Chapter 13 of The Silmarillion, Of the Return of the Noldor, takes us back to where we left the Noldorian elves, on the northern shores of Middle Earth. Feanor and his followers making their way inland, exploring and settling. Later, we see Fingolfin and his kin come ashore to the first rising of the Sun, and meeting again with the estranged kin who left them for dead on the ice.

Although there is accord between the two groups, it is shaky at best. Meanwhile, Morgoth tests their strength against his own, sending orc hordes and balrogs and finally Glaurung the Uruloki (firedrake) to challenge the elves. The Noldorian elves are introduced to the elves of Menegroth as well as the Dwarves -- who become tentative allies in the peace of this time. [More]

Lost star Dominic Monaghan became depressed when he couldn't find work after Lord of the Rings. The actor, who played hobbit Merry in the epic trilogy, struggled to get another job after spending almost four years filming and promoting the Tolkien films. He confessed: "I wasn't taking care of myself. I was sleeping in the day and getting up at night. I wrote 50 journals in a year. I'd never been depressed so I didn't understand it. I felt like I had a big weight on my chest." [More]

Meghan, Online Community Manager for The Lord of the Rings Online writes: This week we've posted new concept art of Gorthorogs, an evil race players may encounter (if they're unlucky) in The Lord of the Rings Online. Included in the update is the original concept and one variant, and some backstory on the Gorthorogs. [More]

Everyone's favorite King Viggo Mortensen will be on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' tomorrow (September, 23rd) on CBS. He will be there to promote his latest film 'A History of Violence'. 'The Late Show with David Letterman' airs on CBS at 11:35PM. Viggo will also be on the Charlie Rose show on PBS this Friday. Check your local PBS station for times.

Today is also Sala Baker's birthday! Like Bilbo and Frodo Sala was born on September 22nd in 1976 in Wellington, New Zealand. That makes him 29 years old today! Happy Birthday Sala!

Marilynn writes: Our local public radio station interviewed Sean Bean for his new movie Flightplan. You can hear the interview here: [More]

Sideshow/Weta Collectibles is celebrating Bilbo Baggins' birthday by giving away one of the long sold out (and now on ebay for approx $1000 bucks!) statues of Aragorn, Son of Arathorn. They have also discounted some of their LOTR products 25 - 40% OFF. The giveaway and discounts only last until tomorrow at Noon PST. [Click Here]

Brian Miller writes: "Frodo, your mother and I are very concerned about your smoking." Elijah Wood looks so young, cigarette dangling from his mouth during a recent Seattle visit, that I had to restrain myself from tossing the pack out the window. Our favorite hobbit was here to discuss Everything Is Illuminated, which was actually shot in the Czech Republic, not Ukraine, where Jonathan Safran Foer's source novel is set. So did Wood view the land with the same fresh eyes as Foer, his tourist character? "Very fresh. I'd never been to Eastern Europe. [Prague] is a city that's in flux. You've got these people from the old Communist regime that almost wish that it was still there, and you've got the young people that are glad it's gone. There's this interesting, strange identity issue at play. For me, that was the most fascinating element of being there." [More]

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) FOX is moving the fifth-season premiere of "24" back one week in January, hoping to take advantage of an NFL lead-in to give the show a ratings bump. Originally scheduled to open Sunday, Jan. 8, the show will now begin its fifth year on Jan. 15. As it did last season, FOX is making a two-night event of the season's beginning, offering up back-to-back episodes on Jan. 15 and 16. The series will settle into its regular time at 9 p.m. ET Jan. 23. [More]

TORONTO - Of all the stars who emerged from Peter Jackson’s The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, Viggo Mortensen seems to be the least ambitious, the most humble, the least likely to try to capitalize on the phenomenon. David Cronenberg, the Toronto filmmaker who directed Mortensen in A History Of Violence, calls his Danish-American leading man “a really down-to-earth guy” for whom he harbours great affection. The fruits of their friendship opens Friday in Toronto, plus eight other North American cities, before expanding wide next week. [More]

Today is David Wenham's birthday! David was born on September 21st, 1965 in Marrickville, Sydney, Australia. That makes him 40 years old today! Happy Birthday David!

Yes ladies and gentlemen, the best show of last season (and arguably the past 5 years) 'Lost', featuring Dominic Monaghan, is back tonight! 8PM on ABC features the last episode of season 1 and 9PM is the premiere of episode 2.1. [abc.go.com]

Sideshow / Weta Collectibles released a Exclusive Smeagol Polystone Bust for Comic-Con 2004 and according to their website, they have found a few pieces in their warehouse. These items are being offered as a second chance to collectors. Word has it only 100 pieces remain. If you missed out before, now is the time to get one. [Click Here]

Jackie writes: I thought you might like to know that this week's issue of sci-fi weekly had a short mention of 'Ringers: Lord of the Fans'. I am glad to see that the word is getting out about what appears to be a well-done documentary, judging from what I have seen at the two Lord of the Rings conventions (ORC and ELF): "Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release the feature-length documentary Ringers: Lord of the Fans on DVD on Nov. 22, directed by Carlene Cordova and narrated by Dominic Monaghan." [Pre-Order 'Ringers']

From John N: From 28 June to 11 September the Municipal Museum of Carouge, a suburb of Geneva, hosted a successful show of over 120 of the Tolkien-related works of John Howe which attracted 8600 visitors and raised over $50,000 for charity. The show was entitled "Le Monde du Seigneur des Anneaux/ The World of the Lord of the Rings" (all information panels were bilingual French/English). The event was organised by Krousar Thmey, a charity which supports schools for deprived and handicapped children in Cambodia, and was also in favor of "La Maison des Enfants de Carouge". John Howe graciously lent his collection for the event, and also held two signature sessions for his limited prints and books sold in the museum shop.

