In August New Line will be releasing new editions of the three Lord of the Rings films on DVD. From a report at DVD Active:
Each set will carry both the theatrical and extended versions of the film (via seamless branching), while disc two features an intimate, never-before-seen documentary created by Costa Botes. The feature-length documentaries, with more than 300 minutes of never-before-available footage, focus on a number of complexities and circumstances and affected the making of the movies. The discs will be available to own from the 29th August, priced at around $28.98 a piece.
I have but one question to ask. Why? The current editions–theatrical and Extended–suffice, don’t they? What more can be done with the documentaries? To be honest, I’ve yet to watch even ten percent of the documentaries on the two current editions of the film; why would I want even more? Plus, the theatrical and Extended cuts of the film are readily available at retailers. Perhaps if both had been withdrawn from circulation six months or more ago I could see a reason to relaunch The Lord of the Rings on DVD.
Let me admit that I’m confused by the need for a new edition and I’m ranting about the scant details we have because there’s no burning need for it, as we understand it now. I would suspect, though, that as we approach the late August release of this new edition of The Lord of the Rings, as details emerge as to the content of the new documentaries and bonus features, then we’ll see a clear demarcation between the current editions and the new, third edition of the film.
I have but one question to ask. Why?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$ indeed.
I made the trio of documentaries in question, and I can guarantee that they are worlds apart in attitude and execution from anything seen on the Extended Editions. Whereas the strength of those discs was the wealth of oral history in the commentaries, my stuff will appeal more to people who like a good grunty visual doc that gets in amongst the action and gets its hands dirty. If you want to know what it was really like amongst the snow, the floods, the heat waves, and the madness, then this is the trip you’ve been waiting for.
And in case you’re wondering, I’m not getting a cent in royalties!