I guess you like bad pacing, terrible scene transiitons, inconsitent tone, and honestly just really cringe scenes (like Marry and Pippin drinking water and Eowyn making bad soup lol)
@@DestinyAwaits19 it amazes me how obsessed LOTR fanboys are with it, it’s like they don’t care about pacing at all. There are like 3 genuinely good extended scenes that add something good to the films.
Saruman's death scene is honestly one of my favorite scenes in the movie. We get to see Theoden really show himself to be king. Before Helm's Deep, I feel like he's still dampened by Sauron's control over his mind; he doesn't have a ton of energy. During the battle, he certainly acts as king, but he has much less courage and determination than Aragorn. Then, when Return of the King starts, we get this epic scene showing his passion for his people. That, I think, makes his transition to the crazy warrior king in the battle of Minas Tirith much more believable. He goes from, "Who am I, Gamling?" to shouting "death" as a battle cry. He also gets to understand the depth of evil that has permeated Sauron's mind - which probably motivates him more to defeat evil entirely rather than just protect his people. Another thing is that, yeah, Sauron was bullying the others in that scene. He was doing so because he believed himself to be better than them, smarter, victorious. He had forsaken reason for madness. The evil had so inflated his ego that he didn't believe Grima would turn on him - even when he insulted Grima directly.
Thank you for this. I just watch Fellowship Extended for the first time and loved it. I’m seeing Two Towers Extended in a movie theater this week for it’s 25th anniversary
I've also only watched the extended versions all the way through. I had seen bits and pieces of the trilogy but had never taken the time to sit down and actually watch them all the way until literally a month ago. I figured if I was gonna do it, I might as well go all in for the full experience. I will say they are very long-winded, but if you treat them less as movies and more as a mini-series, then the slower pacing does become a lot more bearable.
Extended edition is the way this masterpiece should be seen. Your claim that audiences are divided over theatrical vs extended cut is bogus. Most fans prefer the latter and those who have read the books would not touch theatrical edition of these films.
No he’s correct. The Extended versions of Two Towers and Return contain some messy scenes that do affect the overall quality. That said, they also contain some wonderful scenes as well. I’m personally conflicted. If I had to absolutely choose I’d choose the Extendeds, but they are a bit messier from a filmmaking standpoint (except Fellowship).
The problem with the extended editions is they incorporate too much subtlety. They're very subtle movies. They're not action packed adventure epics like the theatricals. They're more character- focussed and less concerned with tension and war. Saruman telling Grima he smells of horse, Aragorn telling Gandalf he still speaks in riddles, Legolas saying the trees have feelings, Merry and Pippin finding a food stash at Isengard and measuring eachothers' height. Sam worrying if he's going to fall off a rope. Do you see what I mean? It does something to the movies. It takes away its focus on battlefields and urgency. They take a masterpiece adventure fantasy epic and replace the tone with subtle undertones of characterization and companionship.
@@DestinyAwaits19and…that’s somehow a bad thing? To put more focus on the great characters and their beautiful relationships? That’s precisely what makes the Extended Editions superior.
@@12classics39 I'm not used to that. The Lord of the Rings I grew up with was strictly theatrical. The theatricals are far more ominous movies. More tense movies. They're orientated around battles and not people. They're much darker, much more foreboding, much more urgent. There's definitely a difference in tone between the two versions.
The extended edition is amazing for me as a massive fan of the books, but for a casual viewer the theatrical cut may be better. That being said, I dislike only one addition to the extended films, the scene where Gandalf’s staff is broken by the witch king shouldn’t have happened
I actually did make my own cuts. Fellowship is untouched, because the extended version of that one is perfect. But for TTT, it's pretty much the theatrical version, but with the Osgiliath flashback added, and then also Eomer and his men finding Theodred, and the Huorns leaving Isengard and showing up at Helm's Deep at the end. Then for RotK, it's pretty much just adding the Saruman scene back in, the Houses of Healing sequence including the scene with Faramir and Eowyn, and the Mouth of Sauron. Other than that, none of the extended scenes are really worth keeping in the movie, IMO. They're fun or interesting scenes to see, and maybe would have been better as deleted scenes on the DVD, though I am glad we at least have the full extended versions that exist. But as films, I would never want to show someone the extended versions of TTT and RotK as their first experience with the films. They do ruin the cinematic experience on a pacing level, and some are just awkward scenes. They're just treats for fans who want more. The Army of the Dead and Corsairs extended scenes from RotK ruin the surprise of Aragorn and co. having convinced the Army of the Dead to fight, and taken the ships before the they show up at Minas Tirith. I do like the scene of them leaving the cave with and seeing the Corsair ships and then Aragorn falls to his knees in despair... I kept that scene in my edit, but cut it before the Deadite comes out and says "We fight.", and then get rid of that poorly green-screened scene of them talking to the ships... despite the Peter Jackson cameo. Now we leave off just on Aragorn in despair at having failed, and then the next time we see him, he's jumping off the ship with the Army of the Dead in tow. All in all, I tend to defer to the theatrical versions as being the better "films". They're the ones that made all the bank at the box office, they're the ones that earned all the awards including for editing, and they're the ones that I remember seeing in the theater when they came out. Aside from the Galadriel gift-giving scene, the Saruman scene, and maybe the Osgiliath flashback, none of the extended scenes are really necessary and just make already-long movies even longer.
I view the extended editions as the movies and the theatrical versions as the casual audience edition. While the theatrical versions were great but the extended editions were very much necessary and really added to the movies and made them even more great.
@@DestinyAwaits19 I don’t necessarily agree with Peter Jackson. I personally prefer the movies with a lot of the stuff added in the extended editions. Just see what Christopher Lee had to say.
@@reeseexplains8935 The problem with the extended editions is they take away from the action and tension and replace them with character moments and subtlety. Galadriel giving Elven gifts to the Fellowship, Concerning Hobbits, Drinking game at Edoras, Frodo asking Gandalf which way to turn, Saruman telling Grima he smells of horse. It's small moments like that which rub me the wrong way. It trivializes an important and epic masterpiece into a soppy game of small character moments.
I'm a bit of a theatrical edition pursuit. I believe that these scenes were removed for a reason, most of them bring the narrative to a halt. It seems the overall consensus is that the "Extended Editions are better" which I never got. It is absolute madness to show a first time viewer the extended cuts. It bombards them with way too much information, and really overstays it's welcome. The only scenes I felt should have been included in the theatrical, was the scene of Frodo and Bilbo in the tent during the party in Fellowship of the Ring, and Saruman's death. I get why it was cut, but without it's inclusion, something feels missing. My solution, would be to trim the scene in half, we don't need the monologue, just straight to the point. Saruman says a few cross words, Grima stabs him, and boom, right back on track. I agree that the Return of the King is the worst of the cuts. For example, the King of the Dead telling Aragorn "We fight" ruins the surprise. It's so much more satisfying to see him jump off the ship, rather than knowing he's coming. The other cut that absolutely infuriated me was the scene of the Rohan Riders camping out during their ride to Gondor. I know it's realistic, and you have to 'water your horses' and all that, but that completely ruins the urgency. Theodon made it clear that this was a dangerous mission, with no time to waste, and they're....camping? Yeah I know armies on the march need to camp and resupply, but we don't need to see it. It also ruins the surprise of Rohan showing up at the battle. I felt like I was the odd man out for years because I preferred watching the Theatrical cuts, but it seems that more and more people are starting to share my opinion.
