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qosI was disappointed with the Extended Edition of Return of the King.
I might post something more complete later on, behind an LJ cut because of spoilers -- but the bottom line is that most of the material that was added did not, in my opinion, enhance the effectiveness of the movie.
I felt this way about the EE of Fellowship. When I watch that movie now, I watch the theatrical release to the point where they arrive at Rivendell, and the EE for the rest of the movie. I prefer the entirety of the Two Towers EE. When I watch ROTK in the future, I will probably watch the EE for the first half, and the original version for the second half. Or I might just watch only the original version.
The decision to make Gimli a comic character was one of PJ's few missteps, I believe -- and I have thought so from the beginning. A bit of humor here and there is good, but I think John Rhys-Davies takes it too far. The actor has said that because Gimli is taller than hobbits but smaller than men and elves, he forms a bridge between the two groups, and Rhys-Davies uses humor to make that bridge. Sorry, John, it doesn't work. And Gimli's comedic moments detract even more in the EE of ROTK.
But the behind-the-scenes material is wonderful. I have always been fascinated by movie-making, and the "making-of" materials from LOTR fascinate and move me. I still feel a physical ache of jealousy when I watch. To have been there, and been part of that. . . to have worked beside those people, to create such a magnificent film. . .
*sigh*
I might post something more complete later on, behind an LJ cut because of spoilers -- but the bottom line is that most of the material that was added did not, in my opinion, enhance the effectiveness of the movie.
I felt this way about the EE of Fellowship. When I watch that movie now, I watch the theatrical release to the point where they arrive at Rivendell, and the EE for the rest of the movie. I prefer the entirety of the Two Towers EE. When I watch ROTK in the future, I will probably watch the EE for the first half, and the original version for the second half. Or I might just watch only the original version.
The decision to make Gimli a comic character was one of PJ's few missteps, I believe -- and I have thought so from the beginning. A bit of humor here and there is good, but I think John Rhys-Davies takes it too far. The actor has said that because Gimli is taller than hobbits but smaller than men and elves, he forms a bridge between the two groups, and Rhys-Davies uses humor to make that bridge. Sorry, John, it doesn't work. And Gimli's comedic moments detract even more in the EE of ROTK.
But the behind-the-scenes material is wonderful. I have always been fascinated by movie-making, and the "making-of" materials from LOTR fascinate and move me. I still feel a physical ache of jealousy when I watch. To have been there, and been part of that. . . to have worked beside those people, to create such a magnificent film. . .
*sigh*
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Date: 2004-12-15 05:56 pm (UTC)I might have warmed more to the comedy if it had actually been funny.
Yes, indeed. . .