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August 26, 2002 - September 16, 2002

9-16-02

LOTR Chess Set Appears
Tehanu @ 11:42 pm EST
"Last night, as I was walking gloomily through my local Target (for I had scanned the Action Figure aisles- no LOTR), I came to a halt as I spotted a flash of green and gold. Running like the wind, I greedily seized it and realized that this was, no doubt, the LOTR chess set whose date had been pushed back another month. I saw that the price was $29.99; 10 bucks less than the official store was asking! I immediately bought it, and I'm pretty sure any bystanders probably thought I was crazy, because I kept muttering, "My precious...my precious..."
Thanks to Frodo's Girl13

And in England:
"I have just been reading the news archives and i came across the chess set news, well here in England we already have the chess set, it is on sale in WH Smith.So any english fan who wants it can get it.T hought you might want to Know."

Thanks to Louise

Ministering with Middle-earth
Tehanu @ 11:05 pm EST
News from Michelle: "I was watching Dr. Gerald Mann ministries, this morning, and his teachings today were on parenting. While preaching on this subject, he talked about LOTR.

"He used the Film, The Hobbits, Wizards, and the journey to destroy the ring of doom in a very uplifting, and positive light. He used them as a metaphor for the trying to conquer evil with goodness. I thought this was very interesting seeing as many preachers do not do this, (at all)."

The book or VCR tape that he was quoting from is available at his bookstore on the Gerard Mann Ministry website. [More]

Getting your hands on standees and stuff
Tehanu @ 11:12 am EST

Brandon wrote: "I really like the TTT standees at Barnes and Noble, but was not able to buy them. So I e-mailed Advanced Graphics, who made the standees for FOTR, and asked if there are any plans for a TTT line. This was my reply.

"Yes, available on Oct. 15th will be a standup of Aragorn and a standup of Legolas & Gimli together.'"

Which reminds me: Lots of people have written in to tell how they got hold of posters and standees and other promotional items in cinemas, bookstores and shops. Basically it comes down to asking - if you see something you like, ask the staff what they're doing with it once the promotional campaign is over. You never know - there might be nobody on the staff that likes LOTR in which case they may be happy to give it to you when they're finished with it. The worst that can happen is that they say 'no.'- Tehanu

9-14-02

Gambling er...Gamling The Old Talks TTT
Xoanon @ 11:34 pm EST
Lessa writes: A friend from NZ saw Bruce Hopkins (Gamling) at a debate this past week and had this to say:

He finally had to leave since he flies to Wellington tomorrow to film more LOTR! He is so excited about LOTR since his part has grown from a paragraph in the book to a decent-sized speaking part. They liked his work so far and especially his fight moves. He said it came naturally from his Xena and Hercules days! But now he needs to learn to ride a horse.

He said he and Karl Urban have the biggest actual Kiwi parts, but as a character actor, he knows he won't get much press, even if he does get his own action figure. He is Gamling. But some LOTR people never got his name right and thought it was Gambling so he made up 40 t-shirts with Gambling on them with the "B" x'ed out. Even Elijah Wood got his hands on one and now they're prized collector's items by the crew.

9-12-02

!!!Extended FOTR Script Review!!!
Xoanon @ 3:24 pm EST
Close your doors, lock the shutters, unplug the phone and turn off the TV. I have read the EXTENDED FOTR script and am about to share it for all who are in the need of some deep dish spoiler action.

As I promised to my contact who sent me the script, I will NOT be quoting script word for word, I will be giving you the details on what's new and how it fits into the grand scheme of things.

I'll also be posting about a dozen images from various extended DVD scenes (mainly screenshots from the extended DVD preview on the 'regular' DVD). So here we go....leave now if you don't want your November day spoiled by TORN..


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Still here? Ok then..consider yourself warned.

I was up late last night doing all the work for the massive gaming update I have been posting all night/day for the past few hours. Creating thumbnails and getting the images to fit into our scrapbook...no small feat indeed. Suddenly my Trillian IM pops up with a greeting from a mysterious stranger who claims to have the FOTR script, 'Big deal' I think 'I have 6' (3...none that fly -Xo). He then corrects himself 'Oh I mean the EXTENDED DVD SCRIPT', suddenly it doesn't feel like it's almost 3am..I don't feel like I'm about to nod off in front of my screen again and wake up with the letters y and g stuck to my had from the keyboard...this is the extended DVD script, the script with ALL the goodies attached that only nerd fanboys like us want to see. So I manage to wrestle it off his hands with a promise not to reveal who he is and not to quote it...I then begin to read...and I haven't been able to think about anything else since.

