Exclusive: Pictures from the London production of 'The Hobbit'

by Michael Martinez, Friday, November 10, 2000

Normally we'd post the full Xenite.Org article here, but the text was truncated when it was automagically transmitted to Speculative Vision. So, instead, I'm going to link to the original article on Xenite.Org, which is fairly long. We have five publicity pictures from the very popular stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" which has been touring the United Kingdom and is due to open in London's West End at the Queen's Theatre on December 12, 2000. A special offer accompanies the article for anyone who orders tickets via telephone.

If I only had a Bombadil...

by Michael Martinez, Friday, November 10, 2000

I promised the people on Xenite.Org's Middle-earth mailing list that I'd write something about Bombadil this week. So, let me start out by saying that the recent revelation that a second "X-Men" DvD may be produced with extra scenes for the first movie has gotten me to thinking. Maybe Peter Jackson can do a Bombadil segment after all. Not that I want to start getting up everyone's hopes. Nor do I want to inspire any more petitions. Principal photography is about to wrap up in a couple more weeks and, yes, they will do some extra filming afterwards, but Jackson seemed to make it clear long ago he didn't think Bombadil is important to the story. So what incentive does he have to do a Bombadil sequence for an anticipated "Fellowship of the Ring" DvD? Well, let's dispense with all this "faithful to Tolkien" themism and consider that a Bombadil sequence would afford Jackson an opportunity to extend his vision of Middle-earth to include the Old Forest and the Barrow-downs. Regardless of who howls and gnashes their teeth over the absence of Tolkien's beloved spirit of the vanishing Oxford countryside, the Old Forest and the Barrow-downs themselves are vital parts of the literary story. The Old Forest, like Sam's revelation of a walking tree in the Northfarthing, prepares the reader for the Ents and Huorns later on in the literary story. I suppose one could ask if there is any need to prepare the viewing audience for walking trees. I dunno. We already have some vague idea of how the story ends. Why bother preparing us for that with films 1 and 2? The Barrow-downs is a more complicated episode. In the literary story Gandalf noted that this was the most dangerous escapade Frodo experienced on his journey to Rivendell. People often wonder how this could be (well, in my email they do -- just like they wonder if that walking tree was an Ent, and no, sorry, I don't know). Why is the Barrow-wight a worse evil than the Nazgul at Weathertop? I would say that's because the Wight actually had Frodo and the Ring in its power. The Nazgul went in with a half-baked plan to stab Frodo and turn him into a wraith. Of course, they had to make it up as they went along. Strider (Aragorn) had thrown them for a loop, and it was only a guess that he would head there. Undoubtedly when they found Gandalf there days before (and I'm talking about the literary story right now) they were reassured that their guess was correct. That's why five of the boys sat around watching the road. Read the full article here.

Hop aboard the Lake Town and Shire Railroad

by Michael Martinez, Thursday, November 9, 2000

That's right. Railroads in Middle-earth! And why not? It's all fantasy, and if some people can have green-skinned Orcs, plate-armored Orcs, and pointy-eared Elves, then railroad hobbyists can have rails in Middle-earth. It takes a lot of work to lay track from Hobbiton to Lake Town. Fortunately, the Dwarves have reoccupied Moria and they lent a hand. Still, Lake Town and Shire Railroad has quite a story to tell about setting up the Shire, the Misty Mountains, Mirkwood, and the Long Lake. Hobbyists with time and resources can build their own little theme park in their back yard or garage (although this one is not so little, measuring 41 feet long by 27 feet wide). Donald Nute, the Web site owner, explains how he and his wife designed and built the model railroad. The site also includes a little fan fiction to go along with the magic of the railroad, and there is a picture gallery to show you the end result.

