Hotter 'Potter:' Summer Bow Yield's Franchise High -- Posted by Radagast on Saturday, June 12 2004 at 6:24 PM GMT
As school breaks for the summer, children of all ages are enrolling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in droves.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban captured $93.7 million on 8,900 screens at 3,855 theaters over its opening weekend, the third biggest ever behind Spider Man ($114.8 million) and Shrek 2 ($108.0 million) and the best june debut ahead of The Hulk's $62.1 million.... More
Viggo in Stepford -- Posted by kenzie on Saturday, June 12 2004 at 3:58 AM GMT
Someone who went to a pre-screening of The Stepford Wives sent Orlando Bloom Multimedia this report: I hope this scene makes it onto the final cut, but it's very funny and the crowd responded very positively to it. It involves a gay couple living in the community. The 'wife' goes through a Stepford transformation. So the following day, Bette Midler and Nicole are looking for him and notice that he has thrown out all the things he loves in a trash can. His favorite designer shirt, something else that's a Gucci, then they come across a framed photo of Orlando. As Nicole is looking at it, Bette pulls out a Viggo t-shirt. I know that all Bloom and Ringer fans will get LOLs from it. And I wouldn't be surprised if Nicole had suggested that they use Orlando's photo, I mean she did get to witness his popularity the night she and Orlando were guests on The Tonight Show.......source
Brand new Skirmish in the Armoury! -- Posted by Illuvatar on Saturday, June 12 2004 at 3:25 AM GMT
We are pleased to announce that we have added a new Skirmish to TheCampaign Trail sectionof our Armoury!
Steve the Great, one of our Armoury Editors, and Photo Forum Admin has completed his detailed summary of the second skirmish at Weathertop. This is a detailed summary, description, and analysis of the encounter between the Nazgul, and Aragorn, Frodo along with the rest of the Hobbits that were encamped on Weathertop.
We'd like to thank Steve for putting this together for us, and invite you to stop by The Campaign Trail, check it out, and comment directly onto the page if you like!
Serkis Apes King Kong.... -- Posted by Illuvatar on Friday, June 11 2004 at 9:35 PM GMT
As expected, King Kong director Peter Jackson has cast Lord of the Rings actor Andy Serkis as the title computer-generated ape, Variety reported. Serkis will also play a live-action character named Lumpy, the cook on tramp steamer The Venture, which sails to Skull Island and captures the ape, the trade paper reported.
Breaking news on the Elven Cloak! -- Posted by Illuvatar on Thursday, June 10 2004 at 3:29 PM GMT
Hot off the e-mail press: Stansborough Fibres has just released their latest product. An officially licensed elven cloak taken from the original pattern. So now you've got your choice, buy the cloak already made, or buy the fabric.
"At last, the launch of the Authentic Lord of the Rings Magic Hobbit Costume cloaks from Stansborough."
These are registered to New Line Cinema and Stansborough has the world wide license to make these from their own very, very special Stansborough Gotland Fabric - Yes, the actual designer fabric used in the famous Trilogy!"
These special cloaks will be run as limited editions and numbered as such and will be sold with or without the Fellowship Brooches."
Fay Wray hits it off with Peter Jackson -- Posted by kenzie on Thursday, June 10 2004 at 12:13 PM GMT
Actress Fay Wray who played King Kong's love interest in the 1933 original was an instant hit with director Peter Jackson, who is directing a remake of the ape movie.
According to The New York Post, Fay, a star of "Broadway: The Golden Age," met the "Lord of the Rings" director at a premiere and Jackson was thrilled to meet the 96-year-old actress........more
'Lord of the Rings' music to fill Auditorium -- Posted by kenzie on Thursday, June 10 2004 at 12:09 PM GMT
Fans of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, as well as classical music fans, will get to take another journey to Middle Earth when the music from the films is featured in two concerts at the Auditorium Theatre in early October.
More than 200 musicians and singers are featured in Academy Award-winning composer Howard Shore's "The Lord of the Rings Symphony: A Symphony in Six Movements." The multimedia event features the music from all three movies performed by the World Festival Symphony Orchestra, an adult and children's choir, guest vocalist Sissel and a special appearance by Shore.......more
Viggo Mortensen Has A History of Violence -- Posted by Radagast on Thursday, June 10 2004 at 12:21 AM GMT
Viggo Mortensen will reunite with his "Lord of the Rings" studio New Line to topline A History of Violence for director David Cronenberg.
