Extended Version

[Emberage]

I realize that it would be added work for you folks to create an extended version rifftrack for any of the LotR trilogy, but it's the only reason I haven't been purchasing any of them. I was patient and purchased the the boxed set extended version, and now it ends up being a detriment!

If I may ask a favor of the kind people at rifftrax? I don't expect extra jokes to be inserted, but would it be possible to add dead silence in the scenes with extra footage to allow the tracks to synch up? I would purchase them in a heartbeat if that were the case.

[LucasM]

On Amazon you can get used copies of the regular versions that would sync to the riffs for as little as 25¢ per film (plus shipping).  And if you get all three from the same Amazon seller, they may (at your request) drop some of the shipping costs.

I just looked.  Currently on Amazon, the cheapest used copies of each of the films are, in order:  21¢  2¢ and 24¢.  That's all three films for less than 50¢ plus shipping costs.  When that's the case, it really doesn't seem to me to be reasonable to ask for the people at RiffTrax to go through the massive amount of work to re-edit the tracks adding very specific amounts of silence in huge numbers of places for those few people who only have the extended versions and want the RiffTrax commentaries.  It seems to me that the number of increased sales just wouldn't pay for the work they'd have to do.

So I'd recommend getting the theatrical ones for RiffTrax viewing, and keep the extended versions for personal (serious) viewing.  I hope that helps. 

[DezzyRex]

Wouldn't work too well, because in addition to adding new material, the Extended Editions also change certain things from the Theatrical versions, i.e. the conversation with Treebeard at the beginning of ROTK about leaving Sauraman in the tower.

[RoninFox]

Yeah, I'd back up LucasM's suggestion.  Since so many people did what you did and either waited to get the extended edition or traded in their theatrical copies as soon as the extended version was available, the theatrical cut DVDs are cheap as hell.  There are stacks and stacks of them taking up space in warehouses that need to be cleared out somehow.  I bought all three as the riffs came out and I never paid more than three or four bucks after shipping was included.

[Conor]

Wouldn't work too well, because in addition to adding new material, the Extended Editions also change certain things from the Theatrical versions, i.e. the conversation with Treebeard at the beginning of ROTK about leaving Sauraman in the tower.

That's what we figured.  Not just a matter of scenes being inserted and the rest of the film remaining the same.

[ShadowDog]

If you can't find the theatrical movies dirt cheap then you're just not looking hard enough.  Each time a new riff came out I was able to buy a copy for less than it costs to roll through McDonalds for a quick lunch.  I mean, I don't get people dropping $8 at Starbucks and then coming here to cry about what the theatrical DVDs cost.

[TheUnabeefer]

personally, i figure the fact that you went and paid money for the extended versions means you have every moral right to simply rent and copy the shorter versions for rifftrax syncing purposes.  Sure, the whatever association of anti-piracy moral police tight-asses would argue this... but you paid money already for the movie.  It's not like it's something you don't already have.  In fact, you have MORE already...

[LucasM]

personally, i figure the fact that you went and paid money for the extended versions means you have every moral right to simply rent and copy the shorter versions for rifftrax syncing purposes.  Sure, the whatever association of anti-piracy moral police tight-asses would argue this... but you paid money already for the movie.  It's not like it's something you don't already have.  In fact, you have MORE already...

This is one of the rare instances where I agree with copying a DVD you don't own.  As TheUnabeefer says: you've already paid for the 'licensing fee' for the FILM (in fact, a very hefty licensing fee!).  As long as you are only watching one of the two at once (and I dare you to try to watch both versions at once ), I also don't think there's a problem with having paid for the extended cuts and getting the theatrical ones "free".  [Although if you go to someplace like Blockbuster, you will find that it would be cheaper to buy used copies of the theatrical ones rather than to rent them from that greedy, price-gouging organization.  Or, if you do as I  suggested above (get the same Amazon Marketplace seller to combine titles to save on shipping) it may actually be about the same price as $1 rental places.]

[ShadowDog]

I'm going to stand over here across the room from you guys in case lightening strikes.  LOL

Naw, I see your point.

[jenlight]

Not sure if this will help, but the Amazon unbox is the theatrical version. It's $2.99 to rent.
But you can't use the player with it.
Just thought I'd add that.

[Doc_Steve]

On top of everything else, the extended versions don't just have "extra" scenes, but they are edited differently otherwise.  It may just be a few extra frames or seconds here or there, but I noticed that there is extreme rifftrax/movie drift even within scenes when I tried it at home.