Miranda Otto's latest film, 'War of the Worlds' is out today. By all accounts it seems like a massive blockbuster. You may also be lucky enough to catch the theatre-sized trailer for Peter Jackson's King Kong. [Showtimes USA] [Showtimes CAN] [Showtimes UK]

Tim writes: The cast and crew of "The Dork of the Rings" will be quite busy this August making appearances and running seminars on the making of the film at Gen Con in Indianapolis and Elf: A Weekend of Wonder in Orlando, as well as having the UK premiere of their trailer and footage at The Fellowship Festival. The film is currently in post-production with plans for a Spring 2006 release. [More]

The fantasy-laden, visually stunning “Lord of the Rings” films had the benefit of computer-enhanced animation, but when it came to bringing J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” to the small stage at Harwich Junior Theatre, director Lisa Canto was on her own—no high-tech studio graphics for this production. “I have to use real bodies and real makeup,” Canto said in an interview last week, just days before opening night. “But I’ve taken on the challenge with full gusto.” [More]

Twin Australian filmmakers Michael and Peter Spierig told SCI FI Wire that they were inspired to make their zombie thriller film Undead by audience reaction to some of New Zealand director Peter Jackson's early schlock horror movies. "One of [my] best movie experiences was seeing Braindead [aka Dead Alive] in Brisbane," Peter Spierig said in an interview (he and his brother, Michael, both attended Brisbane's Queensland College of Art). "The audience had never seen anything like that, and it was so good. The audience went nuts." [More]

Ringer Feather Iron visited the LOTR exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and was able to get a couple of pictures. She writes: "I found the exhibit itself to be really nice. There were three rooms total, a life-size Treebeard, Sauron, Lurtz and cave troll. There is lots of making-of stuff and all the great costumes. There is a room you go in that is round and dark and it has the ring in the middle of it. You hear all the clips from the movie concerning the ring and there is fire all around you. It's very hard to describe but really cool. Seeing the costumes and the armoury up close was amazing." [More]

Louise writes that the Fellowship Festival has just added Billy Boyd, to its guest list. However, note that Billy will be joining the already-extensive extensive guest at the Wembley Conference Centre in London on August 29 only. For more information and tickets, head to the festival website. [More]

Thanks to Sinistral for this link. Evangeline Lilly, who plays Kate, and Dominic Monaghan, who plays rocker Charlie, will fly into Sydney on July 11 to publicise Lost's season finale, which goes to air on Channel Seven in August. [More]

djdeathskiss points out this story in the Hollywood News where Billy Boyd discusses the possibility of a Master and Commander sequel. As you may have been reading, we attended this weekend's London Film and Comic Con ... here's a little on what Billy Boyd had to say. [More]

Abdullyne writes: Billy Boyd will be featured on 'Tartan TV' which is on the NY local PBS station (WLIW) tonight (at 11.30pm, I think - Dem). [More]

The New York Times (which requires registration to read) has this story on Peter Jackson's lawsuit against New Line. Thanks to Adele for the link. Peter Jackson, the director, is suing New Line Cinema, the company behind his "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, claiming he was underpaid by millions. [More]

Edit: Nate points out this counter-article from Slate.com alleging bias in the NYT article. [More]

For the past 12 months and more, Peter Jackson has been working on his next big project -- King Kong. Now you can finally check out the trailer over at Volkswagen.com! [Click Here] After that, jump on over to the OFFICIAL WEBSITE at KingKongMovie.com.

Seen the trailer? Comment about it on the kongisking.net message board. Or come and chat about it in our chatroom!

Kikn Mirrors

[Large] - [Medium] - [Small]

What if Frodo Baggins, instead of confronting the evil empire in "The Lord of the Rings," just got himself a lawyer and sued instead? The real-life corollary is going on now in Hollywood, where Peter Jackson, one of the film industry's most powerful and popular directors, is suing New Line Cinema, the subsidiary of Time Warner that financed and distributed his Oscar-winning "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy. [More]

Cate Blanchett will reprise her role as the Virgin Queen in a multi-million-dollar sequel to her Oscar-nominated 1998 film Elizabeth. Elizabeth: The Golden Age will tell the story of the Tudor monarch's tempestuous relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh, suggesting Queen Elizabeth was infatuated with the adventurer. Britain's Daily Telegraph reported that British actor Clive Owen had signed on to play Sir Walter Raleigh. [More]

Tolkien-freak-girl writes: Just thought I´d send you this picture of Ian McKellen walking the Europride parade in Norway. He got the most fantastic welcome, soo well earned of course! :) He took the time to greet everyone, write autographs and all. Go Ian! [More]

Curi writes: I heard on the radio this morning that Billy Boyd will be part of the Make Poverty History rally in Edinburgh on July 2nd. Billy was also wearing one of the white Make Poverty History wristbands at London Film and Comic Con yesterday. [More]

The official trailer for Orlando Bloom's latest film 'Elizabethtown' is now online. Take a look! [More]

Roheryn writes: During the American Film Institute's salute to George Lucas this evening on the USA cable network, there was a segment in which prominent filmmakers paid tribute to Lucas, acknowledging how he had blazed a trail for them with cutting edge special effects. The slimmer Peter Jackson made a brief comment about how motion capture and digital effects have made nothing impossible in film now, thanks in no small part to Lucas' work. As he spoke, they showed a clip of Gollum, as well as of Legolas bringing down the mumak. [AFI.com]

