The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring Platinum Series Special Extended Edition

Customer Reviews

Breathtaking

2008-10-02
I went to see the movie yesterday. The cinema was crappy & old. The seats were terrible, the sound wasn't calibrated right, etc. But you know what? I didn't care! The story just overwhelmed me. The movie embraced me and I simply forgot everything around me. This is the best fantasy/sf film I have ever seen!! THE BEST. I think I am addicted already. I want to see it again. And again and again. I have not read the books yet, but I plan to. Some people say the books are better than the movie. Is that truly possible?? If you have not seen this movie yet, you missed the best adventure ever. Go see it!

Completion of set

2008-09-30
I am almost always very happy with service from Amazon.com. This is one of the times I am very happy.

Part 1 in the Epic Trilogy!!!

2008-09-29
I think the extended version of The Fellowship of the Ring is better than the theatrical version, because you get more story, more character development, and a better satisfaction with it. It has been a long time since I've watched it, and now I'm going back and re-watching them all! I'm glad I am so I can remember things I forgot. In case you have no idea what this movie is about, I'll tell you; In a dark place called Mordor, an evil guy named Sauron made the ultimate Ring, and in battle, it was cut off. Hundreds of years later, a Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins found it. 60 years after that, his nephew, Frodo must destroy it, because Sauron wants it back. Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Giml, and Boromir set out to Mordor to take it back to the fires of Mount Doom to destroy it once and for all! And it takes 3 movies to do that! I love the beautiful scenery, and the dark depressing look and feel it sometimes has. If you love fantasies and epics, you'll love THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING!!!

Never get tired of "The Lord of the Rings"...

2008-09-23
I have owned the regular version of this trilogy for some time, but the extended versions of all three are definately the way to go! I know they are long, but for anyone who is a die hard fan of this trilogy like I am, that is an asset, not a negative thing. I would highly recommend this Platinum Series Special Extended Edition version in all three parts of the trilogy.

Good Movie!

2008-09-06
This is a really good movie.
I have been a 'Lord of the Rings' fan for a really long time.
I love the books, I love the soundtracks, and I love the movies.
I think this is an amazing opening for a series, it`s so witty, creative, and fun. Good movie...really worth watching.

Great DVD for Collections!

2008-08-25
In the land of Middle Earth, young Hobbit Frodo Baggins is entrusted with the One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron and with a fellowship of eight others, embarks on a quest to destroy it.
No Track Information Available
Media Type: DVD
Artist: WOOD/MCKELLEN/MORTENSEN/ASTIN/LEE/BEAN/HOLM
Title: LORD OF THE RINGS-FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
Street Release Date: 01/17/2006
Domestic
Genre: ACTION / ADVENTURE

I LOVE THE MOVIE!!!

2008-08-18
I LOVE THE MOVIE!!! LORD OF THE RINGS THE FELLOWSHIP SEE THE TOTAL INFO

DISC 1:
4 AUDIO COMMENTARIES
- Director/Writer/Producer Peter Jackson and Writer/Co-Producer Philippa Boyens
- The Design Team
- The Production/Post-Production Team
- The Cast

SELECT A SCENE:
* New Scene! - ** Extended Scene

AUDIO SOUND:
- Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround Sound
- DTS ES 6.1 Surround Sound
- Stereo Surround Sound

LANGUAGE:
- English

SUBTITLES & CLOSED CAPTION:
- English

WIDESCREEN 2:35:1
- Movie Running Time (1Hrs 45Mins)

THE STORY CONTINUES ON DISC TWO...

