The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - **The Return of the King Extended Edition**

gorthaur_cruel · 12-10-2004, 12:41 AM

I think the EE for RotK was both better and worse than the EE for TTT and FotR. Better, because it had more exciting scenes that people actually wanted to see. FotR didn't really have an outstanding extended scene. Galadriel's gifts, Gilraen's memorial, etc were all great, but nothing that really excites the viewer. Same with TTT. But RotK had scenes like the Voice of Saruman, Witch King vs. Gandalf, Corsairs of Umbar, etc. It had more new action-packed scenes than the first two.

However, the actual scenes themselves seem to flow more naturally for the first two. At least, it did for me. Gandalf and co. are just talking, and Saruman just pops up from the top of his tower talking to Theoden. I've already said elsewhere that it'd be impossible for them to hear Saruman (and vice versa) at that distance. They even whisper to each other and nobody seems to have any hearing difficulties. Also, you don't really see Theoden considering Saruman's offer, since he answers "no" immediately after Saruman finishes asking. I also disliked Saruman's fireball, but other than these, it was a great scene.

Gandalf vs. Witch King scene: I think it doesn't flow very naturally. Gandalf gets Pippin, starts running up, and a few seconds later the heroic music fades out and the WK appears. Then Gandalf also immediately starts saying "Go back to the abyss...". It just sounds like he's reciting it, IMO.
And I don't know...Gandalf just seemed so helpless against the Witch King. I was hoping for something more. I still hold firmly to the belief that Gandalf is more powerful than the WK, but even if PJ wants the Wiki to win, he could have had a better fight. The Witch King just raises his sword, and Gandalf's staff suddenly shatters into a hundred pieces. Sort of ironic, seeing how he broke Saruman's staff in the same way earlier on in the movie. I think that they should have had an actual fight if that's what PJ wanted, sort of like against the Balrog. The current way isn't action-packed enough to satisfy the action lovers, nor is it Tolkien enough to satisfy the purists.
Then Gandalf is lying on the ground, and as soon as the WK is about to kill him, the Rohirrim come. The thing I can't understand is, why doesn't he just stab Gandalf before leaving? He's obviously helpless on the ground. It would take no more than an additional 10 seconds.

I think I liked the other additions however. Overall, I'd give the EE an 8, in comparison to how it COULD have been.

12-10-2004, 12:41 AM	#2
gorthaur_cruel Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 92	I think the EE for RotK was both better and worse than the EE for TTT and FotR. Better, because it had more exciting scenes that people actually wanted to see. FotR didn't really have an outstanding extended scene. Galadriel's gifts, Gilraen's memorial, etc were all great, but nothing that really excites the viewer. Same with TTT. But RotK had scenes like the Voice of Saruman, Witch King vs. Gandalf, Corsairs of Umbar, etc. It had more new action-packed scenes than the first two. However, the actual scenes themselves seem to flow more naturally for the first two. At least, it did for me. Gandalf and co. are just talking, and Saruman just pops up from the top of his tower talking to Theoden. I've already said elsewhere that it'd be impossible for them to hear Saruman (and vice versa) at that distance. They even whisper to each other and nobody seems to have any hearing difficulties. Also, you don't really see Theoden considering Saruman's offer, since he answers "no" immediately after Saruman finishes asking. I also disliked Saruman's fireball, but other than these, it was a great scene. Gandalf vs. Witch King scene: I think it doesn't flow very naturally. Gandalf gets Pippin, starts running up, and a few seconds later the heroic music fades out and the WK appears. Then Gandalf also immediately starts saying "Go back to the abyss...". It just sounds like he's reciting it, IMO. And I don't know...Gandalf just seemed so helpless against the Witch King. I was hoping for something more. I still hold firmly to the belief that Gandalf is more powerful than the WK, but even if PJ wants the Wiki to win, he could have had a better fight. The Witch King just raises his sword, and Gandalf's staff suddenly shatters into a hundred pieces. Sort of ironic, seeing how he broke Saruman's staff in the same way earlier on in the movie. I think that they should have had an actual fight if that's what PJ wanted, sort of like against the Balrog. The current way isn't action-packed enough to satisfy the action lovers, nor is it Tolkien enough to satisfy the purists. Then Gandalf is lying on the ground, and as soon as the WK is about to kill him, the Rohirrim come. The thing I can't understand is, why doesn't he just stab Gandalf before leaving? He's obviously helpless on the ground. It would take no more than an additional 10 seconds. I think I liked the other additions however. Overall, I'd give the EE an 8, in comparison to how it COULD have been.