Fragile Pictures and Solid Entertainment present a documentary film about the illustrator and artistic designer of the movie trilogy « The Lord of the Rings » : With John Howe, Peter Jackson, Alan Lee and HR Giger. Born in Canada and currently living in Switzerland, John Howe is one of today's most famous fantasy artists. His name is from now on closely linked to that of renowned New Zealand film-maker Peter Jackson. From the moment of conception to the making of the films, John Howe has been one of the key players in this challenging adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's novel. [More]

According to a June 13, 2005 article on xinhuanet.com, Beijing's Forbidden City Film Company and Peter Jackson's Weta Digital have signed a framework agreement to produce film based on Chinese novelist, Jiang Rong's, "The Wolf Totem. Peter Jackson read an outline of the book that mixes history and legend about the people of the Mongolian prairies and their feelings toward wolves. Zhang Qiang, managing director of Forbidden City Films, said they'd be using real wolves as well as CGIs created by Weta Digital. Forbidden City estimates the movie will cost 48 million US dollars and the pre-production will take three years to complete. [More]

Thai Rak Thai estranged list-MP Sanoh Thienthong yesterday likened the power given by the proposed charter amendments to that of a single ring in the hit movie Lord of the Rings. The ring could have given the Dark Lord Sauron the power to enslave the world. ``At the end of the day, the ring was destroyed and prevented the turning of an angel into a demon and a demon into a super-demon. What I'm saying is that the charter gives too much power to one man. Even a good person will be consumed (by power) and what will become of a bad one?'' Mr Sanoh said in a telephone interview. [More]

Life couldn't be rosier for Liv Tyler. As the face of the French cosmetics and fragrance line Givenchy, the actress and new mom just had a rose named after her. The flower, officially dubbed the Liv Tyler Rose, is one of the components of the new Very Irresistible Givenchy Sensual Eau de Parfum, which Tyler introduced at an event last week and which will be available at Macy's this August.[ More]

SamsKimmie Tonight Sean Astin plays Martin Jarrett a prospector who entices Jethro Wheeler (a settler) to dig for gold in Steven Spielberg's Mini Series Into the West on TNT Cable Network. Into the West is a tale of the American West in the 19th century, told from the perspective of two families, one of white settlers and one of Native Americans. [alt.tnt.tv]

Friday 6/24, 8/7c & 10/9c
Saturday 6/25, 8/7c
Sunday 6/26, 8/7c & 10/9c

Norwulf writes: Ian McKellen is guest of honour in tomorrow's big Europride parade in Oslo, and will ride the streets ahead of the festivities in a cabriolet. He has been participating in a seminar as part of The 15th Oslo gay & lesbian Film Festival last week. I tried to find you a good english language link, but can only suggest europride.no. After tomorrow they will in all probability post pictures.

The Houston Museum of Natural Sciences has offered to provide discounted entry to the Lord of the Rings exhibit that it is currently hosting. Normal adult admission costs $17.50. However, TORn visitors can get the equivalent of a group discount - just $13.50 per person - just by mentioning that we sent you!

However, to claim this discount, you must contact museum staffer Justin Ehni in advance. You can do this either by phone on (713) 639 4657 or e-mail to: jehni at hmns.org (replace the at with @). Here's the museum's LoTR exhibit site if you're not quite sure what you're missing. [More]

Peter Jackson's King Kong trailer is releasing Monday June 27. In the lead-up, we've scored some promo teaser footage over at KongisKing.net. [More]

djdeathskiss writes: Aint It Cool News has an exclusive video clip from Orlando's new film 'Elizabethtown'. [More]

Tosaanne writes that Josef Madlener's hitherto lost original painting that was the inspiration for Tolkien's Gandalf has been rediscovered. It will be auctioned by Sotheby's in London on 12 July 2005. [More]

Cate Blanchett will reprise her role as the Virgin Queen in a multi-million-dollar sequel to her Oscar-nominated 1998 film Elizabeth. Elizabeth: The Golden Age will tell the story of the Tudor monarch's tempestuous relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh, suggesting Queen Elizabeth was infatuated with the adventurer. [More]

Sometimes, just sometimes, it's interesting and fun to play 'what if?'. That's why this weekend, we're asking you 'What if Gollum had lived?'. At the climax of the Return of the King, Frodo claims the ring for himself, Gollum grabs him and bites off Frodo's finger. The Precious is his! But as Gollum holds up both ring and finger triumphantly, he slips, dropping both the Ring and Frodo's finger into the fire. Yet he doesn't fall in himself. What happens next? [More]

Monte was the first to let us know that Hubble scored a glimpse of the Eye of Sauron. Wonderful things like this is why we need to keep the Hubble Space Telescope alive. More]

FredO wrote to let us know that the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has now confirmed the rumor that Billy Boyd will be a guest vocalist at their July 22nd and 23rd performances of The Lord of the Rings Symphony. Billy will reprise his role as Pippin and sing "The Edge Of Night" from the Return Of The King as he performs it live for the first time anywhere when he appears with the PSO on July 22nd & 23rd, 2005. He will also be attending, for each performance, the pre-concert Q&A, the post-concert
reception and the Middle Earth dinner. Only Gold Circle tickets, the ones that cost $75.00, get tickets to the post-concert reception. Tickets to the Middle Earth dinner, which is a fund-raiser for the PSO, are $65.00. There is still time to get a last minute flight. [More]

The Two Towers cracked AFI's Top 100 Movie Quotes of All Time list that was recently released. Although, I personally think LotR has a couple more lines that might have made it, I cannot argue, these are some dandy quotes. [More]