Extended Edition commentaries

[Emmie]

I bought all three of the extended editions around the time they came out and I thought I'd listened to the commentaries right away - but either I forgot most of what was said or I actually never got around to it, because I've been going through them now and it's lots of fun.

They have separate commentaries for director and writers, the design team, the production/post-production team, and the cast. I've watched the director/writer ones for the first two movies, and I'm starting on Return of the King, but even after that I've still got... nine of them left to see. Which should keep me busy for a few months at least. :)

I've always been interested in filmmaking (there was time when I wanted to get a job in something related to it) so there are a lot of technical details about how they did certain things that I love - and they explain the reasons behind cutting certain scenes, or the reasons behind certain changes they made from the books. They did say that a few things were done because they were in a hurry, and that if they'd had time to do more revisions to the script it might have been different. I still don't agree with everything they did, but it's really interesting to hear their reasoning.

I guess my intent for this thread was to just see who else has gone through the commentaries and/or what your favorite bits are. :) I'm sure I'll have more to say as I see the others.

[Elven]

I love the cast commentaries personally. It seems to be a rare thing that the cast of a film become such a tightly-knit group as these do. It's so wonderful to know that the friendship that comes across on camera has a deep seating in reality and that they had so much fun making the movies.

[Emmie]

Just finished the ROTK director/writer commentary, so I'll probably start on the cast commentary for Fellowship next.

I thought it was really funny how Peter Jackson kept saying "this is my favorite moment in the whole trilogy." I think he said it when Frodo and Sam were on the rock on Mt. Doom after destroying the ring, and then again when everyone was kneeling around the four hobbits, and I'm pretty sure there was at least one other time that I'm not remembering. :p

Also, it was fun when they mentioned certain parts that got a big cheer from the audience, because I totally remember lots of cheering/applause but I'd forgot about it. I haven't watched a movie where people cheered in a really long time.

[PiRaTeGiRl]

I cannot say, I didn't listen to it... but I like all that casting thing... and how Elija and friends sing "jingle bells".. it's funny ^.^