Yeah, I didn't mention it in the video but I absolutely agree about the Rohan Riders camping on their way to Gondor. It also bothers me in that scene that Eowyn takes off her helmet risking being caught!
Honestly either/or are perfectly fine despite what many hardcore extended superfans may say as the overall story themes and context and character portrayals stay the same with both cuts (unlike a Blade Runner Director's Cut for example) basically the extended cuts are there for those diehards who really want a bit extra from the story
As a history fan myself, I generally prefer realism. I’d say that they’re “resting”. A well rested soldier is far superior than a tired one. Yes yes, there’s no time to waste, but if you’re exhausted, what’re you supposed to do?
I have come to the same conclusion as you. Fellowship is better in Extended form, and the other two work better in theatrical form. However, there are many scenes in the extended versions of Two Towers, Return of The King that I really wish I could keep while omitting the rest. I'd like to make a third cut, I've even gotten so far as getting all of the blu rays saved on a drive to make an edit between the cuts into what I'd consider the perfect balance. Problem is I can't for the life of me get the audio working in my editing software, when I transfer it into the file type it needs to be, the audio becomes encoded... if anyone has any knowledge on how to get around this let me know!
I bought the UHD 4k Bluray set that comes with both versions of all 3 films and I just finished the extended of the Fellowship and the time went by so fast that i was very engrossed in it. It adds so much more to an already fantastic movie. Looking forward to the next 2 extended movies, and so far in general i would say extended versions of movies are a lot better as too much is cut out.
honestly i like return extended alot. ive seen it in the theater twice and it shockingly flows really well with good pacing. it really doesnt feel like 4 hours and this is coming from someone who's seen killers of the flower moon and gone with the wind (3 times) in the theater and felt those films could drag a bit
I have just recently watched the extended edition of the movies for my first time which is also my first time watching any lotr movies and I can't even imagine what the non extended editions would be like it is just SOOO GOOD
Just finished the extended cuts, I thought they would have a LOT more, but just longer scenes AND a few deleted scenes, AND 27 minutes of longer credits!
what about The Mouth of Sauron...? it has to be one of the best if not The Best extended scenes/cut scenes that wasn't in the theatrical release of Return of the King as it just adds so much more story development to the final battle scene and is just generally so good
That’s a bit complicated. I think the Theatrical Versions are great for beginners, but for the seasoned LOTR Cinematic Universe Veteran, the Extended Editions are just too awesome to pass up!!!!!!! Once you watch the Extended Editions, you never go back to the Theatrical Versions again!!
As a writer, I will always go for the extended versions in it's original telling. The editing is for those with an emphasis in cinema. A friendly reminder to those preferring the theatrical versions without us writers you wouldn't have a story.
Extended Cut of FOTR is just better as you described. Better World Building. Would even recommend it for "First-Time-Viewers". TTT and ROTK? Different story. I have a Love-Hate-Relationship with those Extended Cuts. Some scenes are so horrible, that I regret my decision watching the Extended Cuts. In contrast other scenes are "otherworldly" and should have been in the theatrical as well. Watching the Extended Cuts is like being on a really terrifying roller coaster: One moment you wanna throw up. A few seconds later you feel excited again :P My least favorite scenes from the Extended Cut are: - Stew-Scene in TTT (Hate this scene so much) - All the extra Army of the Dead Scenes (don't add anything to the movies and also destroy the tension during the Minas Tirith Battle) - Gandalf vs Witch-King (Fight never happened in the books, the power levels between Gandalf and the Witch-King are misrepresented) Actual good and important scenes from the Extended Cut are: - Added scenes in the Emyn Muil (Just illustrates how lost Frodo and Sam really are and why Gollum/Smeagol is important) - The Funeral of Théodred - Flashback Faramir/Boromir - Huorns marching to Helm Deep and killing the Orcs - Saruman's Death - Extra Scenes with Faramir and Gandalf talking about the History of Gondor - House of Healing (Eomer finds Eowyn on the Battlefield) - Mouth of Sauron Other scenes are just "meh". Okay, but in the end don't add anything and just destroy the pasting. In other words: There should have been a Cut somewhere between the Extended and Theatrical Cut.
You really have to pick your poison. The extended editions, especially in fellowship and for the Saruman scene at the beginning should have been in the original cut, while at the same time Two Towers and return of the king just linger a bit too long with most of their inclusions not being memorable and even detrimental to the story, especially how in the extended edition of ROTK it completely ruins the suspense of the battle at minis Tirith. Also 4 hours for a movie is just unacceptable in my opinion for how much of a downgrade the deleted scenes are compared to the other two films. Great video, I couldn’t agree more.
In Rtok extended, Aragon picks up the palantiri and baits Sauron to fight. Sauron moves his army towards the Black Gate as a results. None of that is in the theatrical, and I find that particular moment a bit lacking without it. I prefer the extended versions all the way, but I understand why some prefer the theatrical.
That scene was awkward! Couldn’t tell if it was a dream sequence or if it really happened, after evenstar breaks it just abruptly cuts to aragorn randomly on a horse. Totally kills the pace and ruins the mystique of my favorite character Aragorn.
Just finished the theatrical version of fellowship of the ring. First time I’ve ever seen these films. I kinda wish I saw the extended version because I would love to get to know these characters more. The theatrical version just felt like a 3 hour nonstop adventure lol. But I know there so much more to this world. I think imma just watch the extended version for the next 2 films
Honestly a lot of extended lovers forget to judge each and every scene by it’s merit alone. Making the argument that every second I’m the universe is better for it is not always accurate . Some scenes like sauromon death and the witch king breaking Gandalf staff was not very well received to me as if stood out as unnecessary and somewhat detrimental to Gandalf
Totally agree. The dialogue in the extended is cringe too. It's too faithful to the poetic style in the books. The theatrical movies are made for 21st Century audiences. No one talks in the Victorian tongue anymore. Tolkien's characters speak from a bygone era, and it doesn't suit today's customs.
The Extended Trilogy of LOTR will always be my first choice! As for your comments about ROTK, Gnator8t4, I will say this: the EE moment I found silliest and cringy was Gimli in the Paths of the Dead, and also the three of them when they're trying to pass a falling avalanche of skulls. However, I think that scene in Mordor where Frodo and Sam are swept up in the marching Orc army is really thrilling, sort of like "how will they get out of that"!
