Preserved Topic: LOTR: Return of the King *with spoilers*

Just got home from taking a beer (or two) after seeing ROTK. Got tickets for the pre-premiere Amnesty showing

The movie is as great as people say. The whole movie is great. And in this movie Peter Jackson stuck with the book more than he did in any of the previous ones. Only thing that I really missed was The Scouring of the Shire, but it didn't come as a shock that it wasn't part of the movie. Kind of missed Sarumann as well, but it was know that he wouldn't appear. Hopefully he'll get back in the extended version. But the Gray Haven's were in! I was almost certain that they were going to be edited out, but they are in there

The Battle of Minias Tirith was amazing. If you think the Battle of Helm's Deep was huge you've seen nothing yet To quote Bug's from the other thread: 'you will sh*t your pants"... and then you "will sh*t your pants with stuff you didn't even eat!"'.

Was kind of uncertain about how he was going to handle the whole Aragorn, Eowyn and Arwen thing, but he managed really good. With nice subtelty everything was sorted out the way it is supposed to be.

Can't really stop talking aobut it, but I'll leave it at that for now. Now go and see it the rest of you, so I'll have someone to talk about it with

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"There are 10 kinds of people; those who know binary, those who don't and those who start counting at zero"
- the Golden Ratio -

[This message has been edited by Veneficuz (edited 12-16-2003).]

V., I new you would find a way to see ROTK early. Lucky you, Mrs. Tiki is going to jealous. I'm sitting here with the flu hoping I'll be healthy enough to go tomorrow night.

I'm glad you said it was good. I was getting worried about how it was going to be edited.

--tiki

There'll be a premier in Melbourne tomorrow, well that's what I heard from the news. It'll be on the day after x-mas here.

Nope, it's coming here on the 26th, same as you.

Ha-HA! It comes here on the 17th! I doubt I'll get to the opening night show, but soon, soon! I am DYING to see it!

I just finished the book for the 3rd time, and now I'm all set. I'm glad to hear that he brought the story back in line. I was a little disappointed in some of the changes he made to TTT. I think that Saruman's Voice and the Scouring are some of the important parts of that book though - and I hope they'll put it all back in with the expanded DVD version. I watched a show on the making of it recently, and they actually had a clip from Saruman's Voice, but they didn't talk about it. I wonder if they knew that part wasn't really a teaser for the movie? Probably not.

oooo! I just can't wait!




Cell 617

Well butter my buns that was fantastic!!!

Now I'm going to have to build a time machine and go back and show the films to Tolkein just so he'll know someone will do them justice in the end.

When Bernard Hill was dying I was so tempted to whisper "Gis a job" - it would have gone down really well in a Liverpool cinema

[edit: And a prize to the person who spots the location that was used in 'Brain Dead' (his second zombie film) and RotK without Googling it (I assume its out there somewhere as I can't be the only person to notice).]

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Emps

The Emperor dot org

never saw brain dead, so I'm out, but I'd guess on the spider cavern ;-).

Anyhow, went to see all three films yesterday. Boy, I'm still tired, but great cinema. Though the truchess was a bit short on screen time, and the dead of the witch king left special effects missing. Had to think of a coke can being crushed ;-).

I absolutely loved the "crushing coke can" demise. Good Golly!!! I messed the pants alright. Just wonderful wonderful. I'm hoping to go see it again in a few hours.

[edit] Emps, can I just pay someone to butter your buns? I'm kind of busy right now [/edit]

. . : slicePuzzle

[This message has been edited by Bugimus (edited 12-17-2003).]

"crushing coke can"? Manomanoman! I can't wait to see this!

*sigh* I gots to wait till the furor dies down... I can't stand watching a movie in a crowded theatre... and this one will be crowded for days!

Have a read of this article about some unusul problems with the computer generated battle scenes:
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/story.asp?id=7530006A-C103-4E13-9A55-F6EFCC111ACC

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Emps

The Emperor dot org

Only crowded for days? The big cinemas around here a fully booked until New Year's Eve.

quote:

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...the dead of the witch king left special effects missing

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What special effects where missing? I kind of like how they handeled it. Don't really know how they could have added more special effects while still maintaining the feeling that was there...



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"There are 10 kinds of people; those who know binary, those who don't and those who start counting at zero"
- the Golden Ratio -

I think I know precisely what TP is referring to about "missing" effects. In fact, my very first reaction to that scene was that there was no big flash or lightning or swirling plasma stuff imploding into and around the proximity of the witch king. But the very next moment I realized it was so much better that way. If I had scene the effects I would have immediately thought of every other villain death that has been done recently with all the fanfare instead keeping my attention focused on Middle Earth and the battle at hand. I see it as a kind of "I'm melting" for the 21st century villain exit Kudos to Jackson for its originality!

