Lord Of The Rings - Extended versions or not?

I can't agree with this take.

MotoDork

Absolutely 100% wrong. Never, NEVER watch the theatrical cut of these films. Ever.

MotoDork

Extended - way easier to understand for people who haven't read the books, in my experience.

Richard Maurer

It’s not true. I watched all 3 in theatres and thought it ended 5 times before it actually did. (I’m referring to the trilogy as a whole.) That’s prob bc I’m not into fantasy much. I’m glad I saw them and rec seeing them at least once, mainly for the quotes, memes and world-building. Maybe Cassie will love fantasy, but I kinda think if she did, she would’ve seen them already.

Be Kind

The extended version is for after you’ve already watched the theatrical version a couple of times (or more!) and want some new content. Save it for later.

Dan L.

BE Kind. I think Cassie will like LOTR. At first when you watch the movies you don't think you could be engaged for 3+ hours in a movie. Until it ends and you say, "what its over, I want more." I do think return of the king is 20 mins too long." Once you are in the extended versions you have to dive deep.

KevG

It depends how well you do with fantasy, if you're new to The Lord of the Rings or other fantasy go with the theatrical release. Extended versions are amazing for a rewatch.

Skinny_Obelix

thats fair, but my point is, she'll either like LOTR or she won't, and i've never met anyone who only disliked it because of the extended.

Armchair Wizard

Oh, no. Extended version is winning. I’m guessing most voters are big LOTR fans, but you don’t know whether Cassie will be. Having extraneous story can make it feel like a chore to get through. Even the theatrical versions, though I enjoyed them, felt too long for me.

Be Kind

Yes, two parts is the best way to do it

Maja Axholt

Might as well go with extended.

Michael Larsen

No. But is important see what happened with Saruman ;)

TaLy___

If you're going to watch extended cuts, perhaps consider two part reactions to each movie. It would be a shame to squeeze three and half an hour into 30 minutes reaction.

David Lengyel

Extended, it would be alot easier to understand

Cassie will have to go with extended versions especially with the first scene in Return of the King being so crucial. But the rest of the extended scenes in that movie can take a pass. So in the end she will have to watch extended versions of all to get the full story. The extended scene in Fellowship add so much. They are really great.

KevG

I'd personally go for extended editions. I watched the first movie in the cinema but the other two only as extended editions on DVD and I had no problems with the extra stuff you get to see or the extra time it took to watch them.

Michael Skyum Andersen

I'm glad the EE exists but the TK is better in almost everyway. Fellowship is the only EE that has very important scenes and arcs added.

Tyler Paulson

I agree. I mean, is it that important that we see that Eowyn can’t cook?

Catherine LW

Fellowship Extended / The other two Theatrical Theatrical is what Peter Jackson prefers and the last two have serious pacing problems in the extended.

Tyler Paulson

I’ll be a dissenter and say theatrical. The extended version adds a lot of storyline and detail, but bogs down the pace of the film. As a first time viewer, I don’t think you’ll miss much if you watch the theatrical version first.

Catherine LW