In lieu of watching the Super Bowl we decided to show our kids The Fellowship of the Ring considering they've never seen it and it's the 25 year anniversary of the series (honestly not sure if they're counting from this one or RotK but who cares…)

I realized I haven't seen it from beginning to end in a long time…and boy does it still hold up. Of course there's a few scenes where the effects are kinda weird (manly where they really lower the frame rate for some reason) but overall still looks really good. Also still held the attention of my 3 boys (14, 12, and 7) and they seemed to really enjoy it.

The only kinda annoying thing is…boy…Peter Jackson REALLY loved his sweeping camera shots of landscapes of people walking, running, and boating….we ended up watching it in the living room cause we still wanted to enjoy some Super Bowl-ish foods but the next two films will DEFINITELY be in the media room.

The Boromir redemption scene at the end is still a peak scene for me and seemed to be for my kids as well, especially my oldest.

Thought about showing them the trailer for Two Towers but remembered there's some decent spoilers in that trailer so going to hold off and hopefully they avoid it on their own.

Still such a dang great movie!

Did you watch the extended edition or the peasant theatrical release?

jokershady said:

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The peasant version….it's already 3 hours long on a Sunday night I ain't trying to tempt fate.

Actually don't think I've seen the extended version of any of the films in the trilogy….

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My wife insisted on those when they came out a couple decades ago. We will always have some sort of player for physical media for that reason.

They add a lot to the story. Especially Saurumon's ending.

maroon barchetta said:

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Did you watch the extended edition or the peasant theatrical release?

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There is no world where watching the extended version as a 1st time experience is correct

PatAg said:

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maroon barchetta said:

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Did you watch the extended edition or the peasant theatrical release?

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There is no world where watching the extended version as a 1st time experience is correct

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Ok, PeasantAg

Great movie?

The Fellowship of the Ring is one of the greatest movies ever made.

jokershady said:

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If memory serves, the extended version of the two towers does help with something….but I only recall reading about it only saw that movie in theaters once and hadn't seen since….

There's a part where Frodo and Sam get captured by this one group of men for some reason….doesnt last long and then they're let go without a fight not long after and it seems rather pointless….

But I recall reading in the extended version there's actually a really good reason for this but I'll be darned if I can remember what it was…pretty sure they left what they did in the movie to just introduce that character because I believe he plays a bigger role in RotK

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Faramir and his crew catch Frodo and Sam and later, Gollum. They realize they have the ring. Faramir threatens to kill Gollum. Frodo stops him, and Faramir roughs up Gollum badly and then threatens to take Frodo to his dad on Gondor.

Sam tells Faramir about Boromir trying to take the ring and of his death.

At Osgiliath, a Nazgl shows up just after Frodo says "they're here" when it is clear the ring has power over him.

Faramir lets the trio go and tells them a secret way to get out of the city without being caught.

Gollum is not happy that Frodo more or less tricked him into being caught and beaten by Faramir. He vows to let the big spider kill the Hobbits when they get to Mordor.

There is another scene that is a flashback to an earlier battle pre-Fellowship formation. Boromir is there, he tries to share credit with Faramir for the victory in that battle, the dad/Steward will have none of Faramir getting credit.

The Steward tells Boromir of the secret meeting in Rivendell and wants Boromir to attend to represent Gondor and find a way to eventually wield the ring of power because he believes Boromir is strong enough to handle it.

Lots of good stuff in the extended editions.

For me ROTK Extended is the absolute correct version to watch.

jokershady said:

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The only kinda annoying thing is…boy…Peter Jackson REALLY loved his sweeping camera shots of landscapes of people walking, running, and boating….we ended up watching it in the living room cause we still wanted to enjoy some Super Bowl-ish foods but the next two films will DEFINITELY be in the media room.

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Boy, does this go to show that taste is subjective because the landscape shots is one of the most defining qualities of the trilogy that I adore.

Yeah, seriously. What's "annoying" to some is the one of the best aspects of this trilogy.

One of my favorite of these landscape shots right here...

M.C. Swag said:

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jokershady said:

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The only kinda annoying thing is…boy…Peter Jackson REALLY loved his sweeping camera shots of landscapes of people walking, running, and boating….we ended up watching it in the living room cause we still wanted to enjoy some Super Bowl-ish foods but the next two films will DEFINITELY be in the media room.

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Boy, does this go to show that taste is subjective because the landscape shots is one of the most defining qualities of the trilogy that I adore.

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Those movies made me want to go to New Zealand

maroon barchetta said:

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M.C. Swag said:

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jokershady said:

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The only kinda annoying thing is…boy…Peter Jackson REALLY loved his sweeping camera shots of landscapes of people walking, running, and boating….we ended up watching it in the living room cause we still wanted to enjoy some Super Bowl-ish foods but the next two films will DEFINITELY be in the media room.