. . : slicePuzzle

I agree with Bugs - we had the big villian death at the start of the first film so they needed something different.

Personally I did think the Battle o You Will Shit Your Pants seeme slightly bitty (esp. towards the end) but I suspect that is all due to the condensing of 6 hours into 3 hours 20 - I do hope we get the full 6 hour marathon with the director's cut next Xmas.

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Emps

The Emperor dot org

Emps, I have the extended version of Fellowship but not Two Towers yet. Have you seen any of the extended versions yet?

Bugs: I have the extended version of Fellowship and will be getting TTT for Xmas (from what I hear the extra footage does make it a more consistent film).

If I don't go back before I'm arranging going again just before the New Year and if so I'll be able to binge on the first 2 beforehand

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Emps

The Emperor dot org

No, no! I know realized what effect I was missing. Not Plasma, nor lightning.

Smoking boots! That's what should stay when a witch dies. The smoking boots were missing!

Edit: though they'd probably have had to drag me of the cinema since I wouldn't have been able to stop laughing if this happend. (I guess my english teacher would be proud of me for this sentence ;-))

[This message has been edited by Tyberius Prime (edited 12-18-2003).]

Tybs: if this had happened.

Because the English require it to be apparent when something was in the past.

But you're still getting a cookie.

Hey, that's a cookie!

The extended of TTT is a lot better than the normal version. You get a much better feeling for the characters and why they are acting as they do.

Would be fun if they released the 6hour marathon version of ROTK, but I've got a feeling that they'll only release a 4 hour or so version in the beginning. Maybe it will become available as a super-extended in a couple of years

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"There are 10 kinds of people; those who know binary, those who don't and those who start counting at zero"
- the Golden Ratio -

If they added all the extra footage back to ROTK, they would have to put the movie on 3 discs, instead of the current 2 that the expanded versions reside on. That of course knocks out at least one "extras" disc, if they keep the package at 4. Tho - if they did give us the whole 6 hour cut, they could sell a 5 disc set for $50 and people would buy it. There's a significant increase in profit to be had if they released the whole thing.

The extra footage really does improve the continuity of TTT - the expanded version is Da Bomb! It's 43 minutes extra, almost an entire third of the movie!

As for the ROTK packed for days here, it's a lot easier to get into the movies in little ol' Greensboro, NC than in many places... that, and I firmly believe in matinees while other folks are at work...

[This message has been edited by bodhi23 (edited 12-18-2003).]

A couple of theatres in this area had "trilogy Tuesday" where they showed the first two extended versions back to back followed by RotK at midnight.

WOW! All I can say is wow. This is the most beautiful film I have ever seen. It is truly breathtaking. I can't wait to see it again, just so I can pay closer attention to the backgrounds and settings. I was on the verge of sensory overload because of the grandness of it all. My eyes watered a few times in joy. The detail just blows me away.

I didn't soil my pants during the battle at Pelennor, but it is the best battle I've ever seen. When they pan over the fighting from above and you can see individual fights going on, you've never seen such realism. You've never seen something on this scale. I wanted to see it again, but alas it was sold out.

I personally wish I could shake PJ's hand. Although when compared to the books a lot of stuff was changed/left out, he and his team did an excellent job at being as loyal as possible to the essense of the story. They captured the emotion and the humanity and that to me is enough. Undoubtedly my new favorite movie(s). Only thing that could have made it better is if they had made 6 individual 3 hour movies, and kept all the goodies in tact. The only problem there I suppose is the short attention spans of many unappreciative viewers could have lowered popularity.

I am only sad that it is now over, only thing to look forward to now is the full box set which will hopefully include as much of the extra footage as possible.

Ok, saw the third film finally, what can I say...they are ok..

now I am gonna provide some of my half assed oppinion so dont go and brag about it, cause it just my oppinion...

First, good things about movie: its visually impresive, nice cinemography, good 3D effects, lighting, composition blah blah blah, all good....

things I didnt like: the story is boring...the ending was obviouse...its average fairly tale I used to listen when I was 4 and my mom sed to read me before bed. Everything ended happily ever after, Ohh my Frodo lost a finger... (just being an asshole), Sam got marired, the elf chick and the king err...also probably got married..*yawn*
I really disliked the camera during battles/duels...it just starts jumping around the screen for no reason, with alot of noise(damn those dragons!) ...I couldnt get a single good view of action...when camera focuses on particular charater fighting, it was poorly done as well..., very bad choreography... that Arogarn swings sword as if he doesnt know how to fight.. legolas never gets hurt....gimil/dwarf is a cripple midget with no combat skills..

man I dunno...well honestly if the movie fallowed the book it was well done, but hey I just dont like the story itself...never the less...what can I say, to me its ok to some of you its a blast...

