By Chris Kavan - 03/08/10 at 11:13 AM CT
I noticed that one of the holy grails of Blu-Ray is coming out in early April - The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. If there was any series that deserves to be seen in full high-def glory it is surely the adventures of Frodo and crew.
Yet then my hopes were mercilessly crushed - because right there in the title it says "Theatrical Release". I already have the extended editions in DVD and if I'm going to be shelling out over $65 for a new set, you best believe it better be the nicest version. Woe be to those who plunk down their hard-earned money only to have to plunk down again when a few months or a year from now the actual extended versions are released.
Double-dipping is such a common practice nowadays that it seems hard to fathom how it was ever any different. Release a bare-bones version right away, then a 2-disc "special" edition down the line. Oh, and don't forget about the Anniversary Edition with ALL NEW FEATURES. Being a Star Wars fan, alas, I have double dipped many-a time. Damn you Lucas and your wily ways!
There is truly only one reason that this happens: money. Studios know that fans may grumble and complain, but in the end many will end up getting the deluxe edition and still keep their standard edition too. I know it's happened to me before and I can't stand it. With Blu-Ray you have people converting DVDs to a new medium, so they're already buying twice. To release a regular edition and then a special edition Blu-Ray? That's just demeaning.
Therefore I refuse to buy this LOTR release and encourage everyone else to stay away until the extended version is released. Yes, it will look nice. But why give in to the studios and keep double dipping? Because if we do, they'll never learn their lesson.
