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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Middle-Earth Ultimate Collector's Edition 4K Ultra HD

    Featured In Issue 258, November/December 2021

    Picture5
    Sound5
    Immersive4
    WSR Score5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    3000087027
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG-13 | R
    (Rating Reason):
    Violence
    (Retail Price):
    $249.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    2,290
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    ABC
    (Theatrical Year):
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    11/16/2021
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    (Director):
    Peter Jackson
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (Subtitles):

    The "Middle -Earth Ultimate Collector's Edition" is timed to the 20th anniversary of "The Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Rings." The 31-disc collection of Peter Jackson's Middle-earth saga contains new special edition features along with the theatrical and extended versions of all six films in 4K Ultra HD and on Blu-ray discs remastered from the 4K master. The edition includes the theatrical and extended version of the six films in 4K Ultra HD with HDR –– "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," "The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug," "The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies," "The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring," "The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers" and "The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King," which won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. (Gary Reber)

    The Edition is packaged in unique "Puzzle Box" collectible packaging and includes a 64-page booklet featuring costumes, photography and production notes from the movie and art cards featuring travel posters and images from iconic locations throughout Middle-earth including The Shire, Lake-Town, Erebor, Anduin, Rohan Minas Tirith and Rivendell. Also included are the original Cannes Film Festival presentations reel, and footage from the Alamo Drafthouse cast reunion featuring Director Peter Jackson along with cast members Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, Andy Serkis, Lia Tyler and Elijah Wood.

    The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed digitally and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. As with the previous 4K Ultra HD reviews of each movie, picture quality is stunning and delivers nuanced improvements in color resolution, nuanced hue shadings and depth. See the previous reviews of each movie's picture quality for reference. (Gary Reber)

    The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtracks feature first-rate holosonic® and Immersive Sound elements. See the previous reviews of each soundtrack. (Gary Reber)

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