Do I want to brag about this? Not especially, but the others will whine about it if I mention it afterwards without posting it as news. So if any of you want to laugh at our Kiwi accents, there’s a report on the film thefts scheduled for Morning Report on Tuesday between 7am and 9am NZ time, that’s Monday afternoon after 1pm EST.
The RNZ website should give you an audio feed from here
Kind of hard to navigate, but there’s a ‘Select’ menu on the left with both the live audio feed and ‘Morning Report.’
Month: July 2000
All that waiting around for about five minutes of action. The ex-stuntman accused of stealing film rushes from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ must have pleaded guilty (I missed that bit) and so he got to wait around a few more hours along with all the drunk drivers and benefit fraudsters. Then he was convicted on two charges, his bail conditions agreed on (he loses his passport and has to report to the court weekly) and that was that until sentencing, which will take place next month. He’s still got name suppression.
It’s all nothing like court on TV. The lawyers do a kind of ritual cringe towards the judge as they enter and leave, the accused vary between a sneer ( standard for violent offenders) and merely looking hangdog (like this film thief.)
Other than that, it’s hard to make out what’s going on. We’ll bring you more news as it comes to hand.
Harry Knowles over at AICN is reporting that the LOTR trailers may be in theatres in and around X-Mas 2000. Concurring with our earlier report from July 6th which says it may be on the Adam Sandler movie ‘Little Nicky’ or, as Knowles states, the ‘Thirteen Days’ Cuban missile drama. Harry also received news on a possible schedule for more trailers.
Teaser 2 : Cannes 2001
Teaser 3 : July 2001
Trailer : September 2001
More news as I get confirmation.
From: Brian
I went to Wal-Mart last night to pick up a picture frame and was surprised to see the Harry Potter Books and the LOTR books (paperback, but not the single-volume) displayed together near the entrance. No one coming into the store could possibly miss it. Of course, a lot more of the Potter books were gone than the Rings books. But maybe the excitement kids have for Harry Potter will translate into many of them picking up The Fellowship of the Ring and, of course, having their parents take them to the movie next year!
If this arrangement is found at all Wal-Marts in North America, there could be a whole new group of Frodo fans getting excited for Dec. 2001.
From: al
The latest Empire Magazine (with John Cusack on the cover) – The Fellowship Of The Ring is listed as the number one film in the top twenty “in production”. [More]
From: al
The latest Empire Magazine (with John Cusack on the cover) – The Fellowship Of The Ring is listed as the number one film in the top twenty “in production”. Text reads:
01 The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowsip Of the Rings
Starring: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian Holm, Sir Ian McKellen, Billy Boyd, Christopher Lee, Cate Blanchett, Sean Bean, Liv Tyler, Brad Dourif, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Hugo Weaving.
Director: Peter Jackson
What’s it About?: Once upon a time, in a mythical world far, far, away, there was a ring, a very special one. And the rest is simply history…
ETA: Christmas 2001
The Original Episode 1? A childhood world of glorious wonder made real (well, almost, anyway)? Whatever your expectations for Peter Jackson’s upcoming take on J.R.R Tolkien’s epic – sort of a War And Peace of the nether world – tale of elves, orcs and, lest we forget, hobbits, the hype continues to swell at a rate that might make even the hardy Anakin quake. And it’s still, at the very least, more than 18 months away from our shores.
All of which, of course, comes as no great surprise. Even putting to one side the original novel’s quite planetary cult following, the reasons “for” the vast project become ever more apparent.
First off is a cast of simply the finest calibre. Next a director (likewise) who, over 13 years, has effectively flexed his directorial muscle with consistent flair. The sheer, unashamed displays of hedonistic gore – with a caustic moral undertone, mind – of Bad taste (1987), Meet The Feebles (1989), Braindead (1992) and The Frighteners (1996), combined with his assured grasp of the sinister (1994’s Heavenly Creatures) quite possibly render him the perfect directorial choice.
And, at long last, the wonderful world of special effects is also at a stage where it can keep up with the material’s intended pace – neither the woeful animated version (1978), nor the ’80s’ fleeting dalliance with similarly-toned legends of lore (Labyrinth, Willow, Legend et al) possessed the necessary visual clout to come remotely close to the mythical atmosphere required.
Consider also a budget said to be in the region of $190 million – although this is reputedly intended to be apportioned over the course of parts two (The Two towers) and parts three (the Return Of The King) as well – and that the sumptuous scenery of Jackson’s native New Zealand is to act as the backdrop (filming has been underway since October last year), and all of the elements fall nicely into place.
A possible contender for the all-time franchise of franchises? Mr Lucas, the gauntlet is down.