Originally posted by: see you auntie
I’m no LOTR fan. I saw them all once in the cinema and enjoyed them all for the most part, but if I was a fan the multitude of dvd releases would be very annoying. At least I’d be able to pick and choose what I want and buy them, but at the end of the day I could distinguish Peter Jackson from the studio and I wouldn’t be annoyed at Peter Jackson for constant releasing of the dvd’s. It’s not really his decision. The studio that owns the rights are the ones putting out the dvds, they know what their fan base is and how much they can milk them for it. Why is Lucasfilm doing the same thing, when Lucasfilm was established initially to be different from the studio model?

Actually, it was PJ's decision. The theatrical versions are the movies he wanted to make. The EEs are the versions the fans wanted and he created them specifically for that group. Even during the ROTK commentary he says that if he could make all 3 over again and release them all at the same time, he'd do things differently since there would be no gaps between seeing the movies. The only release that might not have been PJ's idea is the latest box set.

You're also missing something crucial about the LOTR DVDs. Each version that has been released has had new material. Now, aside from the latest release, the initial releases were totally different and meant to please both kinds of fans. First they released the theatrical versions with commentaries and other extras. Then they released the Extended Editions. Call them Special Editions if you like

Those had even more commentaries and making ofs and had new scenes added back into the movie. Some stuff was completely reedited so that the reinserted scenes would make more sense as well. I bought both because I wanted to be able to watch either one at any time (though I mostly watch the EEs). It wasn't about milking the fans. When the theatrical version came out, you couldn't go to any website dedicated to LOTR without finding out about both. They clearly stated to everyone that they were releasing the theatrical version and then the EEs later (I think 6 months later). Everyone knew this and accepted it. Some waited, some didn't.

I don't know much about the latest release they've done. All I do know is that it's a boxed set with all 3 movies and some new material. They put the theatrical and EE versions on the same disc and then added some new material. For most LOTR fans, it's probably not worth picking up. For someone who doesn't have either version yet, it's probably worthwhile since they'll get both of each movie in one box.

So you see, Lucas could follow the footsteps of Peter Jackson and release the OOT in remastered DVD quality alongside the 04 DVD. Some fans would buy both, some fans would only by the OOT. Assuming he only released two versions and not a new version each year as his mind changed, I think every fan would be perfectly happy with that.