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September 09, 2002 - September 16, 2002

9-16-02 Latest News

Birzer's 'Sanctifying Myth' Book Review
Xoanon @ 2:29 pm EST

The folks from ALA Booklist Magazine send along a review of Bradley J. Birzer's latest book 'J. R. R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth' (due out in stores mid-October). Take a look and pre-order your own copy at Amazon.com today!

Birzer, Bradley J. J. R. R. Tolkien’s Sanctifying Myth: Understanding Middle-Earth. Oct. 2002. 156p. index. ISI, $24.95 (1-882926-84-6). 823.

Tolkien said that The Lord of the Rings is a Catholic book, but commentators have shied away from writing about its Catholicism. After all, he also said it wasn’t an allegory, so you don’t need to know the Catholicism to understand it––right? Perhaps, but Tolkien hoped the book would prove a stealth evangelizer, arguing a Catholic worldview in its setting, characterizations, and plot. Birzer reveals The Lord’s Catholicism in five riveting chapters. Middle-earth is a subcreation, he says, resembling real creation so that a salvific myth of heroic virtue triumphing over dire evil may be played out in it. The sapient beings (hobbits, elves, etc.) in it form a hierarchy surmounted by God, and evil in it is, as in classical Christianity, the result of willful separation from God. When evil is finally vanquished, Middle-earth will be paradisiacal, but as God’s handiwork, it is already profoundly good, and its pastoralism rebukes the secularism, centralization, industrialism, and mechanization (only the evil build machines in Middle-earth) that Tolkien despised. Essential reading for all Tolkien enthusiasts. ––Ray Olson

When LOTR first hit New Zealand....
Tehanu @ 11:24 am EST

A look back at a 50-year-old edition of the New Zealand magazine The Listener gives an indication of how the book The Fellowship of the Ring was received in New Zealand following its publication - and also uncovers a great coincidence involving Peter Jackson.

(Here is an excerpt from an article in a recent edition of The Listener, which reviewed articles that appeared in its January 14, 1955 edition.)

The lead book review was of 'English Literature in the Sixteenth Century, Excluding Drama', by CS Lewis. That's one forbidding title, and you can put money behind the argument that it isn't the Lewis work that most readers would pick up nearly 50 years on. Within the review, Oxford and Cambridge are discussed as places so familiar that they could be just down the road. Buried deep within the in-brief reviews was a book titled 'The Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring', by Lewis's friend JRR Tolkien. There was no inkling that this was a book that would come to have some significance to New Zealanders decades on, although the review was fairer and more open-minded than most notices the book received first time around: "JRR Tolkien, the distinguished Oxford philologist, launches the first novel of a massive trilogy without blare of trumpets," wrote reviewer David Hall. "This farrago of the imagination running amok, this saga-crooning over the rivalries of friendship[...] of hobbits (halflings), elves, dwarfs and orcs, this homeric clashing of ignorant armies by night, is presented with unflagging and enviable zeal. Indeed we wholly accept his new world, with its arbitrary virtue and badness, its supernatural and fantastic events, though with some surprise at our indulgence." That's the review in its entirety. That same week, the Listener's editorial discussed juvenile delinquency in the wake of the Parker-Hulme murder case, which also had resonances to do with repressive pseudo-Englishness and cultural isolation. Coincidentally, it became a movie (Heavenly Creatures), directed by Peter Jackson, the maker of......


Thanks to Ataahua for that.

Weekend Round Up
Xoanon @ 12:02 am EST

Peter Jackson & Sean Astin Talk LOTR Casting!

Get TheOneRing.net Newsletter Today!

Weekly Ebay Items

Weekly Cast Watch

Annotated Hobbit Images!

SFX Talks TTT Coolness

Gambling er...Gamling The Old Talks TTT

UofT Goes Geek For TTT

Media Watch: SFX Magazine

Bobblehead Collectible LOTR Dolls

LOTR in Lego!

TTT Action Figures in the Philippines

Elijah at the Toronto Film Festival

Interview with Digital FX Wizard Miles Bellas

TTT 360 Degree Puzzle

Marton Csokas, Swimming with Hollywood Sharks

9-15-02 Latest News

Peter Jackson & Sean Astin Talk LOTR Casting!
Xoanon @ 11:51 pm EST

In another TORN EXCLUSIVE VIDEO we bring to you some amazing footage of Peter Jackson, Sean Astin (Sam), and Fran Walsh from the LA bookstore 'Brentanos'. The LOTR gang got together a while back to talk LOTR and other things.