I havent seen good movie in years....I miss good old days

mhmm....yah
i can agree on all the positive things which have been mentioned, but i also agree with ruski
the ending was disgusting. i was hoping for a fight...sauron vs somebody, but sauron wasn't there
saruman also got cut off (this is what we already discussed), so all the evil characters were not there anymore. just tons of orcs who died in a massacre.
i also disliked the scene, where eowin just ripped off this dragon's head...like a sausage.

If Saron had joined the final battle it would have been unforgivable. The whole idea is that Saron needs the Ring to assume a physical form. Once he assumes physical form (and gets all of his power back), nothing in Middle Earth can stand against him anymore. As for 'evil people' the Witch-king is there, and Sauron is kind of there as well...

I wouldn't call this the 'standard happy fairy tale ending'. If it had ended at the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen I would agree. At least after reading the book I can never think of this as a happy ending in the traditional way. But it might be that it ain't told that good in the movie, just that I still have the feeling from reading the book.

_________________________
"There are 10 kinds of people; those who know binary, those who don't and those who start counting at zero"
- the Golden Ratio -

What!? No cam download?

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Is this thing on?

A Work In Progress

There is just no pleasing some people.

That was just awesome... simply awesome!

I disagree with a few of the changes Mr. Jackson made, but I've done that in the previous films too. I think that for what he had to work with, timewise, he was as true to the books as he could be. In some of the extra documentary stuff on the previous 2 expanded dvds, he mentions the battles scenes and how he likes the effect of being there that the camera in the middle of the battles gives the viewer. There's no way a person is going to comprehend an entire battle from in the middle of it. The theatre version of it gives you a limited scope of the action going on intentionally, I think. Some of the action scenes seem a little rushed, but the tempo of the film is fast anyway. Just enough to get the feel of it, that's all. But it's all you need, in a way. There's so much going on at once, you just might truly suffer sensory overload if you could get it all on the screen!

I see the "crushing coke can" effect with the Nazgul Lord's death - given the tenor of the scene, I thought it did the job well. Some flashing lights and booming noise might have drawn more attention to it, but again, there's nothing of the sort in the book. That would only Hollywood it up more than necessary.

Ruski, if you haven't read the books, you need to. This is not just a "fairy tale" - this is an epic. Having the knowledge of the true story in your mind only adds to the effects the movie visuals have on the action. Go back and read them - then lets talk about how good the movie was!

I don't want to shit my pants.

that was fun. I don?t think it was the best LOTR movie but hey, it was fun.

I was super disappointed with the theater though, the projector died about 2/3 into the film... it was off for a good minute, and the employees were just like, well, technical problems, sorry.

Had to badger them for a refund.

And it was the best theater in town.

Bodhi, sorry but I am not into that types of books or stories...its just the way I am...i dislike american and british fantasies/epics...never was fond of them, I dont know why..I like better things like cather in the rye , or just reading plain chemistry school book is alot of fun for me..as for epics I am not sure I ever like one at all...its not very original( correct me if I am wrong) and well its pure "Good vs Evil"

p.s. I think star wars is more fun( do not mistake me for start wars fan, I never was one-just saw start wars trilogy for the first time like a week ago...yes I know...where have I been?)

quote:

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sorry but I am not into that types of books or stories

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Well, that's fine then -- but in that case, why complain? It's like if I came out of a horror movie saying "oh, I didn't like that at all" and someone asks why, and I say "well, to begin with, I don't like horror movies..."

Cell 1250 :: alanmacdougall.com :: Illustrator tips

Did anyone else notice that the orc general who led the attack on Minas Tirith was Sloth from the Goonies?

:::11oh1:::

I thought he looked familiar... I really did hope that big block of masonry would hit him...


Ruski - it doesn't make much sense at all to watch a movie with a story line you don't like... Seems like a waste of money to me...

But to each his own - I personally think that the books are well worth reading, if you simply like reading. I think that there's something in them that everyone can relate to. The sheer detail involved in the books is awe-inspiring in and of itself. This man created a whole world, with complete languages for all the races! The magnitude of work involved makes it worth paying attention to...
I've read a lot of books - including some that I had to force myself to finish. My favorite books are those that I never want to see the end of. Lord of the Rings is one of those that I hate to finish because it's so good!

Sloth gets around. He also played a double in the Elephant Man.

who is sloth from the goonies???

quote:

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Well, that's fine then -- but in that case, why complain?

