Two Towers DVD: Post the Best Buys Here!

My Scottish Blood | 8/26/2003 | Daniel J. Phillips

[BibChr]

Who has the best prices in-store? Tell us!

[Rocko]

Nebraska Furniture Mart Mega-Mart, $10.00 after rebate.

[BibChr]

First flight from Sacramento, I'm there.

(c;

[weegee]

I'm a big Peter Jackson fan (and have been for over 10 years) but I will be waiting for the "full" release.

Since the 4 disc release versions of these films have the commentary, I don't see a boxed set of the trilogy offering the "definative" version of these films.

I think that it is good that the theatrical released versions of the films are available (although I wish that the longer versions of the films had been released the first time). It sounds like that when the Star Wars films eventually come to DVD, they will be the re-edited versions, not the original theatrical released versions (which I have on laserdisc).

I passed on getting the Criterion laserdisc of Blade Runner. I want to keep a copy of the theatrical version (without the added footage from Legend and with the original voiceover narration from Harrison Ford) but I don't have one. To me, this film needs to be seen on a big screen (as does Lawrence of Arabia and a number of other films). There are some films that I don't want to own home versions of because they pale in comparison to seeing the films on a big screen.

I saw Peter Sellers/Blake Edwards' The Party on a big screen and got the DVD. Funny film but since the house itself is a "character" in the film, the size of seeing that house on a big screen just works so much better (as do several sight gags). I didn't realize how much that big screen played in making the film even funnier.

I finally saw It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World and I like it better on a big screen but I think that it works fine on video.

I saw the WB archive print of King Kong (one of the Turner properties). That print looked better than any I had seen on video or a big screen before. A good print will always look better on a big screen but sometimes a film really only works on a big screen (to get all the details or sense of scope). I can watch King Kong on video.

I realize that I seem to have wandered from talking about the availability (or lack thereof) theatrical versions of films to films that only work on a big screen. My link is that Blade Runner. I prefer the theatrical edit but I may never see it again on video and don't stand much chance of seeing it on a big screen either. Even if it were on video, I don't think I would buy it (unless it became impossibly scarce).

The Lord Of The Rings films do have some editorial changes (a line of dialogue here or there) in addition to the extra footage. I don't see much being lost in not offering the theatrical edits of LOTR. A "better" DVD technology would employ seamless branching and offer the viewer the option between watching the theatrical or director extended edit.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Picked mine up Tuesday on my way to work at Wal-Mart for $14.87. No rings, no bobble-heads, no freebies at all.

2J - My copy had EXACTLY the same problem at EXACTLY the same spot!

Wierd...

I LOVE the RotK preview and the EE preview. I'm very excited to see how the Denethor/Boromir/Faramir family dysfuction is portrayed, and absolutely STOKED to see the Hurons!!!

[ican'tbelieveit]

I just had to come in here and comment about the huorns. I finally got thru the dvd last night and got to see the extras... and wouldn't you know it... the Huorns are in the EE. WOOHOO!!!!!! And more ent stuff too, it looks like. How many more months until we can get our hands on it???? UGH!!!!!!!

[MrConfettiMan]

ping

[ItsOurTimeNow]

"Keep away from the trees!"

It's going to be so awesome...

[GretchenEE]

the Huorns are in the EE

Ahem. There are no Huorns here.

GretchenEE

[ican'tbelieveit]

LOL.. will have to change that to EV or SEE or SEV... wonder if i will hit anyone's names with those abbreviations.

[nina0113]

Finally got time to answer this - I plan to rent the theatrical twice between now & the release of the director's cut, just to tide me over. I'd have to watch it 5 times to break even on buying it, and the only way I'll have 15 spare hours between now and November is if I am in traction.

One of the highlights of the Thanksgiving celebration, which I intend to snatch from my mother-in-law this year, will be the seven-hour extravaganza of the director's cuts of both FOTR and TTT.

[Maigret]

Got my copy in the mail today, you see I live in a remote place with NO retail places selling DVDs, but has anybody found the easter eggs on this one yet? Can't seem to find any listed online yet.

[xzins]

Wal-Mart, $14.99

[BibChr]

That remains the best I've heard of!

Dan

[xzins]

I'm not sure it's even possible for others to compete with Wal-Mart anymore.

They have so many items and so many regions where they can adjust other prices up by a penny or two, that they could probably lower a DVD to $1.99 and still make money overall.

I think their closest competitors are the few large supermarket chains who are positioned in the same neighborhoods with the possibility of carrying all the similar shelf items.

[BibChr]

Good for the consumer.

It makes me think of this nearby restaurant, Mr. Perry's, whose placemats tell the history and story of the restaurant. It features good food, very decent prices.

The mat quotes the founder as saying, "We lose some money on each plate served -- but we make up for it in quantity!"

That tickles me.

Dan

[xzins]

Business is business. I've no objection to a free market.

I enjoy variety, though. Go to any town in America and you get the same food joints, same malls, same stores, same groceries, and same Wal-Mart. Even the floor plans are the same.

I like small town shopping areas with odd shops and odd characters running them. In them you find things that no one else carries.

Small stores biggest mistake, imo, is not their prices, but their operating hours. They MUST be open during the critical "after work to 10 pm" period of time. So many of them want to close at 5 or 6 pm and then complain about Wal-Mart.

If I get off work at 5 and eat dinner, Mom&Pop are already closed when I get ready to shop. No wonder everyone goes to Wal-Mart.....they're open!

[BibChr]

Good points, all; agreed!

Dan

[Mamzelle]

Hey, the extended version comes out in two weeks. Who's buying and where? I just want the gift edition (with the Gollum statue) the day it comes out. Not looking to save money this time--just want it fresh!

Called my Blockbuster, and they know nothing.

[Mamzelle]

ping for extended ring TTT-- made plans to buy, yet?

[BibChr]

Well, in the release of the first TTT, WalMart had the lowest in-store price. It was, I think, either 14.47 or 14.87.

Their website is advertising the one you're interested for just over $55, about a $24 saving. Pardon my laziness, but here:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2303990&cat=41938&type=2&dept=4096&path=0%3A4096%3A41938%3A50705%3A50711&xsell=2303988

I'd guess the store will be the same, or less. And no shipping! (c8

I expect to hit WalMart that day on the way home... if my wife doesn't beat me!

Dan