TORN Digital IV is here! Take a look at the latest edition of TORN Digital, where television meets the internet!

This chapter we sat down with Viggo Mortensen while he was in New York City. Viggo spoke to us about poetry, New Zealand artists and The Two Towers of course! Choose your path and download! [More]

Tell us what you thought of this episode! Talkback

Ultimate Spy Report from Celegolas: "I spent the afternoon of Friday the 18th at a friend's house in central Wellington, recording some of my new songs. The two people whose house it was are in charge of the special effects for LOTR, and were going out to celebrate that night with Peter Jackson because all the touchups and stuff had just been completed." WHOOPEEE! Break out the champagne, everyone!!!

Xtfr writes: "I think you would [like to ] know that LOTR chocolate ads Kinder starts today in France." So European Ringers, look out for those teeny tiny, oh-so-cool toys in the chocolate eggs! [envy, envy]

Today, October 20th is Viggo Mortensen's (Aragorn) birthday! Viggo was born on 20 October, 1958 in Manhattan, New York. That makes him 44 today! Happy Birthday Viggo!

Stay tuned for an EXCLUSIVE video interview with Viggo in our next chapter of TORN Digital, later today!

Branch writes: The 2002 World Soundtrack Awards just ended in Ghent, Belgium. I'm happy to say the score for Lord of the Rings won Best Orchestral Film Score. On a sad note Howard Shore wasn't there himself. (non english text) [More]

Ringer Spy Erynuin sent this report in, but between reporting on the SE screening in LA and making our plans for TORONTO...things have been hectic around here as of late. Take a look at this amazing report from the Wade Center exhibit in heaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. [More]

Kyriel writes: I was just looking through some of my old TORN pictures, spy shots of burnt ruins everyone thought were Minas Tirith. But I've just realized that buildings are actually part of Osgiliath! Isn't it funny that we only got a glimpse of the uined city in the trailer - but TORN had a full-on overhead shot two years or more ago? [More]

23 New questions and answers regarding the Special Edition FOTR DVD! Take a look! [More]

DVDtown has some screenshots from the extended DVD including a really nice one of Sam gardening. [More] Thanks to J. for the link.

Richard sends along word that LOTR composer Howard Shore will be at the LACMA in California on December 14th. Follow the link for more info! [More]

Gillossen wrotes: Here some scans of the October/November edition of french movie magazine CinéFilm(s). The magazine offers also two posters and some postcards. [More]

Tookie writes: The UK Saturday morning TV show 'SM:TV' showed an "excluseive preview" of TTT this morning, it was only the new trailer so nothing we haven't seen before, just thought you'd like to know.

Dunádeneth writes: I'm surprised you folks don't have a mention of this (We're still recovering from the news article below! -Xo) but Sean Bean's MacBeth opened last night and the first of the fan reports are posted here. [More]

Elennaur writes: I saw that Liv Tyler is on the cover of November's "Harper's Bazaar". There is a short article/interview inside, in the article, it is mentioned that she was (at interview time) preparing to record a song for the "Two Towers" soundtrack. She comments upon being thrilled with the opportunity, since she has always dreamt of being a singer.

Xoanon here, can anyone confirm this?! We need a scan of this article ASAP!

The Hollywood Reporter has a story out today that the Martin Scorcese film 'Gangs of New York' is set to be released on December 20th, just two days after 'The Two Towers'. Who will win that weekend box office I wonder?

With album titles like Journey of the Dunadan, Perelandra, and The Middle Earth Album, it's no wonder that the Tennessee-based progressive rock band Glass Hammer draws many a fan from followers of fantasy and science fiction. With six albums under the band's belt and another half-dozen related to the group, Glass Hammer is now celebrating its tenth year together with the release of a new epic album, Lex Rex, plus a video documentary, "This Way to Evermore." [More]

Broken from the Fellowship and taking their own route to Mordor, Sam and Frodo happen upon Men from the land of Gondor, a foreign land of which they know little save from what they learnt from Boromir. The true intent of Faramir, Prince of Gondor, remains unclear to them and it is only an encounter with Gollum that proves to them his worth as an ally. This weekend, the Hall of Fire crew invite you to join us for The Window on the West. [More]

Trey Kay writes: I produced a feature story on the Public Radio International program, Studio 360. This show will explore how we define success in art. My segment will focus on "Successful Passages." That is, moments that work perfectly in a piece of art -- the place where everything comes together splendidly, whether or not the artwork works as a whole. [More]

