Ok, so now you have your ROTK DVD… So why not join your fellow Barli friends in discussing all things DVD and then watching it together?
We have an exciting double-feature for LOTR fans this weekend. First up is our annual Hall of Fire DVD chat; join the intrepid HoF staff as they conduct a freewheeling discussion about the theatrical DVD. Some of the points to be chewed over: What is your reaction to ROTK after all this time? Still the “greatest movie ever!” or “a total disaster” or have your feelings mellowed over time? Does ROTK deserve to be one of the most Oscar winning films of all time? And how about those special features? Is it worth buying the theatrical release as well as the extended edition? [Read More]
Following HoF (see below for times) will be Barliman’s first-ever DVD-Watching Party!
Join us in #moviechat where we will simultaneously press “Play” on our individual DVD players to cheer and jeer at the final episode of Peter Jackson’s epic. Now, we’ve never done this before, but expect it will be pretty easy going. We plan to take a break midway through the film, to allow for stretching of fingers and backs. Barliman will be on hand to serve drinks and snacks (and to enforce the house rules).
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WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN?
Saturday and Sunday, May 29-30
Times:
SATURDAY
Hall of Fire Chat: 5:30pm ET (17:30) [also 10:30pm (22:30) GMT and 7:30am Sunday (07:30) AET]
ROTK DVD-Watching Party: 7pm ET (19:00) [also midnight (00:00) GMT and 9am Sunday (09:00) AET]
SUNDAY
Hall of Fire Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) GMT [also 1pm ET (13:00) and 3am Monday (03:00) AET]
ROTK DVD-Watching Party: 7:30 pm (19:30) GMT [also 2:30pm ET (14:30) and 4:30am (04:30) AET]
ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast
GMT = Greenwich Mean Time, UK
AET = Australian East Coast
WHERE?
On TORn’s IRC server, in the #moviechat channel. After joining the server, type /join #moviechat to get there.
If you’ve never been to TORn’s IRC server before, you can join through our java applet and type /join #moviechat once you’re signed in. We reccommend you visit our FAQ for some guidelines on using our IRC service. Barliman’s is a place for good conversation about JRR Tolkien’s works. We welcome you to our community and ask that you, and all guests, abide by some simple guidelines.
HOW?
Like I said, we’ve never done this before, but it doesn’t seem to be rocket science. Once everyone is in #moviechat and has their DVD ready to go, the ops will moderate the room and have a countdown to “Play.” I expect that we will be able to give minute-markers throughout the evening for latecomers. A break will be taken midway through — the exact point will be announced in the topic.
* * *
That’s all, folks! See you this weekend!
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Kalari writes: Howard Shore will be conducting the Lord of the Rings Symphony at the Sydney Opera House on 17, 18 & 19 June. The Sydney Symphony, Sydney Philharmonia choirs and Sydney Children’s Choir. Guest vocalist Katie Noonan. More information and bookings: [More]
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Ringers Brendan Loy and DbPhoenix wrote reviews of last night’s performance of the LOTR Symphony by the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. Sadly, the reviews are not entirely positive. [More]
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Brendan Loy writes:
It was fun and enjoyable but, in all honesty, disappointing. The orchestra felt like it could have used about a half-dozen more rehearsals, the female soloist started one of her solos too early and was “pitchy” (as Paula Abdul would say) in several spots, and the song selection was questionable at best (they included the stupid “Gollum’s Song” but left out several of the most dramatic musical flourishes in the whole trilogy). As I said, enjoyable, but frustrating because it could have been so much better. [More]
DbPhoenix writes:
God knows I want to be as encouraging as I can to young orchestras, but last night’s performance of the LOTR Symphony by the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra was an unnecessary disappointment.
First, the good. Even though I missed that spectacular choral interlude at the beginning of The Two Towers when the battle with the Balrog is recapped, as well as the entrance of the elves into Helm’s Deep, the arrangement is just about everything I hoped it would be. Miles and miles of the Isengard/Black Rider stuff from FOTR has been cut and the balance is much more toward Hobbiton and Rivendell which, given the contrast required to the darkness in most of the rest of the film, is necessary. There is also quite a bit of “new” Rivendell music (I say “new” because if might be on the complete score, but it’s not on the CD). There are also a number of spectacular climaxes on the CDs that don’t go anywhere (the exceptions being The White Tree and Forth Eorlingas). This is all taken care of
through some very clever devices, making the movements internally “seamless”.
However, the timidity and hesitation on the part of everyone involved drove me nuts. The conductor, who either has no experience working with large groups of people (and this is a LARGE group of people), or is what we used to call a “dead fish”, conducted everything but the most lyrical passages in a metronomic military march mode (forgive the alliteration). There was noticeable lack of emotional content, which was glaringly apparent during The End Of All Things. Add to this a terrible miking job which made the chorus nearly impossible to hear unless the orchestra was practically silent, and most of the best moments wound up just lying there.
Did I enjoy it anyway? You bet I did, and I’m even more eager to hear the Shore recording due out next year. But I should caution readers that not every orchestra is up to this, and if you’re lucky enough to get a good conductor, you’re lucky indeed.
This is a phenomenal work, though I continue to believe that the ending is too long. Musically, I’d cut most of The Return Of The King (the track, not the movie) and get into The Grey Havens as quickly as possible. With the recap of nearly all the themes during the ROTK track (17), one wonders if they are going to start the whole thing over.
One thing is sure. When the CD comes out, it will be getting a lot of play at my house.
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Today is Christopher Lee’s birthday! Lee was born Christopher Frank Carandini Lee on 27 May 1922 in London, England. That makes him 82 today! Happy Birthday Christopher!
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Ringer Spy Meldon Valaturion writes: Just writing to tell you that trailer for ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ won in the Best Drama category of the Golden Trailer Awards. [More]
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