DVD Polizei

http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16462

We have a lot of great DVD material this time around. As we crafted the movie, we reduced it from an over 4 hour running time, down to 3.12 (without credits - about 8 mins long). This was done by us. There were no studio cutting notes

That's just a snippet from the entire "controversial" email over Christopher Lee and the 7mins removed from the ROTK Theatrical version of Siruman's death.

Anyway, just a guess, I think the ROTK EE is going to be longer than the other two EE movies. I'm thinking about an hour is going to be added to the EE version of ROTK (from reading this article and others), to a 4:15min version of the film.

Josh H

Of course it will be the longest, the theatrical cut is longer than the other two.

Ephemeral_Life

Pretty interesting considering they never shot the - Return of the King is much shorter than the other two books.

movielib

Yes, but ROTK still has a fair amount of material to cover from The Two Towers book.

reubs82

I don't believe the scouring of the shire was ever intended to be in the film (at least from early stuff I read). I know that it was essential to get Saruman killed by Wormtongue, but to me it just seemed to drag alot in the book. I hope that the pacing of ROTK will be better than TT, but regardless it should be a great film and I can't wait to see it.

Ephemeral_Life

That's correct, it was never filmed.

Josh H

Scoring of the shire was never filmed, and Saruman will not be in the theatrical cut of ROTK at all. They did film a scene where Wormtongue kills him, guess it will be on the EE only.

duz

It was filmed (sort of) but not as the scouring. In one of the scenes in FOTR there is forshadowing of The Shire under attack. PJ said that is the closest to the scouring as the movie will get.

talemyn

It was when Frodo was looking in the pool/fount in Lothlorien.

Excellent news on the length . . . the longer the better . . . bathroom breaks be damned!!!

BTW . . . careful with the spoilers, guys . . . might be some people who don't know the story . . .

Pasolini

If I may gently suggest...

there might be one or two humans on the planet that actually don't know about the Chris Lee debacle (and may not want to know the spoiler).

So perhaps you should put some spoiler tags in your first post.

SBrooks1

Spoilers?? The books have been out forever. Talking about these movies shouldn't be in the same league as spoilers for other movies. If you haven't read or know what goes on in the books by now, then stay away from these theads completely until you've seen the movie.

talemyn

The thread title indicates nothing about discussing the story/plot details of the film . . . just discussion about it's length. It's fairly reasonable to expect people who don't know the story might come in and read. If this thread were in "Movie Talk" I would agree that it might be more of an "enter at your own risk" kind of thing, but it's not.

Anyway, it was just a suggestion as a courtesy to other members. No reason to get upset.

SBrooks1

I'm not upset at all buddy. I just get annoyed by the whole "spoilers" thing.

Mr. Salty

And I get upset about having movies spoiled without warning.

I'd like to respectfully ask a mod to add a spoiler warning to the thread title.

William Wallace

Yeah because we know EVERYONE has read the books

Spiky

So, is there NOTHING else about the palantir? That's just stupid if it is so. That will be my first dislike of PJ's rendition if true. I suppose Saruman could be cut out of that scene, it's more a Wormtongue scene anyway. Anybody know anything?

Ephemeral_Life

I am sure they'll establish that in some way - maybe narration. It's too important for him to drop the whole thing completely.

Wallet Boy

Yes, Jackson said that 7 minute scene will feature Saruman and Wormtongue, but will be saved for the DVD.