The Lord of the Rings: Collector's Edition

[DJ Doena]

This weekend I took the time and inserted the One Ring again. Yesterday evening I watched "The Fellowship of the Rings" and "The Two Towers" and today I finished with "The Return of the King".

Awesome, simply awesome.

I watched the first two movies as double feature in the cinema as "blind buy". I've never read LOTR before. I was very impressed. I liked the story from the beginning and was eager to know how it ended. Thus, I bought the books (german translation). After 80-or-so pages I gave up. A few months later I started again and after the first 100 pages it was something like readable. But I never really enjoyed it.

Then I watched the third movie (I knew how it was going to end and also knew which parts would be missing but I didn't mind). After that I thought I gave it a shot and read it in the original language - klingon. Just kidding. But to be honest, it wasn't much better. I was really impressed by the fact that there were countless english words describing the landscape I've had never heard before. It was hard work for me. Before LOTR I read only the Potter books and some Babylon 5 novels. But overall, I don't think that JRR was a good storyteller. The story itself is great but he couldn't tell it very good. IMHO! Please don't crucify me.

But Peter Jackson could and he did. I bought the theatrical version, knowing there would be a SEE. After I got the SEE I gave the theatricals to my mother because I knew I wouldn't watch them again. Last year Amazon.com sold the CE for $22 each and I took the offer. Thus I owned every version at one time and still own the SEE and CE.

This weekend I watched it again and was again very impressed and very moved. I confess: I sobbed when Galadriel, Elrond, Gandalf & Frodo departed from the Grey Heavens.

11 out of 10 points for all three movies.

A bit disappointing for me was that - although I am usually not a bonus feature watcher - that none of the SEE/CE (the discs are the same) contains a movie trailer. Sad is also that the short movie of Sean Astin ("Sam") "The Long and the Short of It" and the Making-Of of TLATSOI are only contained on the TTT theatrical DVD. I really liked that one!

[Kathy]

I've read the books every year for 30+ years but don't worry Karsten I don't think any less of you. I can't imagine reading this novel if English is not your native language. I would recommend reading The Hobbit first; it is a much easier read and quite enjoyable. The first few times I read LOTR I didn't read it word for word; I skipped sections and didn't even bother with the appendices. 

As far as the movies, I am in complete agreement; I love them and spend every new year watching the 4-Disc editions. I watch everything; commentaries, extras, everything! Although the film and books differ in many ways it doesn't matter; they are both wonderful journeys that I enjoy embarking on. I can't wait for the Hobbit, with Peter Jackson as the director, to come to life too!