Jackson Delivers Gold
by Parmadur

If you haven’t had a chance to view the extended DVD, run to your nearest video store and rent/buy it. Every new addition, every extra line, and every extended scene is golden.

Most noticeable is the improvement in sound. There were several problems in the theatrical version with inaudible dialogue, but those difficulties have been eliminated. From Gandalf singing on his approach to the Shire to Pippin’s famous “ash in my tomatoes,” every line is crystal clear.

The new scenes are just incredible. There’s more focus on the hobbits, beginning with a completely new introduction to the Shire. More emphasis is placed on the carefree lifestyle of the hobbits, seen in several new shots of random hobbits (including one digging his finger into his ear, which invokes laughter every time) and a shot of Pippin, Merry, and Frodo singing in the Green Dragon. The innocence of the hobbits is much more apparent, which makes the rest of the film seem that much more tragic.

The longest of the new scenes is the Fellowship’s arrival in Lothlórien added with Galadriel’s gift-giving. Haldir’s role is lengthened and he’s continuously snide, giving the audience a better feel for the rivalry between Elves and Dwarves. Celeborn’s role is also lengthened, improving the flow of dialogue and making his character slightly more believable. While the actor is still stiff in his portrayal, it isn’t quite as painful to watch.

The gift-giving scene in Lothlorien is probably the most beautiful addition to the entire film. To see Gimli’s love and respect for Galadriel is breathtaking. The look in his eyes when he speaks to Legolas of her gift does complete justice to Tolkien’s vision in the book. It’s always interesting to see that Gimli has the capacity for such respect and reverence after his initial scorn toward the Elves.

Boromir’s temptation is played upon more as well. In the theatrical version, he came off as less arrogant than his character really is, but that changes. The Council scene is extended, showing the beginning of Boromir’s diatribe and his attempt to touch the Ring, which is prevented when Gandalf stands and darkens the sky with Black Speech. His pride is seen more in depth on the Anduin when he confronts Aragorn about his lack of faith in Men and plethora of trust in the Elves.

There’s a bit of expansion in the battling on Amon Hen. Questions arose from the theatrical version concerning Merry and Pippin’s apparent uselessness while Boromir defended them against the Uruk-hai. Merry and Pippin fans will be pleased to know that this is not true. Both hobbits were ruthless and deadly, whether they were tackling an Uruk-hai to the ground or pelting the horde with rocks. It’s refreshing to see that Peter Jackson and company didn’t overlook the hobbits’ briefly mentioned skill at rock throwing.

Like any other DVD, this one comes with commentaries: cast, directors/writers, design crew, and post production. One thing that sets these apart from any others, however, is that you’ll actually want to listen to them. You can hear the excitement and love for the film when everyone speaks (most noticeably Richard Taylor from the design crew). Nothing that’s said is boring or useless: you learn something with every word. They’re perfect for trivia. For example, how would anyone have ever known that Alan Lee was one of the nine kings from the prologue without the design crew’s commentary?

You may or may not have heard rumors about two hidden surprises on the first two discs. Indeed, they’re there: the MTV Council spoof which aired during the MTV Movie Awards on disc one and the Two Towers preview which was tacked onto the end of Fellowship this past spring on disc two.

To access the Council spoof:
1) Put in the first disc
2) Go to “Select a Scene”
3) Go to the end of the list (Council of Elrond)
4) Hit the “down” button until you see a ring next to “New Scene”
5) Hit “enter”

To access the Two Towers preview:
1) Put in the second disc
2) Go to “Select a Scene”
3) Go to the end of the list (official fan club credits)
4) Place the cursor on the number 48 (in the chapter numbers on the right)
5) Push the “down” button
6) You should see the Two Towers symbol – click “enter”

Fans of Lord of the Rings will not be disappointed by this new version of The Fellowship of the Ring. Whether it’s an expansion of a theatrical scene or a completely new one, Peter Jackson and company have remained true to the heart of the story and beautifully delivered all that was promised. This DVD is everything it was built up to be and worth every cent.

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