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Wētā has released newly restored and previously unseen Lord of the Rings archive photos to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the films.
- Thread starter Oberstein
- Start date
NeoIkaruGAF
Gold Member
Damn. I was going to comment "I don't understand, where's the green screen?!", but yeah, there's one photo with it. I can imagine some younger people struggling with the idea that some of the stuff in the LOTR movies is not CG.
These movies came out at the perfect time. They could never be made, or topped, with the mentality movies are made today. And they would have been impossible just a few years earlier.
These movies came out at the perfect time. They could never be made, or topped, with the mentality movies are made today. And they would have been impossible just a few years earlier.
Panajev2001a
GAF's Pleasant Genius
Incredible that 25 years ago with a comparatively smaller budget they achieved such higher quality results compared to Rings of Power that it is not even funny. RoP's costumes feel like cheap cosplay.Damn, it hasn't aged a day. If anything, it looks even better and still outclasses every modern fantasy production (The Witcher, Rings of Power), despite having a fraction of their budgets.
Wētā's Instagram account has confirmed that additional photo series will be released.
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Oberstein
Member
When new generations watch The Lord of the Rings for the first time, they're usually blown away. And it gives hope to see them just as invested as we were back then.
That said, it's clear the trilogy came out at exactly the right moment—something completely impossible in today's climate.
Yes, I still remember the 'T-shirt armor.' It's crazy how much, and not just in Rings of Power, but in almost all medieval series, Game of Thrones aside, things have only regressed.
longrainwater
Member
Just a reminder that the director's preferred version is the theatrical cut. If you want to see the full extent of the craftsmanship, watch that version.
Extended is like album + b sides.
Extended is like album + b sides.
RJMacready73
Simps for Amouranth
As huge a fan as I am of these movies, we watch the extended cuts every year, I'd dare say if Villeneuve can end his Dune trilogy the same way Jackson ended his, Dune will be up there alongside it imo
Trogdor1123
Member
The extended is the best version without a doubt. I've always wondered if the super extended version was a real thing that will come someday.
poppabk
Cheeks Spread for Digital Only Future
Im watching these movies with my son right now - just wrapped up Two Towers. It is truly amazing what they managed to pull off - even the CGI is still top tier - there are some wobbles here or there but overall they mainly made all the right choices to mask the limitations. Return of the King I remember being the beginning of the slide in to Jackson becoming overly infatuated with CGI but maybe it isn't as bad as I remember.
John Bilbo
Gold Member
Megaton
Reizo Ryuu
Member
They nocked real arrows? That's cool, nowadays arrows are pretty much all CGI
Extended is cool for all the extra's, but theatrical has impeccable pacing and is definitely my preferred way of watching too.
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P:axMagellanic
Member
We'll never see it's like again.
kruis
Exposing the sinister cartel of retailers who allow companies to pay for advertising space.
The extended versions are the best. It's not unnecessary filler, the extra scenes expand upon the theatrical cut in so many meaningful ways that make it the best versions of the movies. I don't care what Peter Jackson says. (if he even said that)
P:axMagellanic
Member
It was semi falling apart by RotK, could see that Jackson was losing his mind with the CGI fuckery. Fellowship is a wonder of a film.
simpatico
Gold Member
Just the production. The amount of men, the earnest endeavor of capturing this story and the lengths they went to so that it could be done.
P:axMagellanic
Member
Ohh yeah, absolutely. The cast all seemed to remain close friends today as well.
Signalis
Member
It's called 35mm film.
calico
Member
It would be impossible to release them new now as they were made then. Those issues aside, I don't think it's too damning that they haven't been topped, but it is sad we no longer get close or even expect to.
That said, while I consider most changes from the books to be correct and necessary decisions (often improvements), I consider how RotK handles the resolution of Pelennor fields to be a significant blemish. The ships (Aragorn) arriving at Pelennor is chef's kiss in the book, and the movie totally and unnecessarily fucks it up, removing everything special in exchange for a CGI crapfest.
That said, while I consider most changes from the books to be correct and necessary decisions (often improvements), I consider how RotK handles the resolution of Pelennor fields to be a significant blemish. The ships (Aragorn) arriving at Pelennor is chef's kiss in the book, and the movie totally and unnecessarily fucks it up, removing everything special in exchange for a CGI crapfest.
Badlucktroll
Member
at this point they should just let PJ mine the silmarillion and unfinished tales and tom bombadil for some new films
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DeepEnigma
Gold Member
25 years. Damn.
