Thanks to our friends who have sent in pictures in memory of TORn Staffer and friend, Greg (aka…
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The Lord of the Rings, the J.R.R. Tolkien-inspired stage spectacle created by an international team of artists, opens in its Toronto world premiere March 23 at the Princess of Wales Theatre. Like the massive three-part fantasy novel and film versions that came before it, the music-infused, three-act production — with a running time of more than three hours — is nothing if not ambitious. Director Matthew Warchus, who co-adapted the novel (with Shaun McKenna) for the stage, is in charge of the $27 million (Canadian) production, which boasts 70 actors (which includes 49 plus a battery of support people) in a 2,000-seat venue. [More]
We admire Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep as legends-in-waiting, committing performances to film that might be referenced by future generations alongside Marlon Brando and Katharine Hepburn. We praise the lengthy careers of Steve Martin and Bill Murray, wondering if their work will live on like the Marx Brothers or Peter Sellers. However, the most significant contemporary cinematic figure of our time might be launching a career even more monumental, but we’re too busy eating popcorn and enjoying the ride to fully appreciate it. It’s OK, says Andy Serkis, because until recently, he was equally unaware. [More]
I will be heading to New Zealand next month for a 10-day vacation in and around Wellington. Ubisoft, makers of “Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie” headed a contest a while back where the winners receive an all-expense paid trip to Wellington to visit the WETA studios, and I’ll be escorting them!
My journey begins on April 6th and I arrive on the 8th (the 7th will magically disappear from my calendar thanks to the wonder of crossing a ton of time zones), I have a few things already planned, my wife and I want to take some city and LOTR location tours, and we plan on seeing some friends I have made over the years while working on Lord of the Rings, King Kong and Narnia websites. Of course I also want to do some lounging about in the pre-fall goodness that is Wellywood. I will be shooting some video to be featured on the site, so keep an eye out for those!
I plan on having a ton of photos and goodies to show you from my trip, and if you know of any cool places to visit in the area, drop me a line!
StriderGirl writes: I’m a Toronto Ringer eagerly anticipating my trip to the LOTR musical – my husband and I are going next Friday for our anniversary. CAN’T WAIT!!! Today’s Toronto Star newspaper has a full section devoted to the musical, with pictures for the first time! (They had had to sign an agreement that they wouldn’t write anything about it or publish photos until the previews were over, and the grand opening is tonight.) It’s quite interesting, and it’s all on the Star’s website too! [More]
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – “A History of Violence” snagged the top spot on the DVD rental chart its first week in stores, but the Oscar-nominated crime drama wasn’t able to topple “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” from the No. 1 position on the DVD sales chart. The fourth film in the “Harry Potter” franchise outsold “Violence,” which stars Oscar nominee William Hurt, by a margin of nearly 2-1 during the week ended March 19, according to VideoScan data issued Wednesday. [More]
Order “A History of Violence” on Amazon.com today! [CA] [UK]
