Lord of the Rings 15-disc boxset due for release in June
Yes, you read that headline correctly – Entertainment in Video has confirmed it will release an extended (!) 15-disc boxset of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in the UK on June 28th.
There's no price yet for this mammoth collection, which will contain six Blu-ray discs, with each extended cut split across two of the discs to ensure the very best picture and sound quality.
All three films will have DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 soundtracks, and the press release also says the collection will feature "a new transfer of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring which was remastered from the original 2k digital files".
Why only 2K? Because that was the resolution of the final editorial master, apparently.
The remaining nine discs are all DVDs and feature the extensive collection of bonus features from the previous Extended Edition DVD releases, as well as Costa Botes' behind-the-scenes documentaries, which were shot in standard definition.
That amounts to a staggering 26 hours of special features.
Here's what the entire collection will contain:
Disc 1 (Blu-ray)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition Part 1
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - The Untold Story Trailer
Commentary with Director & Writers
Commentary with Design Team
Commentary with Production and Post Production
Commentary with Cast
Disc 2 (Blu-ray)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition Part 2
Commentary with Director & Writers
Commentary with Design Team
Commentary with Production and Post Production
Commentary with Cast
Disc 3 (DVD)
The Appendices Part 1 From Book to Vision
Peter Jackson Introduction
JRR Tolkien: Creator of Middle-earth
From Book To Script
Visualizing the Story
Designing and Building Middle-earth
Middle-earth Atlas Interactive
New Zealand and Middle-earth Interactive
Disc 4 (DVD)
The Appendices Part Two From Vision to Reality
Elijah Wood Introduction
Filming The Fellowship of the Ring
Visual Effects
Post Production: Putting It All Together
Digital Grading
Sound and Music
The Road Goes Ever On...
Disc 5 (DVD)
Behind-the-Scenes Documentary Created by Filmmaker Costa Botes during filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Disc 6 (Blu-ray)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition Part 1
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - The Untold Story Trailer
Commentary with Director & Writers
Commentary with Design Team
Commentary with Production and Post Production
Commentary with Cast
Disc 7 (Blu-ray)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition Part 2
Commentary with Director & Writers
Commentary with Design Team
Commentary with Production and Post Production
Commentary with Cast
Disc 8 (DVD)
The Appendices Part 3: The Journey Continues
Peter Jackson Introduction
JRR Tolkien: Origin of Middle-earth
From Book to Script: Finding the Story
Designing and Building Middle-earth
Gollum
Middle-earth Atlas Interactive
New Zealand as Middle-earth
Disc 9 (DVD)
The Appendices Part 4: The Battle for Middle-earth
Elijah Wood Introduction
Filming The Two Towers
Visual Effects
Editorial: Refining the Story
Music and Sound
The Battle for Helm's Deep is Over...
Disc 10 (DVD)
Behind-the-Scenes Documentary Created by Filmmaker Costa Botes during filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Disc 11 (Blu-ray)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Featured Extended Edition Part 1
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - The Untold Story Trailer
Commentary with Director & Writers
Commentary with Design Team
Commentary with Production and Post Production
Commentary with Cast
Disc 12 (Blu-ray)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King Extended Edition Part 2
Commentary with Director & Writers
Commentary with Design Team
Commentary with Production and Post Production
Disc 13 (DVD)
The Appendices Part 5: The War of the Ring
Peter Jackson Introduction
JRR Tolkien: The Legacy of Middle-earth
From Book to Script
Designing and Building Middle-earth
Home of the Horse Lords
Middle-earth Atlas
New Zealand as Middle-earth
Disc 14 (DVD)
The Appendices Part 6: The Passing of an Age
Introduction
Filming The Return of the King
Visual Effects
Post-Production: Journey's End
The Passing of an Age
Cameron Duncan: The Inspiration for Into the West
Disc 15 (DVD)
Behind-the-Scenes Documentary Created by Filmmaker Costa Botes during filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
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Comments
After waiting what seemed like an age and then to be told that the extended cuts would again be spilt over two discs and then guess what even though you don't want them have some DVD's with "Extra's" in a box you don't want then to be charged fifty quid plus for the privilege, I don't think so!! I think until the film company has a serious think to it's self about how much money the average Film fan has and the current financial climate this BOXSET should be re-thought, I will sticking to my DVD version for the moment thank you!
Seems to me that I have already got most of this, including having to switch discs.
Might be nice for the extra TV resolution but I hope they retain the original DTS EX encoding along with the high def sound. I don't have a High Def Audio amp and don't forsee being able to afford one for many years - if ever.
I think it is great news for the fans of this series of movies. BUT, would it justify the extra expense? I have noticed that not all Blu-Rays come up to the ultimate in HD, indeed, some of them are barely better than standard DVDs. So, let us hope that fans are not disappointed. Perhaps it might be best to rent them first from Lovefilm just to check the quality.
Recently I watched Once Upon a Time In The West on standard DVD, and the picture quality and sound was so good, it could hardly be bettered in Blu-Ray.
Now what about having a one disc blu-ray with the full extended edition on each one.
Would anyone be willing to by the same DVD film, but one that is seemless, from start to finish. I know I'd definately be up for it.
If I get the same DVD picture but superior DTS-HD audio. I'm not sure about the size of data we are talking about here, but anyone here tech savy enough to figure out if this is possible with such huge films?
One disc, to rule them all.
Costa Botes' behind-the-scenes documentaries would be the only extra I'd get, being I already own this set on DVD. I sure hope they release a slimmer disc version the same month, instead of trying to cattle herd us all into buying 9 DVD's which we already own.
I know I enjoyed watching LotR with the commentary, it was just fascinating. The best commentary I've ever witnessed, Arrested Development is a close second. It also made for a great personal podcast to just listen to, ofc all those hours do seem a bit insane for a simple documentary, this movie though was anything but.
I believe the 3D version could be ready before Christmas, and possibly be used to help launch a load of new 3D TV sets. I'm confused by Samsung and LG though. Samsung say glasses-free 3D will be difficult in the next ten years, and LG say their sets will be released before 2012. So by the years there could be at least three types of 3D TV; Passive, Active & Glasses-free.
Certainly not happy about it being split over 2 discs.
Might give this a miss now and stick with the DVDs.
Shame...
A cash-cow, you mean, camac?
Anyone want to have money on a retrofitted 3D version a year or two down the line?
Lord of the Rings is turning into a modern day Star Wars, different edition, extras, different edition, extras, different edition ...........and so on.
So I'll just add these to my rental list then...
For the love of Middle Earth please just spare me the extra garbage and just give me the 6-discs spanning the extended movies for heaven's sake.
That's a shame. I held off on buying the current non-extended Blurays as I was waiting for these. It's clearly going to be massively expensive though and the thought of swapping discs is enough to say no for me. I can understand their reasons, but I thought that concept died with the shoddy early DVDs.
Surely it would make sense to release just the films on blu-ray - no doubt a lot of people interested in the extended editions will already have them on dvd - including all the extras and as they are only in sd most of the box set will be a duplicate for most people.
I know the the reason for splitting the film in two discs but can't feel disappointed that it's not on one disc. Not sure if this is gonna be a purchase for me now after waiting so long for it! (hurting inside pete Jackson).