Adapted by Josh Olson from John Wagner and Vince Locke's graphic novel of the same name, the film tells the story of an ordinary family's life after the father receives unwanted national attention for a seemingly vigilante-style self-defense killing at his diner. Mortensen would play the father, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Mortensen most recently starred in Hidalgo at Disney and played Aragorn in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Source
Arms of Valor - Weekly Featured Item...Battle Ready Halfling Sword!! -- Posted by Illuvatar on Wednesday, June 9 2004 at 7:14 AM GMT
Our friends at Arms of Valour have just released something special just for you......a Battle Ready Halfling Sword!
This sword bears the likeness of the popular UC Brand Sting, but without the Elvish writing, and is not officially licensed. However...in trade for Elvish script, you get a sword that is ready to take into battle.
Their Halfling Sword is hand forged tempered 1060 high carbon steel. The hilt is solid steel with a hardwood grip and the highly polished blade is full tang. They are extremly sharp and battle ready.
A hardwood scabbard wrapped in leather with steel accents is included.
Blade length: 15" Handle/Hilt length: 7" Overall: 22" Balance Point: Just Below the Hilt Weight: 1 lbs.
This sword is due to arrive near the end of summer we are taking pre-orders at this time. No charges will be made until time of shipment.
You can see this beautiful weapon, and get one for your very own here!!
Ned Kelly DVD Info -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, June 9 2004 at 12:46 AM GMT
Universal have sent over early details on Ned Kelly which stars Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush and Naomi Watts. The film, released on DVD in the UK and Australia quite some time ago, will be available on US shores from the 27th July this year in seperate widescreen and fullscreen editions. Each will set you back around $29.98. The film will receive a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer along with English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, English DTS 5.1 Surround and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround tracks. The extras haven't been confirmed yet I'm afraid, although we're expecting the disc to include featurettes, a storyboard to final feature comparison and trailers.......source
Orlando Bloom in Global Warming Ad -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, June 9 2004 at 12:43 AM GMT
Orlando Bloom appears in an ad in the June 2004 issue of Hollywood Life Magazine. The full page photo ad from Climate star deals with the effects of global warming. Click here for ad.
Peter Jackson in New York -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, June 9 2004 at 12:31 AM GMT
Getty Images has nine pictures of Peter Jackson when he appeared in New York for the benefit premiere of "Broadway: The Golden Age". Click here for pictures.
Bestsellers become blockbusters -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, June 9 2004 at 12:24 AM GMT
Books: If you can't read 'em, watch 'em.
Especially those time-consuming series of books that take multiple tomes to tell one long tale. And when you have the attention span of an itchy monkey (i.e., yours truly), watching the movie versions is just as rewarding. Well, rewarding enough.
Recent trends in Hollywood find filmmakers exploiting the popularity of fantasy and adventure novels for massive financial -- and, occasionally, artistic -- gain......more
MGM deal would help Time Warner make the Hobbit -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, June 9 2004 at 12:22 AM GMT
NBC, which just snapped up Universal Studios, is eying the fabled studio - raising a new hurdle for MGM-suitor Sony.
In addition to NBC, Warner Bros.-parent Time Warner also contacted MGM recently, sources said. The media empire might launch a bid in partnership with private equity firm KKR.
An MGM deal would help Time Warner - which backed the hugely successful "Lord of the Rings" trilogy - make a movie based on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," said Robert Routh, analyst at Natexis Bleichroder.......more
Extended Edition DVD in December! -- Posted by kenzie on Wednesday, June 9 2004 at 12:15 AM GMT
Video Business reports that New Line Home Entertainment will release the extended edition DVD of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in December.
That falls outside of the holiday shopping primetime of mid-November--when the past two extended versions of the series, "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers," hit stores.
Still, the switch is not expected to hurt sales. Consumers have been aware for months about an upcoming extended take on "Return of the King," given the releases of ones for "Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers".
