7-25-00 Latest News

New Middle-earth Paperback out in August
Tookish @ 3:05 pm EST

Here is the detailed text from Houghton-Mifflin.

...The forthcoming paperback set of the History of the Lord of the Rings, which ships August 3rd, is technically a subset of the History of Middle-earth and is available in the U.S. in paperback for the first time.

Those familiar with the 9th volume of the Middle-earth series in hardcover (Sauron Defeated) will know that it contains The Notion Club Papers and other material that does not pertain specificly to LotR. For this new paperback boxed set, called the Hist of LotR, the non-LotR material has been cut out of volume 9 to create a "new" book called The End of the Third Age, which has been re-indexed. THAT book, EofTA, will only be $12, not $50 as reported.

The full set of the paperback editions, Return of the Shadow ($14), Treason of Isengard ($14), War of the Ring ($14), and End of the Third Age ($12) will be offered in as a box set for $50, and is designed to match Houghton Mifflin's current four-volume boxed set of LotR and The Hobbit...

Happy reading! It's always a pleasure to find 'new' Tolkien material coming into circulation.

Gandalf storms through Comic-Con 2000!
Quickbeam @ 1:05 am EST

Greetings -- Quickbeam here.

I'm so excited and thrilled at what I've just seen, I can't even tell you folks!! The events at the Comic-Con have been totally cool and entertaining so far, but nothing, and I mean NOTHING, could have prepared me for today. The new LOTR footage was indeed worth waiting for....

The largest Ballroom upstairs is on the 3rd floor of the Convention Center, and had recently been expanded to it's largest size by removing the temporary walls. The Con organziners told me they had seating capacity for 6,000 people: but when I walked in I got the feeling that the massive crowd before me was much more!

I didn't walk in until the very last minute, after the previous panel (which was discussing the new film "The Cell") had stepped down and all the lights went dim.

The familiar music that came to my ears was the same as we've heard in the Internet Preview. The voice-over track was also the same:

"It has been called the greatest and most popular book of the 20th Century..."

However, now I was looking at a slew of new clips and behind-the-scenes images that departed from the Internet Preview. Some new things that were
intercut were:

1. More images of Troll and Orc models, evidently the kind they will render into a 3D CGI environment.
   
2. 360 degree shots of Uruk-hai armor.
   
3. "Big People" animatronics which will be for the Breelanders, including an amusing moment where Elijah Wood is walking in front of an actor on stilts (and he really does look like a wee hobbit in the foreground).
   
4. Close-up and some more distant shots of Hobbiton and Bag-End, which is SO LIFELIKE and unbelievably green you feel like walking into the image!
   
5. Close-up shots of each of the cast, with their name announced as credit and the character that they play. Viggo looks very handsome, I must say, for we are given a clearer view of his Aragorn than previously. When the shot of Ian McKellen came up "in the role of Gandalf," the audience cheered noticeably. Liv looks suitably fey, Orlando Bloom comes off somewhat better as Legolas (must be the blond extensions). Sean Bean is given prominence in that still-shot we see on the Official New Line site (where he holds the Ring before him on the chain)... but here the clip is played and he actually says the dialogue from the book about how much grief and worry comes "from such a small thing."
   
6. Many effects shots of MASSIVE are shown, giving you a good sense of the battle scenes the computer will create. Seems that this program is going to enhance all the thousands of extras in the combat close-ups. Very impressive!
   
7. The same clips of Peter Jackson and Elijah Wood are here, straight from the Internet download. However, later during the reel Peter offers some additional comments about the effects team he's working with.
   
8. Alan Lee (or was it John Howe?) is given a moment to describe his contributions and paintings. Some of their most famous pieces are shown briefly, then we cut to an external shot with cameras running around the
   forest.
   
9. John Rhys-Davies is shown in close-up in full Gimli attire, and I have to say WOW! The makeup here is terrific.
   

There were more bits that I will try and describe later, but right now they're closing the Exhibition Hall and I have to wrap up....

But I have to tell you the BEST PART!! After the clip was done (and it certainly went by quickly) the audience roared its approval as the lights
came back up. Then the announcer came up to the microphone and said, "I think we have another special guest who wants to say hello to you folks...
Ladies and gentlemen, Sir Ian McKellen, GANDALF HIMSELF!"

With that, all the wind was taken out of me.

Yes, it was true!! Ian McKellen stood before the podium as the lights focused on him and the audience shrieked with delight. There was a standing ovation and a wave of energy from these people that was awesome to behold.