If you live in Santa Monica or surrounding areas, be sure to try and check out Sean Astin's (Sam) Short Film 'The Long And Short Of It' playing at Monica 4-Plex (1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica California). Screening at 10am and 10:45am, Friday, Saturday and Sunday October 18-20. check out the short film Sean made in New Zealand! [seanastin.com] [Monica Theatre Info]

Hugo Weaving (Elrond) is once again doning the suit, tie and shades to play Agent Smith in The Matrix 2 and 3. Take a look at some one-sheets featuring him. [More]

Tookie writes: I was shopping today and happened to come accross a Two Towers Cadburys selection box! It's full of the usual Cadburys chocolate and a packet of LOTR jelly rings! You also get a pack of 8 very cool double sided movie cards with pictures on one side and charactor discriptions on the other. The front of the box was covered in pics from TTT and the back had a cut out Eomer helmet!! (would you like some cheese with that? -Xo)

Frederik writes: I wanted you to know that Howard Shore will be performing a suite from the score of FOTR in Ghent (Belgium) today. [More]

T.O. prepares for the nerd invasion

I think they should rename the city TORNonto while we're there. Anyway I will be making my way over to Toronto for the Alliance Atlantis special exhibit of TTT Goodies! I will be there from October the 30th to November the 3rd. Come on down and join me! I'll be giving out Hotel and contact info shortly, we'll have an impromptu get together of TORN fans! See you there soon! [Get Tickets]

The Official New Line Shop has a new 14k solid gold version of 'The One Ring' for sale on their website. From what we understand, LOTRshop.com is currently the only place you can purchase this version of The Ring. Check it out! [More]

That is only 61 days! Or 1464 hours!! Or 87840 Minutes!!! OMG only 5 million 274 thousand 4 hundred seconds!!! I'm getting in line now!!!

Today, October the 18th is Howard Shore's birthday! Howard Shore, who won an Academy Award for his FOTR score, was born on October the 18th, 1946 in Toronto, Ontario. That makes him 56 today! Happy Birthday Howard!

FAK sends along word that John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) has had to pull out of RingCon, read on for the explanation. [More]

Sharon sends along news of Sean Astin's father. John Astin (who played 'Judge' in Peter Jackson's 'The Frighteners') is performing at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse in 'Edgar Allan Poe, Once Upon a Midnight'. [More]

Hello Moto...

Well, ok...I may think one has nothing to do with the other...but I have to ask...can we have one?!?!? For...review purposes...that's right, review... [More]

You can download new desktops featuring the men and women of Rohan! [More]

Concept: Get everyone who came the first time to come back. On the marketing front, make sure people realize it's "the central installment"; never use the word 'sequel'. [More]

Xoanon here, a few people have written to me with the same info, check it out from Nathaniel's email: It appears that The Two Towers is indeed finished, for it has been rated at filmratings.com. The rating is PG-13 and the reasons cited are nearly identical to that of the first film: "rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences and scary images." (The only difference is the omission of the word 'some' before 'scary.')

The National is having poor luck with its leading men recently. First, Paul Rhys had to pull out of Ivanov, and now Sir Ian Holm has had to withdraw from Mappa Mundi due to a medical problem. [More]

Tomorrow at 9:00 pm EDT, TheOneRing.net will be hosting a Developers chat with Black Label Games and Surreal Software. They'll be discussing Surreal's The Fellowship of the Ring for PS2 and PC, and Black Label Games' future LOTR video games. Be sure to come along and bring your questions! [More]

In what is believed to be the largest VHS counterfeiting bust in the United Kingdom in nearly two years, police and the U.K. video piracy watchdog, the Federation Against Copyright Theft, this week smashed a Lord of the Rings piracy factory, the agency reported Wednesday. [More]

Bill tells you how to get the hidden preview of TTT on the extended DVD. [More]

News on Viggo's latest film project, which sounds like another physically and emotionally challenging role. [More]

LOS ANGELES - A drastic change in genre has worked wonders for Edward Burns, who has crafted his finest film yet after years of diminishing returns since a promising debut with "The Brothers McMullen." [More] [Showtimes]

I just wanna inform Singapore fans out there that the full length TTT trailer will be shown on Channel 5 this Friday, Nov 18 right after Survivor:Thailand at 10 pm. [More]

Emma writes: I'm sending along a few photos from the event four of the Chicago Fellowship attended tonight. The event was author Robert Ellwood (we're still chuckling over the name) discussing his book "Frodo's Quest" at the Transitions Bookplace in Chicago. [More]

Ringer fan Beorn de Valencia sends us a link to a great new review of the Extended FOTR DVD Gift Set. This review contains a lot of screen grabs we have not even seen yet! So I guess some of you might consider this SPOILERS. [More] [Order the DVD]

