Review Detail

Wow, this is a shelf replacer, for sure!
Audio and video editing is seamlessly done, including some hard to manage sections.

The scene where the Hobbits see the army marching from Isengard is now placed correctly in the film, it’s a clear improvement.
The Faramir flashback is changed for the better. I know we’re supposed to dislike Denethor, but in the original we went so far that the scene turned into a caricature.
Gollum and Faramir’s scene is better in this edit, more nuanced and grey.

The many changes and reordering of the Ents storyline are the highlights of the edit. I cannot praise these changes enough. Treebeard and the 2 hobbits now feel they’re part of the larger story, instead of being relegated to a B-story arc and to the Epilogue. The Entmoot, as well, turns into an entirely different thing, still retaining its quirks but with a lot more to offer (in the original, many of the Ents scenes were just a chore to watch).
This arc actually makes sense now, following Gandalf’s’ foreshadowing early in the film.

Faramir’s moment of truth is also improved. In this version, it’s clearer that the appearance of the Nazgul, who are searching for Frodo, is not what makes him realize his mistake. He makes up his mind about wanting to help Frodo just before the Nazgul attack. It highlights this great character moment for him, without the later knowledge of the truth about Boromir’s death.
Also, removing the part where Frodo tries to give the Ring to the Wraith gets rid of a major plothole.

Nice gag about the staff, as well.