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May 28, 2007 - June 04, 2007

News for Jun. 04, 2007

Richard Taylor Competes at WEOY

6/04/07, 8:05 pm EST - Xoanon

Richard Taylor, co-founder of Weta Workshop and Digital and representing New Zealand, was one of 47 business leaders from 39 companies competing for the title of Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year over the weekend. All have won national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year titles and were in Monte Carlo representing their countries in the world’s only global business award. [More]

WETA's 'Black Sheep'

6/04/07, 7:58 pm EST - Xoanon

Celebriel sends a reminder that "Black Sheep," featuring Weta Workshop's special effects work, opens June 22. The film is about genetically mutated sheep that acquire a taste for humans. Ah, returning to their "Bad Taste" and "Brain Dead" roots!!. The tag line is "Violence of the Lambs" and the New Zealand landscape looks as good as ever. [More]

The Mad Gamer: Does LOTR online have the WoW factor?

6/04/07, 7:04 pm EST - Xoanon

The long-awaited long-in-the-making LOTR Online (full name: Midway's Lord of the Rings Online: The Shadows of Angmar) is finally out –and the big question: can it beat out World of Warcraft? It's easy to feel over LOTR and a bit apprehensive about an online game that could've been so easily ruined. Expectations have been high –and the first impressions are that this does have the wow! factor. And if you have ever played WoW, you'll feel at home with only a small learning curve required. It's a very good looking MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) with the lighting, environment and detail all passing the test. In fact, stunning is the word. Water –always a good one to check – is awesome with the ripples looking very authentic and shadows and lighting along with a bunch of post-processing effects are astonishing. It feels like you really are in Middle Earth even though the plot varies a great deal. [More]

DVD Tuesday: Doctor Who, Steelbook Madness, Norbit & More!

6/04/07, 12:46 pm EST - Xoanon

Take an early look on our 'DVD Tuesday' feature...every Monday! There are a whole slew of amazing DVDs out tomorrow, take a look at some TV goodies like; 'CHiPs - The Complete First Season', 'Cosby Show: Season 3 & 4', 'Dark Angel: The Complete First Season & Second Season', 'Dead Zone 5th Season' & 'Doctor Who: Castrovalva, Keeper of Traken, Logopolis'. There is a new steelbook movement out there, or at least the studios seem to want to push them on us, 'Fight Club', 'Cast Away' & 'Platoon' all get the steelbook treatment. The big releases of of the week include; 'Ghosts of Abu Ghraib', 'Norbit' & 'Seinfeld - Season 8'. The HD DVD crowd get a few good titles this week with 'Trading Places'. The Blu ray gurus get 'Blood Diamond'. Check out the whole list here! [More]

News for Jun. 02, 2007

SHOP: Sideshow Reveals New LOTR Diorama

6/02/07, 11:42 pm EST - Celeborn

The Walls of Helms DeepSideshow Collectibles has just revealed their next Lord of the Rings diorama: Aragorn VS Uruk-hai - The Walls of Helms Deep. This piece looks to be rather large in comparision to the first diorama (Frodo and Gollum - The Crack of Doom), but we'll have to wait and see! If you didn't hear about this announcement via email, make sure to join the Sideshow Collectibles newsletter, or, of course, you can just check TORn a lot too! [View Preview]

News for Jun. 01, 2007

New Line's Shaye won't yield to Jackson

6/01/07, 7:46 pm EST - Xoanon

New Line founder Bob Shaye shows no signs of yielding in the company's legal squabble with Peter Jackson over profits from "The Lord of the Rings." In a conversation at AmPav on Tuesday with Variety editor-in-chief Peter Bart, Shaye said the company had already paid Jackson and his wife, Fran Walsh, $250 million in profit participation. The clash happened because "one of us has gotten poor counsel," Shaye said, without elaborating. Co-chief Michael Lynne struck a more upbeat note. "We do want to settle our dispute and I think we will." A "Hobbit" pic is still in the plans, both execs were coy about reports that Sam Raimi is being lined up to direct. "There's never been any announcement," Lynne said. "Like a lot of people, he might," Shaye added. [More]

LOTR actors join to sue New Line over merchandising money

6/01/07, 2:33 pm EST - MrCere

Variety is reporting that New Line is getting sued again over Lord of the Rings profits, this time by a group of Kiwi actors. The actors feel that some questionable accounting has made it impossible to ever get paid a "5 percent of net revenue" clause outlined in contracts from merchandising based on characters they portrayed. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Wednesday. Read more here.

