Attack of the Clones:
I for one thoroughly enjoyed the film and the DVD does it justice. The sound of course is excellent...but that picture...amazing. If there was ever a single argument as to why filming in digital is good idea...this is it. Although this has been rehashed...hashed...and hased again, I think Hayden Christiansen is excellent in the film. Aside from a couple whiny moments or goof dialogue (not his fault mind you) he shows much more range and real angst than Mr. Hamill ever could.
Finally--the puppets to pixels is another excellent documentary. Perhaps the best special effects in the film--utilizing digital stunt doubles for many of the shots...I never noticed!!

Fellowship of the Ring Extended:
While I have not sunk my teeth into the mammoth set fully, I can say that the work they have done editing the longer film together was excellent. Seamless...and of course, more of this film is great. However, I will say that I am glad that I purchased the theatrical release though, it has a better flow. The DTS track is excellent--I felt like I was in the Shire with the bugs buzzing and birds chirping everywhere in my family room.

I've found out why I couldn't find the AOTC DVD in stores today: It won't be released here until in about 2 weeks.

Did anybody happen to pick up ATOC at Toys 'R Us for $10? They had a "limited" supply of them at that price.* I read over on some DVD forums that crazies were at the doors at 9am to get one and that they sold out fast (at least the widescreen DVD did.) Many others brought the advertisement in to another retailer to price match, and got away with it.**

*I hate sick business jokes like this. Before you say, "that's business as usual," remember that I'm a consumer and not a business, mm'Kay?

**On the flip side, consumers expecting businesses to do extreme price matches like this one are just asking for the price match system to disappear.

The ATOC DVD advertising campaign is really lame. "THE FIRST DIGITALLY MASTERED FILM ON DVD" (with a tiny asterisk after it letting those of us with great optometrists know that this is the first "live action" digitally mastered film on DVD.) It is nice seeing some comments from my favorite DVD websites on a national ad campain, but all the pumping up about it being 100% digital is annoying.

Anyhow, I still think my next DVD purchase is going to be To Catch a Thief. The last Star Wars was such a lamefest that I have kept myself far away from this one. Maybe when FOX airs it in 3 years I'll check it out.

From what my brother told me, all they had at the local "Toy's..." place were fullscreen; would could get the widescreen only if you preordered it. But - and here's what's funny - you could buy the fullscreen, and when they get in the widescreen, you can bring your FS one back.<Shrug>

I used the ad for AOTC at another local place where I get a 10% discount (that's how I got the LOTR: Gift set for so cheap), so my finaly price was $8.99.

And to clear this up: I bought if for my brother. Not for me. You guys should know by now I won't watch this film.

While the scenes themselves are excellent, they disrupt the flow of the film. Some are unnecessary, some interject humor where none is needed, some do add to the story (such the scene on the River Anduin at night) but disrupt the overriding story and feel of scenes. However, I can say that the entire Lothlorien sequence is much better in the extended cut, from the lead in to gift giving scene it feels like the battle interlude served more purpose.

The sound of the DVD is fantastic--and it feels like Shore's score has been pumped up to staggering levels.

The greatest triumpf this set however is the supplemental material. The 2.5 hours on the first appendix disc alone is staggering. The level of preparation and detail put into designing the film brings a completely new level of appreciation for me to the film.

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Originally posted by Quill:
While the scenes themselves are excellent, they disrupt the flow of the film.

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I think it's mostly us still being used to the "old" cut. After all, the scenes were supposed to be in the movie originally, and I'm sure if they were cut because they felt they wouldn't fit, they wouldn't be in the new version.

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Some are unnecessary, some interject humor where none is needed,

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Hmm, which ones?

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The sound of the DVD is fantastic--and it feels like Shore's score has been pumped up to staggering levels.

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In fact, there were a few cases when I found the dialogue was hard to hear.

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The 2.5 hours on the first appendix disc alone is staggering. The level of preparation and detail put into designing the film brings a completely new level of appreciation for me to the film.

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1) Rivendell--Council Meeting: The added bit at the front end of the scene, while interesting, feels odd when Boromir gets right back up and keeps speaking. It does not feel right.

2) Night on the River Anduin: Great material and it furthers the story, however, the great flow of the trek down the river and the great lead into the passing of the Arogonath (sp?) is disrupted.

There are some scene extensions that actually fix flow problems in the original. Lothlorian for example flows much better from beginning to end and feels better in the movie as a whole.

In regards to humor, one key scene I recall, was Aragorn hitting Gimli as he snored...not really in character or necessary.

You're right about the volume...some times it is two loud for the scene...in other's its great...such as the descent down the staircase in Moria.

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Originally posted by Quill:
1) Rivendell--Council Meeting: The added bit at the front end of the scene, while interesting, feels odd when Boromir gets right back up and keeps speaking. It does not feel right.

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Hmm, that didn't bother me. He has a good reason to get up again, and I loved the new bit. Ash nazg... was one of the thing I missed most in the original cut.

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2) Night on the River Anduin: Great material and it furthers the story, however, the great flow of the trek down the river and the great lead into the passing of the Arogonath (sp?) is disrupted.

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Hmm...I admit I can't exactly remember how the transition differs in the new version. But I'm glad to have the gift giving and stuff.

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There are some scene extensions that actually fix flow problems in the original. Lothlorian for example flows much better from beginning to end and feels better in the movie as a whole.

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And I love the added bits before and in Moria.

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In regards to humor, one key scene I recall, was Aragorn hitting Gimli as he snored...not really in character or necessary.

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It just seemed like Boromir's countenance changed too rapidly in the council scene. It seemed like the chilling moment was completely forgotten as he moved on to his next little speech.

Overall, after I have watched this cut a couple more times the new scenes and flow will cement in my mind. In this case, more is better, and for a fan of the story you can't go wrong with this cut.

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Originally posted by Mark Olivarez:
By the time I got there all that was left of the AOTC DVD at Toy-R-Us was a few full screen versions. I went next door to Circuit City and got it for $14.99. I heard complaints from other message boards that Best Buy wasn't honoring the ad and I wasn't even going to start with the people at Circuit City.

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Being an actual employee at Circuit City, I can't sympathize with you. The rule is that we can only price match if the store has the disc in stock. The Toys R US circular clearly states in big bold letters "While supplies last" or in similar wording. It was clearly a ploy made by the toy store to get people all hyped up for a so-called midnight maddness sale. Rumor has it they only had about 30 titles on the shelf to begin with. Go figure.

I really wish customers would quit trying to save a buck and stop bitching at us like its our fault circut city sent us a nation-wide email telling us not to match the price. If I didn't have to go through management I would do it just to get you off my back!

Relax.. its only a DVD

And just think.. the sale price is usualy cheaper than our discount. So don't even go down that "it doesn't matter to you" road.