Take a look at this video for some great insight into what Peter and crew had to go through to find the perfect actors to play the LOTR characters. Very cool stuff indeed!

Right click on one of the images below and choose 'Save Target As'. These videos work best with Quicktime 6, Download it here for free.

Weekly Cast Watch
Xoanon @ 4:20 pm EST

To get more information, use the sites I use like the ones below. Simply find a movie or actor you want to see, go to one of the sites below and see if the film is playing in your area. mydigiguide.com, tv-now.com and IMDB.com

Note: These are films that are listed as being on TV THIS WEEK ONLY, this is NOT a list of all the films the cast has done



Cast List



  1. Viggo Mortensen

  2. Liv Tyler

  3. Ian Holm

  4. Sean Bean

  5. Ian Mune

  6. Martyn Sanderson

  7. David Weatherley

  8. Marton Csokas

  9. Taea Hartwell

  10. John Noble

  11. Alexandra Astin

  12. Peter McKenzie

  13. Hugo Weaving

  14. Karl Urban

  15. Miranda Otto

  16. Noel Appleby

  17. David Wenham

  18. Cameron Rhodes

  19. Elijah Wood

  20. Cate Blanchett

  21. Bruce Hopkins

  22. Ian McKellen

  23. Mark Ferguson

  24. John Rhys-Davies

  25. Andy Serkis

  26. Stephen Ure

  27. Craig Parker

  28. John Leigh

  29. Timothy Bartlett

  30. Harry Sinclair

  31. Orlando Bloom

  32. Lawrence Makoare

  33. Robbie Magasiva

  34. Ray Henwood

  35. Dominic Monaghan

  36. Robyn Malcolm

  37. Bruce Spence

  38. Megan Edwards

  39. Billy Boyd

  40. Sarah McLeod

  41. Sean Astin

  42. Christopher Lee

  43. Sala Baker

  44. Brian Sergent

  45. Bernard Hill

  46. Nathaniel Lees

  47. Brad Dourif

  48. Howard Shore

  49. Jim Rygiel

  50. Peter Jackson




Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
28 Days (2000)
Thin Red Line, The (1998)
G.I. Jane (1997)
Albino Alligator (1996)
Prophecy, The (1995)
Young Americans, The (1993)
Boiling Point (1993)
Carlito's Way (1993)
Young Guns II (1990)
Purple Rose of Cairo, The (1985)
Swing Shift (1984)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Liv Tyler (Arwen)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Dr. T & the Women (2000)
Plunkett & Macleane (1999)
Can't Hardly Wait (1998)
U Turn (1997)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Ian Holm (Bilbo)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Bless the Child (2000)
Last of the Blonde Bombshells, The (2000) (TV)
Sweet Hereafter, The (1997)
Life Less Ordinary, A (1997)
Fifth Element, The (1997)
Madness of King George, The (1994)
Henry V (1989)
Dance with a Stranger (1985)
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Fixer, The (1968)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Sean Bean (Boromir)


Don't Say a Word (2001)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Field, The (1990)
Caravaggio (1986)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Ian Mune (Bounder)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Bounty, The (1984)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Martyn Sanderson (Bree Gatekeeper)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

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David Weatherly (Barliman Butterbur)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

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Marton Csokas (Celeborn)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Monkey's Mask, The (2000)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Taea Hartwell (Child Hobbit)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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John Noble (Denethor)


Virtual Nightmare (2000)
Monkey's Mask, The (2000)
Airtight (1999) (TV)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Alexandra Astin (Elanor Gamgee)


There are no listings this week

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Peter McKenzie (Elendil)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

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Hugo Weaving (Elrond)


Russian Doll (2001)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Strange Planet (1999)
Bedrooms and Hallways (1998)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Karl Urban (Eomer)


Price of Milk, The (2000)

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Miranda Otto (Eowyn)


What Lies Beneath (2000)
Jack Bull, The (1999) (TV)
Thin Red Line, The (1998)
Dead Letter Office (1998)
Love Serenade (1996)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Noel Appleby (Everard Proudfoot)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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David Wenham (Faramir)


Russian Doll (2001)
Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Cameron Rhodes (Farmer Maggot)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