WOOD TAKES UP ON-SET PHOTOGRAPHY

Elijah Wood has become an avid photographer over the last few years, after getting into the habit of taking snapshots on his movie sets. The 24-year-old actor started taking photographs of his work in progress as he shot his hit LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy in New Zealand, and he's continued to do the same on all of his movie sets. He says, "I have boxes of (pictures I took on the Lord of the Rings set). They're sad, in a way. I was 18 years old when we first started shooting, and it had such an impact on me as a person - it was massive. So looking back now is somewhat nostalgic. [More]

Nerwen writes: Christopher Lee and sir Ian McKellen were both among the first 100 people to get their stars on the brand new "Avenue of Stars" in London. [More]

Jennifer sends along these images of Orlando Bloom at the screening of his latest film 'Elizabethtown' in Franklin, TN. [More]

Arwen writes: We would like to remind all LA Ringers of our upcoming traditional Baggins Birthday picnic, which will take place on Sunday September 25th at 12:00 noon in Griffith Park (next to the Merry Go Round). There will be plenty of wonderful prizes to win in our major three contests. Please make sure to contact me at arwen@theonering.net to let me know what food/drinks and/or utensils you'll be contributing. Thank you!

When Orlando Bloom stopped at Wagner's Pharmacy in Louisville yesterday afternoon to shoot a segment for a coming "Oprah" show, hope took root in Ethel Larosa Klemens' heart. The pediatrics rehabilitation physician at the Frazier Rehab Institute recently was diagnosed with lung cancer -- even though she doesn't smoke. "Statistically, I read that … 92 percent of lung cancer patients die within the first two years," she said. "I stopped reading after that." [More]

Pier Janssen writes: I’d like to inform you about the progress on “The Minas Tirith Project”. Today, we’ve released our new realtime viewer demo (Can be found in the ‘realtime viewer’ section on our website). This new version has a lot of model and engine updates, and we’ve now even got the first (conceptual) textures in it. I’ve attached a couple of overview renders to show you what we’ve got at the moment. [Images] [minastirith-project.com]

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 18 100 mailing list members! Sign up now! [More]

Viggo Mortensen never set out to be a Hollywood player, preferring the life of a bohemian jobbing actor to the A-list rollercoaster. But when his last-minute casting as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings propelled him to superstardom, he found that fame can have its uses. It’s fair to assume that Viggo Mortensen wasn’t looking for the kind of fame that he now enjoys or, more accurately, endures. It’s the kind that leads to strangers interrupting his conversations, groups of teenagers laying siege to his hotel clutching glossy pictures of him in Aragorn kit, or, far worse, fans gawping at him like a prize exhibit and destroying the pleasure he finds in visiting an art gallery or a museum. [More]

Eric David writes: An essay I wrote has been published in "The Mars Hill Review," a journal of religion and the arts. My essay examines Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings film cycle, compared with the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, focusing on the theme of Vocation. If your favorite bookstore doesn't stock MHR, you can order online from my home page. You can also go to the MHR site at marshillreview.com. A hard copy costs $15, or you can order a pdf copy via email for $5.

The Oregon Symphony Orchestra will be performing the LOTR score at the Civic Center tonight! (September 17th). Tickets for tonight are sold out but there are still some left for tomorrow (September 18th). Take a look! [Tickets]

Follow this link for more dates and locations well into 2006! [More]

Today is Bruce Spence's Birthday! Bruce was born on September 17th, 1945 in Auckland, New Zealand, that makes him 60 years old today! Happy birthday Bruce!

New York, NY, September 14, 2005 – After a summer of first-time and encore performances in America and Europe, Howard Shore’s The Lord of the Rings Symphony: Six Movements for Orchestra and Chorus returns to concert stages on both continents in the 2005/2006 season beginning on September 17 and 18 with performances by the Oregon Symphony in Portland. Additional performances of the work will follow this fall in Grand Rapids, MI (Grand Rapids Symphony, October 14), Nashville, TN (The Nashville Symphony Orchestra, November 5) and Spokane, WA (Spokane Symphony Orchestra, November 12). [More]

Lhunsarniel writes: I volunteer for the American Cinematheque and we are having an advance benefit screening of The History of Violence starring Viggo Mortensen on Wed., Sept. 21st @ 7:30 pm at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. Tickets for non members are $60.00 and $50.00 for members. Some cast and crew will be present. For more information please call 323-692-3431. Non members must purchase tickets via snail mail.

From USA Today: Nothing about the Lord of the Rings trilogy has been scaled small. A big story took three lengthy films to tell, with even longer DVD versions. The same type of thinking has been applied to the films' music. The complete score for the first installment, The Fellowship of the Ring, will be released Nov. 22 by Reprise/WMG Soundtracks in a four-disc set. Three of the discs will encompass the first complete release of Howard Shore's score, including two songs by Enya. The fourth disc is a music DVD showcasing the score in 5.1 surround sound.

Now that all the American 'Rings'-related conventions have come and gone (ELF, Dragon*Con) it is time to look forward to Europe's biggest and undoubtedly the best convention around: Ring*Con. The German-based event is scheduled for their fourth installment already, making them the oldest Lord of the Rings-convention out there! [More]

This weekend, Hall of Fire returns to discussing the Silmarillion. Chapter 12 -- Of Men -- begins with the Valar withdrawing more and more from Middle-earth and its inhabitants, both elves and Men. Why is Ulmo -- perhaps the one least suited to the task -- the only one who seems to care?

Does this seem like a wise move? If the Valar were at all interested in the Children of Ilúvatar, why do they they turn away and leave them to Morgoth? [More]