EE Preview!!! And a review.

[Inlé_rah]

First:

I order you all, under threat of my wrath, to go to the official movie site (http://www.lordoftherings.net/), click on the New Video actionscript link. And watch it.

Actually, there’s a better, high-res version here (http://progressive2.stream.aol.com/newline/gl/newline/lordoftherings/ReturnOfTheKing/videos/LOTR_ROTK_Extend_700_dl.mov). Too short too be too sweet, but still. Enjoy.

Review from TORn:
I don't know if I'm at the right address, but I've recently seen the brand-new extended cut of The Return of the King, in my professional capacity, and I thought I'd let know you know about it. I had seen the theatrical version once in the theatre, and two more times with my kids, and I must admit that the longer cut is far superior, for it ties everything you could consider loose-ends, it extends what you thought what great, and it adds awesome new scenes. Many characters benefit from this extended cut, but Faramir, Denethor, Eowyn and Merry really stand out.
After having watched the extended version, my favorite character became Denethor. His new scenes gave him such depth that I couldn't help but wonder why in the world they had to cut them. We learn more about Denethor than about any other character, in my opinion, and that's saying a lot. We learn new things about him not only from his extended and new scenes, but from Faramir, which I thought was a nice touch. Also, I must credit the actor who played Denethor for the coolest line in the whole trilogy: In this extended cut, when he learns that the first levels of the city are in flames and that the men are deserting them, he says something like 'Why do the fools fly? They should stand and burn, for burn they must.' Awesome. Oh, and he has a heated exchange of words with his son that stand out because it's very dramatic. It even reintroduces Sean Bean as Borimir in a most unexpected way!

The House of Healing is back in as well, which is good, because it allows you to breath a little between the two big battles of the movie. Aragorn shows his healing skills, which allow us to realize that he IS really fitted to be king, and not just a wannabe. This new segment also has tender moments between Faramir and Eowyn while they're recovering from their battle wounds, which serves a nice conclusion for both characters and allow the actors who play them to shine.

Of course you must have heard by now that Saruman has been reinserted into the movie, but let me tell you, you're in for a treat! The sequence is over five minutes in lenght but I would have taken more...Saruman tries to rally Gandalf once again to his cause, but Gandalf doesn't fall in the trap. Also, Gandalf finally gets the chance to establish himself as the ruling wizard of Middle earth, when he says something like 'I am not Gandalf the Grey whom you betrayed, I am Gandalf the White and I cast you out of the order.' From this point the sequence takes a dramatic turn and you're on the edge of your seat until Saruman meets his fate. A sticky fate that turns him to dust!

A new character is introduced in the extended version: the Mouth of Sauron. He comes out of the black gate riding a huge black horse and basically he speaks for his master (who is after all a huge flaming eye!). The Mouth taunts the members of the fellowship and makes them believe Frodo has died after endless torture. He has particularly gruesome words for Aragorn.

What more can I say without dragging too long? The Paths of the Dead become Indiana Jones-like with new perils and booby-traps, there is a fight sequence with some pirates which was cool, because it shows you how Aragorn was able to take over the whole fleet of ships that bring him to Minas Tirith, Frodo and Sam's journey becomes so much more dramatic and their trip across the burning lands of Mordor is extended a lot, there is a whole lot more to learn about the backstory of Minas Tirith, Aragorn confronts his archenemy Sauron in the flaming palantir and Gandalf even faces a new challenge when the mighty witch-king lands in front of him and confronts him (a sequence you must see before you die, it's simply too cool).

[Inlé_rah]

Commentary:

After having watched the extended version, my favorite character became Denethor. His new scenes gave him such depth that I couldn't help but wonder why in the world they had to cut them. We learn more about Denethor than about any other character, in my opinion, and that's saying a lot. We learn new things about him not only from his extended and new scenes, but from Faramir, which I thought was a nice touch. Good. Because they butchered him in the theatrical version. Perhaps these extra scenes will contain an explanation of Denethor’s line, “Do you think the eyes of the white tower are blind?”

Also, I must credit the actor who played Denethor for the coolest line in the whole trilogy: In this extended cut, when he learns that the first levels of the city are in flames and that the men are deserting them, he says something like 'Why do the fools fly? They should stand and burn, for burn they must.' Awesome.A direct quote...unless I am mistaken.

Oh, and he has a heated exchange of words with his son that stand out because it's very dramatic.Something along the lines of this perhaps?

"Boromir was loyal to me and no wizard's pupil!"

Ouch.
It even reintroduces Sean Bean as Borimir in a most unexpected way! ...