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quote:

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it doesn't make much sense at all to watch a movie with a story line you don't like... Seems like a waste of money to me

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well as I said I have never read the book or heard the story before, so I went to see it...how could I know if I will liek it or not...I am sure all of you had gone to certain movies expecting them to be good, but turned out total crap...

and as I said I enjoyed the visuals....so no it wasnt all that waste of money, I never said it sucked....it was just ok

mas: The question I asked (as it has been a long time sicne I last saw it) - answer is here:
www.thegoonies.com/sloth.html

[edit: Most of the page is actually filler but the picture was enough for me]

[edit2: As well as filler that page seems to have lifted content and I tracked the design to:
http://www.karmatrekkers.com/html/resources.html ]

[edit 3: And yes I've dropped the original creators a line so case closeed ]

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Emps

The Emperor dot org

Just got back from the second viewing...

1. A friend noticed a continuity error and I confirmed it. When Frodo is all tied up with Shelob's goo and Sam is trying to revive him, Frodo's eyes are open *except* for a couple second side shot where they are closed. In the very next moment the front shot shows them open.

2. I saw this and am hoping someone will recall, when Theoden is leading the initial charge against the forces amassed at Minas Tirith, the aerial shot shows a "white rider" leading the charge and it looks very much like it was supposed to be Gandalf. But that cannot be so I'm wondering if I was just seeing things or not. Did anyone else see this? I haven't checked any fan sites on this yet because I just now got the chance to get online.

. . : slicePuzzle

Well Theoden's horse is white so that might have been what you saw...

As for the eyes thing, can't a brotha blink???

:::11oh1:::

[This message has been edited by krets (edited 12-23-2003).]

But the cloak looked white and not just the horse. I'll poke around the net and see if I can find anything about this.

Somehow I'm thinking it's gotta be your perception. Having Gandalf lead that charge would be huge mistake in the filming. I didn't notice it the first time I watched but I'll keep my eyes peeled this weekend.

:::11oh1:::

Yeah, take another look because I hope I was just perceiving poorly. I just checked out this list http://www.moviemistakes.com/film2746 and this one was not mentioned but the ones there are very interesting. Mostly continuity stuff.

. . : slicePuzzle

Jeebus. Whoever submits all those things has waaaaaaay too much time on their hands.

:::11oh1:::

If you look in the corrections section on that site, here is what it says about it.

quote:

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During the Charge of the Rohirrim (Pelennor Fields), Gandalf is visible leading the charge. This is impossible because he is inside Minas Tirith, not leading the charge onto to the surrounding fields. [Gandalf ís still inside Mina Tirith, what you see in the front is the white horse Théoden is riding.]

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Doesn't really explain it though. My only other thought could be the light shining off his armor or cape.

Good eye, Ramasax!!! I totally missed that. Yeah, it sure looked to me like the rider of that white horse was also garbed in white. I'll be seeing it again in a few days and I'll make sure to take a good look at the rider's outfit. Either way though, it has to be Theoden leading that charge.

. . : slicePuzzle

I thought I noticed the eye thing with Frodo... and a "brotha" can blink, but not when he's catatonic - as Frodo is supposed to be in that scene...

As for the Charge of the Rohirrim, I thought that Theoden's armor was silvery, and that he looked brighter somehow, than the rest of his men. But it didn't really appear that is was Gandalf... A trick of the light more than anything I think. I could be wrong... it's happened before.

Ruski - ok, special effects sometimes make a movie worth watching more than the story line itself. Not a total waste of money then. Not having any prior knowledge of the story is a different matter entirely.
I grew up knowing the story from the animated movies before I ever read it, so I had some foreknowledge. I find it odd that there are so many people who haven't ever been exposed to it before these films came out...
It's weird, but I can accept it...




Cell 617

He, he, I'm going to revive this one.
I have just watched the third part, after knowing and watching the first and second ones, extended versions, only recently.

It's a very good movie, actually, all three are, but it's amazing that among thousands of deaths, only one or two of the main characters die. The rest are just like imortal humans, they can fight one against one thousand and they just don't die. They don't even get seriously hurt, and when they do, well, the king, someone comes to revive them.

Well, it has to be this way, otherwise, I wouldn't have liked the movie. I like happy endings.

And I noticed a mistake that I don't know if it has been listed in that site. I looked up to page three, but there are more than 10 to look.

When Gandalf is entering Rohan, with his friends, the king, the dwarf and the blondie guy whose arrows never end (the elf), before Gandalf releases the king of Rohan from the curse of Saruman, and after they have left all their weapons behind, Gandalf is carrying his staff vertically, when shot from behind, but he's carrying it horizontally, when shot from the front.

All in all, a very good movie. I wish there were more like these.

The orc general is not the same person as Sloth. The orc general (Gothmog) is played by a New Zealand native stunt man named Lawrence Makoare. He also played Lurtz, the Uruk-Hai who kills Boromir in Fellowship. Sloth was played by John Matuszak.


It's pronounced "Spikes!"

[This message has been edited by SPyX (edited 01-20-2004).]

Dude, Spyx, I wasn't saying it was the same actor. I was saying the general was Sloth.

*cough*joke*cough*

:::11oh1:::