Elfie writes: Halcyon Pictures, the right owners to the Terminator franchise is facing financial difficulties and looking to sell off some of their assets. Firefly creator Joss Whedon, wrote a tongue-in-cheek letter to them, and in his plans for the franchise: Terminator of the Rings! You can read up on it straight from Whedons site here.

From EMPIRE: Some are mad, bad and dangerous to know. Some you could safely bring to visit your granny for afternoon tea. But all of these ten characters are icons, the colossi who bestrode the last decade and gave us some of its most memorable moments. We asked you to vote; you answered in your thousands – and here are the top ten results, who will appear on ten special covers of the next issue of Empire magazine, presented in alphabetical order. Why not numerical? Well, when you’ve got characters this ace, why on Earth would you want to quibble about who’s best? We’ll be revealing the covers over the next few days, so keep an eye on this page to choose your favourite and decide who to buy.

#1 Aragorn
Inside the issue: A few of the reasons Viggo made the perfect Aragorn – by Ian Nathan

Others on the cover: James Bond, Jason Bourne, The Bride, The Joker, Maximus, Harry Potter, Shaun, Jack Sparrow, Wolverine

The following event(s) took place in Middle-earth on October 20:

• Bilbo and the Dwarves sit around and begin to think of what to do next at the Hidden Door (1341)
• Escape across the Ford of Bruinen (1418)
• Gandalf and Elrond perceive the Black Riders at the Ford of Bruinen (1418)
• Frodo is brought to Rivendell (1418)
• Return of the King is published (1955)

Read the rest of this entry »

Our friend Matt Blessing from Marquette University sends a reminder that the exhibit, “The Beginnings of a Masterpiece: Original Manuscripts from The Fellowship of the Ring ” is still running at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan. Many of us attended the exhibit during the Radio City Concert weekend and highly recommend taking the time to see it if you live, or are in, the area. Items in the exhibit include Tolkien’s notes on cycles of the moon on the back of an Oxford air raid report and several color drafts of the last page of the book of Mazarbul, showing the progression of Tolkien’s vision of how it would look. Sadly, his illustrations never made it into the book due to the added expense. Many more fascinating items round out the exhibit from which it will be difficult to tear yourself away.

The exhibit will be open to off-campus visitors through November 19. Hours are between 10 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday, and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays.  All visitors will be asked to show a valid photo ID to enter the Lowenstein Building and the Quinn Library.  The Lowenstein Building is located at 113 West 60th Street in Manhattan.

Congrats to Justine H for winning the Billy Boyd Riddle Contest! Justine has won a copy of ‘Return of the King: The Complete Recordings’ CD Boxset. Congrats Justine!

Exclusive Billy Boyd Interview

Beecake US Tour Announcement Press Release

There’s a fair bit of news over at the Noldor Blog, including booksignings at the Weta Cave by Alan Lee and Ian Brodie as well as a new kids’ book with Richard Taylor and possibly Dr Grordbort himself, Greg Broadmore. There’s news about the Capitol Court Cinema co-owned by PJ, Richard Taylor and PJ’s editor Jamie Selkirk. Apparently it’s being fixed up -hope their sense of fantasy runs wild with it! (Read More) The Chocolate Fish cafe beloved by LOTR cast and crew is opening in a new beachside location not far from the original. And finally Jack asks who’ll join him in celebrating the 10th anniversary of first day of LOTR filming?

The LA Area Baggins Birthday Bash is today, here are some last minute directions and resources for those making a last minute decision to join in the fun. Sarumann and Quickbeam have staked out territory near where we were last year, but not quite as far back into the hills. If you come up the Old Zoo parking area, like last year, they are close to the road, so you should see the tent for the food from there. If there is no parking on the Old Zoo parking areas, go back to the road for the Carousel, and up into their parking area, keep following the hills around and you will come out just about the picnic area we are in this year. Should give plenty of options for parking. You can get a map of Griffith Park here. we are also on Facebook, which has more info about things people are bringing, step by step directions, etc.

BILLY BOYD WITH BEECAKE TO EMBARK ON U.S. EAST COAST TOUR OCTOBER 6-11, 2009

Actor and musician, Billy Boyd, who starred in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy as Peregrin “Pippin” Took and contributed to the soundtrack with his original song “Steward of Gondor”, will embark on a tour of the U.S. East Coast with his band Beecake October 6-11 in support of their new album “Soul Swimming”

The tour will coincide with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Howard Shore’s score performed live to film at Radio City Music Hall on October 9 and 10 at which Boyd will make an appearance. Read the rest of this entry »

PALO ALTO, Calif. — From a Silicon Valley office strewn with bean-bag chairs, a group of twenty-something software engineers is building an unlikely following of terrorist hunters at U.S. spy agencies. One of the latest entrants into the government spy-services marketplace, Palantir Technologies has designed what many intelligence analysts say is the most effective tool to date to investigate terrorist networks. The software’s main advance is a user-friendly search tool that can scan multiple data sources at once, something previous search tools couldn’t do. That means an analyst who is following a tip about a planned terror attack, for example, can more quickly and easily unearth connections among suspects, money transfers, phone calls and previous attacks around the globe. Palantir’s software has helped root out terrorist financing networks, revealed new trends in roadside bomb attacks, and uncovered details of Syrian suicide bombing networks in Iraq, according to current and former U.S. officials familiar with the events. More..

Jack over at the Noldor Blog has pictures of the latest displays at the Weta Cave. Check them out here and vote on what you’d like to see next.