logo Sign In

The Lord of the Rings - 3 in 1 Edit (Released)

Author
Time
 (Edited)

After compleing TF:ROTF edit, my next project is a fanedit of one f my favourites movies of all time.

What I am going to do is “What if” project. What If Jackson couldn’t do three movies but just one. So I am trying to literally cut out everything what I can. Of course what’s left must still makes sense as a single long (3-3.5 hours) movie. Of course this project will NOT improve the movie. I dont even think that those movies needs any improving, they are perfect for me as they are, but trying to compress those three epic movies into one is lot of fun and interesting editing experience

I’ve just finished assembling first cut, and it is 247 minutes long which is too much. I’ll try to trim some scenes which are still in, but could be shorter, and watch whole thing and try to find more scenes which can be cut. I’d like to have a version which can be burn on DL DVD without any video compressing.

Examples of changes:

  • there is no Faramir in this edit

  • most of Frodo and Sam scenes from Two Towers has been cut (there is only 62 minutes of TTT left in my first cut)

  • Arwen has only three scenes, Denethor has only two

  • we meet Eomer, Theoden and Eowyn when Aragorn meets them

  • there’s no Caradhras, after Gimli suggesting going through the mines of Moria, there is cut straight to Moria.

  • many scenes which are still in are heavily trimmed, for example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV2S6u8rj3g&feature=player_embedded

Author
Time

SOunds like fun. It'd be nice to have a version that doesnt take all weekend to watch.

I'd reccomend taking a gander at the Bakshi and the Rankin/Bass cartoons. They manage to cram a lot of plot into short time frames. Perhaps they might inspire you.

Author
Time

Am I the only one who thinks that these movies need to be extended ?

Author
Time

No. I think that too.

I would be happy if they would release trilogy extended to 15 hours or more but it has nothing to do with this edit.  

Author
Time

Sounds interesting. I personally love the LOTR trilogy (I prefer the theatrical cuts, but I enjoy the extended ones as well) and think about as close to perfect as one could hope for so I've never really seen the point in re-cutting it, but this sounds like a pretty interesting concept. The LOTR trilogy was originally written as two movies, and Miramax was going to have it cut down to one before it moved to New Line, so it would be interesting to see how the trilogy works in only 3 hours.

Given the history of the trilogy, maybe you should consider calling this "Lord of the Rings: The Miramax Cut"? :D

Author
Time
 (Edited)

how the trilogy works in only 3 hours.

 

The latest workprint version is 3h50 min long. I think that there are still some cuts to do but I doubt if it goes under 3h40min.

 

Author
Time

Well even so, that's still short enough to meet the criteria of being a single feature film (albiet a really, really long one). Kinda makes sense why Peter Jackson left Miramax over it, because he probably knew that there was no way to fit the whole trilogy into 3 hours or less, and there's no way Miramax would have let him release a 4 hour long movie. ;)

Author
Time
 (Edited)
(albiet a really, really long one).

Something like extended edition of Return of The King or Dances with Wolves (this one has almost identical runtime to my LOTR cut).

Author
Time
 (Edited)

228 minutes long workprint version (XviD) is available for anyone who wants to provide some opinions/advices about:

- what else could be cut

- video errors (like flash-frames in cut points) to be fixed

- audio errors (bad transitions, glitches) to be fixed

- what plot holes appeared because of something that was cut out

 

This is WORKPRINT, so it has some flaws and errors here and there but even with them I think that it is watchable version. PM me for links.

Author
Time

Just had a few thoughts about the workprint for you.

I think it's important that you not remove the scene where Gandalf tells Frodo about Gollum. The thing about pity is a driving force for how Frodo treats Gollum.

I know you don't want to, but I second the idea of going right from Balin's tomb to the bridge without the fight scene. It's a good way to knock off a few minutes that don't further the plot, especially since there's no mithril anyway.

The prologue has too much backstory to be safely removed, but perhaps you could begin the film with Gandalf's arrival at the Shire, and put bits and pieces of the prologue where they'd go. (The Last Alliance battle when Gandalf reads up on Isildur, etc.)

Unrelated to any ulterior "purist" motives, cutting the elves from Helm's Deep offers another way to shave off some precious minutes. Their presence in the film was a necessity from the semi-cancelled involvement of Arwen and Elrond in the battle. You could cut the battle for Helm's Deep altogether and really save some time. Rohan could go from Theoden regaining his right mind into the scenes after the battle is over, leaving the Ents to take care of Saruman.

My stance on revising fan edits.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Deleting my favourite sequences ( Moria battle and Helm's Deep) would only lead to situation in which I would not even want to watch my own edit. And it would be pointless. And again - Saruman is my favourite character, and without Helm's Deep he is not a threat anymore, cause what is he doing? Burning down some village?

About prologue - most of important things are explained by both Gandalf and Elrond, but maybe I will put back some parts of it to scenes where Gandalf reads about Isildur. I will probably also put back scene with the shards of Narsil.

And thing about pity - let's assume that Frodo's compassion is only because he just feels he may end up like Gollum. Frodo and Gollum interaction in this edit is very shortened and may be shortened even more, cause there are some scenes which I may still cut.

 

Author
Time
Sorry, definitely wouldn't like your cut, if it was up to me I'd cut most of the Helm's deep battle and keep all Frodo scenes in TTT as those were the ones I liked the most in the 2nd film. But you're doing this cut for your own enjoyment so I wish you good luck :-D
Author
Time

Can u plz pm me a link…i wud luv 2 watch it…plz

Author
Time

unobtanium said:

Can u plz pm me a link…i wud luv 2 watch it…plz

Making a brand new account and immediately bumping six year old threads asking for links is not going to get you far.