News for May 31, 2007

WETA OPENS DRAW TO WIN LIMITED EDITION RAYGUNS

5/31/07, 10:20 pm EST - Xoanon

Who is the mysterious Dr Grordbort, and what has he got to do with New Zealand’s legendary multi Academy Award® winning Weta Workshop? Well, it seems that Grordbort has reached out from his parallel universe and appointed Weta Limited to manufacture his awesome range of Rayguns.

With names such as the MANMELTER 3600ZX Sub-Atomic Disintegrator Pistol; the F.M.O.M. INDUSTRIES Wave Disrupter Gun, or even the GOLIATHON 83 Infinity Beam Projector, you know that these have been created by a truly warped mind! [More]

Cheltenham Science Festival Promises to Tell All...

5/31/07, 10:08 pm EST - Xoanon

Iain writes: Spotted an article in my local paper (Evening Advertiser) that caught my eye immediately: "A top scientist is to reveal the secrets behind the magic of Harry Potter. At the Cheltenham Science Festival;, in June, fans of both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings will have the opportunity to find out how computer technology created the films' special efforts..." [More]

High-fliers 'daunt' Weta whiz

5/31/07, 9:56 pm EST - Xoanon

Special effects king Richard Taylor will fly the Kiwi flag in Monaco this week amid the world's leading entrepreneurs, a prospect he finds daunting. Attending the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year awards, after winning the New Zealand title last October, Mr Taylor will compete against 46 others from around the world in the luxury Mediterranean port. But it was the prestigious company, rather than the swanky location, that was the biggest treat. "We have always thought of ourselves as creative people, not business people. It's a bit daunting actually," he said. [More]

Casting Complete for London Revival of In Celebration with Orlando Bloom

5/31/07, 9:54 pm EST - Xoanon

Casting is now complete for the upcoming London revival of David Storey's 1969 drama In Celebration, which will star screen actor Orlando Bloom. Joining the previously announced Bloom (as Steven), Lynda Baron (Mrs. Burnett), Gareth Farr (Colin), Paul Hilton (Andrew) and Ciaran McIntyre (Reardon) will be Tim Healy (as Mr. Shaw) and Dearbhla Molloy (as Mrs. Shaw). Anna Mackmin will direct the production, which begins previews July 5 at the Duke of York's Theatre with an official opening July 12. Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, the play is currently booking until Sept. 15. [More]

Angus McBride (1931–2007)

5/31/07, 9:50 pm EST - Xoanon

Craig writes: Angus McBride has passed away. Mr McBride created a number of pieces of artwork based on Tolkien's Lord of the Rings for Iron Crown Enterprises Middle Earth Role Playing (MERP) game and Middle Earth Collectable Card Game (MECCG). [More]

Richard Taylor could be named 'World Entrepreneur of the Year'

5/31/07, 7:09 pm EST - MrCere

Thanks to TORnado Grammaboodawg for sending this great article about Richard Taylor. Seems our favorite Weta chief will be in Monaco this week meeting with the 46 candidates for the world title. The winner will be announced Sunday but the full story can be read right here.

Accident halts LOTR musical

5/31/07, 6:59 pm EST - MrCere

Thanks to all those who wrote in with the bit of bad news about the LOTR musical and an injury to one of its performers. The BBC's article about it can be found right here. We wish the cast member a speedy recovery and the show all the best.

News for May 30, 2007

Chat with Weta Designer Stephen Crowe Tomorrow!

