Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Two New DVDs Explore the Fantasy Appeal of New Zealand - Xoanon @ 12:34 PST
San Jose, California, June 19, 2006 – Whether you want to swim with dolphins or hike with hobbits, New Zealand is full of fantastic adventures for the budget traveler. The latest Real Travels DVDs show how to see movie sites, mountains, and more in just two weeks on a modest budget.

Married couple Trystan L. Bass and Thomas Dowrie showcase the many sides of New Zealand in their newest releases, _T&T's Real Travels in Middle Earth_ and _T&T's Real Travels in New Zealand_. On these DVDs, tourists and Tolkien fans can explore the best of the Land of the Long White Cloud.

The Middle Earth DVD follows the Ringer trail to a dozen locations from the Lord of the Rings movies. From the restored movie set of Hobbiton through the lush forests of Rivendell and on to the grassy plains of Rohan, you'll see why director Peter Jackson set J.R.R. Tolkien's story there. Bass is also a life-long Tolkien addict who can imagine the original trilogy in these kiwi farmsteads and mountains. You don't need to pay for expensive tours when you can find most film locations yourself with a little help from this DVD.

The New Zealand DVD features the rugged natural beauty of these two islands. Starting in Auckland, Dowrie and Bass drive the length of the country to Queenstown. This DVD immerses travelers in Maori culture, adventure sports, Gold Rush history, and geologic wonders. It's also full of handy travel tips about affordable lodgings, driving the backroads, and how to have an amazing kiwi vacation without spending a fortune.

While they both work at demanding high-tech jobs, Bass and Dowrie have set foot on every continent -- including Antarctica -- in the past five years. They produce a DVD series about their adventures, and their website at ttrealtravels.com is full of insider tips and evocative journals and photos from their trips.

The couple believes anyone can see the world, and they want to show people how. You don't need oodles of free time or tons of cash to go beyond the typical theme parks and beach resorts. With advice from T&T's Real Travels, you can plan a unique vacation that fits into the constraints of a workaday life.

About T&T's Real Travels: Based in San Jose, California, T&T's Real Travels shares real-life travel stories through online journals and DVDs. [ttrealtravels.com]

Monday, June 19, 2006

DVD Tuesday: Syriana, Eight Below, A Good Woman & More! - Xoanon @ 15:17 PST
Syriana: George Clooney earned an Oscar for his performance as a disillusioned CIA agent doing deep cover missions in the Middle East when he stumbles on to a conspiracy surrounding the royal family of a small oil-rich country mired in greed and complicated by the international competition for its oil. The very complicated plot involves an idealistic American economic analyst in a Swiss corporation (Matt Damon) and a tricky merger of American energy interests with a whiff of malfeasance. It's hard to put these puzzle pieces together -- they don't fit with the easy snap that we're used to in American movies -- but the message of political and corporate self interest at the expense of third world stability and democracy is unmistakable. It's a pointed thriller of modern geopolitical realities, and it's pissed off about it. Director Steven Gaghan earned an Oscar nomination for his screenplay, inspired by the book by real life CIA veteran Robert Baer (the part is played by Clooney). Jeffrey Wright, Chris Cooper, William Hurt, Mazhar Munir, Tim Blake Nelson, Amanda Peet, Christopher Plummer and Alexander Siddig costar. Details: Color, 128 mins, Warner, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: "Make a Change, Make a Difference" featurette; "A Conversation with George Clooney" interview featurette; Deleted scenes; Theatrical trailer. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1) and French (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional Spanish, French and English subtitles. [Order]


