Archive notice: This article was originally published on February 3, 2010. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The trilogy consists of six discs and offers the option of connecting to BD-Live. In addition to the 6-disc box set, all three parts will also be available individually as 1-disc versions.
The Blu-ray release will continue the impressive success story of The Lord of the Rings franchise: The three The Lord of the Rings films – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King – have won a total of 17 Oscars – with the third instalment alone winning Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay and a further eight Oscars. This record of eleven Oscars in total has never been beaten by any other film. Jackson’s cinema trilogy is the film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s bestselling novels: an epic journey of humans, hobbits, elves, dwarves and other inhabitants and cultures of Middle-earth. The archaic conflict between good and evil is told with fantastic special effects and intense emotions.
The Adventures of Aragorn, a new video game from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, will also be released in spring 2010. Players will slip into the role of the legendary Aragorn and play out the greatest adventures from the film trilogy with him. It is the first game from the world of The Lord of the Rings for Nintendo Wii™ – the game will also be released for PlayStation®2, Nintendo DS and PSP.
About the trilogy and the films
The Lord of the Rings trilogy tells the story of the hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), who fights against the Dark Lord Sauron to save his world Middle-earth from the stranglehold of evil. In the films, Frodo and his companions and allies desperately endeavour to destroy Sauron’s greatest source of power: the One Ring, with which he can subjugate all the inhabitants of Middle-earth. The trilogy is about extraordinary adventures in the dangerous regions of Middle-earth and reveals how the bonds of friendship, love and fearlessness can overcome the forces of darkness. Other leading roles alongside Wood were played by Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee and Hugo Weaving. Sean Bean and Ian Holm and Andy Serkis as Gollum were also in the film. Additional leading roles were played by Marton Csokas, Craig Parker and Lawrence Makaoare.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
In the first part of the trilogy, the young hobbit, Frodo Baggins, inherits a ring – but this ring is more than just a piece of jewellery. It is the One Ring, a symbol of absolute power with which Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor, could seize control of Middle-earth and enslave all peoples. Frodo and his companions, including his loyal hobbit friends, humans, a wizard, a dwarf and an elf, must take the One Ring across Middle-earth to Mount Doom, where it was forged, to destroy it once and for all. But this journey takes them deep into the territory ruled by Sauron, where he is gathering his mighty Orc army. But it is not only external dangers that threaten the companions, but also internal strife and the corrupting influence of the One Ring itself. The future is inextricably linked to the fate of the companions. The film won four Oscars®: for Best Visual Effects, Cinematography, Makeup and Original Score.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Blu-ray (Disc 1)
- The Lord of the Rings: Trailer Gallery
- Video game trailer “The Lord of the Rings – The Adventures of Aragorn”
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – DVD bonus material (Disc 2)
- 3 in-depth documentaries about the secrets of the filming:
o Welcome to Middle-earth
o Quest fort he ring
o A Passage to Middle-earth
Original cinema trailer and TV spots
Music video “May It Be” by Enya
A detailed presentation of the “Special Extended Edition” of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”
Numerous other specials created for lordoftherings.net:
o In search of Hobbingen
o Hobbingen comes to life
o The world of Bree
o The Ringwraiths: the fallen kings
o Rivendell
o The languages of Middle-earth
o Two wizards
o The music of Middle-earth
o Elijah Wood
o Viggo Mortensen
o Orlando Bloom
o Cate Blanchett
o Liv Tyler
o Ian McKellen
o The weather peak: the windy hill
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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The companions continue their journey in two groups. They must confront the power emanating from the Two Towers: the Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where Saruman has bred a deadly force of 10,000 warriors; and Sauron’s stronghold of Barad-dûr deep in the dark realm of Mordor. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers culminates in the overwhelming battle for the refuge of Helm’s Deep, an ancient, vast rock fortress in the kingdom of Rohan, besieged by the Uruk-Hai warriors. The film won two Oscars: for Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Blu-ray (Disc 1)
- The Lord of the Rings: Trailer Gallery
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – DVD bonus material (Disc 2)
Background material from the production of the epic adventure
o On the set of “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”
o The return to Middle-earth
- A short film by Sean Astin “The Long and Short of It”
Original documentaries made for lordoftherings.net:
o The Powers of Darkness
o The sound design of Middle-earth
o Edoras: The capital of Rohan
o The inhabitants of Middle-earth
o Gandalf the White
o Weapons and armour
o The Battle of Helm’s Deep
o How Gollum is brought to life
Exclusive 10-minute behind-the-scenes preview of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Original cinema trailer and TV spots
“Gollum’s Song” music video by Emiliana Torrini
Original preview of the “Special Extended Edition” of “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The decisive battle for Middle-earth begins. Frodo and Sam (Sean Astin), led by the mysterious Gollum (Andy Serkis), continue their perilous journey to the fiery pit of Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) must face up to his destiny: As leader, he leads his followers into the field against the immense superiority of the Dark Lord Sauron in order to give the Ringbearer the opportunity to fulfil his mission. The film won eleven Oscars – in all eleven categories in which it was nominated: Best Picture, Directing, Editing, Production Design, Costume Design, Visual Effects, Makeup, Adapted Screenplay, Sound Editing, Original Song and Original Score.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Blu-ray (Disc 1)
- The Lord of the Rings: Trailer Gallery
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Bonus material DVD (Disc 2)
- Background material from the production of the epic adventure:
o The mission is accomplished: Visions of a Director
o The journey of a filmmaker: Making of “The Return of the King”
o National Geographic Special: “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
o Aragorn’s Fate
o Minas Tirith: The capital of Gondor
o The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
o Samwise the Brave
o Éowyn, White Lady of Rohan
o Digital horse double
Original cinema trailers and TV spots
“The Lord of the Rings” – Trilogy Supertrailer