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Elijah Wood (Frodo)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Flipper (1996)
North (1994)
Forever Young (1992)
Radio Flyer (1992)
Avalon (1990)
Internal Affairs (1990)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Cate Blanchett (Galadriel)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Charlotte Gray (2001)
Shipping News, The (2001)
Man Who Cried, The (2000)
Gift, The (2000)
Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Bruce Hopkins (Gamling)


There are no listings this week

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Ian McKellen (Gandalf)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
X-Men (2000)
Apt Pupil (1998)
Gods and Monsters (1998)
Bent (1997)
Rasputin (1996) (TV)
And the Band Played On (1993) (TV)
Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
Last Action Hero (1993)
Scandal (1989)
Keep, The (1983)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Mark Ferguson (Gil-Galad)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

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John Rhhys-Davies (Gimli)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Secret of the Andes (1998)
Protector, The (1997/I)
Great White Hype, The (1996)
Stargate (1994)
Under Cover (1991) (TV)
Waxwork (1988)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Andy Serkis (Gollum)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Pandaemonium (2000)
Career Girls (1997)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Stephen Ure (Gorbag)


There are no listings this week

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Craig Parker (Haldir)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

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John Leigh (Hama)


There are no listings this week

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Timothy Bartlett (Hobbit)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

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Harry Sinclair (Isildur)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Price of Milk, The (2000)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Orlando Bloom (Legolas)


Black Hawk Down (2001)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Wilde (1997)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Lawrence Makoare (Lurtz)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

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Robbie Magasiva (Mahur)


There are no listings this week

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Ray Henwood (Man from Rivendell)


Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Dominic Monaghan (Merry)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Robyn Malcolm (Morwen)


There are no listings this week

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Bruce Spence (Mouth of Sauron)


There are no listings this week

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Megan Edwards (Mrs. Proudfoot)


There are no listings this week

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Billy Boyd (Pippin)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

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Sarah McLeod (Rosie Cotton)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

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Sean Astin (Sam Gamgee)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Sky Is Falling, The (2000)
Icebreaker (1999)
Deterrence (1999)
Kimberly (1999)
Dish Dogs (1998) (V)
Safe Passage (1994)
Encino Man (1992)
Goonies, The (1985)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Christopher Lee (Saruman)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Sanctimony (2000)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Odyssey, The (1997) (TV)
Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994)
Howling II (1985)
Arabian Adventure (1979)
Return from Witch Mountain (1978)
Three Musketeers, The (1973)
Death Line (1972)
Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)
Ten Little Indians (1966)
City of the Dead, The (1960)
Hound of the Baskervilles, The (1959)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Sala Baker (Sauron)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)

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Brian Sergent (Ted Sandyman)


There are no listings this week

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Bernard Hill (Theoden)


Eisenstein (2000)
Going Off Big Time (2000)
True Crime (1999)
Loss of Sexual Innocence, The (1999)
Bounty, The (1984)
Gandhi (1982)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Nathaniel Lees (Ugluk


There are no listings this week

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Brad Dourif (Grima Wormtounge)


Ghost, The (2000)
Storytellers, The (1999)
Interceptors (1999)
If Looks Could Kill (1996) (TV)
Sworn to Justice (1996)
Murder in the First (1995)
Escape from Terror: The Teresa Stamper Story (1994) (TV)
Amos & Andrew (1993)
Child's Play 3 (1991)
Child's Play 2 (1990)
Mississippi Burning (1988)
Child's Play (1988)
Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)

Click here to visit the TORN cast page


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Howard Shore (Composer)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Cell, The (2000)
High Fidelity (2000)
Yards, The (2000)
Game, The (1997)
Truth About Cats & Dogs, The (1996)
White Man's Burden (1995)
Se7en (1995)
Guilty as Sin (1993)
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Kiss Before Dying, A (1991)
Silence of the Lambs, The (1991)
She-Devil (1989)
Signs of Life (1989)
Moving (1988)
Big (1988)
Fly, The (1986)
Fire with Fire (1986)
After Hours (1985)


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Jim Rygiel (SFX)


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
102 Dalmatians (2000)
Multiplicity (1996)
Species (1995)
Cliffhanger (1993)
Last Action Hero (1993)
Ghost (1990)
2010 (1984)


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Peter Jackson


Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
Contact (1997)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Click here to visit his official site


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SFX Talks TTT Coolness
Xoanon @ 12:57 pm EST

Ringer Spy Irascian sends along the rest of the 13 page TTT coverage from SFX Magazine.