According to Yahoo News, Ian was the recipient of the Supporting Film Actor of the Year award at the seventh annual GQ 'Men of the Year' awards held October 16th in NYC. [More]

Ringer Spy Ecthelion78 sends along this scan from PC Gamer Magazine, take a look! [More]

Peter Jackson has been named the 24th most powerful man in Hollywood in this years issue of Entertainment Weekly. Take a look! [More]

Sideshow/Weta Collectibles just posted their Series 2 Weapon Set collectibles for pre-order. This series includes the Arms of the Moria Orcs, The Arms of Gimli, and The Arms of Legolas. Each set is limited to 2,500 hand numbered pieces and costs $40 US. They will be shipping Dec/Jan. Once again, it looks like Sideshow/Weta have outdone themselves with details! Check them out! [More]

Red Carpet's largest-yet tour for LOTR fans is shaping up nicely. Tour Director Vic writes, "The Council are definitely planning to set up a special viewing area for Red Carpet Tours people at the entrance to the Embassy [Wellington's classic theatre where TTT will premiere] so they can watch the stars arrive. Also Te Papa [museum] will have a display of LOTR costumes, weapons etc beginning on the the 19th. Perfect!"

News thanks to Lee:
"The Official New Line Lord of the Rings web site has added a Quicktime video of scenes from the upcoming extended edition DVD. . . .[More]

This is another glowing review of the Extended DVD. [More]

A big event is being planned in Toronto to coincide with the release of The Return of the King in 2003. LOTR fans from all over are expected to gather for three days of celebrations. Tickets for the event are on sale now - numbers are limited! [More]

Wow...I didn't write one full word up there...Anyway, I've updated the Q&A for my review of the FOTR: Special Edition DVD! Take a look at 'UPDATE III', more to come soon! [More]

Lao of Gondor sends this news from Gaming Havens:

Now's your change to try the Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game...for FREE! Tired of Magic, Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh? Want to try the highest award winning TCG of 2002? Just trade in one of your old decks to receive a FREE LOTR Starter Deck! [More] [Gaming Havens]

A $2 million exhibition celebrating Middle Earth will open at the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, a day after the second instalment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy has its premiere in Wellington. The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition has been developed during the past two years by the museum, the film's producers New Line and Wellington production company Story Inc using original material from the three films. [More]

Viggo Mortensen talks exclusively with TORN

Viggo Mortensen was in NYC a while back for a book tour when he caught up with the folks at TORN Digital. He sat down with us and spoke about LOTR, his poetry, and more! Coming Soon!

The Noble Collection's got new things. Garfeimao, who gets their catalog in the mail, said, "I was awestruck. The front cover is this gorgeous chess set on a raised board with the map of Middle Earth on the top, but the whole thing actually looks like some ancient ruins." [More]

Another report that tells us the final cut of TTT must be finished, or nearly so. [More]

Matt sent this in....spot the LOTR references! [Apollo 15 photo of the moon] "Apparently, there are (and were, even in 1970) Tolkien fans everywhere!"

Randy writes: This is a reply I got from a chain in Michigan when I requested they put FOTR back up before TTT. New Line has told us that FOTR will be pulled from theatrical release on November 1. This means no prints will be available for anyone to play. We're not sure how these other theatres plan on getting prints when New Line is telling us this, but if we could play it, we would.

One of the biggest films of all time is coming to a school near you. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring has been included in the new list of prescribed texts for English in the Higher School Certificate. [More]

Myzerykat writes: I was listening to NPR on my way home this morning and they were reporting on a problem with counterfeit Harry Potter books in China. In the counterfeit Harry Potter Book V Gandalf makes an appearance. AS HARRY'S GRANDFATHER! J.K. Rowling is not amused. JRR Tolkein is probably rolling in his grave. And apparently there is nothing anything anybody can do about the situation do to the currently political/economic climate in China.