The trade adds that the extended edition took longer to produce because cast members, now filming new projects, had to be rounded up from all over to complete their commentaries........source
R.O.T.K. talk from New Line's Mike Mulvihill -- Posted by kenzie on Tuesday, June 8 2004 at 12:01 PM GMT
What's been done, what's coming up for the "Special Extended Edition"
According to Mike Mulvihill, Vice President of Content Development for New Line Home Video, "At this point, any discussion of that is unclear. There's no real goal to build a component that would strictly focus on what would come next for the characters beyond the movie. There'snothing like that. As far as casual discussions, asides, and the sort of things that would add up to something meaningful but wouldn't necessarily be a specific destination (on the DVD menu), that's to be determined as the material gets shaped.".......more
Sean Astin Presents National Family Volunteer Award -- Posted by kenzie on Tuesday, June 8 2004 at 11:57 AM GMT
Sean Astin, star of hit movies such as "Rudy," "The Goonies," and "The Lord of the Rings," and member of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, presented the 2004 National Family Volunteer Award on behalf of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network today at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
"My father inspired me to create value in my life," said Astin. "I salute you for the fact that you use your creativity, time and leadership to serve others.".......more
Interview: Karl Urban on Riddick & Bourne Supremacy -- Posted by kenzie on Tuesday, June 8 2004 at 12:43 AM GMT
Although Urban has made his share of small independent features, he admits he really enjoys acting in big Hollywood blockbusters. "I love walking on the set and having the big toys and playing with the big boys. It's a lot of fun." Karl points out that the bigger budgets of studio films ensure that the very best actors for each part can be cast. For instance, his role in "Riddick" teams New Zealand native Urban with Australian actress Thandie Newton. Urban plays Vaako, a young commander in the evil Necromonger army, while Newton as his wife, Dame Vaako, shows off all the manipulative skills of Lady Macbeth. "Working with Thandie was one of the better working relationships that I've ever had," Urban reports. "She is an A-class player and when she comes to the set, you better be ready. She comes with her A-game and quite often I'd be on the set and she'd just be weaving her way around me and I'm like, 'O.K., I give in.'"........more
Lord of the Rings 4 -- Posted by Radagast on Monday, June 7 2004 at 10:44 PM GMT
After Third Age, Electronic Arts will release another Lord of the Rings title. First details inside
We had heard some time ago from a variety of folks that EA's The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age would be the final console game based off the film adaptations of Tolkien's fiction. This is entirely untrue. During our recent demonstration of Third Age , EA reps, including the Executive Producer on the title, told quite a different story.... More
Narnia: Home of CS Lewis's wife put up for sale -- Posted by Radagast on Monday, June 7 2004 at 10:36 PM GMT
The former home of author CS Lewis's wife has gone on sale with an asking price of £350,000.
The turn-of-the-century house in Headington was rented by the author's wife-to-be between 1955 and 1957.
This is the second Oxford house with literary connections to go on sale recently. As reported in the Oxford Mail, the former north Oxford home of JRR Tolkien is on the market for £1.5m.... More
Elijah Wood rules himself Out of The Hobbit -- Posted by Radagast on Monday, June 7 2004 at 10:30 PM GMT
ELIJAH WOOD can't wait for THE LORD OF THE RINGS prequel THE HOBBIT to hit the big screen - despite vowing he won't star in it.
After the runaway success of PETER JACKSON's fantasy trilogy, the New Zealand movie maker immediately revealed plans to bring JRR TOLKIEN's first novel - which focuses on FRODO BAGGINS' older cousin BILBO - to the big screen.
SIR IAN HOLM played Bilbo in The Lord Of The Rings, but at 72 he is far too old to take on the hobbit in his younger years - and Wood couldn't bear playing another hobbit character.
The 23-year-old says, "I hope it gets done - it would be a nice little reminder of that world again.
"I wouldn't want to play Bilbo having already played Frodo - it would be strange for the fans and for me."
And he admits it will be a daunting prospect for any actor to take on: "I don't think you can out do Ian Holm's performance."
