The world has Loch Ness, The Yeti, UFO’s, Bigfoot and more. But LOTR fans and aficionados alike have…
Continue ReadingThe world has Loch Ness, The Yeti, UFO’s, Bigfoot and more. But LOTR fans and aficionados alike have ‘Bush’s Ring’, ‘That Hobbit Trailer’, ‘The Aragorn Question’ and more! Check out this little feature we like to call ‘LOTR Urban Legends’ [More]
Update: What about the “Tehanu is really Orlando Bloom” urban legend? I must be getting a dozen “Dear Orlando you are the best elf” emails a week! Nobody’s explained that one yet. – Tehanu
Xoanon here with a little special item I like to call ‘LOTR Urban Legends’. We here at TORN get a whole lot of email daily, in fact many of us get the same emails, spymaster@theonering.net for instance reaches many staff members. Over the years we’ve seen all manner of rumor or silly prank hit the net, and when they do the information spreads like wildfire and suddenly we are bombarded with hundreds of emails on the subject. Here are a few that keep rearing their ugly heads at least once every six months.
Bush and The One Ring
This clever little bit of political satire has been spotted in protest lines and on countless websites. Where it came from and exactly who created it we don’t know. Emails with the subject ‘Frodo has failed’ will more than likely contain this image. We get waves of emails with this image from time to time. Needless to say, Bush and his politics are not something we cover here on TORN, so no flames please 🙂
Nimoy sings ‘The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins’
We have also, unfortunately, all seen this odd little video featuring Spock himself singing a song about Bilbo Baggins. If you haven’t had the pleasure…click here.
That Hobbit Trailer
This legend, beyond all others, has caused more excitement with fans than almost anything else I’ve ever seen. The folks at lathamfilm.com, a digital production house, pieced together scenes from other films to create an apparently realistic looking trailer for a film called ‘The Hobbit’. Supposedly starring Ian McKellen, Ian Holm and directed by Peter Jackson, this film was set to be out in 2006. Well folks, this ain’t gonna happen. Sorry to disappoint! Click here to view the trailer. [More]
Last 2 Pages of the ROTK Script!
Well, not really no. These 2 pages seen here are in actuality an April Fools joke let loose on the public. Without any explanation, these images sit on this site and are allowed to excite fans far and wide. Well this one isn’t true either. It’s all in fun.
Viggo Mortensen Not The First Aragorn?
Not really an urban legend, but more of an email topic that just won’t die. Waaaaaayyy back in 1999 TORN was the first site to report that Stuart Townsend was set to play Aragorn. Ironically we were also the first to report that a week after principle photography had started, Townsend was off the picture. Viggo was quickly sent in as a replacement. Try looking in our archives from 1999 for more news on this.
Well, there you have it, it really does seem like LOTR has permeated deep into the pop culture psyche if it can create such legends that are seen (and *gulped* over) on the TORN message boards from time to time. Not to mention the emails…the countless emails…
*ping!* You’ve got mail!
Nicola sends along this link to some great pictures from the 10th Annual Hobbiton Party held in Italy. Take a look! [More]
Natalie writes: Russian TV watchers will see FOTR and X-men this season. For approximately 12 million$ TV Channels “Russia”, NTV and STS bought the rights to show a package of WB movies in Russia (though if Russians will show it, then Ukraine, Moldova and Possibly Belarus will see it too). This season the channels will show FOTR, Harry Potter 1, Blade 2 and more. The ORT channel will show the X-men with Ian McKellen sometime this month.
(Xoanon just loves those Russian accents…)
Nick sends along this email in regards to some comments from another email we posted here a few days ago. He argues that the folks at tolkienshop.com have been nothing but professional and courteuous, we at TORN wish to add that we have nothing against tolkienshop.com, we are simply providing views of all sides in this debate. [More]
Nick sends along this email in regards to some comments from another email we posted here a few days ago. He argues that the folks at tolkienshop.com have been nothing but professional and courteuous, we at TORN wish to add that we have nothing against tolkienshop.com, we are simply providing views of all sides in this debate.
Nick writes:
In a recent article about fake autographs for sale on the web, you also included a response from some other upset buyers. One of these people highlighted www.tolkienshop.com and it’s owner Rene Van Rossenburg as being unreliable.
I would just like to provide an alternate view of this great Tolkien Web Emporium. I have bought many expensive items from Rene over the last year and even got hold of the exclusive Weta Cave Troll bust, months before it was released here in the UK. All sales have been smooth and quick and the items delivered in excellent condition and excellently packaged.
Rene is always very courteous and helpful in all communications from enquiries about pre-orders and shipping to sales information. He is well-know in Europe and has spoken/displayed at many official Tolkien events.
I feel it unfortunate that a legitimate businessman with a great online store could possibly lose sales because of one biased opinion.
I know Rene is aware of the article and will no doubt be contacting you himself, but I felt that I must write to you to offer the story of a satisfied customer.
