Christopher Coleman from tracksounds.com writes: I thought you might be interested in an interview that I just conducted with composer Howard Shore. He shares about the TTT CR, the LOTR symphony, and his desire to work on THE HOBBIT with Peter Jackson. More
Both Comingsoon.net and Variety are reporting that MGM's discussions with Peter Jackson about The Hobbit are at 'an advanced stage', with a view to production beginning in 2008 or 2009. The two-film concept is also apparently taking shape. The reports, citing MGM Chairman Harry Sloan as the source, suggest that the first would be a direct adaptation of The Hobbit, and the second would be drawn from "footnotes and source material connecting 'The Hobbit' with 'The Lord of the Rings'". [Variety] [Comingsoon]
Ringer Mark sends a long this great tidbit from Variety:
As for "The Hobbit," Sloan confirmed that MGM was in advanced talks with Peter Jackson to make two movies based on JRR Tolkein's "prequel" to "The Lord of the Rings."
The first would be a direct adaptation of "The Hobbit," and the second would be drawn from "footnotes and source material connecting 'The Hobbit' with 'Lord of the Rings,' " he explained.
Sloan did not reveal when these projects might be ready to start shoot-ing. An MGM spokesman emphasized that negotiations with Jackson are still in progress, and that production isn't likely until 2008 or even 2009.
FOOTNOTE: TolKIEN!!! TolKIEN!!! By the time "The Return of the King" came out, most journalists could spell his name correctly. Evidently it was too much to expect that might last. - Tehanu
A ton of interesting new films are out on DVD this week. Take an early look on our 'DVD Tuesday' feature...every Monday! First up and not to be forgotten we have the King Kong: Extended Edition out tomorrow, plus the HD DVD version to boot! Check out some TV goodies like the '3rd Rock - S6', 'Adventures of Superman - S5 & S6' & 'The Best Of The Electric Company - V2'. Some great animation out today as well, 'Gummi Bears - S1-3:', 'The Dick Tracy Show - The Complete Animated Crime Series' & 'The Original Television Christmas Classics'. Other notables include 'Who Killed the Electric Car?', 'Looney Tunes - Spotlight Collection - V4' & 'Green Mile, The - (Two-Disc Special Edition)'. Personally I'm interested in 'The Da Vinci Code (Collectors Set)', 'Family Guy, Vol. 4' & Quantum Leap - S5'! Check out the whole list here! [More]
Evolution takes strange turns on islands. Sheltered from competition from established mainland creatures, species can grow freakishly large. New Zealand, for example, evolved the giant flightless moa and the world's largest eagle. Perhaps the same process accounts for the growth of New Zealand's vfx giant, Weta Digital. Less than a decade ago, Weta was a midsize vfx operation of some 120 people, mostly working for a local filmmaker. But that filmmaker was Peter Jackson, and when he went on to become the creative force behind four huge visual effects blockbusters, the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "King Kong," Weta grew into one of the world's most successful visual effects shops, with more than 400 staffers. One hint of Weta's stature is the launch of the AnimfxNZ symposium. It's the only such event in the Asia-Pacific area with a partnership from the Visual Effects Society. Now that Jackson seems to be taking a pause from tentpoles, can Weta survive competition with the rest of the world? [More]
Elijah Wood was recently a guest on PBS's late night talk show 'Tavis Smiley'. Tavis and Elijah spoke about his upcoming films 'Bobby' and 'Happy Feet', his record label, and more! Take a look! (46.4MB MOV)
Tehanu writes: Most Peter Jackson fans will never get the chance to have dinner the man. This book might be the next best thing, because it is stuffed full of anecdotes about the very things a fan would probably want to ask him if they had the opportunity. PJ is as we all know a great storyteller, and this book gives him a chance to tell the story of how he came to be a great film-maker.
Author Brian Sibley has also collected stories from people who have known or worked with PJ since he was a child, and woven them together into an exhaustively well-researched account of PJ’s life to date. The book charts his progress from an “enchanted” childhood of remarkable freedom, to the David and Goliath battles he faced when he started work on the Rings. [More]
brokenmandible sends in word that TNT is planning to run all three LOTR films on Starz in High Definition. The bad part is that they are encoding them in Segments, which means that they will have commercial interruption. They also are only 3 hours in duration approximately, therefore they are NOT the extended editions.
UPDATE: These definitely are NOT for CINEMAX, These have the TNT logo branded on them. They will be on TNT since they now have an HD channel.
Adam writes: This is a short that I co-directed that I thought you and other Tolkien fans might enjoy. It's a LOTR meets "The Office" sort of thing. [More]
Cate Blanchett strode out yesterday to join a protest calling for more action on climate change. The renowned actor did her best to stay anonymous in a crowd of more than 20,000, and stood quietly listening to political speeches with her husband Andrew Upton and two sons. The family appeared just like many others who packed into Martin Place to hear about global warming. Ironically the weather was cool and drizzly. While Blanchett was in town to direct a play, she was not in the business of theatre yesterday. [More]
From Sideshow: Our Sideshow Exclusive Aragorn as Strider 12-inch figure has been basking for too long in the glow of positive reviews, and it's time that he starts making his way to the homes of some lucky Wait List members!
Be sure to check out the Aragorn as Strider 12-inch figure as well as the Frodo Baggins Premium Format figure, Legolas Greenleaf Ex. 12-inch figure and more in our SHOP section! [More]
Tinuvielas writes: Tomorrow the wait is over for more than 5000 Fans from all over the world who've been counting down the days since last year's happening: The fifth RingCon, the biggest convention worldwide dealing exclusively with J.R.R. Tolkien and his masterpieces, as well as the Peter Jackson films, will take place in Fulda, Germany from November 10th to 12th. More than 15 stars are expected who will answer questions on stage and give autographs, among them Miranda Otto and Sean Astin (stepping in for Elijah Wood who had to cancel because of promotional work). More than that, there's going to be workshops, lectures, costume-, arts- and creative-writing-contests and processions as well as live music until the early hours. Join the party, or read my report & interviews (this time with lots of pictures) which is going to be online early next week.
