Middle-earth Ultimate Collector's Edition Reaction

 https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/p843x403/240396124_4700522559965942_9109808802254954951_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=XbDUjwQq_ZAAX-UzsaU&_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.xx&oh=f60bcdcb589ef8328fca59fcfc4fb14d&oe=615513F3

Before I begin typing out my post, here is the summary of what the 31-disc set will include:

LOTR Theatrical Editions - 3 BDs
LOTR Extended Editions - 6 BDs
LOTR 4K Both Versions - 9 4Ks (3 discs per film)
HOBBIT Theatrical Editions - 3 BDs
HOBBIT Extended Editions - 3 BDs
HOBBIT 4K Both Versions - 6 4Ks (2 discs per film)
BONUS DISC - 1 BD
TOTAL = 31 discs (No Appendices)


I knew that it would include different bonus material that isn't the appendices (be sweet if they came too, as it'd be 'all-encompassing'), as it's the 20th anniversary. But only ONE disc, with about 90-ish minutes of bonus content?? And, no WETA statue?? Yeah....no.


What happened to the days of old, when The Lord of the Rings had nice extended editions and gift set packages? No cheap 'cases'. No trailers or 'coming soon' at the start of those discs. I don't think there will be anything as nice, packaging design-wise, as The Lord of the Rings 12-disc DVD set (and the separate gift sets that included the WETA statues). This set, the previous 4K release, and the blu-ray sets are all proof of this.

If I want The Lord of the Rings in 4K, I'll either get it via iTunes, or the previous 4K set. Shame, really: as blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD are better than DVDs, yet their physical releases seem to be seen as an afterthought.

Also: if you're buying The Lord of the Rings on 4K, why the heck are they including blu-rays in here, too?!

To see what I mean, here is how the 12-disc DVD set from 2004 looked:


https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1cWjMjnsjL._AC_SX342_.jpg

A nice mix of simple, and elegant. So if (when?) I get The Lord of the Rings on 4K, it'll either be through iTunes (4K AND has the appendices), or the set previously released on 4K:


https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71VBUMpynzL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

Really, I was expecting more from a 20th anniversary ultimate collector's set. If you're interested in seeing/owning these movies in 4K, I suggest either digitally for the extended editions (so you also get a discless-version of the appendices) or, if you're after physical media, the previous 4K set (in standard edition (pictured above), the Best Buy Steelbook set, or the Gift Set from Amazon that includes a Ring replica).

For the new 4K set, I was hoping for:
- extended and theatrical versions of each film
- 3 different sets: one that's just The Lord of the Rings, 1 that's just The Hobbit, and 1 that's both together
- For The Lord of the Rings, all of the appendices, the bonus content from the theatrical releases, and the Costa Boates material.
- the films NOT appearing on blu-rays in addition to 4K UHD dics. BD's are fine for supplementary material.
- a WETA statue (like the Gift Sets used to include)

I'm so disappointed with this new set, I won't even post any links to it. That is to say, that the contents aren't bad (transfers, etc) just disappointed that we waited so long for this. 

PS: The Hobbit films are also available on 4K separately. In hindsight, I am not overly fond of them, so I'm only really paying attention to the Lord of the Rings in this post. I likely wouldn't re-buy them in 4K. 


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