TheOneRing.net:@JohnSant87@TwoPaddocks There is a tiny chance of a tiny TORn cameo in the deep background of Laketown. Is it a cameo if nobody knows you?
TheOneRing.net:RT @adamrensch: lightning in Greece is different. Greece lightning is systematic. It's automatic. It's HYDROMATIC. IT'S BURNING UP THE QUARTER MILE, GO GREE
From Hollywood.com: In 1971, Jan Sterling was 19 years old, married, caring for a one-year-old baby girl, and living out of a 1961 Econoline Ford Van. She was driving around the country in a state that she describes as “quite homeless.” She says that her life was forever changed when, one day, she happened upon an old set of The Lord of the Rings books.
“I was saved by Tolkien’s story and world,” Sterling says. ”It became my lifeline through those lonely, hard days and years after. It was incredible how the same story spoke to whatever life events I was experiencing.”
We’re happy to announce that the Red Carpet Tours and TORN Premiere Party in Wellington raised $2600 for our chosen charity, Duffy Books in Homes.Thanks so much to Peter Jackson, Weta, Stansborough, Harper Collins and Asni the Harpist for donating beautiful things we could offer in our party auctions and raffles. Thanks to the generosity of the Red Carpet Premiere Tour too, who raised more money in a spirited round of bidding during their farewell dinner a week later.
Originally half the proceeds of the party were to benefit TORN itself, but after a quick palaver among TORN’s senior staff we decided to give it all to Duffy Books in Homes. The Duffy scheme provides books to New Zealand children in areas where books can not be taken for granted as part of the normal furniture of life. Duffy role models travel the country fostering a love of reading. It’s a great scheme, and one long supported by both TORN and Red Carpet’s founders Vic and Raewyn James, who were schoolteachers and principals before they went into tourism.
“The Hobbit” brought home a big box office treasure over the weekend, setting a December movie record with $84.77 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales as legions of fans turned out for the long-awaited big-screen return to Middle Earth.
The 3D movie directed by Oscar-winning “Rings” filmmaker Peter Jackson is the first of three films based on a 1937 classic novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Warner Bros. is aiming to build on the success of the “Rings” series, one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises with $2.9 billion in global ticket sales.
The “Lord of the Rings” movies debuted in theaters from 2001 to 2003. After that, production on “The Hobbit” ran into delays, leaving fans waiting a decade for another look at the fantasy story of dwarves, wizards and elves.
The opening weekend “Hobbit” sales proved interest remained high. North American (U.S. and Canadian) receipts toppled the old record for December set by Will Smith sci-fi flick “I Am Legend,” which pulled in $77.2 million when it debuted in 2007. [Full Article]
Underscoring what seems to be a significant disconnect between fans and critics, early returns are in for our Ringers Reviews and ‘The Hobbit: AUJ’ is showing an average of 4.6/5 Rings with fans. The audiences seem to be just as excited based on this report from BoxOfficeMojo.com:
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey drew large crowds on Friday and set a new December opening day record with an estimated 37.5 million from 4,045 locations.
The previous December record-holder was The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which debuted to $34.5 million on a Wednesday in 2003. The Hobbit also opened noticeably higher than The Two Towers ($26.2 million), and grossed twice as much as The Fellowship of the Ring ($18.2 million). With 3D/IMAX premiums and a decade of inflation, though, The Hobbit‘s initial attendance was substantially lower than that of Return of the King and about on par with The Two Towers. [Read More]
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opened to an incredible $13 million from 3,100 midnight locations. That may not seem like much when compared to record-holder Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 ($43.5 million) or this Summer’sThe Dark Knight Rises ($27 million), but for a December release that’s a massive figure. In fact, it’s three times as much as Avatar made at midnight ($3.537 million), and also way up on I Am Legend‘s $1.7 million. I Am Legend is the current December opening weekend record-holder with $77.2 million, which The Hobbit is now guaranteed to pass by the end of the weekend. [Read More]
Peter Jackson has just uploaded his latest Hobbit production video — #10!
This one delves into the premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in Wellington and reveals that production vids will resume next year as the team ramps up all over again to complete The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. (more…)
With the public screenings now on in New Zealand and England and a day away in the U.S. and Canada, it seems a good time to continue to celebrate Hobbit Week and share some of the footage we gathered on the red carpet in Wellington, New Zealand. And this time instead of speaking to the media in general, they are speaking directly to you, the community that makes up TheOneRing.net. We have saved this footage for just the right time but here in the states it feels like ‘Hobbit Eve’ and there hasn’t been a lull in the media for weeks so it is now or never! Hope you enjoy some short visits and appearances by Adam Brown, Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, James Cameron, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Martin Freeman, Peter Hambleton, Richard Armitage, Stephen Hunter and William Kircher. Enjoy!
Want to enjoy the UK Premiere of ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?’ Well, you can right now! We’ve set up a page with a live stream, chat and twitter to allow you to interact with fans worldwide as this event takes place. TORn staffer GreenDragon is on the ‘green’ carpet and will be submitting some reports later, but for now, enjoy the LIVE coverage! [LIVE Coverage]
Hobbit week continues as we all await the arrival of ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey‘ in theaters December 14th! We are both honored and excited to share with you a TheOneRing.net Exclusive clip from the film! The clip features Thorin and company singing ‘Misty Mountains’ at the end of a long evening in Bag End. The song ‘Misty Mountains‘ is now available for individual download or as part of the complete soundtrack worldwide. [iTunes: Special Edition or Standard] [Amazon.com: Special Edition or Standard] Enjoy!
As part of our continuing coverage of Hobbit Week 2012, we’ve got coverage from the New York City premiere of ’The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey!’ Ringer Ashlee took to the red carpet and sends in this report:
This past week, I had the incredible honor of being asked by TORn to film at this exciting event! Interviewing Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Elijah Wood, Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis, Richard Armitage and almost all of the dwarves made it a thrilling experience I will never forget. I hope that you enjoy this video with words from all of our favorite hobbity friends!
Sometimes words just pour out of me when I type. Other times, I hesitate. Reviewing THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY required an approach unusual for me after twelve years contributing to TheOneRing.net. I let things gestate for several days, really, so as to refine my thoughts. The first part of this review will be blissfully *spoiler free* for those who don’t want to know the big changes; but after a warning I’ll get into the nitty-gritty with loads of spoilers.
I’ve been as excited as anybody, truthfully. THE HOBBIT: AUJ has *finally* come to the big screen – envisioned by the capable hands of a crafty Kiwi director, backed up by a super-group of WETA designers, enhanced by New Zealand’s gorgeous vistas. (more…)
Ever wondered exactly what they do at Weta Workshop and Weta Digital? Richard Taylor talks about their work in this neat little clip. Plus there’s some footage and red carpet interviews from the Wellington premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey that you may not have sen previously. (more…)
From Hollywood.com: In 1971, Jan Sterling was 19 years old, married, caring for a one-year-old baby girl, and living out of a 1961 Econoline Ford Van. She was driving around the country in a state that she describes as “quite homeless.” She says that her life was forever changed when, one day, she happened upon an old set of The Lord of the Rings books.
We’re happy to announce that the 
“The Hobbit” brought home a big box office treasure over the weekend, setting a December movie record with $84.77 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales as legions of fans turned out for the long-awaited big-screen return to Middle Earth.
Underscoring what seems to be a significant disconnect between fans and critics, early returns are in for our 
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opened to an incredible $13 million from 3,100 midnight locations. That may not seem like much when compared to record-holder 
