The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Five Disc Collector's Box Set) [DVD] [2002]

Also included is a box within a box containing yet another bonus DVD, this one devoted to the creation of the Sideshow Weta statue series. Some 24 minutes long, this documentary is introduced by Peter Jackson, who shows us his own extraordinary collection of statues; Jackson and Weta supremo Richard Taylor explain how they insisted that these models were created by the same artists who had worked on the movies, ensuring complete authenticity (the actors themselves are suitably appreciative). Taylor narrates in detail the whole production process. There's also a printed 44-page companion piece specifically devoted to Gollum, showing his evolution from early sketches to sculpted maquette to final on-screen character. --Mark Walker

• Special Extended DVD Edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
  
• Collectible Gollum polystone statue created by Sideshow Weta
  
• The Evolution of Gollum exclusive: a bonus DVD on the Weta Workshop and how the Gollum statue was created, featuring interviews with Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, the cast and more!
  
• A printed companion piece showing how Gollum evolved from pencil sketch to sculpted maquette to digital character

The extended DVD edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers contains the following:

Discs 1 & 2 (The Feature)

• Feature (approx. 206 minutes PAL) – A new version of the second installment in the epic trilogy! The film includes over 32 minutes PAL of never-before-seen footage incorporated into the film, made especially for this release:
  * Widescreen (2.35:1) version of the Special Extended Edition
  * Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround Sound
  * DTS ES 6.1 Surround Sound
  * Stereo Surround Sound
  
• Four audio commentaries by director and writers, the design team the production team and the cast featuring more than 30 participants including Peter Jackson, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom and Academy Award winners Richard Taylor, Howard Shore, Randy Cook…and many more

Discs 3 & 4 (The Appendices)

• Two discs with hours of original content including multiple documentaries and design /photo galleries with thousands of images to give viewers an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers:

  Disc 3
  

  • Adapting the book into a screenplay & planning the film
    
  • Designing and inspiration for locations in Middle-earth
    
  • Storyboards to pre-visualisation
    
  • Weta Workshop visit – See sculptors in action as they create the weapons, armor, creatures and miniatures from the film
    
  • Atlas of Middle-earth: Tracing the journey of the Fellowship
    
  • An interactive map of New Zealand highlighting the location scouting process
    
  • Galleries of art and slideshows with commentaries by the artists
    
  • And much more!

  Disc 4
  

  • Sending actors to battle – preparation for sword fighting
    
  • Principal photography: Stories from the set
    
  • Digital effects including motion capture and "Massive" (a program to create armies of Orcs)
    
  • "Bigatures" – A close-up look at the detailed miniatures used in the film
    
  • Galleries of behind-the-scenes photographs and personal cast photos
    
  • Post-production – editing it all together
    
  • Sound design demonstration
    
  • And much more!