I am still getting the shivers now, thinking back on it. He said the most eloquent things (including, "When I get back to New Zealand tomorrow, I will give them [the cast] all your love.") but spoke very briefly, and the crowd laughed an applauded richly as he left the stage. Oh, what a moment.

Our very own Ian had made a special, unannounced visit to the Comic-Con just to greet the fans! Evidently, with the success of "X-Men" last weekend, he thought it would be a good idea to come and give a special treat to the fanboys (and girls). He had been downstairs in the Marvel Comics area, and just sauntered upstairs to watch the LOTR reel--which he himself enjoyed immensely.

That's all that my brain can type out for now, I will try to fill in the blanks tomorrow. They're closing up and I have to close.

Congratulations should be given to the lovely Wendy Rutherford at New Line and the equally lovely Den Shewman from IGN.... they really put together a spectacle. I acknowledge you both.

Much too hasty,

Quickbeam

1st Day Report from San Diego Comic-Con!
Quickbeam @ 2:09 pm EST

Quickbeam

Quickbeam's first report from ComiCon
Tehanu @ 1:15 am EST

Title: 1st Day Report from San Diego Comic-Con!

Greetings -- Quickbeam here.

I'm currently sitting at the IGN booth in the San Diego Convention Center Exhibit Hall. It is an unbelievable cavernous space with thousands of people milling about in all directions. The atmosphere is at once casual and yet also energetic. Bright kiosks are littered across the Hall featuring the best new stuff from DC Comics, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, and Wizards of the Coast.

I've been turned around so many times in this huge building that I've been hopelessly straining at the map every two steps I take. Many strange faces and bizarre costumes shine bright under the flourescent lighting. There's nothing worse for Darth Maul's complexion than that, believe me!
Ironically, I have been reunited with some wonderful old friends from way back in my Chicago days, namely Brian Azzarello (who writes the award-winning "100 Bullets" for DC Vertigo). He is nominated for an Eisner Award for Best New Series... later this evening the awards will be announced in the Main Ballroom upstairs (good luck, Brian!).

All in all this place has a very positive vibe and is more fun than I expected. I'm afraid I won't have any photographs from my digital camera until after I get back to Los Angeles on Sunday night.

I spent an hour at a special panel held by Harry Knowles of Ain't-It-Cool-News where they discussed the perils and pitfalls of adapting popular comic book characters to the silver screen. It was very amusing and informative listening to Paul Dini (of "Batman the Animated Series" fame) and Harry yak it up about their dream comics-to-movies projects.

But the real anticipation bearing on everyone's minds is the unspooling of the new LOTR footage. Tomorrow afternoon the largest room, which holds upwards of 6,000 people, will be standing room only as New Line Cinema shows the 6+ minutes of Peter Jackson's work-in-progress. I will be there with bells on!

Look for more details here at TheOneRing.net as I get them! Of course, I have to fight my way out of what will surely be a MOB SCENE and find a free computer, but when I do I will tell you all what my wondering eyes have beheld.

Cast Watch: Pics from Queenstown Hollywood Ball
Xoanon @ 12:01 pm EST

Thanks to ringer spy Kotukunui sends in some pics from the Queenstown Hollywood Ball. In attendance were our very own hobbits Elijah Wood (Frodo), Billy Boyd (Pippin), Dominic Monaghan (Merry), Sean Astin (Sam) and their Elf-Friend Orlando Bloom (Legolas).

I managed to get some quick vidcaps of TV3's coverage of the LOTR stars at the Queenstown Winter Festival Hollywood Ball. I apologise for the poor quality, but I was caught unawares while channel surfing and had to just make quick with my remote and jam it onto my poor old VHS VCR.

The first image shows Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom and Dominic Monaghan making their entrance. The second is Billy Boyd closing in to give the camera some tonsil viewing action. Third image is of Sean Astin. He looks a bit tired. I assume it's just from a long flight and a hectic schedule. I hope he gets a chance to get some rest. Fourth image is Elijah during a short interview. He says that filming is going well and that coming off a month's vacation has him raring to go again . Fifth is Orlando "The Mohawk" Bloom apologising for his friend's (Boyd) behaviour.

Queenstown Winter Festival Hollywood Ball 2000
Calisuri @ 11:20 am EST

Greetings,

I managed to get some quick vidcaps of TV3's coverage of the LOTR stars at the Queenstown Winter Festival Hollywood Ball. I apologise for the poor quality, but I was caught unawares while channel surfing and had to just make quick with my remote and jam it onto my poor old VHS VCR.

The first image shows Elijah Woods, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd making their entrance.

The second is Elijah during a short interview. He says that filming is going well and that coming off a month's vacation has him raring to go again.

