To be fair, sometimes I just want to watch the trilogy and I don't want it to take an entire week...
The theatrical versions are the definitive versions. I regard the extended cuts as being a novelty for the fans that really want to see the extra material.
And George Lucas regards the "special editions" (with added CGI crap) of the original Star Wars trilogy as the definitive versions. That doesn't make it true. I think The Death of the Author or something similar would apply here...
I'm the one who owns a copy of the theatrical releases.
I bought them on a deep discount sale at a time in my life when that was literally a big purchase which I could hardly afford and I did it partially because I was hoping to watch it with a friend who was a big LOTR fan. I wanted to spend time together and see it through his eyes because as much as I liked the movies, I didn't think they were A+ tier.
When I mentioned watching the trilogy together sometime, his first question was "are they the extended versions?" When I said no, his response was "I'll pass."
Soul crushing.
Man, that really sucks. I'd prefer the extended ones, naturally, but if my friend wanted to watch LOTR with me, I'd sit down and watch whichever one they've got, only question is who's got the popcorn.
Sounds like he's a poser. A real True Fan (TM) would have accepted your offer and watched the theatrical release with you. Then, when the third movie ends, bust out his own copy of the extended version and insist on watching them immediately in one long marathon to teach you the error of your ways.
Honestly, I think the theatrical releases are better and some of the stuff left on the cutting room floor belonged there (looking at you, weird mouth of Sauron).
Get at me when they release the Tom Bombadil/Scouring of the Shire cut though.
Woah! Hot take. The mouth of Sauron is some of the coolest content that was cut.
Maybe Saruman shooting fireballs could have been left behind.
Especially Return of the King, yeah.
Having the "Surprise - ghost army!" thing happen twice kinda ruined it. In the theater having them swarm out of the ships was a real "Wow" moment and I'm glad it wasn't spoiled like it was in the extended editions.
Funny thing I remember about the original trilogy, is that the extended cut DVDs weren't even encrypted..
Encryption is not a problem if one has a Libre Drive...
You mean the ones with less filler
share the load
I don't think he's heard of second extras blu ray
ITT: People who have not read the original works.
I'm the friend. I find LOTR nauseatingly boring. I've tried to read his books numerous times since about 1982 (and I was an avid reader then) - it's overhyped, I can't get past the first 10 pages. He uses 47 words when 3 will do - I don't need to know the exact Pantone shade of the hobbit's door.
It's good for putting me to sleep.
I get You on the books. Tried to listen to an audiobook version recently. I gave up after around two hours in, since the story hadn't even started and it was describing the history of pipe weed for the last 15 minutes. From what I've heard people commonly skip the long descriptions and songs while reading LotR.
Yea I loved the books but I skipped every single song. Sometimes they are like 3 pages lol
I'm another one there with you. I read Fellowship all the way through and quit. I've got other Tolkein books I just can't bother to pick up. I appreciate what he did 100%, and I'll watch The Two Towers from time to time still. But there are much more interesting stories out there imo
I saw Fellowship at the cinema a few days after release (I think it was late Dec.?)
I literally fell asleep when they arrived at the elven town (sorry, fans; I have no idea). My cousin sitting next to me punched me in the arm because I eventually started snoring.
Honestly, the films are very good, but you need to properly engage.
I don't know enough to debate the difference between the theatrical and extended cuts beyond to say I personally think the theatrical was long enough and communicated the story.