Night Watch: (Russia) Timur Bekmambetov's Russian blockbuster is a fantasy noir set amidst an urban underworld subculture of sorcerers, shapeshifters, seers and vampires in a depressed modern Moscow. The opposing forces of Light and Dark are held in check by a wobbly truce policed by supernatural cops from each side, and even the ostensible good guys, a seedy vice squad that uses humans as disposable bait in supernatural sting operations, are sketched in shades of gray. The familiar elements of modern mythmaking are all here, refreshed by the intriguing shift in culture and setting. It's a bit arch but the imagery is striking and the style impressive. Based on the novel by Sergei Lukyanenko, it's the first in a trilogy and it shows: it ends on a twist that sets the stage for an epic conflict to come. Features both the original Russian version (with creative subtitles that have the presence of an incantation taking physical form) and an English dubbed version. Details: Color, 114 mins, 20th Century Fox, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: Side A (DVD9):; Widescreen English Version; Extended Ending ("The Roof") with optional commentary by director Timur Bekmambetov (option to view in English or Russian audio); Sneak Peak at upcoming Night Watch sequels; Bonus Trailers; Side B (DVD5):; Widescreen Russian Version; Audo commentary by director Timur Bekmambetov (subtitled in English, Spanish, French); Text commentary by novelist Sergei Lukianenko (subtitled in English, Spanish, French); ; ; . Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Russian (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.1 Surround) and Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.1 Surround). Optional Spanish and English subtitles. [Order]


The Hills Have Eyes: French director Alexandre Aja's remake of Wes Craven's 1977 grunge-horror classic is remarkably faithful to the original thriller about a modern American family stranded in the desert and under attack by a feral cannibal clan, a savage, warped reflection of itself. Aja directs with a stark, stripped-down style in a in a desolate desert wasteland and adds a backstory that recalls the atomic monster mashes of the 1950s which, while clever and even visually witty, also tends to distract from the primal core. It's violent and effectively harrowing, less for the gore than the primitive savagery, directed with flair. Available in separate theatrical R and unrated editions. Details: Color, 108 mins, 20th Century Fox, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: Commentary by director/co-screenwriter Alexandre Aja, art director/co-screenwriter Gregory Levasseur and producer Marianne Maddalena; Commentary by producers Wes Craven and Peter Locke; "Surviving the Hills: Making of The Hills Have Eyes" documentary; Production diaries; Music video. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1) and Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.1 Surround). Optional Spanish, French and English subtitles. [Order]


Eight Below: Paul Walker is the ostensible star of the Disney adventure, inspired by the true story of a team of sled dogs stranded in the Antarctica (previously dramatized in the Japanese film Nankyoku Monogatari), but it's the dogs who take center screen in the survival nature drama. Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood and Jason Biggs co-star in the human side of the cast and Frank Marshall directs. Available in separate letterboxed and full screen editions. Details: Color, 120 mins, Disney, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.40:1. Supplements: Deleted Scenes with audio commentary by director Frank Marshall; "Running with the Dogs: The Making of Eight Below" featurette. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1) and French (Dolby Digital 5.1). Commentary by director Frank Marshall and producer Pat Crowley and Commentary by director Frank Marshall, star Paul Walker and director of photography Don Burgess. Optional Spanish, French and English subtitles. [Order]


The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada: The big screen directing debut of Tommy Lee Jones is a magnificent modern western, an odyssey turned last rites for a friend. His unhurried and focused direction pares away the dense storylines of the script as the determined cowboy (Jones in a marvelous performance) and his captive (Barry Pepper) ride out of society and into the Mexican desert and punctuates it with dark humor and compassion. By journey's end, Jones comes to something primal and pure, a film both rough and poetic, laconic and passionate, a beautiful, low key drama with a primal core and least self congratulatory film about racism, redemption, mortality and self-discovery you'll in many a season. Julio Cesar Cedillo, January Jones and Dwight Yoakam co-star and the original script Guillermo Arriaga ("Amores Perros" and "21 Grams") won the Best Screenplay award at Cannes in 2005. Widescreen and full screen versions on the same disc. Details: Color, 121 mins, Sony Pictures, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: Viewable in both 2.35:1 Widescreen aspect ratio, and 1.33:1 Fullscreen aspect ratio; Commentary by director/star Tommy Lee Jones and actors Dwight Yoakam and Jennifer Jones. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional Spanish, French and English subtitles. [Order]


A Good Woman: Helen Hunt is the notorious Mrs. Erlynne, mistress to the millionaires, and Scarlett Johansson is the naive Meg Windermere in the adaptation of Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan." Set in 1930s Italy, in the luxurious villas of the coastal playground of the rich and aristocratic, it co-stars Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Campbell Moore, Mark Umbers and Milena Vukotic. Mike Barker directs. Details: Color, 93 mins, Lionsgate, Widescreen anamorphic, 1.78:1. Supplements: Director and producer commentary; Trailers. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional Spanish and English subtitles. [Order]


