FOTR opening question

[Rosie-with-the-ribbons]

When I was flying home from Auckland to Singapore (Singapore Airlines) they had the trilogy on the inflight entertainment. So of course I had to watch them. But I noticed something I think was new, but I can't check it properly now I'm back at home.

The movie started with the WB-logo (I know that is new, since WB didn't have anything to do with the LOTR movies). But after the prologue, you go to the Shire, seeing Frodo reading underneath the tree, the Fellowship name comes onto the screen. But at that moment at the bottom left hand corner it said: "The Shire ... 60 years later". I really can't remember ever seeing that on the screen. I checked at home, but I only own the extended version on DVD/Blu-ray.

Can anybody maybe check?
It could be they added it now, with The Hobbit starting, to set a time frame for the movies.

 

[DanielLB]

I tried to find a screencap, but couldn't.

 

[Rosie-with-the-ribbons]

It looked so new to me. But than I think I noticed a lot of new details, when you are that close to a small screen and there is nothing else to see than just the movie.

So not new, I figured maybe they added it with The Hobbit coming.

 

[Loresilme]

If I recall correctly, that text is not shown in the Extended Edition.

Your memory is just fine (or else mine's not either ).

 

[Ardamírë]

I wonder why it was left out of the EE though. I like that it's gone, but I'm not sure why it is.

 

[Mooseboy018]

I have a feeling the studio asked them to put in that "60 years later" thing for general audiences (or maybe not), and then they had the chance to take it out for the extended edition because it was directed towards fans that already knew the timeline well enough.

 

[Ardamírë]

I prefer it not being there, but I understand that first time viewers probably needed it.

 

[Loresilme]

because, in between the end of the Prologue and the scene of Frodo under the tree, the EE's have the voiceover of Bilbo describing Hobbits and the scenes of life in the Shire. So given everything the audience sees and hears in that sequence, perhaps it wasn't necessary to then also explicitly state that some years have passed since then.

 

[Ardamírë]

Though, they could have easily just moved the "60 years later" to the new scene with Bilbo.

I am glad that it's not there, though. I fine it much more satisfactory when the movie makes clear what's happening rather than just putting up a sign.