Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: the 20th Anniversary
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on Feb. 4, 2021, 8:58 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
This year is the 20th anniversary of the first installment of Peter Jackson's film adaptions of Lord of the Rings, one of the most epic medieval fantasy stories ever written, and also one of the most famous film series ever produced.
Dark and epic medieval fantasy was hugely popular during the 1970's and 1980's (not coincidentally, decades when heavy metal music was also popular), but, during the 1990's, fantasy and science fiction severely decreased in popularity (again, not coincidentally, during a decade when heavy metal music had severely decreased in popularity), but then this film series revitalized interest in the fantasy genre with its excellent casting, impressive sets, and epic scope. The actors who were cast in the roles did an amazing job in portraying the characters, and the epic music also helped to contribute to the world, as well. The films are also infamous for their extreme running times, which have become the subject of many jokes and criticisms in the years since those films were released.
I cannot believe that these films are now as old as they are, since I was in high school when they were released, but their legacy is so great that their influence is still felt, today, and they have become staples of popular culture. I heard that they are being remastered in 4k resolution for their 20th anniversaries, so that is very awesome, and it may motivate me to purchase a 4K television, since such devices are now far less expensive than they were when they were first available.
What does everyone else say about this? What are your thoughts about this year being the 20th anniversary of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy?
DemonDragonJ says... #3
smackjack, I know that feeling; it makes one feel old, does it not?
February 5, 2021 4:43 p.m.
DemonDragonJ, thanks for sharing. Peter Jackson’s LotR is a masterpiece and are the greatest movies of all time, imho. Your post inspired me to rewatch the extended versions of LotR with my wife, who has never seen the extended versions all the way through. We’re still on FotR, but we’ll make it to Mordor eventually!
Metal-heads unite! Skol!!!
February 5, 2021 6:35 p.m.
I still remember my nervousness at seeing Fellowship of the Ring in theatres--the hoping that it would be great, but fully expecting the film to fail to do the books justice. Sitting there, on opening day, I remember watching the movie in awe, completely enthralled by Jackson's ability to capture the essence of one of the greatest works of English literature. I think I saw the movie twice more on opening weekend, and probably went to it six or seven times before it left theatres.
As a note, I would avoid the 4k remaster--I have heard awful things about them. Part of what makes the original films fantastic is their filming--Jackson was very careful in choosing what types of film he was using so the film would really mesh with the cinematography, as well as make some of the special effects more believable, hiding the early 2000s effects in grainer film.
The early reviews I saw of the 4k remaster said it did a disservice to the cinematography, making the film look more like the Hobbit (where the high def image exacerbated many of the film's other flaws) than like the gorgeous film we all came to know and love. Hardly surprising--the same problems happened when the original Star Wars trilogy got remaster to higher definition imaging.
February 7, 2021 2:04 a.m.
Someone made a 9 hour cut of the LotR: Fellowship that you can see on Youtube that is made so every time that Samwise takes a step in the film he says, "One more step and I'll be the furthest from home I've ever been."
My wife and I have planned to take the day of our wedding anniversary this year and watch this monstrosity. I don't think she makes it, but I've been proven wrong before.
smackjack says... #2
OMG! Was that 20 years ago?!
February 5, 2021 6:37 a.m.