The Omen: Collector's Edition: (1976) What better time to be reminded how much better the original devil child horror is than the remake? Gregory Peck and Lee Remick are the well-placed parents handed a baby born at the 6th hour of the 6th month of the 6th month (after their own child is stillborn). They end up raising the anti-Christ prophesized to bring about the End of Days (and who practices on people close to home, just to get and early). David Warner and Patrick Troughton are priests out to stop the devil spawn who end up with memorably creative deaths and Billie Whitelaw co-stars. It's still one of Richard Donner's most memorable directorial efforts and Jerry Goldsmith's Oscar winning score is a highlight. The new 2-disc set features a commentary and numerous featurettes and interviews. Details: Color, 111 mins, 20th Century Fox, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: Disc 1: ; Widescreen Feature Film with Commentary by director Richard Donner & editor Stuart Baird; Commentary by director Richard Donner & writer/director Brian Helgeland (screenwriter of Mystic River); "Curse or Coincidence" featurette; "Jerry Goldsmith Discusses The Omen Score" interview featurette; Theatrical Trailer; Disc 2: ; Introduction to the special edition of Omen by director Richard Donner ; "666: The Omen Revealed" featurette; "The Omen Legacy" featurette; "Screenwriter's Notebook" featurette with screenwriter David Seltzer; Deleted Scene - Dog Attack with commentary by director Richard Donner and & writer/director Brian Helgeland; "An Appreciation: Wes Craven on The Omen" interview featurette; Still gallery. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 1.0), French (Dolby Digital 1.0) and Spanish (Dolby Digital 1.0). Optional Spanish and English subtitles. [Order]


What's Eating Gilbert Grape: (1993) Johnny Depp is the frustrated Gilbert Grape, trying to take care of his autistic brother (Leonardo DiCaprio) and obese mother (Darlene Cates, hold down a grocery store job and hold his family together in the drama directed by Lasse Hallstrom from a script by Peter Hedges (adapting his own novel). Mary Steenburgen is the housewife whose attentions keep Gilbert going until he meets a new girl (Juliette Lewis) who changes his outlook. John C. Reilly co-stars. Details: Color, 128 mins, Paramount, Widescreen anamorphic. Supplements: The characters of Gilbert Grape: Interviews with Peter Hedges, Lasse Hallstrom, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Darlene Cates and Mary Steenburgen; The voice of Gilbert Grape: Interviews with author/screenwriter Peter Hedges, director Lasse Hallstrom and Johnny Depp taking a closer look at the creative evolution of bringing the book in to the feature film experience; Why we love Gilbert Grape: Director, author and select cast talk about their favorite moments making the film; Original theatrical trailer; Photo gallery. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1) and English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround). Commentary by director Lasse Hallstrom and writer Peter Hedges. Optional English subtitles. [Order]


L.A. Story: 15th Anniversary Edition: (1991) Wacky TV weatherman Steve Martin fumbles his way through the crazy culture and romantic landscape of Los Angeles with the help of an electronic freeway sign in the offbeat romantic comedy written by Martin. Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant, Marilu Henner, Sarah Jessica Parker co-star and Mick Jackson directs. Details: Color, 98 mins, Lionsgate, Widescreen anamorphic, 1.85:1. Supplements: "The Story of L.A. Story" featurette; "The L.A. of L.A. Story": An Interactive Map of the Popular Sites Filmed for L.A. Story; Deleted Scenes; Outtakes; Original Theatrical Marketing Materials from 1991. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1) and English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround). Optional subtitles. [Order]