I liked this analysis, it was well paced and to the point, however, I get the feeling that you could rerelease an extended analysis with a few extra observations that don’t really add to the argument and the fans would really enjoy it 🤔
If you saw the extended first, and you love the movie, the theatrical cut could only be seen as a reduction or lesser version. If like me you saw the theatrical version, and you thought it was amazing, anymore added to it is going to feel like bloat.
It's interesting, I actually saw the extended cuts first, but by the time I watched any cut of the film again (theatricals in cinema), it'd been a few years and wasn't entirely able to remember what had been cut and not
Am I the only want who wants to watch the scenes and that's hit but can't because there are a zillion of youtubers talking how much they love this and that?
The only extended cut I've seen is fellowship and I felt it messed up the pacing and felt significantly less epic because of that. Everyone who worked on these films did a phenomenal job, including the editors. I never bothered to watch other extended cuts because I think the editors cut scenes for good reason, they just don't add much if any value to the films or they interfere with the flow of rising action. Theatrical cuts are perfect imo.
Yeah and even Peter Jackson calls the Theatricals to be the definitive versions and he considers the extended cuts to be a novelty for the fans who really wanna see the extra material and honestly I can get his points even though the extended cuts have really good scenes that are actually important for the worldbuilding and such but at the same time those extra scenes can kinda bloat the pacing imo
@@leadzeppbelly I've only ever watched extended as well but I was - 2 years old when the first came out and only a year old when return of the king came out so lol🤷🏻♂️
I completely agree on all three of your takes. The Fellowship of the Ring greatly benefits from the earlier scenes in the Shire, and Boromir's character arc hits so much harder when you get his expanded motivation. The Two Towers & Return of the King both have scenes in the extended edition that feel either unnecessary or corny, and the pacing isn't as tight. Also, I know this is a nitpick, but the Witch King of Angmar destroying Gandalf's staff? He's a human going up against a Maiar who slew a Balrog! Nonsense :)
I honestly prefer the theatrical edition's of the films. If I wanna show somebody these films for the first time, I wanna show them how they were released in theaters. But I agree that Saruman's death was cut in Return of the King, they should have kept that in. I was so mad that it was in the Extended Edition.
that scene is a bit goofy. and it's not from the books, so they probably felt ok with cutting it. i've always found it awkwardly placed in the trilogy. his death happening right at the beginning of the film makes it seem like an afterthought that has be done with to properly start the film. if he had to die anywhere it should have been at the end of two towers.
Good analysis . First one extended all the way. It’s the intro, the build up, the lore/ world building movie , the movie for any content other movies could feel bloated in. The other two feel the bloat, stunted pacing, and overall simple redundancy of most additions .
LOTR Fellowship extended is bloated and cringe too. Hobbits being merry and idyllic is not good movie making. People want to watch a plot, not see Hobbits dilly dally around.
The Fellowship of the Ring theatrical is one of the best paced blockbuster films ever made. It's undeniable that the official versions just do work better as films.
just watched the extended with my son(his first time watching the movies ever)and i have to say it filled a lot of holes for me esp not being an uber fan. obviously it was my gens it movie(i was in highschool when it came out) but i found it much more in depth than i remember. biggest one for me was the parley at the gates of mordor, how did that not get added. it was so good. loved it, i would never watch the theatrical again.
Extended edition is much darker , and too sharp so you see bad CGI much easier.Also I think extended edition feels much worse with more scenes , that dont fit well with the movie.Looks fake , and not that natural.Before I could use my imgination what would happend here , or there.Now with the extended edition I know , because they showed me more scenes , that actually looks bad , and I dont like it
I'm sorry, but anyone who likes the Extended Cuts better are just fanboys that automatically think the longer versions are better just by virtue of the fact that they have more scenes in them. They are so obseessed with Lord of the Rings that any scene is a gift from God himself. They don't even look at it objectivley or critically. The vast vast majority of the Extended Scenes do nothing except bring the pacing to a grinding halt to feed us information that we either don't need to know or already know from previous scenes. The theatrical cuts objecvitly have much tigher pacing and far FAR superior scene transitions.
What are you even talking about most of the added things in the extended editions were very much needed. The theatrical versions are just cut down because most casual audiences can’t watch a movie that long. The extended editions tells us things that you wouldn’t if you only watched the theatrical versions.
@@TheGreatestVoice1958Elaborate what? Your original rant is devoid of any analysis or argument. It solely comprises attack on those who disagree with your take
The theatrical editions are literally flawless, just scene after scene of perfection building on each other. While the extended stuff is overall enjoyable, a lot of it is pointless and some of it actually BAD. Gimli's character is 1000x better with all the cringe jokes cut out. 'Houses of Healing' is like a random music video. I HATE Gandalf brainlessly lighting up an entire canyon of Mithril right after saying they were supposed to being walking in darkness to avoid attention in Moria - it wrecks the next scene about "risking a little light" as well. I could go on..
The Houses of Healing scene is vital for two reasons. First, it shows Aragorn's power. The hands of the king are the hands of a healer in the novels. Second, it allows for some development of the romance between Eowyn and Faramir.
@@MarianPowell it is ludicrously placed in the runtime of the film and grinds the entire pacing to a screeching halt. to have that entire sequence before merry and pippin even find each other on the battlefield. it feels like a month has passed. thank GOD they were wise enough to cut it. the extended scenes repeatedly reduce eowyns character down to desperate love-interest for whatever man happens to be next to her.
@@yeahiagree1070They don't reduce anything. Those scenes are taken from the books. The fact that you can't keep track of time is your fault. All those scenes build character.
@@NoNonsense_01 sure you're right, eowyn cooking a yucky stew is really vital to building her character - the film completely falls apart without that incredible scene.. grow up please.
After many years finally got the extended edition on Blu-Ray ( had the DVD’s before ). What a joy it was to finish the fellowship and now preparing myself for the two towers
Extended versions are in my opinion the best versions.. but it's more for the real fans as the normal versions are much more suited for casual fans.. being a hardcore Tolkien fan.. extended every time
@@WesternRAM real fan meaning being a Tolkien, original story fan. You can be a fan of the movies, but book readers will always call themselves the real fans and they have every right to do so. In the end the original, real LotR is the book.
I’m absolutely a “real fan” and I agree with this videos’ take on the unnecessary included deleted scenes. Part of the artistry in film is also its restraint, and ROTK fails in that aspect more than the first two extended editions in my opinion
I think I might be dumb but I couldn’t point out many scenes that were added after watching the theatrical for 15 years (probably once every other year) and just finishing the extended LOTR fellowship tonight. Only 1 scene when they just left the shire- I’m trippin !!! Hence why I’m here on the comments lol
One thing I love about the extended fellowship of the ring is the extra earlier scenes with Sam. In the theatrical version, he doesn't come in until literally right before the adventure starts where Gandalf catches him eavesdropping out the window. And we don't really get to know him before the journey even though he's an extremely important character and Frodo's best friend who becomes the main ally, and without him middle earth would have fallen. In the extended cut however, he has much more earlier screen time. He's at the birthday party scene and the green dragon scene and we actually get to see him bonding with Frodo in the shire before they share their adventure together. On top of that they give him more development as they show his subplot with Rosie who doesn't appear until the end of return of the king where she was shown as just some random girl Sam quickly marries. How could they cut those scenes?