Europe’s biggest “The Lord of the Rings” Convention - the ideal setting for the premiere of the ComBOTS character Aragorn
Fulda/Karlsruhe, 11/09/2006. ComBOTS AG (ISIN: DE000CMBT111) presents the first character, Aragorn, from the forthcoming “The Lord of the Rings” collection live at Ring*Con 2006, Europe’s largest gathering of the fans of hobbits, elves & co. Just a few weeks after the announcement of the license agreement between ComBOTS and New Line Cinema at the International Consumer Electronics Trade Fair (IFA) in Berlin, more than 5,000 participants in Ring*Con (November 11-12, 2006, Fulda) have an opportunity to see for themselves the high graphics quality standards, fun and emotionality of personal, digital communication using ComBOTS. [More]
Dominic Monaghan's hit sci-fi/fantasy show 'Lost' is on tonight! Be sure to catch it on ABC! TORN's chatroom now has a special 'Lost' screening room, login to #lost at 9PM and watch with fans from around the country! [TORN CHAT]
Elijah Wood is slated to be a guest on 'Tavis Smiley' tomorrow (November 8th) on PBS, check local listings. He is also doing a guest spot on 'American Dad' this Sunday (November 12th) on FOX. Set those TiVos!
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Ballet celebrates its much-anticipated arrival on the Southern California cultural landscape with a fundraiser on Thursday, November 9th at Bergamot Station. The evening will be hosted by Anjelica Huston and will feature a celebrity art auction including the works of Steve Martin, Orlando Bloom, Tony Bennett, Joni Mitchell, Jeff Bridges, Julie Andrews, Tommy Chong, Leonard Cohen, David Cowles, Tony Curtis, Gil Garcetti, Joel Grey, Buck Henry, Dennis Hopper, Martin Mull, Jane Seymour, Richard Schiff, the evening's host Angelica Huston plus some surprise works. The benefit will also spotlight the Company's talented new ballet dancers as they make a special introductory appearance. [More] [losangelesballet.org]
SCOTLAND'S young carers - some still at primary school - work long hours for little reward. But next Monday they'll get a night in the spotlight alongside stars Billy Boyd, Robert Carlyle and Carol Smillie. [More]
Dan writes: The Ojai Music Festival has an annual “Holiday Home Look In” tour to raise funds. This year the tour features a delightful house that is a combination of Bag End and Rivendell. It is really amazing. Tickets are available on the main page if any fans in southern California want to go on the tour. [More]
Head on down to your local favorite record shop to pick up 'The Two Towers: The Complete Recordings' today! Take a look at the official product details:
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers film's entire score composed, orchestrated, conducted, and produced by Howard Shore. The set encompasses three CDs plus a DVD-audio disc featuring the score in four superior sound configurations.
If you are a fan of the Wallace and Gromit films, then you may want to check out 'Flushed Away,' an animated film featuring the voice talents of Ian McKellen (as Toad) and Andy Serkis (as Spike) now in theaters. While I don't want to bore you with a full-fledged review, the film is very entertaining for all ages - something that seems to be hard to find these days. And if you listen close enough, you may hear a bit of McKellen's Gandalf scolding Pippin and Merry in Hobbiton - or the faintest hint of Gollum in Serkis's character Spike. [Flushed Away]
A ton of interesting new films are out on DVD this week. Take an early look on our 'DVD Tuesday' feature...every Monday! First up and not to be forgotten we have the King Kong: Extended Edition out tomorrow, plus the HD DVD version to boot! Check out some TV goodies like the '3rd Rock - S6', 'Adventures of Superman - S5 & S6' & 'The Best Of The Electric Company - V2'. Some great animation out today as well, 'Gummi Bears - S1-3:', 'The Dick Tracy Show - The Complete Animated Crime Series' & 'The Original Television Christmas Classics'. Other notables include 'Who Killed the Electric Car?', 'Looney Tunes - Spotlight Collection - V4' & 'Green Mile, The - (Two-Disc Special Edition)'. Personally I'm interested in 'The Da Vinci Code (Collectors Set)', 'Family Guy, Vol. 4' & Quantum Leap - S5'! Check out the whole list here! [More]
Tinuvielas writes: Tomorrow the wait is over for more than 5000 Fans from all over the world who've been counting down the days since last year's happening: The fifth RingCon, the biggest convention worldwide dealing exclusively with J.R.R. Tolkien and his masterpieces, as well as the 
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Ballet celebrates its much-anticipated arrival on the Southern California cultural landscape with a fundraiser on Thursday, November 9th at Bergamot Station. The evening will be hosted by Anjelica Huston and will feature a celebrity art auction including the works of Steve Martin, 
SCOTLAND'S young carers - some still at primary school - work long hours for little reward. But next Monday they'll get a night in the spotlight alongside stars 
If you are a fan of the Wallace and Gromit films, then you may want to check out 'Flushed Away,' an animated film featuring the voice talents of Ian McKellen (as Toad) and Andy Serkis (as Spike) now in theaters. While I don't want to bore you with a full-fledged review, the film is very entertaining for all ages - something that seems to be hard to find these days. And if you listen close enough, you may hear a bit of McKellen's Gandalf scolding Pippin and Merry in Hobbiton - or the faintest hint of Gollum in Serkis's character Spike. [