The Sacketts: (1979) Louis L'Amour personally introduces this landmark mini-series, adapted from his novels, and the gentle rhythm of his easy voice sets the unhurried tone and pace of the loping, rambling, tough-minded tale of the Sackett Brothers and their meandering journey across the Midwest. Sam Elliot's gravely drawl and flashing eyes made him the great wandering survivor of the old west and Tom Selleck displays a jovial temperament that hardens into steely intensity at the snap of a spur. Director Robert Totten transforms the landscape into a character in its own right and he set the standard for the modern TV western with his production. 2-disc set. Details: Color, 193 mins, Warner, Academy Ratio, 1.33:1. Supplements: "The Sacketts Go West" featurette. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 1.0). Optional Spanish and French subtitles. [Order]


Rough Riders: (1997) Directed by John Milius, the made-for-TNT mini-series presents the 1898 liberation of Cuba from Spain as a defining moment for the country, America's first battle since the Civil War and a story of heroism under fire and the honor of battle. Tom Berenger is Naval Secretary Teddy Roosevelt, who leads the cavalry units that are also a microcosm for an idealized American melting pot: East and West, North and South, rich and poor, white, black, red and brown form the new brotherhood of America. Sam Elliott, Gary Busey, Brad Johnson, Illeana Douglas, Chris Noth, Brian Keith and George Hamilton co-star. 2-disc set. Details: Color, 184 mins, Warner, Academy Ratio, 1.33:1. Supplements: Commentary by director/co-writer John Milius and executive producer William J. MacDonald. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo). Optional Spanish and French subtitles. [Order]


Born in Flames: (1983) The landmark indie sci-fantasy of female rebellion by Lizzie Borden is a political satire set in an America ten years after the Second American Revolution, where the murder of radical leader inspires a diverse coalition of women to rise up and band together of armed, whistle-blowing bicyclists to police their own rights. Honey, Adele Bertei, Jeanne Satterfield, Flo Kennedy, Ron Vawter and Eric Bogosian star and future director Kathryn Bigelow has a small role. Details: Color, 90 mins, First Run Features. Supplements: Interview with director Lizzie Borden. Optional subtitles. [Order]


Daughter of Keltoum: (Tunisia) A 19-year-old Swiss-raised Arab woman travels to her homeland, an isolated, barren Berber settlement in the mountainous desert landscape of Algeria, to find her biological mother she had never known, and finds an isolated and unforgiving culture and impoverished world that her mother saved her from. Mehdi Charef directs. Originally presented in the "Global Lens" Film Series, showcasing films from cultures rarely seen on film screens. Details: Color, 101 mins, First Run Features. Supplements: Discussion guide; Director statement; Director biography; Photo gallery. Audio: Arabic. Optional English subtitles. [Order]


Hollow City: (Angola) The feature debut of Maria João Ganga follows an 11-year-old (Roldan Pinto João) orphaned by a massacre during the bloody civil war in Angola, who is flown to Luanda, the capital of Angola, and immediately runs away into the dangerous city. Originally presented in the "Global Lens" Film Series, showcasing films from cultures rarely seen on film screens. Details: Color, 88 mins, First Run Features. Supplements: Director biography & introduction; Discussion guide; Photo gallery. Audio: Portuguese. Optional English subtitles. [Order]


A Year Without Love: (Argentina) Drama of a young AIDS-afflicted poet (Juan Minuj'n) who descends into the underground world of sadomasochism in his search for human contact in what he believes will be the last year of his life. Details: Color, 95 mins, Strand Releasing, widescreen. Supplements: Making-of featurette; Deleted scenes; International Trailers. Audio: Spanish. Optional English subtitles. [Order]


Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman: Kevin Burns directs the made-for-TV documentary on the history of the iconic comic book superhero created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and recreated on radio and TV and in the movies for successive generations. Details: Color/Black and White, 110 mins, Warner, Widescreen anamorphic, 1.85:1. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional Spanish and French subtitles. [Order]


Lady & the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure: (2001) Direct-to-video animated feature follows Tramp's rebellious pup, who runs away from home and tangles with his pop's angry old junkyard pal. Features the voices of Scott Wolf, Alyssa Milano, Chazz Palminteri, Jodi Benson, Bronson Pinchot, Mickey Rooney. Like all Disney releases, it's available for a limited time only. Details: Color, 70 mins, Disney, Widescreen anamorphic, 1.66:1. Supplements: "Making of Lady and the Tramp II" featuertte; All-new Disney's song selection; All-new Junkyard Games; Tramp's hide-and-seek game. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS 5.1), French and Spanish. Optional English subtitles. [Order]

