transforms this from an underhanded marketing ploy to a consumer-friendly menu of options is the fact that all three discs were announced simultaneously, putting information into the hands of the consumers and empowering us to make an intelligent choice. That's perhaps the most important lesson of the current age: Freely-available information empowers the citizenry.)

    • but your viewing as a single movie, not as a series.
      there will be a "supset" that includes everything that will be aout the second christmas after the release of the third movie.
  • I was little disappointed to discover the two disc set out now didn't have an audio commentary. However at least the four disc version will have the commentary.

    There also will be six hours of behind-the-scenes features in the DVD package and four commentary tracks by Jackson and cast and crew members.

    By the sounds of it the commentary will be like one on the Phantom Menace, which had crew members explaining everything from CGI to sound effects and I must say is one of the best commentarys I have heard thus far. Coming back to the two disc I found most of the extras throw aways, especially considering most of them reused interviews with cast crew to the point you got a bad case of deja vue.

  • While the article might touch on that... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by cyberwench ( 10225 ) <tunalei@gmail.com> on Saturday August 10, 2002 @10:04AM (#4045507)
    The Kanas City Star has an article discussing the merits of each addition and touches on the issue of this being an attempt by the movie companies to gouge as much money from die-hard fans as possible."

    Although the article does touch on the idea that it might be a gouging tactic, they quite plainly follow that up with a perfectly reasonable explanation. The other DVDs are taking more work, and Peter Jackson hasn't finished the extras for release 3. When they put the extra material back into release 2, they had to have the composer add new music. Yes, they could wait until December to release all three... but why on earth would they? Most folks will be quite happy with just their copy of the movie "as seen in theatres". Anyone who wants the extras will wait for their preferred edition, and in the meantime you can rent it if you're desperate.

    C'mon, read the whole article. The entire second half deals with this. Peter Jackson's enough of a loon that personally, I don't think he'd try to screw over Tolkien fans. He's shown how committed he is to the material, let the studio make its money while he finishes his definitive editions.

  • Well, I plan to buy at least two versions - I haven't decided if it's going to be the gift set or the extended version in addition to the theatrical releasse.

    But I'm *really* a hard core fan, and so is my wife. To give an idea how much so, when my wife was a teenager she read WH Auden's review of LOTR, and ordered the boxed set in the original Allen & Unwin printing from England (First Ed.), complete with typos and errors (elfin anyone?). It is still one of our most prized possesions.

  • Dude, the 2-disc edition is on sale for $15 at Best Buy right now. Go buy it, watch it, examine all the goodies.

    Then, in November, but the 4-disc edition.

    It's only money.

    And no, I'm not being insensitive to our unemployed brethren (and sisthren.) I'm only saying, if you liked the movie, we're not talking about hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

    Think about it, you probably spend a lot more money on sillier things, so why not.

  • *FREE* copy on DVD if you test drive a Kia (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Arcturax ( 454188 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @10:48AM (#4045638)
    I just saw a commercial today that if you go test drive a Kia car or SUV, they will give you a free copy of Lord of the Rings on DVD! I don't know if this is just in the Cincinnati area (where I heard the ad) or everywhere, but if you don't mind getting to play with a car and listen to a sales pitch, you can score a free copy of the DVD.

    Check out the information here [kia.com]
  • First off, wouldn't you rather wait 2-3 more years and buy the Super-Duper Extra-Deluxe Lord Of The Rings "Trilogy" Geodesic-Box-Set Really-Awsomely-Special-Edition-With-Polka-Dots-An d-Stripes that you know they're going to put out after all three movies have run their course? Why would you want to buy the movies individually when you know there's going to be a box set later on that will have even more stuff to see? You're just going to have to buy it (you know you will, and they know you will), because it'll certainly have a few extras on it that they "left out" (whoopsie! How could we have done that! certainly we didn't mean it!) on these earlier "special editions".

    Or, maybe you could say "Dammit, I'm not only frustrated with this kind of movie-industry crap, I'm fed up!" and just not buy the DVD at all. I mean, you've seen the movie in the theatre as it was intended (and probably more than once, huh?), so the people who made it have already been paid for their trouble. Now you want to buy copies of the film and give more money to the people who distribute it? Why? You've had your fun. You don't really need the DVD. You're just addicted.