DISC 2:
4 AUDIO COMMENTARY:
- Director/Writer/Producer Peter Jackson and Writer/Co-Producer Philippa Boyens
- The Design Team
- The Production/Post-Production Team
- The Cast

SELECT A SCENE:
* New Scene! - ** Extended Scene

AUDIO SOUND:
- Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround Sound
- DTS ES 6.1 Surround Sound
- Stereo Surround Sound

LANGUAGE:
- English

SUBTITLES & CLOSED CAPTION:
- English

WIDESCREEN 2:35:1
- Movie Running Time (1Hrs 35Mins)
- End Credits (27 Mins)

TOTAL RUNNING TIME (3Hrs 47Mins)

DISC 3:
The Appendices Part 1 - From Book to Vision
TRT = Total Running Time

Introduction by Peter Jackson = (TRT - 1:18)

PLAY ALL: DOCUMENTARIES (UNINTERRUPTED 2½ HRS. EXPERIENCE)
- J.R.R. Tolkien - Creator of Middle-earth = (TRT - 22:27)
- From Book to Script = (TRT - 20:03)
- Storyboards and Pre-Viz Making Words Into Images = (TRT- 44.02)
- Designing Middle-earth = (TRT- 41:10)
- WETA Workshop = (TRT- 43:00)
- Costume Design = (TRT- 11:33)

CHAPTERS:
* J.R.R. TOLKIEN: CREATOR OF MIDDLE-EARTH
* FROM BOOK TO SCRIPT
* VISUALIZING THE STORY
* DESIGNING AND BUILDING MIDDLE-EARTH
* MIDDLE-EARTH ATLAS
* NEW ZEALAND AS MIDDLE-EARTH

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
- Early Storyboards: The Prologue = (TRT- 7:38)
- Abandoned Storyboard Sequence: Orc Pursuit Into Lorhlorien = (TRT- 1:33)
- Abandoned Storyboard Sequence: Sarn Gebir Rapids Chase = (TRT- 1:43)
- Pre-Viz Animatic: Gandalf Rides to Orthanc = (TRT- 1:08)
- Pre-Viz Animatic: The Stairs of Khazad-dum = (TRT- 2:19)
- Storyboard to Film Comparison: Storyboard - "Nazgul Attack at Bree"
- Pre-Viz - "The Bridge of Khazad-dum"
- Bag End Set Tes t= (TRT- 6:64)
- Middle-earth Atlas: Inter the Map! (Video Clips) = (TRT - 12:00)
- New Zealand: of Middle-earth = (TRT - 9:52)

DESIGN GALLERIES
* Slideshow Features: One Continuous Sequence
- The Peoples of Middle-earth = (1140 Photo's)
- Realms of Middle-earth = (705 Photo's)

SUBTITLES - NO!
CLOSED CAPTION - YES!

DISC 4:
The Appendices Part 2 - From Vision to the Reality
TRT = Total Running Time

Introduction by Elijah Wood: = (TRT - 0:28

PLAY ALL: DOCUMENTARIES (UNINTERRUPTED 3½ HRS. EXPERIENCE)
- The Fellowship of The Cast = (TRT - 34:37)
- A Day in the Life of a Hobbit = (TRT- 13:05)
- Cameras in Middle-earth = (TRT- 49:38)
- Scale = (TRT- 15:34)
- Big-atures = (TRT- 16:16)
- WETA Digital = (TRT- 24:47)
- Editorial: Assembling an Epic = (TRT- 12:45)
- Digital Grading = (TRT- 12:06)
- The Soundscapes Middle-earth = (TRT- 12:35)
- Music for Middle-earth = (TRT- 12:26)
- The Road Goes Ever on... = (TRT- 7:22)

CHAPTERS:
* FILMING "THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS"
* VISUAL EFFECTS
* POST PRODUCTION: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
* DIGITAL GRADING
* SOUND AND MUSIC
* THE ROAD GOES EVER ON...

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
- Editorial Demonstration: The Council of Elrond = (TRT- 1:27 x 7)
* Slideshow Features: One Continuous Sequence
- Galleries = (249 Photo's)

SUBTITLES - NO!
CLOSED CAPTION - YES!

COMING SOON!

