Lord of the Rings hits Blu-ray in April
PHYSICAL: All three theatrical movies released in one boxed set
By Laurence Lerman -- Video Business, 12/14/2009
DEC. 14 | PHYSICAL: Middle-Earth receives its long-awaited high-definition makeover on April 6, when Warner Home Video releases The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy on Blu-ray Disc.
The Blu-ray version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy will be priced at $99.98.
The nine-disc set, priced at $99.98, will contains the original theatrical versions of the three Peter Jackson-directed Rings films—The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003)—along with more than seven hours of special features. The supplemental package will contain mostly special features that were on the various DVD versions of the movies, including featurettes that were originally on LordOfTheRings.net. However, the Blu-ray versions will offer high-def trailers.
The set also will include digital copies of each film and have BD Live access. Prebook date is March 2.
Based upon the renowned fantasy books by J.R.R. Tolkien, Jackson’s popular Lord of the Rings films garnered 30 Academy Award nominations and won 17 statues, including Best Picture and Best Director for The Return of the King.
The Blu-ray release has been buzzed about among fans and high-def followers since the format was introduced.
“They’re the perfect high-definition movies—they appeal to the perfect age-range and attitude for people who are into Blu-ray,” said Irv Slifkin, marketing coordinator of Philadelphia-based retailer MoviesUnlimited.com. “I think it will even inspire people on the fence to finally purchase a Blu-ray machine.”
The release will precede Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest videogame launch, which is scheduled for release on June 30.
The Rings films have been released in various DVD versions over the past decade, as have their extended versions, which are as hotly in-demand as their theatrical siblings. The extended versions of the films will bow on Blu-ray at a later date.
Also on April 6 will be the debut on Blu-ray of the 1978 animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings directed by Ralph Bakshi. Warner will deliver this program with new Dolby 5.1 audio and new extra content.