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Boy, does this go to show that taste is subjective because the landscape shots is one of the most defining qualities of the trilogy that I adore.

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Those movies made me want to go to New Zealand

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This movie actually DID make me go to New Zealand. Wife and I put together a 2 week itinerary between the North and South island and the first thing I added to the list was a tour of Hobbiton. I booked tickets for the first group at 7am so I could be the first to walk in and see it before it was crawling with other fellow tourists. One of the best trips I've ever taken. Would do it again.

FOTR is my favorite, despite Theoden being my favorite character, because it is the definitive love letter to Tolkien's world. Jackson takes his time to world build early on to make the Shire seem like the place you would love to live in and why it would be so hard to leave. He does this repeatedly to show this is a real place, not just a bunch of sets.

The entry into the Shire



The reverence for both the dwarf kingdom of Dwarrowdelf and Durin's passing



The sweeping shots on the Argonath River and the two statues that guard it

Also, I hope OP's personal politics didn't get in the way of his children enjoying the Super Bowl so he could force his own nostalgia on them.

M.C. Swag said:

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Also, I hope OP's personal politics didn't get in the way of his children enjoying the Super Bowl so he could force his own nostalgia on them.

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The Super Bowl sucked.

This is one of the free things I didn't like about the films. Faramir was never tempted and just let Frodo go. I get why they did it and it works, but they kind of did Faramir dirty.

And I actually prefer their be treatment of Arwen and Aragorn. Her being the one who brought Frodo to Rivendell helped bring her out as a character and helped compress that whole part of the story. We also get to see to Aragorn's reluctance and growth by him not just getting Anduril in Rivendell, but after having had to step into and grow into a larger leadership role and kind of accept that.

Honestly, it is a true testament that these films are 25 years old and still look and feel fresh. They were incredibly well done, and the casting was superb. I can't think of anything I would put in above these That's come out in my lifetime.

Report back once they get to watch The Two Towers.

Theoden King stands alone.

Max Power said:

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Report back once they get to watch The Two Towers.

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I'll die on the hill that this is the greatest moment and culmination of buildup in the entire trilogy.

Fenrir said:

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Max Power said:

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Report back once they get to watch The Two Towers.

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I'll die on the hill that this is the greatest moment and culmination of buildup in the entire trilogy.

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In RotK, when Rohan arrives at Gondor...absolute chills.

Fenrir said:

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Max Power said:

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Report back once they get to watch The Two Towers.

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I'll die on the hill that this is the greatest moment and culmination of buildup in the entire trilogy.

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The Critical Drinker is also a fan.

I take Pelennor Fields, but it's not far behind.

I waited for this moment from the first second they announced the movies and in no way did it disappoint. Especially when the music hits at 3:30

Watching Fellowship of The Ring for the first time is one of those very unique experiences where you felt like a kid again and in awe and wonder of what you are seeing. Absolutely one of the best movies ever.

My girls (11 & 9) love these movies. We probably watch FOTR & Two Towers at least once a month.

Max Power said:

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Report back once they get to watch The Two Towers.

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Man I can't wait for them to see those two massive battles that are in 2 Towers and RotK….

Such awesome memories from seeing that in theaters so want to try and re-create that as best I can….

Including this moment….

The real OG moment is actually King Aragorn pulling Arwen out of the crowd. If you're some random person from Gondor, you go home that day thinking the new King just noticed this hot Elf chick in the crowd, pulled her out, and hooked it up automatically.

M.C. Swag said:

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maroon barchetta said:

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M.C. Swag said:

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jokershady said:

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The only kinda annoying thing is…boy…Peter Jackson REALLY loved his sweeping camera shots of landscapes of people walking, running, and boating….we ended up watching it in the living room cause we still wanted to enjoy some Super Bowl-ish foods but the next two films will DEFINITELY be in the media room.

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Boy, does this go to show that taste is subjective because the landscape shots is one of the most defining qualities of the trilogy that I adore.

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Those movies made me want to go to New Zealand

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This movie actually DID make me go to New Zealand. Wife and I put together a 2 week itinerary between the North and South island and the first thing I added to the list was a tour of Hobbiton. I booked tickets for the first group at 7am so I could be the first to walk in and see it before it was crawling with other fellow tourists. One of the best trips I've ever taken. Would do it again.

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nice! we did the evening banquet tour to be the last ones onsite and for the feast in the green dragon, of course. highly recommend it, if you ever go back!

https://www.hobbitontours.com/experiences/evening-banquet-tour/

i need to go back now that bagshot row is open https://www.hobbitontours.com/discover/bagshot/