Over the years, we've had several sessions on miniature and PC gaming, but this year we're sharing a new (to the track) genre of gaming. We're very excited to welcome Mike Yow of Elfstone come to speak with us about the tremendously popular world of Live Action Role-Playing (LARP). [More]

Why on (Middle-)earth was Isildur allowed to keep the One Ring?

Long ago, Sauron wreaked havoc upon Middle-earth. After Celebrimbor first created his rings of power, Sauron forged his own - intent on domination. He took Celebrimbor's rings and used them to seduce nine kings of men to his side and to attempt to corrupt seven dwarven lords. Laying waste to Eregion, he pursued Elrond, who established Rivendell as a stronghold and shelter.

His war of domination was only thwarted by the power of Numenor. [More]

If Lord Of The Rings actor Elijah Wood ever worried about being typecast as a result of his role in the fantasy epic, his latest venture looks set to allay all such fears. The former Hobbit was in the Scottish capital this week for a gala screening of his new flick Green Street, part of the Edinburgh film festival's line-up. [More]

Now with the November release date quickly approaching, the creators of RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS are trekking across the U.S. to promote the film -- one exciting show after the next -- across the Southeastern states! If you are headed to Orlando for ELF you can see an exclusive panel event with the writers and director, where they will show for the first time anywhere the “Behind the Scenes” story to be featured on the upcoming DVD (wait till you see the awesome new footage with star Dominic Monaghan!) and other panels too. One weekend later, the team heads to Dragon*Con in Atlanta for the biggest genre geek party of them all where even more will be revealed. See the new RINGERS trailer and special clips shown exclusively at these events! [More]

Craig writes: At least 7 cast members of the LOTR movies are scheduled to attend the 30th annual Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from September 8 to 17th this year. [More]

John writes: Just to let you know that there was an interview with Elijah Wood broadcast on Scotland Today, the news programme on Scottish TV this afternoon (August 24th). The interview is available online and can be watched in Windows Media format at this page. [More]

UK Magazine 'The Big Issue' will feature an interview with Elijah Wood about 'Green Street', his latest film. Look for it on newsstands starting August 29th.

A repeat airing of Orlando Bloom on 'Live with Regis and Kelly' will arit today. Check your local lisings for channel and time.

New CD to be released at Evening at Bree party!

Emerald Rose has announced the completion of their newest cd, "Archives of Ages to Come", and they plan to release the cd at TORn's Evening at Bree party at Dragon*Con. The band will be premiering selections of the new material this weekend for audiences at the ELF gathering in Orlando.

Emerald Rose has performed for TORn fans at many LOTR events, including post-Oscar parties in Hollywood. This is the band's fifth cd, and their most musically diverse, ranging from traditional Celtic ballads and instrumentals to driving rock songs inspired by world mythology. [more]

Arwen writes: We are pleased to announce that TORn will hold their annual Los Angeles Baggins Birthday Picnic on Sunday September 25th, from noon to 6pm, in Griffith Park next to the Merry-Go-Round. [More]

Two relative 'oldies' are out on DVD today, first up is a Harrison Ford starrer that also features our own Viggo Mortensen, "Witness". Second we have Brad Dourif in another creepfest, "Dario Argento's Trauma", take a look in our TORN Shop! [More]

Mary writes: The Charleston Stage Company will be presenting 6 performances of the Hobbit October 14th thru October 23rd. Click here for more info. Box office opens Wednesday August 24th at 11am. [More]

Gill writes: Elijah Wood was on ITV1's GMTV this morning talking about his new film "Green Street", as well as how he chooses roles, the basis of this film and how he researched his role. This interview should be up on www.gm.tv video clips section in a couple of days.

Tinuvielas writes: Don't know if you've had any reports on Shore's LOTR-symphony conducted by Terry Edwards in Neumünster, Germany, during the Schleswig-Holstein-Musik-Festival last Saturday (August 13th)? We (TORners Issy, Neldoreth and myself) attended it, and we were totally enthusiastic, because it was a much better event than the European premiere in Antwerp conducted by Shore himself last year. [More]

Halfdan Hansen from jenshansen.com writes: We are annoyed to share that we were hit by burglar's in the early hours of Saturday morning. Possibly they were on their own quest for the Ring but thankfully the forces of good prevailed. After much effort to remove a wire grill our cunning convicts struggled to break a hole through a laminated glass window and fled with a handful of silver jewellery. They left a few good fingerprints as a calling card and thankfully all the damage was repaired in a few hours.

djdeathskiss According to MTV's website, Orlando Bloom is scheduled to be a presenter at the MTV Video Music Awards on August 28th. [More]

On Sunday, August 28, Jeanine Renne will be signing her book, When A Fan Hits the Sh**, at the Plaza Venezia Barnes and Noble in Orlando, Florida, from 5-7 PM. [more]

Anton writes: This past Sunday, August the 21st, in Austin Texas, a local movie theater by the name of Alamo Drafthouse showed all three Lord of the Rings movies back to back in one day, much like theaters around the world did on trilogy tuesday two years ago. [More]