Calling their feature '101 Reasons Why You MUST See The Two Towers', it features great pics and tons of info for the Tolkien newbie, and some great insight into some of the characters and actors in the film. (Be sure to check out reason number 24...I'll never look at a BIC the same way again! -Xo). You can also see the difference from the subscriber's version of SFX and the newsstand version (Read Media Watch: SFX Magazine from September 14th)


9-14-02 Latest News

Media Watch: SFX Magazine
Xoanon @ 11:15 pm EST


SFX Magazine

One of the first magazines to cover FOTR over 2 years ago, SFX is again jumping the gun on most other magazines and covering all things 'rings'.

Irascian writes: The latest issue of SFX magazine (October 2002) features “The One Ring” on the cover. Inside is a special 12 page feature “1001 Reasons why you MUST see The Two Towers” submitted by “Sibley, Johnson, Howe, the SFX Crew and others”. The attached image is from the cover of the subscriber edition which removes all the titles and sales pitch – the version in shops will have headlines all over it.

9-12-02 Latest News

Universal's Concept Art Galore!
Xoanon @ 1:40 pm EST

Now this is something really special, I love concept art, the initial stages of creation, you can see it all happening here. Universal had no small feat to accomplish with these games, how do you create an entirely different look and feel from a film tha this been seen by million around the glbe, yet STILL stay true to Tolkien? You be the judge with these 40 plus images, some of them are fantastic, some seem only 1/2 completed, while a small few leave much to be desired. Take a look and enjoy the ride!

News about the Spanish edition of FOTR.
Tehanu @ 12:52 pm EST

The release date has not been confirmed yet, but it is expected an early December release due to Christmas sales. [I'm assuming he's talking about the extended version - T.]

The price of the big edition will be 60 •, the extended part will be translated by the same actors as the cinema version, and even the audio comments will be subtitled.

Also, there's good new about this... the National Geographic will be included in Spain and Germany, as I've been told, though it is not 100% confirmed.

So, if things go on like this, we will have the full Extended edition with an impressive work of translation. And cheaper than other countries, wich is certainly rare!!.

Thanks to Dani for the news

Universal's LOTR:FOTR PC Game Screenshots!
Xoanon @ 12:31 pm EST

The folks at Universal have sent along a massive amount of images from thier PC game, take a look at these 20 plus images and get ready to make some space on that hard drive!


Universal's XBOX/PS2 LOTR Game Details!
Xoanon @ 1:58 am EST


Click here to see over 30 screenshots from the PlayStation 2 Game!

Click here to see over 20 images from the XBOX game!

Publisher: Black Label Games, a studio of Vivendi Universal Games

Platforms/Developers: PlayStation2 computer entertainment system: Surreal Software, Seattle, WA
Xbox video game system from Microsoft: WXP, Seattle, WA

Category: Action-adventure

Pricing and Availability: MSRP TBD, To be released fourth quarter 2002.

ESRB Rating: Pending (Anticipated Teen)

Overview/Storyline: The Fellowship of the Ring is a single-player action-adventure game featuring Frodo, Gandalf and Aragorn. It is based on the first part of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic novel "The Lord of the Rings." From the peaceful lands of the Shire through the darkness of Moria, to the River Anduin, the player must gather the Fellowship and protect the One Ring from the Dark Lord Sauron.

Features:

· Story unfolds true to the best-selling novels by J.R.R. Tolkien.

· Following the adventures of Frodo, Gandalf and Aragorn, each with special means to overcome obstacles.

· Increasingly-challenging combat – as the game progresses encounter 28 types of enemies from roaming monsters to menacing “boss” creatures that possess varying degrees of intelligence and behavior.

· Explore The One Ring, Stealth, Distraction, and Magic Use to discover, avoid, or create special events and encounters.

· In the Xbox game, environmental and varied special effects including spell effects for Gandalf, dynamic shadows, volumetric fog, specular highlights, and environmental maps.

· Use of the One Ring – Unleash the power of the most powerful artifact in Middle Earth, but at what price?

