'Return of the King' Extended DVD to Debut December 14

If you want to find out just how Gandalf and the Hobbits thwarted the evil white wizard Saruman in "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," wait no longer than Dec. 14.

That's when the extended edition DVD of the 11-Oscar-winning movie hits stores, complete with 50 minutes of additional footage for the film - which is already 3 hours and 40 minutes long.

In addition to seeing that big battle - which eliminated Saruman, played by Christopher Lee, from the theatrical version of "Return of the King" - the movie includes romantic subplots and other scenes that director Peter Jackson wanted to include, but couldn't, in his lengthy epic.

"We're basically putting scenes back in which we know on some level are destroying the momentum of the story, making it slow right down, which is why we took them out in the first place," Jackson told The Associated Press last December, when the movie debuted in theaters. "But DVD seems to be a medium that allows you to do a certain amount of that. You have it in your living room, you can pause it, you can make a cup of tea, you can watch it over two nights. It's a much more forgiving environment to watch film in."

What else is in the 50 minutes of new footage?

"The whole relationship between Faramir and Eowyn, you don't get in the theatrical version but you learn about it here. She has had to live with an awful lot of unrequited love," said Stephen Einhorn, president of New Line Home Entertainment, which is releasing the discs.

Other new sequences include the hero Aragorn meeting the 'Mouth of Sauron' at the Black Gates. And Jackson makes a cameo appearance in one cut scene, as a pirate who is killed by a stray arrow when Aragorn and the ghostly Army of the Dead take over his ship.

The four-disc extended edition will retail for about $40, and will also include assorted documentaries about the fantasy trilogy, the special effects that helped create Middle-Earth and the symphony composed from the score by Howard Shore

This is the soul reason why I have not bought ANY of these movies.....because I knew around the time of Christmas they would come out with a box set with DVDs with deleted scenes on them

I have to wait until DECEMBER??? Damn... I was hoping it would be November.

That box set picture isn't all three movies in extended edition. I believe that's just the box set that's currently in stores with the theatrical versions. If there is to be a box set of the extended editions, it hasn't been made aware to the public as far as I know.

MrJoker said:

damn really?

HollowellSA said:

no it's a picture I actually "borrowed" from RonnyRon when he posted it at the NPGMC...sorry

I WISH they would bring out an extended edition box set!!! that would be SO AWESOME!!

I wonder how many more versions of this fucking thing will be released.

EvilWhiteMale said:

I'll keep buying them

EvilWhiteMale said:

Not a fan? Or too much of a fan where you feel compelled to buy them all?

EvilWhiteMale said:

Hey, someone's gotta keep up with Star Wars.

MrJoker said:

Yes, that is a picture of the box set containing the regular theatrical versions, there will be
NO box set of the extended editions made.

Here's a pic of the Lord of the Rings; Return of the King extended version box...




New Line have been upfront about their releases from day one, they're not making multiple
versions to 'cash in'. There are 2 versions of each movie (plus a 'gift set' edition of the
extended version). Here's what's been/will be released...

The Fellowship of the Ring - 2 disc theatrical version

The Two Towers - 2 disc theatrical version

The Return of the King - 2 disc theatrical version

(Box Set of all 3 theatrical versions also made available)

The Fellowship of the Ring - 4 disc extended version (30 minutes longer)
(also available as gift set with Argonath statuette bookends)

The Two Towers - 4 disc extended version (40 minutes longer)
(also available as gift set with Gollun statuette and Gollum book/DVD)

The Return of the King - 4 disc extended version (50 minutes longer)
(also available as a gift set with Minas Tirith statuette and The Music of LOTR book/DVD)
[Edited 9/29/04 0:23am]

BorisFishpaw said:

thank you for that!!! I was looking for that to post but couldn't find it LOL

thank you!!

Can't wait!!!

Natisse said:

Well stop it already.

EvilWhiteMale said:

Don't act like that be nice

MrJoker said:

Honestly, I have no desire to see any of them again. But I just hate how every big film has to be released a million times. Special Edition, Platinum Edition, Ultimate Edition, Fucking You In The Ass Edition, etc. I mean it's great marketing, but dammit already.

EvilWhiteMale said:

I'd like to get ahold of the "Fucking you in the ass Edition"...

I know what you mean though..."let's fuck the consumer just a little bit more by now selling the DVD's in a beautiful cardboard box...with the word "NEW" on it..and see if he'll buy that!"

I actually own this...

Bought it 2 weeks ago...Love the movies.