Director Guillermo del Toro
The Hobbit (2011) (announced)
The Hobbit (2012) (announced)
Local Shire Hobbit Bilbo Baggins, relative of Frodo Baggins, is living a quiet, peaceful life until Gandalf the Grey walks into his home with a band of wandering dwarfs and drags poor Bilbo into a quest that entails defeating a dragon, a three way battle of men, dwarfs and monsters and, most importantly of all, lead Bilbo into contact with a peculiar ring that has had and will have a great impact on the future of their world. - More info at IMDb.com

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

4 DISC TOTAL INFO

2008-08-13
LORD OF THE RINGS THE FELLOWSHIP TOTAL INFO

DISC 1:
4 AUDIO COMMENTARIES
- Director/Writer/Producer Peter Jackson and Writer/Co-Producer Philippa Boyens
- The Design Team
- The Production/Post-Production Team
- The Cast

SELECT A SCENE:
* New Scene! - ** Extended Scene

AUDIO SOUND:
- Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround Sound
- DTS ES 6.1 Surround Sound
- Stereo Surround Sound

LANGUAGE:
- English

SUBTITLES & CLOSED CAPTION:
- English

WIDESCREEN 2:35:1
- Movie Running Time (1Hrs 45Mins)

THE STORY CONTINUES ON DISC TWO...

DISC 2:
4 AUDIO COMMENTARY:
- Director/Writer/Producer Peter Jackson and Writer/Co-Producer Philippa Boyens
- The Design Team
- The Production/Post-Production Team
- The Cast

SELECT A SCENE:
* New Scene! - ** Extended Scene

AUDIO SOUND:
- Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround Sound
- DTS ES 6.1 Surround Sound
- Stereo Surround Sound

LANGUAGE:
- English

SUBTITLES & CLOSED CAPTION:
- English

WIDESCREEN 2:35:1
- Movie Running Time (1Hrs 35Mins)
- End Credits (27 Mins)

TOTAL RUNNING TIME (3Hrs 47Mins)

DISC 3:
The Appendices Part 1 - From Book to Vision
TRT = Total Running Time

Introduction by Peter Jackson = (TRT - 1:18)

PLAY ALL: DOCUMENTARIES (UNINTERRUPTED 2½ HRS. EXPERIENCE)
- J.R.R. Tolkien - Creator of Middle-earth = (TRT - 22:27)
- From Book to Script = (TRT - 20:03)
- Storyboards and Pre-Viz Making Words Into Images = (TRT- 44.02)
- Designing Middle-earth = (TRT- 41:10)
- WETA Workshop = (TRT- 43:00)
- Costume Design = (TRT- 11:33)

CHAPTERS:
* J.R.R. TOLKIEN: CREATOR OF MIDDLE-EARTH
* FROM BOOK TO SCRIPT
* VISUALIZING THE STORY
* DESIGNING AND BUILDING MIDDLE-EARTH
* MIDDLE-EARTH ATLAS
* NEW ZEALAND AS MIDDLE-EARTH

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
- Early Storyboards: The Prologue = (TRT- 7:38)
- Abandoned Storyboard Sequence: Orc Pursuit Into Lorhlorien = (TRT- 1:33)
- Abandoned Storyboard Sequence: Sarn Gebir Rapids Chase = (TRT- 1:43)
- Pre-Viz Animatic: Gandalf Rides to Orthanc = (TRT- 1:08)
- Pre-Viz Animatic: The Stairs of Khazad-dum = (TRT- 2:19)
- Storyboard to Film Comparison: Storyboard - "Nazgul Attack at Bree"
- Pre-Viz - "The Bridge of Khazad-dum"
- Bag End Set Tes t= (TRT- 6:64)
- Middle-earth Atlas: Inter the Map! (Video Clips) = (TRT - 12:00)
- New Zealand: of Middle-earth = (TRT - 9:52)

DESIGN GALLERIES
* Slideshow Features: One Continuous Sequence
- The Peoples of Middle-earth = (1140 Photo's)
- Realms of Middle-earth = (705 Photo's)

SUBTITLES - NO!
CLOSED CAPTION - YES!