Universal's Game Boy LOTR Game Details!
Xoanon @ 1:12 am EST


Publisher: Black Label Games, a studio of Vivendi Universal Games

Developer: Pocket Studios, Beckenham, Kent, England

Category: 2-D, Isometric Role-Playing

Platform: Game Boy Advance

Pricing and Availability: MSRP TBD, Third quarter 2002

ESRB Rating: Pending

Overview/Storyline: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, is a single player lite-RPG where the player follows the storyline of The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of J.R.R. Tolkien’s saga. Throughout the game, the player will have control over the Fellowship members, at times controlling up to nine characters at once. This title is considered a lite-RPG since it will streamline the usual number-crunching found in most RPG’s and simplify it to a more action-oriented, quick-paced format. Combat is turn-based, like most RPG’s, but will provide a default AI that will control character actions if the player so chooses. Gameplay will take place across a vast area based on the Middle-earth locations from Tolkien’s books. Backgrounds will be beautifully realistic and faithful to Tolkien’s descriptions, created from 3D models with rendered shadows. A semi-linear structure will allow the player to explore and experiment while still experiencing the narrative events of the books, allowing the game to be open to greater possibilities while still remaining faithful to the story.

Features:

· Control of all nine members of the fellowship: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir.

· Unique character abilities for each fellowship member, like spell-casting and healing.

· Ability to use the One Ring to enhance gameplay.

· Character advancement system allowing characters to gain new abilities and skills or improve existing ones.

· Unique turn-based combat system that allows players to have as little or as much control over combat as they wish.

· Semi-linear gameplay that allows the player to explore outside the main narrative through sub-quests and choose new solutions to puzzles and problems faced in the books.

Report From 9/11 Events With Sean Astin
Xoanon @ 12:47 am EST

Hi! Here's my report about our trip to see Sean in DC today. Four billyboyd.net fans, a toddler, and a couple of Fan Club members met him in front of the Lincoln Memorial:

Today, Gonzai, Alison, and PT1981 and I (and Tibby, my 3-year-old) went down to The Mall in D.C. Yes, on September 11th. Also there were Kyra and Blaze from the District of Dark Whispers, a Yahoogroup for local LOTR Fan Club members. We got there at 3:30, but things didn't really get started until 4. There were kids with flags from all over the world, kids holding huge pictures of other kids, and a chorus of kids in white with red-sequined vests. Sean was essentially the Master of Ceremonies, and after giving a sweet speech about how wonderful it is that people put forth such efforts for their communities (mentioning the construction crew at the Pentagon, where he'd been that morning, who had on their own declared that they'd get it rebuilt within a year of 9/11, and succeeded.), spent the afternoon introducing people who spoke and sang. Including singer Kelly Clarkson, who had a crowd of fans there, as well. One of the first things he did, however, was to thank the LOTR fans who'd come out after reading his message on TORN, and we all cheered.

As it was late afternoon, and we were facing west towards the Lincoln Memorial (we were at the edge of the reflecting pool, at the bottom of the steps), the sun was setting in our eyes. So, thinking that we'd have a better chance of getting an autograph if we were closer to his eventual exit, we left the small audience area (where we were standing anyway, so it wasn't as though we were losing seats), and went and stood behind the metal gates up behind the stage. This seemed to be a much better vantage point, as whenever Sean wasn't introducing anyone he was in the VIP tent on the side discussing the upcoming introductions and what he was to say. So we got good views of him doing this. Also, Tibby was pleased because it meant she got to go up and see the police horses and climb on the barriers. So when Kelly finished her last song and the whole thing ended, about 5:30, she took off and most of the crowd drifted away. We noticed that at point that the Park Police officer who'd been guarding the stage area had left, so we all went in. Sean was letting about a hundred people take pictures with him, one at a time. He had a guy with him that was acting as a personal assistant, and he would coordinate the various interviews that people did with Sean. It seemed like he did half a dozen, including one for eXtra and one for Entertainment Tonight.

I sidled up to Sean, and just gathered up my nerve and said, "Sean!" He turned around and shook my hand with a big smile, and I said, "Um. We're Billy's fans." pointing to my bb.net T-shirt from I-Con in April. And he said, "Oh!" like he was aware of us, and "That's greeeeeat" or something in a broad Scottish bray that we all laughed at. So I pulled out a Wee Scarvie (of course) and explained what it was, and that several cast members had them. So he held it up and we gathered in for a picture, and I said, "Wait! Where's my daughter?" Tibby was off to the side somewhere, and I called her to come up and held her during the shot. Unfortunately, that one's unlikely to come out as it was taken by a girl holding it in one hand. It was a digital camera, and it's likely to be blurry as she didn't hold it with two hands. Ah well.