You may ask yourself WHAT could be missing from an already 3 hour film? Well I can tell you PLENTY...I remember going to the press screening for FOTR in November of last year. Right after seeing the film I called my friends at New Line and he asks me to give it to him straight...don't pull and punches...how did I find it...

'I've got to tell you, it was 3 hours plus long, my legs fell asleep, my bottom wanted out and I needed to go to the bathroom so bad I was contemplating recycling my water bottle....but it went by TOO FAST!!'

Where were all the little moments I was DYING to see?! Gimli not wanting to enter Lothlorian, Bilbo with Frodo before he leaves the Shire, the gift giving scene, Boromir and Aragorn...where was all that!!

We now have the answer....and it's coming in November.

The thing I noticed most when I read the extended script was the simple fact that the news scenes at the same time did and did not stand out like a bright shiny penny used for the first time. I noticed them when reading because I had the movie as I know it in my head, and suddenly Gimli is swearing in Dwarvish...it comes as a surprise to you. But at the same time these scenes are so interwoven into the script that your mind can simply accept them and it just seems like the regular version of the film just 'missed' that little piece of dialog or shot or two of one of our characters.

Right from the get go we know that things are different. The opening narration by Cate Blanchett is still there, but it later cuts to a scene with Bilbo writing in his book about Hobbits, the details and whatnots on what makes hobbits tick.

This scene is interwoven into the Gandalf/Frodo cart scene. With an addition on how Frodo thinks Bilbo has been acting strange lately..locked up in his writing room.

After Gandalf arrives at Bag End there is a small added section with Bilbo talking about the Sackville-Bagginses and how they dis-like Bilbo for living so long.

One of the scenes I'm most looking foreward to is the following added party scene. Frodo spots a Sackville-Bagginses heading for Bilbo and just manages to get Bilbo to hide. Bilbo has a tender moment with Frodo telling him how much he means to him and how he has always been a the only true Baggins that showed real spirit in Bilbo's eyes.

Cut to Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin and others at a tavern, the Gaffer is there and singing is lively and boistrious. This scene is added right after Farmer Maggot is confronted by one of the Nazgul. There is a nice little mention of Rosie Cotton as well, with Frodo teasing Sam.

Cut to Frodo and Sam on their own just outside the borders of Hobbiton. They see wood elves maing their way west and on to boats for the Grey Havens, Sam gets his wish to see elves earlier in this version of the film. It also allows for that travelling time between Hobbiton and Buckleberry Ferry and Bree...some have said that in the film Bree seems extremely close to Hobbiton when in reality is it quite a ways off.

Cut to The Hobbits with Strider leaving Bree...there was a great shot in one of the trailers with Merry asking Frodo if we can trust strider...Dominic Monaghan (Merry) has this great sinister look about him, in the final film we only hear him speak, in the extended version there is a line added by Frodo...hopefully we can see that whole exchange between Frodo and Merry.

There is a wonderful little exchange bewteen Frodo and Aragorn, the script doesn't specify if the scenes takes place at night or during the day, but goes like this. Aragorn is singing in Elvish, Frodo askes him what lady in particular he's singing about (Frodo knows elvish, remember?) and Aragorn proceeds to tell him briefly about the story of Beren and Luthien, the star cross'd lovers, one human, one Elvish.

Cut to the scene where Frodo lies in pain after the Morgul blade wound, there is an acknowledgement of the stone trolls they are standing under...cool that.

The next additional bit of dialog is a nice bit of talking between Boromir and Aragorn, this is while Aragorn is in Rivendell reading and Boromir is snooping around the halls and cuts himself with the shards of Narsil. It is very short but interesting none the less.

At the council of Elrond Boromir is given a chance to tell of his vision and his quest to come to Rivendell...he calls the ring Isildur's Bane and Gandalf utters the black tounge of Mordor to which Elrond becomes angry. Very very cool!