I’m mildly anxious that this could refer to something stupid.
The House of Healing is back in as well, which is good, because it allows you to breath a little between the two big battles of the movie. Aragorn shows his healing skills, which allow us to realize that he IS really fitted to be king, and not just a wannabe. This new segment also has tender moments between Faramir and Eowyn while they're recovering from their battle wounds, which serves a nice conclusion for both characters and allow the actors who play them to shine.Because the hands of a king are the hands of a healer... This is simply not one of my favorite parts of the book because I can’t help but roll my eyes at passages like this:

"'Eowyn, Eowyn, White Lady of Rohan, in this hour I do not believe that any darkness will endure!' And he stooped and kissed her brow. And so they stood on the walls of the City of Gondor, and a great wind rose and blew, and their hair, raven and golden, streamed out mingling in the air. And the Shadow departed, and the Sun was unveiled, and the light leapt forth..."

But I’m very glad they are including it anyways. One of the greatest continuity failures of the theatrical version, in my opinion, was the resolution of Eowyn’s story.

Of course you must have heard by now that Saruman has been reinserted into the movie, but let me tell you, you're in for a treat! The sequence is over five minutes in length but I would have taken more...Saruman tries to rally Gandalf once again to his cause, but Gandalf doesn't fall in the trap.I wonder if the have the part of the Voice of Saruman scene where he tries to convince Théoden of the continuing friendship between Rohan and Isengard, and when Saruman fails to convince, he lashes out:

"Gibbets and Crows! Dotard! What is the house of Eorl but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek, and their brats roll around on the floor with their dogs!"

Also, Gandalf finally gets the chance to establish himself as the ruling wizard of Middle earth, when he says something like 'I am not Gandalf the Grey whom you betrayed, I am Gandalf the White and I cast you out of the order.'Meh. That’s practically verbatim:

"Behold, I am not Gandalf the Grey, whom you betrayed. I am Gandalf the White, who has returned from death. You have no colour now, and I cast you from the order and from the Council."

Of course, the whole “Saruman of many colors” thing is not treated in the film. I haven’t actually seen the other EEs, so I can’t be certain of the fact though, but it seems like the kind of thing that wouldn’t be addressed. And the White Council was certainly never mentioned.

From this point the sequence takes a dramatic turn and you're on the edge of your seat until Saruman meets his fate. A sticky fate that turns him to dust! Ok. I’m hoping that this was just the language in the review, but I just got visions of the ‘he chose poorly’ scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

But more likely it is some version of this, which actually occurs in the Scouring of the Shire:

“To the dismay of those that stood by, about the body of Saruman a grey mist gathered, and rising slowly to a great height like smoke from a fire, as a pale shrouded figure it loomed over the Hill. For a moment it wavered, looking to the West; but out of the West came a cold wind, and it bent away, and with a sigh dissolved into nothing.”

Almost makes me feel sorry for him.

A new character is introduced in the extended version: the Mouth of Sauron. He comes out of the black gate riding a huge black horse and basically he speaks for his master (who is after all a huge flaming eye!). The Mouth taunts the members of the fellowship and makes them believe Frodo has died after endless torture. He has particularly gruesome words for Aragorn.Let me venture a guess:

"It needs more to make a king than a piece of elvish glass, or a rabble such as this."

What more can I say without dragging too long? The Paths of the Dead become Indiana Jones-like with new perils and booby-traps, ...

*is more than mildly anxious*

Aragorn: Stay out of the light.
Legolas: Why would there be a random shaft of light in the middle of a mountain anyways. The only place I’ve ever seen such a thing before was...
Gimli: Hey!
*Gimli waves his hand in front of the light shaft. Spiky pointy things of doom pop out of the walls and just miss his hand and him. The rotting dead guy skewered by the spiky things was apparently not so lucky.*
Aragorn: Poor soul...

<---end crappy spoof--->

Yeah. I hope not...

there is a fight sequence with some pirates which was cool, because it shows you how Aragorn was able to take over the whole fleet of ships that bring him to Minas Tirith, Someone please help me here. Did the army of the dead actually fight at the Pelannor? Because I could’ve sworn that they didn’t and that they only helped the Grey Company defeat the corsair fleet before it arrived and then was released...

Which of course would be inconsistent with Elrond’s statement that “you need more men.” But then again, that entire scene at Dunharrow was...

Frodo and Sam's journey becomes so much more dramatic and their trip across the burning lands of Mordor is extended a lot,Probably the angsty scene where Sam says his tearful goodbyes to his cooking-wear and throws his preciousss potses and panses into a ravine so that Gollum can’t come by them. As if Gollum would want them...

there is a whole lot more to learn about the backstory of Minas Tirith, Aragorn confronts his archenemy Sauron in the flaming palantirBetter later than never, I suppose...though technically, in the book, Aragorn confronting Sauron in the Palantir was the Dark Lord’s cue to begin his assualt on Minas Tirith, rather than Rohan’s victory at the Hornburg...

