The Return of the King time
 

hey, i'm new to the site. But i have been hearing many things concerning the new movie. My question concerns the movie time. I've heard a couple things about a 4+ hour movie, but i'm not sure. I wouldn't mind, though it seems logical since they chopped the end off TTT. Frodo still has to meet Shelob and the Cirith Ungol thing, then the whole palantir part, then you have to do the RotK. That's a lot to do for a 3 hour movie. I don't want them cutting out stuff. The whole Osgiliath thing could have been cut out and replaced it with the previous. Well, if anyone can clear this up, i'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Welcome, Maeglanthirion! I haven't been dead long either, but you'll find it's pretty cool when you get used to it. <P>Regretfully, I cannot clear up your question completely as there has been a great deal of speculation on that subject. I have heard much about it being longer than three hours, (and I certainly hope it will be) but four-plus was news to me. You might try doing a search -google perhaps?- on that particular subject...Sorry this probably hasn't helped much, but I did try. <P>-Arwen

I haven't heard those things, but I really don't want to sit for 4+ hours. Can you say sleep?<P>Alaruid

It's not 4 hours. That is most likely the finished cut, and they will scale it down to 3 hours and something for cinema.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I haven't heard those things, but I really don't want to sit for 4+ hours. Can you say sleep?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> When we're talking about the newest adittion to the LOTR 'family', & when we're talking the 1st time seeing it, no, I cannot say sleep. I'd be hard pressed to EVER sleep through any LOTR movie (depending largly on how late it is when I'm watching it, of course! )! But I'm afraid it most likely won't be 4 hours. There's still a glimmer of hope for a 3 & a half hour-3 hours 45 minute movie, but I doubt we'll get four. All I know is PJ 'vowed' to show no restraints when it came to getting stuff in, in regards to time. I'm not sure if that just made sense or not, but right now I have a splitting headache & I'm quite tired, I'll probably wake up tommorow moring (at around 11!) & find this all a messed up, mis-spelled mess. Oh well.

I read somewhere that it was going to be a three and a half hour movie in the cinma. The EE was going to be like four hours though. But thats only what I have read

The more they can shove in there the better I say.

I Agree, i'd rather have a 4 hour ROTK than a 3 hour ROTK. Besides hasn't anyone seen real 3+ hour movies like Das Boot and Lawrence of Arabia?? You people have no strength

I would love for it to be 3 and a half-4 hours long, but the only problem for me is that my dad and I have made it a tradition to go for the first time on the evening of the Wednesday it opens (dec 17, this year), and that is a school night (though the in the last week of school, granted, but this generally means exam time). If I went to say, a 7:30 showing, it would laxt until after 11:00, which could cause some tiredness the next day (or perhaps not ). But anyway, my question is, how are we supposed to go the bathroom? This dilemma is illustrated by the following incident: During TTT, my mom asked me about when there was a good time to go to the bathroom. My reply- "There isn't!" . Which will create obvious problems, considering that ROTK will be the most exciting of all. What are we to do?

*spoiler*<P>Don't worry about the running time. RotK is actually the shortest book (not counting the appendices) and they're not doing Scouring of the Shire so that will cut out quite a lot. I think it should just about fit. And as for the running time, I think it'll be about 3 and a half hours.

Well, i saw Gods and Generals, which was 4 hours. It had an intermission, so if RotK was long enough, an intermission wouldn't be a problem. If they're cutting out the Scouring of the Shire as you say, i will be very upset, because that was a good part. I would like to see hobbits in action!

Remember that these films are not made just for us die-hard Tolkien fans, but also for mass audience appeal (a great shame, many would say). And I doubt that a film which was much over 3 hours would appeal to the the modern average film-goer. So I should imagine that the version of RotK for cinema release will be more or less the same length as the two previous films.<P>Of course, we always have the extended version to look forward to.

I have heard though that the executives at New Line have seen rough cuts of the film, and they think what they have seen is so wonderful that they are going to allow PJ to go as long as is needed. Which for me sounds like a good idea.<P>I think that it will probably be 3 3/4 hours long. Even though ROTK is the shortest book they have much material from TTT to cover, and many loose ends to tie up.

Last I heard was 3 hours and 10 minutes.<P><A HREF="http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/1/1054307952" TARGET=_blank>http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/1/1054307952</A><P>If someone has a more recent update, let us know, but don't expect much longer.<P>H.C.

Wahahaha! I have inside info! My brother works in a movie theater, and he just told me it is exactly 3 hours 26 min. That's not bad! <P>PS<BR>Welcome Alaruid! Hope you enjoy being dead!<P>Nehani of the Forest

I wonder how long that means the EE will be...

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> he just told me it is exactly 3 hours 26 min. That's not bad! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Not meaning to doubt your brother, but I suspect even PJ doesn't know "exactly" how long the movie is going to be. From everything I've heard on movie making, film makers are continually reworking films right up to the day they are due - which is less than a month before they appear in theaters. A popular expression is that films are never finished, they just escape.<P>PJ himself makes similar comments on the director's commentaries with the EE Fellowship.<P>H.C.<p>[ July 28, 2003: Message edited by: HCIsland ]

If it does end up being 3 hours & 26 minutes, I'd guess the extended version would be close to, or exceeding 4 hours, Arwen Eruantale. <BR> <p>[ July 30, 2003: Message edited by: The Only Real Estel ]

I think however long it is, it'll all be worth it.<P><BR>-Genevieve

I really hope that RotK will be fairly long (around 3hr 15 min); they've got a lot of stuff to tie up, even though the Scouring is being left out--GRR!!! And the extended version...oh boy, I can't wait to get my hands on that! I wonder (without a shred of hope) if they'll put the scouring in that?<P>And a solution to everyone's bathroom break prob: don't get one of those massive--and overpriced--Cokes. That way you won't have to leave during the movie.

No, I'm pretty sure it's 3 hours & 26 min. It's in the magazine that is sent out to the movie theaters about running times, new euipment, etc. Tee hee hee! I can't wait to watch Extended Version! There is something to wait for after the movie!<P>Nehani

The Extended version is going to be awesome!!! I canNOT wait until rotk and the extended version!! Ahhh!! Im all excited now! How am I supposed to survive until it comes out!?

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR><I>If it does end up being 3 hours & 26 minutes, I'd guess the extended version would be darn close to, or exceeding 4 hours, Arwen Eruantale. </I> <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>*laughs hopefully, and a bit truimphantly*<P>That would be so awesome.... they could fit just about everything, or at least enough, in there couldn't they? I say the longer, the better! <p>[ July 30, 2003: Message edited by: Arwen Eruantale ]

Yep, more of LOTR is perfectly fine by me!

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>And the extended version...oh boy, I can't wait to get my hands on that! I wonder (without a shred of hope) if they'll put the scouring in that?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>There is <B>NO</B> hope for the Scouring. In the director's commentary of FotR EE, PJ said that the Scouring had not even been filmed.

There'd really not be much of a point to the scouring even being in the extended version, since Saruman will already be dead. Besides, I don't mind the hobbits coming back to a peaceful (or at least fairly peaceful) Shire. I wouldn't have minded Tokien leaving out the Scouring in the books, actually. I no I'll be killed now, but oh well.