Should New Line Cinema follow suit?

by Michael Martinez, Wednesday, November 8, 2000

Lucas Online, a division of LucasFilm Ltd., has entered into a deal with AtomFilms to provide material fans can use to make their own Star Wars movies. That's right. The precious Star Wars franchise has just expanded to embrace fan productions on the Internet. Lucasfilm will provide sound and video clips that creative fans may use to put together their own spoofs and documentaries. What's more, the fans will be able to promote those spoofs and documentaries on AtomFilms' site. This is a major step toward breaking down the barrier between studio protections of trademark and copyright properties and allowing online fandom to help promote studio properties for free. So, what does this have to do with Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings"? As Yoda might say, "Everything! Fan creativity leads to online fandom. Online fandom leads to increased enthusiasm and support for a movie. Increased enthusiasm and support for a movie leads to greater fun for all (or most)." But will New Line Cinema go for the gusto? "Star Wars is a cultural phenomenon unlike any other in film history," said Scott Roesch, Director of Web Entertainment for AtomFilms. "We are thrilled to be leveraging our online entertainment expertise to create the first official short film outlet for the loyal Star Wars fans." Hm. Sounds like AtomFilms is throwing down the gauntlet. We sense much fear in New Line. May they find their way to the right side of the Force!

LOTR movie posters released

by Michael Martinez, Wednesday, November 8, 2000

Tolkien Online is informing its news subscribers that Coming Attractions has posted scans of new LOTR movie posters. TheOneRing.Net has also picked up the story. The Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers The Return of the King

News briefs

by Michael Martinez, Tuesday, November 7, 2000

There has been nothing significant to report over the past week. Tolkien Online and TheOneRing.Net caught Sir Ian McKellen's latest Lord of the Rings e-Post, where the actor answers questions from fans around the world. He implies that Gandalf will indeed go tumbling over the brink of the chasm in Moria with the Balrog, but that neither he nor his stunt-double may actually do the tumbling. Tolkien Online also picked up a story about there being LOTR material on the "Frequency" DvD (just a Web browser, screen saver, and wallpaper -- all stuff, or similar to stuff you can download off the Web). TheOneRing.Net got a scoop with an MP3 of an interview with David Wenham (Faramir). Unfortunately, there's really nothing of substance in the interview concerning LOTR. TheOneRing.Net also got a spy report which claims the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has been contracted to perform the musical score. Both sites (and everyone else and their brother) picked up an article from OnFilm magazine about LOTR computer technology. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" comes out this weekend.

And now it's time to say goodbye

by Michael Martinez, Thursday, November 2, 2000

Not to this column, but to the almost daily set reports from the various locations in New Zealand. Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" production is wrapping up location work and in a few more weeks (okay, a couple more months) will finish principal photography completely. From that point forward Tolkien fans around the world will wait with bated breath for the result of Peter Jackson's editing skills. Of course, a great amount of CGI work remains to be done, and perhaps a few favored Web sites will be given glimpses of behind-the-scenes works and some advance snippets of what is yet to come. LOTRmania has gotten some mention in the press this year, but we all know in our hearts that we ain't seen nothing yet. In about six more months, give or take, the advance publicity will begin to hit the magazines, the television shows, the newspapers. Everyone knows the movies are coming. The first trailer is almost upon us. People are already looking forward to the DvD (hoping, probably hopelessly, that Bombadil will appear on it). You know kiddies, we aren't even halfway through this deal yet. It's been only about three years since the rumors first started circulating that Peter Jackson might be doing a LOTR movie. We've got more than three years left before the last movie is released (December 2003), and it will be at least another six to twelve months before the last DvD comes out after that. Read the full article here.