DISC 4:
The Appendices Part 2 - From Vision to the Reality
TRT = Total Running Time

Introduction by Elijah Wood: = (TRT - 0:28

PLAY ALL: DOCUMENTARIES (UNINTERRUPTED 3½ HRS. EXPERIENCE)
- The Fellowship of The Cast = (TRT - 34:37)
- A Day in the Life of a Hobbit = (TRT- 13:05)
- Cameras in Middle-earth = (TRT- 49:38)
- Scale = (TRT- 15:34)
- Big-atures = (TRT- 16:16)
- WETA Digital = (TRT- 24:47)
- Editorial: Assembling an Epic = (TRT- 12:45)
- Digital Grading = (TRT- 12:06)
- The Soundscapes Middle-earth = (TRT- 12:35)
- Music for Middle-earth = (TRT- 12:26)
- The Road Goes Ever on... = (TRT- 7:22)

CHAPTERS:
* FILMING "THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS"
* VISUAL EFFECTS
* POST PRODUCTION: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
* DIGITAL GRADING
* SOUND AND MUSIC
* THE ROAD GOES EVER ON...

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
- Editorial Demonstration: The Council of Elrond = (TRT- 1:27 x 7)
* Slideshow Features: One Continuous Sequence
- Galleries = (249 Photo's)

SUBTITLES - NO!
CLOSED CAPTION - YES!

COMING SOON!

Director Guillermo del Toro
The Hobbit (2011) (announced)
The Hobbit (2012) (announced)
Local Shire Hobbit Bilbo Baggins, relative of Frodo Baggins, is living a quiet, peaceful life until Gandalf the Grey walks into his home with a band of wandering dwarfs and drags poor Bilbo into a quest that entails defeating a dragon, a three way battle of men, dwarfs and monsters and, most importantly of all, lead Bilbo into contact with a peculiar ring that has had and will have a great impact on the future of their world. - More info at IMDb.com

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)
The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)

Instant Classic

2008-07-11
This review refers to the version seen in the cinema and NOT the extended edition, which as we know makes a HUGE difference: most of my criticisms fell away after having seen the extended edition, but the movie I'm reviewing is the one Jackson offered us in the cinema, so that's what I'll go with:

Let me start by saying that I liked the movie a lot, though it has some quirks I was having problems with while sitting in the cinema at the time. The prologue was pure genius and really made me excited for what was to come.

I loved the Shire sequences and the whole cast was brilliant, with a standout in McKellen as Gandalf, which wasn't a surprise looking at his body of work until then. The problems start after that: the Nazgul were ok, but scary? Not really. The arrival in Bree, even though I knew the Bombadil and Barrows chapters had been skipped, still hit me as rushed. Pippin's and Merry's motives to accompany Sam and Frodo were not mentioned, they just do. The introduction of Aragorn was handled well and Vigo Mortensen immediately felt right for the part. Gandalf's duel with Saruman (who was magnificently performed by Christopher Lee) was rather ridiculous looking, as if they were in a break-dance contest. Orthanc itself however looked fantastic.

The scene on Weathertop didn't convince in the sense of Aragorn taking on no less than 5 Nazgul only armed with a sword and torch, while all other fellowship members look on helplessly. It very much reduces the level of threat you perceive coming from the Nazgul, if one guy, all be it an extraordinary guy, can hold off five of them.

I'm not a fan of Liv Tyler as Arwen; I thought her character was uninteresting and way too sweet, too American, though I must admit I never liked her character in the book either and much preferred Eowyn (always thought Aragorn married the wrong woman), so I'm not sure to what extend my dislike stems from Liv Tyler's performance. Replacing Glorfindel with her in this movie was no problem for me. Again not convincing how she could escape all nine Nazgul. Let me put it this way: I wasn't very impressed with these Nazgul and had I been Sauron I would have fired them (probably literally) on the spot.