Monday, June 12, 2006

DVD Tuesday: NZ's 'Indian' Wood's 'Hooligans' - Xoanon @ 22:33 PST
The World's Fastest Indian: New Zealand director Roger Donaldson pays affectionate tribute to real life kiwi hero Burt Munro, the senior citizen who set off from Invercargill, New Zealand, for the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah to put his customized 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle to the test in the late 1960s and set a landspeed record. It's a typically offbeat downunder character piece turned funky road trip adventure. The eccentric, resilient old coot Munro charms everyone he meets along the way and is adopted as a kind of mascot by the speed fans who petition to get the unregistered hopeful a spot on the field. Hopkins' easy-going performance is a charmer as well and makes Munro great company. Diane Ladd, Aaron Murphy, Paul Rodriguez and Annie White co-star. Donaldson profiled the real life Munro in his 1971 documentary Offerings to the God of Speed, which is included on the DVD. Details: Color, 127 mins, Magnolia, Widescreen anamorphic, 1.78:1. Supplements: Roger Donaldson's original 1971 documentary Offerings to the God of Speed about Burt Munro; "Southland: Burt's Hometown of Invercargill" featurette; "The Making of The World's Fastest Indian" featurette; Deleted scenes. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1). Commentary by director Roger Donaldson (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional Spanish subtitles. [Order]


16 Blocks: Bruce Willis is a burn-out cop assigned to get the star witness (Mos Def) in a Grand Jury indictment against a corrupt cop to the courthouse alive in the high concept action thriller from Richard Donner. To do it, he has to take on practically the entire department. The lean plotting discards the cute twists and physics-defying superhuman feats that pepper so many American action films for a more down to Earth drama. It's nothing new, but the clean professionalism of Donner's direction, the low-key turn by Willis and the street level heroics make it a satisfying piece of genre filmmaking. David Morse co-stars. Details: Color, 102 mins, Warner, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: Alternate ending not seen in theaters (viewable separately or incorporated into the film); Deleted scenes with director/screenwriter commentary; Theatrical trailer. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1) and French (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional Spanish, French and English subtitles. [Order]


Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang: The directorial debut of action-movie screenwriter Shane Black is a deliciously inventive riff on crime movie conventions and clichés, starring Robert Downey Jr. as a small-time New York thief who runs from a petty heist right into a Hollywood casting session that sends him to LA and a real life murder mystery with no-nonsense private detective Val Kilmer. Black shares Tarantino's love for shuffling genre conventions and he fills this with nods, winks, tributes, and tongue-in-cheek commentary on itself, but never turns it into an actual spoof. For all the humor of this energetic, vivid little modern noir tale, there is a gravity to the death that gives the film an unexpected weight. Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen, Dash Mihok and Larry Miller co-star. Details: Color, 103 mins, Warner, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: Gag reel; Theatrical trailer. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1) and Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround). Commentary by Val Kilmer, Robert Downey Jr., and Shane Black. Optional Spanish, French and English subtitles. [Order]


The Pink Panther: Steve Martin slips into the trenchcoat left by Peter Sellers in the revival of the hit mystery farce series created by Blake Edwards. In this incarnation, the bumbling French Inspector Jacques Clouseau is assigned a case he's not meant to solve by the exasperated Chief Inspector (Kevin Kline), and leaves a wake of destruction in a disastrous investigation of a stolen diamond. Beyoncé Knowles, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer and Kristin Chenoweth co-star and Shawn Levy directs from a script co-written by Martin. Details: Color, 93 mins, Sony Pictures, Widescreen anamorphic, 1.85:1. Supplements: 11 Deleted and extended scenes with optional director's commentary; Beyonce music video: "Check On It."; Exclusive Beyonce performance with commentary; Alternate opening sequence with optional director's commentary; Documentary: "Cracking The Case"; Three featurettes: "Animated Trip," "Deconstructing the Panther" and "Sleuth-cams on Set"; Commentary with director Shawn Levy. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1) and French (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional French and English subtitles. [Order]