Sauron's military machine reduced to motley mob

by Michael Martinez, Wednesday, November 1, 2000

E! Online's Force of Hobbit November 1 update indicates that the Orcs of Mordor may be less efficiently organized than Tolkien portrayed them to be. But is the disarrayed state of Mordor's finest troops due to an intentional deviation from the book or the fact that they ran out of costumes while filming the Battle of the Pelennor Fields? Wardrobe coordinator Janis MacEwan says there aren't enough Orc outfits to go around, so crew members improvise. Fortunately, Orcs are easily attired. "They're foot soldiers--they scavenge through the bodies of their victims and steal bits of clothing," she explains. "So, we can borrow from other costumes we've got." Well, who cares how well-dressed an Orc is in the midst of battle anyway? Unfortunately, it looks like E! oft-derided "insider" has picked up on a bit of Kiwi nomenclature: The Orcs are lined into widely spaced rows across a grassy field. Some 300 meters north is a similar row of horses. The Rohan will charge toward the Orcs, riding between the rows, as the Orcs simulate battle on the spot. "The Rohan". If people don't say "the Rohirrim" in the movies, many Tolkien fans are going to have a field day at Peter Jackson's expense. Even the most lightly read fans on the Internet know it's "Rohirrim". But then, there are other points where fans may strike up a note of protest: The Orcs get their cue first. Growling and crying like wild animals, they whirl around their weapons, winding themselves up like WWF gladiators. Why should Orcs growl and cry like animals? They speak very well in the book. Well, if it's a battle scene, people aren't likely (hopefully) to notice the discrepancy anyway. One bit of reassuring news is the description of King Theoden as he rides into battle: King Theoden of Rohan (actually, his riding double) leads the throng. He wears armor embossed with a horse insignia over a chain-mail vest, an embroidered emerald green tunic and a massive, Viking-like helmet, also with a horse insignia. Forde brings us up to date on who's still filming, who has wrapped, and what artist Alan Lee thinks is important to emphasize in his work.

Castles and wizards and MPEGS, oh my!

by Michael Martinez, Monday, October 30, 2000

Sir Ian McKellen has updated his Grey Books section with more thoughts on life along the Mississippi...er, in New Zealand. Jonny Grindlay over at The Realm of the Ring has gotten some recognition from The Evening Post in New Zealand for his creative 4-1/2 minute review of 12 filming locations from Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings". Grindlay was hit with an unexpected bill for 21 gigabytes of downloads on the first day the MPEG was made available, so Xenite.Org and other sites have agreed to Jonny's request that other sites host the movie and spread the bandwidth burden. New Zealand is in the throes of a finacnial crisis that is worsening, and it seems that now "The Lord of the Rings" is being bitten by some of the people who have been fed by the big-budget production, according to The Dominion. The New Zealand Defense Force has contributed personnel and equipment to the production for minimal costs, and at least one Member of Parliament wants more. Not everyone agrees with him. Tolkien Online and TheOneRing.Net have published photos of a new set under construction. There is a flurry of speculation surrounding the castle-like architecture, which is being made to look ruinous. Some people suggest it may be a part of Minas Tirith (perhaps the outer ring, which is damaged in the siege), and others think it may be a part of Minas Morgul (although that city is only seen from afar in the literary story). Some of the pictures published earlier by TORN show a set which resembles Alan Lee's Osgiliath painting. Iron Crown Enterprises, so far the only role-playing game provider ever to bring a Middle-earth based traditional pencil-and-paper RPG to market, has called it quits after 20 years. Tolkien Online picked up the story. ICE has changed its Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition to a Chapter 7 liquidation filing. The company is fulfilling all orders made through October 23 and will close its doors at the end of November. They lost their Middle-earth gaming license in 1999.

Downloads and Dragons: Look what they've done to Fantasy, ma

by Michael Martinez, Sunday, October 29, 2000

I spent the day trying to download the "Dungeons and Dragons" trailer. After many hours and several restarts and reboots, I finally got my 28 megabytes worth of preview. It was worth not doing anything else I needed to do on the Internet, and the wait. "Dungeons and Dragons" is a movie I've long waited for, not so much because I've played it, but because I first heard about it long before many other people did. I heard about the wizards with the fireballs and the armies of dragons, and I wanted to see them. I still want to see them, because I like what was shown in the trailer. There are people, of course, who are snickering in the corners and shadows, trying to spread poison about what promises to be one of the best fantasy movies released until now. Why? I can't imagine why. Some people just don't get it. I've read the story, I've followed the spy reports, I've seen pre-production artwork, photos, and illicit previews on the Net. I haven't seen anything to turn me off of these movies. And it's not like gaming is a big part of my life. I haven't rolled dice in years. It's just something I got away from. Besides, I always like Rolemaster better. Read the rest of the article here.