The weakest part of the movie I considered the Rivendell scenes: The scenery was spectacular, but the buildings seemed as if they were designed by former residents of Bavaria, Germany, very fake. I couldn't take Hugo Weaving as Elrond seriously even for a second, as he looked and talked (intonation wise) exactly as in his role as Agent Smith in The Matrix, which was a letdown as I know the man can act; when the fellowship left I expected him to say "Goodbye, Mr. Baggins", in that voice we all know. The reunion of Frodo with his friends wasn't done very convincing and especially the one with Bilbo was very weak; Ian Holm was overacting as if his life depended on it and the effect of his face changing monstrously as he sees the ring caused the whole audience to laugh out loud in the cinema I was at (all three times I went to see the movie). The Council of Elrond was done very hastily and left no impression. The reforging of Anduril being omitted felt unforgivable at the time (I obviously didn't know at the time it was only suspended until the third movie), as we all know it's crucial and symbolic for Aragorn's part and place within the story.

Caradhras was handled brilliantly, great acting from Sean Bean, when he holds the ring; it even improved on the book I thought.

Moria in one word was breathtaking. Fantastic from the first until last minute. Visually very impressive and the Balrog very much exceeded my expectations. Only false note was Gimli's weeping at the tomb of Balin, which was badly acted, as Rhys-Davies in general was one of the weaker links in the cast. The Orthanc scenes and creation of the Uruk-Hai was great and didn't distract me from the main story.

Lothlorien was done wonderfully and Cate Blanchet, as opposed to Liv Tyler, was completely convincing as Galadriel. A shame the fellowship only stayed there for such a short time in the movie, but well, that to me was the main problem with the movie anyway: At times you feel like a tourist traveling in a bus on a trip called "See Middle Earth in three hours" with "... and there on your right is the Shire, oh and on your left you see Bree appearing and in ten minutes times we'll drive into Rivendell...". This of course is one of the problems of turning this book into a movie; it's almost impossible to take the time to really breathe in this world and the people and creatures that live there. We jump from one high mark to the next, creating the strange effect that this movie feels both rushed and too slow at the same time. Rushed for the reasons mentioned above and too slow as three hours do leave their mark and by the end of it my legs were cramping up (not mentioning adding half an hour of commercials and previews).

Boromir's death was heartbreaking and brought tears to my eyes; top marks for Sean Bean; the most moving scene to me in the movie.

Summarizing: fantastic sets and scenery of New Zealand, which will likely have seen its flow of tourists quadruple after this movie. Just Rivendell's architecture didn't convince me. The acting in general was good to outstanding, with the exceptions of Liv Tyler, John Rhys-Davies and Orlando Bloom (Legolas, though I loved his action sequences). Too little time for character exposition. The fellowship never felt as a unit to me and they've hardly come together before they split up again; you never really feel the connection between them. Howard Shore's music is fantastic, a bit too much in the background even at times, but this could have been due to the sound system in the cinema I was at as well as me at times really turning op the soundtrack in my home.

It may appear that I didn't enjoy the movie, but it was quite the contrary and I did go and see it in the cinema multiple times, which the movie can stand easily as there is so much to take in.
I have the greatest respect for Peter Jackson, who realized the hereto deemed impossible, bringing this movie to the screen in all its mind boggling complexity, artistically and logistically and was very brave to take such a huge risk.

As I said at the beginning of the review: these were my first impressions after I saw the movie in the cinema. The extended edition we got subsequently improved the movie to no end in my viewer experience.

My introduction to this legendary piece of literature.

2008-06-30
Maybe I should have read the books first.
The first time I watched this movie, I absolutely hated it.
However, considering how long it is and how much praise it's gotten I decided to watch it again.
Second time?
Still didn't like it, I had no idea what was going on or who was who, and why are all these pointy eared dwarfs running around?
I think by the fourth or fifth time I finally figured out who was who and what was what.
For film lovers who haven't read the book, a piece of advice..........Read the books first or be prepared to watch the movie half a dozen times before it all sinks in.
What can I say, I love the movie now.
The first couple of watches were hard, but I've watched it so many times since then I've lost count.
My favorite part?
The ring wraiths!!!!!!!
Mega bad, and I love the screams!!!
The entire movie is just so well done, the acting, the script, and my God, the cinematography!!!!!!!
A must see for film lovers.
Highly Recommended!!!