5/30/07, 8:34 pm EST - Xoanon

From WETANZ.com: Weta Designer Stephen Crowe returns to the forums to answer as many questions as he can on NZ Thurs 31 May. Here are some of the highlights from last week's blitz...Here's a snippet: What was your first project with Weta and what was your best? Stephen: "I was originally brought in to work on the Neon Genesis Evangelion live action movie - which was good fun, and a very steep learning curve for me. The BEST one is probably what I'm working on right now - which of course I can't talk about!" [More]

McKellen's Lear and Seagull to Play New London Theatre

5/30/07, 8:18 pm EST - Xoanon

The Royal Shakespeare Company productions of King Lear and The Seagull — both starring Ian McKellen and directed by Trevor Nunn — will arrive at the West End's New London Theatre Nov. 12. News of the transfer comes just before the delayed press performance of McKellen's Lear, which will be shown to the critics as a matinee, followed by an evening performance of The Seagull, in which McKellen plays Sorin. The Shakespeare and Chekhov plays will run in repertory at Stratford-upon-Avon's Courtyard Theatre until June 23. The RSC made the decision to postpone the original April 3 press night of King Lear after Frances Barber, who plays Goneril, sustained a knee injury in a bicycle accident. [More]

TV Watch: Orlando Bloom on 'Ellen' Clips

5/30/07, 12:40 pm EST - Xoanon

Fresh off his visit from 'The Tonight Show', Orlando Bloom headed over to the 'Ellen Degeneres Show' to promote 'Pirates III'. Take a look at the clips! [More]

TV Watch: Orlando Bloom on 'Leno' Clips

5/30/07, 11:04 am EST - Xoanon

This may be too little too late, however I now have the clips from Orlando Bloom's visit to 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' from earlier this month. Take a look! [More]

News for May 29, 2007

Visiting Shadowfax

5/29/07, 10:47 pm EST - Xoanon

Visiting Shadowfax Nuradar writes: This past Sunday, May 27 I went to a horse exhibition in Truro, Nova Scotia to see Blanco, the beautiful white Andalusian that played Gandalf's horse, Shadowfax, in the The Lord of the Rings movies, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. It was a great exhibition with many horses and lots to learn about riding and grooming, but I must admit, Blanco was the main reason went. I was not disappointed. [More]

Very Cool RINGERS Props & Oscar Party Memorabilia!

5/29/07, 10:19 pm EST - Xoanon

What becomes a legend most? The fan who has a full set of Line Party, Wellington Premiere, and ROTK Oscar Party Tshirts, that's what! Our remarkable RINGERS auctions continue apace on eBay! Bid now to acquire exclusive items from our secret museum of props (like NENYA Galadriel's Ring) and specialty items from our colorful history of Ringer events for LOTR. [More]

LOTR Online: Leisure Activities!

5/29/07, 10:07 pm EST - Xoanon

Vanessa "Saffron" Price, Online Community Representative for The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, writes: Middle-earth is a busy place for an adventurer! Take a look at this overview about the many leisure activities available to the battle-weary fighter. [More]

News for May 28, 2007

Can Hurin knock Harry off his broom?

5/28/07, 8:08 pm EST - Xoanon

Harry Potter's moon-faced mug is plastered all over the front doors of the Borders bookstore in Altamonte Springs. A life-sized rendering of the star Quidditch Seeker stands just inside the store entrance, and the sales staff wears lanyards bearing more signs of Harry's seventh coming. Area booksellers can be forgiven for baiting their hooks as the July 21 release of the seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling's series approaches. But in the meantime, a much older -- and some say wiser -- wizard has risen from a grave deep beyond Middle-earth. This one has slashed through the Hogwarts hoopla and claimed lordship of the best-seller ring, provoking glee among legions of his mostly older, Hobbit-formed fans. [More]

DVD Tuesday: F-Troop, Hannibal, Hepburn & More!

5/28/07, 8:00 pm EST - Xoanon

Take an early look on our 'DVD Tuesday' feature...every Monday! Sadly there are very few winners to choose from this week. However some of the goodies include; 'Heavy Petting: Special Edition' & 'Katherine Hepburn Collection'. There are really no big releases of note this week, save perhaps 'Hannibal Rising: Unrated'. The HD DVD crowd get a few good titles this week with 'Dragonheart', 'Frighteners' & 'Lost in Translation' all coming out tomorrow. The Blu ray gurus get 'Curse of the Golden Flower' & 'Weeds Season 1'. Check out the whole list here! [More]

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