Bits from TORN

by Michael Martinez, Friday, October 27, 2000

TheOneRing.Net is reporting that David Wenham (Faramir) was quoted in a Sydney newspaper as saying he was working with Miranda Otto on the set of Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings", so apparently the Faramir/Eowyn romance has been retained. Fans who were concerned about E! Online's report that Denethor would burn Faramir can stand down. TORN also added Pelennor.Com, a Dutch-language fan site, to its network this week. Perhaps the most intriguing revelation from TORN this week is the news that the LOTR DVD will have an R18 rating, because of scenes some of the actors describe as "disturbing". TORN is warning fans to regard this as only a rumor for now (after all, nothing has been committed to DVD just yet).

Tolkien Online digs up lots of news

by Michael Martinez, Friday, October 27, 2000

Tolkien Online is turning up more and more news stories these days, so I thought I'd include a sumamry of some of their recent articles. They found this story at Philadelphia Daily News about two other Web sites (Ringbearer and TheOneRing.Net). Several Web sites are carrying the news that Mithril, an Irish figurine company, has added the Barrow-wight to its inventory. Tolkien Online also seems to be the only site left willing to cover stories in The Otago Daily Times, a New Zealand newspaper which occasionally covers LOTR movie news. This story is just a brief item about extras being auditioned. Tolkien Online also grabbed the story from The Evening Post about creative LOTR financing in Germany. Investors there like to buy shares in movie productions to create tax shelters. This will apparently be the last year they can do that sort of thing.

Easton Press: Oops, wrong price (and more info)

by Michael Martinez, Thursday, October 26, 2000

Xenite.Org incorrectly reported the price for the Easton Press Tolkien Classics collection as $48.25. We called them back today to discuss the correct pricing and have learned that this the per book price, shipping and sales tax included, except in the states of New Jersey, Connecticut, and Tennessee. These three states are where the books are shipped from, and sales tax must be included. The Easton Press Tolkien Classics edition do include illustrations, although how many or by whom wasn't available to the person we spoke with. The books are leather-bound with gold edging and they use an acid-neutral stock so the pages should last for generations. To order the entire collection (The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion) one should figure a cost of $241.00. The Silmarillion is out-of-stock but being reprinted. They expect to make the book available again in January. Books may be purchased individually. C.S. Lewis fans may be interested to know that Easton Press also offers The Chronicles of Narnia. Easton Press may be reached via telephone at 1-800-367-4534. We regret the inaccuracy of our previous report.

It's raining Hobbit plays!

by Michael Martinez, Tuesday, October 24, 2000

Tolkien Online is reporting that West Valley College in Saratoga, California is staging a musical performance of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Performances are scheduled for November 17 through December 13. They didn't ask for help from Xenite.Org for this production...

Visualizing Middle-earth now carried by Amazon, BarnesandNoble

by Michael Martinez, Tuesday, October 24, 2000

Michael Martinez' book, Visualizing Middle-earth, is now listed with two major online bookstores and more listings are expected. Amazon.Com is showing the book as a special order item. Webmasters who like to sell Tolkien books on their sites may now add this title to their catalogues if they are so inclined. Barnes and Noble lists the book as "Out of Stock", but we are told that this is normal for print-on-demand books and that customers should still be able to purchase the book through their service as a special order. Visualizing Middle-earth is a collection of essays by Micheal Martinez which explain the history, culture, themes, and background for J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.

• Lord of the Rings Archive Menu
  
  
• Current Lord of the Rings News
  
  
• Scifi and Fantasy Newswire