With the recent announcements that MGM will be releasing new box sets of the James Bond and "Rocky" films for the third time in seven years, it's hard not to be cynical about New Line's three new "Limited Edition Lord of the Rings" sets — "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King." Then, however, you are compelled to ask what they offer and to whom they are being marketed.

The answer to the first question: This is the first time that the films in Peter Jackson's fantasy trilogy — arguably the best movie trilogy of all time — have been released in editions containing both the theatrical cuts and the extended cuts, with the extended cuts at least half an hour longer. As for the second question, the intended market would seem to be the fans who bought the original (theatrical edition) DVDs when they were released and were then hesitant to buy the deluxe, extras-packed four-disc sets that followed, maybe because they rarely delve into DVD supplements. (Some research indicates that as many as 50 percent of buyers never, or only rarely, peruse the documentaries and deleted scenes or listen to commentaries.)

These, then, would seem to be aimed at those who have yet to see the extended versions. And the issue here is that every film, but especially "The Two Towers" is improved by the reinstated footage, which director Jackson says was almost all edited together originally, then trimmed, bit by bit, to get the movies in the three-hour range. (The original cut of the third film, which was approximately, 3 hours, 20 minutes, missed its mark the most.)

Using that criteria, these limited editions — though exactly how limited they are we do not know — are easily worth the investment, especially because they also contain bonus material, some of which, to make things more confusing, is new: Each disc contains new production diaries by Costa Botes, the filmmaker Jackson hired to document the making of the trilogy.

For the record: The extended version of "Fellowship" has 30 minutes of added scenes. "The Two Towers" has 44 minutes, and "The Return of the King" has 50, making it 4 hours and 10 minutes long — emphasis on the long. If you're a fan, however, you want to see it.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Upgraded to "Special Edition" is 1984's "Romancing the Stone" (Fox), the Robert Zemeckis adventure-romance that starred the most unlikely frump in movie history, Kathleen Turner, as a mousy and lonely romance novelist who has created her ideal of a perfect man in her books.

When she is abducted by a treasure hunter (Danny DeVito) who has discovered she has a map that could lead to untold treasure, she ends up being led through the jungle by soldier-of-fortune Michael Douglas, who is not exactly the Indiana Jones of her fantasies.

You may be surprised to discover that "Stone" is just about as much fun as you remember. You may be more surprised that the sequel, 1985's "The Jewel of the Nile" (Fox), is not awful, though hardly essential viewing.

It finds Turner and Douglas bored with each other and ready for more vine-swinging and sexy bickering on another continent. Both films now come supplemented with deleted scenes, new interviews and making-of docs.

HITTING SHELVES

Recent theatrical releases out this week include "Akeelah and the Bee" (New Line), an inspirational but thoroughly formulaic drama about an 11-year-old girl (Keke Palmer) from Los Angeles' crime-ridden South Central neighborhood who becomes a spelling bee hopeful with help from a tough-love coach played by Laurence Fishburne.

Equally predictable, if more entertaining, is the based-lightly-on-fact "Take the Lead" (New Line), with Antonio Banderas as a dance teacher who volunteers to coach inner-city delinquents in the art of the waltz and tango.