Third image is of Sean Astin. He looks a bit tired. I assume it's just from a long flight and a hectic schedule. I hope he gets a chance to get some rest.

Fourth image is Billy Boyd closing in to give the camera some tonsil viewing action.

Fifth is Orlando "The Mohawk" Bloom apologising for his friend's behaviour.

I hope you find a use for these

Cheers

Kotukunui

7-18-00 Latest News

Media Watch: The Hollywood Reporter
Xoanon @ 3:42 pm EST

They haven`t begun construction of a new Hollywood sign yet on the steep hills that encircle New Zealand`s capital city of Wellington, but it wouldn`t be surprising if they did. Wellington is hometown to Peter Jackson, the writer, director and producer of the mega-Middle Earth trilogy "The Lord of the Rings," a special effects-laden retelling of the J.R.R.
Tolkien saga that first captivated millions of fable readers in the `60s, before Dungeons and Dragons and well before Harry Potter. Jackson, known for his stop-motion animation work and direction of fantasy-genre films such as 1996`s "Robert Zemeckis Presents: The Frighteners," likes to work at home. He has made Wellington the production base for not one but three full-length "Rings" features, with the hotly anticipated first tome, "The Fellowship of the Ring," set for release at Christmas in 2001, "The Two Towers" in 2002 and "The Return of the King" in 2003. No one can mistake the come-hither Hollywood sentiment of Wellington`s film-friendly mayor, Mark Blumsky. He reckons not just his city but this South Pacific country of fewer than 4 million people is poised to become an international moviemaking landmark. "We have to attract people to make films in New Zealand because it`s great value to do business here and because we`ve got the skills," he told 300 film and TV industry figures at a function he hosted last month to celebrate the city`s 45% share of Kiwi film production. As an example of New Zealand`s developing

"world-renowned expertise," he cited Hollywood interest in Jackson`s special effects company, Weta.

"On my last trip to L.A., Sony hosted me for half a day and showed me around the `Stuart Little` production. But what they really wanted to know was how they could connect with Weta. They were really aware of Weta and were hugely impressed with the work they`d heard WETA was doing."

7-10-00 Latest News

EXCLUSIVE: Conway NOT in LOTR
Xoanon @ 12:06 am EST

Well, we've finally gotten our answer to that elusive question, IS Kevin Conway going to be in LOTR? The answer is a simple NO read on, from Starlog Magazine

...and contrary to rumor, Conway will NOT be in Peter Jackson's massive Lord of the Rings trilogy. That's not to say the rumor mill was inaccurate in reporting that he, at one point, had been attached to the project. "I pulled out of Lord of the Rings, which may yet prove to be one of the bad mistakes in my career, and I've made alot of them," he says. "I was upfront with [the filmmakers]. they offered me the role of Theoden, which is a wonderful part. But...their schedule. They wanted me to go out in January to New Zealand for six weeks, then go home, then go back again for another six weeks, then go home again and then come back again for three months. I said, 'Whoa!' The character is in two of the films. It wasn't worth it. Hehas a couple of good scenes, but the rest is allbattling with armor and stuff. You could have a stuntman do that, which they probablywould have done anyway. But I really suffered about it"

7-10-00 Latest News

Media Watch: Starlog Magazine
Xoanon @ 11:52 pm EST

Starlog Magazine are covering the X-Men film up the yin yang, it's lucky our very own Ian McKellen (Gandalf) plays the chief heavy Magneto...otherwise I'd be out of a job...X-Men is on every mag cover from 'American Cinematographer' to 'Maxim'. During the McKellen interview they did speak a little bit about LOTR, read on:

Acting Wizard

Not long after he wrapped X-Men, McKellen joined the cast of yet another high-profile genre project, Peter Jackson's mammoth mounting of The Lord of the Rings. McKellen will appear as beloved Gandalf in all three of the films, which also feature the talents of Liv Tyler, Ian Holm, Cate Blanchett and Christopher Lee, among many others, and which are lensing in the lush environs of New Zealand.

"We're shooting roughly in sequence, and I'm now more than halfway through my work on the first film," McKellen reveals. "The [production people] did a lot before I got there and are, I suppose, halfway through the three films. But you're not really aware that it is three films. You're just aware that it's one long story that you're telling. Yes, I will be there until December, on and off, but a year of one's life doesn't seem too much to spend on this sort of project.

