DVD's, Theatre releases and Oscars

Rating: 10/10 (18 December 2003)

Just a note to film watchers, especially to fans of the book. This movie, along with all the other LoTR theatre movies, is not the finished item. Jackson knows what works well in box office terms and has crafted the cinema release of this film for the average cinema goer. The completed film that is designed to please die hard fans and film buffs has not yet been finished, and will not be released until November 2003. As a result, those who know the story well will feel bits are missing, and those who understand the art of editing may feel that scenes do not run together as well as they might.
I am starting to wonder if perhaps the idea that the 'best film' award at the Oscars should be constrained to theatre movies is soon to become out-dated. With movies increasingly using alternative media to fill out the cinematic release (and not just as a way to make money), perhaps it is time to start considering DVD releases and movie concepts. For example the Matrix trilogy is supplemented with TV shorts and video games, which add to the story and the depth of the film. OK, it may not have worked too well in the end, but it won't be the last or best of its type. Maybe there should be a separate award for everything that a movie encompasses; a sort of 'multi-media concept' or 'best movie event' or something. This could judge theatre release AND DVD version, as well as well as looking at the use of the video games to compliment the film and use of TV features to expand the storyline.
With the video game industry now outgrowing the movie industry and with the new innovations that are revolutionising the way we understand the movie experience it seems a shame to limit the appreciation of a cultural item such as LoTR solely to what appears on the silver screen.