"Any actor would be afraid to approach the role after seeing what Ian Holm did with it as it truly is perfect." Source
Lord of the Rings visual effects creator talks about entrepreneurial experiences -- Posted by kenzie on Monday, June 7 2004 at 7:38 PM GMT
The Wisconsin Entrepreneur’s Conference chose to follow a trend when choosing its guest speakers for their luncheons, as on both days the speakers were award winners. However, Tuesday’s speaker – Don Weber of Logistics Health Incorporated – was there to receive his award for Carpe Diem, but Wednesday’s speaker, acclaimed visual effects supervisor Jim Rygiel, came to talk with three Academy Awards for "Lord of the Rings” already under his belt......more
Lord of the Rings is King of the DVD Charts -- Posted by Radagast on Monday, June 7 2004 at 12:49 PM GMT
New Line Home Entertainment's The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King reigned supreme during its first week on home video, selling more than 6.3 million combined DVD and VHS units to consumers and video rental stores nationwide.
Topping the 6 million-unit mark during its first week makes the title this year's best-selling home video out of the gate. The film also generated an estimated $9.79 million in gross consumer rental spending during the week ended May 30.
Paycheck has proved a strong rental title, coming in second to "Rings" by generating an estimated $9.57 million in gross consumer rental spending. In terms of DVD sales, the film slipped five places to eighth.
The third-best-renting home video was the debut of Welcome to Mooseport, which generated an estimated $8.19 million. The 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment comedy was the 10th-best-selling DVD. Source
Queen's Birthday Honours: Oscar success rewarded -- Posted by kenzie on Monday, June 7 2004 at 12:20 PM GMT
Four New Zealanders who came home covered in honours after Oscar night have added to their gloryboards.
Ngila Dickson, costume designer for Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, was made an officer of the NZ Order of Merit. Screenwriter Philippa Boyens, designer Grant Major and editor Jamie Selkirk are made members of the NZ Order of Merit.......more
List of 2004 MTV Movie Awards Winners -- Posted by kenzie on Monday, June 7 2004 at 12:18 PM GMT
Yahoo news has the list of winners at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards, from Saturday night in Culver City, Calif. Lord of the Rings of course won Best Picture. The show will air on MTV this Thursday, check your local listings......source
Billy Boyd in London -- Posted by kenzie on Sunday, June 6 2004 at 3:11 PM GMT
SFX Magazine will be holding an event. It will be held between October 16th through the 17th. Billy will be posing for pictures along with signing autographs. For more information go to www.sfx.co.uk
Where to find Brad Dourif -- Posted by kenzie on Sunday, June 6 2004 at 3:01 PM GMT
Brad will be at the Horrorfind Weekend from August 13th to 15th at the Mariott Hunt Valley Inn located in Hunt Valley Maryland. Along with Brad, other scedualed guests include George Romero, Tom Savini, Adrienne, Barbeau, Jeffrey Combs, Kane Hodder, and more.
Box Office: Harry Potter Breaks Opening Day Record -- Posted by Radagast on Sunday, June 6 2004 at 1:17 PM GMT
Warner Bros. Pictures' Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban broke the opening day record set by Spider-Man on May 3, 2002. The third installment in the popular "Harry Potter" franchise pulled in an estimated $41.2 million from 3,855 theaters on Friday, surpassing Spidey's take of $39.4 million from 3,615 theaters. It is also on its way to beat Spidey's opening weekend figure of $114.8 million. "Prisoner of Azkaban" carried a production budget of $130 million.
DreamWorks' Shrek 2 managed to hold up well to start its third weekend with $10.4 million on Friday. The $70 million-budgeted animated sequel has made a total of $287 million and has already climbed to #21 on the all-time domestic blockbuster list.
20th Century Fox's The Day After Tomorrow took a tumble making $8.4 million, which is a drop of about 64% from its opening day last Friday. The Roland Emmerich disaster film cost $125 million to produce and has earned $109 million so far.
Touchstone's Raising Helen took the fourth spot for the day, adding $2 million for a total of $19.6 million.
Warner Bros.' Troy made $1.7 million and has collected $114.6 million domestically. Source
A fitting finale for journey to Middle-Earth -- Posted by Radagast on Sunday, June 6 2004 at 1:08 PM GMT
Although author J.R.R. Tolkien never ascribed specific real-world events as inspiration for his monumental fantasy The Lord of the Rings, no doubt his experiences in the trenches of World War I had an impact.
In Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning best picture, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King -- the adaptation of the third part of Tolkien's trilogy -- the director stays true to the author's vision, particularly in an important way that some filmgoers criticized...... More
