Are The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions That Different & Worth It?

As a die-hard fan of all things Middle Earth, I’ve spent countless hours immersed in J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic tales since I was but a wee hobbitling. So when it comes to the extended versions of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, I can confidently say that they are not just worth it, but essential viewing for any fan worthy of their Elven sword!

Peter Jackson’s renditions of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” are widely regarded as some of the greatest films ever produced. Upon their release in the early 2000s, they quickly gained widespread acclaim for their expansive scale, accurate portrayal of the original material, and the innovative use of technology and visual effects during production. Over the years, the series has only grown in popularity, earning the status of modern classics across the board. Yet, as one embarks on watching this epic trilogy, a question arises for both new and long-time fans: should they opt for the theatrical versions or the extended editions?

The expanded versions of “The Lord of the Rings” movies, initially released on DVD approximately a year following each film’s theater debut, are considered the ultimate way to watch these films on screen. Many dedicated and casual fans often choose the extended editions over the original releases more frequently. Here’s what sets the extended versions of “The Lord of the Rings” apart.

How Much Longer Are the Extended Versions?

As a movie enthusiast, I must acknowledge that the cinematic versions of “The Lord of the Rings” are already extensive, with each installment clocking in at around three hours – quite a stretch compared to most films produced today. The extended editions took this length to a whole new level by incorporating a wealth of additional content that initially didn’t make it past the editing room door. The gap in runtime between the theatrical and extended versions of “The Lord of the Rings” can be quite substantial. However, when you’re preparing for a marathon viewing session of three hours either way, is this difference really that significant?

The amount of material added to the extended editions varies from film to film. For example, despite the theatrical cuts of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers being essentially the same length, 30 additional minutes were added to Fellowship. In comparison, The Two Towers has about 45 minutes of new material. The most significant addition comes in The Return of the King, which has nearly an hour of new material in the extended cut.

It’s important to mention that there’s a difference between the lengths of these extended editions as shown here and what’s stated on the physical copies. For instance, the box set release of the extended versions of The Lord of the Rings indicates the movies’ durations as 238 minutes, 235 minutes, and 263 minutes respectively. However, keep in mind that these durations include extra “Fan Club Credits” located at the end of each disc, which amount to an additional 20 minutes for The Fellowship of the Ring, and 12 minutes for both The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

The Extended Version of The Fellowship of the Ring

In my enthusiasm for the epic tale, I’d like to share an exciting piece of information about “The Fellowship of the Ring.” The extended version features roughly a dozen additional complete scenes that weren’t part of the movie’s initial theatrical release. Moreover, some existing scenes have been expanded upon. Among these notable new additions and extensions are:

• An extended introduction to the Shire, with a voiceover by Bilbo Baggins, was directly inspired by the novel’s prologue, “Concerning Hobbits.”
• A scene with the Hobbits singing, drinking, and discussing the Big Folk (a.k.a. humans) at the Green Dragon Pub in Hobbiton.
• A moment where Frodo and Sam, shortly after departing Hobbiton, witness a company of Elves journeying to the Grey Havens.
• A sequence with the Hobbits and Aragorn traversing marshlands before reaching Weathertop is immediately followed by a short scene of Aragorn singing a lament for the tale of Beren and Lúthien, which mirrors his own story with Arwen.
• A depiction of Aragorn visiting his mother’s memorial in Rivendell, where Elrond addresses Aragorn’s family history and his potential future role in Gondor.
• The moment the Fellowship departs from the House of Elrond.
• An extended introduction to Lothlorien, including Haldir’s reluctance to allow the Fellowship to enter the Elven Kingdom, extended discussion with Cereborn and Galadriel, and the entire scene including Galadriel’s gifts to all the members of the Fellowship.

These additional scenes primarily flesh out the characters and deepen their interactions with each other. For instance, the bond between Aragorn and Boromir is significantly explored through numerous conversations throughout the movie concerning their contrasting viewpoints on Gondor and the human race. These fresh scenarios, consequently, intensify the impact of Aragorn’s promise to a dying Boromir at the end of the film.

