Another interesting thought-piece that I stumbled on in my Middle-earth wanderings across the internet. In this article, Tolkien scholar Michael Martinez tackles the eternally vexing question of textual fidelity and why he feels that the divergences between novel and film are beneficial. (more…)
This weekend the Hall of Fire will be taking a zig-zagging from books to film as we examine one of the great unknowns of The Desolation of Smaug — Dol Guldur and the PJ plan.
Radagast: But what if it is a trap?
Gandalf: It is undoubtedly a trap.
Dol Guldur. What is the PJ plan? (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
Much has been written about The Hobbit in recent years thanks to the filming of the new trilogy of Peter Jackson films.But during all the hubbub surrounding Jackson and Company’s take on Tolkien’s classic story (positive and negative), there has been very little mentioned about the underrated 1977 Rankin Bass film adaptation of The Hobbit.
This animated movie–clocking in at right around a lean 90 minutes–introduced me to Middle Earth at the age of 7, for which I will always be grateful. To say the least, that Tolkien magic translated beautifully through my parents old 19″ Zenith radiation machine. And I attribute that to the story as well as a clever, tight script, wonderful voice acting, brilliant score, and some terrific character and creature design. (more…)
Posted in The HobbitThis is a cute little Lego animation of part of the Riddles in the Dark sequence from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Thanks to Ringer Adam for the link. (more…)
Posted in Creations, Fans, Hobbit Movie, The Hobbit, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
There’s still some three months before The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug debuts on our screens (four if you’re unlucky!). Yet wider geek fandom is already looking ahead to what we can expect. In this article, The Digital Times suggests that The Desolation of Smaug may prove the high point of the three (unusual, as middle films in a sequence generally are regarded as the weak link).
The author’s reason? Spiders. Mirkwood. Beorn. Wood-elves. Lake-men. And Smaug. (more…)
Posted in Hobbit Movie, The Hobbit, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: There and Back Again
“What do you get if you multiply six by nine*?”
Martin Freeman’s age today*!
That’s right — today Martin is 42. We reckon that’s pretty awesome seeing as Martin played the role of Arthur Dent in the Hitch Hikers Guide To the Galaxy Movie. Happy birthday, Martin! (more…)
Posted in Martin Freeman
In the first week of filming for Blue Jasmine, her first movie with director Woody Allen, Cate Blanchett feared she might be fired. It was just a simple scene but Allen wasn’t happy. ”He said, ‘It’s awful, it’s not working’.”
Blanchett is sitting in a Sydney hotel room recalling the eight takes required to nail the scene in mid-2012. ”I thought, ‘I’m really not going to last the week’.”
She had watched Robert B. Weide’s Woody Allen: A Documentary during the flight to the US for filming. She knew there would be little small talk on set; that Allen is unforthcoming with direction and likes to do scenes in one take. Perhaps, she thought, he was unhappy with her work. (more…)
Posted in Uncategorized
This Saturday (at 6pm ET (New York time)), Hall of Fire will return to our chapter-by-chapter read-through of The Lord of The rings, rejoining Frodo, Sam and Gollum as they enter The Dead Marshes.
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire“To do the job as you put it – what hope is there that we ever shall? And if we do, who knows what will come of that? If the One goes into the Fire, and we are at hand? I ask you, Sam, are we ever likely to need bread again? I think not. If we can nurse our limbs to bring us to Mount Doom, that is all we can do. More than I can, I begin to feel.”
As the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in Extended Edition format approaches, Empire Magazine examines whether studios are giving the format their full support. Perhaps what’s on offer in the AUJ EE works as a counter-example against Empire’s critique? Tell us your thoughts!
Thanks to Ringer Rud the Spud for the link. (more…)
Posted in Blu-Ray, Hobbit Movie, Merchandise, MGM, New Line Cinema, Studios, The Hobbit, Warner Bros.
Thanks to Ringer Roheryn on the TORn messageboards for spotting this little news story about recording for the Desolation of Smaug soundtrack!
The New Zealand public has essentially lost access to Wellington’s Town Hall while the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra records the score for the second Hobbit movie.
The orchestra last month cancelled its Heights of Passion tour to free up time to record the score.
In a public notice today, Wellington City Council announced ”strict security” was in place at the Town Hall from now until the end of next month while the orchestra records the film score.
There will be no public access during this time, the notice said.
Posted in Hobbit Movie, Howard Shore, soundtrack, The Hobbit, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Here are three quite interesting descriptions from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Annual 2014 of the areas of Middle-earth that Thorin & Company will be passing through early on in The Desolation of Smaug.
Not much that’s new, but it’s certainly more confirmation of divergences from Tolkien’s novel. If you’re trying to remain unaware of these little surprises, don’t read on — here be SPOILERS!
But if you like what you see, you can order your copy of the book from Amazon.
Bilbo’s travels with Thorin and the rest of The Company have taken him far from his home in The Shire. From towering mountains to cavernous depths, the heroes find themselves passing through some truly amazing places.
When the group are searching for somewhere to rest after their dangerous journey through the Misty Mountains, Gandalf leads them here. But after they are chased by a huge bear, Bilbo thinks that htey might have been safer if they’d stayed up a tree surrounded by Wargs!
However, the Shape-shifter Beorn reveals that he is the bear, and welcomes everyone into his home. They Company are able to rest here in peace before continuing their quest.
When Gandalf heads south on a quest of his own, The Company are faced with travelling through this weird wood on their own. Blanketed in shadows and filled with decay and evil, Mirkwood has claimed the lives of many an unwary traveller. If the deadly waters of its dark rivers don’t claim you, then one of the horrible creatures lurking in the shadows surely will…
The fortress of Thranduil, the King of the Wood Elves. Thranduil sees Mirkwood as his private realm and has little patience for those who enter it without his premission — especially if they happen to be Dwarves. Built over the swift river that leads to the Long Lake, it is here Thorin and his companions are taken when they are captured by the Elves. Luckily for them, Bilbo has a trick or two up his sleeve.
If you enjoy the work we do here at TheOneRing.net, and would like to see your Tolkien community keep on growing and growing, please consider making a Pledge. Time is fast running out to join the Tale of Honour — there’s only a day or so left on our Pledge Drive!
Posted in Books Publications, Headlines, Hobbit Book, Hobbit Movie, Merchandise, The Hobbit, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
This one is not exactly new, but nevertheless pretty cool. Architecture mag freshome put together a short feature celebrating the design and architecture of some of the most striking architecture projects that resemble or are derived from the Hobbit holes of The shire. Check it out and enjoy! (more…)
