March 6 '04
Orlando in 'Elizabethtown' -- Posted by kenzie on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 11:12 PM GMT
Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom have been cast in the leads. If Crowe is able to slim this thing down, and make it less about Kentucky culture and more about humans sparking, maybe, as with “Say Anything” (which this resembles in small ways), he’ll have something that will make moviegoers remember his characters not just on the drive home from the film, but for the rest of their lives. Maybe......more
Sideshow Weta News and Photos -- Posted by Fatty on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 11:09 PM GMT
SAURON'S HELM AND MACE REVEALED!
We have posted an image of Sauron's helmet and his Mace to wet your insatiable appetites for the finest in LOTR collectibles! This figure is very close to selling out with under 500 pieces remaining. Place your pre-order today!
ENTER THE MINES OF MORIA!
Sideshow/Weta Collectibles is proud to offer for pre-sale this exclusive, limited edition polystone environment of The Mines of Moria. Expertly crafted at Weta Workshop, the piece is highly detailed, and is a stunning miniature of one of Peter Jackson's favorite scenes from the three movies. We expect this piece to sell quickly, so place your pre-order today!
LOTR - SAM & BILL GIVEAWAY!
Enter now for a chance to win the SOLD OUT 'Sam & Bill the Pony' figure from The Fellowship of the Ring line of collectibles. Entries will be accepted from registered newsletter members from 6 p.m. (PT) on 2/24/04 until 6 p.m. (PT) on 3/24/04. One potential winner will be randomly drawn and their name will be posted on our website. more details
Sean Astin at L.A. Comic Con -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 9:10 PM GMT
Sean Astin is scheduled to appear at L.A. Comic Con's monthly con, on March 14. Details are available at the con web site here [A hint: if you want a guaranteed seat, get to the hall early--say, 8 a.m.--to wait in line for the box office to open at 9:30. . . . Advance tickets are not available]
March 8th--The Big Day for ROTK on DVD -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 9:07 PM GMT
The official LOTR site has a link inviting fans to visit again on March 8, when it will be offering news regarding the release of the ROTK DVD. You can see the site here
Rings jeweller recognised -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 9:05 PM GMT
As accolades continue to roll in for the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, the Nelson company which created the ring for it is receiving accolades of its own.
Jens Hansen Gold and Silversmith has just been nominated for an Imperial Mark, an international recognition of excellence. . . more
Bulgarian Fans Mark The Lord of the Rings 50th Anniversary -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 9:02 PM GMT
The Bulgarian diehard fans of the legendary JRR Tolkien marked the 50th anniversary since the publishing of the first book of "The Lord of the Rings". . . more
Long wait likely for The Hobbit -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 8:07 PM GMT
Peter Jackson won't be returning to the Shire any time soon. The Oscar-winning director is planning to film The Hobbit, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien, but two studios must first fight over legal rights to the film. . . more
New Zealand tourism to bloom after Oscars sweep -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 8:05 PM GMT
There are still a few sore heads across the Tasman, after a week of parties celebrating New Zealand's success at the academy awards in Los Angeles. It was a clean sweep for the final instalment of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King – 11 Oscars from 11 nominations.
It also provided some wonderful free advertising for New Zealand. There were no fewer than 16 New Zealand related mentions on the Hollywood stage that night. And Tourism New Zealand can already hear the cash registers ringing. . . more
Trading a kingdom for a horse -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 8:04 PM GMT
Viggo Mortensen is only now starting to wind down from the nearly four-year marathon that was The Lord of the Rings. . . more
Box Office Update: Return of the king opens weekend with a good start -- Posted by Radagast on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 8:03 PM GMT
The Friday estimates has just arrived. As we know New Line planned a re-opening of Return of the king, by showing it on more than 2000 screens. It seems to have paid off. ROTK made an estimated $760.000. That is a 53.3% increase compared to last fridays gross. With these figures ROTK re-enters the daily Top10 again, despite the opening of two brand new movies Starsky and Hutch and our very own Viggo Mortensens newest movie Hidalgo. Starsky and Hutch made an estimated $9.600.000 and Hidalgo made an estimated $5.800.000. This is unfortunetly, a slow opening for Viggo Mortensen and Hidalgo. These two movies had however no effect on The Passion of the Christ, which made an estimated $14.100.000 That is a 38,5% drop since last weeks friday. ROTK only dropped 12,2% on its second week Friday.
Narnia: Narnia Ad Runs in Major Newspapers -- Posted by kenzie on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 7:13 PM GMT
A very first look at Narnia. This ad was run in the March 2nd USA Today on page 6D-7D in the Life Section. It also ran in the March 2nd NY Times on pages B6-B7. Along with in the Wallstreet Journal on pages B4-B5.
Click here for Ad.
Art Gallery Update! -- Posted by Illuvatar on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 6:10 PM GMT
Hey Folks, We've updated our Art Gallery with some excellent work from artists that you've seen before and some new ones as well! We've got brand new art from one of our favorites artists Iris J. Scadden. Carol Covey and Aredhel Evenstar have also sent in more of their work for your viewing pleasure. And we have our very own Igtica, and Ivyetta Grubb now presenting their art here for the first time. We are proud to include their excellent work in our gallery and invite to you stop by and check them out! Thanks all of you for your submissions!
Bad Taste propels Peter's success -- Posted by kenzie on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 4:18 PM GMT
Two decades ago, a Kiwi called Peter Jackson was running around Wellington filming a comedy splatter flick. Bad Taste took four years to make, with Jackson and his friends working on the project in between their day jobs. The film eventually made its way to prestigious Cannes Film Festival where it met with critical acclaim, was sold to 30 countries and attracted a cult following. Jackson's professional career as a film director had begun. Today, the Kiwi director reigns as the king of Hollywood, after The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King's clean sweep at the Academy Awards.....more
Charlize with PJ's first pick for Aragorn, Stuart Townsend -- Posted by kenzie on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 3:27 PM GMT
Screen beauty CHARLIZE THERON loves her career in Hollywood - but it's not as important to her as her romance with fellow star STUART TOWNSEND. The sexy South African met Brit Townsend on the set of the film TRAPPED and they have been inseparable ever since - although Charlize denies they have plans to marry yet.......more
Top Grossing Trilogies - Worldwide -- Posted by Radagast on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 1:57 PM GMT
On the Box Office front, a lot of the things has been going on. Therefore I would like to slow things down by showing a list of the Top Grossing Trilogies - Worldwide of Alltime. 1. Lord of the Rings - $2.830.900.000 2. Jurassic Park - $1.902.100.000 3. StarWars 4-6 - $1.788.800.000 4. The Matrix - $1.623.300.000 5. Indiana Jones - $1.211.800.000 6. Batman - $1.032.500.000 7. Terminator - $1.030.000.000 8. Back to the Future - $926.300.000 9. Home Alone - $915.700.000 10. Hannibal Lecter - $832.200.000
Jewelers don mantle as Lords of the Ring Makers -- Posted by kenzie on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 12:57 PM GMT
Every time the television cameras focused on Peter Jackson and his crew at the Academy Awards — in other words: most of last Sunday night — some Utahns couldn't help but feel as giddy as Gimli does while slaying evil orcs.