Sean immediately introduced himself to Tibby, who got a sudden case of the shys. Now bear in mind that she's 3, and hadn't had a nap all day, and it was nearly 6pm by this time. So every time he tried to shake her hand or talk to her, she buried her face against me. Silly wee thing. I asked him (shaking his hand again) if he was going to do any signing later, and he said, "I dunno. He's the boss." Grinning, and indicating the guy who was acting as his PA (Personal Assistant).

He was whisked away to more interviews, but I asked his PA if Sean was going to be able to do any, and he said that he had a couple more interviews, and then would be coming back this way. (Turns out the "PA" was a good friend of his. Todd, I think his name was, who looks a bit like Paul Bettany, actually, and is apparently Ali's godfather. So he's obviously just a really good friend of Sean's. But he was doing a good job of coordinating Sean's activities, actually. Wonder if he wants a job? /g/ )

At one point someone asked him about how his mom was doing. He said that she was doing well, and that she was a trooper and he was really proud of her. He had also noted in one his speeches how proud he was of his family for actually being confident enough to let him get on an airplane in L.A. and fly to D.C. the day before September 11th. He basically thanked Christine on camera, and I hope she sees it.

So we hung out on the sidelines as it were, and waited for him to be free. And indeed, once the camera crews packed up, and the kids' groups who'd been bussed in from all over got their group photos, it was pretty much him and the 7 of us! He signed everything we had, and was actually impressed by the Topps card of Sam, which he hadn't seen before. Gonzai showed him some of the work in her portfolio and had him sign an original artwork (I got a picture of this, too. Using both hands this time.). Then I asked him if we could have some more photos. Kyra introduced herself and Blaze and Gonzai as members of the official Fan Club, and got a group shot with him. Then some of us got single shots with him, and I handed him another Wee Scarvie (although he protested that he had the first one in his pocket) and asked for a better picture. He held it up for a couple of shots, and I told him that John Rhys-Davies had put his under his nose, so he goofed around with it, slinging it over his shoulder like Sam's pack, and I got a shot of that, too. I'll put them up on my Wee Scarvies page: http://www.jennie.8k.com/catalog.html when I get them. (I apologize in advance for the pop up ads.)

Sean Astin is a really sweet wonderful guy. He makes you feel instantly like he's known you for years. When he was trying to put Tibby at ease, he referred to himself as "Mommy's friend". Awwwwww! You know Mommy was chuffed.

He asked if Tibby was feeling better and more up to talking, and I said that it seemed so, but she still got all shy when he tried to shake her hand. He was hunkered down talking directly to her, and said "Well, I'm right in her face and she's embarrassed." But he said to her, "You know, this is my little girl." and he opened up his wallet and showed her a picture of Ali! He said, "She gets shy when she talks to people she doesn't know, too. And I've told her that if Daddy introduces her to the person, then it's all right to talk to them. Isn't that a good thing for me to have taught her?" And Tibby buried her face in my side again. Ah well. Sean said, "You know, you're really very special! You're the only one here who doesn't want to talk to me!" ROTFL!!!!! I think he spent more time talking to my three year old than anyone else at the event.

But then, that's Sean, isn't it? He loves kids, as we all know. The event was about young people all over the nation and the world working to better their communities. Doing community service and helping other people. It was a sweet and touching event, and I'm terribly glad that we all were able to go, and to meet Sean Astin. He's a wonderful person, and a real sweetheart.

NZ beats Australia in tourist numbers
Xoanon @ 12:44 am EST

Sly marketing, a successful fantasy film and sheer remoteness have consipired to help New Zealand trump Australia in attracting international tourists. New Zealand defied worldwide trends and boasted a 3.8% increase in arrivals in the 12 months to June. About two million international visitors are expected here next year - half the country's population. While New Zealand seems immune to the fallout from the war on terror and the gobal economic slowdown, arrivals to Australia over the same period have dropped 6% compared with the strong 2000-01 Olympic year.

In the 12 months to September, international viistor numbers to Austalia are expected to have declined by 8%.

Australia's Tourism Task Force chief executive Christopher Brown said Australia had much to learn from New Zealand. He said New Zealand made a huge investment in pushing its successful 100% Pure brand.