8 месяцев назад+9
I'm gonna show these movies to my friends for the first time. I'm scared the extended cut might be too exhausting and make them bored and tired, but there are so many scenes that are so cool. I want them to have the best experience they could with the story. So I'm researching a lot. I've decided not to play the extended edition of ROTK, and to play the extended edition of Fellowship of the ring. Still undecided about The Two Towers.
@ If you start with one edition and then jump to a different version, the films will have story threads either suddenly dropped or cut off, or new oens starting out of nowhere. The reveal of Aragorn being raised in Rivendell is brought up first in Fellowship extended, but doesn't come up again in Two Towers theatrical. Boromir is characterised much better in Fellowship's extended cut, and this is established further in Two Towers' Gondor flashback; he a fun and loving big brother (both to Faramir and Merry & Pippin), and an inspirational general who gave into the pressures of his father and the Ring's temptation. The Two Towers extended clears up who Aragorn is (a long-lived descendant of the lost kingdom of Numenor), which is NEVER mentioned in the theatrical cut. Aragorn is more well-rounded as a result. Faramir was BARELY a good person in the shorter release, but the extended cut shows Faramir's merciful side to a fallen enemy warrior, a supportive side when he eventually releases Frodo and Sam, and it clarifies his motivations. He wants the Ring because he truly beleives it will redeem him in his abusive father's eyes, fulfilling the quest Boromir was originally sent on. This does not come across in the theatrical where he seems aggressive, selfish, and short-sighted. And RotK Extended is EPIC. Saruman's fate ties up a loose end from the previous film, and more Christopher Lee is a good thing. More time is spent in Gondor, fleshing out the city and the characters in it, and new additions to the battle scenes drive up the suspense and emotions. I have heard the critiques of the Mouth of Sauron scene, but that scene is for Aragorn and his forces. They still chose to fight to the death, even thinking Frodo was captured and Sauron might have the Ring, enhancing Aragorn's sacrifice and faith in Frodo and Sam to finish their quest. Still, in all honesty, the only scenes that feel superflous to me were the extra scenes relating to the Army of the Dead. But that's still a small proportion of an incredible whole.
For some reason, though we had the extended cuts of 1 and 3, we did not have the 2 towers extended cut. I'm genuinely not even aware of what is not in the extended cut of Fellowship. And other than Saruman, couldn't really say what's in the extended cut RotK. But ironically, when I finally saw 2 towers extended cut, I thought most of the scenes were unnecessary (and cringey when it comes to "gimli's axe in the nervous system"). Other than Gandalf helping explain the plot which is clarifying for the uninitiated, I really do like the theatrical better. So this would be an interesting exercise for me. That said, RotK extended is my fave movie of all time and I'm scared to challenge that lol. But I know at least that the Charge of the Rohirrim is paced MUCH better in the extended cut. Favorite scene of all time.
Lol I couldn’t agree more. I’m glad most of the stuff was cut. There were a few things that helped me with the plot as I never read the books. I’m glad I watched it but will never rewatch the extended version again.
Fellowship theatrical is REALLY well considered and pretty much perfect in my opinion.....with the other two films the special editions are better/improved, which isn't surprising when you consider how they were made (they made a gamble and prioritised getting the first film right while not having enough to finish the next two....and then went back and re-shot a LOT for the next two after the success of the first).
The council of Elrond scene while closer to the book, is inferior because of that moment of Gandalf talking. Have always preferred the theatrical version
As a massive LotR fan my opinions are much the same FotR - extended is superior. Enriches the story and characters without killing the pacing and nothing too egregious is added, while the gift giving is possibly my favorite scene in the whole film TTT - mixed bag. The Gondor flashback should NEVER have been cut as Faramir's whole presence in the film makes virtually zero sense without it. Other than that there's a lot of nice but totally inconsequential scenes that slow down what really needs to be the snappiest of the three as it has the least actual plot. RotK - theatrical is vastly superior. There's about 2 extended scenes I actually like; the flower blooming on the white tree, and Sam/Frodo throwing their pots and pans away in Mordor before spotting the star. That's it, almost everything else added is outright bad.
This is a no brainer for me. Extended! Only Extended!
Dont you think the extended scenes cabt really Match the sence also Seen in the theatrical?
Extended trilogy is way better than the theatrical trilogy
@@buzzybeepopman2009 and king kong 2005 extended better as well because of the swamp scene from the original 1933 movie.
No it's not.
I guess you like bad pacing, terrible scene transiitons, inconsitent tone, and honestly just really cringe scenes (like Marry and Pippin drinking water and Eowyn making bad soup lol)
@@TheGreatestVoice1958 Absolutley agreed dude. The extended movies are cringe....and flat out suck.
@@DestinyAwaits19 it amazes me how obsessed LOTR fanboys are with it, it’s like they don’t care about pacing at all. There are like 3 genuinely good extended scenes that add something good to the films.
For me, I will always choose the extended editions.
Thank God you're not the director. Even Jackson himself prefers the theatricals as they're MUCH better films.
@@DestinyAwaits19Mate it’s his opinion you don’t have to agree with him
Me too. Extended adds more depth to the story
Saruman's death scene is honestly one of my favorite scenes in the movie. We get to see Theoden really show himself to be king. Before Helm's Deep, I feel like he's still dampened by Sauron's control over his mind; he doesn't have a ton of energy. During the battle, he certainly acts as king, but he has much less courage and determination than Aragorn.
Then, when Return of the King starts, we get this epic scene showing his passion for his people. That, I think, makes his transition to the crazy warrior king in the battle of Minas Tirith much more believable. He goes from, "Who am I, Gamling?" to shouting "death" as a battle cry. He also gets to understand the depth of evil that has permeated Sauron's mind - which probably motivates him more to defeat evil entirely rather than just protect his people.
Another thing is that, yeah, Sauron was bullying the others in that scene. He was doing so because he believed himself to be better than them, smarter, victorious. He had forsaken reason for madness. The evil had so inflated his ego that he didn't believe Grima would turn on him - even when he insulted Grima directly.
You keep saying Sauron but I believe you're talking about Saruman. Their names are so similar it's easy to get them mixed up.
Theatrical are better movies, extended are a beautiful journey
Not if the journey feels halted in a way that affects pacing , then the journey becomes tedious .
@@Yosemite_sam694
I say do fellowship extended, two towers and return theatrical for a first time viewer
@@ManiacMayhem7256 thanks, will do 👍
@@seymourpant
Yw. Enjoy
@@ManiacMayhem7256 For me it`s FOTR theatrical, TTT theatrical and ROTK extended. Can't just leave Saruman's death out
Thank you for this. I just watch Fellowship Extended for the first time and loved it. I’m seeing Two Towers Extended in a movie theater this week for it’s 25th anniversary
Nice, enjoy! Helms Deep is a real treat on the big screen :)
25 years?! Wow how time has flown.