The happy-as-hobbits-in-the-Shire staff from Badali Jewelry Specialties Inc. proved you didn't have to be a Hollywood filmmaker or haute-couture slinky gown designer to have your artwork displayed to the world. The Utah company designed a Middle-earth style good-luck pin that adorned the award-winning director and other "Lord of the Rings" Oscar nominees......more
John Howe's Big Day Out -- Posted by kenzie on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 12:55 PM GMT
Getting to the U.S. was no trouble, the only letdown being that I did want to try the new biometric PortPASS portal, which in theory lets you skip the endless lines in L.A.X. and scoot through in no time. Much to my disappointment, there were no lines at all, and their Stargate-style portal was out of order. (I think U.S. Immigration is due to upgrade to Windows 3 sometime soon and the system was down.)
The parties and all that were good fun. The view over L.A. from the top of the hills is very impressive, Sean Connery is charming but shorter than I'd imagined, Omar Shariff is an exceedingly elegant gentleman, Steve Tyler is equally charming, Ted Turner is really quite tall, Geena Davis is even taller, Sala Baker and Laurence Makoare are absolutely huge (but happily very sweet) and Paris Hilton fell in the pool......more
Liv and Elijah on TRL -- Posted by kenzie on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 12:46 PM GMT
This Monday, March 8th Liv Tyler will be appearing on MTV's TRL. Elijah Wood will be on the show on March 21, to promote his new movie 'Eternal Sunshine.'.....source
Sideshow/Weta News -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 9:13 AM GMT
ENTER THE MINES OF MORIA!
Sideshow/Weta Collectibles is proud to offer for pre-sale this exclusive, limited edition polystone environment of The Mines of Moria. Expertly crafted at Weta Workshop, the piece is highly detailed, and is a stunning miniature of one of Peter Jackson's favorite scenes from the three movies. We expect this piece to sell quickly, so place your pre-order today! SAURON'S HELM AND MACE REVEALED!
We have posted an image of Sauron's helmet and his Mace to wet your insatiable appetites for the finest in LOTR collectibles! This figure is very close to selling out with under 500 pieces remaining. Place your pre-order today! LOTR - SAM & BILL GIVEAWAY!
Enter now for a chance to win the SOLD OUT 'Sam & Bill the Pony' figure from The Fellowship of the Ring line of collectibles. Entries will be accepted from registered newsletter members from 6 p.m. (PT) on 2/24/04 until 6 p.m. (PT) on 3/24/04. One potential winner will be randomly drawn and their name will be posted on our website. more details
Viggo Mortensen & Buckethead -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Saturday, March 6 2004 at 5:43 AM GMT
The man who portrayed Aragorn talks about recording with the king of horror guitar. To the world at large Viggo Mortensen is known because of the various characters he's portrayed in films like A Perfect Murder, G.I. Jane, and of course the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Yet Mortensen is one of those celluloidal thespians who spends much of his spare time between films working on other artistic endeavors. Not only is he an accomplished photographer and poet, but he's also dipped into the realm of music. To date he's collaborated several times with the outlandishly bizarre experimental guitarist Buckethead.....more
March 5 '04
Box Office Update: ROTK daily gross increased by 28% since Oscar Night -- Posted by Radagast on Friday, March 5 2004 at 10:00 PM GMT
The Oscar show, caused a big increase in the Return of the King daily gross. Return of the king jumped up to a +28,6% compared to last weeks gross. Making the domestic gross an impressive total of $365.172.348 million dollars In the countries outside USA and Canada, ROTK is showing remarkable stamina and according to AMPAS, ROTK grossed $11m in three days (27-29 February) Making the international gross a grand total of 668.658.833 million dollars This places it, as the second highest grossing movie at the international box office of all time. Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ made a mega-blockbuster opening last week by grossing 125,185,971 million dollars in 5 days. This meant that the previous keeper of the 5-day opening record (Return of the King) was knocked off the hot seat. ROTK made $124,100,534m on its 5-day opening. Some people are thinking that The Passion is going to overrun ROTK, but I personally think that there is nothing to worry about. ROTK had an amazingly strong second week, plus the international gross for ROTK was and still is incredible. The worldwide gross for Return of the king is at the moment: 1.033.831.181 billion dollars. To see how Return of the King is doing against The Passion… click here
LONDON FILM AND COMIC CON -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Friday, March 5 2004 at 9:59 PM GMT
Wembley Exhibition Centre:
Appearing are: John Rhys Davies, Thomas Robins(Deagol) , Andy Serkis, Billy Boyd, John Noble, Bruce Hopkins, Sala Baker and Bob Anderson.
Sat 6th March 9AM - 6PM and Sun 7th March 10AM -5PM
official site (thanks to Yelsel) *Anyone plan on going to this event? If so, WOTR welcomes your report and/or images.*
Narnia: The city that inspired Narnia fantasy -- Posted by kenzie on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:50 PM GMT
With work under way on a film of CS Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, BBC News Online's Greg McKevitt investigates the roots of its Belfast-born author and the Northern Ireland settings that fired his boyhood imagination. Ever since the Lord of the Rings trilogy came to the cinemas, New Zealand's spectacular scenery has been associated with the Oscar-winning recreation of Middle Earth imagined by the books' author JRR Tolkien. Hoping to repeat this success, the Disney company has announced it is backing a movie of CS Lewis' most famous tale.......more
Lord of the Rings Coming To HDTV? -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:41 PM GMT
The digitalbits.com is reporting that the Lord of the “Lord of the Rings”, Peter Jackson, recently alluded to releasing his movies in HDTV formats. . . more
Hobbit-ual thanks-givers wear thin -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:39 PM GMT
It's a bit of dying art, saying "thank-you". But this week, we've all had an advanced lesson in the etiquette of gratitude - and for that we'd like to thank The Academy. It was an exercise in gooey politeness (with the endearingly scruffy Peter Jackson being the original "warm fuzzy") as varying ensembles of Lord of the Rings notables trooped up on stage at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. . . more
Newest Troy Trailer -- Posted by kenzie on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:30 PM GMT
Comingsoon.net has just updated their site with the newest Troy trailer. After it made one of it's first appearances on Access Hollywood. Click here for the trailer. (Quicktime needed.)
FOTR Makes World Television Premiere OnThe WB This November -- Posted by kenzie on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:20 PM GMT
BURBANK, CA (March 5, 2004) - The WB will broadcast the World Television Premiere of all three films in New Line Cinema's Oscar-winning trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings," directed, produced and co-written by Peter Jackson. The first premiere is set for November sweeps, when the network will air the World Television Premiere of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" in High Definition, with subsequent films airing during Fall sweeps each subsequent year. The announcement was made today by Jordan Levin, Co-CEO of The WB......more
Cate Blanchett makes an impression on Martin Scorsese -- Posted by kenzie on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:14 PM GMT
Martin Scorsese clearly wanted Lord of the Rings actress Cate Blanchett to play Katharine Hepburn in his film about Howard Hughes. "For the part of Katharine Hepburn, get me the girl who was in ‘Elizabeth,’" he reportedly told his casting director. "If you can’t get her, get me the girl in ‘Veronica Guerin.’ If you can’t get her, get me the girl in ‘The Shipping News.’" Blanchett, of course, played all three roles.....source
Rings party on hold until Jackson returns -- Posted by kenzie on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:13 PM GMT
New Zealand are holding off their celebrations in the wake of The Lord of the Rings Oscar triumph until director Peter Jackson returns home from the US. "Any decision about the form of the tribute should involve Peter," Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast told BBC Online. "This is of huge importance to Wellington, so our emphasis will be on getting it right, not getting it quickly," she said.....more
Tyler Explains Vintage Spectacles -- Posted by kenzie on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:09 PM GMT
LORD OF THE RINGS star LIV TYLER's glasses at Sunday's ACADEMY AWARDS (29FEB04) were not a fashion statement - she was worried she wouldn't be able to see the teleprompter without them. The stunning actress stunned onlookers when she graced the KODAK THEATRE's stage wearing a pair of SELIMA OPTIQUE frames while introducing some of the best song nominees. But Tyler insists her decision was wear spectacles was purely out of necessity. She says, "The last time I presented at the Oscars, I could see the monitor. But when I went to the SAG AWARDS the other day, I couldn't see a thing!".....more
Yahoo! News Sets Up "Hobbit" Page -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:05 PM GMT
It might seem a bit premature, but Yahoo! News has set up a page of movie news for "The Hobbit." Have a look here!
Narnia: Kidman to be cast in Narnia movies? -- Posted by kenzie on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:05 PM GMT
The glamorous star of recent films, The Hours and Cold Mountian, arrived early on Thursday morning and took part in a whirlwind tour of Canterbury's high country in a helicopter. One of the locations paid particular attention was Flock Hill station near Arthurs Pass where there were several sightings of the actress and accompanying crew. The visit has firmed up rumors Kidman has signed for a major role in the film which is being brought to the big screen by Kiwi producer-director Andrew Adamson, who also produced the Oscar-winning animated film Shrek. Adamson's latest epic, based on the C S Lewis class, will be filmed mainly in Auckland but some scenes will be shot in the South Island. At 178cm tall, the pale, imposing Kidman, 36, is thought to be perfect for the role of the White Witch, who in the book puts a spell on Narnia so that it is always winter and never Christmas.......more
Master of Horror to Lord of the Films -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:00 PM GMT
What would you say if someone told you that the brain behind the Oscar “sweeping” epic The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King is also the man responsible for films like Bad Taste, Braindead, Meet the Feebles... horror flicks or more appropriately — gross-out splatter films that have made you squirm in your seats. Surprise, surprise — the bespectacled, Gimli (the Dwarf lord in LOTR) look-alike director Peter Jackson has captured the goriest footage ever made on 35mm film. . . more
After Aragorn -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:56 PM GMT
"I don't have any long range plans," says film star Viggo Mortensen, his voice as hushed and calm as Aragorn's. "I'm not signed up for any other movies. I haven't had time." . . . more
Strangers in a Strange Land -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:54 PM GMT
For the uninitiated, here's help in fathoming what the 'Lord of the Rings' fuss is all about . . . more (requires free registration)
Lord Of The Rings Star Hates Los Angeles -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:48 PM GMT
Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen says he can't stand Los Angeles - he finds it shallow and boring. . . more
New competition for Lord Of The Rings -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:47 PM GMT
Peter Jackson may be planning The Hobbit, another film in the The Lord Of The Rings series. But he will now face competition. And this time, Germany's Cornelia Funke's fantasy novel, Inkheart, will be adapted on screen, reports the The Times, London. The 542-page novel is about a bookbinder, Mo, who can breathe life into stories and characters when she reads out loud. . . more
AIAS Awards -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:43 PM GMT
Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) Announces Winners of 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Lord of the Rings(TM): The Return of the King(TM), published by Electronic Arts, developed by Electronic Arts, Redwood Shores
Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance -- Male
Elijah Wood (Frodo) -- Lord Of The Rings(TM): The Return Of The King(TM), published by Electronic Arts, developed by Electronic Arts
Redwood Shores source
Lord of the Rings casts its magic on Chinese box office -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:40 PM GMT
BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The final episode of the Lord of the Rings is set to be a spellbinding success at the Chinese box office when it finally opens on March 12, thanks to its clean sweep of 11 Oscars at Sunday's Academy Awards. . . more
Led by a lackluster star, 'Hidalgo' doesn't have enough horsepower -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:39 PM GMT
Like most movies about men and horses, "Hidalgo" spares no expense in matters of corniness. Set in the 1890s, it's sort of a throwback movie, executed with the boyish kick of dusty old cowboy matinees. "Sort of" because the movie makes an admirable attempt to create non-American characters that function independently of the movie's hero, one Frank T. Hopkins. . . more
Elijah Wood wears bio-degradable undies! -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:38 PM GMT
Being environment friendly is in fashion these days. And gauging the trend, the company 2(x)ist has introduced a line of underwear made from Tencel, a biodegradable material. According to the New York Post, the Hobbits - Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan - all received their share of underwear. source
Ringing the changes with Elvish lessons -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:37 PM GMT
Children at a Birmingham school are learning a language with a unique ring to it - Tolkien's Elvish. Pupils at Turves Green Boys School are learning to speak Sindarin, the language invented by JRR Tolkien and spoken by the elves in his Lord of the Rings trilogy. . . more
Accountants are UK's lords of the book -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:36 PM GMT
A new survey of the nation's reading habits has revealed that accountants appear to love reading almost as much they love numbers, making them the nation's top bookworms. Accountants spend five and a half hours reading every week with their favourite authors being JRR Tolkien and Jane Austen. source
3 dinner party topics -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:35 PM GMT
"Return of the King really wasn't that good." Look, I don't begrudge the movie its Oscars. The scale of Peter Jackson's vision deserves admiration and acknowledgment. The Rings trilogy is an astonishingly impressive project. And Jackson may be the most gloriously schlubby guy ever to win a statuette - a hero to all of us who would turn away the Queer Eye team. But Tolkien geeks aside, was anyone really excited by the third movie? . . . more
Fantasy films earn overdue Oscar honor -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:35 PM GMT
As Peter Jackson indicated so softly and succinctly Sunday night, Hollywood is no longer afraid of the "f" word – and by that, of course, I mean the long-forbidden genre of fantasy.
For the first time in its 76-year history, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences overcame a perplexing and longstanding prejudice as voters finally awarded a fantasy film the Oscar for best picture.....more
Oscar wasn't so good, never made it to climax -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:34 PM GMT
Before I thank anyone in New Zealand, I'd like to blame the 170 members of the Cinematography Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for their egregious failure to nominate "Return of the King," thereby preventing a new Oscar record from being set. Never before has there been a sweep this comprehensive: 11 Oscars from 11 nominations. Peter Jackson's triumphant conclusion needed only one more win to edge past "Ben-Hur" and "Titanic" in the all-time standings. . . more
Elbakin.net's Oscar Screencaps -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:33 PM GMT
Some funny screencaps from the Oscars intro and Billy Cristal's ROTK
parody....here
Viggo rides again -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:27 PM GMT
. . . The Oregonian spoke with Mortensen about "Hidalgo," "Lord of the Rings" and cowboy philosophy -- with a quick detour into the veracity of Hopkins' biography, which has come under fire for being somewhat larger-than-life. Following are highlights. . . more
NL's royal treatment led 'King' to throne -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:25 PM GMT
At Sunday night's Academy Awards, when the opened envelop revealed that "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" had just won adapted screenplay -- its ninth award of the evening -- New Line Cinema's Rolf Mittweg, president and chief operating officer of worldwide marketing and distribution, and Russell Schwartz, president of domestic theatrical marketing, knew that was the defining moment. "We just looked at each other incredulously," Schwartz says. . . more
News on Return of the King DVD -- Posted by Radagast on Friday, March 5 2004 at 5:26 PM GMT
Peter Jackson has just recently finished the Extended cut of the DVD. The poor guys at WETA was givin an additional 350 effects shots to do. Peter Jackson talks about the Extended DVD and a possible LOTR Box set in 2005...... more
A new John Wayne -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Friday, March 5 2004 at 8:03 AM GMT
Mortensen wasn't half this emotional about the four Hobbit actors he worked with on The Lord Of The Rings. Sean Astin nearly lost a foot and Elijah Wood had an emergency appendix operation, just to name a couple of the many Rings zings, but you didn't hear Mortensen in interviews praising their stoicism.....more
Oscar-winning movies are put on the fast track to DVD -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Friday, March 5 2004 at 7:29 AM GMT
The theatrical version of Return of the King on DVD could arrive as early as May, several months sooner than the first two chapters of the trilogy, says Video Business editor-in-chief Scott Hettrick. The extended version might arrive earlier, too, because "this time, they don't have additional theatrical (releases) coming out," he says....more
March 4 '04
Upcoming LOTR TV Programming -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 11:15 PM GMT
Set your TiVOs or VCRs--here are some upcoming LOTR/cast-related TV programs! REMINDER: National Geographic's Ultimate Explorer will air "Beyond the Movie: Lord of the Rings" this Sunday, March 7, at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT. Upcoming talk show appearances:
Viggo Mortensen--Late Show With Craig Kilbourn, 3/4, 11:35pm ET, CBS
Viggo Mortensen--Live With Regis & Kelly, 3/5, 9 am ET, ABC
Liv Tyler--Late Night With Conan O'Brien, 3/10, 12:37 am, NBC
Elijah Wood--The Tonight Show, 3/10, 11:35 pm ET, NBC
Elijah Wood--Late Night With Conan O'Brien, 3/12, 12:37 am ET, NBC
Documentary in the Works on John Howe -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 8:56 PM GMT
How DO you turn a totally boring stay-at-home illustrator into someone you would willingly watch for more than five minutes on a screen? Well, it's beyond me. But, apparently not beyond François Boetschi, Anders Banke and the folks at Solid Entertainment. . . more
TV Pilot for Dominic? -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 8:54 PM GMT
Yahoo! News reports: " In other pilot casting news, Dominic Monaghan (news), Ian Somerhalder (news), Jorge Garcia and Evangeline Lilly will play castaways in J.J. Abrams' drama "Lost" for ABC. . ." Source
Diary of a Hobbit Fiend Part XIIV -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 8:51 PM GMT
Okay, I'll say it right up front. It was DULL. It was one of the most boring Oscar ceremonies I've ever watched, despite my being thrilled with the clean sweep. I had high expectations for some hobbity zaniness. In preparation I dressed in my “Frodo” best and decorated my home with “Leaves of Lorien” strewn about a spectacular “White Tree of Gondor” lamp. And believe me, that was quite the task in a small “one room to fit it all” studio apartment. . . more
Return of the Handsome King -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 8:48 PM GMT
Viggo Mortensen is every bit as gentle and soft-spoken as the soulful warrior king Aragorn he plays in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Although his long locks have been replaced with a reddish crop, and he's visibly exhausted from this publicity tour, the American-born actor nevertheless manages to exude comfortable sex appeal and charm. . . more
New Zealand adjusts to life after the `Rings' -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 8:46 PM GMT
WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- The film's characters, in enormous likenesses, loom from airport and theater rooftops. Postage stamps, coffee cups and airplanes are festooned with their pictures. Movie-related art exhibitions crowd galleries. . . more
Visual Effects of Lord of the Rings -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 8:45 PM GMT
The Lord of the Rings films involve complex CGI work, but they are not entirely CG movies. Computers were used to blend location footage, studio footage, miniatures and digital shots in seamless sequences. Production designer Grant Major explained. . . more
Finding Viggo: 'Rings' made longtime film actor Mortensen a star -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 8:43 PM GMT
Go to just about any movie and you'll see them — those almost-anonymous, hardworking actors whose name nobody remembers but who always play the hero's pal or the heroine's second-string boyfriend. Sometimes, they just might get a lead role in a small movie that almost nobody sees, going from obscurity to "you know, that guy who was in that movie" and then fading again. . . more
Andy Serkis Appearance -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 7:58 PM GMT
Andy is on tomorrow's Richard and Judy Channel 4 at 5:00PM (thanks to syelsel)
Do you speak Elf? -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 7:21 PM GMT
It's a hard life being an elf. As if murderous orcs and magic spells weren't enough to contend with, there are two languages to learn - loosely based on Welsh and Finnish. Undeterred by the challenge, a group of schoolboys has volunteered for lessons in Sindarin, the "conversational" form of Elvish, invented by Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien.....more
Mel's Passion beats Lord of the Rings -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 7:19 PM GMT
Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ has broken the US five-day box office record held by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.....more
Rings 'religious themes' praised -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 7:17 PM GMT
The Oscar-winning Lord of The Rings has stronger religious themes than Mel Gibson's controversial movie about the Crucifixion, a leading cleric says. The statement, by the assistant bishop of Newcastle, followed a special screening of The Passion of The Christ for 300 clergymen in the city....more (thanks to david =)
LOTR exhibit Boston -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 7:15 PM GMT
I saw the banner for the LOTR exhibit in Singapore. Well, after it closes there, it will go on to the Museum of Science in Boston (Massachusetts, USA). Opening date is August 1, 2004. It will stay there until October 24th, 2004 after which it will go to Sydney. More information about the exhibit can be found here Tickets will go on sale for Members on May 1st and will be $3. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on June 1st, and will be $19. They will be honored only on the day/time listed. (thanks to leany)
New Zealand waits for Rings party -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 7:13 PM GMT
New Zealand are holding off their celebrations in the wake of The Lord of the Rings Oscar triumph until director Peter Jackson returns home from the US. "Any decision about the form of the tribute should involve Peter," said Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast.....more (thanks to adele)
BRING MIDDLE EARTH FURNITURE TO YOUR HOME!! -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 7:07 PM GMT
This month sees the world wide launch of a range of exclusive hand crafted oak and bronze Lord of the Rings furniture made in Staffordshire England. Building on the phenomenal success of the latest Lord of the Rings feature film The Return of the King, this unique furniture features carved inscriptions inspired by the Lord of the Rings, unique cast bronze maps of Middle Earth and specially commissioned bronze statue legs from the films original characterisations. To view this exclusive range of unique furniture please visit our website
The Return of The Return of the King -- Posted by kenzie on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 12:20 PM GMT
New Line is hoping to capitalize on the overwhelming Oscar success of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by returning it to more than 2,000 theaters next weekend. The film, which fell out of the top ten for the first time last weekend, has now grossed $364.1 million domestically, and New Line distribution chief David Tuckerman told today's Los Angeles Daily News that he believes the film has not yet realized its potential. "There are groups of people that haven't seen it yet because of the length [more than 3.5 hours] or there are probably some who are afraid to see it because they haven't seen the first two. But this film stands out on its own, so we have to reach these people and tell them, it's OK; you can see it.".....source
Liv Tyler's OSCAR Nerves Calmed by Tim Robbins -- Posted by kenzie on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 11:31 AM GMT
The stunning actress admits she was petrified when she had to grace the stage at the prestigious Hollywood event - and nothing seemed able to help her relax. She says, "I have horrible stage fright, so they gave me a little thing and they said I just had to come out and introduce one thing. "I got to the OSCAR rehearsal and they sat me down and gave me three pages of text and I had to come out three times. I thought it was a joke. I was like, 'You're kidding, right? Where's ASHTON KUTCHER? Am I PUNK'D? What's going on?' I didn't believe them......more
Ringside with Viggo -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 7:34 AM GMT
For about a month, Viggo Mortensen became a bogeyman for rightward-leaning culture watchers who hold J.R.R. Tolkien and the "Rings" series near and dear to their hearts. As Mr. Mortensen puts it, Mr. Medved, a film critic and syndicated radio talk show host, accused him of "ruining 'Lord of the Rings.' "
Of course, no mortal could "ruin" the juggernaut that is the "Lord of the Rings" franchise — witness last Sunday's Oscar sweep — but Mr. Medved, in a column for USA Today and JewishWorldReview.com, did say Mr. Mortensen polluted the movie with politics....more
The Story of Hidalgo -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 5:22 AM GMT
On Thurs. March 4 at 10 p.m. EST/PST, the History Channel will be airing "The Story of Hidalgo," the true story behind the movie starring Viggo Mortensen. Check your local listings for channel!
Preciousssss indeed: Peter sweeps the Oscars -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 5:16 AM GMT
"I'm so honoured and relieved that the Academy have supported us and have seen past the trolls and the wizards and the hobbits," Peter Jackson said when accepting the best picture Oscar.
It was the capstone of an evening in which, through the 11 Oscars handed over to Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, the Academy had shown that it embraced not only the larger value of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, but all those small details that went into making it a box office smash with a huge cult following. . . more
The man who wouldn't be king -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 5:14 AM GMT
The night before Viggo Mortensen is scheduled to talk to a few journalists in Detroit about "Hidalgo," which opens nationwide Friday, he asks his publicist to accompany him to a bookstore so he can buy a few things to autograph. Rare is the day when Mortensen isn't asked to sign something, so he wants to be prepared. . . more
Oscar Success To Boost Wgtn's Tourism -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 5:12 AM GMT
The Wellington tourism industry took a giant leap forward with The Return of the King's 'clean sweep' at the Oscars. . . . more
GOT NEWS? -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 5:10 AM GMT
Got any good LOTR related news, sites or personal stories to share? Let us know!
Oscars find their way home to Wellington -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 5:09 AM GMT
The Oscar kings have begun to return to Wellywood bearing their treasures after their conquest of Hollywood. Special effects supremo Richard Taylor and film editor Jamie Selkirk were the first to return yesterday, getting a rapturous welcome at Wellington airport. . . more
'The red carpet is not for me' -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 5:01 AM GMT
Hugo Weaving, star of The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings trilogies, is one of the most bankable stars in the film industry. But while his co-stars and countrymen celebrated at last weekend's Oscars ceremony, he was determined to stay well away from Hollywood. Nick Squires meets him . . . more
The Bad Commentary Behavior List -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 4:12 AM GMT
You'd think actors and directors would be on their best behavior during a commentary track, but they are only human and occasionally misbehave. The Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition)
The Offense: The hobbits (Elijah, Sean, Dominic, and Billy) start making fun of Orlando Bloom and calling him names on both LOTR EE tracks. source
Annie Lennox Explains Her Oscar Nominated Song -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 2:27 AM GMT
Annie Lennox, who took home the Best Original Song Oscar Award for "Into the West" from The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King, said she was thrilled just to be part of the film. During a backstage interview at the Academy Awards, Lennox said that director Peter Jackson and the rest of the crew were already working on final edits when she entered the project. "Everybody was exhausted when I first came in because it was just before the edit, and Peter had this horrendous job to cut four hours of footage down to three, and I had the privilege of watching that, " Lennox said. source
The National Center for Family Literacy -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 2:19 AM GMT
``Lord of the Rings'' Star Sean Astin Presents the Sean and Christine Astin Family Literacy Success Award to Tampa Family Monday March 1, 8:01 am ET
Astin Advocates for Improved Family Literacy at the National Center for Family Literacy's Annual Conference on March 2 in Orlando....more (thanks to robin =)
Special News Archive Update -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Thursday, March 4 2004 at 2:17 AM GMT
We've updated the links on our Special News Archive (helps with all the news posts we lost). So if you missed anything like reports from gathering and events, check it out!
March 3 '04
This Summer Travel to Middle-Earth -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 11:08 PM GMT
Museum of Science, Boston announces June 1 ticket sales for The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition BOSTON, March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Following The Lord of the Rings sweeping success at the 2004 Academy-Awards® - where the film won all 11 Oscars that they were nominated for, including Best Picture and Best Director, the Museum of Science, Boston announces June 1 ticket sales for The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition.....more
RINGS STAR WEAVING SLAMS OSCARS -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 11:02 PM GMT
LORD OF THE RINGS star HUGH WEAVING has blasted award ceremonies as meaningless - just days after THE RETURN OF THE KING won 11 OSCARS. The 43-year-old Australian, who stars as elf king ELROND in PETER JACKSON's blockbusting trilogy, didn't attend Sunday's (29FEB04) ACADEMY AWARDS because he dislikes such events. Weaving says, "The whole red carpet thing, that's a side of the industry I cannot bear......more
The Comic Reel -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 11:00 PM GMT
Fantastic Four: Superhero Hype is on the ball today: they also have a rumor that "Friends" actor Paul Rudd eschewed the idea that he was ever in the running to portray Kal-El, but he told the SHH scooper, "I have recently been contacted about the Fantastic Four movie, but I don't think I'll be playing the lead or anything. I think they might want a bigger star to anchor the picture." Sean Astin is still gunning for the director's chair, saying he's "in with a good chance" to people at the Vanity Fair post-Oscar party (according to Dark Horizons), and he said Orlando Bloom is committed to play the Human Torch.
Tyler's Spinach Diet -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 11:00 PM GMT
Liv Tyler was put on a diet of spinach, broccoli and protein drinks for three weeks so she could fit into her Oscar dress. The 'Lord of the Rings' star, who looked stunning in a black Givenchy Couture gown, confessed her personal trainer put her on the strict diet before the big event......more
Lord of the epic: Viggo returns in ‘Hidalgo’ -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 10:36 PM GMT
Desert storms did not keep the “Hidalgo” cast and crew from bringing a true story to a theater near you. . . more
Marvelous Myths -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 10:35 PM GMT
Since Hollywood's business is storytelling, fantasy tales have been among its products from inception, but not as serious ouevre. With the third-part of Director Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings (Return of the King), though, Hollywood finally grasped the genre to its heart, triumphantly honoring it with the greatest number of Oscars, placing it alongside Ben Hur and Titanic. Return of the King was crowned with 11 Oscars, not missing one of its nominated categories. . . more
Tolkien Reading Day 3/25/04 -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 10:04 PM GMT
25th March is "Tolkien Reading Day", this event launched last year is aimed at encouraging the use of Tolkien's works in education, by getting schoolteachers and library staff to participate in reading Tolkien to their classes and in their libraries. Tolkien's works encompass many themes, and can be used to illustrate or provide assessment subjects for study areas in current school curricula. Libraries or schools wishing to hold an event are advised to contact the Society for free posters, bookmarks and help with publicising their event. This year also sees some related events. To mark the beginning of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the publication of The Lord of the Rings, the Italian Tolkien Society and The Tolkien Society are promoting an international event Tolkien's Fifty Years. This will take place in Brussels at the European Parliament and the Italian Cultural Institute. The event will include a conference, readings from The Lord of the Rings, two concerts, a film marathon and the European premiere of the Canadian documentary The Legacy of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien-themed evening entertainments, an international exhibition of works of art inspired by The Lord of the Rings; an exhibitions of copies of the book in various languages such as English, Italian, Spanish, German, French, Turkish, Bulgarian, Russian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Norwegian, Dutch and Portuguese, sculptures and the complete series of stamps produced by New Zealand Post on the occasion of the release of Peter Jackson's film trilogy. All this is Free of Charge details can be found on the event's official website New York Tolkien Society's "Ringbearers' Day" Aimed at older readers and so at the weekend, this event takes place on Saturday March 27th at Marymount Manhattan College. Although related to Tolkien Reading Day, Ringbearer's Day is a celebration of the books Master metal smiths Joe Piela and Jenna Brocious of The Lonely Mountain Forge will be there, plus favorite readings, scholarly discussions, Elvish calligraphy lessons cooking, costume and trivia contests. Tickets can be purchased at the door, and admission is FREE for Heren Istarion members and Marymount students and faculty. To become a member, you can sign up at the door. The first 50 people who purchase tickets, or become members at the door will receive a free collectible "Gollum" poster, courtesy of New Line Cinema. Details of Tolkien 2005: The Ring Goes Ever On, can be found here
And the winner goes to... -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 8:51 PM GMT
The LOTR books are not easy to read and require a lot from the reader. Nevertheless, once you are in, you are hooked for life. The vastness of the world he creates even has its own language. His characters are what are most memorable. I relate to Tolkien's hobbits. Not because they are barely four feet tall, hairy and have big feet, but because they are earthy people, full of life and joy. They do have their bad habits; they drink and smoke too much, but otherwise are very peaceful, quaint country folk.....more
Oscar fashion from Mrs Fashion -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 7:25 PM GMT
Best Dressed duo or group: The Hobbits from the "Lord of the Rings" movies. Looking at these four handsome gentlemen it is easy to see why they were all cast, they are all the same height! No, no, they are very talented. Each one displayed their individuality yet maintained a distinguished look. Worst hair: Now, I love him, you love him and you love his movies, but Peter Jackson needs to get in a fight with a barber and lose. He just needs a good cleaning up. Maybe it was working on "The Lord of the Rings" for so many years he forgot about his hair. source
New Troy Trailer Coming Thursday -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 7:24 PM GMT
Access Hollywood will premiere the new trailer for Brad Pitt's Troy this Thursday, March 4. source
Hidalgo Premiere -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 7:22 PM GMT
He and his new charge were joined at the Los Angeles screening by legendary actor Omar Sharif, who plays a sheik in the movie. Other big names in attendance included hobbits Elijah Wood and Dominic Monaghan, who galloped up the red carpet on stick ponies.....more
Vote for Sean Astin in 'Spacey' Awards -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:24 PM GMT
Sean Astin is up for Best Movie Hero in the 2nd Annual Spacey Awards. Vote here.
Narnia: It's Official, Disney to Distribute Chronicles of Narnia -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:12 PM GMT
BURBANK, CA ( March 1, 2004) - The Walt Disney Studios has entered into an agreement with Walden Media to co-finance and distribute the long-awaited motion picture The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the first book published in C.S. Lewis' famed series, it was announced today (3/1) by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, and Cary Granat, chief executive officer of Walden Media. The live-action film will be directed by Andrew Adamson (Shrek, Shrek 2) and is scheduled to be released Christmas, 2005, by Walt Disney Pictures. The agreement allows for the continuation of the partnership for future films in the series......more
Elvish lives! -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:08 PM GMT
Go ahead, laugh. Hard. They've heard it all before. But then, they can talk about you, and you won't have a clue what they're saying. For anyone speaking in any of the more than 1,000 artificial tongues - languages carved out of someone's word-wise imagination - these are very good times. `The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,' the film to beat for Best Picture at Sunday night's Oscars, gives wide exposure to the elf languages of Quenya and Sindarin - collectively known as "Elvish" - concocted by `Ring' author and linguist J.R.R. Tolkien......more
Forever a Hobbit: Dominic Monaghan -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:07 PM GMT
LOS ANGELES
Where hobbits go, "Lord of the Rings" fanatics follow. On a Tuesday night earlier this month in West Hollywood, Dominic Monaghan — better known as the mischievous hobbit Merry in the trilogy — found it difficult to walk through a room without fans throwing themselves at him, offering their allegiance and luck at the Oscars. At Woo Lae Oak, a Korean barbecue restaurant where Mr. Monaghan is a regular, a waiter insisted on telling Mr. Monaghan that the three "Lord of the Rings" films were his favorite movies — ever! — before he would take his order......more
Rings talk overheard at the Oscars -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:05 PM GMT
Overheard during Sunday night's 76th annual Academy Awards presentations at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre: "Do you know that people are moving to New Zealand just to be thanked?" - Billy Crystal after still another "Lord of the Rings" Oscar (film editing) and long-winded, thank-you-everybody acceptance speech. He also said, "Return of the King has 11 nominations tonight. One for each ending." "And I know everybody in New Zealand's been thanked so I'm going to thank everybody in South Africa, my home country. They are all watching tonight. And I'm bringing this home next week." - Best-actress winner Charlize Theron ("Monster"). "It's a clean sweep!" Steven Spielberg announcing best picture winner "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," which won a record-tying 11 Oscars.....more
Brad and Billy in 'Chucky' -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 11:28 AM GMT
Lord of the Rings stars Billy Boyd and Brad Douriff will appear together once again when Dourif reprises his role as homicidal child's toy Chucky in the fifth film in this franchise that will never die: Seed of Chucky.
After marrying Jennifer Tilly and taking her on a homicidal honeymoon rampage in Bride of Chucky, the killer doll will cede centre stage to his evil offspring this time around, to be voiced by Boyd......more
BLANCHETT LOVES THE DESERT -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 11:25 AM GMT
Australian actress CATE BLANCHETT loves spending time alone so much, she sometimes disappears into the desert for days on end. The OSCAR-winner - who is expecting her first child - likes to take time out to ponder the meaning of life. The 34-year-old says, "I have quite a thing for the desert. Everyone associates Australia with its coastline, but I've always found the desert a really introspective place.....more
The case for moral absolutism -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 7:48 AM GMT
IN HIS critic at-large feature, Ed Siegel compares the films "Lord of the Rings" and "The Passion of the Christ," and suggests that they represent the two currently warring strands in American culture, namely moral absolutists such as Mel Gibson and moral relativists such as Tolkien ("On religion, 'Passion' is literal, `Rings' is liberal," Feb. 28, Living/Arts).....more
11 things you must know about Peter Jackson -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 7:46 AM GMT
When New Line Cinema honchos visited Peter Jackson's office in New Zealand soon after they had given the director the go ahead to make J R R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings epic, they were startled to see the posters for his earlier pictures....more
Box Office Update -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 4:58 AM GMT
Uber-Blockbuster Showdown The Passion VS RotK VS TPM LotR Worldwide breakdown....here Fastest to $100 million RotK is #4
Official Site Update -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 4:40 AM GMT
A Page on the 11 Academy Awards....here Trilogy Trailer - exclusive highlights and an audio slide show of Peter Jackson talking about the timeless themes and emotional moments of LotR.
HOBBIT HORSE -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 4:27 AM GMT
AS Aragorn In The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, Viggo Mortensen helped hobbits fight Orcs, goblins and evil wizards. So it was perhaps a bit ungrateful when two of his little friends poked fun at him at the premier of his new film, Hidalgo. It's the story of a pony express rider in a 3000-mile desert race and Viggo arrived at the LA theatre on his trusty steed. But his cheeky Lord Of The Rings co-stars Dominic Monaghan and Elijah Wood, right, came on steeds of their own kids' hobby horses. Source
And the Oscar goes to ... alumnus Christopher Boyes -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 3:30 AM GMT
Watching the 76th annual Academy Awards? Get into the Gator spirit and root for alumnus Christopher Boyes, who has received three nominations this year for sound mixing and sound editing. . . more
News On Return Of The King -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 3:28 AM GMT
March 02, 2004 - Lots of happenings surrounding The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King since its Oscar sweep. For starters, it will be returning (sorry) to more than 2,000 theaters next weekend for one last attempt to boost the box office take, which already stands at $364.1 million domestically. . . more
DorkTower Does the Oscars -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 3:23 AM GMT
DorkTower is offering its comic-strip take on ROTK's Oscar success here
Peter Jackson Biography -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 3:21 AM GMT
If you want to know even more about the real Wizard of Middle Earth, Ian Pryor's biography of Peter Jackson is available for preorder at amazon.com here
Film's success 'Rings' in a new era -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 3:15 AM GMT
Even before its Oscar triumph Sunday, "The Lord of the Rings" influenced what we see at the movies. The evidence of "Rings'" commercial impact has already shown up in the two-part sequel to "The Matrix" and the shearing in half of Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill." . . . more
Jackson joins the big league -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 3:11 AM GMT
The king of the hobbits, Peter Jackson, has flown into the same film-making league as George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. And he will be able to direct pretty much any project he wants to as long as they continue to make millions, says Ruth Harley, head of the Film Commission, which wholly funded Jackson's early films such as Bad Taste and Meet the Feebles. . . more
Oscar triumph for West firms -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 3:09 AM GMT
Two West firms have scooped an Oscar for their work on the final Lord of the Rings film. . . more
Aspyr: Return of the King game hits beta -- Posted by Nienna_Miriel on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 3:08 AM GMT
Cashing in on some Oscar buzz, Aspyr Media Inc. announced that its Mac conversion of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King has reached its Beta development milestone. The game is coming this April. . . more
Snow Sculptures -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 2:59 AM GMT
Mishka and her Gandalf snow sculpture...here
Oscar 2004 picture gallery -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:49 AM GMT
Oscar 2004 picture gallery up on icLiverpool's site. See them here
Lord of the Rings Inspired by an Ancient Epic -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:44 AM GMT
Watch National Geographic's Beyond the Movie: The Lord of the Rings at 9 p.m. ET, Sunday March 8, on MSNBC.
Generations of readers have cherished Middle-earth, the fantasy universe sprung from the mind of storyteller J.R.R. Tolkien. His magical world has been brought to life in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, the third of which, The Return of the King, swept every category it was nominated for at the Academy Awards ceremony Sunday night. The movie most notably won Oscars for Best Picture and Directing, among 9 others....more
Middle-earth puts NZ on top -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:42 AM GMT
Tourism and investment agencies are hungrily counting imaginary dollars and predicting a boon to the economy as a legacy of New Zealand's historic night at the Oscars. But no one is yet able to pin a figure on the expected benefits.....more
Finally, The Big Payoff: Kurt Loder On The Oscars -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:41 AM GMT
Admirers of director Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy have been grumpily biding their time in this regard. The first installment of the series, "The Fellowship of the Ring," lost out for Best Picture in 2001 to "A Beautiful Mind" — an honorable shortfall: "A Beautiful Mind" is a movie distinguished in its conception, its direction and its performances.....more
King-Size Party -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:39 AM GMT
"I thought we'd win something," said the godlike genius some call Peter Jackson. "With eleven nominations it would have been a bugger not to have won anything at all. There were moments of absolute joy when the crew were winning; it was amazing, but it's excruciating because best director and best film are the last awards. It takes a hell of a long time to get to those."
No one could doubt that Jackson was taking the occasion seriously - the famously barefoot director actually wore shoes for the night. "I've got my shoes on, and they're as uncomfortable as hell." Rumours that he had bought a comb, however, proved unfounded.....more
Oscar Ratings Soar -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:37 AM GMT
People were certainly more interested in the 76th annual Academy Awards than they were the 75th. Viewership was up 31 per cent as 43.5 million people tuned in to see "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" sweep the Oscars.....more
DUO part of 'Return of the King' sweep -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:35 AM GMT
Semanick and Boyes triumph for sound mixing Oscar made his way to Marin via Michael Semanick of Terra Linda and Christopher Boyes of Inverness, who brought home golden trophies for best sound mixing in "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."....more
Oscar-winning Return of the King used Shake -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:33 AM GMT
Apple noted that its advanced digital compositing software Shake served a crucial role in developing the special effects used in :The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King." It's the seventh consecutive year that Shake been used in an Oscar-winning movie, said Apple.....more
Beyond the beads -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:32 AM GMT
Even when Elijah Wood is the King of Bacchus and you have a ticket to the Bacchus Ball, you will not meet him. Your uncle (a member of Bacchus along with your father) will meet him. The preppy girls in front of you (who aren't even real fans!) will meet him. But you will not. I tried to see him and was stopped by a sheriff working security with a nameplate that read "B. Jambon" (I did not make that up.)....more
Hoard of the 'Rings' -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:31 AM GMT
Hobbit Vini. Hobbit Vidi. Hobbit Vici. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ruled early and often at Sunday night's Academy Awards, winning a total of 11 prizes, including Best Picture and Best Director (Peter Jackson). It won in every category for which it was nominated (and joined an awfully exclusive club -- only Titanic and Ben-Hur have won as many Oscars). For the hobbit-haters among us, the ceremony felt like a unique form of punishment: The Lord of the Rings: Three-and-a-Half More Hours of Watching Elijah Wood Gloat.....more
This is getting to be a Hobbit! -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:29 AM GMT
Brit actor Andy Serkis, who plays Gollum in Lord Of The Rings, said: “We are so blown away by all this.” Elijah Wood, who plays Frodo, added: “It was fantastic to see the cast and crew up on stage being rewarded.”....more
PM joins celebrations -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:27 AM GMT
It was the next-best thing to being there. Hundreds of Wellingtonians, including Prime Minister Helen Clark, leaped to their feet, clapping, cheering, jumping and hugging in deafening jubilation over The Lord of the Rings' clean sweep at the Oscars.....more
Revealing Stuff on the Red Carpet -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:26 AM GMT
All four hobbits--Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghanarrived together, preferring to skip the press line to meet the fans in the bleachers. source
Oscar parties raise money -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:25 AM GMT
On an Academy Awards night lacking in surprises, celebrity Oscar watchers found dramatic tension and suspense at a charity auction, while Tolkien trilogy fans partied with the hobbits and the Hollywood elite celebrated late into the night at Vanity Fair's gala.....more
Oscars just another day for Mrs Gamgee -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:22 AM GMT
The Auckland mother, who evinces domestic bliss in the last scene in the epic Lord of the Rings was last night at home, looking after the children, while the movie cleaned up at the Oscars. Sarah McLeod, who plays Rosie Cotton, the love interest of the hobbit Sam Gamgee, couldn't contain her excitement.....more
The phenomenon of the Rings -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:21 AM GMT
Brian Sibley, the man who first dramatised JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings for BBC radio over 20 years ago, says JRR Tolkien would have approved of the Oscars record-breaking film trilogy.....more
Epic Trilogy Changed Face of Film-Making -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:19 AM GMT
When news of the Lord of the Rings project first emerged, some thought it was doomed to fail.
But director Peter Jackson has had the last laugh with his epic trilogy surpassing even his wildest fantasies.
Tolkien’s middle earth has changed the face of film-going history since the first instalment, The Fellowship of the Ring, was unleashed on cinema-goers in 2001....more
Frocks, facials and flashbulbs -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:17 AM GMT
On my first night in LA, I attend a New Zealand government-backed celebration of "Kiwis in film" at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I sit between Elijah Wood and Viggo Mortensen. Elijah is wearing an outfit designed by Libertine. Viggo Mortensen appears to be wearing an outfit designed by a geography teacher. And this is why we love him. A drunk woman, who is having trouble staying inside her strapless dress, sits on Elijah's knee. Having been an actor since he was five, he is unfeasibly polite. She decides not to sit on Viggo: he radiates such intensity that even a woman who is drunk on champagne knows to back the hell off.....more
Viggo Mortensen says his horse in Hidalgo film is 'another character' -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:15 AM GMT
Viggo Mortensen is every bit as gentle and soft-spoken as the soulful warrior king Aragorn he plays in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. But when it comes to horses on film, he has some definite opinions....more
Sideshow/Weta News -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:12 AM GMT
Sideshow/Weta have just started taking orders for Shelob and the rest of The Return of the King Range. Details
Rings director sets eyes on hobbit -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:09 AM GMT
He says he'd love to sink his teeth into shooting 'The Hobbit', but he's revealed there's a behind-the-scenes legal wrangle going on and it won't happen unless two rival studios sort it out.....more
Red Hobbit Enjoys Oscars Success -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:06 AM GMT
ManUtd.com caught up with Dominic on a recent visit back to Old Trafford when he talked about his feelings on the Lord of the Rings adventure. "You go through certain experiences in your life when everything just turns on a right angle," explained Dominic.
"That's what happened with Lord of the Rings. I was heading one way, but by saying yes to Peter Jackson I then spent the next year and a half in New Zealand......more
Alias Congratulates Weta Digital -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:05 AM GMT
Alias today extended congratulations to its esteemed customer, Weta Digital, for their Oscar award in the categories of ‘Best Visual Effects’, ‘Best Picture’, and for multiple British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards for the third movie in The Lord of the Rings™ trilogy – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.....more
Emotions Run High in the Winners' Circle -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:04 AM GMT
"This is a big, big night for all of us who love science fiction, and fantasy like ‘Lord of the Rings'," said the film’s director and driving force, Peter Jackson. source
Ring drawings are to Lord it over stamps -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:01 AM GMT
RARELY seen drawings of places featured in JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and drawn by the author, are appearing on ten First Class stamps. Royal Mail has issued the stamps to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of the first two parts of Tolkien's epic three-part tale: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers.....more
Tolkien Enterprises -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 1:00 AM GMT
The companies that own the rights to the J.R.R. Tolkien “Lord of the Rings” books and related movies and merchandise have sued a New Jersey company for publishing a four-volume DVD set about the books.
According to the suit filed by the Saul Zaentz Company, which has owned the trademarks and intellectual property rights since 1976, and New Line Cinema, Kultur International Films has infringed on the Tolkien trademarks and copyrights by importing, making and selling the set “Inside Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.”.....more
Rings' Oscar success provokes toilet crisis in Hobbiton -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:58 AM GMT
Oscar success for the "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," has prompted politicians in a part of New Zealand which formed the backdrop for the film into tackling an odd crisis: lack of toilets.....more
Best Supporting Country in a Motion Picture -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:57 AM GMT
One day after the phenomenal success of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at the 2004 Academy Awards, New Zealand is high profile in the Los Angeles Times including full page Tourism New Zealand advertising.....more
MUM,, I DID IT FOR YOU -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:54 AM GMT
SUPERSTAR singer Annie Lennox went from tragedy to triumph at the Oscars. Her award for Best Original Song came only five months after the death of her mum, Dorothy.....more
BOOKIES' RINGS RUIN -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:53 AM GMT
EVEN the bookies were conquered by The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King. It turned out to be a fantastic night for Middle Earth but bookmakers are licking their wounds, because every favourite won. In addition, they offered odds of 50/1 that the film would win all 11 categories. Ladbrokes spokesman Warren Lush said: 'It wasa disaster.....more
Lord of the Rings chalks up 11 out of 11 -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:52 AM GMT
"It's a clean sweep," said Steven Spielberg as he presented the last Oscar of the night, for best picture. With its final, 11th award, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King joined Ben Hur and Titanic as the most rewarded films in Oscar history. For the film's director, Peter Jackson, it was "an incredibly overwhelming night".....more
Were fashions on Oscar night a train wreck or a glamfest? -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:51 AM GMT
Sloppiest look ever. Director Peter Jackson's wide-open tux jacket (no way it was going to button) with tie and collar flying every which way couldn't have better complemented his uncombed mane. What were those pins on his lapel? And is there any truth to the report that Versace actually sent a dresser to help tidy him up before he appeared? Runner-up: Jackson's wife and partner, Frances Walsh, who appears to have been his inspiration for the whole forest-creature look in "Lord of the Rings." The fake paste-on flowers encircling her frowsy head were a piece de resistance......more
PETER'S FEAT IS THE STUFF OF FANTASY -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:49 AM GMT
ALL hail the new King of Hollywood, Peter Jackson - now officially recognised as one of the greatest film-makers in history. The shambolically un-chic Kiwi may look like a scarecrow but beneath that wild hair is an awesomely tidy mind.....more
Return of ka-ching! -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:48 AM GMT
The rich will get even richer Friday when "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" expands to nearly 2,000 theater screens to take advantage of its Oscar sweep. Since its Dec. 17 opening, the film has taken in $364 million. But winning an Oscar - especially 11 Oscars, including Best Picture - is still seen as driving moviegoers to the multiplex or video store.....more
Return Of The King: OK -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:45 AM GMT
Just desserts at journey's end. For Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King , an odyssey which began seven years ago climaxed on February 29 with the movie winning in all the 11 categories it had been nominated in at the 76th Academy Awards. Now sharing the same podium as Ben Hur and Titanic as the most awarded film at the Oscars, The Return Of The King crossed the $ 1 billion mark recently to become the most successful instalment of the trilogy.....more
Oscars 11 out of 11, a sweep!! -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:43 AM GMT
RotK won every Oscar is was up for. Congrats to the cast of crew of LOTR from War of the Ring!
Lord of the Rings stars wear lucky charms to the Oscars -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:41 AM GMT
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King's Oscars sweep was helped along with the green gemstone necklaces the castmembers wore to the ceremony. Sean Astin said, "I was given mine by Orlando Bloom. And that makes me the envy of a few million women." McKellen added, "And a few million men!"...more
New Zealand parliament, media hail Oscar success for the Rings film -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:40 AM GMT
The top-circulation New Zealand Herald proclaimed filmmaker Peter Jackson ``The Lord of the Oscars'' and devoted half the front page to a picture of him brandishing his Oscar for best director. Its first five pages were devoted to ``New Zealand at the Oscars''......more
Fan Fiction Section Update -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:34 AM GMT
We are pleased to announce the grand opening of our new and improved Fanfic Section!! We welcome and invite all writers to submit their stories for inclusion into the Fanfic Database here at War of the Ring.
We have several categories available including Stories Inspired by Tolkien, Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Other so that no matter what your style of writing, we have a place for you! :o) Our new section allows for an indepth disaply of your story, including, Genre, Characters, Ratings, etc. and fully supports illustrated stories as well.
If you were registered and had submitted stories in our old Fanfic Database, not to worry, we have transferred the old database into the new, and you should find everything intact, and will now be able to update your stories to take advantage of all the new features.
You can access the new section from anywhere on the site via the main navigation portal of you can go there directly by following this link: www.warofthering.net/fanfiction
We hope that you enjoy the new layout and improved functionality as much as we do!
Lost News..... -- Posted by Dawn_Noelle on Wednesday, March 3 2004 at 12:28 AM GMT
Sorry guys! Due to a "file corruption issue" on the server, the newsfile containing data from September 02 to present was destroyed and cannot be recovered. We are working hard to recreate what we can. We will do our best, please bear with us.
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