More Aragorn!

It will be mine.

Oh yes, it will be mine.

Here's the specs....




DISCS 1-2: The Feature
FEATURE (approx. 250 minutes) - A new version of the final installment in the epic trilogy! The Academy-Award® winning film now has 50 minutes of never-before-seen footage incorporated into the film for this highly-anticipated video release:
Widescreen (2.35:1) version of the Special Extended Edition
Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround Sound
DTS ES 6.1 Surround Sound
Stereo Surround Sound
English subtitles and closed captions
Spanish subtitles

Four audio commentaries by the director and writers, the design team, the production team and the cast featuring more than 30 participants including Peter Jackson, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom and Academy Award® winners Richard Taylor, Howard Shore…and many more.

Cast commentary also features dialogue between split-personality characters Gollum and Smeagol (Andy Serkis)!

DISCS 3-4: The Appendices
Two discs with hours of original content including multiple documentaries and design/photo galleries with thousands of images to give viewers an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King::

THE APPENDICES PART V: "The War of the Ring"
Disc intro by director Peter Jackson
"J.R.R. Tolkien: The Legacy of Middle-earth" documentary

From Book to Script:
"From Book to Script: Forging the Final Chapter" documentary
Abandoned Concept: Aragorn Battles Sauron

Designing and Building Middle-earth
"Designing Middle-earth" documentary
"Big-atures" documentary
"Weta Workshop" documentary
"Costume Design" documentary

Design Galleries - 2,123 images
The Peoples of Middle-earth (galleries with docent audio)
The Realms of Middle-earth (galleries with docent audio)
Miniatures (galleries with docent audio)
"Home of the Horse Lords" documentary

"Middle-earth Atlas: Tracing the Journeys of the Fellowship" interactive map
"New Zealand as Middle-earth" interactive map w/on-location footage

THE APPENDICES PART VI: "The Passing of an Age"
Disc intro by Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan

Filming The Return of the King
"Cameras in Middle-earth" documentary
Production Photos (gallery) - 69 images

Visual Effects
"Weta Digital" documentary
"The Mumakil Battle" demonstration / multi-angle interactive feature

Post Production: Journey's End
"Editorial: Completing the Trilogy" documentary
"Music for Middle-earth" documentary
"The Soundscapes of Middle-earth" documentary
"The End of All Things" documentary
"The Passing of an Age" documentary

Cameron Duncan: The Inspiration for "Into the West"
"Cameron Duncan: The Inspiration for 'Into the West'" documentary
"DFK6498" short film
"Strike Zone" short film

DVD-ROM CONTENT: Includes access to exclusive online features


Things to look forward to in the extended version of Return of the King...

The full 7 min confrontation with Saruman at Isengard

Even more battle sequences, including Oliphants charging into the walls of Minas Tirith

Extended Paths of the Dead sequence, and more on the Black Ships

Many many more character scenes. Including exchanges between Aragorn and Eowyn,
Eomer finding Eowyn and Theoden on the battlefield, and Merry swearing allegiance to
King Theoden.

The Mouth of Sauron scene

and of course the showdown between Gandalf and the Witch King.

and much much more, including over 20 hours of bonus material.

.
[Edited 9/29/04 12:41pm]

mrdespues said:

MrJoker said:

the preeeeecccccious....gollum gollum

FiveFootNine said:

Then for your sake, I hope they don't release another set. Could get pretty expensive.

But if you ever get a hold of the "Fucking You In The Ass Edition," let me know, I'll bring popcorn.

Well, it turns out that there WILL now be a box set of the 3 extended versions of the movies.
Here's a nice pack-shot to drool over....

BorisFishpaw said:

I'm drooling....



I WANT IT!!!!!

BorisFishpaw said:

It was the right thing to do.

Here's a shot of the 'Return Of The King - Extended Edition' contents...





and here's some nice screen shots from a few of the newly added scenes...


Aragorn uses the Palantir to reveal himself to Sauron. As he attempts
to draw Sauron's forces into battle to give Frodo and Sam a chance.



The Witch King holds his sword aloft (which then bursts into flames)
as he confronts Gandalf on the ramparts of Minas Tirith.



At the Black Gate of Mordor, the company is faced by the 'living'
representative of the Dark Lord; The Mouth of Sauron.

Here's a pack-shot of the collector's edition of The Return of the King Extended Edition,
complete with model of Minas Tirith and a bonus book and DVD about Howard Shore's
Music for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.


[Edited 10/4/04 18:18pm]