Now THIS next scene is worth buying these types of DVD's for! Right after Pippin's 'where are we going?' line we cut to Elrond and Aragorn alone talking. Elrond speaks of Aragorn's mother and how she brought him to Rivendell for protection, they talk about Narsil and how it can be re-forged if Aragorn wishes to use it's power...he does not...he is still fearfull of his past...oh man..I just wet my pants thinking about that scene!!!

Right after Bilbo's scary as hell/sad scene with Frodo, Mithril, Sting and the Ring, Elrond wishes them all a fond farewell with a speech about going only as far as you can, really nice send off...but I also love the way it is now on the 'regular' DVD...I guess we shall have to see the different cuts.

Another great scene up high in Caradhras...Frodo and Gandalf talking about the Ring..and how the burden will effect others...we saw this bit of dialog on the DVD teaser.

Down at the door to Moria...we have more dialog between Gandalf and Pippin..it is interesting to see how their relationship with eachother will play out in movies 2 and 3.

Deep inside Moria before the Cave troll sequence there is a bit more discussion about Moria and Mithril.

During the Gandalf/Frodo discussion about Gollum, Gandalf gives a little more insight into Gollum, more on who he is and any he wants the ring.

Out in the open air again, the Fellowship minus 1 reaches Lothlorien and is confronted by Haldir, Legolas is welcomed and Aragorn is known to them, Gimli on the other hand is much more adamant about leaving and words are exchanged in Elvish and Dwarvish. Yet they are still allowed entrance.

At Caras Galadhon Haldir tells them about Lothlorien and we see more of it while he speaks aobut it.

There is a slightly longer discussion with Celeborn and Galadriel, more is discussed about Gandalf and what happened in Moria.

Right after Legolas tells the fellowship about the lament for Gandalf, they talk a bit more about him, the Hobbits mention his fireworks as Gimli snores in the background.

At the mirror of Galadriel scene, she tells Frodo about Nenya, a very short bit of added dialog.

The longest deleted scene is of course the infamous gift-giving scene, the scene that rumor has it, PJ fought bitterly for, but ultimately had to give it up, lest the film be 4 hours in legnth at on the screen, which would have killed it at the box office.

This scene looks great, it is almost word for word from the books, so go grab it off your shelf and have a little fun.

There's a great little scene here with Gimli and Legolas, Gimli is terribly sad to leave that land, now knowing of the beauty and wonder of Lothlorien and his love for Galadriel, he is saddened.

The danger and tension of the river Anduin scene is heightened by the discovery that Gollum is following them on a log not far behind...Aragorn spots him first.

Another added scene is a small scene between Frodo and Sam, something of a forshadowing of Movie 2, they are sitting together and Sam wants desperately for Frodo to eat and sleep, of which, the little Hobbit cannot do.

And what gets my vote as my 2nd favorite scene (right...they ALL are! -Xo) is this confrontation between Aragorn and Boromir, Boromir obviously wants to head east to Minas Tirith, while Aragorn maintains they should head south to Mordor...really great stuff.

Cut to Boromir's death scene..after he takes his last breath Aragorn mentions a few words about his people looking for him in the White City...but he will not be there.

This is it, all the added scenes. The rest seems mainly the same, and I'm sure all of these scenes combined make for a good 30 minutes. I'm also sure there will be other things not mentioned in this version of the script that I have, who knows....we shall wait and see...now that waiting seems MUCH more harder than before!!!!

9-06-02

A Closer Look At Orthanc...
leo @ 5:25 pm EST
Those of you who have spent some time checking out the very cool SideshowToy Orthanc environment and have been following the news for the past two years might have noticed something familiar...

Take a look at the Orthanc environment from this point of view. Does something look familiar? Look at the spikey wheel next to the tower and compare it with the one you can see on this picture:

Yeah folks, I think this could very well be the wheel Saruman gets impaled on sometime during Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers! Of course I don't know the exact details surrounding his death but c'mon, judging by the evidence it's safe to assume Saruman will not live to see the Return of the King...
For more of the wizard-kebab story check out this spy report from almost two years ago or Go Out on a Limb with Quickbeam's 'Who's Spiking Who?'!

9-03-02

Movie props at Whitcoulls in Wellington
Xoanon @ 10:56 am EST
frodo’s girl writes:

I was wandering around Lambton Quay the other day, and was surprised to find a bunch of actual movie goods in the window of Whitcoulls (and yes I asked to be sure they weren’t just very good copies). I had a hard time getting good pics because of the reflection on the window, but here are a just few of the many I snapped. I didn’t manage to get a picture of the nazgul outfit because there was too much reflection. It is pretty cool to see so many props, set pieces and costumes so close up. And it was a really well put together display too. I went back by it today and it is gone. Glad I got pics when I did!