"I think when the world is looking for something clean and fresh they have done very well out of that," he said.

"They have also been buoyed by the Lord of the Rings phenomena (sic) and were selling New Zealand as Middle Earth (sic)."

Mr Brown said the absolute remoteness of New Zealand had worked to its advantage over the past 12 months.

"Their timing was beautiful because you can get to New Zealand and get away from the worries of the world.

"There has to be some consolation on being the most remote place of Earth," he said.

The Lord of the Rings is believed to be one reason for a 21% jump in British arrivals here.

No Latin American Release Of Extended DVD(?) Update
Xoanon @ 12:40 am EST

Ivan writes: Let me tell you (in regards to this article No Extended DVD For Latin America? from September 9th, 2002), Warner is always saying they aren't sure whether releasing an extended version down here, and they make sure to get it clear on their official brazillian site, it is a marketing strategy, they want to sell the theatrical version to huge numbers. About the translation and subtitles that is BS, many films that failed in our cinemas are released in DVD and everybody knows they won't sell (sometimes they put them attached to magazines for US$5,00 like Blair Witch 2), just to tell you, they did the same thing with the Matrix, they released the Matrix Revisited more than one year behind the normal version, pretty in time when it was released internationally, I want to assure everyone that the extended version will be in stores any other way!

9-11-02 Latest News

ANCANAR One Sheets
Xoanon @ 1:30 pm EST

The folks working on the indie Tolkien-themed film Ancanar have sent along 2 one sheets they plan to use to promote the film at Ring*Con 2002 (Read ANCANAR At Ring*Con 2002 from August 28th). Take a look!


9-10-02 Latest News

Online Fraud Re: Parma Endorion
Xoanon @ 12:57 pm EST

Michael Martinez writes: Today I was advised that PARMA ENDORION: ESSAYS ON MIDDLE-EARTH, 3RD EDITION, has been put up for auction at eBay.com. As I announced in January, this special edition of PARMA ENDORION was published as an eBook in Adobe PDF format and has been made available for free download at http://www.free-ebooks.net/fan_fiction.html for anyone who wants a copy.

Here is an example of a concluded sale of the eBook:

eBay Listing

I am told that these listings only stay available for up to 30 days.

Since I have asked that the most current auction be removed, I think this link may last longer than the current auction. Several auctions have already been removed under the seller's feedback list, perhaps for reported abuse. There were a few other concluded PARMA ENDORION auctions in the list.

Since PARMA ENDORION was published in January, more than 80,000 downloads have been recorded by free-ebooks.net. I was advised earlier this summer that the eBook has also been distributed (without authorization) on the Kazaa network. Since Kazaa is a peer-to-peer distribution service, and since it was apparent to me no one was altering the work or trying to make money, I let the Kazaa situation pass without challenge.

I just think these auctions are so unfair to the people buying the books. Of course, they are unfair to me and the artists, Rich Sullivan and Anke Eismann, because we are not being compensated for our work. But no one should have to pay for PARMA ENDORION. That was not what we intended.

Please help spread the word to your visitors. I will do what I can to inform the public through other venues, as well as through Xenite.org's network. But there are a lot of people out there. And it may not be too late for the buyers to report the fraud to PayPal (the service the auctioneer used) or eBay. Perhaps they can get refunds.

Your help in getting the word out will be greatly appreciated.

9-09-02 Latest News

Elijah Hits The Stage
Xoanon @ 8:05 pm EST

wizardlex sends this in from virginmegamagazine.com: Hybrid Japanese producer and performer Cornelius (aka Keigo Oyamada) closed out his successful tour of American with a tight, and visually stimulating live performance at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday (8/23). Playing to a near capacity crowd, Cornelius, King of the Apes, played with remarkable flair and energy along with precession timed video clips and a tight band that were all dressed in similar white shirts with thin black ties. While having visuals such as paint splattering and water bubbling synchronized to the beats of the music as a captivating companion to the sonically intricate music from his current album, Point, Cornelius and band showed they could rock the house by playing tracks from Fantasma sans video that left the audience applauding wildly. As a bonus surprise during one of the songs, Cornelius pulled up Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood out of the audience and guided his hand into playing a melody by the King of Rock 'n' Roll ('Love Me Tender') on the Theramin, a rare electric instrument that is played not by touch but by placing one's hands within a magnetic field. Needless to say the crowd loved it.


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