It looks like the movie is placing it after the Pelannor, and that Aragorn will use that Palantir as part of ‘Operation We’re-the-bait” to draw Sauron out. Or as Legolas succinctly put it in the worst and most pointless line in the movie: “a diversion”

and Gandalf even faces a new challenge when the mighty witch-king lands in front of him and confronts him (a sequence you must see before you die, it's simply too cool). I guess only trolls and orcs are common enough to use the front door, but this, in its original form, is one of my favorite parts of the book. It occurs right before the horns of the Rohirrim are heard on the Pelannor:

"In rode the Lord of the Nazgul. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgul, under the archway that no enemy ever yet had passed, and all fled before his face. All save one. There waiting, silent and still in the space before the gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax."

'You cannot enter here,' said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. 'Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your Master. Go!

<deja vu much?---ok. sorry. *sheepish grin* continuing now...>

"The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter."

"Old fool!" he said. "Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!" And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade."

"Gandalf did not move. And in that very moment, away behind in some far corner of the city, a **** crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed reckoning nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.

And as if in answer there came from far awary another note. Horns, horns, horns. In dark Mindolluin's side they dimly echoed. Great horns of the North, wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last."

Simply sweet awesomeness. Hence why I took the time to assemble it from many quotes. And the basic scene is in the EE clip that I put in the first post. Of course, in the film, the Witch-King is not on horseback.

The films seem to leave the impression that after the Ringwraiths got all washed up at the Bruien Ford, Mordor didn't have any other evil black horses to furnish them with. While in fact, the Witch-King of Agmar leads the army of Minas Morgul on horseback, thought he does later make his famous, and final, appearance on one of the fell beasts.

---

Also, I wonder if this was changed somehow. I know it is possible to do... But I doubt it would’ve been done.
Technically, much of RotK, including the Seige of Gondor and the Pelannor, occurs under darkness which comes out of Mordor.

Example:
"But the night will be too short. I have come back here, for I must have a little peace, alone. You should sleep, in a bed while you still may. At the sunrise I shall take you to the Lord Denethor again. No, when the summons comes, not at sunrise. The Darkness has begun. There will be no dawn."

And one I’ve already used:

" And in that very moment, away behind in some far corner of the city, a **** crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed reckoning nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.”

[AlecTrevylan006]

He chose poorly? (http://www.angelfire.com/ct3/eternalrequiem/index.html)

[Inlé_rah]

He chose poorly? (http://www.angelfire.com/ct3/eternalrequiem/index.html)
Make me waste my time searching for screencaps, why don't you?

More like what happens directly after this (http://www.indianajones.com/museum/exhibit/scrapbook/scrapbook008.html)

I can't find a proper screencap for the life of me. It's when Donovan drinks from the false grail, ages quite rapidly, screams a lot in horror, turns to dust, and is blown away. "He chose poorly" is said by the knight. It's a rather famous line. I thought most people would be able to place it. Yeah. Since I couldn't find a cap, you get a wav. Ooh. Wait. mp3. even better...

http://www.moviewavs.com/cgi-bin/mp3s.cgi?Indiana_Jones=poorly.mp3

Er. As a warning, that's quite loud. Interesting. I don't think I ever noticed the classical harp part in the background...

[shortkut]

OMG double post DEMOD DEMOD

i'll check the links tomorrow but your commentary was really interesting yay for quotes

[Inlé_rah]

OMG double post DEMOD DEMOD
OMG! ABUSE OF POWERZ. Not to mention a certain degree of hypocracy, no? :tease:

i'll check the links tomorrow but your commentary was really interesting yay for quotes
Yeah. That was fun. :D

Go uber-awesome memory. Even thought I haven't actually read LotR fully in nearly 3 years (I've skimmed from time to time), I knew exactly which passages I was looking for and typed certain key words into Google from the passages which I knew as well as who was saying it or whatever. Even the ones I was 99% certain that I knew the exact quote (like "It needs more to make a king than a piece of elvish glass, or a rabble such as this"), I checked in such a manner.

The internet is truely amazing. Lol. I don't have the LotR trilogy with me while at school, but I did nick my dad's old falling-apart copy of the Silmarillion (which is over 10 years older than me and has survived a fire. My dad thought it was tedious anyways).

[shortkut]

not hypocracy, hypercracy

[Inlé_rah]

not hypocracy, hypercracy
Right...

Ok. I don't know about anyone else, but I can't wait untill Christmas. Well, I think it comes out December 14th, but you know what I mean. ;)

[shortkut]

close enough. i can wait because i have to finish my college apps :rant: