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
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.
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!
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.
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
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
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
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
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 TheLord 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
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
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
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 inscriptionsinspired 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....
