‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ Visual Effects Reel from WETA Digital
March 12, 2014 at 9:55 am -WETA Digital has released a new video on their YouTube channel, showcasing the multitude of visual effects work done on the second chapter in Sir Peter Jackson’s Hobbit Trilogy – The Desolation of Smaug. The elements covered range from the Kingdom of Erebor, Laketown and the Woodland Realm to Smaug, the barrel chase, and the…
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Limited Collector’s Edition EXCLUSIVE OFFER!
March 10, 2014 at 6:12 pm -As we get ready for next month’s Home Video release of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, you may have been thinking of preordering the Limited Edition Collector’s gift set (with the Noble Collection bookends), but wondering if you could afford it. We’re happy to tell you that our good friends at the official Hobbit…
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Home Video release – preorder in the US
March 10, 2014 at 6:10 pm -Yet more information on all those different versions of the Blu-ray and DVD of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug! Various versions are available for pre-order in the US; Target has the Limited Collector’s Edition (with the Noble Collection bookends) and the set of Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet with LEGO Legolas figure listed as available for pre-order online. (They…
From the makers of Rise of the Fellowship – a new project
March 9, 2014 at 2:21 pm -Many Middle-earth fans will be familiar with the independent film Rise of the Fellowship, from director Ron Newcomb, who is himself a passionate Tolkien fan. Newcomb has teamed up again with producer Scott Mathias to launch a new project, which should appeal to all fantasy lovers. The proposal is for a web series about a…
Rewrite Tolkien March contest
March 8, 2014 at 5:54 pm -It’s a new month, so that must mean it’s time for a new Rewrite Tolkien contest, where you, the fans, can rewrite your favorite passages or scenes in the style of a classic author or theme. We will select a theme each month, and then it’s up to you to put your spin on it….
An interview with Simon Tolkien
March 7, 2014 at 7:54 pm -In my wanderings around the internet, I recently stumbled across this great little interview with Simon Tolkien on the Mythopoeic Society website. Simon is, of course, the son of Christopher Tolkien and the grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, and a published author in his own right. He has written four novels. The most recent, Orders from…
Hall of Fire topic this Saturday. Your expectations for the Hobbit: There and Back Again
March 7, 2014 at 6:31 pm -This weekend, Hall of Fire turns to examine Peter Jackson’s next (and almost certainly final) Middle-earth movie. “At the end of the day I just want to entertain people and get them to come along to the movies.” Peter Jackson at the Desolation of Smaug live event. November 2013. The Hobbit: There and Back Again….
The DailyMash: Mordor Grand Prix announced
March 7, 2014 at 5:24 am -UK satire website The DailyMash has come up with this amusing take on the old “one does not simply walk into Mordor” chestnut. Enjoy! Mordor Grand Prix announced BERNIE Ecclestone has struck a deal to take Formula One to the land of Mordor, where the shadows lie. The Mordor Grand Prix will be on the…
Benedict Cumberbatch is coming to Australia for Oz Comic-Con
March 6, 2014 at 11:12 pm -Benedict Cumberbatch has just officially been announced as attending the 2014 Oz Comic-Con. From Oz Comic-Con Benedict Cumberbatch is set to join the fun at Oz Comic-Con Adelaide and appear at two exclusive Oz Comic-Con Q&A events in Sydney. He’s an award winning thespian, a star of the big and small screen and a man…
Rewrite Tolkien February contest winner
March 6, 2014 at 3:10 pm -It’s long past time to announce February’s Rewrite Tolkien contest winner – apologizes for the delay! We had several great entries for February’s theme – ‘The Hobbit’ in the style of Jane Austen – but as they say, There Can Be Only One. February’s winner is…. ********************************************************************************** *********************************************************************************** Jill Richardson of Chicago, Illinois! Congratulations, Jill…
New trailer for The Hobbit Lego video game!