@@NickandAnna twentieth. That was my bad
I have literally only ever watched the extended trilogy cause my parents had the box set when I was younger.
I've also only watched the extended versions all the way through. I had seen bits and pieces of the trilogy but had never taken the time to sit down and actually watch them all the way until literally a month ago. I figured if I was gonna do it, I might as well go all in for the full experience. I will say they are very long-winded, but if you treat them less as movies and more as a mini-series, then the slower pacing does become a lot more bearable.
Extended edition is the way this masterpiece should be seen. Your claim that audiences are divided over theatrical vs extended cut is bogus. Most fans prefer the latter and those who have read the books would not touch theatrical edition of these films.
No he’s correct. The Extended versions of Two Towers and Return contain some messy scenes that do affect the overall quality. That said, they also contain some wonderful scenes as well. I’m personally conflicted. If I had to absolutely choose I’d choose the Extendeds, but they are a bit messier from a filmmaking standpoint (except Fellowship).
@@zechariahhall97 What messy scenes?
The Extended Editions are the best of all time. They add more story, more action, more beautiful score, snd the pacing is perfect.
The problem with the extended editions is they incorporate too much subtlety. They're very subtle movies. They're not action packed adventure epics like the theatricals. They're more character- focussed and less concerned with tension and war. Saruman telling Grima he smells of horse, Aragorn telling Gandalf he still speaks in riddles, Legolas saying the trees have feelings, Merry and Pippin finding a food stash at Isengard and measuring eachothers' height. Sam worrying if he's going to fall off a rope. Do you see what I mean? It does something to the movies. It takes away its focus on battlefields and urgency. They take a masterpiece adventure fantasy epic and replace the tone with subtle undertones of characterization and companionship.
@@DestinyAwaits19 The extended Version arent that much longer
@@DestinyAwaits19and…that’s somehow a bad thing? To put more focus on the great characters and their beautiful relationships? That’s precisely what makes the Extended Editions superior.
@@12classics39 I'm not used to that. The Lord of the Rings I grew up with was strictly theatrical. The theatricals are far more ominous movies. More tense movies. They're orientated around battles and not people. They're much darker, much more foreboding, much more urgent. There's definitely a difference in tone between the two versions.
@@DestinyAwaits19 the lord of the rings is not about battles. The battle of Helms deep is a few pages in the book.
The extended edition is amazing for me as a massive fan of the books, but for a casual viewer the theatrical cut may be better. That being said, I dislike only one addition to the extended films, the scene where Gandalf’s staff is broken by the witch king shouldn’t have happened
We need a third edit, extended without the bad scene
I actually did make my own cuts. Fellowship is untouched, because the extended version of that one is perfect.
But for TTT, it's pretty much the theatrical version, but with the Osgiliath flashback added, and then also Eomer and his men finding Theodred, and the Huorns leaving Isengard and showing up at Helm's Deep at the end. Then for RotK, it's pretty much just adding the Saruman scene back in, the Houses of Healing sequence including the scene with Faramir and Eowyn, and the Mouth of Sauron.
Other than that, none of the extended scenes are really worth keeping in the movie, IMO. They're fun or interesting scenes to see, and maybe would have been better as deleted scenes on the DVD, though I am glad we at least have the full extended versions that exist. But as films, I would never want to show someone the extended versions of TTT and RotK as their first experience with the films. They do ruin the cinematic experience on a pacing level, and some are just awkward scenes. They're just treats for fans who want more.
The Army of the Dead and Corsairs extended scenes from RotK ruin the surprise of Aragorn and co. having convinced the Army of the Dead to fight, and taken the ships before the they show up at Minas Tirith. I do like the scene of them leaving the cave with and seeing the Corsair ships and then Aragorn falls to his knees in despair... I kept that scene in my edit, but cut it before the Deadite comes out and says "We fight.", and then get rid of that poorly green-screened scene of them talking to the ships... despite the Peter Jackson cameo. Now we leave off just on Aragorn in despair at having failed, and then the next time we see him, he's jumping off the ship with the Army of the Dead in tow.
All in all, I tend to defer to the theatrical versions as being the better "films". They're the ones that made all the bank at the box office, they're the ones that earned all the awards including for editing, and they're the ones that I remember seeing in the theater when they came out. Aside from the Galadriel gift-giving scene, the Saruman scene, and maybe the Osgiliath flashback, none of the extended scenes are really necessary and just make already-long movies even longer.
The more lord of the rings, the better
Extended for Fellowship
Theatrical for Two Towers and Return
I view the extended editions as the movies and the theatrical versions as the casual audience edition. While the theatrical versions were great but the extended editions were very much necessary and really added to the movies and made them even more great.
Peter Jackson said the theatricals are the definitive movies. Not the extended.
@@DestinyAwaits19 so?
@@reeseexplains8935 So my point is. You're wrong.
@@DestinyAwaits19 I don’t necessarily agree with Peter Jackson. I personally prefer the movies with a lot of the stuff added in the extended editions. Just see what Christopher Lee had to say.
@@reeseexplains8935 The problem with the extended editions is they take away from the action and tension and replace them with character moments and subtlety. Galadriel giving Elven gifts to the Fellowship, Concerning Hobbits, Drinking game at Edoras, Frodo asking Gandalf which way to turn, Saruman telling Grima he smells of horse. It's small moments like that which rub me the wrong way. It trivializes an important and epic masterpiece into a soppy game of small character moments.
I'm a bit of a theatrical edition pursuit. I believe that these scenes were removed for a reason, most of them bring the narrative to a halt. It seems the overall consensus is that the "Extended Editions are better" which I never got. It is absolute madness to show a first time viewer the extended cuts. It bombards them with way too much information, and really overstays it's welcome.
The only scenes I felt should have been included in the theatrical, was the scene of Frodo and Bilbo in the tent during the party in Fellowship of the Ring, and Saruman's death. I get why it was cut, but without it's inclusion, something feels missing. My solution, would be to trim the scene in half, we don't need the monologue, just straight to the point. Saruman says a few cross words, Grima stabs him, and boom, right back on track.
I agree that the Return of the King is the worst of the cuts. For example, the King of the Dead telling Aragorn "We fight" ruins the surprise. It's so much more satisfying to see him jump off the ship, rather than knowing he's coming. The other cut that absolutely infuriated me was the scene of the Rohan Riders camping out during their ride to Gondor. I know it's realistic, and you have to 'water your horses' and all that, but that completely ruins the urgency. Theodon made it clear that this was a dangerous mission, with no time to waste, and they're....camping? Yeah I know armies on the march need to camp and resupply, but we don't need to see it. It also ruins the surprise of Rohan showing up at the battle.
I felt like I was the odd man out for years because I preferred watching the Theatrical cuts, but it seems that more and more people are starting to share my opinion.
