Mark Stewart writes: I’m writing about the University of Washington’s Tolkien lecture series that starts in a couple weeks. It was mentioned previously on theonering, but the full site with registration for all five evenings is now available. We’re trying to get the word out to Tolkien fans in the Seattle area. The speaker, Professor Robin Stacey, is a Tolkien scholar and wonderful lecturer. Details about each night of the series are available here. Other cool news is that we’ll probably be offering a podcast/streaming audio versions of the talks at some point after the series is over. Details will go up on the site.
Month: January 2008
Chad Grischow writes: January 3, 2008 – Poor Howard Shore. With most moviegoers busy ogling over the amazing visual work Weta created for Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy, it is easy to forget just how equally fantastic they each sound. Newly issued five-disc mega set, featuring nearly four hours worth of cd audio and another four hours of DVD audio in full surround sound, is here to refresh your memory. Having worked on scores for Martin Scorsese (The Departed) and David Fincher (Se7en and Panic Room), not to mention his long-standing working relationship with David Cronenberg, Shore knows drama and tension. This experience serves him well in the inevitable battle sequences, but he proves equally capable of pulling off delightfully wistful fare throughout. It is the well balanced, always compelling, sound that makes this rather lengthy collection worthy of your ears from start to finish. Despite just how long it will take you to hear all of Shore’s work, there is not much fat to be found. Like the film itself, there are a few lulls, like plodding “Marshalling At Dunharrow”, but thankfully no repeated false endings or moments where you wish the credits would start rolling already. Howard Shore – The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King – The Complete Recordings
Henry Gee writes: Here is a sneak preview of what’ll be in Issue 45 of Mallorn, the Journal of the Tolkien Society, currently in advanced edit mode and due out in Spring. Mallorn is distributed free and exclusively to members of the Tolkien Society, so join up now! You know it makes sense. Continue reading “New Issue of ‘Mallorn’ Sneak Peek”
Telperion writes: This year marks the 4th International Art Competition of ST Wieza City Culture and Art Centre of Bielawa in association with City Promotion and Strategy Department of Bielawa (Poland). The theme of this year’s competition is Battles and Combats of the First Age and there is much freedom allowed in the artistic style and technique chosen by competitors. The First Prize is €250 and there are two Second Prizes of €100 each. The panel of judges will be chosen from a wide range of sources and will include the world famous Tolkien artist, John Howe, whom it is an honour to have as a judge. The competition is now open and the closing date for submissions is March 31st, 2008. Tolkien Themed Art Competition in Poland
Elijah Wood is getting drafted … again. In last year’s multicharacter drama “Bobby,” he played a young man in 1968 called up to fight in Vietnam. And in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Wood was the reluctant, hairy-footed center of the Fellowship formed to strike a blow against Sauron and save Middle Earth. And now in “Day Zero,” opening Jan. 18, Wood is called up to fight a new war. He’s one of three friends who get the dreaded – some might say long-delayed – letter in the near future where conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere have prompted a reinstatement of conscription. Chris Klein costars as a young lawyer whose career is flourishing stateside and can’t see any reason why he should have to ship out, and Jon Bernthal is a cabbie who believes it’s their duty to go to combat for their country. Look out for ‘Day Zero’
Weta Workshop’s involvement in another blockbuster movie has been unmasked – the physical effects studio has beaten Hollywood to design and make the costumes for superheroes including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and The Flash. The costumes will be donned by a yet-to-be-named cast for the big-budget Hollywood movie Justice League of America, to be filmed in Sydney this year and directed by Australian George Miller of Mad Max and Happy Feet fame. The film’s Wellington-based American producer, Barrie Osborne, who produced Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, confirmed Weta Workshop’s involvement. “They are doing all the costumes and they’re doing a brilliant job,” he told The Dominion Post from Sydney. “A lot of people thought it would be too hard, that you can only make those things in Hollywood.” Weta triumphs in clash of the superheroes