Favorite Movie of a Franchise: Middle-earth Edition

[Hostile_18]

Inspired by the weekly series on the gaming forum I thought this would be good to do. Obviously if it gains traction I will continue it on.

Each week we focus on one established franchise at a time and see which title D-Pad likes the most and people's general thoughts on the series. This week it's Peter Jackson's Middle Earth movies. Each movie is the ultimate edition with all included extended scenes. 2D or 3D, standard or IMAX

 

[SirKicksalot]

The Two Towers has always been my favourite. Best setting, atmosphere, music, character moments etc.

My ranking (extended versions) is Towers > Desolation > ROTK > FOTR > Five Armies > Unexpected Journey

I love Laketown, Mirkwood, Gandalf's sidequest... There's something magical about Desolation IMO. I only wish it had more Beorn. It's very much improved by the Extended Edition.
The extended cut of Battle of The Five Armies is a completely different movie. The battle was unfinished at release and it was turned into some crazy Warhammer shit for the Extended Edition.

 

[lupingosei]

Fellowship in the extended version, perfect worldbuilding, character development, and storytelling.

 

[Eneru]

Fellowship in the extended version, perfect worldbuilding, character development, and storytelling.

agreed. I loved the 2 other ones as well. But for me fellowship was the best one, too.

 

[Bar]

Ruined Farimir knocks TTT down for me. Despite that, all LOTR movies are infinitely rewatch able for me.

 

[Allnamestakenlol]

The Russian one, of course.

 

[J-Roderton]

Fellowship extended all day.

 

[Yawnson]

Saying anything Hobbit is factually wrong

 

[Arkam]

If we are staying to the Jackson movies, I would have to go with The Fellowship of the Ring. Was the best stand alone film IMO. It is also the most visually majestic. The opening scenes of the shire on a display with rich colors is most delicious.

The Two Towers had a brisk pace, but Rohan is lame. So you are left with one big ass battle scene, which is a good one. RotK was IMO the weakest of the LoTR films. Pacing is terrible, editing is terrible and the ending scenes are terrible. It does have a nice battles though.

If we can go outside of Jackson's films I would be VERY tempted to vote for the 1977 animated version of The Hobbit. While it does do a lot of cutting from the book, it at least stays fairly true to the plot and doesn't add superfluous characters and story arcs like the trash Hobbit Jackson crapped out.

 

[Kadayi]

Two Towers. Much love for Fellowship (Death or Boromir scene was epic) but Gollum really made it



Have to say though I found RoTK pretty weak though, not helped by the ghost CGI coming out after CoTC, plus Jackson playing a bit too cutesy with Gimili and Legolas and their competition to the detriment of dramatic tension.

 

[CloudNull]

I'm torn between FotR and TTT. Overall I went with TTT because I love the Ents and Gollum.

I'm still bitter they ruined Farimir. He was so wise in the book and shit the bed in the movie.

I barely remember the hobbit trilogy and the characters…such a huge drop off from the OG trilogy.

Funny thing is I'm literally in the middle of a rewatch of the extended version Trilogy. I am about an hour into RotK. Special effect hold yo really well for being 20 years old.

 

[King of Foxes]

I actually like the down ending of Battle of 5 armies

 

[HeresJohnny]

Perhaps my favorite movie trilogy, anything LotR is epic. I don't like to compare these films because they're all legendary IMO, but if I had to pick I'd have to give it to Fellowship, there's just something special about it, although Return of the King and TTT are epic too.

I still say Sam is the best character in the films; and one who suffers so much but refuses to let it deter him from his commitment to his friend. The Gray Havens scene at the end still tears me up all these years later, most of all because it shows that even though Sauron was gone, little innocent Frodo was never the same again, and it isn't until right before he boards the ship that you see the old Frodo come back. I loved that Sam got to go home and have a wife and kids and was able to move on and be happy again. God, just such an epic fucking trilogy; infinitely rewatchable. Masterful film making by Peter Jackson and company.

When comparing these films I always think of the line about Hanzo swords from Kill Bill… "If you're going to compare a Hanzo sword, you compare it to every other sword that wasn't made by Hattori Hanzo." This series is like that for me; all three films are works of art and are really incomparable.

 

[farmerboy]

Honestly can't wait to rewatch in UHD extended versions on a new oled when I get it.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Loved TTT the most. But it was also my favorite book of the trilogy, so there goes that.

That battle of Helms Deep was intense.

 

[Grisham]

 

[Ornlu]

I was worried for this poll in the beginning, when Fellowship and Towers were tied.

My faith in the userbase here is restored.

 

[BFNoise]

All three movies in LotR trilogy are equally great for me. Extended editions, of course. Went with the third because it has less votes.

 

[HE1NZ]

Theatrically I enjoyed The Two Towers the most but that was a long time ago. Since then I enjoyed Return of the King the most, I think it has the best Extended Edition.

 

[Hostile_18]

One thing that has to be said. The physical effects in the original trilogy are so much better than the computer graphics of the Hobbit films.

 

[Franky Family]

I haven't seen TTT or ROTK in so long, I'll have to rewatch those two before coming to a definitive ranking of them all according to my favorites. Peter Jackson's work in the LOTR trilogy is otherworldly. He could have had one hundred scholars on the job, it's still unbelievably impressive to me what he brought to us with each and every movie. It's been a while since I've seen TFOTR too but that was easily the most epic opening movie in any trilogy I've seen. Sean Bean's portrayal as Boromir was great, all the Hobbits were 10/10, Gandalf is unforgettable... I love it whenever there would be conversations in secret about the One Ring and its seductive power or its danger. Mordor was leagues beyond leagues away; further than several adventures away and yet the you could feel the unease in your own heart for anyone affiliated with the task of joining the ring bearer, Frodo. All the way in The Shire, and yet not even a mere conversation felt safe to have when all other Hobbits were comfortably tucked away at night. Especially when that music starts playing, and the Ring's magic begins to act on those near to it

 

[Franky Family]

Here is my ratings of them all from what I can remember, this rating order will probably change once I refresh my mind and rewatch the LOTR trilogy though

FOTR > TTT > ROTK > Five Armies > An Unexpected Journey > Desolation of Smaug

I was particularly upset with Beorn's portrayal in The Hobbit trilogy by Peter Jackson's standards. I really do feel that he failed with that entire step in their journey and especially with the character himself. That was a turning point in their adventure on a few levels and for some reason PJ left out his sheer magnitude of strength and power, his shrewd judgement, and his amazing hospitality (once he trusted you) which was a huge disappointment. Kind of like Tom Bombadil, Beorn was like a living enigma but in the movies he looked like a dumbass and was plain as can be lol