Yeah, I didn't mention it in the video but I absolutely agree about the Rohan Riders camping on their way to Gondor. It also bothers me in that scene that Eowyn takes off her helmet risking being caught!
Honestly either/or are perfectly fine despite what many hardcore extended superfans may say as the overall story themes and context and character portrayals stay the same with both cuts (unlike a Blade Runner Director's Cut for example) basically the extended cuts are there for those diehards who really want a bit extra from the story
As a history fan myself, I generally prefer realism. I’d say that they’re “resting”. A well rested soldier is far superior than a tired one. Yes yes, there’s no time to waste, but if you’re exhausted, what’re you supposed to do?
Good point. Also, most important, they are riding horses, not driving cars. Horses must be rested regularly or they will literally die.
@@musthaf9
Return of the King Extended is Flawless
I have come to the same conclusion as you. Fellowship is better in Extended form, and the other two work better in theatrical form. However, there are many scenes in the extended versions of Two Towers, Return of The King that I really wish I could keep while omitting the rest. I'd like to make a third cut, I've even gotten so far as getting all of the blu rays saved on a drive to make an edit between the cuts into what I'd consider the perfect balance. Problem is I can't for the life of me get the audio working in my editing software, when I transfer it into the file type it needs to be, the audio becomes encoded... if anyone has any knowledge on how to get around this let me know!
I bought the UHD 4k Bluray set that comes with both versions of all 3 films and I just finished the extended of the Fellowship and the time went by so fast that i was very engrossed in it. It adds so much more to an already fantastic movie. Looking forward to the next 2 extended movies, and so far in general i would say extended versions of movies are a lot better as too much is cut out.
honestly i like return extended alot. ive seen it in the theater twice and it shockingly flows really well with good pacing. it really doesnt feel like 4 hours and this is coming from someone who's seen killers of the flower moon and gone with the wind (3 times) in the theater and felt those films could drag a bit
I have just recently watched the extended edition of the movies for my first time which is also my first time watching any lotr movies and I can't even imagine what the non extended editions would be like it is just SOOO GOOD
I watched both, and the theatrical isnt that much shorter but feels way tighter
Just finished the extended cuts, I thought they would have a LOT more, but just longer scenes AND a few deleted scenes, AND 27 minutes of longer credits!
so you didn't like it?
what about The Mouth of Sauron...? it has to be one of the best if not The Best extended scenes/cut scenes that wasn't in the theatrical release of Return of the King as it just adds so much more story development to the final battle scene and is just generally so good
The appreciation and experience is different in the Extended version
That’s a bit complicated. I think the Theatrical Versions are great for beginners, but for the seasoned LOTR Cinematic Universe Veteran, the Extended Editions are just too awesome to pass up!!!!!!! Once you watch the Extended Editions, you never go back to the Theatrical Versions again!!
I too am interested in multiple cuts for films, this is great.
As a writer, I will always go for the extended versions in it's original telling. The editing is for those with an emphasis in cinema. A friendly reminder to those preferring the theatrical versions without us writers you wouldn't have a story.
Extended Cut of FOTR is just better as you described. Better World Building. Would even recommend it for "First-Time-Viewers".
TTT and ROTK? Different story. I have a Love-Hate-Relationship with those Extended Cuts.
Some scenes are so horrible, that I regret my decision watching the Extended Cuts. In contrast other scenes are "otherworldly" and should have been in the theatrical as well.
Watching the Extended Cuts is like being on a really terrifying roller coaster: One moment you wanna throw up. A few seconds later you feel excited again :P
My least favorite scenes from the Extended Cut are:
- Stew-Scene in TTT (Hate this scene so much)
- All the extra Army of the Dead Scenes (don't add anything to the movies and also destroy the tension during the Minas Tirith Battle)
- Gandalf vs Witch-King (Fight never happened in the books, the power levels between Gandalf and the Witch-King are misrepresented)
Actual good and important scenes from the Extended Cut are:
- Added scenes in the Emyn Muil (Just illustrates how lost Frodo and Sam really are and why Gollum/Smeagol is important)
- The Funeral of Théodred
- Flashback Faramir/Boromir
- Huorns marching to Helm Deep and killing the Orcs
- Saruman's Death
- Extra Scenes with Faramir and Gandalf talking about the History of Gondor
- House of Healing (Eomer finds Eowyn on the Battlefield)
- Mouth of Sauron
Other scenes are just "meh". Okay, but in the end don't add anything and just destroy the pasting.
In other words:
There should have been a Cut somewhere between the Extended and Theatrical Cut.
Extended only, sorry
You really have to pick your poison. The extended editions, especially in fellowship and for the Saruman scene at the beginning should have been in the original cut, while at the same time Two Towers and return of the king just linger a bit too long with most of their inclusions not being memorable and even detrimental to the story, especially how in the extended edition of ROTK it completely ruins the suspense of the battle at minis Tirith. Also 4 hours for a movie is just unacceptable in my opinion for how much of a downgrade the deleted scenes are compared to the other two films. Great video, I couldn’t agree more.
In Rtok extended, Aragon picks up the palantiri and baits Sauron to fight. Sauron moves his army towards the Black Gate as a results. None of that is in the theatrical, and I find that particular moment a bit lacking without it. I prefer the extended versions all the way, but I understand why some prefer the theatrical.
That scene was awkward! Couldn’t tell if it was a dream sequence or if it really happened, after evenstar breaks it just abruptly cuts to aragorn randomly on a horse. Totally kills the pace and ruins the mystique of my favorite character Aragorn.
Just finished the theatrical version of fellowship of the ring. First time I’ve ever seen these films. I kinda wish I saw the extended version because I would love to get to know these characters more. The theatrical version just felt like a 3 hour nonstop adventure lol. But I know there so much more to this world.
I think imma just watch the extended version for the next 2 films
Honestly a lot of extended lovers forget to judge each and every scene by it’s merit alone. Making the argument that every second I’m the universe is better for it is not always accurate .
Some scenes like sauromon death and the witch king breaking Gandalf staff was not very well received to me as if stood out as unnecessary and somewhat detrimental to Gandalf
Totally agree. The dialogue in the extended is cringe too. It's too faithful to the poetic style in the books. The theatrical movies are made for 21st Century audiences. No one talks in the Victorian tongue anymore. Tolkien's characters speak from a bygone era, and it doesn't suit today's customs.
@@DestinyAwaits19 can’t believe you’re complaining about the fact that they were accurate to the language in the books. That’s stupid
The Extended Trilogy of LOTR will always be my first choice! As for your comments about ROTK, Gnator8t4, I will say this: the EE moment I found silliest and cringy was Gimli in the Paths of the Dead, and also the three of them when they're trying to pass a falling avalanche of skulls. However, I think that scene in Mordor where Frodo and Sam are swept up in the marching Orc army is really thrilling, sort of like "how will they get out of that"!