    Instead, buy another copy of the book if you really must buy something, and relive the real story.

    Or even better, use the money to buy a new book that you haven't read, and add something new and refreshing to your life, instead of filling it up with copies of the same stuff over and over just because your'e a "fan" and therefore "have to have it", which is just an attitude you've been sold so you'll buy their stuff.
  • The Nov release will have DTS-ES, 30 addtional minutes (director's cut)...2 discs worth of extras. The DTS-ES is the biggest change for the Home Theater Enthusist.

  • if... (Score:3, Funny)

    by Snuffub ( 173401 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @11:26AM (#4045815) Homepage
    If they had only released this version of the movie the outcry would be..
    "WTF such a great movie and it only gets an average DVD, this is another example of the movie industry not putting effort into less mainstream movies while true art like this is overlooked."


    If they only released the movie in november...

    "What the hell it took them that long to create the DVD? look i could have done that in three weeks from my basement with my computer which i built myself AND Id be making the world a better place by using linux at the same time."

    My advice? rent now, buy later. options arent always a bad thing

  • Considering I can buy the actual DVD for $14.99 versus $17.99 for an Audio CD to add to my collection. An added advantage is that I know the DVD is good. And for $15 I wont feel to bad getting the extended edition in a few months. Plus my wife has not seen it (I guess I saved $7.50 at the showhouse then plus another $7.50 for the popcorn and drink -- hell that pays for the $15....) Yep -- I have talked myself into it -- off to wally world I go,
  • The most galling thing is that there is an extensive advert for the joys of The-DVD-That-Is-Prophesised on the 2 DVD set that is now. Aaarrggh!

    I pre-ordered before the 4 DVD set was mentioned - but it's important that everyone who can wait for the delux edition so that the manufacturers realise the folly of their evil ways.
  • At least they have the guts to come out and say "here's the theatrical release on DVD now, and if you want you can wait and get the special extended DVD, or just get both!". Paramount was lovely enough to not mention they were going to release re-releases of Star Trek II and III (and who knows which others are in the pipe) until months later (AFAIK!). Had I known about the new versions when the older releases came out almost a year ago, I may have waited.

    Now I can decide for myself which version I want to own permanently. Of course being a fan, I'm going to get both (because the DVD released on the 6th contains the original theatrical release, while the one being released this coming November contains ONLY this extended edition, NOT the original you saw in the theatre). Had I had this choice with Star Trek II, I'd probably have waited for this Director's Cut.

    I applaud them for coming out and saying ahead of both releases that there'd be two releases a few months apart. It's less like squeezing money out of fans and more like being honest.
  • What I've yet to see anyone point out, and haven't seen anyone mention one way or the other when the DVD's were announed is: Will the 4 disc set include the original cut of the movie, or just the newer longer version.

    For what it's worth I bought the recent version and my only complaint is that there is no director's commentary, that is the feature I bought a DVD player for. Picture and sound quality be damned.
  • until the christmas after the third movie before buying any of them. You know they will come out with the box set you must have...
  • 3 volumes, and the third volume has (shock, horror) Appendices filling in the mythology. With fragments - the end of "a Part of the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen" in App A, for example, that stand comparison with the best in the main story.


    No offense intended. I'll probably take in the film sooner or later (probably when it comes round on public access TV). And I'll probably enjoy it, just as I've enjoyed viewing Blade Runner even though I read DADoES many years earlier.

  • Now and Later

    I'm PJ's bitch (but not Romero's!)
  • Based on my understanding of the facts as they have been presented to me, this week's two-disc version of FOTR is simply the theatrical version and a few bonus features. The November extended version of FOTR is going to include the director's cut, with gobs of deleted scenes restored so as to present the movie as Peter Jackson and friends would have if the Box Office nuts would have allowed it.

    Why I have to have the first one: it's the "official" version.

    Why I have to have the second one: it's got deleted scenes.

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