Kendra writes: The Greater (San Francisco) Bay Area Costumers Guild (GBACG) is pleased to invite you to spend an evening in Elrond's hall at THE LORD OF THE RINGS FEAST. Elves, hobbits, dwarves, men, ents, wizards -- and yes, even orcs -- are invited to join us for an evening of feasting, music, dancing, and the magical words of Tolkien. [More]

Howli writes: I wanted to inform you about the New York Premiere of Howard Shore’s The Lord of the Rings Symphony, Movements I and II. On Sunday, November 13th at 2p.m. at Carnegie Hall The Collegiate Chorale, led by music director Robert Bass, will perform excerpts from Richard Wagner’s operas The Flying Dutchman, Die Walkϋre, and Götterdämmerung; and the New York Premiere of Howard Shore’s The Lord of the Rings Symphony, Movements I and II in a program entitled The Rings: Myth and Music. [More]

From sptimes.com: Listen for the pitter-patter of hairy feet at the Wyndham Orlando Resort Hotel Friday and Saturday at Elf: A Weekend of Wonder, a convention for Lord of the Rings fans. Sorry, girls, despite the location Orlando Bloom isn't expected, but Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins), Sean Astin (Sam Gamgee) and John Rhys Davies (Gimli) will be on hand. So will the makers of two spinoff films, the documentary Ringers: Lord of the Fans and the spoof Dork of the Rings, which features such creatures as Throbbits and Elfises. Go to creation.com for information.

Elijah Wood was shocked when Hollywood hellraiser Jack Nicholson told him he walked out of the final The Lord Of The Rings movie. The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King opened in 2003 to glowing reviews and huge box office takings, but Nicholson couldn't sit through the whole movie - and he had no problem letting Wood know. [More]

TORN regular Adele writes: BBC Radio interviewed Elijah Wood on Jo Wiley's show. You can re-visit the site and choose to "Listen Again." [More]

Ringer Celebriel sends this report on the San Francisco Trilogy Thursday screening for Cure Autism Now. The screening at the Presidio Theatre in San Francisco raised more than $2200 for Cure Autism Now. More than 150 fans, many in costume, attended the charity event, including some from as far away as Texas and South Carolina. [More]

The Lord of the Rings has been voted the nation's favourite novel. JRR Tolkien's fantasy beat literary classics by the likes of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens to the number one spot in the poll. In second place was 1984 by George Orwell, who was the only author to appear twice in the top 10, with his Animal Farm at number six. [More]

The cult-hit hourlong stage condensation known as One-Man Star Wars Trilogy, by writer-performer Charles Ross, will be paired with Ross' One-Man Lord of the Rings starting Sept. 13 at the Lamb's Theater in Manhattan. The shows, a Herculean workout for the young Canadian performer, will be seen in repertory on the Lamb's mainstage. Both projects are inspired by the respective film trilogies that are dense with mythic quests, villainous and heroic archetypes and moral (some say religious) messages. A new performance schedule for One-Man Star Wars begins Sept. 6 in anticipation of the new J.R.R. Tolkien-inspired show. [More]

Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood will be at a gala premiere in Edinburgh next week. Wood will join co-stars Charlie Hunnam, Leo Gregory and director Lexi Alexander for the unveiling of Green Street on Tuesday. The film is getting its British Gala screening at Cineworld, Fountain Park, as part of the 59th Edinburgh International Film Festival. It sees Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in the big-screen version of JRR Tolkien's trilogy, transformed into an English football hooligan when his brother-in-law introduces him to members of West Ham firm the Green Street Elite. [More]

Marius writes: The Lord of the Rings Symphony is to be performed in Frognerparken in Oslo on the 27th of August, for the very first time in Scandinavia. This is a part of the Norwegian company Hydro’s 100 years anniversary celebration, and thus it is free entry! Before the symphony itself, there will be a 45 min long parade through the park, featuring about 100 costume dressed fans, jugglers and musicians playing medieval instruments. [More]

Ringer Spy Isilnáriën sends along a great report and images from last weekends 'Tolkien 2005' event in the UK. Take a look! [More]

Today is also LOTR artist extraordinaire Alan Lee's birthday! Alan was born on August 20th, 1947 in London, England. That makes him 58 today! Happy Birthday Alan!

Today is John Noble's birthday! John was born on August 20th, 1948 in Port Pirie, South Australia. That makes him 57 years old today! Happy Birthday John!

Gloria writes: Howard Shore has generously donated a signed copy of a sheet of the Lord of the Rings score to help Camp Hobe' a special summer camp for children with cancer. This coveted item will be auctioned off Sept 17th at a Fellowship Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah. The event includes dinner, entertainment, prizes, costume contest and silent auction. For more information and tickets, go to More]

For once, Cate Blanchett looks far from elegant. With minimal make-up, a nose ring and clothes that are more Paddy's Market than Paris, she is waiting for her next scene in a trailer parked in a quiet suburban street. She's starring as a reformed junkie in Little Fish, drawn back to Sydney to work with director Rowan Woods on his first film since the chilling drama The Boys. "When I saw The Boys, I just felt like it had advanced the concept of what was an Australian film," Blanchett says. [More]