I liked this analysis, it was well paced and to the point, however, I get the feeling that you could rerelease an extended analysis with a few extra observations that don’t really add to the argument and the fans would really enjoy it 🤔
If you saw the extended first, and you love the movie, the theatrical cut could only be seen as a reduction or lesser version. If like me you saw the theatrical version, and you thought it was amazing, anymore added to it is going to feel like bloat.
It's interesting, I actually saw the extended cuts first, but by the time I watched any cut of the film again (theatricals in cinema), it'd been a few years and wasn't entirely able to remember what had been cut and not
I've always preferred the extended cuts of The Lord of the Rings.
Am I the only want who wants to watch the scenes and that's hit but can't because there are a zillion of youtubers talking how much they love this and that?
I prefer the extended cuts of all of those movies, including The Hobbit trilogy.
The extended cut of the Hobbit is better made than the extended cut of the LOTR
The only extended cut I've seen is fellowship and I felt it messed up the pacing and felt significantly less epic because of that. Everyone who worked on these films did a phenomenal job, including the editors. I never bothered to watch other extended cuts because I think the editors cut scenes for good reason, they just don't add much if any value to the films or they interfere with the flow of rising action. Theatrical cuts are perfect imo.
Yeah and even Peter Jackson calls the Theatricals to be the definitive versions and he considers the extended cuts to be a novelty for the fans who really wanna see the extra material and honestly I can get his points even though the extended cuts have really good scenes that are actually important for the worldbuilding and such but at the same time those extra scenes can kinda bloat the pacing imo
is tom bombadil in any extended cuts, i was always mad he wasnt include. The only person who thought sauron was no threat to him we do even show him
Tom was OP, got nerfed to nothing.
Hi I'm going to buy both versions on dvd
i've never seen the theatrical release of the films it's extended or nothin 💪
I feel sorry for you that you never saw theatrical cuts at the cinema when they came out
@@leadzeppbelly I've only ever watched extended as well but I was - 2 years old when the first came out and only a year old when return of the king came out so lol🤷🏻♂️
I completely agree on all three of your takes. The Fellowship of the Ring greatly benefits from the earlier scenes in the Shire, and Boromir's character arc hits so much harder when you get his expanded motivation. The Two Towers & Return of the King both have scenes in the extended edition that feel either unnecessary or corny, and the pacing isn't as tight. Also, I know this is a nitpick, but the Witch King of Angmar destroying Gandalf's staff? He's a human going up against a Maiar who slew a Balrog! Nonsense :)
I honestly prefer the theatrical edition's of the films. If I wanna show somebody these films for the first time, I wanna show them how they were released in theaters. But I agree that Saruman's death was cut in Return of the King, they should have kept that in. I was so mad that it was in the Extended Edition.
I prefer theatrical too.
what is the movie at 0:29? I swear thats Daniel Portman (Podrick from GoT)
It's Blade Runner, and that's Harrison Ford
@@Gnator8t4 thank you, you're amazing! (your video itself too!)
Im really surprised you don't like the extended cut of the third movie. The lack of wraping up sarumons plot kinda sucks.
that scene is a bit goofy. and it's not from the books, so they probably felt ok with cutting it. i've always found it awkwardly placed in the trilogy. his death happening right at the beginning of the film makes it seem like an afterthought that has be done with to properly start the film. if he had to die anywhere it should have been at the end of two towers.
Extended Editions. By far.
They are more added scenes to story and longer
The extended films are much better. And do not skip the extras, special features.
Great vid
Good analysis . First one extended all the way. It’s the intro, the build up, the lore/ world building movie , the movie for any content other movies could feel bloated in.
The other two feel the bloat, stunted pacing, and overall simple redundancy of most additions .
LOTR Fellowship extended is bloated and cringe too. Hobbits being merry and idyllic is not good movie making. People want to watch a plot, not see Hobbits dilly dally around.
The Fellowship of the Ring theatrical is one of the best paced blockbuster films ever made. It's undeniable that the official versions just do work better as films.
Theatrical cuts are better films-period.
That said I love the extended cuts for simply being more.
Same here but now I might have to watch the theatrical
just watched the extended with my son(his first time watching the movies ever)and i have to say it filled a lot of holes for me esp not being an uber fan. obviously it was my gens it movie(i was in highschool when it came out) but i found it much more in depth than i remember. biggest one for me was the parley at the gates of mordor, how did that not get added. it was so good. loved it, i would never watch the theatrical again.
Theatrical’s are way better movies
Extended edition is much darker , and too sharp so you see bad CGI much easier.Also I think extended edition feels much worse with more scenes , that dont fit well with the movie.Looks fake , and not that natural.Before I could use my imgination what would happend here , or there.Now with the extended edition I know , because they showed me more scenes , that actually looks bad , and I dont like it
I'm sorry, but anyone who likes the Extended Cuts better are just fanboys that automatically think the longer versions are better just by virtue of the fact that they have more scenes in them. They are so obseessed with Lord of the Rings that any scene is a gift from God himself. They don't even look at it objectivley or critically.
The vast vast majority of the Extended Scenes do nothing except bring the pacing to a grinding halt to feed us information that we either don't need to know or already know from previous scenes. The theatrical cuts objecvitly have much tigher pacing and far FAR superior scene transitions.
What are you even talking about most of the added things in the extended editions were very much needed. The theatrical versions are just cut down because most casual audiences can’t watch a movie that long. The extended editions tells us things that you wouldn’t if you only watched the theatrical versions.
@@reeseexplains8935 Please elaborate
@@TheGreatestVoice1958Elaborate what? Your original rant is devoid of any analysis or argument. It solely comprises attack on those who disagree with your take
u liked the cheesy part of the Saruman's death scene and criticized the good parts where Christopher Lee was talking...
Genuinely the worst opinion ever
Talk about a reach.
The theatrical editions are literally flawless, just scene after scene of perfection building on each other. While the extended stuff is overall enjoyable, a lot of it is pointless and some of it actually BAD.
Gimli's character is 1000x better with all the cringe jokes cut out. 'Houses of Healing' is like a random music video. I HATE Gandalf brainlessly lighting up an entire canyon of Mithril right after saying they were supposed to being walking in darkness to avoid attention in Moria - it wrecks the next scene about "risking a little light" as well. I could go on..
The Houses of Healing scene is vital for two reasons. First, it shows Aragorn's power. The hands of the king are the hands of a healer in the novels. Second, it allows for some development of the romance between Eowyn and Faramir.
@@MarianPowell it is ludicrously placed in the runtime of the film and grinds the entire pacing to a screeching halt. to have that entire sequence before merry and pippin even find each other on the battlefield. it feels like a month has passed. thank GOD they were wise enough to cut it. the extended scenes repeatedly reduce eowyns character down to desperate love-interest for whatever man happens to be next to her.
Literally flawless lol.
@@yeahiagree1070They don't reduce anything. Those scenes are taken from the books. The fact that you can't keep track of time is your fault. All those scenes build character.