Take a look at a hilarious spoof TTT trailer...can't we all just get along?! [More]

Irascian writes: Don't know if you’ve already reported this. From this week’s “LA Confidential” report in “Heat” magazine in the UK: LOTR star Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) has confirmed his position as Hollywood's favourite go-to guy for swashbuckling heroics. This summer he filmed horseriding action adventure Hidalgo; now he is first reserve if Russell Crowe, as widely predicted, drops out of western The Alamo. Which just goes to show that being over 40 is no obstacle to becoming a major movie star...If you’re a man

There is a very interesting Q&A with Pilar Perez about Viggo Mortensen's publishing venture (and its success mostly due to the interest in LOTR) posted at House of Telcontar. [More]

Russell Crowe and Peter Weir have teamed up in an expensive bid to resurrect the swashbuckler genre in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, also starring Billy Boyd.[More]

Enter for your chance to win a PS2 Game system and a copy of the new Two Towers game from Electronic Arts! Visit the official website for details at: www.lordoftherings.net

LONDON (Reuters) - Forget Dracula and Star Wars. When it comes to fun, nothing beats playing the villain in a James Bond movie. [More]

Ringer Spy KT sends along these very cool LOTR promo items for the FOTR SE DVD and TTT stuff! There is just something about japanese writing that makes these things so cool! [More]

When most people think of rock and roll, undoubtedly among the first things that come to mind are love lost and found, dancing, swiveling hips, and, among the more cynical (or realistic), money. Next, of course, guitars, drums, maybe a piano. Then what — long hair? Fuzzy sweaters? Biting the heads off of small animals? Probably. [More]

Moses writes: I saw a few days back that torn ran this panel of images showing the various guises of Theoden. In that vein I’m sending you quite an interesting shot – the shot of the ladders being raised against the wall of Helm’s Deep. I’ve taken a screen capture of the same shot from the first trailer (bottom) and the second trailer. The shots really demonstrate the work that has been done – much more detail in the second shot, it is sharper looking, plus the colour is different – it has been colour processed. Also notice the shadows – in the first shot some of the ladders don’t cast proper shadows – they are solid. [More]

Take a look at this bit of silliness for a Tuesday. [More]

JB writes: I was excited to hear from my friend who is a visual effects supervisor at Weta Digital, she said last Saturday they had 4 days before they had to deliver the final product for TTT, guess that means Tuesday is it! Can't wait to see it!

Csaba writes: I discovered your site while comparing the four different versions of the LOTR DVD and thought I would send you a note. I am sure that your readershipis quite familiar with the differences between the different editions of the LOTR:FOTR. Nevertheless, they may find the following link useful. [More]

Apparently elves and hobbits do not fade from the earth -- they simply go to Russia. Amusingly, a recent Russian census has revealed that a group of teenagers in the city of Perm declared that they were actually hobbits and elves. But do the elves have pointy ears? And which one is Legolas? [More]

The latest newsletter is ready to go! Do you want to receive our free weekly newsletter? Packed with tons of info to keep you up to date on the latest? Plus filled with exclusives from time to time! Join the crowd of over 11 300 mailing list members! Sign up now! [More]

I've answered quite a few more questions from people interested to know more about the FOTR Special Edition DVD. Follow the link and scroll down to Updates I and II. More coming tomorrow! [More]

Take a look at all the goodies you can bid for on eBay! [More]

Take a look at the movies you can catch on TV this week from your favorite LOTR star! [More]

Through October 31, 2002, badalijewelry.com will have their Gollum TM Gold One Ring TM Necklaces ON SALE. [More]

New Line Cinema sequel The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers opens Dec. 18 with promotional support from new partners Verizon Wireless and Air New Zealand, plus a serious boost in November from a new, longer DVD edition of the first The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. [More]

lilcritter writes: My son, Anthony, went to the Dallas Comicon convention with some of my co-workers this weekend. He got me this new Faramir action figure. [More]

TORN Staffer Arwen sets her thoughts to paper and writes another glowing review of the FOTR: Special Edition DVD! Arwen and I sat through 12 hours of LOTR goodies together....take a look! [More]

And stay tuned to this page for an update on my original review from last night, where I answer YOUR specific questions! [More]

Martha writes: Tom Shippey will be one of the featured Chicago Humanities Festival speakers on Saturday, 9 November 2002. Topic: Trees, Chainsaws, and the Vision of Paradise in J.R.R. Tolkien. [More]

Nona sends along these scans from the latest issue of Starlog Magazine. They feature our very own Sean Bean talking about Boromir. Take a look! [More]

Tala writes:Just the other day I noticed that there were Two Towers cup sleeves on all of the cups. I asked the man about them and he said they had just come in that day. The sleeves just pretty much slip on the cup and just stay there. They are kinda neat for advertising standards. It just goes to show that Lord of the Rings can be found in the most unusual places. [More]

Matt writes: I scanned in something from my local paper, The Toronto Globe and Mail. I am sure somebody has already sent you this, but in case not, it sounds a bunch like what they did last year at Casa Loma. [More]

From the folks at Penguin Putman Inc: I thought you might be interested in a book that we have just published that will have appeal to visitors on your site. Our book is entitled The Magical Worlds of the Lord of the Rings, by David Colbert. [More]