LOTR:Fellowship to be 4.5 hours long!

[Joe Michaels]

http://filmforce.ign.com/lotr/articles/317493p1.html

Plans Announced for 4.5 Hour Fellowship DVD
Many Lord of the Rings fans can expect to see their favorite cut-scenes reinserted this summer.
by Paul Davidson
2002-01-16

Okay, so they still won't be adding Tom Bombadil to the Fellowship of the Rings movie. However, many other favorite scenes that didn't make the movie's final cut may yet make it into the Tolkien epic. Last month, director Peter Jackson dropped comments that while no director's cut was forthcoming, the DVD release of the first Lord of the Rings film would include about forty extra minutes' worth of cut scenes as bonus features.

Today, the news gets even better. According to TheOneRing.net, producer Barrie Osborne told 1010 Winds radio of New York City that there would be an extended director's cut edition available after all. And according to Dark Horizons, CNN's Showbiz Today segment confirmed the news, saying that the Fellowship DVD director's cut would be over four hours in length.

There's no official word on what all will be included in this extra-length version, but here are a few scenes that were filmed and might make their way into the film:
More footage of the hobbits' escape from the Shire

An attack by Orcs and Goblins as the Fellowship enter Lothlorien, with Haldir and the Elves coming to the rescue

More character interaction and development among the Fellowship

Gimli falling for the beauty of Galadriel

Aragorn speaking Elvish with Galadriel (according to a comment made by Cate Blanchet and reported at TheOneRing.net)

So when will this DVD be released? There's no firm release date as yet, though producer Osborne promises it will be out before the release of The Two Towers in December. Rumors have surfaced about an early April release, but the safe money says to expect the DVD sometime in late summer. There's no word on whether a VHS version will also be made.

[Ravenous]

Look, dont...jerk me around.

This is freakin great news!!!! How relaible is it that this is fact and not some rumor??

P.S. What the hell happened to all the smilie faces that use to be here for a reply??

[Obi-Wan]

Man I hope this is true.

[SeanL]

Yeah, that'd be great. We'll see....

[Wirehed]

Man, I sure hope this is true.


I'm going to get my editor on this right away, if this DVD is truely coming out so soon this would make a fantastic cover story for my April issue. I'll see what I can dig up.

[Jellodyne]

Oh, man... I can't wait! I mean, I couldn't wait before, but to paraphrase Han Solo, this deal keeps getting better and better!

Can we get a theatrical run of the 4.5 hour cut? Isn't 4.5 hours like 3 movies worth? If all three keep this pace, the final trilogy will be 13.5 hours!

Will the DVD have the theatrical version as well? Will the disc mark the triumphant return of the flipper? Even with a dual layer, there's no way they're fitting 4.5 hours on a single side! That kind of length and you're talking a DVD-18 just for the movie, or splitting it accross 2 discs. I'd prefer a flipper, I guess, though those with changers may disagree.

You mus always remember -- this DVD wants to be purchased. It is trying to return to my DVD player. It will make its presence known to me, and my eye is searching for it always... My... precious...

[elwood731]

If this is true, then obviously like said, it can not be a one sided disc (considering, it seems likely they'll include DD, DTS, and commentary. So, solution? My guess is it will be spread across two discs. Why? Because think how cool it will sound in advertising to say "One DVD to rule them all...Own the three disc box set of LOTR." Hmm, the one DVD to rule them all doesn't make as much sense, does it? Well, 3 discs--2 for the film, and one for features. That would be my guess. I could be wrong. Plus, making it three discs means they can charge a little extra for it, at least in their minds. They already know people will buy it, no matter if it is $5 more than it should be.

[glossybear]

I would love to have both the Theatrical cut and any super-extended cut. It can be two releases, I just want both versions.

Oh, I would also like my cake...

[LemJe]

WOW!!

This movie isn't even out of the theaters yet and already the hype for the DVD is on. I just hope it will be able to live up to all this. Barebones or SE I will be first in line. )

[Heckalaska]

This better not be a craphouse rumor!

[Porkchop]

I do believe it's a craphouse rumour.

http://dvd.ign.com/articles/317482p1.html

[Lord Crumb]

This better be true, 'cause if it isn't, SOMEONE owes me a new pair of pants!

[ckmj23]

As exciting as this rumour is, I'd love to see a 4.5 hour version of LOTR, I think we should all consider the source of the information. IGN isnt exactly known for its solid facts.

I guess Im not the only one who left wanting more after FOTR. One thing I really missed from the book was the developing relationship between Gimli and Legolas.Whereas Tom Bombadil is a subplot in the book that I think would be better left out due to the large amounts of song.

[ceeece]

I don't think this is rumor. I researched the subject on several different sites and it seems to be true.

PJ said LAST month that the DVD would include 30-40 minutes of deleted footage. He has apparently changed his mind and is going to release a Director's Cut.