@@NoNonsense_01 sure you're right, eowyn cooking a yucky stew is really vital to building her character - the film completely falls apart without that incredible scene.. grow up please.
After many years finally got the extended edition on Blu-Ray ( had the DVD’s before ). What a joy it was to finish the fellowship and now preparing myself for the two towers
Extended versions are in my opinion the best versions.. but it's more for the real fans as the normal versions are much more suited for casual fans.. being a hardcore Tolkien fan.. extended every time
You can be a real fan and still prefer the theatrical cuts.
@@WesternRAM real fan meaning being a Tolkien, original story fan. You can be a fan of the movies, but book readers will always call themselves the real fans and they have every right to do so. In the end the original, real LotR is the book.
I’m absolutely a “real fan” and I agree with this videos’ take on the unnecessary included deleted scenes. Part of the artistry in film is also its restraint, and ROTK fails in that aspect more than the first two extended editions in my opinion
I think I might be dumb but I couldn’t point out many scenes that were added after watching the theatrical for 15 years (probably once every other year) and just finishing the extended LOTR fellowship tonight. Only 1 scene when they just left the shire- I’m trippin !!! Hence why I’m here on the comments lol
One thing I love about the extended fellowship of the ring is the extra earlier scenes with Sam. In the theatrical version, he doesn't come in until literally right before the adventure starts where Gandalf catches him eavesdropping out the window. And we don't really get to know him before the journey even though he's an extremely important character and Frodo's best friend who becomes the main ally, and without him middle earth would have fallen. In the extended cut however, he has much more earlier screen time. He's at the birthday party scene and the green dragon scene and we actually get to see him bonding with Frodo in the shire before they share their adventure together. On top of that they give him more development as they show his subplot with Rosie who doesn't appear until the end of return of the king where she was shown as just some random girl Sam quickly marries. How could they cut those scenes?
I'm gonna show these movies to my friends for the first time. I'm scared the extended cut might be too exhausting and make them bored and tired, but there are so many scenes that are so cool. I want them to have the best experience they could with the story. So I'm researching a lot.
I've decided not to play the extended edition of ROTK, and to play the extended edition of Fellowship of the ring. Still undecided about The Two Towers.
Go theatrical for Two Towers! As valuable as the Rohan flashback is, you can afford to lose it for a first viewing IMO
@@Gnator8t4 ty i'll consider
Go extended for all three. Doing one extended and two theatrical, or two extended and one theatrical, is just *bad* advice.
@@oscarstainton why do you think so?
@ If you start with one edition and then jump to a different version, the films will have story threads either suddenly dropped or cut off, or new oens starting out of nowhere. The reveal of Aragorn being raised in Rivendell is brought up first in Fellowship extended, but doesn't come up again in Two Towers theatrical. Boromir is characterised much better in Fellowship's extended cut, and this is established further in Two Towers' Gondor flashback; he a fun and loving big brother (both to Faramir and Merry & Pippin), and an inspirational general who gave into the pressures of his father and the Ring's temptation.
The Two Towers extended clears up who Aragorn is (a long-lived descendant of the lost kingdom of Numenor), which is NEVER mentioned in the theatrical cut. Aragorn is more well-rounded as a result. Faramir was BARELY a good person in the shorter release, but the extended cut shows Faramir's merciful side to a fallen enemy warrior, a supportive side when he eventually releases Frodo and Sam, and it clarifies his motivations. He wants the Ring because he truly beleives it will redeem him in his abusive father's eyes, fulfilling the quest Boromir was originally sent on. This does not come across in the theatrical where he seems aggressive, selfish, and short-sighted.
And RotK Extended is EPIC. Saruman's fate ties up a loose end from the previous film, and more Christopher Lee is a good thing. More time is spent in Gondor, fleshing out the city and the characters in it, and new additions to the battle scenes drive up the suspense and emotions. I have heard the critiques of the Mouth of Sauron scene, but that scene is for Aragorn and his forces. They still chose to fight to the death, even thinking Frodo was captured and Sauron might have the Ring, enhancing Aragorn's sacrifice and faith in Frodo and Sam to finish their quest. Still, in all honesty, the only scenes that feel superflous to me were the extra scenes relating to the Army of the Dead. But that's still a small proportion of an incredible whole.
For some reason, though we had the extended cuts of 1 and 3, we did not have the 2 towers extended cut. I'm genuinely not even aware of what is not in the extended cut of Fellowship. And other than Saruman, couldn't really say what's in the extended cut RotK. But ironically, when I finally saw 2 towers extended cut, I thought most of the scenes were unnecessary (and cringey when it comes to "gimli's axe in the nervous system"). Other than Gandalf helping explain the plot which is clarifying for the uninitiated, I really do like the theatrical better. So this would be an interesting exercise for me.
That said, RotK extended is my fave movie of all time and I'm scared to challenge that lol. But I know at least that the Charge of the Rohirrim is paced MUCH better in the extended cut. Favorite scene of all time.
Lol I couldn’t agree more. I’m glad most of the stuff was cut. There were a few things that helped me with the plot as I never read the books. I’m glad I watched it but will never rewatch the extended version again.
Fellowship theatrical is REALLY well considered and pretty much perfect in my opinion.....with the other two films the special editions are better/improved, which isn't surprising when you consider how they were made (they made a gamble and prioritised getting the first film right while not having enough to finish the next two....and then went back and re-shot a LOT for the next two after the success of the first).
The best extended scene is boromir in Amon hen
I absolutely agree. As movies I prefer them super tight but with great development of both the story and characters.
Extended editons for sure
where can i watch the theatrical cuts for LOTR?
They're still available on Blu-Ray and most streaming services
The extended cut of Fellowship is the best movie in the whole franchise
The council of Elrond scene while closer to the book, is inferior because of that moment of Gandalf talking. Have always preferred the theatrical version
@@wserthmar8908 WTF are you talking about?
@@LukeLovesRose , the moment when Gandalf starts being scary makes the scene worse
@@wserthmar8908 im pretty sure that was in the theatrical cut
@@LukeLovesRose , I don't think so, at the very least, there are versions that omit this scene and have a little bit different acting of Sean Bean
Instead of wasting your time making pointless videos, you should read the books. Better investment imo.
As a massive LotR fan my opinions are much the same
FotR - extended is superior. Enriches the story and characters without killing the pacing and nothing too egregious is added, while the gift giving is possibly my favorite scene in the whole film
TTT - mixed bag. The Gondor flashback should NEVER have been cut as Faramir's whole presence in the film makes virtually zero sense without it. Other than that there's a lot of nice but totally inconsequential scenes that slow down what really needs to be the snappiest of the three as it has the least actual plot.
RotK - theatrical is vastly superior. There's about 2 extended scenes I actually like; the flower blooming on the white tree, and Sam/Frodo throwing their pots and pans away in Mordor before spotting the star. That's it, almost everything else added is outright bad.
While I agree easily on the first two films, your RotK take is... not one for the books. sorry.