"I actually haven't seen it yet," laughs Peter Jackson of the new extended cut he's readied for November release on DVD, and has arranged to show to the cast and Empire in his Camperdown cinema.

"I have only the inserted cuts." In all, 35 minutes have been added from the original rough cut, scenes that were shaved away in order to achieve a sensible running time and brisker pace. The resultis not necessary a better film, but a more thorough version that penetrates deeper into Tolkien's mythology and enhances the other members of the Fellowship. Book fans will be gratified at the return of some of those special moments that were absent.

"When the theatrical cut was done," explains Mark Ordesky, "the feeling was that there was an awful lot of fantastic stuff left out. That was the inspiration. This layer of subtext, you don't need it, but it is awful nice to have it if you want it."

A brief overview of the new footage :

- The Shire sequence has been greatly extended, including a voiceover from Bilbo "Concerning Hobbits". And Pippin sings !

- Aragorn is given a fleshed-out backstory, including him visiting his mother's grave in Rivendell. He also sings in Elvish.

- The Council of Elrond is extended, including Gandalf speaking in the dark tongue of Mordor and more confrontation with Boromir.

- In Moria, the battle with the cave-troll is longer, including Aragorn saving Boromir's life.

- Lothlórien is much longer, including more of Haldir's complaints over Gimli, Celeborn, and the famous gift-giving sequence with Galadriel. Her Swan Boat makes its appearance.

- Gollum as "the log with eyes" gets another cameo.

- The battle with Lurtz and the Uruk-Hai has small scene re-inserted that give it far more zip. For example, Lurtz pulls the dagger from his leg and licks away the blood.

Ian Nathan

Winning Empire and MTV Awards. Appearing in Gap ads for Cameron Crowe. Having studios retain "beard growth" approval for his role in the upcoming Ned Kelly. It's been a crazy six months for the 25 year-old Canterbury lad, but it could have been very different.

If Guildhall's scholarship student had got the role he auditioned for in Peter Jackson's trilogy, no-one would have heard of him - yet. Bloom was originally up for the part of Faramir, who doesn't appear until The Two Towers, and recorded his audition piece for that. "Then a call came back saying that Faramir wasn't going to be made available to me, could I go on tape as Legolas ? I was like , 'Yeah, absofuckinglutely !' Then I got another call, two days before I finished at Guildhall, and I was screaming the place down. Eighteen months in New Zealand ! It couldn't be better !"

That's not strictly true. What the role did involve is tough training for Bloom to fill the frame of the athletic Elf warrior. "I had to be really good on a horse, because at one point in the second movie, I am cantering along and I let go of the reigns and fire bow and arrow."

Injuries were inevitable.

"I broke a rib," Bloom states matter-of-factly. "I came off a horse. We'd done this shot five times, and you have to imagine that the Orcs and Uruk-Hai are around you and you are battering them down with your arrows. I had my hand on the reign and Brett Beattie (Gimli's stunt double) was behind me and had a horse that decided to stop. I bailed and landed on a rock, and Brett landed on top of me."

Ouch ! Mind you, Bloom is used to injuries. He once fell three floors off a friend's balcony and was hospitalised for several days while doctors worked out whether he'd ever walk again. It wouldn't be a surprise to find him knocked off them again, in the barrage of publicity he's faced since Fellowship, but Bloom is trying to keep his cool and enjoy the ride. "To work on a project like Lord Of The Rings was amazing. It's so jiggy, I feel spoiled !"

Appearing in Empire isn't bad, either.

"I'm so pleased, man. I've always wanted to be in films and I've been reading Empire for forever. When I was in New Zealand I got it sent over. I had all the creature comforts sent over !"

Emma Cochrane

Source : Empire Magazine (September 2002)