Grildon Tundy
Member
You could look to The Hobbit trilogy as further proof of this and as about a direct comparison as you can get. Same director at the helm, probably a lot of the same crew, but even that couldn't reach the heights of LOTR.
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vindafarna
Neo Member
Cool photos! The battle of the Last Alliance in the prologue of Fellowship still holds up well to this day.
falconhoof
Member
It's interesting. I have a vivid memory of walking out of the cinema after watching Fellowship feeling a little disappointed at the overall pacing and flow of the movie. It felt off. This was at release so I had no knowledge that there would ever be an extended cut. Upon seeing that extended cut it resolve all the issues I had with the theatrical version. Pacing felt wonderful, editing was smooth.
On the other hand I much prefer the theatrical release of Aliens. The directors cut of that felt like + b sides, even going as far as ruining Newt and the xenomorph's introduction with the added earlier scene.
falconhoof
Member
Damn, it hasn't aged a day. If anything, it looks even better and still outclasses every modern fantasy production (The Witcher, Rings of Power), despite having a fraction of their budgets.
Wētā's Instagram account has confirmed that additional photo series will be released.
Is Instagram the only place you've seen this stuff? The post doesn't really give much on what their plans are for more photos to be released. And it would be wonderful to get some nice high res versions.
Nocty
Currently Steaming
I'm currently watching the trilogy with the mrs this weekend.
It has aged like fine wine honestly. Films like this simply do not get made anymore. There hasn't been an epic fantasy film in so long that I can think of worth a fart compared to LOTR.
In particular, the extended edition of Fellowship is like sinking slowly into a nice warm bath with your favourite beer. Can not explain in words how much I love it. The actors, many of them late now, all did a wonderful job. Gandalf and Saruman, Elrond... mega cast with a timeless story underneath.
It has aged like fine wine honestly. Films like this simply do not get made anymore. There hasn't been an epic fantasy film in so long that I can think of worth a fart compared to LOTR.
In particular, the extended edition of Fellowship is like sinking slowly into a nice warm bath with your favourite beer. Can not explain in words how much I love it. The actors, many of them late now, all did a wonderful job. Gandalf and Saruman, Elrond... mega cast with a timeless story underneath.
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Nocty
Currently Steaming
Same..
Man not gonna lie, I wept like a baby at the end of the fellowship. I'd just lost my dad and I remmeber thinking fuck, I wish I could have watched it with him. He loved the books so dearly and he was gone before he got to see the masterpiece.
Lambogenie
Member
Imagine making this today. CG all the time and repeating beats for second screeners.
Just remarkably made movies not just for its time period but in general. Love them.
As others have said, how did Amazon fuck up Rings of Power then? It looks so cheap and artifical in comparison. While practical stuff is troublesome, it just makes a movie more gripping.
Just remarkably made movies not just for its time period but in general. Love them.
As others have said, how did Amazon fuck up Rings of Power then? It looks so cheap and artifical in comparison. While practical stuff is troublesome, it just makes a movie more gripping.
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It's the time. No CG means a LOT of pre-production to get the costumes and sets ready. That's what PJ was missing on Hobbit, he inherited whatever Del Toro was doing, had to revamp it, and just didn't have the time.
I've seen footage that he didnt like the goblin masks and stuff, so there is some fault on him for going CG so hard, but I think it was mostly jsut a lack of prep time.
Give Batman his prep!
Nocty
Currently Steaming
Lol, the CGI is the least of it's problems
SirKicksalot
Member
Weta is also designing and making the Rings of Power props and CGI. Like two thirds of the RoP Workshop staff worked on the movies.
ZehDon
Gold Member
One element to always consider is time. For as much as we praise the visible passion of the film makers, and rightly so, they were given the necessary time to get it right. For Hobbiton, they spent an entire year growing the set in, to make it look real. They spent years making everything, from the armour, to the weapons, to the costumes.
Rings of Power, however, was run as a typical American TV Show. A few months of pre-production, massive budget, and then they had to get filming. The release date was set before the cameras rolled. All the money in the world can't buy more time. New Line Cinema effectively bet their company on The Lord of the Rings trilogy and it shows in their dedication to get it right. Amazon couldn't give a fuck about Rings of Power, in it shows in how badly they fucked it up from day one and just kept moving.
Oberstein
Member
In the comment thread under the images they posted, they confirm there will be more. They're also taking suggestions, by the way.
Personally, I'd love to see archival photos of the famous epilogue that was cut in editing (Legolas returning to Mirkwood, etc.), as well as deleted flashbacks between a young Aragorn and Arwen.
RJMacready73
Simps for Amouranth
The ghost army swarming all over the place is a bit iffy looking
