I don't recall how long the theatrical release was.

It's listed as 3 hours, 30 minutes.

Forty extra minutes of footage? That's not shabby.

Saw ROTK yesterday for the first time since December and I was in a crappy crappy mood. I had a red wine hangover and would not have chosen to go, cept I had made a date with my dad that I couldn't break. Little things annoyed me. The only part that gave me shivers and goosebumps of joy in the first hour and a half was Gandalf and Pippin arriving at Minas Tirith. I swear I just have wave after wave of chills when they are riding through the streets.

The love came back when the Rohirrim arrived on the Pelennor Fields - it got my first tear. From then on, pretty much, I was happy to be watching it and marvelling at it like I did on the first viewing. I only cried a teency teency bit at Merry's "are you going to leave me" when Pippin finds him on the field and at Frodo and Gandalf seeing each other alive for the first time. And then at the goodbyes at the boat. There was no sobbing or open weeping. I must be a little dead inside.

My sister, who has not read the books, saw it for the first time. She made it now 100% of people who I have spoken to who have not read the books that do not understand why Frodo leaves at the end.

She made it now 100% of people who I have spoken to who have not read the books that do not understand why Frodo leaves at the end.

I didn't read the books, and I think I understood it -- when I saw it, I mean; BEFORE I read people's posts in this thread. But maybe I didn't.

Frodo's been in pain for years, yes? Both mental and physical. After his experience as the ringbearer, he really wasn't part of the world of the Shire any more -- it changed him irrevocably, much more so than it did Merry, Pippen, and even Sam. (We see their sense of dislocation in the scene at the Green Dragon after they return to the Shire, yes, but Frodo never really fully returns to the Shire. Or maybe it's more accurate to say that all of Frodo never returns to the Shire.)

In the books there's a nice bit about Sam being out and about during one of Frodo's illnesses and not knowing about it. Isn't Frodo mayor once or twice, in the books?

In the book, after Rosie dies, Sam goes to the Grey Havens, too, doesn't he?

Steph, that's precisely the understanding I got from the books.

edit: to both your posts

Isn't Frodo mayor once or twice, in the books?

I think he acts as Mayor briefly after the Scouring, until Sam's elected.

Steph, that's precisely the understanding I got from the books.

t does the dance of perceptiveness, which, oddly is not unlike the dance of finding a Krispy Kreme with the "hot" light on

Frodo's been in pain for years, yes? Both mental and physical. After his experience as the ringbearer, he really wasn't part of the world of the Shire any more

Yupp. I know some people got it - but I think it's a notable misstep on Jackson's part that soo many people I've talked to didn't get it AT ALL. I mean - he's the main character and that's how his story ends - kind of bad place to leave people wondering.

Lots and lots of people must be OK with it though - or they wouldn't feel so passionate about the movie - but still - seems to be a big question mark for some.

My parents didn't really get it either. This is the reason I'd like to see that section expanded in the EE. Except that the EE is mostly for the obsessives like us who already get it, so, maybe I just invalidated my own point. Huh.