PJ seems to have changed his mind. And for that I am very grateful. If there is anything good about DVD it the fact directors can put their entire vision of the movie out without theater running time constraints. God bless DVD and God bless Peter Jackson!

[Porkchop]

But look at what the extra scenes are supposed to consist of... one battle scene and some extra character development. Do you really think that will add up to 1.5 hours? I seriously doubt it. 30 minutes maybe, but not 90.

Besides which, and flame me for this if you will, that'd be way, way too long. The movie moves at such a nice clip the way it is.

[ckmj23]

Originally posted by ceeece
I don't think this is rumor. I researched the subject on several different sites and it seems to be true.

would it be possible for you to show us some links to these sites? It might help in identifing whether in fact this is a rumour or not.

[Lord Crumb]

Originally posted by ceeece
God bless DVD and God bless Peter Jackson!

Peter Jackson IS God!

Originally posted by PorkChop
Besides which, and flame me for this if you will, that'd be way, way too long. The movie moves at such a nice clip the way it is.

I'm kind of torn. I LOVE the film the way it is. I would also LOVE to see the rest of the film in it's entirety. It's kind of annoying to watch deleted scenes when you can't watch them within their context. Sometimes you're not sure what exact part they were cut from, making them a little less enjoyable.
My vote is for a T2 or ABYSS-type DVD where you can have the option to watch the film in it's theatrical form, or watch the director's cut.
Overall, I'd like to see the scenes within the film.

[synapse]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a 4.5 hour cut of the movie, but I don't really think that will happen.

Still, it would be *expletive* awesome.

[ckmj23]

Little bit of research turned up this tidbit directly from PJ

"As for Lord of the Rings itself, no release date has been set - contrary to the rumor currently circulating. Peter Jackson, during a CNN interview, has stated the DVD will contain his 4-hour Director's Cut - adding an hour to the already impressive movie. That aside, no further details have been confirmed."

Here's the link....

http://www.dvdangle.com/editorial/index.html#011602-1

[Riddick]

If this turns out to be true . . .

I don't know what I'll do but I'll do something you can take that to the bank!!!

[Nuke]

Contrary to this article...

http://dvd.ign.com/articles/317482p1.html

There is indeed a 4.5-hour cut. There is also a 3.5 cut. The 4.5 cut is suppose to be PJ's "Dream Cut". People who haven't followed the movie are unaware of just how much footage was filmed. I believe a total of 15 hours was filmed for all three movies combined.

My gut tells me that we will get the 3.5 and cut this summer and the 4.5 cut will be saved for the special Uber edition boxed set that will prolly get released once all 3 films are out.

[werther]

I hope they use seamless branching for this DVD. So you can see the theatrical cut the 3.5 hours cut and the 4.5 hours cut and everybody is happy.

But I fear that we will buy three Versions of this Movie. Theatrical, 3,5, and later 4.5 Hours.

[Jellodyne]

OK, here are the FACTS:

The Theatrical cut is about 3 hours. The DVD will be 4.5 hours. 30-40 minutes of extra footage is to be added, and the remaining 50-60 minutes is extra credits for the people who gave $100 to get their names there.

Oh, wait, did I say FACTS? I meant to say this is something I just made up, sorry about that.

[Phreak]

So wait, does this mean that it has been confirmed that there will be two releases on LOTR (3.5 hour and a directors cut?).

Well, I hope if they do this, we don't have to wait until 2004 for a box set with each movie being 4.5 each, because I can't wait that long. I'd probably buy the first versions of all to come out to hold me over until the box sets are out, but that's gonna end up being expensive. I just hope that LOTR gets like a 'Se7en' treatment from New Line.

[David2001]

woucha! and I thought it was a bit long already

in comparison, the scene with the deep cave fire monster was too short !

at that length, if New Line does it infinifilm crap and does not the split the movie over 2 discs, prepare for some crappy image !

but they seem to abandon the infinifilm and get back to the great Platinum ear so everything is not lost.

at 3.5hours, we need:

movie on 2 discs
platinum
dts, dolby (please, only two tracks! use subtitles for foreing languages)
extras on disc 3

at 4.5hours, it will be about the same presentation too.

[ckmj23]

I guess no one reads previous posts........


"As for Lord of the Rings itself, no release date has been set - contrary to the rumor currently circulating. Peter Jackson, during a CNN interview, has stated the DVD will contain his 4-hour Director's Cut - adding an hour to the already impressive movie. That aside, no further details have been confirmed."

This is fact, not from ign or dark horizons or any of those other rumour mills.

[Dom]

What do "Independence Day", "Titanic", "Hanibal" and, I believe, "The Rock" all have in common?

Answer: For every one of these movies, there was heavy rumor about a director's cut dvd with about 1 hour of extra footage going on. And neither of them ever saw the light of day.

I believe it when I see it. Which doesn't mean I wouldn't like it, of course, I just wouldn't get my hopes too high.