Green Street Hooligans: Elijah Wood is a disgraced Harvard journalism student who finds a new identity when he heads off to London to visit his sister (Claire Forlani) and winds up adopted by her brawler brother-in-law (Charlie Hunnam) and "the toughest firm in England." Marc Warren and Leo Gregory co-star in Lexi Alexander's drama of England's football hooligan culture. Details: Color, 108 mins, Warner, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: "The Making of Hooligans"; Terence Jay "One Blood" music video.. Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1). Optional Spanish, French and English subtitles. [Order]

Thursday, May 18, 2006

DVD Tuesday: Monaghan's 'Shooting Livien' - Xoanon @ 21:43 PST
A dark psychological drama, Shooting Livien explores the inner psyche of John Livien, a disillusioned New York musician who deals with a childhood trauma by claiming an alter ego. His band on the brink of success, fantasy becomes dangerously blurred with reality as Livien struggles with his identity crisis. [Order 'Shooting Livien' on Amazon.com Today!]

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Caspar Reiff Interview - Xoanon @ 14:09 PST
Svenja Meyhack writes: Here is an interview with Caspar Reiff about the 4CD set "Lord Of The Rings - The Complete Songs and Poems". I hope it will be useful to you. [More]

Order "Lord Of The Rings - The Complete Songs and Poems" on Amazon.com today!

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

DVD Tuesday: 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' - Xoanon @ 16:17 PST
The beloved C.S. Lewis adventure fantasy, about a quartet of English children who pass through the wardrobe of a an English manor during World War II and emerge in a land of magic and danger, comes to the big screen in the hit film from Disney. Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell play the brothers and sisters whose appearance holds the key in the war between the forces of dark, led by the icy White Witch (Tilda Swinton) and the armies of light, led by the lion Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson). James McAvoy plays the gentle Mr. Tumnus, the Faun, and Jim Broadbent is the kindly Professor Kirke, and Ray Winstone, Dawn French and Rupert Everett contribute voices to the magical creatures in Narnia. Andrew Adamson directs. Also available in Full Screen edition and 2-Disc Special Edition (see Special Editions and Box Sets). Details: Color, 135 mins, Disney, Widescreen anamorphic, 2.35:1. Supplements: Kid and director commentary by stars Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell with director Andrew Adamson; Filmmaker commentary by director Andrew Adamson, production designer Roger Ford and producer Mark Johnson; Bloopers of Narnia; Discover Narnia Fun Facts. Audio: English (DTS 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French and Spanish. Commentary by filmmakers and Commentary by Kids & director Andrew Adamson. Optional Spanish and French subtitles. [Order 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' on Amazon.com Today!]

DVD Tuesday: FOTR & TTT Platinum Series Special Extended Edition - Xoanon @ 13:48 PST
Isembard Took writes: I just wanted to let you know in case you want to post it in the Shop section of the site for fans that haven't already bought them that the FOTR and TTT Platinum Series Special Extended Edition Collector's Gift Sets are on sale for the rock-bottom price of $20.99 each at Amazon.com. The ROTK one is still $63.99 unfortunately.

FOTR Platinum Series Special Extended Edition Collector's Gift Set

TTT Platinum Series Special Extended Edition Collector's Gift Set

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Lord of the Rings : Popular Culture in Global Context - Xoanon @ 20:46 PST
Rick writes: I wanted to inform you good folks that there is a new academic book soon to debut, entitled: 'Lord of the Rings : Popular Culture in Global Context'. I am an academic librarian at the University of Guam library, and found this listing in a new books catalog. Though academic in its underpinnings, it has the kind of interest and appeal that would make it very good for most readers, particularly older ones. An excerpt from the summary goes as follows:

"This eagerly awaited volume brings together leading scholars in the fields of media and film studies to explore the various stratgies and implications underlying the global presence of Lord of the Rings. Chapters address how the trilogy has been planned and recieved as a media business; how it was received by critics and fans; and how spin-offs, franchises,associated media, and indeed the text itself have been affected by its success and apeal."

Pre Order 'Lord of the Rings : Popular Culture in Global Context' on Amazon.com today! [CA] [UK]