dasjr

User Group: Members
Join date: 17-May-2006
Last activity: 21-Dec-2006
Posts: 3

Post History

Post: #210777
Topic: The Lord of the Rings - Special Abridged Edition (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/210777/action/topic#210777
Time: 17-May-2006 11:13 PM

Wow.

Unbelievable job. You have successfully condensed the entire saga into three hours. There's some more nitpicking here, so let me get it out of the way:
0) re-referring to the Gandalf falling scene...I guess it doesn't need to be shortened, but perhaps the fade from the pit into the fellowship leaving was a tad slow (oh, and dark); 1) the transition from map overlay to map overlay--I think it's about 1hr15min in--should be a fade in and out of black, rather than whatever 3D cube effect you used; 2) I don't know (for the time being) if you really need to crop out the Mumakil during Eowyn's battle, especially since it doesn't help the picture quality; 3) the 3D transition before Elijah Wood's final end credit should be a dissolve instead; 4) the red lettering, "Missing" signs, and your text plea at the end are all funny, but needless...and some people who end up with this version (newbies and relatives new to the LOTR story) won't get the joke.

I think that's all the nitpicking I have at the moment, because otherwise, I'm impressed beyond belief. The arrangement and exclusions are bound to give heart attacks to my purist friends with the extended versions, but call it what you will--abridged, hacked, butchered, LOTR For Dummies--and it is still an achievement. Everything still made sense, and even the exclusion of most of the Two Towers (possibly my favorite in the trilogy) did not confuse or detract from the storyline or the emotional impact. Like I said, I can't wait to see the upgrade of this, and would highly recommend it to numerous fans, and the more casual filmgoer.

Post: #210515
Topic: The Lord of the Rings - Special Abridged Edition (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/210515/action/topic#210515
Time: 17-May-2006 4:13 PM

Originally posted by: wmgan My problem with the Gandalf-Saruman fight was the absence of *magic* -- here we have two powerful wizards fighting and all they do is fling each other around like rag dolls. Perhaps I'll reintegrate some of it back in -- however, I think it's important not to let Saruman take Gandalf's staff because it leaves the plot hole -- how did Gandalf get it back? Also, by having Saruman win so easily now, it shows how much more powerful Gandalf becomes after his "resurrection".

Good call. I agree with your vision even more now.

Post: #210493
Topic: The Lord of the Rings - Special Abridged Edition (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/210493/action/topic#210493
Time: 17-May-2006 3:23 PM

I d/l'ed this version and have only seen 1/3 of it. I was able to watch despite the extreme compression simply because it's that good an edit. The compression/jerkiness makes it look like I'm watching it as part of an old PS1 video game, which actually gives it a neat kind of feel. Nonetheless, I am anxious to see a more "correctly" compressed version of this, as this is an excellent edit. In fact, I've joined this forum just so I could comment on what I've seen so far, because it's *that good*.
Let's start with some nitpicking: 1) On a DVD player, the bars above and below the menu turn *white* when viewed on a standard TV. Otherwise, the menu is excellent. 2) The fight between Gandalf and Saruman is gone...Saruman simply blasts Gandalf against a wall, up the tower, and that's it...which I have no prob with, but some people may feel makes Gandalf look weak, 3) Gandalf and the beast's fall after "you shall not pass" should perhaps be shorter, and cut sooner to the rest of the Fellowship leaving/Frodo crying out, etc (and minus the layering of the one dark shot over it).
Other than those three main things, I think we've got a winner. My friend the LOTR fanatic knew too much of what was taken out and was going apecrap, but for someone who has not seen the theatrical cuts in some time, I find it well done and easy to follow. Someone watching this without any knowledge of the other versions would not be confused. This may be a great way to introduce a lot of skeptics (with less time on their hands) to the LOTR saga. Anyway...I've not seen the whole thing yet, but once I do, I'll add more. Very good job so far, and I look forward to any upgrades.