The Extended Version of The Two Towers

In the extended edition of “The Two Towers,” approximately fifteen fresh sequences and close to twenty expanded ones have been incorporated. These new elements significantly enrich the movie by providing a deeper insight into the Rohirrim and their traditions, furthering Aragorn’s path towards becoming the King of Gondor, offering additional background on the Ents and Fangorn Forest, and enhancing the grandeur of the Battle of Helm’s Deep. Some scenes added to “The Two Towers” are:

• A scene with Merry and Pippin after the Uruk-hai has kidnapped them. Merry appears ill, and Pippin asks for water to help him, but the Uruk-hai instead offer alcohol, laughing Merry’s predicament off.
• Much of Saruman’s story is beefed up with new scenes regarding the burning of Fanghorn forest, his encouragement for an attack on Rohan, and the building of a dam.
• The story of Faramir is expanded upon with flashbacks that show his relationship with his brother, Boromir, and their father, Denethor’s, apparent favoritism of the older brother.
• King Theoden’s son, Theodred, is given a proper funeral, further expressing the king’s grief and revealing more of the medieval inspirations for the culture of Rohan.
• Aragorn’s age of 87 is directly addressed in a scene, establishing that his bloodline does not age in the same way as the other men of Middle Earth.

The Extended Version of The Return of the King

Regarding “The Return of the King,” the last movie in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, its extended version includes several noteworthy enhancements. Approximately fifteen new scenes and around two dozen extended sequences were added. However, some of the scenes in the extended cut of “The Return of the King” are so crucial to the story that it’s puzzling why they were omitted initially. Here are some of the most significant improvements made to the extended version of “The Return of the King”:

• A scene that shows the heroes, joined by the Rohirrim, pushing back the Orc army at Isengard into a forest, where it is implied they are all killed by the sentient trees.
• A conversation between Gandalf and Saruman, the latter imprisoned in his tower of Orthanc. Saruman was previously excluded from The Return of the King entirely, which was an odd choice considering he was the primary antagonist of the second film. The extended edition remedies that by providing a solid conclusion to the character’s story, who is pushed off the tower by his follower, Grima Wormtongue.
• Gandalf fights The Witch King and is seen as losing the battle until the Nazgul is distracted by the sound of a horn and abandons the fight before he can make a final blow on the Wizard.
• The fallout of Aragorn’s confrontation with the Oath-breaking ghosts is addressed, and the Black Ships are shown joining the fight at the Siege of Gondor.
• Eomer discovers his sister, Eowyn, ‘s body on the battlefield after the Siege, where she killed the Witch King of Angmar.
• A confrontation between Aragorn and the Mouth of Sauron at the Black Gate before the final battle begins. The scene is one of the most memorable from the books, as it provides a rare moment of crossover between the two major storylines of the tale. The filmed version is just as electrifying, making it an excellent addition to the extended edition.
• Eowyn and Faramir’s love story is given some room to breathe, with the couple talking to each other instead of the theatrical release, which simply shows them together at Aragorn’s coronation and leaves it to the viewer to assume a relationship.
• Several scenes tie many of the film’s battle sequences together more seamlessly.

Extended Versions of The Hobbit Films

Although The Hobbit films may not receive as much acclaim or fanfare as The Lord of the Rings movies, they were still appreciated for their stunning visuals and expanding on J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world. Similar to The Lord of the Rings films, the Hobbit series also had extended cuts released, but the added content wasn’t quite as extensive. In total, across all three movies, approximately 58 minutes of extra footage was included, slightly surpassing the additional content in the extended cut of The Return of the King. Here’s a breakdown of the runtime differences:

There has been a variety of perspectives regarding whether the longer cuts address any core problems in the series. However, there seems to be agreement among fans on certain extended content. Specifically, the additional screen time for The Battle of the Five Armies enhances the action and provides more backstory for the main battle. If you weren’t a fan of The Hobbit films initially, it’s unlikely that the extended versions will convert you. Nevertheless, similar to the expanded cuts of The Lord of the Rings, they provide the most detailed portrayal of the movies, with extra context and interactions that will appeal to those who want a complete viewing experience in line with director Peter Jackson’s vision.

Are the Extended Lord of the Rings Movies Worth It?

Discussing the impact of watching “The Lord of the Rings,” it’s noticeable that the experience alters considerably when opting for the extended versions over the original releases. While the theatrical versions remain exceptional (they did win Oscars, after all), the extended editions enhance the narrative by offering additional context and aesthetic elements, thereby enriching the overall value of the trilogy.

Viewing the extended versions will tack on approximately two additional hours to your nine-hour cinematic voyage through The Lord of the Rings, but those extra hours prove worthwhile. They are brimming with the same exceptional quality as the original films, and often, these additions serve to enhance what was already present, making the narrative and characters even more captivating than before. In essence, whether you’re a devoted fan or a casual observer, the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings offer the most authentic way to immerse yourself in Tolkien’s legendary tale on-screen.

Watch both the standard and expanded editions of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy on Max using the provided link:

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2024-11-09 14:32