March 6, 2014 at 12:49 pm -Here’s a funky new trailer for the Lego video game for The Hobbit, done in the style of Ocean’s Eleven. Pretty neat. It does seem to emphasise the teamwork element of the game, something that IGN’s reviewer of the just-released playable demo wrote about approvingly just the other day: Already in this small section of…
Four MTV Award nominations for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
March 6, 2014 at 12:18 pm -Nominations for the 2014 MTV Awards have just been announced, and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is up for four of those golden popcorn buckets. This year, The Hobbit has snared nominations for: * Movie of the Year * Best Hero (Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins) * Best Fight (for Orlando Bloom and Evangeline…
Bodleian Libraries talk: Magical Tales: Wolves and Volumes
March 6, 2014 at 10:48 am -As part of the 2014 Oxford Literary Festival, The Bodleian Libraries is hosting a talk by Carolyne Larrington and Diane Purkiss — authors of Magical Tales: Myth, Legend, and Enchantment in Children’s Books on March 26 at the Old Bodleian Library. Hear how the medieval literature studied in Oxford by some of the world’s best-loved…
Download and try-out Lego’s new demo for The Hobbit video game
March 6, 2014 at 7:45 am -Folks with a PC running Windows 8, 7, XP, or Vista can now download and install a free demo of Lego’s forthcoming The Hobbit videogame. The demo sequence allows you to fight your way out of the Goblin town in the Misty Mountains. One very neat thing I observed is that the narration is by…
New photo reveals J.R.R. Tolkien at fifteen, a warrior-to-be
March 6, 2014 at 3:43 am -Tolkien scholar John Garth examines the the facts behind a newly discovered photograph dating to 1907 that shows a fifteen-year-old J.R.R. Tolkien with his school cadet corps. Tolkien at fifteen, a warrior-to-be by John Garth A newly discovered photograph reveals J.R.R. Tolkien at fifteen in his school’s new cadet corps — launched in 1907 as…
Evangeline Lilly live Facebook chat Thursday
March 5, 2014 at 10:58 pm -Actress Evangeline Lilly (Tauriel) will be participating in a live chat with fans tomorrow, Thursday, March 6, at 12:oopm PST, on Facebook. Lilly says she will be discussing “The Hobbit” films and her character, Tauriel. Based on past experiences with the fan-friendly actress, it should be a fun opportunity! To participate, go to the Evangeline…
Oakentoon #34 – Why He Came Back, Oakentoon #35 – Good Manners Part 1, Oakentoon #36 – Good Manners Part 2
March 5, 2014 at 10:47 pm -Welcome to this weeks episodes of the Oakentoons Don’t forget to check out the Oakenstills and Oakencrossovers while you’re there and to say hi to Peckish Owl. As always, just click the images to go to Peckish Owls site to see the full size images (you’ll also need to click on the longer ones once…
WIRED goes behind the scenes of ‘Desolation of Smaug’ Barrel Escape — VIDEO
March 4, 2014 at 7:56 pm -It became one of the most talked about scenes in Peter Jackson’s second Hobbit film (for both fans and detractors). Now WIRED has posted a new video that gives a behind the scenes look at the construction of the seven minute barrel sequence from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. The two and a half…
Catch Billy Connolly (aka Dain Ironfoot, the dwarf we have yet to see!) on the radio Wednesday
March 4, 2014 at 6:55 pm -Actor, musician and comedian Billy Connolly, (who will be seen in The Hobbit: There and Back Again as dwarf Dain Ironfoot), is currently performing on the West Coast of the US with his one man show, ‘The Man Live’. This weekend, he’ll be performing at the Montalban Theatre, Los Angeles – tickets are available here. Tomorrow (Wednesday)…
Tolkien Reading Day draws near – come out and read
March 4, 2014 at 11:40 am -Since 2003, fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work have gathered each March to celebrate and share his writing with each other and the public. Set by the Tolkien Society on March 25 to commemorate the downfall of Sauron in “The Lord of the Rings,” the idea of Tolkien Reading Day was inspired by the annual bloomsday…