RotK: Extended
Dec. 14th, 2004 10:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
learnedaxStill epic. Still great cinematography. Still some good emotional moments, and some stupid ones.
The added scenes really didn't do that much for me.
The resolution with Saruman was pretty clumsily handled, and just a cheap way of presenting his end in general. Especially the Wicked Witch fireball moment.
The drinking contest, massively stupid. Haven't we had enough opportunities for the Vulca- er, elf to show how superior he is to his moronic comic relief dwarf? Pointless.
Eowyn's dream was just sort of random. The houses of healing scenes were still deeply lacking from the Faramir/Eowyn angle, as well.
The actual content of the paths of the dead additions was pretty good (ok, except for the Real Genius-reminiscent flood of skulls. Er, and Gimli's jogging Legolas's shot. What the hell were they thinking there? So, anyway, maybe those scenes aren't so great even on their own), but adding them before the Pelenor fields completely defangs the Corsairs of Umbar surprise, really weakening that plot.
Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch King of Angmar was maybe kind of alright... Except for how the Witch King completely slaps down Gandalf, going so far as breaking his staff by force of will. I can see that they wanted him to be a badder boss than in the book, where their stalemate is marginally in Gandalf's favor, but BREAKING HIS STAFF? The balance of power is just way way off that way, not to mention that a wizard's staff is a vital part of his equipment, and replacing it in the heat of battle is non-trivial. That's not an enemy Eowyn can kill. Really, it seems like Peter Jackson repeatedly adds development moments which are only slightly off from the book by plot points, but are 180-degrees off in terms of implication. That is, the work of someone who can note the facts but thrashes obliviously around any deeper meaning.
On the other hand, the scenes crossing through Mordor and the Aragorn with Palantir scene are both solid additions, good content that really balances the narrative out in those areas.
The six different endings are still pretty annoying, though.
The added scenes really didn't do that much for me.
The resolution with Saruman was pretty clumsily handled, and just a cheap way of presenting his end in general. Especially the Wicked Witch fireball moment.
The drinking contest, massively stupid. Haven't we had enough opportunities for the Vulca- er, elf to show how superior he is to his moronic comic relief dwarf? Pointless.
Eowyn's dream was just sort of random. The houses of healing scenes were still deeply lacking from the Faramir/Eowyn angle, as well.
The actual content of the paths of the dead additions was pretty good (ok, except for the Real Genius-reminiscent flood of skulls. Er, and Gimli's jogging Legolas's shot. What the hell were they thinking there? So, anyway, maybe those scenes aren't so great even on their own), but adding them before the Pelenor fields completely defangs the Corsairs of Umbar surprise, really weakening that plot.
Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch King of Angmar was maybe kind of alright... Except for how the Witch King completely slaps down Gandalf, going so far as breaking his staff by force of will. I can see that they wanted him to be a badder boss than in the book, where their stalemate is marginally in Gandalf's favor, but BREAKING HIS STAFF? The balance of power is just way way off that way, not to mention that a wizard's staff is a vital part of his equipment, and replacing it in the heat of battle is non-trivial. That's not an enemy Eowyn can kill. Really, it seems like Peter Jackson repeatedly adds development moments which are only slightly off from the book by plot points, but are 180-degrees off in terms of implication. That is, the work of someone who can note the facts but thrashes obliviously around any deeper meaning.
On the other hand, the scenes crossing through Mordor and the Aragorn with Palantir scene are both solid additions, good content that really balances the narrative out in those areas.
The six different endings are still pretty annoying, though.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-12-15 09:21 am (UTC)(seriously, the audience all got up and then *sighed* and sat back down. multiple times.)
funny thing is, i still really like the first one save for the Faromir == total_bitch; part, but the *tweaking* in the latter two can be a bit too much. the comic relief stuff in the second... well, i'd only *buy* the first one, but it's definitely on my list of must haves. (the opening *still* puts a chill on my neck. it's just really well done.)
no subject
Date: 2004-12-21 03:12 pm (UTC)Finally watched it last night.
I completely agree with you on the Corsairs of Umbar--- the cut from "what say you?" to them jumping out of the ships later was fantastic. On the other hand, in the theatrical release it meant that Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli kind of didn't seem to be there in the middle of the movie.
Saruman--- eh.
I was also hoping for way, way more in the houses of healing.
I did like all of the tiny added character moments and short scenes, and bits of backstory/reference to different times in the history of Gondor, the fact that they actually showed Merry pledging fealty to Theoden. I always like that stuff.
And thank goodness for the extra Mordor scenes! I always thought the other version was stupid. Cut from Shelob and Cirith Ungol to "Sam, it's too heavy, I can't walk anymore!" It looks like you just STARTED walking, moron.
I seem to be one of the few peoiple who doesn't mind the zillion endings. Possibly because my favorite parts of the books were all the celebrations and people's fortunes after the end of the ring, and the appendices.