8-27-02

One Ring available in NZ and Australia.
Tehanu @ 2:00 am EST
NZ and Aussie Ringers have heard those words often enough...."Michael Hill, Jeweller." Now apparently he's also Michael Hill, Lord of the Rings.

According to David, "Although it does not appear to have been advertised just yet, people in Australia and New Zealand can now buy The One Ring from selected Michael Hill Jeweller stores (Parramatta Westfields in Sydney is one confirmed store).

The replica is available in either gold (in five grades from 9ct to 22ct) or silver (silver chain an optional extra) and comes with a small leather pouch and card explaining the inscription. The Tengwar do not appear to be coloured. Obviously, the silver replica is much cheaper than the gold equivalent."

More on Bilbo's Farewell Song.
Tehanu @ 1:55 am EST
Thanka to Nevlonde, Ian and Yavie for all these news and picture!


Original
poster of bilbo's last song from the 70s

News thanks to Nevlonde: "Hi. Just read the e-mail about Bilbo's Last Song. Don't know if you know that the poem was set to music by Donald Swann in his compilation of songs that were poems in LOTR. The songbook is entitled THE ROAD GOES EVER ON: A Song Cycle. Music by Donald Swann; Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien. I have the 2nd edition, published in 1978. It is now out of print, but the song is just beautiful. For years I have played it and cried every time, picturing Bilbo leaving Middle Earth. There was an old recording of the songs on, (a Record, if you know what that is!). I don't have it but had borrowed it from the library. Swann played and sang the songs and that's how I learned them.

There are some volumes for sale on-line, but there're not cheap. But his music is really good and the songs were approved by Tolkien. There's a nice introduction to the music book, explaining how Swann came to write the melodies and that Tolkien approved all, but had him revise the music for "Namarie." Tolkien hummed what was a Gregorian chant and Swann basically used that with a bit added by Swann. Thought this might be interesting to you. "

And Ian ads this:

The BBC recording of the radio series, originally broadcast 21 years ago, featured this poem spoken over music as part of the finale of the radio dramatisation, but it was not included on the separately released soundtrack album by Stephen Oliver. John Le Mesurier. who played the part of Bilbo, was not really a singer and although the original radio adapter Brian Sibley and director Jane Morgan, loved his "sung" version Tolkien's secretary didn't - and she would not give permission for the "sung" version to be included in the radio series. As a result it was re-recorded as a spoken piece over the music that was broadcast as part of the serial but never included on the musical soundtrack album.

Last year, with the expiration of copyright I believe, the BBC were able to broadcast the "sung" version on a documentary on Tolkien by Brian Sibley, which to everyone I know who's heard is far more poignant than the spoken word version. The fact that Le Mesurier is not a great singer only adds to its charm. When the BBC released new CD recordings of the radio series earlier this year (to include new intro's and outro's recorded earlier this year by Ian Holm - the movie's Bilbo, but the radio series' Frodo) they included the musical soundtrack CD with this extra new version added.

8-26-02

TTT Premiere News: Paris Theatre Chosen!
Xoanon @ 11:58 am EST
From the folks at Elbakin.com:

It's now official, the premiere will take place in Le Grand Rex Theater the 10 December 2002.

Take a look at some info on Le Grand Rex:

Le Grand Rex - 1, Boulevard Poissonnière - 75002 Paris
www.legrandrex.com

The Grand Rex was born in 1932. It is the last historic movie palace still open in Paris with the original auditorium. It is by far the largest auditorium in Paris, the only one over one thousand seats, ahead of the eight hundred seats of theater 3 of the Paramount Opera, and theaters 1 of the Normandie and the Bretagne.

The Main screen is 16.90m (55ft) wide; all the width is used, only the height varies, from 745m (24ft) for cinemascope to 8.45m (28ft) in 1.85. Although these sizes are more than decent, it is a pity than the picture is smaller in cinemascope than in 1.85 (on the Champs-Elysées, the UGC Normandie used to have the same problem). This screen probably is the largest flat screen in Paris.


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