Nate contemplates the possibility that Peter Jackson is insane.
Really, how could Jackson possibly think the theatrical versions of the LOTR trilogy is better than the extended versions? Well, they are his creations and each had its purpose.
I have had time to watch only the first disk of the extended Two Towers and if this is exemplary of the rest it is a huge improvement on a movie that I already thought was very, very good!
But, of course, this says nothing regarding Jackson’s sanity just that if the studio had allowed it he could have delivered an even greater movie to the theaters.
And, based on how easy it was to sit through RoTK I don’t think length would have bothered most viewers. In fact I was pleasantly surprised at how many folks stayed through the credits (though a few stood to watch them).