McKellen as Magneto

"Peter is very much the motivating force, not just of the planning, but of the daily achievement of it. He wears that responsibility very lightly and is very open to suggestions from the actors and people from all departments. He's very clear about the style and what is required of each scene as we shoot it, but he's not a domineering sort in any way. So I am full of admiration for him"

As anyone who knows J.R.R. Tolkien tales can attest, Gandalf is essentially two characters. There's Gandalf the Gray, who re-emerges later as Gandalf the White. Tolkien makes some clear distinctions between the two wizards, in terms of appearance and energy levels. "In a sense, they're two aspects of a character I am playing," McKellen opines. "It's almost like two parts. I suspect that Gandalf is as popular as he is because he likes the Hobbits as much as he does. Tolkien was clearly fond of the Hobbits. He's fond of all his characters, really, but he has invested the Hobbits with such detail. We know so much about their social life, about what they enjoy, about what they're like. Being smaller than most people, they have a cutesy quality on top of everything.

"And there is Gandalf, the wise wizard, the spirit from afar who is concerned about preserving Middle-earth. That he slips so easily into the world of the Hobbits makes him delightfully human. And he's good-natured with a sense of humor. From the first time you meet him, you think he's a man to be trusted. You feel that probably the Hobbits will be safe, somehow, through the dreadful adventure they have to endure. So Gandalf is a fatherly figure and, at least in the world of the Hobbits, he would be great fun to be with."

....

After he finishes Lord of the Rings, McKellen may return to the stage, or he could charge into another film, or he just might take a vacation. And after essentially making four genre movies back-to-back, one might not begrudge him if he never, ever wanted to hear the words SF, Fantasy or comics again. "Immediately before X-Men, I spent five months in the theatre," Ian McKellen says after enjoying a good laugh. "Probably after Lord of the Rings, I'll go back and do something on the stage. Where or what it will be I am still considering. I think a stage performance is the most likely next job. It may be preceded by a long holiday, but I don't see the need for one at the moment, New Zealand is beautiful. I can't imagine the film being made anywhere else. New Zealand is vacation in itself and I'm feeling very relaxed, really."

LOTR Gear You'll Wet Your Pants For!!
Xoanon @ 11:21 pm EST

Our content partners, and banner advertisers IGN have scored themselves some great pics of some LOTR gear direct from WETA HQ!!!

Lord of the Rings Pix

Check out what your fashionably-dressed LOTR warrior will wear, plus a short glance at a dwarf.

July 10, 2000

A battalion of IGN editors hit Vegas this weekend for the big video retailer VSDA convention, as well as more than a little gambling and guzzling. We figured we'd grab some stories, some hangovers and a little roulette fever. We never figured that Steven would walk away with a wheelbarrow full of winnings, or that we could spend hours on end watching Playboy Playmate Jaime Bergman just breathing (and what a nice pair of lungs that lady has). And we never figured that New Line would have a showcase of Lord of the Rings gear at their booth. Just another reason to have that surgically-implanted camera.

Peter Jackson's going old school with the battle gear, having artisans forge real, wearable Middle Earth battle fashions -- which will hopefully shield the actors from wild swings with those real, slashable swords. Here's what you'll be seeing on the fields of glory at Christmas, 2001:

We also got a sneak peek at one of the dwarf models that Weta Workshop created:

>

Now that we have you up to speed on the latest LOTR pix, we're going back to Jaime. We think she looked in our direction once. That's enough to get our hopes (and other things) up.

-- Den Shewman wonders if Jaime goes for guys with shields

LotR Booksales Climbing
Tookish @ 6:01 pm EST

I thought you might like to read the notes yourself! Thanks to hyakuhei and Clay for mailing in.

... "In response to the Potter advertisement, I would just like to say that my local Waldenbooks and Hastings have a similar set up. Waldenbooks' display even has a sign that says, 'If you like Harry Potter, try J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings!'"

... "Yup. Sales are on the rise. Which is more than a little gratifying to those of us here at Houghton Mifflin. Tolkien sales generally have doubled over the last two years, with this year-to-date versus last year-to-date showing extremely healthy growth as well. Though press time for reprints is especially difficult to secure in the U.S. at the moment with printing plants around the country operating at 100% of their capacity, we've managed to stay ahead of demand in almost all cases. But we did just recently encounter a two-week delay on a substantial reprint of the one-volume paperback edition of The Lord of the Rings (could it be Potter wizardry afoot AGAIN?). Not to worry though... we're back in stock already."

... "Hate to bother you twice in the same night, but as I was searching all things Tolkien at Amazon.com (looking in vain for some out-of-print editions) I noticed that there are several books scheduled for an October 2000 release. Most are new editions of the History of Middle-earth, but I noticed at least one book, a $50 paperback entitled 'The End of the Third Age', that I've never noticed..."

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